If You Practice Kundalini Yoga – Know Why It Is Dangerous?

Yoga has become very popular in recent times. People have included it in their daily routine to enhance their physical and mental health. 

It not only awakens our body and helps positive energy flow through but also helps us to have some spiritual experience. 

Different yogas benefit us in different ways. But the most important thing is to learn the correct yoga technique.

While the right forms of yoga can enhance your physical and mental health, the wrong one can be dangerous.

Kundalini yoga is one very popular form of yoga. However, a  large number of people believe that kundalini yoga is dangerous. 

They say that doing the exercise in the wrong way can cause serious health problems. And that you can burn yourself and even cause a fatal heart attack by overdoing it. 

They also say that it is not safe for pregnant women or have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure and that the practice can even cause mental problems like schizophrenia. 

 Do these claims have any merit? Are there risks involved? If so, what are they, and what do you need to do to avoid them?

 In this article, I will give tell you what exactly is Kundalini Yoga, why is it dangerous, its negative effects on physical health, and how to do it safely.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini is a Sanskrit term that means “coiled” snake. This type of yoga is a popular way to awaken your full potential.

Kundalini yoga is a unique style that combines the different types of yoga. The goal is to maximize the effects and benefits of your time spent doing it. 

Many types of yoga combine movements and breathing techniques, while Kundalini integrates chanting and meditation into the yoga practice.

It's because of the different aspects that some feel the effects can be so extreme.

According to the theory, there’s life energy at the base of your spine. It’s coiled like a snake. 

In Kundalini meditation, you can awaken these energy centers and achieve enlightenment through a combination of techniques. These include:

• Physical movements
• Deep breathing
• Mantras (phrases)
• Mudras (hand movements)

These exercises are said to stimulate energy in your physical body. Move the energy along your chakras until it reaches the point of release, which is at your seventh chakra, or crown.

Kundalini Yoga has many reported benefits, such as diminishing negative emotions and balancing mental health. It also improves physical wellness. 

The Kundalini experiences for some people are mental, physical, and spiritual. It can be a powerful experience if done correctly.

 But certain risks come along with the practice of it. Many people say that Kundalini Yoga can potentially cause serious side effects if not taught correctly. 

If you’re interested in Kundalini Yoga, you should learn these side effects before you begin to practice it yourself.

Why is Kundalini Yoga Dangerous?

Kundalini practices are dangerous because it can be incredibly intense and potentially lead to mental problems if you’re not careful.  

There are many instances of people who have suffered from twisted and false teachings. In addition, it can be dangerous for those who're not aware of how to practice what they're doing correctly.

Kundalini Yoga can be scary because it can bring up negative experiences. A bad encounter with this style can become frustrating because one practice for a few months and experiences nothing to full-fledged psychotic episodes. It is where people exhibit dangerous behaviour. 

 Traditionally, yogis used to practise when they were fully ready for the experience of Kundalini with a master of this particular form. 

But nowadays, people are researching Kundalini online and decide to start practising it right away under the proper guidance due to its benefits. 

 It is not how you should do it, and, understandably, such an abrupt assertion can lead to unfavourable outcomes. This type of yoga is about learning to tune your body and mind, but some adjustments to their expectations.

You might consider staying away from Kundalini Yoga if you don’t have a teacher who is well trained.

However, if you plan on doing this style of yoga, make sure that your teacher has been prepared correctly and regularly practices what they preach.

Potential side effects of Kundalini Yoga

The side effects of Kundalini Yoga are dangerous. They can be challenging to control, but they do happen.

 Lack of sleep and rest

It is something which many have to complain about who practised Kundalini Yoga. They feel like they can’t rest or sleep after doing it. It usually happens if you’re not doing the exercises correctly. 

The stimulation of Kundalini Yoga is so intense that it can leave you feeling hyperactive. Sometimes this can linger even after you finish practising. 

It can be helpful if you’re someone who has trouble sleeping, but it’s not great for those of us who need rest before the day begins again.

Increased energy and hyperactivity

Some people come out of the session with more energy than they had before they started practising.

So it can be helpful if you're someone who struggles to get through your day, but not as much if you need your rest to feel better as the day goes on.

