Gurfateh ji, thank you for speaking with us today Sat Kirtan Kaur Khalsa. Can you tell us a little about your background and what got you started with meditation?
Wahe guru ji ka khalsa Wahe guru ji ki fateh ji, thank you so much for this oppurtunity to share my story. My Kundalini Yoga journey started on the 21st of December of 2004. I had achieved everything in life. I had a successfull career at a major financial institution in the Netherlands. I lived with my (ex) partner in a beautiful house and we travelled the world as often as we could.
But, I wasn't really happy. I was 28 and I'd been suffering from Repetitive Strain Injury for 3 years. I intuitively knew I needed to change something within myself to heal myself. I also knew making yoga a part of my daily life, would take away the pain. So I ended the relation and bought a small apartment in Amsterdam, went on google and signed up for a Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, that fitted my busy schedule and wouldn't change that much in my live ;-)
As I didn't have any Kundalini Yoga experience, my teacher Sat Atma Kaur Khalsa invited me to join her in a solstice meditation. When she opened the door, I saw 2 things, a big smile and a big turban. Honestly, I was quite shocked, wanted to go back home, but followed my heart and went inside having a lovely night. This was the starting point of my journey towards my true Self.
Can you speak about your journey into Sikh Dharma?
As Kundalini Yoga had brought me my health and happiness back, I decided to dive deep into it. I did Level 1 and Level 2 Teacher Training and teaching Kundalini Yoga, focussing on Business Yoga.
I love singing and listening to the mantra's and one of the highlights of my day, was, and still is, reciting Japji Sahib in the early morning. I wanted to know and learn more about Sikhi.
The Sikh beliefs, live a simple life, share what you have with others and recite Wahe Guru, really spoke to me. As I started going to Gurdwara, I would always feel so in peace and complete when I left. My heart would flow over of love.
As I had not been lucky in love, I decided to marry myself, so I picked a date, 08-08-2008, bought a ring and took my Sikh vows on the European Yoga Festival. It would take me another 7 years, before I was ready to take the step and take Amrit in 2015.
Was it ever difficult for you to have a different appearance than a lot of people in the work place?
From the first time I covered my head during the yoga, I loved the feeling, but I was always very concerned what others would think. Moreover, I focused my teaching on Business Yoga. From time to time, I worked ad interim in my former profession. Just the last 6 months, I did this, to be able to fund the publishing of the book, as I do everything myself this time.
I was asked to come back in the same team, where I'd worked before taking Amrit as well. This time I went in full bana and with turban and used my spiritual name. It was a beautiful experience, as it opened so many doors for me, besides the normal job, I taught business yoga classes, did numerous individual numerology sessions with colleagues and even a numerology team session. It took away my last doubts that I could be accepted as a Sikh within the business world and made me realize how much we have to give and how much is it needed.
Can you talk about your first book. How did you get these meditations out to the mainstream professional world?
To give my work more body, I'd written a book on Business Yoga, which was published in 2011 in the Netherlands. This book is based on the Nine Minute Meditations Yogi Bhajan left us, especially for the busy people, who don't have time, so they can renew themselves in just 9 minutes. I was convinced that wearing full bana and a turband, would shock the people and would make it hard for me to bring my message and serve the stressed people (now I know, this is not true, it was just a fear in my mind).
More then 2000 copies of the book have been sold and people really loved it. So much, that I was asked by one of the readers of my book to set up a Business Yoga teacher training. In this 9 week training 3 of my students were wearing a turban. While I was preparing class 8, in which we focus on the ego, I realized that it was my ego and the fear of being rejected that was withholding myself from really living my soul's purpose. So, that class I taught wearing my turban and that summer I took Amrit. From that day onwards, also my two children wear their turbans daily, to protect them and to remind them they are the sons and daughters of Guru Gobind Singh.
What is different with your new book?
When I wrote the Dutch book, I had many people ask for an English version. So I worked on that for quite some time, as I combined it with motherhood. Actually, most of the book is written in the Amrit Vela, listening to the bani's. As I worked on this book together with Subagh Singh, who lives in Canada, it was a perfect time. The new book gives the reader much more directions, what to do to be healthy and happy, not only at work, but also in life. It has 9 complete practices, which will give you the result. All you, as a reader, have to do is, to do the practices.
Where do you see it going in the future?
My name, Sat Kirtan, which I got from Yogi Bhajan, means that I'm the princes who brings the Truth Singing. So, it is my mission to serve the business world, to make it less stressfull, more loving and honest, by bringing powerful exercises, mantras and conscious business awareness, so the business decisions made, are going to make the world a better place to live, work and be.
Yogi Bhajan said that Kundalini Yoga will spread wide and about the NineMinMaxr meditations in the book, he said, "These are my gifts to the coming generations so they can enjoy their lives." That's exactly why I wrote this book and I offer the online de-stress programs. Just do the exercises and enjoy your life!
As a teenager I loved listening to the Army of Lovers. Now as a Sikh, May Bhago is a great inspiration source for me. In my meditation, these two merge. As a fearless May Bhago, I was leading a strong Army of Business Yoga Lovers, to serve humanity and bring the light and the truth into the business world.
I think I speak for many others when I say that it really is amazing to find out about more people who are adopting Sikhi and who are spreading peace throughout the world. Many of us didn't know about western Sikhs in Amsterdam. We wish you the best success with your seva. Is there anywhere people can go if they also want to find ways to de-stress?
On my website www.nineminmax.com you can find all the info, and buy the book (which will be launched on the 17th of October) and please connect to me on facebook , linkedin instagram or twitter.
Thank you so much, it was a pleasure speaking with you. Waheguru !
Thank you