Monday, January 30, 2012
In Between
In these moments
In between God's inhale and exhale
As the sun rises
And night turns to day
I sit
Feeling for a moment
The great spin
Of life
In stillness.
What do you have us do
In these moments
Oh God?
I know you are
Just in between breaths.
But please
Show me.
Show me everything,
Every step of the way.
I am blind
I never seem to hear
All that you are saying.
I never seem to
Open my heart
Enough.
Soon
The day begins.
Soon the bees buzz.
Soon
The decisions made.
One by one.
Locking us into
The reality
Of our small
Minds.
Why don't you
Make the decisions today?
In this moment
In between
Your exhale and inhale Oh God
Let me be yours.
Blessings to you for a beautiful week.
With love,
Snatam Kaur
PS - Come to Costa Rica with us in March!
In these moments
In between God's inhale and exhale
As the sun rises
And night turns to day
I sit
Feeling for a moment
The great spin
Of life
In stillness.
What do you have us do
In these moments
Oh God?
I know you are
Just in between breaths.
But please
Show me.
Show me everything,
Every step of the way.
I am blind
I never seem to hear
All that you are saying.
I never seem to
Open my heart
Enough.
Soon
The day begins.
Soon the bees buzz.
Soon
The decisions made.
One by one.
Locking us into
The reality
Of our small
Minds.
Why don't you
Make the decisions today?
In this moment
In between
Your exhale and inhale Oh God
Let me be yours.
Blessings to you for a beautiful week.
With love,
Snatam Kaur
PS - Come to Costa Rica with us in March!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Snatam Kaur interview with Shivanter Singh
Snatam: I am really happy that you will be providing an opportunity for people to do your cleanse during both the Song of the Self Retreat at Blue Spirit in Costa Rica, and at the Radiant Power of Women Retreat at Omega. In fact, I have never done a cleanse with you and intend to take part in the program because of the powerful experiences I have seen people have with your program. Can you tell us a little about your cleanse?
Shivanter: Participating in the Shivanter Singh Strategies Cleanse is a journey; physiologically, hormonally, emotionally and at a core cellular and spiritual level. This experience offers the opportunity to nourish and support you, and to reinvent your being in a way that is congruent with your divine self.
A day doing the cleanse would go something like this: after sadhana you will take 3 different herbal compounds and a healthy breakfast of fruit juices and polenta porridge, followed mid-morning by a round of 2 herbal compounds. Mid-day there would be a lunch of fresh salads, raw soup and herbals teas. The afternoon will consist of a mid-afternoon dosage of herbal compounds (same dosage as the upon waking protocol), and for dinner, a bountiful meal of quinoa, lightly steamed kale and soaked legumes along with the same herbal compounds taken in the morning and mid-day.
The traction it takes to make change in our lives is normally a process that can take years. Our emotional existence on this planet is not simply cognitive, but rather an amalgamation of hormones, neural hormone receptors and synapses in our central nervous system that all adapt to survive based on our experience. The means that if we live in stress and anxiety for years, our body quite literally adapts to survive, and forgets to thrive. When we really begin to understand the chemical and physiological resistance we have to change, we are able to take the steps to adapt ourselves inside out to live a life full of grace and productivity. This cleanse offers a method to fast tract your way through resistance to change, but not only helping you break old stories intellectually and emotionally, but also by helping your body reprogram and hardwire at a neurological and endocrinological level.
Snatam: How was this program developed, and what was the inspiration?
Shivanter: This cleanse came out of the work that I have done with Gurmukh over the year, and it was a direct result of the Golden Bridge Cleanse. Several years ago Gurmukh suggested that I take this work on as part of my path, and I have been so very honored to have the opportunities to share this experience, this process with people. The principles behind the cleanse really work very well with the practice of Kundalini Yoga when we really begin to work from the platform of mind, body and spirit, we see people lives begin to change.
The true inspiration behind this work is certainly Yoga Bhajan. He has many thoughts and teaching around diet and this program has taken much of his insight into nutrition and brought them into this experience. The Strategies Cleanse is about learning about and creating healthy lifestyle strategies, and to be able to do that, one much be able to come from their own experience, their truth. The program helps individuals to come from a place of understanding their bodies better, and where they can begin to listen to their intuitive self, which I truly believe is God. Kundalini Yoga is incredible in that it provides the technology to connect with the heavens and also be present on the earth. When we bring in the herbs, diet, and physical work, we begin to move through all the blocks that just don’t serve us anymore, and with that gives us the opportunities to maximize our systems so that we truly can be present to serve.
Snatam: It must be really powerful to do the Strategies Cleanse during a yoga and meditation event such as the Song of the Self Retreat or the Radiant Power of Women Retreat. Can you tell us what you have observed and share with us one of your most special memories form working with people over the years with this program?
