An hour-long Kundalini Yoga workout, especially geared towards releasing stress and flushing toxins. Maya Fiennes instructs.

Any level of relatively fit exerciser. Familiarity with Kundalini Yoga would be helpful, although not necessary. You will just need a mat — Kundalini doesn't use props and no modifications are shown.

Those who are used to traditional Hatha Yoga usually need a bit of a mental adjustment to get into Kundalini. Instead of holding poses, or flowing seamlessly from one pose to the next, you get chanting, breath exercises and a series of dynamic movements that often push you to the edge of your endurance. Kundalini is meant to awaken the energy along your spine and cleanse your endocrine system while raising your level of consciousness — it's not the type of practice that can be watered down or made less New Agey sounding. It is what it is, take it or leave it (but you will get a world of benefit if you take it). All that said, this particular Kundalini routine is perfect for those who are a little intimidated by this unique Yoga style and want a way to ease into it. All the moves are done sitting or on hands and knees, and while Fiennes does mention Kundalini's spiritual aspects now and again, she's not quite as over-the-top as some other instructors. Even though you are mostly sitting for this routine, however, don't think you aren't working — you will be doing exercises for minutes at a time and your body will want to stop long before Fiennes tells you to. Because you are sitting for much of the routine, there are a lot of arm movements, plus gentle spinal movements, all meant to ease the stress from your body. Fiennes is a good instructor — not too talky, and she explains the benefits of the exercises you are doing. Specific exercises are done to clear the adrenals and balance the kidneys (Kundalini specializes in this sort of thing), and you finish with a pleasant, relaxing Shavasana. You end the practice feeling light and slightly quivery, but not quite as spacey as you might after a more intense Kundalini session.

 

 

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