Kundalini yoga is powerful. It’s often described as a spiritual technology—not just a workout or a stretch session, but a deep energetic practice that works on your nervous system, your subconscious, and your higher states of awareness.
But here’s the thing no one always tells you up front: Kundalini yoga can also be destabilizing, intense, and, for some people, genuinely dangerous if not approached with care.
I’m not here to scare you out of it, but I am here to give you the full picture. If you’ve ever heard someone say, “Be careful with Kundalini,” and wondered why, this article’s for you.
First, What Is Kundalini Yoga?
Kundalini yoga is a practice designed to awaken the Kundalini energy—a dormant spiritual force said to reside at the base of the spine. Through a combination of breathwork (pranayama), chanting (mantra), dynamic postures (kriyas), meditation, and sometimes even eye gazing or mudras, Kundalini yoga seeks to activate this energy and move it upward through the chakras, ultimately leading to spiritual awakening, expanded consciousness, and deep inner transformation.
Sounds mystical? It kind of is.
But that’s also why it’s not something to play with lightly.
So, What Makes Kundalini Yoga Dangerous?
Not to paint it in a negative light, but it’s important to understand why this practice needs to be handled with care.
Awakening Too Much, Too Fast
The biggest risk with Kundalini yoga is the premature or forceful awakening of Kundalini energy. When that energy begins to rise, it doesn’t just feel like a peaceful breeze floating up your spine. For some, it can be intense. Physically, emotionally, even psychically.
People report symptoms like:
- Sudden waves of fear or euphoria
- Uncontrollable movements or spasms
- Heart palpitations or dizziness
- Sleep disturbances or insomnia
- Feeling like they’re “losing their mind”
- Emotional upheaval or past trauma resurfacing
If your nervous system and psyche aren’t prepared to integrate this shift, it can feel like you’re falling apart or even having a breakdown.
Nervous System Overload
Kundalini yoga puts your nervous system to work. The fast-paced breathwork, strong energy locks (bandhas), and vigorous kriyas are intentionally designed to stir and channel your life force—sometimes in ways that can feel overwhelming if you’re not prepared.
But if your system is already stressed (which, let’s be honest, most of ours are), it can push you further into imbalance rather than alignment. People with anxiety, PTSD, or certain mental health challenges may find their symptoms worsening, not improving.
This is why so many experienced teachers emphasize grounding practices, rest, and self-awareness. Because transformation is amazing, but integration is where the real magic happens.
Emotional and Psychological Risks
Kundalini energy works on a deep level. Sometimes it brings unresolved trauma or shadow material to the surface…things we’ve buried for years. This isn’t inherently bad; in fact, it can be deeply healing. But if someone doesn’t have the tools, support, or therapeutic guidance to process what’s coming up, it can be overwhelming or even retraumatizing.
It’s like opening a spiritual floodgate when you were just looking for a gentle stream.
A Note on Teachers and Lineage
Another issue is the lack of regulation in Kundalini yoga teaching. While many teachers are deeply trained and responsible, there are also those who offer quick certifications or run group classes with little concern for individual readiness.
In recent years, serious concerns have surfaced about Yogi Bhajan—the figure who introduced Kundalini yoga to the West—bringing to light deeper issues around abuse, power dynamics, and the need for critical awareness in spiritual spaces. If you feel called to explore Kundalini, it’s wise to not only study the practice itself but also take a closer look at the teacher or lineage you’re learning from.
So… Should You Avoid It?
Not necessarily.
Kundalini yoga can be beautiful, healing, and life-changing. Many people credit it with helping them break through personal barriers, find their spiritual path, or reconnect with their inner power. But it’s not for everyone—or at least, not at every stage of life.
Here are a few gentle guidelines if you’re curious:
- Start slow. Don’t jump into intense kriyas or hour-long breathwork your first week.
- Work with a skilled teacher—someone who understands trauma, integration, and nervous system regulation.
- Check in with your body and emotions regularly. Feeling challenged is one thing. Feeling like you’re losing grip? That’s a signal to pause.
- Ground yourself after practice—eat, rest, walk in nature, do something embodied.
- Don’t force it. Spiritual awakening isn’t a competition. Your timing is sacred.
Danger Doesn’t Mean Bad
Yes, Kundalini yoga can be dangerous. But so can skydiving, childbirth, or deep emotional healing. Anything that opens us up to transformation carries some level of risk, and that’s okay, as long as we move with awareness, respect, and care.
If you’re called to this path, trust that calling—but move wisely. Because the energy you’re working with isn’t just theoretical. It’s real, it’s alive, and it wants to take you somewhere extraordinary—when you’re truly ready.
