Meet the Teacher: Rebecca

Rebecca graduated from Teacher Training in 2008. She teaches Rise and Shine Kundalini Yoga every Tuesday and Thursday, 6:30 am - 7:45 am. 

The Blessings of Seva

Kundalini Yoga teacher, Taranjeet Kaur, performing seva at the Winter Yoga Festival, 2013. 

"Seva or service is infinite giving. Service is not finite giving. If you do some service and say, 'I served,' then you have totally missed the point. Service is when you feel honored by doing something. You don't feel honor in the company of many. You feel it within your own self. That is service. Seva is when your inside is honored, when you honor yourself. When I am honored in my consciousness for doing something, it is seva. When I stand before my consciousness, I feel good, and I say, ‘Well, I am so blessed that I could do it.’ That's seva." - Yogi Bhajan 

Seva is a concept that many are probably unfamiliar of and not know that it is part of yoga. Seva is selfless service. One who performs seva, serves others from one's highest self, not from the ego. 

Seva can take different forms: working at a soup kitchen, donating money and items to charity, taking food to a sick neighbor, praying for others, picking up trash in the neighborhood...even blessing people that you do not know from your heart can be a form of seva! 

Many benefits come with performing seva:

• Teaches us to let go of the ego, and serve from our highest self. 
• Allows for spiritual growth. 
• Forms meaningful connection with fellow human beings.  
• Helps to open the heart for love and blessings. 
• Builds community and teamwork. 
• Cultivates leadership. 
• Opens the flow for prosperity. 

Yoga Phoenix is a community that focuses on spiritual growth and human connection. We have many opportunities for seva and personal growth. 

What opportunities are you looking for?
Do you want to serve regularly, occasionally or just one time?

At Yoga Phoenix, we're flexible! Contact Harisaran Kaur at harisaran.yp@gmail.com. Do seva! Honor yourself, connect and grow!

More seva quote by Yogi Bhajan: 

"Seva, a service of giving without thinking of result, is a very simple thing. It makes you a leader whether you are or not—whether you deserve to be or not. And it brings you opportunities, prosperities, and all the goods, and God, and goodies of the Universe."

"There's only one thing which will bring happiness to the life of a man in abundance—when you put yourself on the side and serve others, then God will fill in the gap and shall serve you."

"Love is seva. It’s offering yourself and helping to increase the vitality, the surroundings of somebody, giving somebody grace." 

"The only power of a human being on the other human being is how much one can serve the other." 

"Once Brahma gathered demons and invited them to eat. The only rule was they couldn't bend their elbows. They got food everywhere except their mouths, they could not enjoy it. Then he gave a feast for angels. They knew they could not bend their elbows so they sat down and fed each other and had fun with it. Being for each other is the ecstasy, the divinity." 

"By giving from the heart, we reconnect to that source, elevating our soul and fulfilling our destiny. The psyche of giving is very simple but difficult to understand." 

Related Article:

A Story of Seva 

Sacred Chant Concert: Awakening The Goddess - Featured Artists

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015

Time: 6 pm - 9 pm

Location: Yoga Phoenix  2308 N Richland St, Phoenix AZ, 85006

Tickets: $25 advanced; $30 at the door (Visit www.yogaphoenix.com to purchase)

Many children in our local neighborhood (Coronado) are suffering from food insecurity, which can lead to many health issues and learning problems. Please help us to provide the help that these children need by attending this concert. Your purchase will be used to provide food for these children! 

This concert features many wonderful and talented local artists. There will be top quality performance that is not to be missed! 

(Follow this link to read more about this fundraiser.) 

See below to meet some of the artists who are performing in this concert: 

Monica Page

Monica Page Subia is an extremely diverse vocalist, guitarist, composer/songwriter, programmer and yoga instructor.
She is currently recording and leading Kirtan events around Phoenix, Arizona.
Regarding the "style" of her music, she says," A mantra asks for what it needs in terms of mood, arrangement, instrumentation, etc. I simply try to serve the mantra and supply what it requires to evolve into that desired manifestation. Jai Saraswati! , Jai Hanuman!, Svaha!"

