Kundalini Yoga is the most powerful Yoga ever known and is
considered as the mother of all the Styles of Yoga.
It centers on awakening the Kundalini, the energy (serpent power or Bhujangini)
which is found at the base of our spine or the Muladhara Chakra.
Kundalini came from the word kunda which means "pot" but it Kundalini Sadhna,
it is defined as the coiled energy that looks like a serpent with three
and a half coils lying dormant at the base of the spine with the tip
of its tail to its mouth. The three coils represent the Three Gunas:
the Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, the half coil represents the VIkritis.
Anatomically, Kundalini is located in the perineum region of the body,
that is between the rectum and the testicles in males and between
the vagina and clitoris in females. Kundalini is also the symbol of
uniformity of the masculine power called Siva and the feminine power
called Sakti. When these two different sources of energy unite,
they become complete and become a fundamental source of energy and power.
This union happens in the brain or Sahasrara Chakra and gives us divine
prosperity, universal energy, creativity, feeling of love and affection
and eliminates negative feelings such as depression and jealousy.

Kundalini Yoga was brought to the West by Yogi Bhajan in 1969.
The practice of Kundalini Yoga involves Classic Poses, Chanting or
Mantra, coordination of Breath and movement and Meditation.
The emphasis however, is not on the Yoga Poses but on the Chanting
and Breathing. Kundalini Yoga rewards Yogis with spiritual transformation
and unity consciousness. When the Kundalini is awakened, it produces
a hissing sound like a beaten serpent and pierces through the Muladhara
Chakra (Bheda), then through the Brahma Nadi and through the various Chakras
until it reaches the Sahasrara Chakra. As the Kundalini passes through a
Chakra, you will feel intense heat and once it leaves that Chakra to go
to the next Chakra, the one it left will feel very cold and appear lifeless.

To understand the path of the Kundalini better, you need to understand
the Nervous System especially the Spinal Cord. The Nervous System serves
as the main control of our body and is responsible for thought,
imagination, memory and intelligence. It is composed of the brain,
nerves and the Spinal Cord. The nerves are the parts which connect
the different parts of the body either directly to the brain or
through the spinal cord. The brain, on the other hand, commands
and controls the body's functions. The Spinal Cord is composed of
delicate nerves and tissues and is protected by the Spinal or
Vertebral Column. This organ serves as the link between the brain
and the body. The Spinal Cord is lined with two circles of tissues
on each side. The left part is the Ida Nadi, the right is the Pingala
Nadi and the canal on which these two Nadis connect to each other is
called the Sushumna Nadi. The base of the Spinal Cord is closed and
triangle shaped with different plexuses and centers on it. These centers
are known as the Chakras.

Kundalini Yoga can be awakened by the practice of Asanas, Pranayamas,
and Mudras, by concentration and training of the mind, by the practice
of Bhakta Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Mantras, by the grace of the Guru (Guru Kripa)
or a combination of these practices. Some may achieve it by merely
practicing the principles of Hatha Yoga, but in most cases, you will
need to combine different methods. The ease or difficulty of awakening
the Kundalini depends on the growth and position of the Sadhakas in the
spiritual path. Awakening the Kundalini does not take much time and effort,
the difficult thing is to take it through the Chakras up to the Sahasrara
Chakra. This requires you to be patient, persevering, pure and dedicated
for constant practice. The awakening of the Kundalini Sakti is characterized
by the freedom from all Poisons such as Kama, Krodha, Raga and Dvesha.
A balanced mind, absolute courage, desirelessness, Siddhis, divine intoxication
and spiritual Ananda also distinguish a Yogi who achieved Kundalini.
You will be in the state of Unmani or the state of no body-consciousness
or being dead to the world. Kundalini also opens the mind which results
to the possession of psychic powers and control over the five elements.
Once Kundalini reaches its final destination, the Sahasrara Chakra,
you will be in the knowledge space or Chidakasa.