Kundalini is the life energy that lies semi-dormant in your root chakra, at the base of the spine. It is associated with Shakti, the life giving force of the universe, that which gives rise to action and movement. It rises and reaches up to Shiva. In this aspect Shiva is stillness, or energy in potential rather than the destructive force. The two, Shiva and Shakti, are in truth one.
When Kundalini rises it flows up the spine thorugh your various chakras to the crown chakra. If the energy hits a blockage it will stop there and you may experience some discomfort, sickness, or a general ill effect. This used to be my understanding.
More recently I have read that awakening Kundalini can be very dangerous, lead to madness, terrible sickness, an even death. Many so-called experts say you need to submit yourself to a professional guru to ensure against these catastrophic results.
I don't personally believe this. I have an inherent distrust of anyone who tells you to be afraid, particularly in spiritual matters. Still it may be important to pass on the warning, as my personal experience may not be true for others.
Attempting to force Kundalini to awaken is considered very unwise. It will happen on it own when you are ready. If you open your chakras correctly, and have proper energy flow Kundalini will rise along its designated path automatically.
This is what I was taught long ago, but these gurus do not say this. They seem to say they can make it happen for you with prolonged meditation and yoga sessions. They will have you do up to 16 hours a day of yoga and meditation. I think this may be the source of the troubles that have reported.
There is a style of yoga named for Kundalini, apparently dedicated to helping this vital life force awaken, and perhaps maintaining a healthy flow thereof. I honestly know very little about it at this time. I'm not convinced that one type of yoga is better than any other at regulating your energies.
My only long-term experience is with old-fashioned Hatha yoga, which I've practiced since I was eight years old or so. It's a kind of moving meditation made up of various poses that are held with a focus on the breath and a clear mind.
The practice harmonizes mind and body, and there is some purification of thoughts associated with it. You simply can't have a clear mind for 20-30 minutes a day and think ugly the rest of the time. In addition to relieving stress and stretching muscles, the asanas actually massage the internal organs. If I don't do my yoga regularly I actually feel kind of sick, stiff and strange.
I don't know that the physical practice of yoga is required for Kundalini rising. It's hard to be sure. I would more associate it with a meditation practice, chakra clearing, and the related release of those things which don't serve you. From my perspective, habits and attitudes tend to either lift you up or weigh you down. So you have to choose where you'd like to be, floating or fixed, whichever you choose that is your experience. Either experience is valid, most of us have a mix.
For Kundalini to rise, however, I think you have to choose the floating side. I don't think you can have your attention balanced toward the negative experience of life and have the positive life force rise within you simultaneously.
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