What is Hatha and Kundalini Yoga?
Our yoga is not a mixture of Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga, but a consistent system that finds the source and power of today's Kundalini Yoga in ancient Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is the system in which Kundalini is the key to liberation.
Our yoga makes direct reference to these sources, discovers the diverse techniques of modern Kundalini Yoga in ancient Hatha and develops a rich, contemporary practice from them.
The Origins of Hatha and Kundalini Yoga
Hatha Yoga originated with the practice of Matsyendra Natha, a Tantric master who may have practiced the secret teachings of Tantra in a cave in Goa during the 8th century.
This Kaula Tantra was imbued with Kundalini, the Goddess, who is understood as the power of the soul. She strives to embody the infinite within the finite—to bring the universal to life within the human body. Tantra and Kundalini Yoga are therefore the art of realizing the divine ideal within human experience.
Matsyendra had a disciple, Goraksha Natha, who simplified the rich, mantra-infused practice of Tantra and created a more streamlined system. In this system, Kundalini remained central, but the complex Tantric ritual was replaced by the purely physical practice of Hatha Yoga.
Our Practice Today
We teach this classical form of Hatha Yoga and rediscover Kundalini at the very source of our practice. In doing so, we enrich the techniques of Hatha Yoga, we sufuse them with life.
We use sound and numerous breathing techniques in our Yoga. We cultivate and honor the spiritual roots of our practice
Key Techniques Used in Our Practice
Breathing techniques
Breathing techniques, also known as "breathwork," form the foundation of our practice. In Kundalini Yoga, it is said that the breath is the soul of the physical body—as long as the breath sustains the body, it is full of life.
Kapalabhati – The Breath of the Shining Skull
Kapalabhati is a cleansing technique and is one of the Sat Karmas of classical Hatha Yoga. In this technique, the navel is sharply drawn inward during exhalation, while it relaxes and falls back during inhalation. Kapalabhati illuminates the essence and purifies the vital aspect of your being, the Pranamaya Kosha. It is a fundamental technique in modern Kundalini Yoga.
Bhastrika – The Blacksmith's Breath
Bhastrika is a powerful breathing technique that resembles a blacksmith's bellows. It involves inhaling and exhaling deeply and rapidly with great intensity. This technique generates an inner fire and strengthens the Prana. Unlike Kapalabhati, which primarily has a cleansing effect, Bhastrika increases the power of one’s own life breath.
Like any fire, Bhastrika must be practiced with care. Movement and stillness should be brought into harmony, and the breath must always return to the center.
Sound Yoga and Mantra
Brahmari – The Breath of the Buzzing Bee
Brahmari is a core technique in our yoga practice and, like Bhastrika and Kapalabhati, is practiced in almost every class.
Brahmari is the method that can open the gateway to Brahman—the space of the heart. It is the worship of the Goddess in the form of sound, Sabda Brahman. The practice of Brahmari is accessible, gentle, and expansive. Through humming, the mind can let go, as if in an ocean of honey.
When the mind lets go, you find beauty and freedom beyond it.
Bija – The Seed Sounds
Our yoga honors the ancient tradition of Bija Nyasa, which has always played an important role in Tantra and Kundalini Yoga. In this practice, sounds are placed within the body, causing it to vibrate from within. Sound becomes the gateway through which we can experience ourselves as a body of sound—beyond all limitations.
Mantra – The Sound of the Mind
The Shiva Sutras state: Chittam Mantraha. This means that the mind itself is ultimately the mantra. Our thinking and anticipation are like a constant inner repetition of the mantra of our lives. Just as our mind creates the life we experience, so too does the mantra resonating within it shape its reality.
At our school, we explore the beautiful mantras of our tradition and of Tantra. They embody unity, ecstasy, and the awakening of the inner power that enriches and transforms our lives.
Asana
Holding Poses
A static asana involves sinking into the power embodied by the pose. Static poses require both strength and flexibility and are best suited for advanced practitioners. At our school, we teach 43 foundational poses that can be used to create any wonderful yoga class.
In addition, we will discuss the five chakra kriyas of our lineage, which were developed specifically for the energies of the chakras.
Dynamic Poses
Dynamic poses are often more accessible than static ones, as they allow you to compensate for muscle imbalances and work around physical weaknesses. They are particularly suitable for those whose minds are restless, as the dynamic form of the exercise absorbs the restless energy of the mind and transforms it in the “fire” of the practice.
Pavanmuktasana
In our teacher training programs, we teach three fundamental dynamic sequences that form the foundation for beautiful yoga classes. These sequences are a central component of Sukshma Vyayama and thus the foundation of modern Kundalini Yoga.
Each of the three Pavanmuktasana sequences has a different focus:
- Joint revitalization – ideal for older adults.
- Opening the Energy Flow – particularly suitable for younger practitioners.
- Strengthening the core – aids digestion, activates the abdominal muscles, and strengthens the entire core.
Every yoga class: A creative act
Our yoga draws on the rich heritage of Kundalini Yoga. Everyone who completes a training program with us gains access to a diverse range of techniques that not only help them discover and express their own talents through yoga but also provide valuable tools for designing yoga classes for people from all walks of life.
Our goal is to view yoga as a creative act—a practice in which yoga becomes an expression of yourself while also enriching others.
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