Transformation in Kundalini Yoga

"The purpose of Kundalini Yoga is transformation." Yogi Bhajan

Transformation is something we all are looking for when we are thinking of taking up yoga, whether we are aware of it or not. I, personally, had a very unhealthy lifestyle, was ill a lot, never had any energy and spent most of my free time in a pub or getting intoxicated in one way or another. I was in my early twenties but I felt like 50 years old and I hit the rock bottom. I knew I couldn’t continue living like that and this state got me to my first yoga class. Fast forward 13 years and I feel more alive, stronger and healthier than ever. The transformation I was looking for came in many forms over the 13 years period but without a doubt, Kundalini Yoga was the most powerful, profound and sustainable tool on my path. All kinds of yoga are transformational, the difference is that Kundalini Yoga is laser-focused. 10 years of practicing Hatha Yoga will create similar benefits as 1 year of regular Kundalini Yoga practice. As Russell Brands puts it “Kundalini Yoga is the crack cocaine of yoga. If hatha is a mild weed high, iyengar is a deep hash glow, and ashtanga is amphetamine, Kundalini blows the *ucking doors off.” 

How does it happen?

Kundalini Yoga shifts energy. Everything in the Universe is made out of energy, including us. So if we want to change any aspect of our life we need to shift energy within us. How does Kundalini Yoga do it? It combines physical movement, breath, sound and rhythm. Each of those components will shift energy but combined together in a focused way will work much faster, the effects will be more profound and sustainable which is exactly what Kundalini Yoga does. The main part of every Kundalini Yoga class is a kriya – yoga set with a specific goal in mind. Kriya means a transformation in action. The best part of it is, you don’t need to understand it, know anything or follow any cultural/ religious beliefs. It just works. All you have to do it follow the teacher’s instructions, perform it to your ability and the transformation will happen. It’s magic!

Although it is very profound and efficient, is very subtle and safe at the same time. It can work instantly and many people feel the difference after their first class but often it requires more regular practice. There is no fireworks or light striking as Russell Brand may be suggesting it but people notice a slight difference in their personality and behavior over time. I often hear “I used to be very anxious about meeting new people but I’m not anymore” or “I would never apply for that new job if it wasn’t for Kundalini Yoga” or “Since doing Kundalini Yoga I sleep much better and I deal with stressful situations in a more positive and peaceful manner” and “Others say I look so radiant”.  

Why do we need transformation?

Growth is a natural state of every human being. From the time we come to this world our physical body grows and changes, whether we want it or not. We can’t change this process. It’s similar with our mind and soul. They thrive on growth and expansion. One of my teachers often repeats: “If we don’t expand, we shrink.”  Kundalini Yoga allows us to transform and expand in a beautiful, supporting and sacred environment. It will show us only as much as we can take and it’s up to us whether we want to jump in. Will you jump into the world of magic, opportunities and peace? Or you prefer to be stuck in that job, relationship or any other aspect of your life that doesn’t feel right or fulfilling? We always have a choice. You can start creating and transforming your life today, all you have to do is to apply these transformative tools. 

I would love to be your guide on that journey. I’ve been teaching for over 7 years and almost every day I see the transformation in people who practice with me and in myself. I’m forever grateful for all the tools in Kundalini Yoga and my mission is to spread them as much as possible and let others experience its magic too.

Lastly, if you’ve experienced transformation in Kundalini Yoga tell us about it in the comments below. Your story will inspire others!

7 keys to prosperity

Prosperity is a state of mind! There are people with massive bank accounts but they live in scarcity, constant fear and ‘there’s not enough’ attitude. Prosperity is when you’re full of trust, grace, and security. Prosperity is when you’re in tune with yourself and the Universe. Think of the scale of the Universe, it’s infinite, as is its abundance and creativity. The more you connect with the universal flow and feel it in your being - the more prosperous, abundant and resourceful you will become. Our main challenge is our ego that wants to be in control, have clear boundaries and feel safe. That illusion of control and safety keeps us from living abundant and prosperous life we all can live. 

Here are some reminders how to be more in the flow and in alignment with the Universe.

1. You’re worthy

Our main blockage to prosperity is that we don’t think we deserve it. There is subconscious programming running in many of our psyches saying that there is something wrong with us, that we are not good enough and we need to work hard for anything. It’s time to reprogram your subconscious mind to something more empowering like “I’m worthy of living in prosperity, I’m abundance, I’m enough”. Make it your mantra and see your reality transforming.  

2. Gratitude

Living in gratitude brings us back to our heart center. When we are grateful for whatever there is, more will come our way. Gratitude brings peace and light into our bodies and minds. It helps us relax and connect with ourselves on a deeper level. In the state of gratitude, we raise our vibration and it’s so much easier to manifest from such state of being.