Unpleasant experiences

If you feel sick, dizzy, or out of your mind after Kundalini Yoga, you’re probably doing something incorrectly.

We recommend that you always do yoga under the supervision of a qualified instructor. It should be someone who will have your best interests at heart.

Problems with breathing

Breathing is so important when practising this form of yoga. If you’re doing the movements but not breathing correctly, this can lead to intense side effects like those mentioned above.

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

The rapid breathing in Kundalini yoga can cause a spike in your blood pressure and heart rate. It can also lead to faintness or lightheadedness because of the added circulation throughout your body. 

For example, a study has found that increasing your breathing from 12-14 breaths per minute to 24 breaths per minute raises your blood pressure from 110/70 to 158/98 in less than two minutes.

Intense headaches

According to one Kundalini teacher, the pulse stimulation during Kundalini yoga can leave you with intense headaches. Sometimes people also feel dizzy or faint after doing it incorrectly. 

So it's essential only to do the movements correctly. If you feel sick after putting in the effort to do it, you're probably not breathing correctly. Read more about this here.

Seizures

There are several cases of people who suffered from seizures after doing Kundalini Yoga incorrectly.

It means that you should be sure to follow each step in the process correctly. According to one guru, this practice is termed "Kundalini death" because it can cause a seizure.

Paranoia and psychosis

The rapid breathing and chanting can literally “blow your mind” if you’re not used to it. Practising this form of yoga will lead you to feel like something is wrong with you. It’s like having a bad acid trip, according to one Kundalini teacher. 

If you don't follow the proper steps or the guru leading you is not qualified, you may lose your mind.

Fainting spells

Like the other side effects of this type of yoga, fainting occurs when you don’t follow the proper steps or you’re practising it with a teacher who is not qualified. Fainting is similar to having a seizure because it can be intense. 

How to prevent the side effects of Kundalini Yoga?

If you’re practising Kundalini Yoga, don’t get sucked into false teaching. Below are few tips on doing this safely:

 Be aware of your body

Since your mind is a significant part of any yoga practice, it’s essential to be aware of your feeling in your own body.

It may be difficult sometimes but stop if you notice something going wrong with your breathing or anything else about the type of yoga you're practising.

Breathe properly

Kundalini is about the way you breathe. Your breath is supposed to channel energy throughout your body.

This type of yoga intends to increase your lung capacity and help your muscles relax through breathing exercises. 

The more you can breathe correctly, the less likely you are to suffer from any of the consequences.

Follow your teacher’s instructions

The main goal of Kundalini is to channel energy throughout your body. It is better if you take some yoga class and do it under some experienced yoga teacher as they will teach the correct form. But if not, this can cause serious consequences.

Don’t try to do this all at once

Not everyone is excellent at doing Kundalini. You should not force yourself into something which you cannot handle. Your body and mind could be unstable if you push too hard too soon.

Learn the correct techniques

If you’re going to practice Kundalini Yoga, make sure you know how to do it correctly. Do not try to fast-track this type of yoga. If you do something wrong, it can cause a significant problem for your body.

Remember that it is supposed to be a journey, not a destination

Kundalini, for some people, is just about learning how to breathe deeply and locate the energy within you. The goal is not to create a specific result or do something in a certain way. 

It means that you shouldn't feel the need to try it more than once if it's too intense for your body and mind.

Take breaks if you’re feeling stressed

Kundalini Yoga is all about breathing in different ways, releasing your breath slowly, and increasing the flow of energy throughout your body. It means that it can be highly beneficial to you if you’re feeling stressed out. 

This type of yoga should help reduce stress because it allows you to find your true purpose in life.

Final Thoughts

Kundalini Yoga is not for everyone. The practice can be complicated and overwhelming. If you decide to do it or even take a class in some yoga studio, make sure you’re doing it under an experienced yoga teacher. 

If you decide to try this type of yoga and follow along, please be safe and don't push yourself too hard. 

Practice at your own pace and work with what your body and mind can handle. This practice can be intense, but it can also be healing and transformative.

Have fun with this practice, but don't be reckless or feel the need to rush through it.