Why Is Kundalini Yoga Dangerous? Read Before You Try It

Last Updated | June 10, 2025

HAND PICKED BY OUR TEAM FOR

2025

Written by Georgia Brent

Kundalini Yoga has a bit of a reputation. Some say it’s life-changing. Others say it’s intense, even risky. And both can be true.

This isn’t your average yoga flow. Kundalini stirs up energy at a deep level: mentally, emotionally, spiritually. For some, it brings clarity and awakening. For others, it brings up things they weren’t ready to face. So, is it dangerous? Not exactly. But it’s not something to jump into blindly either.

In this post, we’ll unpack what makes Kundalini Yoga unique, why it has some people raising red flags, what the real risks and benefits are, and how to approach it safely if you feel called to explore it.

Why Is Kundalini Yoga Dangerous?

The reason Kundalini Yoga gets branded as “dangerous” is because it can trigger a powerful energetic awakening. That might sound exciting, and it is, but it can also be intense if your body or mind isn’t ready for it.

Unlike other styles of yoga that focus mostly on physical poses or calming breathwork, Kundalini Yoga combines movement, mantra, breath (like Breath of Fire), and meditation to activate a deep inner energy believed to rest at the base of the spine.

When that energy rises too quickly, some people report everything from blissful euphoria to anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, or even hallucinations. That doesn’t mean the practice is bad, but it means the stakes are higher. Done without guidance, it can leave you feeling ungrounded or overwhelmed.

What is Kundalini Yoga?

Kundalini Yoga is a mix of spiritual and physical practices meant to wake up your energy, your awareness, and your consciousness. And it was popularized by Yogi Bhajan especially in the west.

Here’s what a typical class might include:

Breathwork (like rapid-fire Breath of Fire)
Repetitive movements or long-held postures
Chanting mantras like “Sat Nam”
Specific hand gestures (mudras)
Meditation to round it out

It’s not about nailing a pose or breaking a sweat. The goal is to awaken your Kundalini energy and raise it through your chakras, leading to a higher state of awareness. That’s powerful stuff and with that power comes the need for caution.

What is Kundalini Energy?

Kundalini energy is described as a coiled serpent resting at the base of the spine. In yogic tradition, this energy represents your full potential, which is dormant until awakened. When it rises through the chakras, it is said to spark profound shifts in consciousness, clarity, creativity, and intuition. But without preparation or grounding, this surge can also feel chaotic or destabilizing.

Myths About Kundalini Yoga

Let’s bust a few myths real quick:

Myth 1: Kundalini Yoga is dangerous for everyone.
Not true. It becomes risky when done without understanding or support. With the right approach, it can be incredibly healing.

Myth 2: Practicing it once will trigger a full-blown awakening.
Nope. Most people practice for years without a dramatic experience. Sudden awakenings are rare.

Myth 3: It’s a religion or cult.
Kundalini Yoga has spiritual roots, sure, but it’s not a religion. You don’t have to change your beliefs to practice it.

Myth 4: You have to wear white and cover your head.
Some practitioners do, especially in certain lineages, but it’s not a rule. Wear what feels good to you.

Benefits of Kundalini Yoga

Despite the risks, there’s a reason Kundalini Yoga has such a devoted following. When practiced mindfully, it can be transformational:

Emotional Release: It helps release old emotional patterns and trauma.
Mental Clarity: The breathwork and meditation can clear your head like nothing else.
Spiritual Insight: It helps you connect with yourself on a deep level, beyond your roles or stress.
Physical Health: Practices like Breath of Fire oxygenate your body and support your glands.
Stress Resilience: It trains your nervous system to handle stress more calmly and effectively.

But again, these benefits unfold with time and consistent practice, not in one intense session.

Risks of Kundalini Awakening

Let’s talk about the part that makes people nervous: the Kundalini awakening itself.

When this energy rises suddenly or forcefully, it can cause:

Emotional Overload: Some people experience panic, depression, or anxiety as repressed emotions rise to the surface.
Physical Sensations: You might feel heat, shaking, tingling, or odd movements in the body (called kriyas). These can be confusing or even scary if you don’t know what they are.
Feeling Ungrounded: You might feel like you’re floating or disconnected from your body or the world around you.
Amplified Trauma: If you’ve experienced past trauma, Kundalini energy might bring it up faster than you can process.
Spiritual Confusion: Some people experience grandiosity, identity loss, or even paranoia when they’re not ready for the intensity of a shift in consciousness.

That’s not to say these things will happen to everyone, but it’s important to be aware.

How to Correctly Prepare for Kundalini

If you’re curious about trying Kundalini Yoga, that’s great. It can be a beautiful, empowering path, but it helps to approach it with care.

Here are a few expert-backed tips:

Start with Basics: Try gentler styles like Hatha or Yin first. Build body awareness and learn to listen to your nervous system.
Find a Skilled Teacher: Look for someone experienced in Kundalini and trauma-informed practices. They should offer grounding tools and not push you into advanced techniques too fast.
Ground Yourself: After practice, eat grounding foods, walk in nature, or do simple stretches. This helps balance the energy.
Prioritize Nervous System Health: Good sleep, stress management, and hydration matter. Kundalini work is intense on your nervous system, so support it in your daily life.
Don’t Rush: There’s no need to jump into long kriyas or deep meditations on day one. Let your system adapt gradually.
Keep a Journal: Write down what you experience. Patterns will emerge and it can help you track how you’re feeling emotionally and energetically.
Know When to Pause: If things feel too much, stop. Take a break. That’s not failure, it’s smart self-awareness.

Summary

So, is Kundalini Yoga dangerous?
It can be, but only when it’s approached without preparation or understanding. Think of it like a powerful tool. In the right hands, with the right mindset and support, it can transform your life. But like anything powerful, it needs respect.

Kundalini Yoga isn’t just about physical poses. It’s about energy, emotion, consciousness, and transformation. If you’re ready to explore it, start slow, find a teacher you trust, and stay grounded along the way.

Because when it’s done right, it’s not dangerous. It’s deeply empowering.

About Georgia Brent

Georgia turned to yoga after years of battling recurring depression and anxiety during her teens and early twenties. After finding the courage to go to a class, she hasn’t looked back and found that yoga gave her the strength to deal with life and all its challenges like never before. Three years later, she is a now a freelance writer and a yoga teacher, with a deep-rooted passion for helping others tap into their own source of self-love, self-acceptance, and empowerment.

She has extensively travelled across the globe and her adventures have led her to teach in Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Georgia has also continued to study yoga in Mysore, India. She is currently based in Wiltshire, UK.