Shivanter: One of the most powerful moments was at the Radiant Power of Women Retreat. I was working with a woman who had just finished her protocol of chemo for breast cancer. The woman had spent the past three years of her life consumed by the disease, and now she wanted to let it go. Through the cleanse she began to realize that she had the power to heal herself, and that her identity was not her disease, and that she now could begin to listen to her authentic voice. Again, that voice that I believe is God speaking through us, and not at us.
Snatam: What are some of the challenges of doing a cleanse like this? How does one get beyond these challenges?
Shivanter: The biggest challenge that we face in this cleanse is the constant chatter that comes from our head, the negative mind wanting to sabotage us. The way we get beyond the mind is through the community that we create, and the fact that we are together, we are not alone; it’s an amazing healing experience when we can share our truth and feel safe.
Snatam: Do you see a change is how people relate for food after doing the Strategies Cleanse with you?
Shivanter: Yes, people really begin to understand that, “food is medicine”.
Snatam: What are some basic steps you instruct people to do after the finish you cleanse program and go home?
Shivanter: Drink 16 ounces of fresh vegetable juice per day. 50 percent of your diet should consist of cooked grains and cooked or steamed vegetables. 50 percent of your diet should consist of raw foods, of the above combination, 10 percent should consist tofu, vegetable and gain-based high protein foods and beans and legumes, excluding corn or wheat. Drink liquids between meals, instead of with your meals.
Snatam: Thank you Shivanter! We look forward to being with you in Costa Rica this March!
Shivanter: You're welcome! We'll see you then!
Snatam: I am really happy that you will be providing an opportunity for people to do your cleanse during both the Song of the Self Retreat at Blue Spirit in Costa Rica, and at the Radiant Power of Women Retreat at Omega. In fact, I have never done a cleanse with you and intend to take part in the program because of the powerful experiences I have seen people have with your program. Can you tell us a little about your cleanse?Shivanter: Participating in the Shivanter Singh Strategies Cleanse is a journey; physiologically, hormonally, emotionally and at a core cellular and spiritual level. This experience offers the opportunity to nourish and support you, and to reinvent your being in a way that is congruent with your divine self.
A day doing the cleanse would go something like this: after sadhana you will take 3 different herbal compounds and a healthy breakfast of fruit juices and polenta porridge, followed mid-morning by a round of 2 herbal compounds. Mid-day there would be a lunch of fresh salads, raw soup and herbals teas. The afternoon will consist of a mid-afternoon dosage of herbal compounds (same dosage as the upon waking protocol), and for dinner, a bountiful meal of quinoa, lightly steamed kale and soaked legumes along with the same herbal compounds taken in the morning and mid-day.
The traction it takes to make change in our lives is normally a process that can take years. Our emotional existence on this planet is not simply cognitive, but rather an amalgamation of hormones, neural hormone receptors and synapses in our central nervous system that all adapt to survive based on our experience. The means that if we live in stress and anxiety for years, our body quite literally adapts to survive, and forgets to thrive. When we really begin to understand the chemical and physiological resistance we have to change, we are able to take the steps to adapt ourselves inside out to live a life full of grace and productivity. This cleanse offers a method to fast tract your way through resistance to change, but not only helping you break old stories intellectually and emotionally, but also by helping your body reprogram and hardwire at a neurological and endocrinological level.
Snatam: How was this program developed, and what was the inspiration?
Shivanter: This cleanse came out of the work that I have done with Gurmukh over the year, and it was a direct result of the Golden Bridge Cleanse. Several years ago Gurmukh suggested that I take this work on as part of my path, and I have been so very honored to have the opportunities to share this experience, this process with people. The principles behind the cleanse really work very well with the practice of Kundalini Yoga when we really begin to work from the platform of mind, body and spirit, we see people lives begin to change.
The true inspiration behind this work is certainly Yoga Bhajan. He has many thoughts and teaching around diet and this program has taken much of his insight into nutrition and brought them into this experience. The Strategies Cleanse is about learning about and creating healthy lifestyle strategies, and to be able to do that, one much be able to come from their own experience, their truth. The program helps individuals to come from a place of understanding their bodies better, and where they can begin to listen to their intuitive self, which I truly believe is God. Kundalini Yoga is incredible in that it provides the technology to connect with the heavens and also be present on the earth. When we bring in the herbs, diet, and physical work, we begin to move through all the blocks that just don’t serve us anymore, and with that gives us the opportunities to maximize our systems so that we truly can be present to serve.
Snatam: It must be really powerful to do the Strategies Cleanse during a yoga and meditation event such as the Song of the Self Retreat or the Radiant Power of Women Retreat. Can you tell us what you have observed and share with us one of your most special memories form working with people over the years with this program?