Follow this link to listen to listen to a sample of Monica's song. 

Sirgun Kaur

There has never been any question in Sirgun Kaur's mind what she should do "when she grew up." From collecting nursery rhymes as an infant, to sharing her adolescent woes with a sympathetic piano, or touring the United States as a singer-songwriter in her early 20s, music has always been an anchor in Sirgun's life. It was not until she discovered Kundalini Yoga, chanting, and mantra, however, that she understood the transformative and healing potential of music. In a word: magical! Since then, Sirgun has released two albums of sacred chants, The Music Within (with Sat Darshan Singh), and The Cosmic Gift—each funded entirely through the generous donations of her worldwide fan base. If you have been to a White Tantric Yoga event in the past two years you have probably heard her song "Bliss (I Am the Light of My Soul)" being played during the breaks. Sirgun is infinitely grateful for the support she has received on her musical journey so far. She lives in Phoenix, AZ, with her husband, their baby boy and their dog. 

Bibi Bhani Kaur 

Bibi Bhani Kaur has delighted adults and children for many years with her music. She plays devotional music, celebratory music and fun songs for children for large and small venues, always as a service to others,always from her heart. Bibi Bhani is also a founding member of Caring Coalition, coming weekly to lead us in meditation and help assemble the care packages for the kids. 

Daniel Hirtz

Daniel Hirtz is the developer of Holistic Tuning and founder of the "Breathe for Peace" project. He is passionate about drumming. He studied and played the north Indian tabla for over 30 years. He also loves the djembe, congas, all percussions and he has recently gotten deeply into playing the didgeridoo. 

You can visit his website here. 

John Hinton

John Hinton has been involved in devotional music since childhood. Having created songs, chants, and dances that honor many of the world’s spiritual traditions, John brings a universal quality to his music. He has participated in Christian, Jewish, Sikh, Baha’i, Sufi, Buddhist and many other traditions, thus bringing the spirit of these traditions to his music. John is a writer, poet, artist, musician, and leader of the Dances of Universal Peace.

Click on the link below to listen to John Hinton's music: 

Shalom Salaam by John Hinton

More artists info coming soon! 

Sacred Chant Concert: Awakening the Goddess (a fundraiser to benefit local kids in need!)

Join us to pray for Peace, Equality and Abundance for all children! 

Date: Saturday, May 2, 2015

Time: 6 pm - 9 pm

Location: Yoga Phoenix  2308 N Richland St, Phoenix AZ, 85006

Tickets: $25 advanced; $30 at the door (Visit www.yogaphoenix.com to purchase)

Food insecurity (the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food). is a severe problem in our society that many of us are not aware of. Many who are suffering from food insecurity are children. These children are not able to stand up for themselves and ask for help. And often times, their pain and suffering are invisible to the rest of the world. It is time that we become aware of this problem and lend a helping hand. 

Young children require a lot of healthy nutrition to support their growth. However, many children attending school in the Greater Coronado Neighborhood are suffering from food insecurity. Just getting enough to eat is a challenge for these children. Based on the number of children receiving free and reduced school meals, there are an estimated 800 elementary-aged children in this neighborhood’s schools who do not have the food they so desperately need. 

The Caring Coalition was started by a group of concerned neighbors over one year ago. It is a grassroots effort to provide access to good nutrition for families that are struggling to feed their children. 

Now, Caring Coalition, Yoga Phoenix, GIlbert Yoga, Sutra Midtown, Anahata and many other local yoga centers are working together on this important concert that is coming in May, to raise funds to provide food for these children. 

Please purchase your tickets to support the needs of our local children. Come to the concert and vibrate your love and kindness, help us to bring more help to these children. Please help them to grow up to be healthy, happy, functional and successful adults. 

Follow this link to meet some of the talented artists who are performing in this concert. 

(Note: Caring Coalition also accepts donation. To make a contribution, please visit their website here.)

