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Laya yoga, similar to kundalini yoga, aims to awaken the cosmic feminine energy in the human sacrum and unite it with the masculine cosmic void in the cranial vault. It requires mastery of hatha yoga and is more internal and contemplative. It should be studied under the supervision of a guru.
First introduced to the West in 1969 by Indian yoga master Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogiji, texts mentioning laya yoga possibly date back to 1400 BCE. C., although it is possible that the practice has been transmitted as an oral tradition much earlier. Synonymous with the better-known kundalini yoga, laya yoga conforms to the three central pillars of discipline, self-awareness, and dedication that make up Patanjali’s traditional yoga system. However, unlike many spiritual yogic disciplines, laya yoga does not include renunciation of society or extreme asceticism in its practice. Instead, yogis are encouraged to engage in meditative and physical exercises that are said to have been designed to awaken the latent cosmic feminine energy that rests at the base of the human sacrum. This is supposed to cause that energy to rise up and unite again with the energy of the masculine cosmic void in the human cranial vault, generating a divine union with universal consciousness.
Practitioners of laya yoga believe that while the deep contemplative practices that define the style can accelerate spiritual progression, they will be completely ineffective if they fail to master hatha or physical yoga first. The practices of asanas, bandhas, and pranayama in hatha yoga are said to be necessary to remove blockages within the body and prepare the subtle energy system to resist and channel the powerful kundalini energy when unleashed. The “kriya,” or practices, of laya yoga differ somewhat from those of hatha yoga in their incorporation of other types of yoga such as raja and mantra yoga, as well as their emphasis.
While the emphasis of hatha yogic practice is generally on the correct performance of the physical postures, the emphasis of laya yoga kriya is more markedly internal and contemplative. The physical postures focus more specifically on those that directly impact the sacrum and the central channel of energy. The path through the central energy channels of the spine that kundalini energy is said to travel is marked by energy centers known as chakras, each of which is associated with emotional and mental stages of spiritual development.
Laya yoga should be studied under the supervision of a guru. Since there are both Vedic and Tantric forms of laya yoga, the practice itself will vary considerably depending on the guru’s lineage. Still, most yoga classes will start with mantra practice and a short period of training exercises. The bulk of the session will usually be made up of a combination of hatha yoga poses and breathing exercises accompanied by internal contemplation. Classes usually close with a final meditation, guided by the guru.
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