Shivanter: One of the most powerful moments was at the Radiant Power of Women Retreat. I was working with a woman who had just finished her protocol of chemo for breast cancer. The woman had spent the past three years of her life consumed by the disease, and now she wanted to let it go. Through the cleanse she began to realize that she had the power to heal herself, and that her identity was not her disease, and that she now could begin to listen to her authentic voice. Again, that voice that I believe is God speaking through us, and not at us.
Snatam: What are some of the challenges of doing a cleanse like this? How does one get beyond these challenges?
Shivanter: The biggest challenge that we face in this cleanse is the constant chatter that comes from our head, the negative mind wanting to sabotage us. The way we get beyond the mind is through the community that we create, and the fact that we are together, we are not alone; it’s an amazing healing experience when we can share our truth and feel safe.
Snatam: Do you see a change is how people relate for food after doing the Strategies Cleanse with you?
Shivanter: Yes, people really begin to understand that, “food is medicine”.
Snatam: What are some basic steps you instruct people to do after the finish you cleanse program and go home?
Shivanter: Drink 16 ounces of fresh vegetable juice per day. 50 percent of your diet should consist of cooked grains and cooked or steamed vegetables. 50 percent of your diet should consist of raw foods, of the above combination, 10 percent should consist tofu, vegetable and gain-based high protein foods and beans and legumes, excluding corn or wheat. Drink liquids between meals, instead of with your meals.
Snatam: Thank you Shivanter! We look forward to being with you in Costa Rica this March!
Shivanter: You're welcome! We'll see you then!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sat Nam everyone! This Gratitude Monday I offer these words of Guru Arjan that I sang this morning:
"Wandering and wandering oh God; I have come.
I have entered your sanctuary.
This is Nanak's prayer oh God,
Please attach me to your service."
I am here in Hawaii for my recording session with a great musician, and composer named Peter Kater. He has done a lot of incredible work. It is really fun to work with him. I find that it is like tapping the surface of a pond....with the littlest amount of effort this incredible music just ripples out full of heart and depth of experience. You can check out his facebook page here.
I am really happy about the creative flow that is happening. The past few days we have been working on compositions. We are doing mostly songs in English....poems from the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (the sacred writings of the Sikhs), a poem from Yogi Bhajan, and poems that Peter and I wrote. Tomorrow I begin recording my vocals. With Guru's blessing I will deliver something from my heart. Waheguru!!
For me the key message from the Guru this week is to maintain my daily sadhana, or meditation and yoga practice come what may. This is how we can be home no matter what. This is how we can be in God's sanctuary.
I believe that it is a matter of receiving the Grace of God to have this discipline. Where you can start with your own effort is the feeling that you deserve it. Once you feel that...then through your own intelligence you will find the time, you will find the space, and you will find the way that works for you and your family. And actually a daily practice is a gift to your loved ones as it will help you to be more present, more loving, and more strong for them.
If you are wanting a little kick start to create a daily practice I invite you to join us in Costa Rica for our Retreat "Song of the Self". And if you can't make it to Costa Rica we will soon be starting a 40 Day Global Sadhana with Spirit Voyage to be announced soon!
Blessings,
Snatam Kaur
"Wandering and wandering oh God; I have come.
I have entered your sanctuary.
This is Nanak's prayer oh God,
Please attach me to your service."
I am here in Hawaii for my recording session with a great musician, and composer named Peter Kater. He has done a lot of incredible work. It is really fun to work with him. I find that it is like tapping the surface of a pond....with the littlest amount of effort this incredible music just ripples out full of heart and depth of experience. You can check out his facebook page here. I am really happy about the creative flow that is happening. The past few days we have been working on compositions. We are doing mostly songs in English....poems from the Siri Guru Granth Sahib (the sacred writings of the Sikhs), a poem from Yogi Bhajan, and poems that Peter and I wrote. Tomorrow I begin recording my vocals. With Guru's blessing I will deliver something from my heart. Waheguru!!
For me the key message from the Guru this week is to maintain my daily sadhana, or meditation and yoga practice come what may. This is how we can be home no matter what. This is how we can be in God's sanctuary.
I believe that it is a matter of receiving the Grace of God to have this discipline. Where you can start with your own effort is the feeling that you deserve it. Once you feel that...then through your own intelligence you will find the time, you will find the space, and you will find the way that works for you and your family. And actually a daily practice is a gift to your loved ones as it will help you to be more present, more loving, and more strong for them.
If you are wanting a little kick start to create a daily practice I invite you to join us in Costa Rica for our Retreat "Song of the Self". And if you can't make it to Costa Rica we will soon be starting a 40 Day Global Sadhana with Spirit Voyage to be announced soon!
Blessings,
Snatam Kaur
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sat Nam everyone. With this Gratitude Monday blog I really try to stay current to what is present to me. So I offer to you the mantra that I can't get out of my head!
This mantra is in the Aquarian Sadhana that Yogi Bhajan gave in the teachings of Kundalini Yoga. It is at the very end of Rehraas, the evening prayer for Sikhs.
