Kundalini Yoga is a dynamic system combining breathing, movement, stretching, postures, meditation, the use of sound and rhythm, relaxation and meditation.
It originated during the Tantra and Shakti period in India in the 6th century CE and evolved over hundreds of years through a variety of lineages and teachers. There are hundreds of exercises and meditations utilized in Kundalini Yoga, which can be adapted to address many specific health applications.

Kundalini refers to the innate organizing intelligence and life force within the human system, recognized as the Divine Feminine, that supports awareness, healing, integration and wholeness. It expresses naturally as clarity, vitality, emotional regulation, intuition, compassion and interconnectedness.

Together these practices:

• Purify the subtle channels (nadis) in the body, enhancing vitality and flow
• Regulate the nervous system, and develop resilience
• Improve flexibility and strength; physically and emotionally
• Develop concentration, enhanced awareness, deep presence and intuition
• Soften the body’s armouring, release areas of constriction and connect to joy

The training includes excerpts from early yogic texts, trauma-informed practices, an exploration of polyvagal theory, and scientific research on the effectiveness of yoga, pranayama and meditation on self-regulation, co-regulation and healing. Self-inquiry, as a form of Jnana Yoga, will be included throughout the training to peel away the conditioning of the mind and to experience the true Self.

Kundalini yoga includes pranayama, asana sequences, mantra, meditation, bandhas, mudras and lifestyle practices, such as regular, cold showers, and a vegetarian diet.

The mantras used in this training originated with the Sikh teachers, Guru Nanak, Baba Siri Chand, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjun and Guru Gobind Singh. It is the transmission of sacred sound (shabd) and grace coming through the Sikh lineage that energizes this practice and teaching. This Saibhang Institute training synthesizes kundalini yoga from the tantra and shakta traditions with the bhakti influence of the devotional poetry of saints included in the Sikh scripture, known as the Siri Guru Granth Sahib. Although most of the mantras in this training emerged from Sikhism and the Punjabi language, they are derived from Sanskrit, as many Punjabi words are similar to Sanskrit words. Although the Sikh influence is a strong flavour in the training, there is no intention or expectation that any student need adopt the Sikh religion.

The Saibhang Institute training brings reverence to the Divine Mother, Adi Shakti, and acknowledges her presence as a guiding force within kundalini yoga practice. In honouring the divine feminine, we hold reverence and responsibility towards our own physical body, the earth and all of creation. This training supports spiritual discipline through both individual and group practice, in a container of compassion and connection where community is fostered. We invite authentic expression of emotions and vulnerability; self-inquiry into one’s beliefs; and active listening to the cues and wisdom of the body. We know that healing and self-realization are possible within relationships and in community when safety, respect and compassion are present. We encourage social responsibility, as modelled by Guru Nanak and many spiritual teachers, so that our yoga practice and actions contribute to greater peace, equality, harmony, sustainability and well-being in the world. Concepts of seva, simran, bhakti and shakti, karma and dharma will be shared in this program, integrated, and applied to the challenges that we face individually and collectively today.

This training is for you if you wish to live with greater awareness, vitality and sense of purpose — whether or not you intend to teach professionally. It is especially suited for:

• Aspiring yoga teachers seeking a neuroscience-based, trauma-informed foundation
• Experienced teachers wanting to deepen their understanding of trauma and polyvagal theory
• Therapists, healers, and bodyworkers integrating somatic and contemplative practices
• Spiritual practitioners ready to commit to a dedicated yoga and meditation practice
• Anyone sensing a call toward personal well-being, integration, and service

Come as you are. No advanced physical ability or experience is required. The practices can be adapted to every body.

Embodied Understanding

• Of how Kundalini Yoga affects the body, nervous system, emotions, and consciousness
• Greater capacity for self-regulation, increased resilience and agency, while decreasing stress
• Greater sensitivity to the signals from the body, energy flow and the felt sense

Practical Teaching Skills

• Clear instructions in teaching kriyas, individual postures, pranayama, mantra, and meditation
• The ability to sequence classes intelligently while teaching with precision and confidence
• Trauma-informed guidelines to hold space with inclusivity and safety
• Receive professional certification that meets the requirements for the 200-hour Yoga Alliance membership

Personal Transformation

• Increased vitality, intuition, and mental clarity
• Deeper trust in your inner guidance
• Coherence between your inner life and outer actions
• Connection with spiritual community with shared interests

Integration Into Daily Life

• Practices you can use to decrease stress, ease transitions, enhance creativity, and balance emotions
• Develop a robust personal spiritual practice
• Establish healthy routines to start and end your day

Historical Perspective

• Develop a deep understanding of the history and philosophy of Kundalini Yoga
• Become familiar with the origin and meaning of many Sikh mantras
• Become familiar with early yogic texts and the basics of Kundalini Yoga