Teachers Supporting Teachers: Teaching Kundalini Yoga for Addictions

     "Today we have a sincere unhappiness and people are continuing to look outside themselves for their answers.  What we do is we teach people how to find that peace within.  That’s where the answers lie.  We don’t create any miracle, we give simple food, simple exercises and a simple way to think."

                                                                        - Yogi Bhajan

Next Tuesday, May 28, 2013, from 7pm to 8:30pm, Yoga Phoenix is hosting the Yogic Lifestyle Teacher Support event. On this special evening we have Nirmaljeet Singh (Stephen) to present his topic on “Teaching Kundalini Yoga for Addictions.”

Nrimaljeet Singh has been teaching Kundalini Yoga since July 2010. He also has completed Lifestyles and Lifecycles Level 2 Training. In February 2013 he completed the special training in SuperHealth Technology – Kundalini Yoga for Addictive Behavior in Espanola, New Mexico.

The abuse of substances and compulsive behaviors to alleviate pain and emotional trauma is epidemic in our society.  These behaviors often lead to addiction - manifesting in many ways.  This special event will introduce the basics of SuperHealth technology - Kundalini Yoga teachings given by Yogi Bhajan to break self-defeating patterns and habits.  Learn how you as a teacher or in your own practice can use these powerful techniques to break the cycle of insanity. 

 Kundalini Yoga works to correct imbalances in the brain affecting relaxation and activity -- often fueling addictive behaviors.  It offers a healthier way to deal with stress.  The will and determination -- the keep up spirit -- that kundalini yoga requires helps people regain control over their body and mind.  It turns the focus inward -- not on external chemicals and sensations.

Anyone interested in recovery -- teachers, therapists, and person struggling with addiction are welcome at this event.  No Kundalini Yoga experience is required.  

Attendees are encouraged to attend the 3 hour workshop from 1-4PM on June 1st to expand on this introduction (follow this link for information on this workshop).

Nirmaljeet Singh is an excellent Kundalini Yoga teacher, don't miss out this opportunity to learn from him!            

(To register for this special event, please follow this link) 

Yogic Lifstyle Teacher Support: Divine Alignment with Adi Singh

Adi Singh highly recommends the book Divine Alighment by Guru Prem Singh Khalsa

Around the middle of March, 2013, Yoga Phoenix started offering Yogic Lifestyle Teacher Support, which is a series of special events designed to support Kundalini Yoga teachers. As a teacher myself, I always feel that it is very important to keep studying and learning about this wonderful ancient technology, jumped at the opportunity and attended Divine Alignment by Adi Singh. Little did I know, it turned out to be a great review of the basics and the refresher was most welcomed.  

We began by reviewing the three locks: root lock, diaphragm lock, and neck lock, covered back in Level 1 Teachers’ Training. Adi Singh demonstrated some exercises that may help students with the mechanics of Kundalini Yoga basics. For example, have students lie down on their backs and then apply root lock. This way, they will be able to feel the spine being lengthen and become straight. Another good exercise is to combine spinal flex with root lock. Have students inhale and push lower spine forward while holding root lock. As the spine flexes to the back, release the root lock. This exercise is also good for the lower back!

After reviewing the locks, we moved on to breath work. Adi Singh provided a lot of tips on how students should practice their breath work and how teachers can provide guidance. For instance, applying root lock can help students learn to breathe through the belly. Adi Singh shared a very simple exercise that tests how healthy a person is. First, breathe long and deep a few times. Then exhale completely and hold the breath out for as long as one can. Adi Singh said that the ability to hold the breath out for over 30 seconds is an indicator of good health (I made it past 30 seconds!). If one can hold the breath out for one minute that means this person is in tiptop shape!  

Of all the breath work in Kundalini Yoga, I think most students will find breath of fire the most challenging to learn. Adi Singh shared a few ideas on how to teach breath of fire. Most importantly, he helped me understand how all these techniques help open the gateway to the central channel (sushmuna), allowing the kundalini energy to rise to the top of the head and then come back down.

We spent the rest of the evening doing some meditation and discussing the role of a teacher.  Adi Singh pointed out that in a way the teacher is the ideal that students try to achieve. As teachers, we must continue our learning and keep refining our practice, but at the same time remain humble. I want to thank Adi Singh for imparting this piece of wisdom with me; I was very glad to have attended the event.

Yoga Phoenix will continue to offer more special events like this to support Kundalini Yoga teachers. Don’t miss out on these valuable learning opportunities. Yogic Lifestyle Teacher Support takes place every 4^th Tuesday of the month, at 7 pm.