It is called "Rakhe Rakhanhaar."
This morning in fact we had a visitor to the ashram. I asked her if she knew all of the mantras for the Sadhana. She did in fact know most of them, but not the mantra "Rakhe Rakhanhaar." It is a long mantra in comparison to many others given in Kundalini Yoga. Many times I hear people say that they just can't figure this one out... and have totally given up even trying to learn it.
If you are one of these people, perhaps my sharing with you today will inspire you to learn this mantra and apply it to your life.
When you feel that you need protection, sing Rakhe Rakhanhaar. This is how I can relate it to you from my personal experience.
If you feel threatened by someone, when you chant Rakhe Rakhanhaar it will not only bring protection to you, but cover the grace and bring healing to the person who was threatening you.
It is a slow process, but works quickly! Let me explain this incredible phenomena. The moment I consciously began chanting this mantra it quickly shifted the energy of the situation so that I was totally protected. I didn't have to say or do anything. It worked on my inner psyche so powerfully that my whole relationship to the situation shifted and I was no longer in the line of threat. And then there was a slow process of healing that took place over many years. As I look back on it the healing was profound and beyond anything I could have ever conceived of praying for.
I will now share with you the meaning of this beautiful mantra with my personal take on it.
Rakhe rakhanhaar aap ubaarian
Oh protector, the One who protects, you yourself lifts us up, carries us across.
(Give it to God, it is God's Creation, allow that One to carry you.)
Gur kee pairee paa-ee-ay kaaj savaarian
You gave us the touch of the Lotus Feed of the Guru, and our work is totally taken care of.
(Imagine how beautiful all of your work would be with the remembrance of the Guru's feet at your forehead. Are you truly doing what your work for the Guru, for the Divine Energy in yourself and all beings? In chanting this line with consciousness you can begin to see clearly what is truly serving and what is not. May our work be one hundred percent in service to the Guru.)
Ho-aa aap dayaal manoh na visaarian
You are merciful, kind and compassionate. Our minds do not forget You.
(In this line we give our gratitude to God. We call God merciful and compassionate. Most people in their complaining about their lives really in essence are complaining about God... because God is the Creator and the Creation. God is energy! By having gratitude to God we attract positive and good energy our way. We make friends with God!)
Saad janaa kay sang bavajal taarian.
In the Sadh Sangat, in the company of those living in consciousness, You carry us across and save us from misfortune, slander and disaster. (When we live in conscious community there is an aura or vibration that gets created by the collective effort. It gives you an absolutely real protection and grace. In these times especially many people are being called to create conscious community for that very reason.)
Saakat nindak dusht kin mahe bidaarian
In an instant you cut away the negativity and slander. (This is the line that really makes energy shift in challenging situations and gives you instantaneous protection.)
Tis sahib kee tayk Nanak man mahe
That Lord and Master is my anchor and support. Oh Nanak, hold firm to that One in your mind. (It all comes back to us, in our own minds, to create the anchor to God as the One who is the Support. God is there for us... so strong, so real, we just forget. This line helps us remember.)
Jis simarath sukh ho-ay sagalay dukh jaa-ay
Remembering God in meditation happiness comes and all sorrows and pains simply vanish. (This is the power of chanting God's Name... it works... chant God's Name... and your troubles will depart. try it.)
God Bless you.
I hope this has served you in some way.
On this day of remembrance to Martin Luther King may we feel the courage that was in his heart and that is in his Spirit today.... his beautiful Spirit that is cheering us on as we stand up for truth in our own lives.
Here is a link to our Amrit Vela album with this mantra on it.
Here is a link to a meditation that we have provided with a recording of Rakhe Rakhanhaar. This recording was one of my first recordings that I did in Eugene, Oregon with my beloved friends Tarn Taran Singh and Jai Jeet Sangeet Singh. In addition this link will show you many other artists who have also recorded this Mantra. Enjoy!!
Blessings,
Snatam Kaur
PS - Join us in Costa Rica for our Song of the Self Retreat, March 10-17, 2012. Read more about our empowering children's program.
Photo by Robin Layton.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Sat Nam everyone. My offering for Gratitude Monday is this little thought from my notebook. "There is a space that exists with us, and around us, where angels sing on rays of light, and love pours forth, love pours forth, love pours forth from the Universe." May your week be filled with blessings, Snatam Kaur
Monday, January 02, 2012
Sat Nam. Happy New Year to you! What an incredible time we live in. We are on the brink of either a major global shift in consciousness or a major environmental catastrophe that finally may bring in the shift within each of us. This morning we went to the Guru Ram Das Ashram in San Francisco. In a kind of dream way the weather was sunny. This type of weather never happens in January. In fact this year there has been so much sun in the cloudy city, that I felt prompted to think that it is global warming.
