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"Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self"
Yoga is not just an exercise routine; it is a holistic path to self-discovery, inner realization, and spiritual growth. The main goal of this practice is to awaken the Kundalini energy. In Kundalini Yoga, the integration and harmonization of the different aspects of ourselves, like mind, body, and spirit, is achieved through the awakening of the Kundalini, understood not as a magical or mystical energy, but as embodiment of the subtle energetic aspect of awareness.
Kundalini Yoga, as most other forms of yoga, uses 6 basic components to direct the embodied energy of awareness or the Kundalini. These components usually involve physical aspects of ourselves, such as posture, to direct the body’s energy and awaken new inner states of awareness, moving you towards understanding and embracing your true self.
Each of the six components enhances the experience in a unique way. These components are:
To understand these building blocks, we first have to understand that we are multidimensional beings. We are not just a bag of bones, muscles, and organs, we also have subtle/energetic bodies that are composed of Prana (energy/life force), Nadis (channels through which this Prana circulates) and a spirit. In other words, we have physical, energetic, and spiritual bodies that all together make us who we are. In any given moment, we are sensing and experiencing multiple aspects of ourselves, including our memories and our intuitions about a possible future, all at once. Meditation and yoga allow us to be present with all of these possible realities in a mindful way, as we give our body support to let it integrate on many levels. A yoga practice allows us not only to strengthen and stretch the physical body, we are also giving ourselves a way to integrate on our energetic and spiritual levels as well.
The components all have the same purpose: to align and unite body, energy, and spirit. The general principle is that stimulating the physical body and our nervous system in certain ways will cause certain effects in our subtle body. This goes the other way too; we also have practices in yoga that are directly energetic and vibrational (such as chanting mantras) that, by using that vibration, create specific effects in our physical body and nervous system.
There isn’t yet enough research to justify claiming that the effects of yoga are backed by scientific knowledge. There are some studies on these effects, however, these are few and far between, and more work needs to be done on the scientific front to fully understand how yoga works.
In reality, most yoga practices are backed by years of empirical evidence, which is evidence based on one’s lived sensations and experiences. Many people over the years have experienced the benefits of the practice, and generally better health, when they practice regularly. Your body’s sensations and how you feel while you practice are the road signs to your good health and continued journey enjoying yoga.
Like most yogic knowledge, it’s hard to trace when and where it started. Yogis of the past considered these techniques so powerful, they did not want this knowledge to get into the wrong hands or be given to someone who was not prepared to receive these techniques. Yogis gathered knowledge through intense practice and personal experience that spanned thousands of years. Many of them spent countless years, sometimes entire lifetimes, sitting in a certain posture, doing a certain breath, or chanting a specific mantra, to be able to deeply feel the effects in their body, energy, and consciousness and to understand the effects of the practice. This knowledge was then transmitted orally to their students, who often had to completely master one technique before they could receive another. The first written account of yoga is found in the compilation of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Doing various combinations of the 6 components, in a certain way for a set time, will cause different chemical and energetic reactions in your system. By comprehending each of these components, you can begin to grasp how yoga sets are structured and the physical and energetic impact it can create for you.
Explore these building blocks, understand them in depth, and apply these components, not only in your yoga practice, but also in your everyday life.
Begin your journey into yoga postures, where each pose embodies balance, strength, and flexibility. Explore our glossary to deepen your understanding of the vast array of yoga poses that you can try.
Experience the transformative practice of mantra chanting. Delve into our glossary to discover the power of sacred sounds, their meanings, and their effects on the mind, body, and spirit.
Explore the language of gesture with mudras. Our glossary explains how subtle hand movements can channel energy and deepen your meditation and yoga practice.
Understand the energetic seals of yoga, known as bandhas, and their role in directing prana. Our glossary shows you how to practice bandhas and how this powerful tool can enhance your practice and powerfully move energy.
Don’t forget that the most important element is to actually practice and incorporate the basic building blocks of yoga into your routine and schedule.
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Amrit Kaur Ramos is the founder of Areté and a Kundalini Yoga instructor with over 20 years of experience guiding students through the transformative practice of Kundalini Yoga. She is also a dedicated women’s circle leader, with over 10 years of experience creating sacred spaces for women to connect, heal, and empower each other. Amrit Kaur brings a wealth of wisdom and compassion to her teaching, inspiring others to awaken their true potential and live authentically.
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