Yoga has been around for a very long time, and though the Western world’s experience of yoga is largely limited to hatha yoga, there are so many other aspects that are significant parts of yogic practices. Understanding how the yogic system views the human body can add an extra dimension of experience for a yoga practitioner and help them better appreciate the processes they are going through.
The Chakras
According to the yogic system, the energy system within the human body contains 7 fundamental chakras, which are points where the pathways or channels of energy meet. These 7 chakras are named the Muladhara chakra, the Swadhisthana chakra, the Manipuraka chakra, the Anahata chakra, the Vishuddhi chakra, the Ajna chakra and the Sahasrar chakra.
The Nadis
The energy pathways or channels that meet at the chakras are known as nadis. Among the nadis themselves, the three primary ones are the Ida, the Pingala and the Sushumna. These three nadis are said to run through the spine. The Ida represents the feminine aspects of a human being, the Pingala represents the masculine aspects of a human being, and the Sushumna represents the divine having transcended this duality of masculine and feminine. The masculine and feminine do not necessarily refer to the biological male and female, but rather to various characteristics and aspects that can be called as masculine and feminine. For example, the logical thought process is seen as masculine, while the intuitive aspects are seen as feminine.
The Kundalini
It is through the Sushumna, the central channel that is beyond duality, that the kundalini awakens and rises. The kundalini is the latent energy that is present in every human being, and stays dormant at the Muladhara chakra, the lowest in the physical body, until it is activated through the practice of yoga. Yoga and meditation were techniques through which the kundalini can be raised through the from the Muladhara to the Sahasrar chakra, thereby leading one to enlightenment.
Various kinds of yogic practices involve different processes to activate this energy. Some are direct, such as the practice of kundalini yoga. However, these direct processes require guidance and tremendous understanding of the system if they are to be attempted. Otherwise, they are quite dangerous and can cause damage to the body. Other practices such as hatha yoga prepare the system more gently, making it capable of handling higher states of consciousness.
