Maya Fiennes - Kundalini Yoga: A Journey Through The Chakras

Trainee yoga teacher and journalist Cathryn Scott awakens her first three chakras with 'Courage', Maya Fiennes' Kundalini Yoga DVD.

Awakening energy
As those who have studied yoga in depth will know, Kundalini is an unconscious energy found in the subtle body, usually represented by a coiled snake.

In most of us, this energy is dormant, although through yoga we can awaken it and reach a higher state of consciousness.

The classic yoga text, the Hatha Yoga Pradapika, warns that releasing this energy too soon, or without proper instruction, can have negative consequences, mentally, physically and emotionally.

It is surprising, therefore, to find that this DVD boxset by Maya Fiennes contains no warnings as to just how powerful a force it can be, or its significance in the ancient yogic teachings.

Maya openly admits Kundalini yoga was kept 'secret' from the West until 1969 when Yogi Bhajan travelled from India to share this style of practice - and perhaps that is with good reason.

I found this DVD quite powerful at times, and it made me wonder how it would affect people with little yogic experience or understanding of the body's subtle energies.

Three DVDs - three chakras
Each DVD in this three-disc boxset is a 50 or so minute practice devoted to opening one of the first three chakras (subtle energy centres), all of which are found in the lower half of the spine.

The disc called 'Courage' works on the first chakra Muladhara, 'Creativity' on the second Svadisthana and 'Willpower' on the third Manipura.

It is quite a different way of working to the kind of hatha yoga practices most of us are familiar with.

Kundalini yoga uses small movements, repeated 20 or so times, or held for several minutes, to gently awaken the body.

Few of the familiar yoga poses feature, and instead we focus on smaller movements, for example, twisting the body from side to side while seated, or raising the arms up and down continually.

But that doesn't mean the practices are easy. The repetition means some parts are quite challenging and definitely work up a sweat.

For example, repeatedly and quickly moving from plough to a seated forward bend as in the first DVD, can be quite demanding. The mini meditation, chant or savasana between each posture is therefore a welcome chance to recuperate and appreciate the affects of the practices.

Moving meditation and mantra
Maya focuses on a different meditation for each chakra - although rather than this being seated and still, the body is moving, often quite dynamically.

For example, in the first DVD, the mantra Har, which refers to "the creative aspect of the infinity", is repeated while the torso folds forward toward each knee in turn time and again.

Set against an all-white backdrop, with Maya dressed simply in white linen and sitting on a white mat, the atmosphere is beautifully tranquil. The music that accompanies the yoga practices adds much to the practice, too.

It's written and performed by Maya - a classically trained pianist - and combines ancient and modern styles. The only downside is that sometimes the music is louder than the instruction and at times I found it distracted from the practice.

For advanced yogis
In the same way that little information is given on the nature of Kundalini, so too it would have been good to see more instruction on mula bandha and the breath of fire.

Some of the practices are quite advanced and little is given in the way of precautions or modifications. I felt a degree of yogic knowledge was expected, which means this DVD is not really one for beginners.

Rather, it is ideal for anyone who wants to explore the subtle energies of the body and the deeper philosophies of the chakras and Kundalini, and is open minded enough to try something that is a little different to the styles of hatha yoga we have become accustomed to in the West.

Click here for reviews of Maya's other two DVDs in the series:

A Journey through the chakras: Love and Truth

A Journey through the chakras: Wisdom and Bliss

Maya Fiennes' three DVD boxset is available from Body in Balance, priced £29.99. Click here.