Hatha-Based Kundalini Yoga
This type of yoga is only called “Kundalini Yoga” but it is not the kind of Kundalini
Yoga that is popular in the West. In the West, Kundalini Yoga was taught by Yogi
Bhajan and is a very dynamic system of yoga full of mantra, mudra, asana, kriya
and lifestyle teachings. See the Kundalini Yoga page for more information about
this style.
Kundalini Yoga in the West should not be confused with a Hatha-based “Kundalini
Yoga” as taught in India by Swami Sivananda. In this tradition, it is a very austere
and strict form the Hatha yoga based heavily on Vedic literature. There are extensive
cleansing exercises, asana, pranayama, and dietary restrictions. This type of “Kundalini
Yoga” is based in the Sanskrit language, not Gurmukhi.
If you find a Kundalini Yoga class in the West, it will likely be based on the tradition
of Yogi Bhajan, rather than Swami Sivananda. If you are interested in a class on
this type of Hatha-based Kundalini Yoga, you will have to hunt to find one, and
may have to go all the way to India to study it.
(Editor’s Note: The term Hatha-based Kundalini Yoga is entirely created by Spirit
Voyage to prevent confusion between this type of Kundalini Yoga and the type taught
by Yogi Bhajan. Whenever Kundalini Yoga is used on this website, it is used to refer
to Yogi Bhajan’s teachings.)
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