Is Kundalini Practice Better than Coffee?

Some say that this Kundalini yoga practice can be better than coffee, with “immediate results” to get you boosted for the rest of the day.

Whilst the debate on coffee for optimal health is still ongoing, yoga, it seems will never go out of fashion for the amazing capacity it has to promote our health on a day to day basis. But, don’t just take it from the social media Yogis — join us as Healf investigates this apparently ‘magical’ practice for its unique ability to ‘revitalise your life’ (or at least your mornings, anyway).

Kundalini energy is a spiritual energy believed to arise from the base of your spine, and, as if it were a coiled snake, travels upwards through the spine and leads to the rising of consciousness. Many know it to be particularly significant to spiritual awakening, and this belief stems from Hinduism. In around 1,000 B.C., it first appeared in Vedic texts. Globally, and cross-culturally, there are now many iterations of this concept.

The ‘Transformation’

A Kundalini awakening is said to be a transformation, taking a person away from physical or emotional pain and trauma. It is said to be a very intense experience, able to reach and create a sense of transcendence within each Chakra energy centre.

In increments

Whilst this transformation may take many years, or decades for even the most experienced yogi to achieve, the purpose of Kundalini yoga is to begin to activate the Kundalini energy within the body. It is a slow and incremental process, supposedly with the intention to enhance awareness and help a person's attention move past their ego in small, consistent daily steps — it’s why the practice can interchangeably be referred to as the “Yoga of Awareness.”

For some, it is the peak of our vibrational frequency and one’s ability to truly discover love and light with which to exchange energy across our universe. For others, it is perhaps less profound, and depends on personal preferences relating to various degrees of spirituality. In other words, it may be viewed as a deep spiritual experience or simply a form of morning exercise to awaken the senses and get things moving. 

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Ah, the lovely “Cup of Joe” — we hear you! But the morning coffee is not yet proven or disproven to be a healthy habit. Coffee is said to enable a “wide array of basic cognitive functions with minimal side effects by preventing alertness and attention” . It is even said to enhance physical performance. Moreover, in its purer forms such as filter coffee, it also is said to exhibit many antioxidant benefits on the body, with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s disease and type 2 diabetes.

However, there are some possible downsides to coffee. The dreaded jitters? Yes, they’re definitely a problem for some people. And, even if you appear to be somewhat immune to jitters, the problem still remains whether you are sensitive to them or not.

Most famously, caffeine is known to disrupt sleep as it has a half life of around 6 hours in the body. More accusations against coffee include restlessness, hyperactivity and a decrease in decision-making skills, said to be around 7.14%.

This negative perception of coffee in certain wellbeing circles is perhaps the reason why morning Kundalini yoga practice is often favoured for its ability to stimulate the body’s energy through natural methods; breath work, movement, and chanting.

While the benefits of Kundalini yoga practice cannot simply be squeezed into one article, here are a few defining characteristics of this practice that are of note.

The ‘Breath of Fire’

This pose, a pranayama technique, involves sitting with a straight spine, whilst keeping the body relaxed. The breathing can be compared to ‘panting’; small light breaths are taken. Do not force the breaths and take in adequate amounts of oxygen whilst doing so.

Concentrate on the navel, allowing the breath to pass in and out as feels most natural. Inhalation and exhalation should be around the same length of time.

This practice should also focus on longer breaths, oxygenating the blood, activating the navel point and warming the body.

‘Spinal Flex’ 

It is a gentle rocking motion. The spinal flex is a movement which can be performed with crossed legs, sitting on the floor. The placement of the hands on the knees allows a person to focus on the natural, relaxed position of the muscles. On the inhale the spine is lifted upwards and forwards slightly. The exhale inverts the pose, by relaxing the spine back and slightly downward. A long neck needs to be incorporated into the pose, reducing the risk of tension throughout the movement.

Keeping it steady…

The flow can be sustained with a smooth motion like the ticking of a clock, allowing relaxation and a sense of awakening in the body and mind.

Another defining factor of Kundalini Yoga is the involvement of your own voice. Yet chanting mantras is so much more than just producing sound. It creates vibrations that pulse through your entire body, working like an internal massage to release blocked energy, focus the mind, and to shift brain waves into a state of calm and clarity.

This flow of energy is described as the essence of the universe: energy, frequency, and vibration. An example of this includes the mantra “Saa Taa Naa Maa,” said to have a similar effect of a mother soothing a child through their soft voice.

Modern research and the generation of new hypotheses are only now beginning to fathom what yogis have known for a long time. The sound frequencies we are able to produce through this practice can bring about a particular state of consciousness and raised vibrations.

So, in the end, the benefits of Kundalini Yoga extend far beyond the physical. This practice invites a deep connection and offers a path towards positive self perception and self appreciation.

Whether it is the physical benefits, or the promise of a more balanced, harmonious state of being, Kundalini yoga has the power to enrich your experience of life. For maximum results, some experts recommend practising Kundalini yoga for around 10-30 minutes each day.