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According to eastern religious and spiritual practices, Kundalini is the energy of the soul and resides within one of seven chakras, or energy centers, that stretch from the base of the spine to the top of one’s head. Depicted as a coiled serpent, Kundalini energy is located at the base of the spine.

Chakras in the Human Body

Kundalini & Chakras

Stretching from the base of the spine to the top of the head are seven chakras, or energy centers. Depicted as “wheels” of energy that are constantly in motion, the chakras govern the overall functions of the human body, from our organs to our emotions.

Underactive, overactive, and blocked chakras can cause disruptions in the flow of energy along the spinal column creating chakra imbalances. Until the imbalance is corrected, a range of maladies can occur, including intense stress, emotional instability, and physical illness.

The root chakra plays an important role when dealing with Kundalini energy. Kundalini is the raw energy that resides within the root chakra, also known as the Muladhara chakra. Frequently depicted as a serpent, Kundalini is associated with the maternal/feminine energy known as Shakti.

Kundalini Rising

As you initially raise Kundalini energy through life experience, meditation, and yoga, you become more sensitive to vibrational energy. With this increased perception, your overall understanding about life deepens. Gaining experience and knowledge feeds Kundalini Shakti, or maternal energy. It’s a progressive relationship that takes time and patience.

Think about a subject that really caught your interest when you were young. Maybe it was science or history. Whatever the case, remember how you simply couldn’t get enough? Once you learned a little about it, you wanted to know everything about the topic? The same type of seemingly insatiable curiosity applies to clarity here.

With knowledge comes clarity, and with clarity comes awakening. When kundalini energy rises and activates the all the energy centers, it results in what is called a kundalini awakening.

Kundalini & Chakras

Kundalini and the Chakras

Anytime you build energy, it needs a direction or release. For Kundalini, the direction is up.

Imagine the chakra system as existing on a single electrical circuit that runs lengthwise up the spine with lights at the location of each of the chakras. As Kundalini Shakti rises and travels up the spinal column, it passes through each of the chakras on its way giving each a boost, so to speak, and making it light up.

However, the ascension process isn’t predictable. Kundalini can move at its own rate and cause a variety of “symptoms” along the way, including:

  • sweating
  • aches and pains
  • intense (sometimes unpredictable) emotional release
  • excited, uncontrollable vocalization
  • sensations of heat and burning from within

These manifestations are simply the body’s way of purging all the energetic “junk” that it has collected over the years.

When Kundalini energy reaches the crown chakra, also known as the Sahasrara chakra — home of masculine energy (Shiva) and pure consciousness — the energy circuit is complete. It is the unification of the Kundalini Shakti and Shiva energies that initiates the union of one’s consciousness with that of the Divine — achieving Enlightenment.

Kundalini Yoga and the Chakras

So what does energy and chakras have to do with Kundalini Yoga? It is about balance. When each of the body’s chakras are aligned (or in harmony) the body is able to function at its highest potential. However, when one or more of the chakras become blocked, physical and mental ailments can arise. Enter Kundalini meditation and yoga.

In order for Kundalini to rise, the chakra path must be clear of debris — meaning there can be no imbalance of energy whatsoever.

To clear blockages and promote chakra healing ahead of raising Kundalini, consider incorporating Kundalini yoga poses that promote chakra cleansing, including crow, frog, camel, and cobra.

Just remember that yoga poses for chakra healing are not independent. When you work on one chakra, you affect all chakras because, after all, they’re connected.