Kundalini Tantra Yoga: Why It’s Not What You Think
Have you ever wondered about the true essence of Kundalini Tantra Yoga? If you're curious about what Tantra is and how it can transform your life, this article is for you.
As someone who studied Tantra yoga directly in India, I love sharing all about Tantra, demystifying the misconceptions, and uncovering its profound effects on both the lower and upper brain, and the left and right hemispheres.
Curious to learn more about the difference between yoga and Tantra? And is there any? Let’s find out.
What is Kundalini Tantra Yoga?
Kundalini is a dormant energy within each of us. The goal of most yoga practices is to awaken this energy. When we talk about Kundalini Tantra Yoga, we’re referring to practices specifically designed to support the Kundalini awakening process.
This includes building a healthy physical body, purification, chakra cleansing and activation, and purifying the nadis, among other things. Tantra as a whole, is a practice that invites you to explore the universe through the lens of your own experience. It nudges you to discover the bigger picture—the macrocosm—by diving into the depths of the microcosm, which is YOU.
So, how does that work…
Tantra blends everything from astrology to Ayurveda, and psychology to physics. It offers practical tools to bring deep philosophical teachings into your everyday life.
Rather than compartmentalizing knowledge, Tantra weaves it all together like a string of beads. Each bead is a different piece of wisdom that, when combined, creates a powerful tool for nurturing your body, mind, and spirit.
A map to understanding the vast Tree of Life
Instead of focusing on one small branch, it invites you to see the tree as a whole—interconnected, balanced, and guided by a single, unifying force: Dharma. Tantra’s mission is to uncover this law and use it to elevate your consciousness.
So that you can expand your understanding of the world and your place within it. As the Kashika Vritti puts it, “Tantra is that knowledge which expands mind, body, and consciousness.”
It allows us to get unstuck and let go
One of my favorite things about Tantra is its ability to open up awareness in every state of being—whether you’re awake, dreaming, or in deep sleep. Our life experiences and environment shape how we think and act, but when we begin to feel stuck or crave something more, Tantra provides the tools to break free and transform our perceptions.
Through Tantric practices, you’ll refine your thoughts and emotions, creating more peace and harmony in your life. Tantra helps you find a sense of centeredness that releases the limits you’ve placed on yourself and expands your awareness in ways you’ve never imagined. To me, it’s truly an exciting journey of self-discovery and awakening.
Desires and the chakras in Tantra
Alright, now let’s get down to the most misunderstood part of Tantra. Desires. In Tantra, desire is seen as a natural, driving force of the universe, not something to be rejected. Unlike many other spiritual practices that suggest renouncing desire as an obstacle to higher consciousness, Tantra actually embraces it.
After all, the desire to be free of desire is itself a desire! Rather than suppressing or avoiding desires, Tantra encourages us to understand them. As long as we’re living in the body, desire is part of the experience.
Our senses act as windows for these desires to enter, and at their core, desires are connected to our physical being through the impulses of our nervous system. The more we try to suppress our desires, the stronger they become. This resistance leads to an imbalance, as unacknowledged desires can manifest as physical tension or even disease.
When we suppress desires, the hormones that are secreted by the body as part of this suppression can create chemical imbalances that disrupt our well-being. In Tantra, desires are connected to the six chakras, the energy centers in our body. As energy flows through these centers, it activates different desires linked to each chakra.
Our desires shape everything
The pull of these desires influences us throughout our day—shaping our actions, thoughts, and feelings.
Our physical reality, even our emotional experiences, are directly influenced by the energy flowing through us, guided by the Earth’s gravity, the movements of the celestial bodies, and the electromagnetic forces at play.
Desires stir a yearning in us, and the object of our desire shapes how we experience life.
Tantra’s way to physical desires and comfort
Unfortunately, many of us get caught up in physical desires and comforts, which can lead to frustration, anxiety, and dissatisfaction. The more we chase after temporary pleasures, the more disconnected we become from our deeper selves.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Tantra teaches us that understanding and channeling desire through the chakras is a way to transform these energies. We don’t need to fight our desires; we need to raise our energy—specifically, the dormant Kundalini energy at the base of the spine.
By awakening and guiding this energy through the chakras, we can transcend our desires and experience deeper, more balanced fulfillment.
