A Few of Hargobind’s Favorite Things

December 2, 2008

So, here are some of the things that I’m using a lot these days - and they may make great holiday gifts for the men in your life.  (All of the images link to the items on our website in case you want more info)

Me in the Pashah Tantric Kurta-Shirt

Me in the Pashah Tantric Kurta-Shirt

I really like our new men’s clothing - all of them fit great and I feel good wearing them.  One of the tops  that I really like is the Padsha Tantric Kurta Shirt.  It is kind of half-way between a shirt and a kurta, so I can wear it with jeans and it’s like a shirt, or with some of our white pants, and I feel like I’m in bana. 

Mens White Cotton Sweapants

Men's White Cotton Sweapants

I also really like the new men’s sweatpants we just ordered. It’s really hard to find men’s white 100% cotton sweatpants - Karan looked far and wide to find these.  The great thing about them is that they have elasticized ankles, and for yoga that makes a big difference - the pants don’t keep riding up your legs when you’re doing exercizes.

Mool Mantra Engraved Kara

Mool Mantra Engraved Kara

My Kara: I wear our Mool Mantra Kara When I was a kid, I was told to wear a kara to remember to always do good unto others with my hands.  Somewhere down the line one of my yoga teachers spoke of the kara as an energy purifier and a tool to balance the wind in the body. For all that it is made out to be, I generally wear a kara because it makes me comfortable and I think they are really cool. )

bound lotus

I think the Bound Lotus Manual is one of the best manuals I’ve ever used.  I did 40 days of 31 minutes of bound lotus or maha padmasana when I was working at the Yogi Tea/ Golden Temple Factory, packing cereal and going to the University of Oregon. I started to feel as if my crown chakra was wide open. It is hard to explain. When I was practicing the kriya, I have to say I hated it more than anything. The experience throughout the day though was fantastic. It was mentally the most difficult experience of my life. I felt like 40 days was not enough but I was so relieved it was over. I will finish that karma next life time ) The kriya is said to accelerate your karma. 

Bound Lotus Companion CD by Snatam Kaur

Bound Lotus Companion CD by Snatam Kaur

And the manual itself is incredible - it’s such an in-depth guide to the practice that I felt like I had a teacher with me the whole way through.  We recently made the musical accompaniment by snatam Kaur to this kriya available fro download from our website.  Click Here to See the Download Info.

Atmospheres by Deuter

Atmospheres by Deuter

We just picked up a new CD by Deuter called Atmospheres - I’ve been listening to it a lot while I work - it keeps me calm and relaxed.

Sa Ta Na Ma by Snatam Kaur

Sa Ta Na Ma by Snatam Kaur

Another Kriya that I really like to do is Kirtan Kriya.  The version of Sa Ta Na Ma that Snatam created when she made the album To Heaven and Beyond has not been available for a while, but we just added it to our download site, so you can download it from here

 

Some other CDs that I’ve been really enjoying listening to lately are:

Circle of Light by Gurudass, The Journey Home by Gurunam, Love Holding Love by Wah!, Ancient Spirit by Ragani, and Live Devotion by Robin Renee.

 

 

 

 

 

Karan mentioned on her favorite things how much she’s looking forward to going to Mexico.  I’m going too, and if you want to give your loved one something amazing, blissful and maybe a bit extravagant for a holiday gift, take them on this retreat to Mexico in March with Snatam Kaur for her Sacred Chant Retreat. It will be awesome!


A Few of Karan’s Favorite Things

December 1, 2008

We have so many wonderful products that we offer and I love all of them, but I thought I’d share a few of my favorite things since it is gift-giving season and you might appreciate some good ideas.  (All of the images link to the items on our website in case you want more info)

Slim Stainless Steel Kara

Slim Stainless Steel Kara

My Kara:  I wear our slim stainless steel kara.  It makes me feel protected and reminds me that I am connected to the creative flow of the universe.  I always notice when I see someone else wearing a kara, and I feel this instant connection to them - like we share this special secret that we carry around with us through our lives. Sikhs wear karas as a part of their vows, but these days I see lots of people wearing them - yogis and people of spiritual awareness. I I love my kara because it is simple and elegant and matches everything in my wardrobe!

