Yogic Teachings Archives

06 Jan Teacher Education

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…

06 Jan Teacher Education

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…

02 Aug Meditations & Kriyas

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…

11 Jan Meditations & Kriyas

The Golden Gift of Peaceful Sleep: Kirtan Sohila

By Sukhpran Khalsa

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…

24 Nov Yogic Teachings

Women and Food

By Sukhpran Khalsa

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…

19 Aug Meditations & Kriyas

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,…

17 May Meditations & Kriyas

A Yogic Model of Grief Recovery as the Integration of Change

By Sukhpran Khalsa

By Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur Khalsa and Dr. Sat-Kaur Khalsa We are in a time where many of us are experiencing multiple losses: Our daily life as we have known it due to a potentially fatal disease, serious questions about our teacher whether one believes those questions or not, learning about our children’s experience with schooling in India, exposing racial injustices, and other personal losses we may experience during this tumultuous time. Because of these losses, we are individually and collectively experiencing deep and profound grief. Our intention for offering this document is to provide a guide for individuals and…

15 Apr Teacher Education

Naad Yoga & How Mantra Works

By Sukhpran Khalsa

In addition to the term 'mantra,' you will also hear the word Naad in connection with Kundalini Yoga mantras. Naad means “the essence of all sound.” It is a particular vibration, a fundamental frequency that comes from one common source or sound current. It is the universal code behind language and therefore behind human communication. Naad is the glue or medium that connects the little me, the individual, to the Big Me, the Universal Self. It is the vibrational harmony through which the Infinite can be experienced. Naad Yoga is based on the experience of how sound vibrations affect the body, mind, and spirit through the…

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