Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa (Estonia/ Mexico)
Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa is a lead trainer in Kundalini yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan (Level 1 and Level 2 of KRI)) in Estonia. She is a founding member and first president of the Estonian National Kundalini Yoga Teachers’ Association. Sukhdev Kaur pioneered to Estonia from her homeland of Mexico in 2004, equipped with her courage, faith, and adventurous spirit to teachKundalini Yoga.
In 2014 Sukhdev founded Dharamsaal – School of Kundalini Yoga and Humanology in Tallinn, Estonia and in 2015 the Guru Ram Das Institute and Ashram in Raasiku parish was established. She regularly gives personal consultations in Humanology, KaramKriya Numerology (a system of number awareness based on the 10 Bodies, developed by Shiv Charan Singh) and the healing modality Sat Nam Rasayan.
By teaching, serving and maintaining spiritual practices Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa is a powerful inspiration to others to follow the yogic path, seek timeless wisdom, and become devotional and compassionate community members to be able to maintain the balance of Shakti and Bhakti energies in today’s challenging world.
Sukhdev’spassions also include parenting, supporting many women in their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period and child-raising. She is a doula and placenta specialist, a trainer of “Conscious Pregnancy” and “Sacred Woman, Infinite Mother” courses, as well as she has developed a programme called “Conscious Parenting” for integrating yoga awareness into conscious family living.
Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa is writing two books based on Yogi Bhajan’s teachings, one on sadness and loss, and the other on the conscious raising of children. She also continues her doctorate in researching Sangat creation, development and influence. She is in the process of creating a primary school in the Ashram based on the principles of forest schooling and dharmic education.
In 2016 Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa received “Outstanding Achievement Award” by the Kundalini Reasearch Institute for serving the community, finding innovative ways and making significant contribution in uplifting the humanity through the technology of Kundalini Yoga.
As a devoted Sikh and Sikh Dharma Minister, Sukhdev Kaur Khalsashares the teachings of the Sikh Dharma and the Sikh Gurus across Eastern Europe where these teachings are rather new and unknown.
In this year’s festival, Sukhdev Kaur Khalsa will lead classes and yogic technology on the topic of the Spiritual Warrior.
Mata Mandir Singh Khalsa is an internationally renowned teacher of Naad Yoga (Sound Current), Kundalini Yoga and Gatka (the martial art of the Sikhs). He learnt Kundalini Yoga under the guidance of Yogi Bhajan for many years and served in many of his projects. He is a gifted guitar, mandolin, rabab, harmonium and cittern player, he is a pioneer of the yoga music genre, having recorded more than 28 CDs and cassette tapes since the late 1970’s. He is the author of the book Naad Yoga: The Yoga of Sound Workbook.
Mata Mandir passed his time at the Ashram as a dedicated student of Kundalini Yoga, a musician and a cook, learning invaluable teachings from Yogi Bhajan and deepening his spiritual path. Mata Mandir began to compose music to the Guru Ram Das chants – his first composed chants – and shortly after he wrote songs for many other mantras.
Inspired by Yogi Bhajan’s life-changing teachings, Mata Mandir embarked on a journey of helping others come into tune with the rhythm of the universe. “Everything has a frequency and vibration, everything has its own song,” he says. “When you tune in to sounds of the world, like the sound of your breath or your heartbeat, for example, the world becomes different. You create a new intelligence in your life and you begin to see rhythm where before you only saw chaos.” In the late 70’s Mata Mandir began to travel to India to initiate studies in Indian classical music and the Sikh martial art of Gatka. 7
Mata Mandir bought the Amsterdam Golden Temple Restaurant in 1986, lived above it, and ran it for twenty-two years, becoming an expert in vegetarian cooking. During this period he recorded all Yoga of Sound series and many other titles, as well as travelled throughout Europe teaching Naad Yoga seminars and playing Kirtan concerts, before Kirtan concerts were well-known.
Grateful for the opportunity to create music that vibrates in harmony with universal consciousness, Mata Mandir humbly shares the music and teachings from his own journey and from his years of experience as a longtime disciple of Yogi Bhajan. Mata Mandir repeats the invaluable advice from his teacher: “Yogiji told me a long time ago that if you play any instrument in a rhythmic pattern, that will put you into harmony with the whole universe.”
Siri Kartar started her yoga journey in 1978, in her home town of Rome, Italy, under the kind guidance and encouragement of her Spiritual Teacher Yogi Bhajan.
In 1980 she adventured into the martial arts world, adding more Shakti into her practice, and teaching. Gatka is the martial art of the Sikhs, the Dance of the Sword. Yogi Bhajan often talked of Gatka as “Adi Shakti Yoga”, a martial art of self-empowerment.
In 1988 Siri Kartar moved to Los Angeles to learn at the feet of the Master. In 2021 she moved back, sharing these arts online to a worldwide audience, while savouring the tranquil beauty of the Italian countryside. SiriKartar expresses deep devotion through her chanting, a practice called Naad Yoga (the Yoga of Sound). It takes its name from the root of the vibrational sound that holds the Universes, helping us to fully open our hearts, and taste the mystical flavour of life.
Siri Kartar is also an accomplished fine artist, book illustrator, and art historian. She was trained in painting at the Rome Art Institute. Later on, she earned a master degree in Art History; her thesis on the mudra in early Buddhism was awarded cum laude at La Sapienza University.
Balraj Singh Sandhu is an outstanding percussionist from India living in Latvia. His passion of playing the traditional Indian drums – tablas – started since he was 16 years old and later he received his MA degree in tabla music. Balraj also plays qanun,Punjabi drums, harmonium and handpan.
Balraj is a disciple of Pt. Vinod Pathak and Pt. Sushil Kumar Jain. He has accompanied musicians recognised in India and worldwide. For years, he has been teaching tabla in a private school and Kathak dance school.
Balraj believes that rhythms of table open gates to higher energy. Each sound is vibrating and elevating the soul to new meditative experiences.
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