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All About the 3 Mental Bodies

By Nirvair Singh Khalsa

  Yogis believe you have a thousand-petalled lotus that's partly etheric and partly philosophical at the top center of your head. For every petal, a complete thought is produced every second. So that's a thousand thoughts per second, which is serious computing power. Some of these thoughts are conscious; most of them remain subconscious. All of these thoughts get channeled into different parts of the brain through neuro-pathways. The way you process your thoughts depends on your disposition, your early childhood training, your culture, plus what you think and how you act on it. You lean towards being either protective (Negative…

A Journey through the 8 Chakras with Kundalini Yoga

By Lynn Roulo

  This article will take us through each of the eight chakras, offering a brief explanation with a Kundalini Yoga kriya and meditation to help bring each of these energy centers back into balance. What are Chakras? Chakras are energy centers that exist within the human body.  These energy centers are mapped to different emotional and psychological issues and can be used to help identify imbalances and to establish internal harmony. The combined effect of our chakra systems become who we are, how we feel, how we behave, and how we change. In simple terms, the word “chakra” is a…

Teaching Trauma Sensitive Kundalini Yoga

By Navneet Kaur Khalsa

  As Kundalini Yoga Teachers we far too often meet students in our classes who have experienced some sort of traumatic event or who are struggling as a result of some past trauma. Most people who experience a traumatic event experience some difficulties following the event but recover. A small percentage will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Challenges for people with PTSD might include flashbacks, a persistent need to avoid thoughts or feelings related to the trauma; distorted thinking that might include excessive self-blame or blaming others; and difficulties with arousal or reactivity. The impact of trauma is…

Teaching Yoga to Kids

By Guru Tera

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 Simranjeet Singh

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…

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

By Sukhpran Khalsa

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…

Combining the Power of Kundalini Yoga with the 12 Steps of Recovery from Addiction

By Sukhpran Khalsa

by Rachel Surinderjot Kaur I believe that getting sober at age 33 in 2008 was the beginning of my kundalini awakening. The doubt, fear, unexpressed grief, and years of unprocessed emotions needed to be allowed up to consciousness before my inner light could be remembered. By putting down the alcohol, cigarettes, pot, and unhealthy relationships, and embarking on a 12 Step program, I began to learn the tools of emotional healing and how to live life – and the possibility of bringing my gifts into the world was awakened. My sponsor, and regular meetings where other people shared so honestly and openly,…

Compassionate Reconciliation in our Kundalini Yoga Teachers Communities

By Sukhpran Khalsa

Dear Kundalini Yoga Teachers,  We know that 2020 and this year have been very challenging. As teachers we have been confronted not only with a pandemic, but also a need to face and process allegations of abuse by Yogi Bhajan. For many, this has meant a deep personal and collective process–a quest for truth, answers, and meaning that requires soul searching, profound thought, and dialogue. This process is ongoing and will probably require years to heal.  On a collective level there is great diversity of thought, perspectives, and feelings around this issue and many have felt the pain of separation….