What is Kundalini? Awakening the energy within through Yoga, breath & awareness


I am often asked — “Guru Singh, what is Kundalini?” The question stirs a gentle smile because Kundalini is not merely a “what,” but an infinite essence — a silent, sacred force that awakens when the soul is ready. The sages called it “The Taming of the Dragon” — learning to ride this immense kundalini energy with wisdom.
Kundalini awakening is not something that happens outside of you. It is the moment your inner universe begins to spiral into conscious awareness. It starts within the body, but it echoes through all of life.
This power is physical, and it is primal. It lies coiled — three and a half times — at the base of your spine, nestled in the sympathetic and parasympathetic pelvic plexus. The word Kundalini in Sanskrit means “coiled line.” But it is more than a shape — it is your life’s story folded within you, waiting to be read.
The kundalini awakening process is not about adding anything to yourself — it is about unfolding what’s already there.
The ancient roots of Kundalini awakening
The wisdom of kundalini awakening stretches back thousands of years. It was first described in the sacred Upanishads, and its practices blossomed in the 9th century with Kundalini Yoga. This spiritual technology matured further in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which spoke of kundalini energy as the key to transcending the material world.
In these teachings, Kundalini Shakti — the feminine power of creation — is revered as the Divine Mother. She is the force behind all transformation. She is not dormant because she is weak — she is dormant because she is waiting for you to be ready.
When Guru Nanak shared the science of Shabd Guru, he deepened the pathway to kundalini awakening through sound and mantra. He knew that this sacred resonance could awaken the kundalini energy in a way that was both profound and safe — as a householder’s path.
How Kundalini energy moves in the body
Your body is not merely a physical vessel — it is a temple of kundalini energy. When you engage with kundalini yoga — through movement, sound, mudras, and breath — you send a message to Kundalini Shakti. You say: “I am ready.”
As this kundalini energy begins to rise through the central channel (Sushumna), it ignites the chakras like candles. With each ignition, a new perception, a new awakening, a new consciousness becomes available to you.
Every breath you take during kundalini yoga is a conversation with Kundalini Shakti. Every mantra you chant, every posture you hold, is a signal — calling the Divine energy up through the body.
The Science and soul of Kundalini Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is more than a practice — it is a path. It is a precise spiritual science that awakens kundalini energy while grounding it through discipline and devotion.
Through kriyas (yogic sequences), pranayama (breath control), mantra (sacred sound), and meditation, this yoga system orchestrates an inner symphony — a sacred tuning of your nervous system, mind, and soul.
Regular kundalini yoga practice builds resilience, clarity, compassion, and self-awareness. But it is not always easy. The path of kundalini awakening often challenges you, reflecting the duality of life itself. Yet within that challenge, you become more alive.
Recognizing the signs of a Kundalini awakening
When Kundalini Shakti begins to rise, she speaks in sensations:
- A surge of heat up the spine
- Vivid dreams or visions
- Emotional release or blissful stillness
- Spontaneous movement or deep meditation
- Heightened intuition and inner clarity
These signs of kundalini awakening are not always dramatic — sometimes they are subtle whispers. But whether quiet or loud, they are always sacred.
How to navigate the journey with grace
Kundalini awakening is not a solo act. It is a sacred relationship. To walk this path safely and joyfully:
- Engage in kundalini yoga with humility
- Keep a daily practice of meditation and grounding
- Use sound, mantra, and prayer to stabilize energy
- Seek the support of experienced teachers and community
- Journal each shift, each symptom, each awakening
This journey is not about bypassing life — it is about embracing it more fully.
Kundalini Shakti: The divine mother within
Kundalini Shakti is the creative power of the cosmos within your own spine. She is the sacred feminine, the one who knows how to transform pain into wisdom, and stillness into power.
She is the river that flows from body to spirit — carrying you toward your infinite Self.
To welcome Kundalini Shakti is to return to truth. To recognize the beauty in your own unfolding. To awaken with reverence, not urgency. With compassion, not comparison.
Her message is always clear: You are already whole.
Sat Nam,
Guru Singh & Guruperkarma Kaur
Founders of KundaliniUniversity.com
& The13Moons.studio