International Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association

By Sirgun Kaur

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” 

I was never one to make a list of New Year’s resolutions—but sometimes one is just compelled to; so I would end up generating something like a list. But I would wait until January 6th or 7th, just to take some of the pressure off! In my experience, when I created resolutions that were to begin on the 1st, I had usually broken them by the 3rd—exasperating and not a little self-defeating!

By Pritpal Kaur

This past weekend was a typical weekend for me. I was traveling to teach in a Level 1 Aquarian Teacher program. What was unusual were the circumstances of my travel. I was flying from Albuquerque to Chicago where an usual Arctic storm was bringing temperatures of 50 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and wind and snow to the area. After many hours of delays, I arrived in Chicago 9 hours later than expected.

By Michael Jaidev Singh

When I began my level 1 Kundalini Yoga teacher training, the phrase “Start Now” rang in my mind like a choir of church bells. I was 22 at the time and teaching full time math and science at an inner city middle school in Los Angeles. In the first few days of training I approached my teacher, Gurmukh, for a meditation to share with my students. I was nervous that my enthusiasm to share this science would be frowned upon since I was not yet ‘certified to teach.’ Yet I received the opposite reaction. Gurmukh smiled in delight and shared a simple meditation that involved clapping and opening the arms in particular rhythm. It was the perfect segue into meditation for most of my students.

“It’s very important that you should know you and it’s most important that everybody should know you as trustworthy, honorable, graceful, steadfast, serviceful, kind and compassionate. These are a few faculties of a Teacher.” —Yogi Bhajan, April 23, 1997

By Guru Singh Khalsa

It is the brightest fire of the year—June 21: the longest day, the shortest night, a time spiritual communities have celebrated for thousands of years. This is the Summer Solstice, and in June of 1969 3HO began its now forty-nine-year-old tradition of gathering from all over the world for celebrating with Kundalini Yoga, meditation, and White Tantric Yoga®.

I'm almost two weeks back from my trip to Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast, in Engligh), Africa. This is a place that doesn't leave my soul easily. I just went to see Marvel's 'Black Panther' last night with my family, here in Espanola, and it brought back all of the reasons that I love this continent so much. There is a deep-rooted love for the land and the family unit, and an intense spiritual strength there. I also felt this on my first trip to Africa this past September, 2017. 

My name is Kiret Nam Kaur. I am the only certified Kundalini Yoga teacher in Haiti. It was in 2014 that I returned to live in my native country of Haiti after several years away. I had a great desire, which I still have, to participate in the expansion of my native land.

I discovered Kundalini Yoga one day before going back to Haiti, and since then I have been practicing every day on my own. Kundalini Yoga brought so much beauty into my life that I decided to take the teacher training in Canada, so that I could share this beautiful tool by teaching in Haiti.

A Renewal of Spirit (True Story):

The drive was long but finally it was over. The walls of the prisons looked foreboding – a thirty foot wall interrupted only by gun towers.

I clearly remember the words of the judge as he sentenced me, “Young man, for as much intelligence as you have, it’s a waste to send you to prison. But, you’re 28 years old, and you were just released from prison less than two years ago. Admittedly, your crime this time is drugs, but three years ago you served time for attempted murder and drugs. I’m sorry son, I can’t let society run the risk of you running loose and doing as you please. I hereby sentence you to 5 years in the custody of the Oregon Correction Division.”  

That night I found myself alone for the first time in months. My cell, my new home for who knew how long. As the truth slowly dawned on me, my inner voice took over.

Several years ago in Chicago’s Southside Englewood neighborhood, often portrayed in the press for its violence rather than the good people who live there, we began teaching Kundalini Yoga and training teachers from the community. We helped create I Grow, Chicago’s Peace House. I Grow offers an oasis of calm as a non-profit organization that combines yoga, urban gardening, and art to help encourage community members to become empowered and connected.