Teaching Yoga to Kids

You may be wondering—can I teach my kids Kundalini yoga? Can I involve them in my practice? Is yoga suitable for small children?  The answer is: absolutely!  However, you’ll need to adjust the practice so it’s appropriate for various children’s ages. Check-in with your teacher or studio to see if they offer kids’ classes, and follow the basic suggestions below to get your child involved with the life-changing power of Kundalini Yoga.  Choose Age-Appropriate Yoga Whether you have a toddler or a pre-teen, there is a practice fit for your child. Very young children can start doing yoga classes designed…

Seva & The Healthy Student Teacher Relationship

By EPS – Office of Ethics and Professional Standards A yoga culture that encourages participation through seva is  a way for students to enjoy meaningful time together, build community and most importantly develop the depth of giving without thoughts for the self. Seva is one of the cornerstones of many yoga traditions. Giving within a community context has been shown in research to support wellness and long term happiness.¹ Volunteer work, while different in some ways from seva, when done from a place of genuine giving, contributes to a sense of connection and life purpose.  When offering seva opportunities to students…

NKYTAs Agreements

IKYTA recognizes one National Association per country, that holds a neutral space for all teachers and trainers to connect and support each other professionally and personally. Each certified KRI Level One Aquarian Teacher is encouraged to join your NKYTA. If your country doesn’t have one, teachers can join or renew their membership as an International Member directly with IKYTA.   What is IKYTA's relationship with the National Associations? There is a collaboration agreement between the National Associations (NKYTA) and the International Association (IKYTA) as we can work together and support each other to fulfill the missions of both associations. According…

Journey with the National Associations

Thanks to the service of thousands of Kundalini Yoga teachers, the community fabric around these teachings has spread around the world, and today has a global presence. 3HO Foundation continually invites us to experience the Healthy, Happy,  Holy lifestyle typical of our tradition, where community life is key.   According to KRI records, today there are certified teachers from more than 52 countries, on every continent. IKYTA serves certified Kundalini Yoga teachers in their personal development and community building, highlighting professionalism and inspiring positive social change through service.   Thanks to the community development promoted by teachers and students in…

The Ethical Teaching of Meditation: How the Healthy Student -Teacher Relationship gives Context, Safety & Resonance

By the Office of Ethics & Professional Standards INTRODUCTION Meditation can sometimes feel like it’s the missing ingredient in life or the answer to all problems. These days there is encouragement to meditate daily, coming from many directions. Your doctor might even recommend it to you while suggesting you get more exercise and eat more veggies. This article explores how yoga teachers everywhere can benefit from understanding the ways teaching meditation has a special ethical placement of its own. The unique context of a healthy student-teacher relationship and how meditations are taught provides a clear place for transformation and growth. The…

Seva and Devotion are more than Skin Deep

By Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa, Oregon, USA If you practice yoga and live a healthy, happy, and holy lifestyle, you’re pretty well covered. Yoga is without doubt the ultimate system for helping you stay balanced and joyful throughout your life. Sure, there are a lot of rules and guidelines, but it all comes down to four things to concentrate on. In the yoga world, the big four are Bana (personal behaviors), Bani (prayer), Simran (meditation), and Seva (selfless service). Our lineage of teachers has consistently ranked serving others right up there with our most important personal spiritual practices. The ten Sikh gurus were all appointed to their positions…

The Golden Gift of Peaceful Sleep: Kirtan Sohila

By Snatam Kaur I have been listening to, or reciting Kirtan Sohila my whole life. My first conscious memories of this prayer were when my stepfather, Sat Santokh, would read Kirtan Sohila to me every night before going to sleep when I was in my early teens. I am grateful beyond any words I can come up with that my stepfather did this. There was a purity and love in his offering that helped me to connect to Kirtan Sohila in a deep way. Night after night as the words were recited to me, they penetrated into my heart. It was at this time that my…

Seva Corps ~ Serving Together

SEVA CORPS was envisioned at Khalsa Council and was born in April 2020 with the purpose of serving those who serve. That is why our motto is Serving Together. Through digital platforms we seek to value, nurture and inspire those in service through the technology of Kundalini Yoga and the legacy of Sikh Dharma in an elevated environment of listening and sharing. We also want to produce content about the path of service, give relevance to ongoing SEVA PROJECTS, and inspire new projects. Above all, we want to offer spaces for dialogue and inclusion. We are committed to sustaining our service through…

Women and Food

Yogic teachings suggest that women should eat carefully and lightly in order to maintain their emotional and physical balance and well-being. In general, a woman should have two meals a day and two light drinks a day. The first drink begins at breakfast. The first meal can be about four hours later; it should be the largest meal of the day. “Eat to your delight” is the motto at this mid-day meal. But when you are full, stop! The second drink of the day can be between lunch and dinner. The evening meal should be light and easily digestible and preferably eaten…

Falling to Earth

By Deg Ajeet Kaur (Janet Howard) I keep it moving. Get it done. Onto the next thing. In Kundalini Yoga and meditation, I’m learning the power of stillness. In stillness, the message finds us. The path is revealed. It doesn’t feel natural to me. I want to search for, run to and push through for the answers, for the path, for the next thing in my journey. I’m impatient. But lately, it isn’t working. I push, I run, I take control of forward movement and I feel lost—I can’t find my way. I give up. Sit down. Cry. And when all…