Yoga West

Kitsilano (4th &Trafalgar)

Kundalini Yoga

Teacher: Hari Singh

Drop-in: $7.00 first time

$15.00 regular

SUMMARY: Kundalini yoga is rigorous and vocal. There were two things the teacher said when I mentioned it was my first time, that Kundalini was like other types of yoga but different and that they were not shy about making loud sounds and doing weird things in class.  

SETTING: The space had the clean white carpeted feeling of a place of worship. The facility included a shop, tea/mingling area, small kitchen, practice studio and also a shrine which housed various interesting objects (shield & swords prominent). Daily morning offerings are made to the idols in the shrine and you can't go in without a head covering.

The practice space had some unique characteristics. Blankets were used as opposed to yoga mats and some even did their practice on large white furs. The teacher was seated upon a raised platform before a large microphone stand. Instruments and sophisticated remote sound system control were at his side. Several portraits of gurus hung on the wall behind the platform.  

STYLE & PACE: Kundalini yoga is descended from Sikhism (religion of 15th century Indian origin). Many asanas were done in rapid succession and/or at tandem with "fire breath" (short powerful exhalations produced by rapid abdominal contractions). The mantras or chants were sung at top volume and at times while holding [generally non strenuous] postures. There was a serious meditation break or two amongst the exercises, during the first a live gong concert ensued. Continuously going back and forth from corpse to plow pose at high speed was intense.

SCENE: More than half of the crowd was over forty, rather mixed male to female ratio. Some of the people in the class expressed far from average dress and habit (what some might call weird or different). This is a very spiritual space that is taken seriously. There were some young and exuberant attendants so don't be discouraged if you're a curious teenager!  

MY EVALUATION: Unabashed fully charged energy/prana channelling is the game, you have to really be willing to let go and power flow with this one. The crazy fast pace of some of the exercises makes injury seem like a real possibility if you are not very experienced or critical of tension in your body.

I once heard a story from a friend whom received Kundalini yoga training in India. She was describing the incomparable power of Kundalini yoga, how it was something you didn't want to 'mess around with.' A cohort of hers thought it might be interesting to attend class on psychedelics - magic mushrooms in this scenario. The story goes that from the mix of powerful drugs and powerful yoga he lost control of his bowel movements for three months. 

The loud chanting and explosive noise making might be too much for some people although I rather enjoyed it. The sounds are made to help pump energy through the crown of your head while purifying your being. They have significant meaning but I was told their sacred and historic nature makes understanding inconsequential to receiving the benefits. Some of the exercises were quite pressing and some quite relaxing. Most things seemed to be done or held for a lengthy stretch of time. I am curious to know how class varies from teacher to teacher. The gong playing was awesome, but some of the recorded music was hokey.

If you're just looking for a work out, go somewhere else. If you're looking for a physical religion or meditating in an effusive space this might be for you. Obviously if you want to try something radically different from the average Western lifestyle go for it.