Kundalini Meditation

In many respects, Kundalini Meditation is like every other type of meditation you have ever heard of. Behaviors and postures are the same although those who practice and teach it might say this is a particular type of meditation. If you know what meditation is, then Kundalini Meditation will be easy.

Not a Religion

Teachers might tell you this is not part of religious practice. You are not praying to a particular god (Buddha, for instance). There is no association to Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, or Islam. When you practice Kundalini Meditation, the purpose is to shut out other sounds, influences, and cut out stress by connecting mind and body through your breath. Eventually, you will also connect with your higher self and, potentially, God.

Which God?

No particular god is the right God in this sense; in fact, one description suggests that your higher self is the god you are after. In other words, connecting with your higher consciousness, the part kept untouched by the taint of everyday living (if there is such a thing), is ideal.

If you can get above the worldly elements of your life, you can achieve a perfect state in which to re-energize. Practitioners even recommend this as a time to be prayerful: but to whom and about what? When there is no higher power, but a source of “energy,” is some deity going to answer prayer? The description is a little confusing and starts to sound religious in spite of initial claims to the contrary.

Easy to Secularize

Perhaps this is the easiest form of meditation to incorporate into any yoga practice: spiritual or secular. All you need is a quiet place and a little bit of time where you can relax. Choose a place without distractions or turn off distractions such as the telephone and TV. Mute your cell phone or answering machine. Put a sign on the door that says “do not disturb: meditation in progress.”

If you subscribe to a particular religion, use this as an opportunity to focus on your idea of God. Repeat words which help you get into a serene head space. Pick a mantra offered by teachers or choose one that is personal to you.

Comfort and Concentration

Select a time when you won’t have to rush off right away and kids will not be piling through the door after school begging for food. Choose a time when your stomach isn’t growling but also not overfed because digesting a heavy meal requires blood flow and energy. You need both to find your center.

Pick a spot on your floor where your legs and bum will not become numb or sore. You should be able to maintain a straight posture with legs crossed in front of you for the duration of your meditation. Online descriptions and meditation videos or audio classes supply helpful ideas if you are doing this at home without the aid of mats, and these videos also supply calming music if you want some.

How Long?

Meditate for the length of time required to fully refocus your mind and process whatever is bothering you, if anything. Take 5 minutes or longer: just don’t fall asleep or choose this opportunity to stew over stuff to the point where you feel even worse. Your mind has been quieted when you can hear your own breathing moving rhythmically and deeply through your body.