Discovering the Path to Embodiment: My Journey with Kundalini Yoga
My journey with Kundalini Yoga didn't begin in a profound or deeply spiritual way. It began, like it does for many, as something trendy. Yoga was something to try because everyone seemed to be doing it. Back in college, I was looking for ways to stay fit and stretch my body, so yoga seemed like a natural choice. But my early experiences felt hollow.
I walked into classes where people were dressed in expensive yoga outfits, seeming to belong to a club that I didn't understand. The instructors used Sanskrit terms I couldn't follow, and I found the movements choppy and awkward. I wasn't in sync with my breath, my body, or the flow of the class. Yoga at that time felt exclusive, like something that wasn't really meant for me. So, I used it for what I could-maintenance. I treated yoga as a way to stretch my muscles and check a box for self-care.
In hindsight, my early relationship with yoga mirrored how yoga is often approached in the West. Here, yoga is largely reduced to asana-the physical postures-performed as exercise. While this can have incredible physical benefits, it's only a fraction of what yoga truly is. In its origin, yoga is a spiritual and holistic practice designed to align body, mind, and soul. The 8 Limbs of Yoga, as outlined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, guide practitioners toward union with the divine. These limbs include ethical principles, breathwork, meditation, and sensory withdrawal, offering a comprehensive path to self-realization. In the U.S., much of this is lost, leaving yoga as an external practice rather than an inward journey.
At the time, I didn't know what yoga could truly offer. In fact, I didn't think about spirituality at all. I wasn't atheist or agnostic-I just couldn't be bothered to care. Spirituality, to me, was something abstract and irrelevant. It was for other people, not for me. My focus was on the external: success, appearances, and checking off the boxes of life.
It wasn't until years later-after my life began to unravel-that I started to understand.
The Awakening
In 2020, my world started to shift in ways I couldn't have predicted. It began with a questioning-of everything. I started waking up, breaking free from societal conditioning, and seeing the world in a new light. At the same time, my personal life was in turmoil. I lost my father, went through a divorce, and watched the structures of my life collapse around me. These experiences were painful, but they were also catalysts.
As I moved through this process, I started noticing strange changes in my body. My taste buds shifted overnight. My sleep patterns were erratic. And then, without warning, my body began rejecting the medications I had relied on for years. These weren't minor medications-they were substances I thought I couldn't live without. Yet my body, or perhaps something greater within me, seemed to have other plans.
By February 2022, my energetic body came online. That's the best way I can describe it. It felt like my entire being was suddenly alive with electricity. Energy coursed through me, no longer confined to one spot but radiating everywhere. It wasn't gentle or subtle-it was intense and overwhelming. It felt like being electrocuted, as if my body was trying to operate on a frequency I didn't yet understand.
At the time, I was terrified. Western medicine offered no guidance. When I sought help, I was told I needed anti-psychotics or anti-seizure medication. But deep down, I knew this wasn't the answer. My intuition told me I wasn't sick-I was waking up.
The Serendipitous Encounter
A week after this awakening, the universe brought me to Kundalini yoga. A friend connected me with a Kundalini coach who hosted a sacred space for women. It felt like divine timing, as though the universe was giving me exactly what I needed. That first class was transformative. For the first time in months, I felt relief.
Surrounded by women who had also experienced their own awakenings, I no longer felt alone. These women validated what I was going through, assuring me I wasn't crazy. Their support was like a balm for my soul. I realized that what I was experiencing wasn't unique-it was part of a much larger process.
Kundalini yoga became my lifeline. It wasn't just a practice; it was a tool to navigate my energy, calm my mind, and reconnect with myself. At its core, Kundalini is a practice that works with the body's energy channels to clear blocks, activate the nervous system, and strengthen your connection to your higher self. Through breathwork, mudras, movement, and chanting, it brings the mind, body, and soul into harmony.
What Exactly Is Kundalini Yoga?
Kundalini Yoga is known as the "yoga of awareness".. Unlike the styles of yoga I was first introduced to, Kundalini isn't just about physical postures and stretching. It's a holistic practice that weaves together movement, breathwork, chanting, meditation, and mudras (specific hand gestures) to work with the body's energy system. The goal is to awaken the kundalini energy that rests at the base of the spine, allowing it to move through the body's energy channels, clearing blocks and connecting you more deeply with your true self.
While the practice is known to increase physical health, it goes so much further than just fitness-it's about building strength in your nervous system, calming your mind, and creating a sense of harmony between your body, soul, and spirit. Kundalini has a way of meeting you where you are while gently helping you grow into who you're meant to be. It's not about perfection but about connection, and it's become one of the most transformative tools in my life.
