Finding Light Within: My Journey Through Kundalini Kriya Yoga and Hatha Yoga

There was a time in my life when I felt as though I was carrying an invisible weight everywhere I went. From the outside, I appeared to be living a normal life. Yet deep within, there was a sadness that I could never fully explain. It was as though a part of me was constantly searching for something I could not name.

My childhood was not a happy one. I grew up in a difficult family environment where emotional pain was a frequent companion. While other children were creating carefree memories, I was trying to make sense of circumstances that often felt overwhelming. The childhood traumas I experienced at a young age left deep impressions on my heart and mind.

One of the most painful events in my life was losing my mother. Her passing was not a natural one, and the shock of that loss changed my life forever. Losing a mother is difficult at any age, but losing her under such circumstances left wounds that seemed impossible to heal. After her passing, my brother and I had to learn how to survive without the comfort, protection, and guidance that only a mother can provide. A year after her passing, my father remarried. There were days filled with uncertainty and nights filled with questions that had no answers. Life became a journey of survival.

As the years passed, I learned how to carry on. I fulfilled my responsibilities and continued moving forward. Yet inside, the pain never completely disappeared. It quietly followed me through different stages of life. Even after becoming a wife and mother, I often felt a sense of emptiness. I loved my family deeply, but there was still something missing within me. I found myself becoming irritated easily. Small things affected me more than they should have. I felt emotionally exhausted, mentally restless, and physically drained. At times, I wondered if this was simply how life was meant to be. Deep down, however, I felt that there had to be something more.

I began searching, not for success, wealth, or recognition, but for inner peace. I wanted to understand why I felt the way I did and whether it was possible to experience genuine happiness from within. That search eventually led me to Kundalini Kriya Yoga under the guidance of Master Manisekaran at MAYI Yoga Academy. Looking back now, I feel that finding Kundalini Kriya Yoga and meeting Master was one of the greatest blessings of my life.

When I first began practising, I did not have grand expectations. I simply approached the teachings with sincerity, openness, and a willingness to learn. At first, the changes were subtle. Yet as I continued practising regularly, I noticed something remarkable happening within me. The constant noise in my mind began to quieten. The emotional turbulence that had accompanied me for so many years slowly started to settle. Situations that once triggered frustration, anger, or anxiety no longer had the same power over me. I found myself responding to life with greater calmness and understanding. My sleep quality improved tremendously. For the first time in many years, I experienced moments of genuine inner peace. Those moments gradually became more frequent.

Kundalini Kriya Yoga did not erase my past, nor did it make life’s challenges disappear. What it did was transform my relationship with those experiences. The pain that had once defined me no longer controlled me. I began to understand that healing was possible. Most importantly, I started reconnecting with myself. For many years, I had been looking for answers outside myself. Through Kundalini Kriya Yoga, I slowly discovered that the peace I was seeking had always existed within me. It had simply been buried beneath years of emotional wounds, fears, and accumulated stress.

Following Master’s advice, I chose to learn Hatha Yoga. If Kundalini Kriya Yoga transformed my inner world, Hatha Yoga transformed my physical wellbeing. For years, I had suffered from persistent back pain and chronic neck stiffness. These discomforts had become such a normal part of my life that I accepted them as permanent. I never imagined that they could improve so significantly. Through consistent Hatha Yoga practice, my body gradually began to change. The stiffness started to ease. My posture improved. My movements became freer and more comfortable. Over time, the pain that had accompanied me for years slowly disappeared. Today, I can honestly say that my back pain is gone, and my neck is no longer stiff. The relief was not only physical; it was emotional as well. Living with pain can quietly affect every aspect of life. When that burden lifted, I felt as though I had regained a part of myself. I became more energetic, active, and enthusiastic about life. The fatigue that had once followed me throughout the day began to fade. I found myself waking up with more motivation and approaching my daily responsibilities with greater positivity.

One of the greatest lessons yoga has taught me is that true transformation rarely happens overnight. We live in a world that often expects immediate results, but genuine change requires patience, trust, and dedication. The calmness, strength, and freedom from pain that I experience today were built through consistent practice. Every breath, every movement, and every moment of awareness became part of that transformation.

Today, I am deeply grateful to Master Manisekaran for his guidance, wisdom, and dedication in sharing these teachings. His guidance helped me begin a journey that continues to enrich my life every day. What I admire most about Master is his calm presence and how effortlessly he makes every lesson easy to understand. His peaceful nature itself becomes a lesson. Some teachers teach techniques; some teach knowledge. But a rare teacher teaches you how to live. Master has been that kind of teacher in my life. He taught lessons that extended well beyond yoga. Through his words and his example, I began to understand that yoga is not just something we practise on the mat. It is a way of living with awareness, discipline, compassion, patience, and humility. MAYI Yoga Academy offers both online and in-person classes, making its programmes accessible and convenient for everyone.

It is truly an honour to write this article and to reflect upon a journey that has brought so much healing and growth into my life. If there is one message I hope readers will take from my experience, it is this: no matter what you have gone through, healing is possible. Your past does not have to define your future. No matter how much pain, loss, disappointment, or struggle you may have experienced, there is always the possibility of transformation. Sometimes the answers we seek are not outside us but within us, waiting patiently to be discovered.

To anyone who is struggling emotionally, physically, or spiritually, I encourage you to be patient with yourself. Trust the process. Stay dedicated. Continue showing up for your practice, even when the results are not immediately visible. The journey inward may not always be easy, but it can become the most meaningful journey of your life.

As for me, the journey continues. The little girl who once carried so much sadness has found greater peace. The woman who once felt exhausted and restless has found renewed energy and purpose. And the person who spent years searching for something more has finally begun to find it within herself. My life is living proof that transformation is possible.

Thank you for allowing me to share my story.