Trainer Updates

Watch Amrit’s weekly video – Resources for processing the report from An Olive Branch. 

Click on the “CC” at the bottom of the video to see subtitles in various languages.

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• Support in processing the report from An Olive Branch –
  • KRI’s letter accompanying the report from An Olive Branch went out only in English.  You can find translated versions here.  The letter from the Siri Singh Sahib Corporation and the entire report will be available in additional languages by the end of August here.
  • KRI and 3HO are co-hosting a series of Information and Processing calls starting Monday 17 August.  These are open for students, teachers, and trainers and are offered in several time slots, and each will have translations available.  Please check out the schedule, and register if you’d like to attend one of these calls.  If the currently scheduled times fill up, more will be scheduled, so please check the above-linked webpage!
  • The report will be translated into 10 additional languages by 25 August.  We will set up additional zoom calls at that time as well.
  • After these information and processing calls, beginning the week of 24 August, KRI will set up calls just for trainers – but please ALSO attend one of these first set of joint calls so that everyone has the basic information as a common starting point.  Please find the schedule of these calls here. 
  • A Yogic Approach for Grief Recovery with Dr. Shanti Shanti Kaur – Thursday, August 27th, 12-14:00 EDT (New York) on zoom live, or watch the recording which will be posted one week later.  This webinar is open to all, so please share this link with others who could benefit from it.
  • Here is a short document to help you with Grief Recovery as the Integration of Change.
    •  In Nederlands
    • en français
    •  auf Deutsch
    •  en español
    •  in italiano
    •  w języku polskim
    • em português
    • по-русски

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• Key Conversations – If you’d like to participate in the conversations and decisions shaping our collective future, please “JOIN” the specific Sutra circles that are of interest to you. Remember that you can set the email preferences for each circle to select how often you want to be notified of new posts.  We will try to highlight here each week’s key conversations you may be interested in.
  • Online Trainings – should we allow (either temporarily or permanently) 100% of a Level One Program to be done online?  Right now, as an interim policy, we are requiring a minimum of 40 hours in person.  Is that ok, or should that also change?  We must have a decision about this at the Sept TTEC meetings.

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• Major Research Publication in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association – “Efficacy of Yoga vs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy vs Stress Education for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder” – scientifically showing that Kundalini Yoga can reduce anxiety.

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• Events around August 26^th – This year, we encourage each local community to make their own decision if or how they want to practice together on this day.  Some alternative suggestions, if a change is desired, could be to gather for a Guru Ram Das meditation, fundraise for women’s causes, or participate in the Global Ra Ma Da Sa Healing meditation together.  

Watch Amrit’s weekly video here – KRI will be with you as you support your communities through the impact of the report from An Olive Branch. 

Click on the “CC” at the bottom of the video to see subtitles in various languages.

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• Trainer Summit Sutra Circles have been moved and consolidated – New Sutra circles have been created in the General Discussion area of Sutra to further the conversations that were begun at the Summit. All trainers in the Academy, whether you were at the Summit or not, can now participate.   It is up to all of us now to continue the dialogues, and to move from ideas to concrete proposals that the whole community can review and comment on.

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• Certification Committee is looking for a new member – a description of what this committee does (currently – knowing that it may change), the eligibility requirements, and the selection procedure are outlined in this document.  If you meet the qualifications and are interested, please email Amrit Singh.

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• Processing the Report from An Olive Branch Together – The report will probably be released the week of 10 Aug, and KRI will collaborate with 3HO to provide a variety of zoom calls to help everyone in our community process its contents. 

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• The rumors about a possible Netflix documentary about Yogi Bhajan are FALSE.  There is no such documentary being worked on by Netflix.

Watch Amrit’s weekly video – Initial thoughts about TTEC in September, and preparing for the release of the report from An Olive Branch. 

Click on the “CC” at the bottom of the video to see subtitles in various languages.

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• Global TTEC meetings  September 20, 21, 22 – If you are interested in participating in a Steering Committee to plan these important decision making meetings, please email Amrit Singh. 

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• Trainer Summit Sutra Circles have been moved and consolidated – New Sutra circles have been created in the General Discussion area of Sutra to further the conversations that were begun at the Summit. All trainers in the Academy, whether you were at the Summit or not, can now participate.   It is up to all of us now to continue the dialogues, and to move from ideas to concrete proposals that the whole community can review and comment on.