The Relationship of the Six Chakras with the Elements and Desires
Muladhara:
Location perineum; Element Earth; Mantra: LAM; Desire: Grounding, security, physical comforts, basic biological needs, shelter.
This is where Kundalini resides.
Svadhisthana:
Location: sacrum and pubic bone; Element Water; Mantra: VAM; Desire: Family, procreation, sexual urges, fantasies.
Manipura:
Location: navel area and the corresponding area in the lumbar spine; Element Fire; Mantra: RAM; Desire: Immortality, longevity, name, fame, power, authority, acquisition of wealth.
Anahata:
Location: the center of the chest and the corresponding region in the thoracic spine; Element Air; Mantra: YAM; Desire: Sharing, love, devotion, selfless service, compassion.
Vishudha:
Location: center of the throat and the corresponding region in the cervical spine; Element Akasha; Mantra: HAM; Desire: Knowledge.
Ajna:
Location: center of the forehead; Element Mahat; Mantra: AUM; Desire: Self-realization, enlightenment.
The seventh chakra is beyond desire. It is the dwelling place of enlightened beings, the seat of the self or individual consciousness.
Reprogramming the Brain
Typically, energy flows through the lower three chakras, and as long as it remains there, the desires of the lower nature dominate.
Tantra offers practical methods of "reprogramming" the brain. The practice always begins with purification—both physical and ritual cleansing—followed by pranayama (breathing exercises). Purification helps create an electrochemical balance. Pranayama, in turn, affects the brain stem, which controls respiration.
Through specific rituals, the practitioner energizes the R-complex, helping to subdue aggression, territoriality, and the sense of social hierarchy.
Next, the practice moves to abstract thinking, including contemplation, visualization, and mantra japa (the repetition of a sound) in sustained tones, which influences the cerebral cortex—the seat of inspiration.
Tantra follows a systematic order that mirrors the evolution of the brain. It begins with the inner, primal brain stem, then connects with the psychic centers along the spine.
Purification: Energizes the body and establishes electrochemical balance.
Pranayama: Stimulates the brain system.
Ritual: Stimulates the R-complex.
Dhyana, visualization, mantra, japa: Stimulates the cerebral cortex.
The Way to Awareness
In addition to working with the chakras, which is known as Kundalini Yoga, Tantra introduces the powerful practices of yantra and mantra. These practices are key to connecting the individual with the universal.
Yantra Yoga and Mantra Yoga guide us in attuning ourselves to the same regulating forces that have created nature in all its forms—helping us understand our psyche and our ability to think. Through psychophysical methods, Tantra teaches us how to explore our inner nature and uncover our inner beauty.
By cultivating a witness consciousness, we move past self-forgetfulness, revealing the smallest fluctuations of the mind. This awareness gives us the power to stop these fluctuations and develop the habit of one-pointedness.
When yogis learn to master these regulating forces of nature, they become adept at achieving inner harmony and can even perform what might seem like miracles. Tantra is the study of human beings' dynamic nature and our latent potential. It’s the result of our eternal search for a way to achieve self-perfection.
Human consciousness is the product of the brain, and the brain itself is the highest product of consciousness in the physical world. The brain is divided into two parts: the lower and the upper brain. The lower brain consists of the primitive reptilian brain and the R-complex, while the upper brain is made up of the right and left hemispheres.
The feminine and masculine sides of the brain
These two hemispheres are the root of all dichotomy in human nature. The right hemisphere is responsible for pattern recognition, intuition, sensitivity, and creative insight—it’s considered the feminine side of the brain.
The left hemisphere governs rational, analytical, and critical thinking, which is considered the masculine side. These opposite forces only work in harmony when thinking is paired with a motor response.
Studying the functions of the two hemispheres deepens our understanding of yantras and mantras as tools of Tantra, highlighting how they help synchronize the mental and physical realms.
How do they both work together?
This insight was intuitively grasped by the Tantrics long ago, who learned to work with the dichotomy of the brain and the dual nature created by the lower and upper brain.
The lower brain is stubborn and resistant to change, while the upper brain is open and willing to accept change when convinced on both a rational and emotional level. Interestingly, the emotional side is often more powerful.
Even if a rational explanation isn’t available, once the emotional side is satisfied, the change is accepted. But even when the upper brain accepts something, convincing the lower brain to let go of its biological needs and desires is not easy.
