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One style of Yoga, which is extremely popular in the West, is Kundalini Yoga. Kundalini Yoga helps in awakening the energy that is stored at the base of the spine. For that reason, Kundalini Yoga is said to be the most powerful form of Yoga known today. This energy is said to take the form of a coiled snake, hence the name Kundalini, which in Sanskrit means coiled up. The practice of Kundalini Yoga includes yoga poses and meditation, but focuses more on chanting or mantra and pranayama.
Once the Kundalini (the energy in the form of a snake) is awakened, it passes through the different Chakras, or centers of consciousness, that are thought to reside in the human body. There are seven chakras, each providing a certain power or influence when stimulated. It is important that you have adequate knowledge of the nervous system, particularly the spinal cord. This is because the Seven Chakras are believed to be found in this area of the body.
The Kundalini in your body can be resurrected through the practice of Asana, Pranayama, and Mantras; concentration and training of the mind; the practice of Hatha Yoga, Bhakta Yoga, and Jnana Yoga; selflessness and intellectual inquiry with the help of a guru. The guidance of a Guru is important because trying to awaken your Kundalini by force and without the aid of a guru can be dangerous. Awakening your Kundalini by force can result in mental confusion, headache or the feeling of something heavy in your head, psychosis, intense mood swings, epilepsy or other involuntary body movements, stress, depression, irregular breathing or similar situations.
Therefore, you should not provoke your Kundalini. Always remember to deal with it properly. It is only through patience, perseverance, and devotion to your yoga training and postures, that you can awaken your Kundalini. Once it is awakened, you will feel various pleasurable and less pleasurable experiences. The pleasant ones may be tickling sensations along the Spinal Cord, bursts of joy, and even transcendental visions.
The less enjoyable kind may come in the form of trembling, waves of heat, pains in the areas of the different Chakras, tingling sensations and nervousness. It is, in fact the beginning of the path leading to Enlightenment. As such, it is the mother of all styles of yoga and the most powerful one. Its effects can be very powerful and beneficial, but can also be vicious, if not handled correctly. The Kundalini Yoga energy is thought to be the most powerful of all supernatural energies. Spirituality related yoga could be achieved through raja yoga and its yoga therapy and exercise.
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