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• Professional Development Committee Coordinating Position – KRI is looking for someone, ideally outside the US, for 10 hours per week to coordinate the work of the Professional Development Committee.  View a job description here.  If you have questions, if you are qualified, and are interested in applying, please email Hari Charn Kaur.

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• Processing the Report from An Olive Branch Together –  As mentioned in Amrit Singh weekly video message, KRI is organizing zoom calls beginning August 10^th by language and time zone.  If you are interested in supporting this outreach by serving as a co-facilitator or if you the availability to serve for technical support, please email Hari Charn Kaur.

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• Sexual Harassment – What Every Kundalini Yoga Teacher & Trainer Needs to Know – Please join this live webinar next Tuesday, 4 Aug, or watch the recording that will be posted on 11 Aug.

Watch Amrit’s weekly video message – Next Steps after the recent Global Trainer Forum/Summit.

Click on the “CC” at the bottom of the video to see subtitles in various languages.

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• Moving Forward Together– Great conversations took place at the recent Global Online Trainer Forum/Summit and now is the time to move into actions and new policies.  Sutra circles for each key issue are being set up in the general trainer space on Sutra –and each of you is encouraged to create additional ones for anything that needs to be added!  Everyone will be invited to these circles, whether or not you were able to make it to the summit.  It is up to every member of the Academy to continue the conversations – on Sutra and/or in online calls – to work towards written proposals (we will create a standard format).  Those proposals will be posted in Sutra for comment and discussion, and then come to TTEC Sept 20, 21, 22 for finalization. 

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• Update on the “Interim” Aquarian Teacher manual – As mentioned previously, we are planning a 2-phase approach to modifying the Level One Aquarian Teacher manual.  Phase One is being done with a priority on speed over inclusivity – with a new version expected to be available digitally in English by mid-August.  Phase Two will then begin to collect more community input for another version in the summer of 2021.  All trainers will be welcome to contribute in Phase Two.  Phase One will include the work that has been ongoing for several years already.  It will mention the investigation by An Olive Branch and will reference its findings.  The Humanology, History, and Posture sections are being completely redone, with every chapter being edited to some extent or another. 

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• Professional Development Committee looking for New Members – As collectively we prepare for the TTEC meetings in September, there is a need for this existing committee to work on the development of trainers in the Academy.  There is work to be done between now and the TTEC meetings 

• The Report from An Olive Branch will be released this week.  KRI is working to organize a series of zoom calls in every language and every time zone. Are you interested in being a facilitator?  Please email Sadhu Kaur at [email protected].

Watch Amrit’s weekly video message – What parts of our culture do we want to
change, and what to honor and build upon?

Click on the “CC” at the bottom of the video to see subtitles in various languages.

• Upcoming Global Training Forum and Summit
o Watch an introduction to the Summit’s meeting format here.

The informational document referred to in this video will be linked in next week’s update.
o Invitations to register – 这是中文, English, en español, на русском, em
português, po polsku, in italiano, auf Deutsch, en français

• We would love to hear from you via this quick (3 minute) survey. The results of this
anonymous survey will be made public on or before this Forum/Summit as potentially
useful information going into those conversations. We have such a diverse, multicultural
community it is important to hear the full breadth of your voices – not just the loudest, or
those perceived to be in a position of leadership/authority/power.

o Chinese: https://forms.gle/6cyA6i1xAo6YhzBHA
o English: https://forms.gle/AnvXutJPcsToZ8Uk9
o French: https://forms.gle/gKq9TBcqvV4XrYL87
o German: https://forms.gle/XTkAbUUbxivSWwWi9
o Italian: https://forms.gle/t6Wyp5Ai4KKj3iKe8
o Portuguese: https://forms.gle/B1fuAvBurfYK2isf7
o Polish: https://forms.gle/CtNCRi7x3rFZQjiT7
o Russian: https://forms.gle/CrMJWEwpqtJaLw9f7
o Spanish: https://forms.gle/9BB6d24ik5q11rtf7

• THE SHADOW OF THE TEACHER – Wednesday July 8th 11:00-13:00 EDT (New York).
Join us live on Zoom or watch the recorded class available after one week. When we face our own shadow with conviction and clarity, much is unveiled to us. The capacity to hold this depth with compassion is a key process to being a Teacher. It’s a universal human predicament; the vastness of our goodness and the length and breadth of our own human shadow. As sacred, powerful and impactful as the Teachings are, the shadow of the genesis years of the Teachings and personality of Yogi Bhajan are an opportunity.With expert guidance in shadow work with Deva Kaur from Florida, we move beyond
the limitations of personality into our true legacy work.