Hunger and malnutrition can lead to many physical and mental problems:

• fatigue and low energy
• dizziness
• poor immune function (which can cause the body to have trouble fighting off infections)
• dry, scaly skin
• swollen and bleeding gums
• decaying teeth
• slowed reaction times and trouble paying attention
• underweight
• poor growth
• muscle weakness
• bloated stomach
• bones that break easily
• problems with organ function
• problems learning

(Info from kidshealth.org) 

Music for Kundalini Yoga

Another element that is unique to Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan, is the music.

The only kind of music that you will find in any Kundalini Yoga class is Kundalini Yoga music (music used by Yogi Bhajan, as well as other Kundalini mantras put to music, and new 3HO songs - from The Aquarian Teacher). 

Why do we only play Kundalini Yoga music? This is how Yogi Bhajan explained it:

“Kundalini Yoga is to create inner energy, not provoke outer energy. Music must be within a certain rhythm. Music that is more physical or mental than spiritual can stop the rhythm. Ours should be more spiritual. Commitment to self is not a joke. Commotional music is not required. If the music is not soothing, if it creates commotion, it is not allowed. A yoga class needs elevation, projection of the proper combination and permutation of words which push you through…..Kundalini Yoga is not a pop festival, nor is it a rock and roll concert. It has those subtle projections through which the person can go inward. When you are teaching, be with the purity of the essence as you have been taught.”

It is just like opening a locked door with the right key, all the Kundalini Yoga music and mantras that we play in class has the correct vibration that will help students to raise their energy properly, and create a safe and sacred passageway for one to reach inside to one’s self.

Rakhe Rakhanhar by Singh Kaur is a classic example of Kundalini Yoga music that has the correction vibration. Click on this video to experience the sun energy that is conveyed in Rakhe Rakhanhar. 

You can also visit Spirit Voyage to sample more Kundalini Yoga music. 

Coming to Yoga Phoenix: Crown of Eternity (featuring Jere Friedman)

Crown of Eternity will be at Yoga Phoenix on Saturday, April 4, 2015! Come join Harnek Singh and Harnek Kaur of Crown of Eternity (featuring Jere Friendman) for a special workshop and a concert on that day: 

Gong Techniques for the Aquarian Age

Sat, April 4, 2015

2 - 5 pm

Register early: $35

On day of workshop: $45

Sound Journey Through Gongs, Himalayan Bowls and Sacred Chants

Saturday, April 4, 2015

6 - 8 pm

Register early: $25

On day of concert: $30

Register early for both events: $55

At the door: $70 

Please visit www.yogaphoenix.com to learn more about these 2 events and to learn more about Crown of Eternity and Jere Friedman. Don't miss this rare opportunity to learn from these fantastic musicians/healers! 

About Sound Healing:
 “The secret of the gong is its tremendous potential for healing and rejuvenation.” "Because the gong covers the full spectrum of sound, it vibrates all the cells and bones and organs, some more than others, depending upon the pitch of the gong. You feel an influx of energy coming from it in your body as well as hear it.” - Don Conreaux

Read more about the science of sound healing here. 

Also, check out these videos of Crown of Eternity: 

Yogic Dance Experience

Calling all movers and shakers! Come celebrate life with us on Saturday, March 7, 2015, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, at Yoga Phoenix! We'll practice some pranayam (breath work), meditation and then we'll dance and raise our spirit to the Infinity! 

This special event is open to everyone, No prior experience required. Just come with an open mind, and be ready to dance and sweat! 

“The mind should dance with the body, and the whole universe is your stage. Try to feel that whatever you are doing is the most beautiful thing, the prettiest dance, because you are dancing with the whole Universe.” - Yogi Bhajan

Yogic Dance Experience
Saturday, March 7, 2015
6:30 - 8:30 pm
2308 N Richland St, Phoenix AZ, 85006
Sliding scale fee: $10 - $15
Pay at the door. Cash, personal check, credit cards accepted. No online registration required.