As much of my life seems to be these days, God was giving me this complete beauty of a sunny day in San Francisco... an opportunity to be present. The type of shift in consciousness that it will take to solve global warming is bigger then anything I can do, or even inspire others to do. It will take millions and millions of people.
This is one of the greatest challenges of our day, of this New Year. How do we as meditators, yogis, people of light and love enter into the reality of the times? I do believe that we will find a way, that we will collectively transform, and that it will be a beautiful story in our human history.
This morning as I sat meditating the thought came to mind to share with you the power of the Mul Mantra. This mantra was given to us by Guru Nanak, the first Guru of the Sikhs who walked this earth in the fifteenth century. It is a mantra that gives you the compass so that you may find your true self. This true self sits within the opening of your heart. Some say that the most difficult journey in life is moving from the energy of the navel center to the heart center.
The navel center is very important especially in its balanced state. The navel in a balanced state gives you the fire of courage to stand up for truth. It gives you the capacity to know your center, to be rooted in your inner truth. It gives you the basic energy of digestion... both in how we digest food, but also in how we digest energy. One beautiful teacher, Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati once said to me, "I eat pain for breakfast" referring to the energy that she dealt with after spending time with AIDS patients. Emotional or mental pain is a part of living life, especially for someone on a spiritual path. The drug companies and popular media make you believe that one should not have pain this kind of pain. Take a pill. Do something to shut yourself off. But the moment you go through the pain, the moment you digest it so to speak... you allow it to be... you embrace it... then that pain is healed forever and released. This takes a balanced navel center.
When our navel center is in an imbalanced state we are greedy, looking to acquire things and energy that we don't really need. We look to fill up an abyss within that can never be filled. That abyss comes from all of the pain that we haven't figured out how to digest. This energy I believe is prevalent in the world today. What is the remedy to bring us back into a balanced navel center which allows our heart to open? How can we be fulfilled without needing things from the outside? How can we find a simpler more sustainable way to live on this planet?
There are many tools to do just these things. A very powerful mantra tool is the Mul Mantra.
I invite you to chant it with me and let its energy unfold within you.
Here is the mantra with the translation. The translation is simply a reflection of my experience as a student of Yogi Bhajan, and as a seeker at the feet of Guru Nanak.
Ek ong kaar....
God is One, I am One with all beings
Sat Nam...
Truth is God's Name... The vibration of God's Name is what created all beings.... that vibration is within me.... therefore in my core I am true.
Karta Purkh...
God is the Doer.... God does all things... God works through me.... God works through everyone in my life.
Nirbhao...
God is fearless... I am fearless.
Nirvair...
God has no revenge.... I exist in my heart... I stay present... I don't hold on to the past.... I live in this moment in full compassion and acceptance of what is.
Akal Murat
God exists in the undying form... God is in the purity of our efforts to live in a spiritual way, and these efforts never die... these efforts live on forever.
Adjoonee
God is unborn.... God does not relate to birth and death.... God is beyond the cycles of life.... God is infinite... I am infinite
Saibhang
God is self illumined... I am self illumined. Within me I have the power to find light, to find love, to find joy. I don't need anyone or anything for this.
Guru Prasaad
It is by Guru's Grace.... it is the Grace of the teachings of the Divine One.... the Guru.... Guru Nanak, Jesus, Mohammed, the Masters of all traditions that give us Grace.
Jap
Meditate!
Aad Sach
True in the Beginning
Jugaad Sach
True throughout the ages
Haibhee Sach
True here and now
Nanak Hosee Bhee Sach
Oh Nanak, forever and always true. Spirit, Truth, Love, and Light.... these are the things that are true, that have always been true.
This is the Mul Mantra....
Let us chant it together.
Let us let go of the dream... and find the reality of our truth.
We can be free.
Chant it with me.
Sat Nam.
Love and Blessings,
Snatam Kaur
Here is a link to my CD Anand where we have the Mul Mantra recorded.
Here is a link to the Spirit Voyage website with all of their artists who have recorded the Mul Mantra. Enjoy!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Sat Nam everyone! A dear friend of mine, Jai, will be running our children’s programs at both the Song of the Self Retreat and at Sat Nam Fest West. Her programs are so incredible, and I feel very blessed that she will be with us to serve the children at these two very special programs. Please check out this interview if you have children and are interested in bringing them, or if you just want to learn something about how to design incredible children’s programs. Blessings, Snatam Kaur
Snatam: Jai, I attended some of the kids' program with you at Sat Nam Fest East last year and was so impressed by what was happening. The kids were completely engaged in the activities being provided and there was this sense that you were engaging more then meets the eye... a kind of soul presence had been established. I am really grateful that you will be joining us for our retreat in Costa Rica (Song Of the Self Retreat) and at Sat Nam Fest West. I wanted to ask you a few questions about how you design your programs and how you work with children so that perhaps people can get an idea of how special these programs will be. Can you tell me what you think about when you are designing a program for children? What are your goals with the program?