Sitting on my plush long-haired sheepskin

Sitting on my plush long-haired sheepskin

My long-haired sheepskin.  I love my sheepskin.  I’ve used different sheepskins over the years, and the long haired one is ideal for keeping your ankles and knees from feeling the hard floor when you’re doing yoga.  I love meditating on this sheepskin because I feel so cozy and comforted sitting on it.

Wearing my Third Chakra Lotus Ring

Wearing my Third Chakra Lotus Ring

My Chakra Lotus Ring - I actually have two of these rings and without question they are the most amazing pieces of jewelry I’ve ever owned.  When I wear them, I get stopped on the street and people compliment me on them.  They are truly pieces of art.  My Third Chakra Lotus Ring gets worn more often because it is a full lotus and I just love it.  Also, in my goal to lose weight, the third chakra energy gives me a little boost!  I also have the Sixth Chakra Lotus Ring which I also love!!
Thirk Chakra Lotus Ring - Willpower

Thirk Chakra Lotus Ring - Willpower

Here is a better picture of just the ring - mine has pink gold, which you can specially request for no extra money on any of the rings.
Waheguru wearing our Nadia Tantra Blouse and Nadia Tantra Skirt

Waheguru wearing our Nadia Tantra Blouse and Nadia Tantra Skirt

From our new clothing line, I’ve fallen completely in love with two items because I can wear them any time without ironing them!!  I can just throw them in my suitcase and pull them out and they are ready to go.  The Nadia Tantra Blouse, and the Nadia Tantra Skirt

Hot Pink Yoga Mat

Hot Pink Yoga Mat

My hot-pink yoga mat - when I go to yoga class, I love having a bright colored yoga mat.  I don’t know why, but it makes me happy!

My Current Music Favorites:

Rising Sun

Rising Sun

I have an alarm clock that I dock my i-pod on at night.  I set it to wake me up with the music from the compilation CD Rising Sun and it is absolutely the most fantastic way to wake up every morning!!

When I do my morning yoga, I have a playlist that I listen to that I absolutely LOVE!!  I’ve added it as a playlist to our digital download site.  Here it is:

Karans Yoga Playlist for Download

Karan's Yoga Playlist for Download

Karan’s Yoga Playlist:

Ong Namo by Snatam Kaur
Ek Ongkar by GuruGanesha Singh
Pavan Guru by Gurunam Singh
Ocean by Mirabai Ceiba
Ma by GuruGanesha Singh and Snatam Kaur
I Am by Guru Singh with Seal
Sat Gur Prasad by Sat Kartar
Long Time Sun by Snatam Kaur (from Feeling Good Today)

Wah's Love Holding Love

I always take music with me to work out at the gym.  I have added almost all of the tracks from Wah’s Love Holding Love CD to my workout play list.

Yogi Lounge

Yogi Lounge

In the evenings when I’m hanging out just relaxing, I LOVE to listen to Yogi Lounge which is a really awesome CD and a great collection of music.

And the thing I am looking forward to more than anything right now is the chance to go to Mexico in March with Snatam Kaur for her Sacred Chant Retreat.  Anyone who can find a way to join this retreat should give it a try.  It will be a really intimate experience with Snatam Kaur and her family and GuruGanesha Singh and his family.  It will be blissful!


Teachers in Focus - Maya Fiennes

November 28, 2008

maya“To be in her presence, and to feel her spirit, her energy, and her teaching is an extraordinary experience” Deepak Chopra

Musician and yoga teacher Maya Fiennes combines her talents to create a stunningly beautiful Kundalini practice focused on fortifying the body’s stress defenses. Maya uses movement, breath, mantra, and chants all set to her own exhilarating music to awaken the spirit, energize the body, and relax the mind and is the creator or the “Kundalini Yoga to Detox & Destress” video.

Spirit Voyage:
How did you discover Kundalini Yoga and what inspired you to become a teacher?

Maya: As a classical pianist, I started yoga as I wanted to relax before concerts and to improve my musical performance. I have now been doing yoga for ten years, having tried all different styles including Hatha, Ashtanga and Bikram in search of spiritual growth. When I found Kundalini yoga, my search was over. Once I realised the effect Kundalini Yoga had on me I wanted to share it with others; hence why I became a teacher.