It's Not a Magic Fix
While Kundalini yoga has become a cornerstone of my life and has helped me tremendously, I want to be clear: it's not a magic fix. I still have challenging days, moments of frustration, and times when I feel overwhelmed or disconnected. My body is still human, my mind still spirals, and life still throws its curveballs. There are days when I feel like I'm back at square one, wrestling with the same anxieties or fears that I thought I had conquered.
But that's the beauty of this practice-it's not about making life perfect; it's about showing up for the messy, imperfect moments with more grace and resilience. Kundalini doesn't promise an end to all struggle, but it equips you with tools to face those struggles differently. On the hard days, when my mind feels chaotic or my nervous system is frazzled, even a few minutes of breathwork or chanting can help me find a sense of calm. It doesn't erase the challenges, but it gives me a way to move through them rather than being consumed by them.
This practice supports my healing, my evolution, and my growth-not by eliminating the hard parts of life but by giving me the strength to meet them. It's like an anchor in the storm, keeping me grounded even when the waves are high. And on the good days, Kundalini amplifies the joy, helping me feel more connected to my body, my energy, and the world around me.
What I've come to understand is that Kundalini yoga is a process-a lifelong journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning. It's not about fixing; it's about witnessing. It teaches you to observe the ebbs and flows of life without judgment, to find balance in the chaos, and to show up for yourself, even when it feels hard.
The practice itself evolves with you. Some days it's a vigorous kriya that leaves you buzzing with energy; other days it's a gentle breathwork session that simply helps you get through the next hour. It meets you where you are, without expectation or judgment. And that, perhaps, is its greatest gift: the permission to be exactly where you are while still moving forward.
Kundalini doesn't make everything perfect in the moment, but it reminds me that I am not alone, that I have tools, and that I am capable of growth. It's not a quick fix, but it's a steady companion on this wild, unpredictable journey of being human. And that's enough.
When Kundalini Feels Off-Putting
I'll be honest-Kundalini yoga can be off-putting at first. Many elements of the practice can feel unusual, even strange. People wearing all white, chanting mantras, holding poses that seem unconventional-it can come across as esoteric or intimidating. But as I've come to learn, much of what appears mystical is actually deeply practical.
Take the all-white clothing, for example. It's not about guru or saint-like status, as many might assume. It's about practicality and mindfulness. White is incredibly easy to stain, so wearing it naturally makes you more aware of your movements and how you interact with the world around you. It's a simple, effective way to cultivate presence and care.
The chanting, too, is often misunderstood. The mantras aren't just beautiful words-they're vibrational tools. When we chant, the sound frequencies stimulate specific points in the mouth that correspond to parts of the brain, activating the nervous system and promoting healing. It's not about mysticism; it's about the science of sound and vibration.
Understanding these elements made me appreciate the practice even more. What might seem foreign at first is, at its core, rooted in intentionality and effectiveness.
Connecting with Spirit
The most transformative shift I've experienced is in my relationship with spirituality. Before Kundalini, I couldn't have cared less about spiritual practices or concepts. But now, I feel deeply connected to not only my own soul but also to the spiritual bodies of others. Kundalini has opened a doorway to a higher consciousness, allowing me to sense and connect with the energetic fields of those around me.
When I work with others, I can feel their spiritual presence, their energy, and their journey. This isn't something I could have imagined years ago. Kundalini has made it possible for me to hold space for others in a way that feels profound and sacred. It's no longer just about me-it's about the collective, about being part of something greater.
Becoming Fully Human
Kundalini has given me more than tools for self-regulation-it's helped me become fully human. In the West, we're often taught to see the body and soul as separate. But Kundalini teaches you that everything is interconnected. It reminds you that your thoughts, energy, and actions ripple out into the world.
This practice has changed how I approach every aspect of my life. As a mother, it's given me the tools to help my children regulate their emotions. As a friend, it's allowed me to hold space for others without absorbing their pain. And as a healer, it's given me a way to guide others toward their own power.
A Tool for the Future
I believe we're living through a pivotal moment in human evolution. The world is shifting, and we're being called to reconnect with ourselves and each other. Kundalini yoga is one of the tools that can help us navigate this change. It strengthens the nervous system, clears the subconscious, and brings us into alignment with our true selves.
This practice has also inspired the creation of the BODHI Healing Center. At BODHI, we're not just teaching yoga-we're providing people with tools to heal themselves. I hope that through sharing my story, others will be inspired to explore this practice and reconnect with their own inner power.
Because when we heal ourselves, we heal the world.
