Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini Yoga concentrates on psychic centers or chakras in the body in order to generate a spiritual power, which is known as kundalini energy. Kundalini yoga is a physical and meditative discipline, comprising a set of simple techniques that uses the mind, senses and body to create a communication between "mind" and "body".

Kundalini yoga focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation, giving special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening (Sovatsky, 1998). Kundalini is the potential form of prana or life force, lying dormant in our bodies. It is conceptualized as a coiled up serpent (literally, 'kundalini' in Sanskrit is 'That which is coiled.' (Sanskrit kund, "to burn"; kunda, "to coil or to spiral") but some claim that it should be translated 'lock of hair of the Beloved') lying at the base of our spine, which can spring awake when activated by spiritual disciplines.

Underlying philosophy
Sovatsky (1998) describes 'kundalini yoga' as an energetically guided yoga. This means that the discipline is informed by the Hindu understanding of pranotthana, or "intensified life-energy". Pranotthana is sometimes thought to lead to spontaneous psycho-motor manifestations which, according to Yogic hermeneutics, might be interpreted as signs of psycho-spiritual growth and bodily maturation.

What is Kundalini?
Kundalini is a psycho-spiritual energy, the energy of the consciousness. Kundalini literally means 'coiling,' like a snake. Kundalini refers to the vast potential of psychic energy contained within us. Perhaps more meaningfully kundalini can be described as a great reservoir of creative energy and it is normally symbolized as a serpent coiled into three and a half circles, with its tail in its mouth, and spiraling around the central axis (sacrum or sacred bone) at the base of the spine. The power of kundalini is enormous. Kundalini has been described as liquid fire and liquid light.
Kundalini awakening is a multidimensional transformative process, which taps into the blueprint for higher consciousness that is latent within every human.
Kundalini awakening cover the entire physiological, emotional, mental and spiritual spectrum.
Yoga means "union" in Sanskrit, the classical language of India. The Word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root Yuj (To Join, to concentrate one's attention on) meaning to bind, join, attach and Yoke to direct and concentrate one's attention on, to use and apply.

The practice of kundalini yoga is universal and non-denominational. Though it has been attacked by some spiritual leaders in other religions (notably Christian), this claim can be readily dismissed as a general misunderstanding of yoga's purpose. Yoga is a deep, spiritual tradition that brings stability and peace of mind to the individual. But Kundalini yoga should not be practiced without a credible teacher or guide, as serious mental and physical problems can be a result of improper practice (called Kundalini Syndrome).

Modern schools of Yoga
Aerial yoga
Anahata Yoga
Ananda Marga
Anusara Yoga
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Bikram Yoga/ Hot Yoga
Cardiac yoga
Chair Yoga