Kundalini is a coil of energy located at the base of the spine that can be awakened through spiritual development, producing physical effects and spiritual enlightenment. Kundalini Yoga is a popular practice to awaken this energy, but caution is advised as it can be intense and potentially harmful without professional guidance. Side effects include tingling sensations, headaches, and mood swings.
According to ancient Hindu philosophy, kundalini is a coil of energy, or shakti, located at the base of the spine. This energy can be awakened through the process of spiritual development by moving it up the spine and activating the energy centers known as chakras. This is said to produce physical effects and spiritual enlightenment. When exactly the concept of kundalini developed is not known, but passages from the 8th-century Shiva Sutras assume the reader’s familiarity with it. Energy is described in more detail in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, a Hindu text written between the 12th and 15th centuries that elaborates on the physical exercise that the Western world most often associates with yoga.
In the early 20th century, Sir John Woodroffe referred to kundalini as “Serpent Power” in his translation of two Hindu texts, leading to a long-held image of this energy as a serpent in the West. Actually, the word means “rolled up.” Western thinkers CW Leadbeater and Carl Jung have also discussed kundalini in their writings, but critics complain that they have not done the idea justice by taking it out of its cultural context.
Many people who wish to explore the idea practice Kundalini Yoga, a combination of physical postures, chanting, and meditation designed to awaken the kundalini power in the body. Chakra work can also include contemplating certain images, consuming certain foods, and engaging in breathing exercises. For many, this is the ultimate form of mind-body exercise, as it emphasizes the physical benefits of spiritual health and vice versa. Recently, this form of yoga has even gained some adherents in the medical profession in the West.
Kundalini Yoga practitioners caution that this energy is very powerful and that one should not try to awaken it without professional guidance. As kundalini rises through the chakras, it can become an increasingly intense experience both physically and emotionally, and some believe it can be harmful if not done correctly and with caution. Kundalini awakening is also said to be a long, often life-long process.
Some attested side effects of Kundalini awakening include tingling sensations, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, depression, mood swings, and anxiety, among others. It is important for people seeking this awakening to secure both a spiritual leader and a medical professional they trust before undertaking this work in earnest, as diagnosing any medical problems possibly related to the practice is a delicate matter by nature. Kundalini awakening practitioners say it can have incredible benefits in every area of a person’s life, but it is always advisable to consult a healthcare professional before starting any new physical activity.
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