Spirit Voyage: You travel and teach throughout the world - can you share some of your experiences teaching yoga to different cultures?

Maya: I have taught all over the world, including the Maldives, Mauritius, Mexico, Greece, Asia (Taipei, Hong Kong & Singapore). It doesn’t really matter where you are. Kundalini Yoga is all about the journey within one self; the outside world becomes irrelevant. With the help of my music, I am able to teach yoga to people of all types of cultures and languages. I often find that not having a common language with my students is even more powerful as it allows us to communicate via energy lines only.

Spirit Voyage: Teaching is a real form of seva (selfless service). In what other ways is seva a part of your life?

Maya: I am a mother and a wife, which in themselves require selfless service. Apart from that, I am very connected to teaching youth in general and helping them on the road to adulthood and responsibilities. Embracing yoga tends to give confidence which is really useful at an early stage of youth. As I teach, and now that I am on Sky TV, via the channel Body in Balance, daily in the UK, I come across people with big needs and I always try to help be it through yoga, general advice, presence or other types of support.

Spirit Voyage: What type of Mantra/Chant music are you listening to these days?

Maya: I find myself listening only to mantras these days..in fact I have a mantra in my head all the time…as I create music it’s not so strange that I have it in my mind. I am in the studio at the moment recording the last mantra of my new album and it gives me pure joy. I am working on the miracle mantra, Guru Ram Das…it’s very healing, it opens the heart which prepares us for the arrival into the Aquarian age safely.

I also listen and work to other albums such as: Long EK ONG KAR on Gurunam’s “The Seal of Higher Destiny” album, Grace by Snatam Kaur, Yatri by Prem Joshua, Wheel of Sound by various Kundalini artists, The Guru Singh experience volume one, I especially love his Ong So Hung.

Maya’s DVD available at http://www.spiritvoyage.com/yoga/Kundalini-Yoga-to-Detox-DVD/Maya-Fiennes/DVD-002378.aspx

 

YOGI TIP*
Meditation for Emotional Relief and Self Healing

maya_yogi_tipMantra: Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru, Wahe Guru, Wahe Jio

Instructions: Sit in easy pose keeping the arms straight with the hands in gyan mudra resting on the knees. Sit very majestically as though in the court of a king. Close the eyes so that the energy of sight is not distracting from insight. Chant this layla mantra and enter a divine sound current. Concentrate and hear the sound within.

Continue for 11 minutes, then inhale deeply and hold this precious breath, concentrate the energy at the top of the head. After 30 seconds exhale and relax.

* All teachings, yoga sets, techniques, kriyas and meditations contained in this blog entry are provided courtesy of The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Reprinted with permission. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of these Teachings may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the Kundalini Research Institute. To request permission, please write to KRI at PO Box 1819, Santa Cruz, NM 87567 or see www.kriteachings.org.


Tuning-In to Musicians - Mirabai Ceiba

November 26, 2008

Welcome to the first of a series of “Tuning-In to Musicians” posts where we introduce and interview various musicians in the kirtan/chant community (also stay tuned for the “Teachers In Focus” posts in the coming weeks which will do the same for leading teachers in the yoga community).

Mirabai CeibaWe open our “Tuning-In to Musicians” feature with a focus on Mirabai Ceiba, a favorite at Summer Solstice , The European Yoga Festival, and the Yoga-Art Festival that they produce every Spring in Mexico.

Mirabai Ceiba is a musical project created by Angelika Baumbach from Mexico (vocal and harp) and Markus Sieber from Germany (vocal and guitar). They perform a compilation of original songs in Spanish as well as newly arranged chants from different traditions of the world. The name Mirabai Ceiba expresses the influences of both India and Native Latin America. The Ceiba is the sacred tree of Latin America, where these trees are never cut but are allowed to grow very tall. “We wish our music could be like that kind of tree, with roots deep in the Mother Earth and branches extending wide into Father Sky. Mirabai is for us the wandering, the devotion, the inspiration in all the different aspects of divinity.”

oceanSpirit Voyage: Your recent album Ocean is a beautiful weaving of Kundalini Mantra, English lyrics and Spanish. Can you explain how you became introduced to Kundalini Mantra and what role Kundalini Yoga plays in your lives.