Jai: My first intention in working with children is always to create an environment where they feel physically and emotionally safe. Another goal of mine is to empower the children I work with. There are many fun ways of doing this—through leadership activities, trust-building skills, and non-competitive games, we can expand the consciousness from the individual to the group.
I like to find fun ways to teach the children something meaningful, and often spiritual—to provide a space for them to deepen their connection to their own intuition and spirit. Our daily yoga and meditation-time sets the foundation for this, and then we carry that energy though the day, tying it into the crafting projects, games, and activities, which help bring the teaching to an experiential level for them.
Snatam: I noticed in the program that I attended with you that the kids were so motivated to participate in the activities that you had planned. It blew me away! How do you plan the activities? Where do you get all of these great ideas from?
Jai: I have been working with children literally my whole life. My mother has been running a childcare center since I was a baby, and I have learned much from her. I've also been running a summer camp for many years. I formed my bag of tricks all along the way, and am continually adding to it. I am lucky to have many friends who have served as incredible resources in this area—professional children's entertainers, outdoor educators, experiential educators, ropes-course directors etc., as well as ideas from books. I find working with the children ages 5 and up to be especially stimulating. It is here that I can really get creative with games and activities, which this age group is able to participate in. I have a lot of experience with low- and high-ropes course initiatives, and team-building skills.
I get so much joy when I see children experiencing that expansive consciousness one gets while learning what it means to be a part of a group. Weather it be as an empowered yet humble leader, or in finding a place amongst everyone as an active listener helping to create cohesion and harmony, every child can lend their energy to the group. When I am able to be a part of providing the ground-work for this magical experience to unfold with a group of children, and they are having so much fun all the while, I feel a great joy and know in the moment that my purpose is fulfilled.
Snatam: You have done a lot of work with children in performance art. Can you tell us a little about what you have planned?
Jai: Working with children to open to the abundance of their creative, radiant selves and the joy that can come from sharing this with an audience is one of my favorite things. For both the Song of The Self retreat, as well as the Sat Nam Fest, we plan to have a little performance opportunity for the children on our last day. Due to the short time we'll be spending together, we will need to be a bit spontaneous in our planning for the show. We will draw on several of the activities that will be a natural part of our day.
One such class I will offer will be Creative Movement, where we can explore many different traditional and non-traditional ways of dancing and moving our bodies to music. I have extensive experience in ballet both as a dancer and as the assistant director of a ballet school. I have also been trained in both modern and jazz dance, and currently teach West African dance to our community and in several area colleges. The show will be a collaboration with the children, highlighting their talents and interests, and will also include expressive demonstrations of the meditations we will learn during our morning yoga classes.
Snatam: Have you ever had an idea that just flopped? How do you recover when that happens?
Jai: I can't think of a great story to illustrate this experience, but I certainly know what it's like to be working according to a structure and have to let go of expectations when I see that things are not unfolding according to my plan. I have learned that adaptability is a great asset when working with children.
When I am managing the energy of a group of children I play the role of the leader with a strong projection to draw the children into the activity. Simultaneously, I am the nurturer who is flexible, creative, and spontaneous, with the ability to change gears in response to the children's needs.
Each day that I work as a caregiver to children, I am given many opportunities to learn from them. Every child is unique, and every group brings something new, so I continue to expand and grow alongside them.
Snatam: What do you do when you have a child that is shy or doesn't want to participate?
Jai: I take the child aside and connect with them by asking them questions, and sharing about the fun things we have planned. Often by just taking a few minutes with them they open up to me, and they begin to trust that I am a friend and so they are willing to join the group by my side. The conversation we have can also give me insights into why they are feeling shy or not interested in doing what the group is doing. Although I do my best to help each child feel safe and welcomed, if they prefer to just observe for awhile I let them know this is fine as well.
For some, the idea of being my “special helper” really empowers them to leave their parents' orbit. Or I may offer them some choices of alternate activities to do, which might spark their interest and help them transition after a bit. If they still remain shy or hesitant, I will give them some space and then follow up and check in with them every so often.
My husband Parmatma (who will be working with the children in Costa Rica as well) has the gift of comedy, and he can often help break the ice with the children through laughter. When we're lucky we even get a magic trick or two out of him. These are always a big hit for all!
Snatam: Why have you chosen to work with children?
Jai: My life has been surrounded by children since I was born, as if it's in my destiny to serve and provide for them. When I was young, I was very responsible, but was also very connected to my inner child. This combination lent itself very well to being a care-giver for children in many different settings, whether it was working alongside my mother in her holistic daycare, or working as a nanny or a babysitter. Later in life, as I've evolved, my relationship to working with children has changed as well. I now am in a position to take on the management of large groups of children, and find much joy in creatively planning these programs.
