Opening To Kundalini through the Shushumna Nadi

The cleansing of Ida and Pingala are the first steps towards the opening of Shushumna Nadi. It is through learning how to alternate and balance these nadis that we can neutralize the left and right brain hemispheres and begin to find homeostasis in the many systems that govern our beings.  When in balance, we can access pratyahara, the fifth step of the 8 limb path of yoga when our senses no longer move outward but rather draw back in.  After a challenging and purifying asana practice, I find my ability to access pratyahara to be strong. Though some can get there without a lot of asana, Pitta dominant individuals like myself, tend to need more heat to withdraw the senses and find stillness.

When the senses are withdrawn in pratyahara, the flow of prana changes sides evenly, which enables us to enter a daydream like state. Then, the muscles begin to relax and allow the central Shushumna to open. As Shushumna expands, the hold of kundalini around Shakti releases and unwinds. This uncoiling of kundalini is in fact the product of pratyahara.

Once Shushumna is open and kundalini loosens, the intelligence of Shiva can travel to Shakti so that she can transfer it to our cells. To be more specific, Shiva brings knowedge from the brain to Shakti and she translates it into the body so that we can function.  For instance, if one wants to practice the asana, the brain needs to send a  signal of information to our motor body parts so that they can then move into the postures.  Even with non-physical activities such as digestion, the brain still needs to alert our organs that it’s time to do their job once food has entered our system.

When Shakti is strangled and intelligence cannot be transferred to our cells, illness and imbalances of all kinds ensue. Inspiration, insight and healing all come from Shiva nadi to Shakti. Shakti must be free for ultimate health and wellness. On a scientific level, Shushumna nadi develops into our spinal chord and spine. According to yogic theory, the health of our spines, governs the wellness of our lives. Is the opening of Shushumna therefore the end of the line in yoga? Not quite.

Brahma nadi, or the deepest layer of our subtle body, began as our notochrod and lies within Shushumna. Once Shushumna is open, Brahma nadi can light up. We will explore what happens with this illumination in the next piece.