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Lori:
Tell me about your first yoga experience.
Harimandir:
I was first exposed to yoga by Shakta Kaur Khalsa. My first experience
was in 1979 with a teacher named Bakir. I was hooked, years passed,
I practiced Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga and came down to Yoga Yoga
North right after it opened. It was close to my house and I stated
taking classes from Julie. (Julie Carrion was a former teacher and
Yoga Yoga North Center Manager.)
Shakta
Kaur came to Yoga Yoga and taught the Radiant Child program, a children's
yoga teacher training course. I thought it would be great for my
son Sky, who was about 4 at the time, and so I took the course.
Julie said…and it happened right after the end of the course
"You know, we need someone to teach Children's classes here."
And I said "OK."
You
taught children yoga before you taught adults?
Yes,
I started a children's yoga program where my son went to school.
Shakta Kaur taught a course for Yoga teachers on how to teach the
Radiant Child program. The requirement was that you had to be a
certified Kundalini Yoga Teacher, so again I said "OK."
I could not do both trainings at the same time so I enrolled in
Yoga Yoga's Kundalini Teacher Training course, and that was it.
So
you enrolled in Kundalini Teacher Training without ever taking a
Kundalini class?
One,
maybe two. I just said OK, what do I do? I told Guru Karam that
I wanted to take the training and her response was "Hop on
board!" she said "Are you ready for the ride of your life?"
and I just agreed and that was it.
It
was the most amazing experience I have ever had in my life, right
up there with the birth of my child. I used to hate the sound of
the gong, but during the first weekend retreat, I had the experience
of all fear and all resistance being removed. I now feel like I
am part of the sound current. I remember trying to explain the incredible
healing experience I was having, but everyone just looked at me
and smiled. Now I love it.
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How
has Kundalini Yoga affected your life and the lives of your students?
You
could be like me and jump in feet first without knowing anything
about anything. I saw a guy outside of Mehtab's class and I got
to talking to him. He was talking about MAYBE wanting to go. I encouraged
him to just try it. I have seen people change. I have seen their
energy and their health change. My health has changed. I have seen
their physical body change. I have seen people heal. I have seen
their spirits uplifted.
Just
come. You will have an experience all your own. Relax and have fun
doing it.
It
has moved so many things through me. Things move through me without
me even realizing it. People come into my life through the practice
of yoga, in all different areas of my life. I am coming up on 5
years sober. I teach a workshop called "Kundalini Yoga for
Healing Addictions." People come to that workshop, it helps
them move through and process their addictions. People come from
all different angles for healing. Kundalini Yoga helped me to get
sober and stay sober. Not just that, it is from 12 step work as
well, but it amazing how similar they are. I was a year sober when
I began practicing yoga.
You
are Yoga Yoga's first children's yoga teacher, so you are the most
qualified to answer this question. Why should parents bring their
children to yoga class?
Parents
should bring their kids to yoga because they need a break! Right
now in the world, we are in such a high vibrational frequency, there
is so much information, so much technology, yoga gives children
a sense of who they are. And it is fun. They get to have fun and
act silly and be who they are. Children often do not get that in
school. They get ownership of themselves.
I
am eternally grateful to Mehtab, Guru Karam and to you for giving
me the opportunity to be a part of something I really believe in.
I am grateful to Yogi Bhajan for the teachings….and I will
always be grateful to Julie.
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“Kundalini
Yoga is uncoiling yourself to find your potential and your vitality and
to reach for your virtues.”
Join
Mehtab on Thursday, October 9, 7pm, at BookPeople for a book signing
and free gong sampler! His new book, 
Wash
potatoes, dry and oil the skins. Bake them about one hour at 400 degrees
until they are soft on the inside. Meanwhile heat oil in a skillet and
sauté onions and ginger until browned and well done. Add garlic
and spices adding more oil if needed and continue cooking for 10 to 15
minutes over medium low heat. Cut potatoes in half when they are done
baking and scoop out the insides and add to the cooked spice mixture stirring
until well mixed. Add cottage cheese and salt or soy sauce to taste. Refill
potato skins with the mixture. Cover with a slice of cheese and then broil
(a few minutes) or bake (5-10 minutes at 350) until melted and golden.
Makes
