My discovery of Kundalini Yoga was a little unconventional. Sitting in a café waiting for my friend, I could not help but overhear part of a conversation. Words such as “naad”, “balance of mind, spirit and body”, “alignment”, “vibrations” and “synchronicity” pricked my ears like the word coffee to a caffeine addict. Overwhelmed by this sense of needing to know I interrupted the conversation, and introduced myself.  Jude handed me a card and explained she taught Kundalini Yoga just down the road – all I heard was breathwork, chanting, set exercises and mediation. I thought right this is the class for me.

For the past two years my body has been recovering from glandular fever and adrenal fatigue. This illness heightened my awareness of my energy and lack thereof. At the first class my mindset almost got the better of me, loud chanting and noisy breathing seemed a little uncouth. However, with encouragement from Jude and following the example set by my classmates I settled into the kriya’s rhythm.  Afterwards my body was tingling from my top to my toes with energy in a way that no exercise or meditation had done before.

That was about five years ago, from then on I took the lessons learnt in class and apply them in the everyday. My day begins with morning practice, Sadhana – I try to be up at 4am but it’s closer to 6am – and I find this sets me up for the day. If I need to focus, make a decision or just relax and take time out I use different breathing techniques.

My favourite part of Kundalini would be the classes and the full moon mediations. Each teacher has their individual approach and each kriya and meditation we practice I feel a shift towards being more aware of my own body, listening to how it feels before, during and after an exercise. I feel as if each time I participate I learn a little more about myself and I am keen to carry on with the learning

Kundalini has given me practical skills to deal with life’s twists and turns with a little more grace, agility and discipline