Kundalini Yoga Certification Teaching Methodology & Class Structure 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When sequencing a 90-minute Kundalini class, approximately how much time should be allotted to the main Kriya?
- 5-10 minutes
- 15-20 minutes
- 30-45 minutes (Correct answer)
- 60-70 minutes
Correct answer: 30-45 minutes
The main Kriya typically occupies 30-45 minutes, with remaining time for tuning in, warm-up, relaxation, and meditation.
Question 2: What does 'holding the space' mean in the context of Kundalini Yoga teaching?
- Physically standing in the center of the room
- Maintaining energetic presence and safety so students can go deep in their practice (Correct answer)
- Holding postures alongside students for the full duration
- Managing the studio's booking schedule
Correct answer: Maintaining energetic presence and safety so students can go deep in their practice
Holding the space means the teacher maintains a stable, aware, and elevated presence so students feel safe to experience the full depth of the practice.
Question 3: A new student tells you they have a herniated disc. Which teaching adjustment is most appropriate?
- Refuse entry to protect liability
- Offer modifications such as seated postures and avoiding forward folds under load (Correct answer)
- Tell them to push through — Kundalini heals all injuries
- Recommend they take a different style of yoga entirely
Correct answer: Offer modifications such as seated postures and avoiding forward folds under load
Offering evidence-based modifications protects the student while still allowing them to participate in the practice.
Question 4: In Kundalini Yoga teaching, what is meant by 'projecting from the navel point'?
- Physically bending from the waist when demonstrating
- Speaking and teaching with power and authenticity sourced from the third chakra center (Correct answer)
- Aiming the microphone toward the navel
- Projecting one's personal emotions onto students
Correct answer: Speaking and teaching with power and authenticity sourced from the third chakra center
The navel point (third chakra) is considered the seat of personal power; projecting from it means teaching with grounded, centered authority.
Question 5: What is the correct protocol if a student faints during a Kundalini breathing exercise?
- Continue the class and check on them afterward
- Immediately help them to the ground, ensure airway is clear, and call for medical help if needed (Correct answer)
- Have other students chant louder to bring them back
- Ask them to resume the exercise as soon as they open their eyes
Correct answer: Immediately help them to the ground, ensure airway is clear, and call for medical help if needed
Student safety is paramount; fainting requires immediate first aid response and medical evaluation if the cause is unclear.
Question 6: How does the teaching of Kundalini Yoga kriyas differ from creating your own sequences?
- Teachers are encouraged to freely mix kriyas with other yoga styles
- Kriyas are taught as complete, intact sets given by Yogi Bhajan and should not be altered (Correct answer)
- Only the first three exercises of any kriya should be taught to beginners
- Teachers should shorten kriyas by 50% to fit modern schedules
Correct answer: Kriyas are taught as complete, intact sets given by Yogi Bhajan and should not be altered
In the KRI tradition, kriyas are considered complete technology and are taught intact; altering them is not part of the certified teaching methodology.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the 'arc line' in the context of a teacher's presence?
- The physical curve of the spine in a back bend
- The energetic field projecting from the hairline to hairline, associated with intuition and projection (Correct answer)
- The arc of the student circle in a group class
- A breathing arc used in pranayama timing
Correct answer: The energetic field projecting from the hairline to hairline, associated with intuition and projection
The arc line is the sixth subtle body in Kundalini Yoga, spanning the hairline; a strong arc line supports a teacher's intuitive connection with students.