The lower brain follows the deep programming of DNA—the genetic code. Yoga helps us transcend the limitations of this genetic code. The Tantric seers, observing the constant struggle between the lower and upper brain within themselves, needed to develop methods to tame the reptilian brain.
Though they didn’t have the precision of modern neurologists, they saw the truth that a strict methodology was essential to resolving this ongoing duality. They may not have been aware of the functional specialization of the two hemispheres, but they understood that human beings are both verbal and visual creatures.
They described this dual nature with the concept of namarupa—name and form. Our memories, whether verbal or visual, constantly stir positive and negative emotions.
FAQ About Kundalini Tantra
I often receive questions that show there are many misconceptions about this practice. So, in this section, I’m here to clear up all the confusion and clarify everything for you.
What is the Highest Tantra Yoga?
As you may know, the ultimate goal of all yoga systems is to transform the entire human personality, guiding us toward Kaivalya, moksha, or liberation (enlightenment). In Tantra, there are three main schools: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya. Among them, Samaya is considered the highest Tantra yoga, as it’s the ultimate stage that brings us closest to the Divine.
Samaya – I Am One with the Eternal
The Samaya level represents the most austere and profound part of the Tantric journey. It empowers the practitioner to connect with the inner silence of the Divine, rather than focusing on the external aspects of the world. Samaya is considered the highest path in Tantra, and of course, the most challenging one to master.
Samaya involves the most revered practices on the Tantric path—such as the inward chanting of mantras and silent meditation. It's through Samaya that you move towards independence from the Guru and learn to rely solely on grace, while maintaining awareness of the Divine and the Self as one.
Through this blessing, the spiritual practitioner enters into Absolute Awareness, or what we know as enlightenment.
What's the difference between tantra and yoga?
All types of yoga technically fall under the umbrella of Tantra. This means there isn’t really a difference between yoga and Tantra.
Tantra Yoga unites different kinds of yogic science, like: Raja Yoga (the yoga of meditation), Jnana Yoga ( the yoga of true knowledge), Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless action), Bhakti Yoga ( the yoga of spiritual devotion), Hatha Yoga ( the yoga of physical disciplines and restrains).
Tantra itself means Process, Method, or Path. So, it wouldn’t be accurate to separate Tantra as a distinct form of yoga from the others. Tantra is typically understood as a triad of Tantra, Yantra, and Mantra, working together to achieve the desired result.
Tantra refers to the technique or methodology, Yantra is the mechanism or tool used, and Mantra is the power or energy that is infused into the mechanism to bring about the desired outcome.
And, most modern yoga is just a simplified version of traditional Hatha Yoga, with some elements of Raja Yoga included. This is because, given our busy daily schedules, we can’t practice the true, rigorous form of Hatha Yoga every day like the monks do.
Modern yoga tends to focus mainly on the physical body and its benefits. As I mentioned before, Tantra yoga is a combination of all types of yoga.
However, if we were to practice Tantra Yoga, which incorporates different techniques, including Hatha Yoga, the results we could achieve in 10 years with modern yoga could be accomplished in just 1 or 2 years with Tantra Yoga.
Final thoughts on Tantra Yoga
As a result, we, nature’s most complex creations, are often tossed between depression and inspiration. The solution, they discovered, lies in the union (yoga) of the lower and upper brain, and in harmonizing the right and left hemispheres of the cerebral cortex.
When you move into deep aspects of meditation, your body will engage the parasympathetic nervous system. In this state, your body can digest food, process emotions and thoughts, and send healing modalities wherever they are needed.
For many, a simple, daily meditation can provide substantial physical healing. Unique to Tantra is the purification and revitalization of nadis. Tantra, much like quantum physics, understands energy to be the source of the manifest world. Therefore, when we clean, align, and awaken energy, it harmoniously restructures the physical body.
There are probably as many types of meditation within Tantra as there are practitioners. In some ways, Tantra is unique because it is flexible and can be easily adapted to meet each practitioner's needs.
If you’d like to learn more about Kundalini Tantra Yoga, I warmly invite you to visit my center, Hacienda de Yoga, in San José del Cabo, Los Cabos. You’re also welcome to book a private online class or workshop if that’s more convenient for you. I’d love to share these transformative practices with you.