Angelika: Since before I can remember, I was listening to Singh Kaur, Sangeet Kaur, Livtar Singh and Pritpal Singh. At my birth, there was live Gurbani Kirtan playing. After growing up attending many solstices, I went to my first Solstice and Ladies Camp on my own at 15. Attending Yogi Bhajan’s daily lectures had a huge impact on my life. Since then, I have been connecting more and more with the Kundalini Yoga community around the world, mostly through the music, and it is such a blessing to have such an immense family all around the world.

Markus: My first contact with Kundalini Yoga was in my Theater School in Berlin where we used it as a tool to open up our creative source. I experienced its powerful spirit which gave me a taste of a new unknown part of myself. Angelika brought me to my first summer solstice, and I had the chance to explore the spiritual side of Kundalini Yoga. Meditating, practicing yoga, singing and playing music together was a way of subtle communication beyond words and cultural differences. Chanting has brought an inner change in me. The vibration in the chest has softened my heart. The voice can be like a light in the darkness. You can sing for your pain, for your sadness and it can transform you. Mantra adds an even higher dimension: the communication with the universal mind.

Spirit Voyage: Can you talk to us about music and seva?

Angelika: Music is a wonderful way to serve people, as well as a very fulfilling thing to do for the soul. I have always felt in my heart that my mission is to serve as a bridge to connect different kinds of people. Two years ago, we started a Yoga Art Festival in a powerful and beautiful place near Mexico City for people to gather and learn healthier and happier ways to live their lives. This annual festival is a wonderful way to harvest the seeds that we plant throughout the year, to meditate, chant, practice Yoga, and celebrate life, friendship and family. (For more information, visit www.yogaartfestival.com)

Spirit Voyage: Can you share a meditation that you have used? Do you have a personal story of using it that you can share?

Markus: Last summer, my niece was born. It was a very difficult birth. Our whole family was worried and wanted to help my brother and his wife, but we were so far away. We began to chant Ardas Bhaee every night, praying for healing. It is such a powerful mantra in situations which seem hopeless or when you can’t find words for your prayers. The pure vibration of the mantra can give you so much trust and hope. Chanting the mantra, I experienced a clear awareness that this baby needed our family to consciously receive the soul into our lineage with an open heart and experience gratitude for the miracle of life and death.

YOGI TIP*: Prayer for Healingprayer_for_healing

  • Sit in Easy Pose. Close your eyes. Put your hands on opposite shoulders with your arms crossed. Hold your shoulders well, the arms relaxed on the chest and chant Ardas Bhaee. Continue for 11 to 31 minutes. End with 3 powerful breaths.
  • Inhale deep through the nose, hold for 5-10 seconds, then exhale powerfully through the mouth. As you hold the breath in, put all the pressure downward on your shoulders with your hands.
  • Press them down and keep the spine steady and straight. Repeat the breath three times. Then relax.
  • Continue to sit for some minutes following your breath in awareness of your deep inner silence.


Albums on Mirabai Ceiba’s playlist:

GuruGanesha Singh and Snatam, “Joy is Now” - It brings us back to the wonderful time we spent with Snatam and Guru Ganesha and all the peace family this last spring tour.

Mata Mandir Singh, “Furmaan Khalsa” - Beautiful songs…deep, vast and inspiring.

Aurora, “Aquarian Sadhana” - A gentle and beautiful way to chant for Sadhana.

Sada Sat Kaur, “Shashara” - Earthly and very creative. Humble and warm. Inner strength.

Omar Faruk Tekbilek, “Tree of Patience” - Uplifting and inspiring for Yoga and Movement.

* All teachings, yoga sets, techniques, kriyas and meditations contained in this blog entry are provided courtesy of The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan. Reprinted with permission. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of these Teachings may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted in writing by the Kundalini Research Institute. To request permission, please write to KRI at PO Box 1819, Santa Cruz, NM 87567 or see www.kriteachings.org.


Two New Souls in the Spirit Voyage Family!!

November 24, 2008

 

Spirit Voyage is blessed and honored to announce that two beautiful little girls were born to bless the planet with their presence.

On November 15th, Ditta and Alessandra Khalsa had a baby girl, Amrita Elizabeth Khalsa.

