Why Breathwork in Kundalini Yoga Feels So Different, And Works So Deeply

Breathwork is one of the most talked about wellness tools of our time, from calming stress to boosting energy, its benefits are well documented. But in Kundalini Yoga, breathwork is not simply about breathing, it’s about learning to direct energy and this is one of the reasons the practice works so quickly and so deeply.

In Kundalini Yoga, breath (pranayama) is rarely taught in isolation, instead, it is integrated into movement, posture, and often sound. These elements are designed to work together, creating a precision effect on the body and mind, and when breath and movement are intentionally combined, prana, the body’s life-force energy, can be directed more effectively through the energy channels and systems of the body. This includes the vayus, the five directional flows of prana that govern everything from vitality to elimination, digestion, expression, and circulation.

A skilled Kundalini Yoga teacher isn’t simply telling you to inhale and exhale. They are guiding you in how to position your body, where to place your attention, and how to match your breath to a movement so that the energy moves exactly where it’s needed. This precision is what makes Kundalini Yoga such a potent system.

When this process is applied consistently, something remarkable happens, the body begins to let go of what it no longer needs, not just physically, but emotionally and energetically. The movements and breaths work together to release stored, stagnant energy from tissues, fascia, and the nervous system, often this happens without conscious effort or force. You’re not pushing emotions out or dredging up the past,  you’re simply breathing and moving in a way that allows the body to do what it is designed to do: restore balance.

Over time, the changes become almost invisible in their effort,  but undeniable in their effect. You wake up one morning and realise you feel lighter, more grounded, and more yourself, without even realising when that shift happened. The longer you practice, the more this becomes your natural state.

Kundalini Yoga’s breathwork is not a quick fix, nor is it a random collection of techniques. It’s a complete, time tested system that teaches you not just how to breathe, but how to direct that breath so it becomes a tool for clearing, balancing, and elevating your entire being. The precision of this approach is what makes it possible to move stuck energy and release emotional residue without strain, and why session after session, you leave the mat feeling better than when you arrived.

with reverence, Sam xx