There are many tools and practices out there that help us understand ourselves through our mind and bodies, but not very many that can help us understand ourselves through our subtle energy body. This is where Kundalini Yoga comes in! This practice is all about aligning your energy body so that you can flow as a whole being. When you get to know yourself through your energy, you increase your capability to process emotions. You also have one more access point to understand where you may be depleted or blocked. Personally, I’ve never felt a shift so strongly
as I did when I (accidentally) took a Kundalini class at the Bali Festival. I’d never felt strongly emotional during a yoga class before but at that moment when we let the vibration of our collective mantra chanting sink in, I couldn’t help but let a tear roll down my cheek because that feeling of “oneness” was so strong. That’s when I started to get curious about Kundalini…
In this episode, we get to learn from Kundalini Yoga and Meditation teacher + Gong Sound Healer, Victoria Amore. Her passion is bringing the ancient technology and wisdom into our modern lives.. Obsessed with the Moon and the power of being a woman, Victoria’s deeply spiritual lifestyle has placed her in the presence, teaching and learning alongside some of the worlds renown spiritual teachers from many linages in India, LA, Peru and across Europe- all of which is intuitively woven into her teachings.
Victoria had a similar bumpy experience with Kundalini in that she went into her first class expecting one thing but walked out with a completely different outcome. It was a good thing because it’s what’s led her to share this practice with so many people today! In specific, Victoria talks to us about the Kundalini energies which also includes the chakras. We learn about the benefits of this practice on an energetic & practical level.
Okay, plug in those earbuds! You may just get inspired to try something new ;)
Key Nuggets:
Benefits of Kundalini
Kundalini yoga teaches you to get to know yourself through your energy. Understanding energies and breath has helped Victoria with her anxiety. Instead of a bad day or week she only has a bad hour because she has learned to process her emotions through this practice.
Victoria emphasizes that the benefits of this practice shows itself most powerfully during times of hardships because it can help you get past your downs.
To start a Kundalini practice, just show up, be open and surrender.
Kundalini Energies
Kundalini is all about aligning our energy body so that we can flow as a whole being. Simple alignment starts with breath. A mindful breath can immediately bring in calm and get you tuned into your body. As the energies align you may experience many sensations including tingling or seeing colors.
As we continue to talk about the Kundalini energies, Victoria explains that they come up through the base of the spine and moves up the chakras. Since chakras are such an important part of this system and I haven’t done an actual episode on this yet, Victoria takes the time to briefly bring us through (see below).
In Kundalini yoga, you usually practice based on a chakra ex. there could be a whole class based on the throat chakra. As you get to know your energy body, you’ll being to know which space you need to work on and then use the kriyas and mantras to help you align the energy in that area.
I inquire about why we need to shift our energies in the first pace (ie. why do our energies get blocked) and it all goes back to the negative experiences that we encounter along our journey that have been jarred up and hasn’t had a chance to release.
Chakras
Victoria gives us a quick run down of our chakra system, which is essentially a map of our energy body.
Chakras: Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, Crown and in Kundalini there’s an eighth point which is the aura.
The root chakra is particularly important because it’s our foundation. If it’s not strong then it’s like building a house on sand.
Victoria identifies the root and crown chakra as the most important points when you are trying to gain a sense of self. Together, these two chakras help you understand Who Am I.
A mantra to help balance yourself: sa ta na maa
This mantra represents infinity - life, death and rebirth. During our conversation, we’re also given hand movements to go with this mantra for max wellbeing
One of Your Biggest Lessons So Far:
“To be unapologetically myself. To find out who that is and be it in every moment”
What is one nugget of wisdom that you would share with fellow seekers who are on this journey of growth and transformation?
Honor the pause. Take a pause and give yourself however long it takes!
Resources:
For more about Kundalini Yoga, listen to Episode 67: "Weird" Practices in Kundalini Yoga Explained with Sat Shakti Kaur
Links:
If you have any questions for Victoria or want to learn more, connect with her through:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vkundalini/