On November 22nd, Snatam Kaur and Sopurkh Singh Khalsa had a baby girl, Jap Preet Kaur Khalsa.

Please join us in sending them prayers and blessings.

You can send e-mail wishes to the following addresses:

Snatam Kaur and Sopurkh Singh: info@snatamkaur.com

Ditta and Alessandra Khalsa: ditta@spiritvoyage.com

Click Here to See a Slide Show from Snatam, Sopurkh and Jap Preet: http://www.snatamkaur.com/jpk/jap-preet-kaur.htm  - It has a song by Livtar Singh that he wrote for the new baby.

Snatam Kaur and Alessandra pregnant in August 2008

Snatam Kaur and Alessandra pregnant in August 2008

The two new mothers had the joy of working together during their pregnancies on Snatam Kaur’s DVD ‘Shanti the Yogi.’  Their pregnancies were such a joy for all of us to witness.  Here is a picture of them goofing around during one of the screenings of the earlier cuts of the DVD.  Alessandra is an amazing film producer, editor and all around a beautiful person.   She also produced the DVD documentary ‘Path of Peace’ included in the Live in Concert album.

Here is Ditta with his dainty little daughter, Amrita:

Ditta with his daughter Amrita

Ditta with his daughter Amrita

Here is Snatam Kaur with her daughter Jap Preet getting some needed rest.

Snatam Kaur sleeping with her daughter Jap Preet

Snatam Kaur sleeping with her daughter Jap Preet


Mp3 Downloads are here

November 24, 2008

For the past several months, we have been working on an Mp3 download store. And now the Mp3 download store is ready to launch!

Please see it here:

http://www.spiritvoyage.com/digital_download.aspx

Or see a list or all available music here:

http://www.spiritvoyage.com/Digital_Search.aspx?SearchType=SearchByCategory&SearchText=0

We are very excited as we can now spread more of this great music to the far corners of the world.

The store will work like this.

1. A customer can browse the site and add an Mp3 track or full album to their cart.

2. When ready the user checksout securely through our server.

3. On the successful checkout page, the user is provided with an encrypted link to download his/her music.

4. The download link is also emailed to customer for later download if required.

5. The mp3 folder is saved on the computer location of the users choice.

6. The mp3 files can then be imported into itunes for use on an ipod or any other media player such as windows media player.

Please enjoy and let us know what ways we can improve it.

Many blessings,

Hargobind


Winter Solstice Catalog

November 20, 2008

sv_winter_catalog_comp

The new Spirit Voyage catalog is complete and it is full of all kinds of goodness!

We got a great response to the special features on musicians and teachers in the last catalog and have therefor prepared a whole new set for this issue. “Tuning-In to Musicians” features interviews with Sat Kartar, Mirabai Ceiba and Guru Singh, and the “Focus on Teachers” reaches out to Shiva Rea, Gurudass Kaur and Maya Fiennes. Each interview includes a “Yogi Tip” as well as a list of what music the artist or teacher are currently listening to and playing in class.

Also back by popular demand is the “Spirit Voyage Yoga Boutique” with many new yogic outfits for the coming year, as well as the addition of a whole line of custom made Karas, Lotus Chakra Rings and headcovers. Ladies, check out the Maharani Tantric Kurta on page 5 - everyone is falling in love with that one.

In the music category we have 24 amazing new releases, including Snatam’s new children’s album, “Feeling Good Today” and Sat Kirin’s soon to be released “Blessings of a Woman”. In the “Music for Daily Practice” section there are three new releases of Sadhana music, including the very popular “Kundalini Sadhana” compilation from the Yoga Living Series. In the Sanksrit chant section there are some great new releases by Michael Kolasa who was a big hit at Summer Solstice as well as Wah! and Krishna Das.

The hot new items in the Video and Book category include Snatam’s amazing children’s yoga DVD, “Shanti The Yogi: Mountain Adventure” and Yogi Bhajan’s “Man to Man” published by KRI.

Samples of all of the new music, as well as Snatam’s DVD, can be found at www.spiritvoyage.com and if you would like to download a pdf file of the entire catalog just click here: Spirit Voyage Winter Catalog 2008 (the file is 5MB so it may take a few moments to download).

Enjoy!!!


