I’ve never taken a yoga class before. What can I expect?

All of my classes are a safe space where my instruction is an invitation, not a command. All are welcome regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation or race. My students range in age from early 20s on up to people in their 80s. All you need to be able to do in my classes is breathe! My emphasis is never on your range of movement. Instead, we focus on the basic yogic principle of aligning your breath with your body. This is what differentiates yoga from calisthenic exercise. And that’s all yoga really is: the word “yoga” means “union” in Sanskrit and that refers to the union of body, mind and soul.

What is kundalini yoga? How is it different from other types of yoga?

Kundalini yoga is also called kriya yoga (see below). It’s a holistic and highly transformative practice that moves beyond the physical focus of other yoga styles and hearkens back to yoga’s ancient roots – when yoga was about mental discipline, energetic work, and awakening higher states of consciousness. The breathing exercises, hand gestures and chanting are what differentiates this from other yoga styles like vinyasa flow (the style taught most often in western studios and gyms). Kundalini yoga kriyas work deeply on the nervous system (to handle stress) and endocrine system (to regulate hormones and emotions), making it particularly effective for those dealing with burnout, anxiety, or emotional imbalances. It’s also extremely useful for those suffering from addiction, or who are in recovery from addiction.

What is a kriya, and how does it work?

Kriyas work by stimulating and directing energy through the body, particularly along the spine and through the chakra system. Each kriya class that I teach has a specific goal and energetic impact. We use movement (postures and breathwork), mantras (chanting), mudras (hand gestures) and meditation to achieve that goal. Sometimes we work with specific chakras or do kriyas to strengthen our aura or expand our magnetic field.  

What is the purpose of chanting mantras?

Mantras are not just words—they are sound vibrations that resonate in the body, activating specific energy centers or stimulating specific systems, glands, or meridians in the body, such as the nervous system, or the pineal gland. Chanting also stimulates the vagus nerve, which regulates stress and emotional balance. There are 82 acupressure points on the tongue and upper palate, so when we chant we are sending vibrations through those points into the rest of the body. Our thoughts and beliefs are shaped by repetitive mental patterns, and mantras help replace negative or limiting thoughts with higher vibrational, sacred and ancient affirmations. Unlike silent meditation, chanting creates an active engagement with the body, breath, and mind, making it a excellent and gentle way to shift energy.

I heard kundalini yoga is a dangerous cult?

There’s been a lot of publicity in recent years about kundalini yoga cults and the deplorable behavior of some within the that yoga community (teachers and students alike) whose practices took them not out of ego, but into ego traps. I have practiced yoga with some of these groups, prior to any public allegations, and there were many people just like me in the ‘90s and ‘00s who were drawn to kundalini yoga for their own personal reasons. I and many others like me have never been involved in a cult or cult activity. We practice this yoga because it benefits us. We do not believe in coercive control of any sort, we do not condone idoltry or cults of personality, and we condemn the activities of such groups. As your teacher I will never tell you what to wear, when or how much to practice yoga, what to eat, who you can associate with, or endorse a prescriptive lifestyle of any sort. I function as a guide to my students, while they are in class only. What my students do with the rest of their lives is their business, not mine. I also would like to point out that kundalini yoga is not the only style of yoga that has seen unscrupulous leaders abuse their positions of power (the Bikram, Anusara, Ashtanga, Kripalu and Sivananda traditions were all brought to the western world by men who have been accused of gross misconduct).

Are your classes spiritual or religious?

My classes are about holistic health, first and foremost. They are about helping you align your body, mind and spirit by connecting to a universal energy or higher consciousness (often referred to as the divine, the self, or the source). This style of yoga is non-dogmatic and non-denominational, so it’s not religious in any way. It is open to anyone seeking either physical healing or spiritual growth. With that being said, the practice of yoga around the world has greatly suffered from cultural appropriation due to the influence of colonization, which has stripped yoga from its context. Yoga is, by definition, a spiritual practice. It has always been so much more than physical exercise done to achieve trendy aesthetic or superficial goals. I strive for my classes to encompass all eight limbs of yogic philosophy, not just one or two.

Will I have a kundalini awakening if I do this yoga?

It’s possible. The subject of kundalini awakening is highly esoteric and unscientific, and as such it’s not well-understood. I will say that spiritual awakening is a contract between you and your higher self (or you and God, however you define that), and it’s my belief that if your soul is called to awaken (whatever that means), it will. Your practice of yoga is a tool on your spiritual or healing journey, though; it is not the healing journey itself. I am very aware of the dangers of sudden spiritual awakening, having been through most of them myself. In my experience, sudden or traumatic awakenings are rare. I was careful to select a trauma-informed teacher training program from which to earn my teaching credentials, and I have also studied extensively under spiritual teachers who are not yogis but who use yogic practices like breath control. This is why I do not teach a lot of breath of fire or other advanced techniques in most of my classes, as they tend to raise too much energy and cause disruption for people, instead of healing. My approach to teaching is significantly more gentle than other modern kundalini yoga classes.