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Known as the Yoga of Awareness, Kundalini Yoga connects one with their highest self, elevating consciousness and facilitating greater health and happiness

By Tammy Mastroberte

There are many styles of yoga, each with their own unique practices and characteristics, but Kundalini Yoga, also known as the Yoga of Awareness, stands out as being the most unique compared to other practices. Often referred to as a science or technology, as well as the most spiritually infused form of yoga, the practice was introduced to the West in 1969 by Yogi Bhajan, and continues to attract many new students today.

“It’s a science in the sense that there is a technology or a system that creates a desired result, ” Amanbir Singh, a Kundalini Yoga teacher at Golden Bridge Yoga in New York, tells Elevated Existence. “The teachings and practices are designed very carefully and meticulously to produce a greater state of health and happiness.”

The word “kundalini” refers to the energy believed to lie dormant at the base of the human spine. Through the practice of Kundalini Yoga, this energy is channeled up the spine, through the chakras, and out the crown of the head, where it enters the auric field. This allows a person to experience enlightenment or a greater awareness.

“The basic aspect of the practice is increasing one’s awareness, ” Singh explains. “As you practice, the kundalini rises and your awareness expands. The first step is becoming more aware of yourself and your patterns — your relationship to the life you live. It helps one live a more conscious lifestyle.”

The concept of kundalini energy is described in yogic history as a coiled serpent at the base of the spine, and moving this energy up through the chakras can be done through other spiritual practices, including chi gong, says Singh. However, Kundalini Yoga is said to move this energy more quickly.