Recipe of the Week: Green Mung Kichari (Kicheree)

November 18, 2008

From Karan’s Spirit Voyage Kitchen

 

Karan with a big bowl of Kichari

Karan with a big bowl of Kichari

Since I was a little girl, I’ve eaten Kichari as a healing food whenever I started to feel sick.  For me, Kichari is like Chicken Soup - it’s my cure all for whatever ails me.  It gives me comfort and nutrition and makes me feel so healthy that I tend to continue eating it for the entire winter season.

Yogi Bhajan prescribed Kichari as a great colon cleanser.  When I lived in India, Kichari was the Ayurvedic staple, and anyone living a yogic lifestyle ate Kichari at least once a day.  Anytime I went to an ashram, spa, or clinic, Kichari was the meal served.  It made me feel perfectly at home.

Hargobind eating Kichari with yoghurt

Hargobind eating Kichari with yoghurt

In college, my friends discovered that Kichari is the perfect poor man’s (or woman’s) food.  A 5 lb. bag of rice and 5 lbs. of mung beans can last a few months for very little money.  So, in times when money is tight, make yourself a big pot of Kichari and eat it all week - you’ll feel better and your wallet can stay just a little bit fatter!

Last week, we started eating our first batch of Kichari here at the Spirit Voyage offices and we’ve been loving it.

My Kichari recipe makes 10 servings.

Green Mung Beans

Green Mung Beans

Ingredients:

10 Cups of Water
2 Cups Basmati Rice
2 Cups Whole Green Mung Beans (soaked in water for at least 6 hours, but up to 24 hours)
1 Medium Onion (diced)
4 Cloves Garlic (finely chopped - you can use as much as a full bulb if you are a garlic lover)
1 to 2 Inches Ginger (finely chopped)
3 TBSP Ghee (if you don’t have ghee, olive oil can be substituted, but use a bit less)
1 TBSP Turmeric
1 TBSP Cumin Seeds
1 TBSP Coriander Powder
1 TBSP Crushed Red Chili Flakes
1 tsp Black Pepper
1/2 Cup Bragg Liquid Aminos
1 LB Spinach (you can use any green leafy vegetable)
Fresh Cilantro as Garnish

  • -Use the largest pot in your house for this recipe (8 qt. is ideal, but 5 qt. can work) . 
  • -Turn the heat to medium, and add the cumin seeds.  Stir them occassionally until they start to pop. 
  • -Then add the ghee, turmeric, coriander and black pepper and stir to create a sauce.  Let the spices cook together in the ghee for about a minute.
  • -Add the onions, garlic and ginger, and stir.  Let cook for about 3 to 5 minutes until you can smell the onions and garlic cooking.
  • -Add 8 cups of water and the soaked mung beans. (The mung beans should have doubled in size while soaking)
  • -Cover and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, tilt the lid slightly but keep covered. Turn the temperature down to medium-low and allow to cook for 2 to 3 hours, adding water if necessary to keep it slightly soupy.
  • After an hour, add the spinach. 

If you have a pressure cooker, you can cook the mung bean part of the recipe in the pressure cooker for 25 minutes.

In a separate pot, you cook the rice. Combine the rice with 5 cups of water. Add the crushed red chili flakes. Bring to a roiling boil and let boil for 7 minutes. Then turn off heat and cover for 20 minutes. Do not remove lid as the steam will continue to cook the rice, making it light and fluffy.

Check the mung beans from time to time. Once they are soft, they are done. You then turn off the heat and mix the rice in with the beans. Add the 1/2 cup of Bragg Liquid Aminos and stir together.

Your kichari is ready to serve.

I usually eat my Kichari with plain yogurt and fresh cilantro.  It’s a delicious combination.

After you let the pot cool, you can put the entire pot in the refrigerator and heat up individual servings all week!

More about Kichari:

Kichari is extremely easy to digest.  In Ayurveda, it is taught that one of the main causes of disease is poor digestion and elimination.  Ayurvedic healing always starts by working through the digestive system and focusing on diet and nutrition.  Kichari soothes your digestive system and is easily processed and eliminated by the body.   Because your body does not have to work hard to process Kichari, it can focus on the job of healing itself.

