We all know that our nervous system is complex. Even if we don’t remember the specifics from science class, we can all recall a time in our lives that we were stressed out, ate terribly, and woke up with blemishes on our face. The connection between our gut and head health is recognized by science, yogis and lived out daily through the choices we make daily. Food and emotional balance contribute to our overall health, vibrancy, and longevity. Merging the ancient wisdom of yoga modern medicine, Yoga Therapists recognize the importance of gut, heart, and head health for creating vital lives. From a very basic principle, we recognize that digestion is a key to live. The way we digest and metabolize our food, thoughts, feelings, and emotions are critical building blocks in healthy...

When the allegations against Yogi Bhajan, a Kundalini Yoga Master Teacher who bought the teachings to the West, gained momentum, they felt really very real. The #Metoo movement is credited with amplifying the voice of survivors of abuse, and it was on the heels of this movement that in August 2020 an independent third party published their findings of the allegations. As a Kundalini Yoga Student, Teacher, and Kundalini Yoga Therapist in training, I want to share my own truth and how I found light in my own practice despite the allegations which are detailed here. My connection to Kundalini Yoga I started practicing Kundalini Yoga long after Yogi Bhajan died. I never met him, nor did I even take the time to Google his name when I started the practice. I had just moved to Dubai from Kabul...

Merging ancient wisdom with modern business. The way businesses react in these times of change, speaks not only to their operational future, but also to their values and leadership. This is a time when many companies may be reevaluating their business and sustainability models or even their employee wellness provisions. Companies that learn to adapt and transform during these times, will have long-term staying power. It is clear that these are not “business as usual” times, but can using ancient yogic wisdom help business during this time? My own experience is that yogic principles can inform and enrich business practices. I have worked at the nexus is of sustainability, social impact, and international development for the past 15 years, as a professor, adviser, aid worker and diplomat....

I wake up every morning next to my son and husband. I cherish the moments we have together before watching the news and global updates on this awful pandemic. Family life is still fairly new to me. Having eloped less than two years ago and having our son quickly after, I never dreamed that I’d be responsible for holding a house, or raising a new soul. Against the backdrop of the constant bombardment of news, change, and uncertainty, I am grateful for all the training I’ve undertaken throughout my professional career — as social worker, an aid worker, a diplomat, and more recently as a Kundalini Yoga teacher. My career has been diverse, but all the paths I’ve followed have taken me on wonderful adventures… From military bases in Afghanistan, to ashrams in India. I’ve had training on how...

“When you don’t go within, you go without.” Creating a Kundalini Yoga practice to counter stress By Satya Adi Kaur As the summer holidays and Eid celebrations come to a close, you may find your fall calendar filling up quickly. With new demands from work, more traffic on the road, back to school events, and social invitations, the month of the September can become synonymous with stress. Whilst all forms of yoga, meditation and physical fitness can help manage the extra stress that September brings, Kundalini Yoga is a particular favorite for those with limited time. When we become overworked and/or stressed out, we are putting extra pressure on the glandular and nervous systems, which in turn impacts our immunity and vitality and can have long term health consequences. Yoga Bhajan, a...

I love water. I love rivers, lakes, oceans, streams, ponds, hot baths, cold showers, and I love drinking it too. I grew up taking safe water for granted. We made ice pops, we took long showers and we even threw water balloons at our neighbors. Living in the U.S. I never dreamed that many people traveled hours to collect water and if they did manage to get water that they often couldn’t drink it. Or that statistically more people died as a result of unsafe water then all wars. For my family and I, water was cheap, dependable and only one facet away. It was not until I left for Kenya in my early twenties that my relationship with water changed and I realized how vital safe water was to women and their families. Women are seen as the retrievers and guardians of water. It is their role not...

International Women’s Day & Kundalini Yoga I am seeking balance. As a development worker, International Women’s Day (IWD) was often a hectic time. From attending high level events at the UN Headquarters, presenting on prestigious panels, briefing US Congresswomen, taking helicopters to celebrate the day in small villages in Afghanistan, to hosting bespoke events in the United Arab Emirates, IWD always reflected my current job, responsibilities and yearly commitment to women. Whilst my commitment to supporting gender equity is never ending. This year is vastly different and so is my approach. What is IWD? IWD is celebrated on March 8th and is day dedicated to raise awareness, celebrate women, and galvanize continuous support for women around the world. Founded on 28 February 1909,...