In 2020 it came to light that Yogi Bhajan, who shared the teachings of Kundalini Yoga with the West and who I studied directly with the last 5 years of his life, engaged in sexual misconduct and abuse with an inner-circle of students. For those who were hurt, my heart breaks. Thank you for your courage to come forward and let the truth liberate us.

 Learning about his abuse of power, listening to the stories and acknowledging those who were hurt, catalyzed a deep process in myself of detaching out the gifts I received through studying with Yogi Bhajan from the pain he caused to others. Stretching my mind to hold this paradox,  of these two worlds coexisting, in which he was a great source of inspiration while also causing intense harm. Awakening in me a further process of deconstructing a culture I’ve been part of, seeing where it aligns with the wisdom in these teachings, and values I hold personally and where it is hypocritical. Tough, transformative and empowering work that profoundly informs my life going forward and my work as a Kundalini Yoga Teacher!! 

 From my experience of learning directly with Yogi Bhajan for 5 years, I experienced him to be a master of Kundalini Yoga and now I see he was also a flawed man. Coming to terms with this, embracing this paradox has taught me more about compassion than anything else up to this moment in my life. Compassion for the abused, compassion for the abuser, compassion for self. 

Over the past 22 years of practicing and teaching Kundalini Yoga I’ve seen thousands of people uplift, heal, and positively evolve their lives with this technology...including myself! My original intention in Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training, to be able to share the  practice that had so profoundly benefited my life, stands true today. From my experience and from modern scientific research, these teachings are effective and they do not originate from nor do they belong to any one person. They are ancient tools to awaken the gifts of consciousness, of higher mind, of self- regulation. As a result of my many months of deep reflection, I feel clear integrity in my choice to continue to teach and train others how to teach, in times that need them now more than ever. 

Our world is in the midst of a huge paradigm shift. Old systems and structures are failing and falling away. What I see in the Kundalini Yoga community is the same, and I am committed to, and continually exploring modern, self-empowering, inclusive, transparent and co-creative ways for sharing these ancient teachings. Kundalini Yoga highlights the self-experience. It is not about the teacher, it is not even about the teachings or tools, what it is about is the awakened state of awareness it creates. When this is the focal point, we are deeply empowered through our practice and find the answers we seek within.