There are many different Kichari recipes out there, using both green mung beans and the split yellow mung beans.  The recipe we always used in my home as a child was the green mung beans, and when Yogi Bhajan visited us, that was what we always ate.  When I lived in India, Kichari was primarily cooked with the split yellow mung beans, which are considered much gentler on the digestion.  I’ll share one of those recipes in the future.

Akasha (my ex-husband and an incredible yoga teacher and health nut) studied Ayurvedic medicine under an amazing Ayurvedic doctor, Dr. Vasant Lad, at the Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, NM.  He has a great cookbook called Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing  which is available on Amazon.com that has a bunch of different Kichari recipes focusing on specific ailments and your own body type.  Akasha, who is undoubtedly the healthiest person I have ever known, is a Kichari fanatic.  He likes to do Kichari fasts twice a year - in the spring and the fall - to cleanse his system and prepare for the change of seasons.  I would recommend trying this now as the weather is getting COLD!


Yogalicious!! Who Are Those Spirit Voyage Models?

November 14, 2008

 

One of the really fun things about picking up a line of yoga clothes has been actually getting to wear the clothes.  They are really comfortable and light, and when I wear them, I feel really radiant and vibrant.  We scheduled photo shoots when the clothes came in, so I called on my nearby friends and family to come over and model for us, and it was both fun and inspiring to see them here.

Siri Om in our Rajasthani Wrap Pants

Siri Om in our Rajasthani Wrap Pants

So, you want to know who these yogalicious models are?

Siri Om: Siri Om is Hargobind’s fiance (Congratulations to both of them - they just got engaged in October of this year.)  Siri Om is one of the most dedicated yogis I’ve ever known.  She teaches Bikram Yoga for about 4 to 6 hours a day, while maintaining her own Kundalini Yoga practice.  You can see her radiance shining from every pore of her skin, and we were really blessed to have her pose for our photographs in both of our catalogs.

Hargobind in our Yogi Sahib Linen Shirt and Siri Om in our Maharani Tantric Kurta

Hargobind in our Yogi Sahib Linen Shirt and Siri Om in our Maharani Tantric Kurta

Hargobind: Hargobind, my business partner and step-brother, wasn’t sure he wanted to model, but with a little pressure we got him to participate.  Hargobind grew up practicing Kundalini Yoga, and when you see him meditate, you realize that there is something so profoundly connected to that juicy, yogic source, it’s suddenly easy to understand his business genius and ability to deeply focus on any goal.  Hargobind started practicing Ashtanga Yoga many years ago after he broke his back, and then more recently Bikram Yoga, so he incorporates the various styles of yoga into his own personal practice. 

Waheguru in our Hazoori Shakti Blouse and Yogi's Tie Pants

Waheguru in our Hazoori Shakti Blouse and Yogi

Waheguru: Waheguru recently moved to the DC area from New Mexico.  She discovered Kundalini Yoga when she was 14 years old.  As a teenager, she would sometimes sneak out and go to Yoga classes, saying she had doctor’s appointments or was going to the gym because she didn’t know how people would relate to her as a yogi. 

Waheguru was the most fun to shoot - she spent the whole time telling jokes in front of the camera, making us all laugh so much, everyone forgot pictures were being taken and those turned out to be the best pictures of all!

 

Dave in the Gauze Kriya Shirt and Cotton Kundalini Pants

Dave in the Gauze Kriya Shirt and Cotton Kundalini Pants

Dave: Dave is my brother and was more than happy to help with our photo shoot.  It’s been a while since I last dragged him to a yoga class, but he fell in love with our new clothes and said he’s taking them with him on his next beach vacation!  While Dave might not be a regular yogi, he had his moments.  I have pictures of him doing yoga in Yogi Bhajan’s lap when he was 3 years old!

 

Saraswati, awash in autumn leaves

Saraswati, awash in autumn leaves

Saraswati: Saraswati lives here in the DC area.  She just graduated with a Master’s degree in Public Health, and is staying with me while preparing for her next job, hopefully taking her to some amazing location in Africa to help cure the world of AIDS.  Having her join in our photo shoots was a real blessing, because she looks just like an angel!