Snatam: How do you help children get in touch with their spirits?
Jai: Children are inherently spiritual and excited about life. Yet right from an early age, most children in our culture are immersed in media and and toys and games that are so entertaining and immediately gratifying, that the children begin to prefer their artificial stimulation over their basic sensory experience as human beings. I feel it is my job, as a child's caretaker, to help ground their energy and give them a form in which they can express themselves with clarity, confidence and a connection to what's really important in life—you know, the basic things: love and respect for self and others, connection to one's breath, and an understanding of the power of our thoughts, words and deeds.
Part if this understanding is developed simply by providing the child with an “unplugged” environment, with a lot of time spent outdoors. I've noticed that in response to a child spending more time in nature, their energy will begin to become balanced within themselves. This adds harmony to their relationships and their surroundings, as they return to their natural rhythms.
Yoga and meditation are also very effective ways of reminding us all of who we really are and why we are here on this earth. As a group we always begin every day with some yoga and meditation so that this energy can be carried with us throughout our day's activities and play.
Snatam: With every child that comes to attend the program with you in Costa Rica or at Sat Nam Fest West, what do you hope that they walk away with?
Jai:
• A new group of loving friends they will carry with them in their hearts.
• Learning something new about the beautiful outdoors!
• Having had at least one experience of completing a challenge through use of cooperation and group consciousness.
• A strong confidence in themselves.
• A growing appreciation for yoga and meditation, and how they as children can use these tools to connect with the peace and harmony within themselves.
• The joyful experience of sharing and self-expression that validates each child as an individual and as a part of the whole.
• A deepening understanding and love for their unique individual strengths and gifts.
Snatam: Thank you Jai for taking the time to answer all of my questions. I feel totally blessed that you will be with us, and know that all of the children that have the opportunity to be in one of your programs will have a very special experience. I hope that this has in some way given encouragement to parents who are considering bringing their children to either the Song of the Self Retreat or Spirit Fest West.
--
Jai Fuller
Children's Program Director:
* Song of the Self Retreat with Snatam & family
March 10-17 in Costa Rica
* Sat Nam Fest West: Kundalini Yoga and Music in the Desert
April 12-15, 2012 in Joshua Tree, CA.
Snatam: Jai, I attended some of the kids' program with you at Sat Nam Fest East last year and was so impressed by what was happening. The kids were completely engaged in the activities being provided and there was this sense that you were engaging more then meets the eye... a kind of soul presence had been established. I am really grateful that you will be joining us for our retreat in Costa Rica (Song Of the Self Retreat) and at Sat Nam Fest West. I wanted to ask you a few questions about how you design your programs and how you work with children so that perhaps people can get an idea of how special these programs will be. Can you tell me what you think about when you are designing a program for children? What are your goals with the program?
Jai: My first intention in working with children is always to create an environment where they feel physically and emotionally safe. Another goal of mine is to empower the children I work with. There are many fun ways of doing this—through leadership activities, trust-building skills, and non-competitive games, we can expand the consciousness from the individual to the group.I like to find fun ways to teach the children something meaningful, and often spiritual—to provide a space for them to deepen their connection to their own intuition and spirit. Our daily yoga and meditation-time sets the foundation for this, and then we carry that energy though the day, tying it into the crafting projects, games, and activities, which help bring the teaching to an experiential level for them.
Snatam: I noticed in the program that I attended with you that the kids were so motivated to participate in the activities that you had planned. It blew me away! How do you plan the activities? Where do you get all of these great ideas from?
Jai: I have been working with children literally my whole life. My mother has been running a childcare center since I was a baby, and I have learned much from her. I've also been running a summer camp for many years. I formed my bag of tricks all along the way, and am continually adding to it. I am lucky to have many friends who have served as incredible resources in this area—professional children's entertainers, outdoor educators, experiential educators, ropes-course directors etc., as well as ideas from books. I find working with the children ages 5 and up to be especially stimulating. It is here that I can really get creative with games and activities, which this age group is able to participate in. I have a lot of experience with low- and high-ropes course initiatives, and team-building skills.
I get so much joy when I see children experiencing that expansive consciousness one gets while learning what it means to be a part of a group. Weather it be as an empowered yet humble leader, or in finding a place amongst everyone as an active listener helping to create cohesion and harmony, every child can lend their energy to the group. When I am able to be a part of providing the ground-work for this magical experience to unfold with a group of children, and they are having so much fun all the while, I feel a great joy and know in the moment that my purpose is fulfilled.Snatam: You have done a lot of work with children in performance art. Can you tell us a little about what you have planned?
Jai: Working with children to open to the abundance of their creative, radiant selves and the joy that can come from sharing this with an audience is one of my favorite things. For both the Song of The Self retreat, as well as the Sat Nam Fest, we plan to have a little performance opportunity for the children on our last day. Due to the short time we'll be spending together, we will need to be a bit spontaneous in our planning for the show. We will draw on several of the activities that will be a natural part of our day.
