Kundalini Yoga and Meditation for Addictive Behavior

All yoga and meditation are good for the body, and all yoga raises the kundalini energy. However, because kundalini yoga is so focused on breathing, working the glandular system and opening the energy pathways in the body, it raises the kundalini energy faster than traditional forms of yoga and meditation. Ideally our glandular system works in harmony. The pineal gland is the pinecone-shaped gland in the center of the brain where melatonin is produced and dopamine acts to regulate circadian rhythms. The pineal gland is extremely important and sends signals to the master gland, the pituitary. If the pituitary gland does not have a solid connection to the pineal, then the pituitary will take it’s signals from somewhere else. Every addiction from alcohol, nicotine, drugs, sugar, gambling, and shopping that hits our dopamine receptors will stimulate the pituitary gland. However, the goal is to stimulate these dopamine receptors naturally for a feeling of satisfaction with life and overall well-being. Dopamine is produced in different sections of the brain including the hypothalamus. Some ways to increase dopamine naturally are getting enough sleep, exercising, yoga, listening to music, meditation, and spending time in nature, especially in the sun. When we have a strong meditation practice, and our pineal gland is secreting properly the need for these other destructive “stimulating” activities virtually disappears. Meditation is the pattern interrupting to addictive behavior, re-establishing the connection between the pineal and pituitary. You may be asking, “So what does the yoga do?” Well, yoga is simply a preparation for meditation. Many unprocessed emotions get stuck in the physical body. Yoga, exercise and breathwork is a perfect way to dislodge the stuck energy and blocked meridians. Many people start yoga because they are in physical or emotional pain. Some people exercise themselves into injuries and their doctors or physical therapists prescribe yoga. Once they start the yoga practice, they notice very quickly that the asanas (postures) move the chi (energy) in their physical body. But it does more than this, yoga opens Nadi (subtle meridian) pathways, and when the energy starts flowing awareness starts happening. If you look at pain as an anachronym meaning Pay Attention Inward Now (P-A-I-N), then yoga and breathwork help us do just that. After a good yoga set, savasana (deep relaxation) follows. Savasana can be done in silence or with music or sound healing devices. This is what is known as the integration period. A time to let your mind and body rest and really take in the benefits of the yoga asanas and breathing techniques. The sound healing component is really the icing on the cake. The vibration of the gong playing or the tone and frequency of the crystal bowls is very healing and helps our cells resonate at a higher level. The mind is no match for the gong so if all the breathing, yoga, and meditation did not work to still the mind, it is sound healing that will do the trick. Many find that the sound session is deeply healing and restorative to the body. The sound of the gong and crystal bowls as well as other instruments has a tremendous effect on calming the nervous system and recalibrating the body, mind, and spirit. Here is a helpful backlink where I do the Meditation for Habituation.