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Gurumeet wearing her Chakra Lotus Rings

Gurumeet: Gurumeet is my father’s wife. She is so beautiful, it was a natural fit to have her participate in the shoot.  Her eyes sparkle with so much light, I doubt anyone notices the clothes she’s wearing in the photos!  Gurumeet is a Kundalini Yoga teacher, interior designer, jewelry maker, and a gentle, graceful presence on this planet.  She also happens to be the designer of the Chakra Lotus Rings that we carry - she is truly and artist - every one of those rings is a work of art!

Akasha wearing the White-Banded Headcover and Padsha Tantric Kurta-Shirt

Akasha wearing the White-Banded Headcover and Padsha Tantric Kurta-Shirt

Akasha: I even recruited Akasha, my ex-husband, for a few photos when he was in town visiting my son for Halloween.  He was a good sport and agreed to model the head covers since I needed a man to show how they worked for men.  Akasha was so excited about the head covers, he asked if he could buy a dozen!!  Akasha is an amazing yoga teacher.  When we lived in India, he studied Ashtanga Yoga with Pathabi Jois’ nephew Srinivas in Bangalore for 6 years.  Yogi Bhajan’s teachings lie at the core of his spiritual practice and he incorporates them so deeply into his life and yogic practice that he can’t help but share them in his own yogic teaching.

Karan in the Kashmiri Kurta

Karan in the Kashmiri Kurta

Karan: And then there’s me.  I was the photographer for most of these photos, but I came out from behind the lens to model some of them.  I’m a bit of a struggling yogi - it’s always a challenge for me to find the time to keep yoga in my life.  I have studied Kundalini, Ashtanga, Bikram, and Vinyasa in various points in my life.  I take little pieces of each with me wherever I go.  I try to do the Ashtanga sun salutation every day as it keeps me feeling really connected with the earth and my body.  My meditations are all Kundalini.  I like to think that I am getting lots of good yogic karma helping to spread the music and yogic teachings around the world!!


Meditions, Kriyas, and Yoga Challenges

November 13, 2008

Yesterday I decided to do a 30 day bikram yoga challenge. The practice is 30 days of 90 minute yoga classes in the usual sweltering heat. It made me think of some of the other challenges I have done over the years. Here are some of my favorites:

goindwal

The Steps at Goindwal

The steps at goindwal in India. At this temple, devotees read japji a total of 84 times. Japji is read and then you take a dip in a pool of water. This is then repeated for a total of 84 times. Japji takes me about 15 minutes to read so it took me just over 20 hours with only a 5 minute break to run to the bathroom. By the time I was done, I was in the most psychedelic state of my life. It was absolute bliss.

the mind40 days of Sodarshan chakra kriya for 62 minutes each day. This is a really special meditation/ pranayam. A great description of it is given in The Mind by yogi bhajan.

40 days of 31 minutes of bound lotus or maha padmasana. I was working at the Yogi Tea/ Golden Temple

bound lotus

bound lotus

Factory during this time, packing cereal and going to the University of Oregon. I started to feel as if my crown chakra was wide open. It is hard to explain. When I was practicing the kriya, I have to say I hated it more than anything. The experience throughout the day though was fantastic. It was mentally the most difficult experience of my life. I felt like 40 days was not enough but I was so relieved it was over. I will finish that karma next life time :) The kriya is said to accelerate your karma.

11 days of the 4 U’s Kriya. This is explained in depth in the Fountain of Youth manual (which we don’t have). I had broken my back about 1 year prior and I wanted to do something physically challenging and healing. This was a great series of postures.

110 Days of 62 minutes per day of Sat Kriya ( i was aiming for 120). This is explained in Kundalini Yoga by Shakta Kaur and Flow of Eternal Power by Shakti.

39 days x 2 of seva at the golden temple in amritsar. I was going for 40 days each time. We

golden temple amritsar india

would wake up at 3 am and wash the marble around the golden temple. I am convinced I only did 39 days, because I really wanted to fail and have to come back later in life and finish the 40 days! One time I missed the last day becuase I was eating paranthas and drinking tea. I tried to eat fast at 3 am but destiny was against me.

My good friend satgurumukh, made a calendar of photos from the temple that is really sublime and captures its beauty.

There are probably many more meditations but the point is the most challenging sadhana’s practiced with consistency lead to the best results. They are the ones that leave the best memories.