3. Feel abundance

We attract what we feel, not what we want. So make habit of feeling abundant. I find it very easy to feel abundance in nature. When I’m out walking I admire great trees, bushes, flowers. There is so much abundance in nature, especially in the summertime. The way we are feeling at any given moment has a direct impact on the quality of life we are creating for ourselves. If you want to transform your reality, focus on where you’re heading, not what is right in front of you. If you’re keep feeling lack and “there is not enough” you will be creating your reality where there will be lack and not enough. I’m not talking here about kidding ourselves or being in denial, I’m talking about transforming our subconscious mind and “installing new software” on the “computer” of our subconscious mind. So practice feeling abundance and you will see more abundance in your life.     

4. Infinite universe

Whenever I’m shrinking and thinking small I remind myself of the size of the Universe. Immediately I feel the expansion, limitless, infinity. We are part of the universe too, so we are the expansion, we are limitless and infinity. As mentioned earlier it’s the ego that is keeping us small, “safe” and “in control”. It is scary to surrender to the vastness of the Universe but it’s the best place to be. And this takes us to the next step...  

5. Trust

To surrender to the vastness of the Universe we need to learn to trust. Trust is the base of any good relationship and the one with the Universe too. I believe Universe only supports you and pours its abundance to you when it’s certain you’re in trust. So exercise your trust. Know that Universe has your back and it’s there for you no matter what. Trust and let the magic unfold.

6. Open heart and open mind

Prosperity often comes in ways we least expect it. This is why an open mind and open heart help us to see beyond ordinary. Logic can take you from A to B, imagination can take you anywhere. That openness, acceptance, and peace in your heart will take you from ordinary to extraordinary, where the magic happens. Relax and be ready to receive.

7. Live 3 Laws of Prosperity by Yogi Bhajan

Be kind to everyone.

Never speak ill of others.

Never speak ill of yourself.

When we can’t fully accept ourselves and others we close our heart and we disconnect from the Universe. We reinforce the idea that there is “not enough”, not enough happiness, success, and abundance for everybody.   

I invite you to take only one point from this article and practice it daily. When you feel you have mastered it, move on to the next one. Which one do you want to practice today?

Let me know in the comments below. 

Wishing you lots of prosperity and abundance! With love, Daria x

5 easy tips to boost your Kundalini yoga practice

Kundalini Yoga was designed for busy people, who work, have families and other commitments. It was designed to improve one’s performance at those tasks and not take one away from it. Hence, there are many simple, powerful and quick tools we can apply to change the energy in our bodies and our state of mind. Kundalini Yoga is a vast technology which can be applied in many various ways in everyday life. Today I wanted to introduce a few of those ways that are almost effortless but in a long run, they will make a big difference.

1. Trust its power

People come to Kundalini Yoga for many reasons and they approach it in various ways. It produces an enormous amount of energy but one can receive only as much as one is prepared to take. You can come to a class to feel more relaxed, uplifted and positive after or you can allow it to heal your body and mind, transform limiting believes and deeply empower you. It's a little bit like having an iPhone and just making phone calls, and not using its full potential. So if you feel the call, have an intention in every class and let Kundalini Yoga work for you on a deeper level. 

2. 10 minutes a day

Commit to 10 minutes of yoga or meditation a day. Small steps are fantastic because you can do it easily and feel accomplished which motivates further progress. The incredible thing about Kundalini yoga is that 5 or 10 minutes of regular, daily practice can really shift your energy or bring the body into correct alignment. Make this 10 minutes your priority, time for yourself and your Self will do lots for you in return. Ordinary tasks done regularly produce extraordinary results! Not sure what to do? Drop me a line and I will be happy to help you.

3. Play mantras at home

There are many benefits of playing mantras wherever you are. First of all, you will easily learn various mantras that probably will be used in a class. Secondly, it raises the vibration of the environment where it’s played. Once a student came to Yogi Bhajan for advice on his struggling business. Yogi Bhajan told him to play Aap Sahai Hooaa mantra on repeat 24-7. Power of this chant helped to remove obstacles and indeed the energy of the venture lifted, it became prosperous again.

4. Read a book

I don't know about you but I'm obsessed with books. Reading for me is like immersing myself in a different world, learning from it and getting inspired. There are many books on Kundalini yoga that will do just that for you. They will widen your perspective, open your mind and heart. And they are easily accessible now. 9 years ago when I was starting my Kundalini adventure it was really difficult to buy any books on Kundalini Yoga in the UK. So glad things are changing and Kundalini yoga is growing as fast as it is. Wahe guru! Oh I’ve created my books recommendation for you too.

5. Immersion

I like a holistic approach to life, or to my practice. One thing is learning something and another is subtle immersion with like-minded people, sharing yogic tips and realization that we are not isolated on this path and there are other people as crazy as us. That's why I encourage you to book yourself onto a workshop or retreat and dive into this technology, its lifestyle and let it become part of your life. This is when the magic happens. 

If you know me, you know how much joy I get when I hear you practicing more and applying the technology of Kundalini Yoga in your life. So please share in the comments which of those tips seem appealing and whether you’re going to take action.

P.S. To leave a comment click on the title of this post and scroll to the bottom.            

