What is Kundalini?
It is a ‘coiled’ energy--emanating from the base of the spine--that holds your truth and true potential as a spirit being. Kundalini energy is often symbolized by a snake. When awakened through Kundalini yoga and meditation, the uncoiling produces enlightenment in different forms. Physical symptoms of this can include: tingling sensation on the head and hands, feelings of bliss and connectedness, a warm feeling up the spine, and mindless (non-analytical) clarity.
What is Kundalini yoga and meditation?
Kundalini goga is sometimes known as ‘the yoga of awareness.’ In one sense, it can be said that all yoga is Kundalini yoga, for its purpose is to enlighten (usually by gradually unfolding the energy at the base of the spine).
Some believe, Kundalini yoga and meditation provide faster paths to achieving that flow of energy. It could take years or decades, for example to ‘unfold’ using strictly Hatha yoga but an awakening could be imminent using Kundalini yoga and meditation.
Critics of Kundalini yoga claim that it is ‘too fast’ causing a shock to the average person via his/her nervous system. Proponents of it also practice a series of exercises that prime the nervous system, helping prepare it for the Kundalini rush of energy. Some poses in Kundalini yoga are the same or similar to traditional Hatha poses (it stems from Hatha). 'Breath of Fire,' a stomach-centered fast breathing method that helps pump up and ignite the Kundalini flow, is generally associated with Kundalini yoga.
Brief History of Kundalini Yoga and Los Angeles
It is generally accepted that the late Yogi Bhajan of India was responsible for bringing Kundalini yoga (KY) to the West in 1969.Prior to that, Kundalini yoga wisdom in India had been passed from teacher to student in an exclusive and secretive manner.
Since Yogi Bhajan’s passing in 2004, his torch has been passed on to Los Angeles yogini master Gurmukh who teaches at the Golden Bridge center here in LA.
Beyond KY, there are other forms of yoga and meditation that strongly emphasize tapping into and drawing the Kundalini energy up. They include, but are not limited to, Sahaja yoga and pranayama practices.
Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Classes and Teachers in Los Angeles
Atwater Kundalini Yoga
If you live on the East Side or around Atwater and are interested in Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, and don’t necessarily want to trek to the South Side to Yoga West, there is an alternative. Nancy (Raghubir) Kintisch--who instructs at Yoga West on Wednesdays--also teaches private and group classes in the Atwater area. She is at Echo Park Yoga at the Rec Center Monday through Friday, and Atwater’s Dance Garden and Heartbeat House on Wednesdays and Sundays respectively.
Golden Bridge Yoga
This has been the pulsing life center of Kundalini yoga since Yogi Bhajan passed on and left his mastery to Gurmukh (a popular celebrity yoga instructor who teaches here). For that reason it can sometimes be intimidating to newcomers who just want to quietly do yoga in ‘the shadows.’ Despite it being quite the trendy scene, there are classes that offer more of a subdued experience. Gurmukh’s however are among the most popular. Other teachers referenced glowingly by name are Tej, Harijiwan and Sat Siri.
1357 N. Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-936-4172
Pranayoga
Not to be confused with Kundalini yoga, this form of yoga nevertheless summons and focuses on the same form of energy--which it calls ‘prana’ (or life force). It is derived from the Raja yoga of Patanjali and combines Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist and Tantric principles to achieve spiritual awakening and mindfulness.
Group, private and semi-private classes available around the San Fernando Valley, Silver Lake and Woodland Hills
818-345-9642
Sahaja Yoga Center
Indian spiritual leader Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi is the creator of Sahaja yoga, a system of subtle, simple meditation that she says produces an instant rush of Kundalini energy. You may have come across her extensive free online classes. Some are skeptical that such simple prayers and poses would produce such dramatic results. Shri Mataji invites the curious to ‘experiment with truth’ and try her meditations for themselves before making any decisions. There are loads of free Sahaja yoga classes and events around LA.
Free classes in: Tarzana, Panorama City, Pasadena and Westchester (LAX area)
Santa Monica Yoga
This West Side studio has classes that cover a range of yoga styles (including Ashtanga, Hatha, Iyengar and prenatal) and Kundalini yoga at levels 1-2 and ‘all levels.’
1640 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
310-396-4040
The Total Human
This Topanga Canyon yoga, meditation and wellness organization puts together retreats, workshops and unique classes. In the vein of Kundalini, for example, they have been known to offer a workshop that merges the yogic technology with a gong meditation.
310-967-1336
Yoga West
This center teaches Kundalini yoga via the methods and wisdom of Yogi Bhajan. It is an alternative to Golden Bridge for people living on the South Side of LA. However, the general sense I get is that Yoga West and Golden Bridge are very much separate ‘groups’ each garnering their own die-hard loyal followers to the exclusion of the other, despite both having essentially emanated from the same teaching source.
1535 S. Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90035
310-552-4647
