Frequently Asked Questions….
Q. What pace should I start out with as a beginning student in Kundalini Yoga?
A. As a beginning student, participate at a pace that suits your flexibility and endurance.
Q. What should I wear to a Kundalini Yoga class?
A. You should wear modest, comfortable light colored clothing, preferably made of cotton or other natural, breathable fiber. It is best to remove your socks to help stimulate the approximately 72,000 nerve endings in your feet.
Q. How long should I wait after I have eaten to practice Kundalini Yoga?
A. It is good to wait two to three hours after eating before you practice yoga and meditation. This will help you gain the maximum benefits, plus it is easier to exercise on an empty stomach. If you must eat, eat something like a piece of fruit.
Q. What does it mean to "tune in"?
A. Each Kundalini Yoga class begins with "tuning in" with the mantra Ong Nam Guru Dev Namo. This sets and calms the mind to be open to guidance, and calls on the lineage of Kundalini Yoga through the ages for protection and guidance during the yoga practice. This is called the Golden Chain.
Q. What does Prana mean?
A. Prana means life force, or breath.
Q. Why does a Kundalini Yoga class always end with a closing song?
A. Every Kundalini Yoga class finishes with the song "May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you. And the pure light within you, guide your way on." This song of blessing helps to ground you, integrate the benefits of the yoga and prepare you to resume the activities of everyday life.
Q. What is a mudra?
A. Mudra means "Seal" and refers to a hand position.
Q. Why do we use mudras in Kundalini Yoga?
A. The ancient yogis mapped out the areas of the hand and identified the parts of the body or brain associated with each area. Each area of the hand also represents different emotions or behaviors, curling, crossing, stretching or touching the fingers or finger tips in specific configurations is a yogic technique for communicating with the body and mind.
Q. What does Asana mean?
A. Asana means "at ease" in a yoga posture.
Q. What are mantras?
A. Mantras are sounds or words that control the mind. They are the creative projection of the mind though sound. Man means mind and Trang means wave or projection. The science of mantra is based on the knowledge that sound is a form of energy having structure, power and a definite predictable effect on the chakras and the human psyche.
Q. Why do we recite mantras in Kundalini Yoga?
A. Mantras are formulas that alter the patterns of the mind and the chemistry of the brain according to physical and metaphysical laws. The power of a mantra is in its sound vibration. The mantras used in Kundalini Yoga elevate or modify consciousness through their meaning and rhythmical repetition. It is beneficial to link a mantra to the breath. When recited correctly, a mantra will activate areas of the nervous system and brain and allow you to shift your mental state and the perceptual vision or energetic ability associated with it.
Q. What makes Kundalini Yoga so effective?
A. Kundalini Yoga is known as the yoga of angles and triangles. The use of angles in Kundalini Yoga postures, in combination with pranayama, mantras and mudras, is one of the main reasons that Kundalini Yoga works as quickly as it does. The angles put pressure on the glands to secrete. When a posture is released and the body is still, the glandular secretions that have been stimulated have an opportunity to circulate freely. The result is a balanced glandular system that has a definitive effect on your emotional stability through the chemistry of your body.