Kundalini Yoga books to inspire and educate

People often ask for a recommendation of Kundalini Yoga books when they want to learn more, get more inspired or want to start a home practice. There are many books available at the moment and I will introduce you to different kind of books that may appeal to different personality types. Have a good scroll and I hope it will inspire you to dive deeper into your Kundalini Yoga practice.   

‘Yoga for Real Life’ by Maya Fiennes is an easy, lovely and inspiring read. It will motivate you and allow to do bits and bobs of yoga at home. Maya is a great and highly respected Kundalini Yoga teacher worldwide. In this book, Maya shows how Kundalini Yoga benefited her life and what it can do for you! Beginners will enjoy if It’s more on the feminine side, but guys fear not I have something masculine for you too.

‘The Invincible Living’ by Guru Jagat another celebrity yoga teacher from the US. Guru Jagat is a powerful and unique Kundalini Yoga teacher. She has a scientific approach and this is the impression of this book. Her teaching style is all about transformation, empowerment, human potential and radiance. If this tickles your fancy that’s the book for you. You will find simple meditations and yoga set, as well as practical tips.

'The 8 human talents' by Gurmukh. It's a beautiful book about charkas, Kundalini Yoga and meditation. If you want to learn more about chakras and how their energy affects your everyday life this book is for you. There are many stories of Gurmukh herself and her students. You will probably relate to some of them or will be able to understand your own journey with yoga. I definitely recommend this book to everybody, no matter whether you're more right- or left-brained. 

‘The Kundalini Yoga Experience’ by Darryl O'Keeffe & Guru Dharma Singh Khalsa is probably little bit more factual and masculine. It explains many postures, breathing exercises and meditations, very practical and precise. There are full sets (kriyas) which you can do at home. Perfect if you want to establish your own Kundalini Yoga practice.  

The last two books are for hardcore Kundalini Yogis.

‘Kundalini Yoga: The Flow of Eternal Power - a Simple Guide to the Yoga of Awareness as Taught by Yogi Bhajan’  by Shakti Pawha Kaur Khalsa it’s a fantastic book if you really want to learn more and go deeper into your practice. Many interesting facets of Kundalini Yoga and lifestyle explained in an accessible way. Plus yoga sets, meditations, yogic recipes and more. Full of wisdom.  

Last but not least, ‘Laws of Life’ lecture by the master of Kundalini Yoga himself. A little book but full of wisdom and can leave you contemplating for a while. Wanna taste of the original teachings of Yogi Bhajan? This is a good place to start...

There are obviously many more books on Kundalini Yoga but this will keep you going. If you’re looking for something more specific, get in touch I will be happy to help. Oh and let me know if you read any of those books and what are your thoughts.  

Join weekly live classes, or learn more about Kundalini Yoga here.

Kundalini Yoga Music

The healing, uplifting and transformational power of music has a very long history. Most cultures have traditions of singing songs because when we sing we are more in touch with our soul and each other. Sound travels easily through water and since our bodies are mainly water this is how the healing happens. Have you heard of the “Happy Birthday Effect”? Look at your family pictures of people just before they sing “Happy Birthday” song and after it and you will see their faces are different, more joyful, radiant and happier after they sung the song. Music is one of Kundalini Yoga’s superpowers. It keeps one focused, creates wonderful atmosphere and connects body, mind and spirit together.

I often get asked about the music I share in my classes so decided to write a blog and feature some of my favourite artists. The only problem is there’s too much good music and I don’t want to overwhelm you so here’s part one and I will follow with some more great music in future posts.

For more information about an artist click on their image.

Music that got my attention even before I’ve started practicing Kundalini Yoga was Snatam Kaur. It was played in my hatha yoga class and it touched me so deeply I had it on repeat on my iPod for a long time.. Snatam has been part of Kundalini Yoga scene from her birth as her father was dedicated student of Yogi Bhajan from early 1970. Her father, Sat Santokh Singh Khalsa, was a manager of the Grateful Dead so both Kundalini Yoga and music were big in their family.

Jai Jagdeesh is another number one on my list:-). Her music is very different to Snatam’s, it’s more modern, she sings mantras and some incredible English songs too. Both very powerful, healing and heart opening. And she is just a very lovely and funny person. Follow her on Instagram for a good laugh.  

Including a picture of me ironing her outfit before her performance in Manchester in 2018. 

Mirabai Ceiba are my recent favourite so if you come to my classes you have heard it a lot lately. I always knew of them but really fell in love at European Yoga Festival 2018. They led the closing ceremony with live music and it was mind blowing. See the video on my Instagram. 

Last few artist I want to mention are Gurunam Singh, and two local musicians Benjamin from Wales and Kamari & Manvir from Preston. The last two have very funky twist and will get you dancing, singing and celebrating!

So there you have it. My favourite Kundalini Yoga music at the moment. You will easily find it on Spirit Voyage, YouTube, iTunes and Spotify. Enjoy!

I wonder what’s your favourite new age music at the moment? Please comment below. Sharing is caring:-)

Join weekly live classes, or learn more about Kundalini Yoga here.