One such class I will offer will be Creative Movement, where we can explore many different traditional and non-traditional ways of dancing and moving our bodies to music. I have extensive experience in ballet both as a dancer and as the assistant director of a ballet school. I have also been trained in both modern and jazz dance, and currently teach West African dance to our community and in several area colleges. The show will be a collaboration with the children, highlighting their talents and interests, and will also include expressive demonstrations of the meditations we will learn during our morning yoga classes.Snatam: Have you ever had an idea that just flopped? How do you recover when that happens?
Jai: I can't think of a great story to illustrate this experience, but I certainly know what it's like to be working according to a structure and have to let go of expectations when I see that things are not unfolding according to my plan. I have learned that adaptability is a great asset when working with children.
When I am managing the energy of a group of children I play the role of the leader with a strong projection to draw the children into the activity. Simultaneously, I am the nurturer who is flexible, creative, and spontaneous, with the ability to change gears in response to the children's needs.
Each day that I work as a caregiver to children, I am given many opportunities to learn from them. Every child is unique, and every group brings something new, so I continue to expand and grow alongside them.
Snatam: What do you do when you have a child that is shy or doesn't want to participate?
Jai: I take the child aside and connect with them by asking them questions, and sharing about the fun things we have planned. Often by just taking a few minutes with them they open up to me, and they begin to trust that I am a friend and so they are willing to join the group by my side. The conversation we have can also give me insights into why they are feeling shy or not interested in doing what the group is doing. Although I do my best to help each child feel safe and welcomed, if they prefer to just observe for awhile I let them know this is fine as well.
For some, the idea of being my “special helper” really empowers them to leave their parents' orbit. Or I may offer them some choices of alternate activities to do, which might spark their interest and help them transition after a bit. If they still remain shy or hesitant, I will give them some space and then follow up and check in with them every so often.
My husband Parmatma (who will be working with the children in Costa Rica as well) has the gift of comedy, and he can often help break the ice with the children through laughter. When we're lucky we even get a magic trick or two out of him. These are always a big hit for all!
Snatam: Why have you chosen to work with children?
Jai: My life has been surrounded by children since I was born, as if it's in my destiny to serve and provide for them. When I was young, I was very responsible, but was also very connected to my inner child. This combination lent itself very well to being a care-giver for children in many different settings, whether it was working alongside my mother in her holistic daycare, or working as a nanny or a babysitter. Later in life, as I've evolved, my relationship to working with children has changed as well. I now am in a position to take on the management of large groups of children, and find much joy in creatively planning these programs.
Snatam: How do you help children get in touch with their spirits?
Jai: Children are inherently spiritual and excited about life. Yet right from an early age, most children in our culture are immersed in media and and toys and games that are so entertaining and immediately gratifying, that the children begin to prefer their artificial stimulation over their basic sensory experience as human beings. I feel it is my job, as a child's caretaker, to help ground their energy and give them a form in which they can express themselves with clarity, confidence and a connection to what's really important in life—you know, the basic things: love and respect for self and others, connection to one's breath, and an understanding of the power of our thoughts, words and deeds.
Part if this understanding is developed simply by providing the child with an “unplugged” environment, with a lot of time spent outdoors. I've noticed that in response to a child spending more time in nature, their energy will begin to become balanced within themselves. This adds harmony to their relationships and their surroundings, as they return to their natural rhythms.Yoga and meditation are also very effective ways of reminding us all of who we really are and why we are here on this earth. As a group we always begin every day with some yoga and meditation so that this energy can be carried with us throughout our day's activities and play.
Snatam: With every child that comes to attend the program with you in Costa Rica or at Sat Nam Fest West, what do you hope that they walk away with?
Jai:
• A new group of loving friends they will carry with them in their hearts.
• Learning something new about the beautiful outdoors!
• Having had at least one experience of completing a challenge through use of cooperation and group consciousness.
• A strong confidence in themselves.
• A growing appreciation for yoga and meditation, and how they as children can use these tools to connect with the peace and harmony within themselves.
• The joyful experience of sharing and self-expression that validates each child as an individual and as a part of the whole.
• A deepening understanding and love for their unique individual strengths and gifts.
Snatam: Thank you Jai for taking the time to answer all of my questions. I feel totally blessed that you will be with us, and know that all of the children that have the opportunity to be in one of your programs will have a very special experience. I hope that this has in some way given encouragement to parents who are considering bringing their children to either the Song of the Self Retreat or Spirit Fest West.
--
Jai Fuller
Children's Program Director:
* Song of the Self Retreat with Snatam & family
March 10-17 in Costa Rica
* Sat Nam Fest West: Kundalini Yoga and Music in the Desert
April 12-15, 2012 in Joshua Tree, CA.
