I Didn’t Know Anything About Kundalini Yoga — And It Changed My Life
A Conversation with Leila Chambers, written by Soma Yoga & Wellness
There’s something vulnerable about walking into a class you don’t fully understand.
When Leila first unrolled her mat for Kundalini Yoga, she didn’t know anything about it. She wasn’t looking for something mystical. She wasn’t searching for a spiritual identity shift.
She was a runner in her forties, simply looking for something to support a changing body — something that would complement her workouts and help her feel strong in a new season of life.
Her previous yoga experiences?
One she giggled through.
One she cried through.
Kundalini felt different.
Not overwhelming.
Not intimidating.
Not performative.
Supported.
Even sitting on the floor that first class stretched her comfort zone — but the structure of the practice gave her confidence. The pacing allowed time to integrate between movements. The breath anchored her. The kriyas — specific exercise sets designed with a clear physiological focus — made the practice feel purposeful.
It wasn’t random movement.
It was intentional.
And during a season of life that often feels anything but steady, that intention matters.
What Is Kundalini Yoga, Really?
Kundalini Yoga blends movement, breathwork (pranayama), meditation, and sometimes mantra to support both the physical body and the nervous system.
Unlike faster-paced yoga styles, Kundalini often pairs repetitive movement with intentional breath patterns. One commonly used breath technique is Breath of Fire — a rhythmic breath that builds heat and helps move stagnant energy through the body.
The result?
You feel clearer.
Warmer.
More awake.
But not overstimulated.
A typical class includes:
• Arrival + grounding breathwork
• Warm-up movement
• A focused kriya (exercise sequence with a purpose)
• Deep rest in savasana
• Meditation or optional mantra
• Gentle closing
There is effort.
There is rest.
There is space.
The Mental Shift
Perhaps the most unexpected benefit for Leila wasn’t physical — it was mental.
Through breath, movement, and mantra, she discovered something rare in modern life:
space.
Space between thoughts.
Space before reacting.
Space to respond instead of react.
When the mind has a focus, it softens.
When breath becomes steady, the nervous system follows.
Over time, she felt stronger.
More resilient.
Less reactive.
More grounded.
And in midlife — when stress can linger longer and responsibilities feel heavier — that steadiness becomes invaluable.
Let’s Clear Up a Few Misconceptions
You don’t need to be flexible.
You don’t need prior yoga experience.
You don’t need to chant (participation is always optional).
You don’t need to be “spiritual.”
You just need a body and a breath.
At Soma Yoga & Wellness, we meet students exactly where they are.
Who Might Especially Benefit?
If you:
• Feel mentally busy or overstimulated
• Are navigating midlife stress or hormonal shifts
• Want strength without burnout
• Crave both structure and spaciousness
• Need tools to regulate — not just sweat
Kundalini offers practices you can take off the mat — into your car, your workplace, your daily life.
It’s not about performance.
It’s about regulation.
Resilience.
And reconnecting to yourself.
Join Us at Soma Yoga & Wellness
Kundalini Yoga
Mondays | 4:30–5:45pm
with Leila Chambers
If you’ve been curious but hesitant, this is your invitation.
Come curious.
Leave clearer.
About Leila Chambers
Leila inspires students to find health and wholeness at all ages. Teaching in the Bay Area since 2019, she is a 220 hour certified Kundalini Yoga Instructor whose classes are also influenced by her experiences teaching yoga to seniors in assisted living care. In her mid-forties Leila discovered Kundalini Yoga is not only accessible for any age and body type, but it is also a vital tool of self empowerment. The repetitive asanas of Kundalini Yoga heal the nervous system, reduce stress, and bring into focus life changes for more joyful living. Leila enjoys incorporating breath techniques and chanting into her classes that open the connection to our hearts and our higher selves. Leila invites students to discover their own inner sweetness by liberating the tools learned in class and incorporating them into daily practice.
Photographs by Madelyn Markoe
