What Is Kundalini Yoga? Everything You Need To Know About This Celebrity-Favorite Practice

First introduced to the western world in the late 70s by Yogi Bhajan, Kundalini yoga is a combination of breath, movement, and sound. It derives from the Sanskrit word kundal, which translates to “coiled energy.” The idea is that we all have energy gathered at the base of our spine and, through the practice of Kundalini, we bring that energy up our spine through the seven chakras, and out the crown of our head.

“The process of growth through Kundalini Yoga is a natural unfolding of your own nature,” Yogi Bhajan has said. “Like a snake, you will need to shed old skins to be more of who you are.” The ultimate goal of Kundalini is to increase your self-awareness by silencing your mind and unblocking your chakras so that your vital energy can flow freely.

"The practice of kundalini is filled with really challenging breath exercises coupled with asanas and meditation," says yoga instructor Caley Alyssa in our 28 Days To Yoga Bliss class. "These are often practiced in repetition for a pretty lengthy period of time and move a lot of energy around in your body."

A typical Kundalini yoga class is comprised of three parts: an opening chant (known as “tuning in”) followed by a brief warm-up for your spine, a kriya (which is a sequence of postures paired with breathing techniques), and a closing meditation or song.

Each kriya—which is Sanskrit for “action”—pairs a physical pose with a breath or meditation. These poses can be anything you choose based on the part of your body that you want to focus on, like cobra pose for your spine or warrior for your legs and glutes.

While different kriyas use different breaths, one of the most popular breathing techniques is Breath of Fire, which consists of short, quick breaths (almost like a dog panting). To do Breath of Fire, seal your lips and breathe in and out of your nose at a rate of about two to three breaths per second. As you breathe, expel the air in powerful spurts to engage your core.

Chanting and singing are also key components of Kundalini yoga. There are endless mantras and songs that you can recite during your practice but most classes start with the Adi Mantra, which means “I bow to the subtle divine wisdom, the divine teacher within.” Another common chant you’ll hear in a Kundalini class is Sat Nam, which means “I am truth.”

You can also expect a meditation-heavy class. Each set during Kundalini yoga has different poses that involve movement, breathing techniques, mindfulness, and a mantra. Between postures, you’ll have a minute or two to relax and focus inward. After the entire set, there’s a relaxation followed by a meditation, then a mantra before class closes.

While anyone can practice Kundalini (unless you have a pre-existing medical condition, of course), this particular style of yoga is especially good for people who are looking for a spiritual practice as much as they’re looking for a physical workout.