• Upcoming Community Dialogue Listening Zoom calls – Before the trainer
forum/summit, we hope that you be able to join a call in your language and time zone.
Check out the bottom of this webpage for the schedule of language-specific zoom calls.

• Scientific research shows – Kundalini Yoga and Kirtan Kriya can reduce the risk of dementia.

Watch Amrit’s weekly video message here – Next Steps after the recent Global Trainer Forum/Summit.

Click on the “CC” at the bottom of the video to see subtitles in various languages.

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• Global Trainer Summit –  On July 9, 10, 11 KRI had its first Online Trainer Summit.  There were trainers from 47 countries (of the 56 Countries where there is Teacher Training) that participated in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Chinese.  The Summit was a completely new format using Open Space Technology.  Using Zoom, the participants were able to participate in any discussion that interested them and were able to freely move about from breakout room to breakout room.  This event was delivered by a team of sevadars from the Academy and Directed by Sat Amrit Kaur, the Trainer Forum Coordinator.  The Magic of zoom was delivered by Priti Darshan Kaur of KRI.  The event generated over 120 pages of notes that are being collated by Sadhu Kaur and a team to allow self-organized working groups (open to all trainers, not just those who attended the forum) to prepare proposals for the Teacher Training Executive Committee (TTEC) meetings September 20, 21 and 22.  These will be online and are open to every trainer who wants to participate.  

• KRI is interested in expanding its Board of Directors. Our intention is to strengthen and balance Board representation broadly across the globe and to include voices that represent the views and perspectives of our diverse community. To that end, we invite you to self-nominate and/or recommend qualified candidates who are interested in re-inventing KRI to meet the needs, the consciousness, and the heart of this new Age.  Read more about criteria and to request an application here.

• Supporting you in addressing a recent negative news article – Recently this article appeared in the online edition of the LA Magazine.  It unfortunately mixes and confuses the yogic organization 3HO with the religious organization of Sikh Dharma International.  In case you are asked by students about this article, we are providing this “talking points” document.  Please let us know if there are other ways we can support you through these challenging times.

• Community Dialogue –  At the Global Summit we heard many request to continue scheduling Listening Circles in various languages and time zones – especially with the report from An Olive Branch soon to be released.  In order to make these happen, we need to have more volunteer facilitators.  KRI will support you to step into this role.  Please click on this link and help support the trainer community in this way!

• Scientific Research into Kundalini Yoga – Check out our new webpage with links to all the scientific articles about Kundalini Yoga, summary here and full list here.

• KRI income and expense information for the prior 11 months.

• Results from the recent survey of trainers:
  • Chinese
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish

• Upcoming online workshops and webinars:
  • New Date for Sexual Harassment – What Every Kundalini Yoga Teacher Needs to Know – Tuesday August 4th 12:00-14:00 EDT (New York).  Replay available one week later.  Presented by Guruka Kaur & Dr. Krishna Kaur.  This course will show you how to:
    • Make your teaching practice safer for you and students
    • Empower yourself and students to be responsible members of the community
    • Work effectively with the Office of Ethics and Professional Standards and Conscious Conflict resolution (EPS)
    • Apply our values as we work together
    • Join in our discussion. Prior to the webinar please email your questions or topics you would like covered to [email protected]
  • Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Yogini – Friday July 24^th at 12 Noon EDT (New York City).  Presented by Vedya Amrita Kaur.  As with a kriya or a difficult yoga posture we hold the space to find comfort in the discomfort of the experience. We can hold a similar space for conversations around our community’s relationship with diversity and inclusion. This workshop will require us to relax into the discomfort as we learn a few concepts integrated with storytelling and dialogue. Here’s your chance to ask questions of our presenter and each other.
  • Toward Fluidity: Building New Networks of Understanding – IN SPANISH – Tuesday July 28^th 17:00-18:30 EDT.  Replay available one week later.  Recent times have propelled us suddenly into a new reality. We are faced with the challenge of re-understanding the world and to discover new ways of relating to each other and to the teachings of Kundalini Yoga.  Out of fear and uncertainty within our psyche and our resistance to facing the unknown, we anchor ourselves in teaching-learning models that are familiar and comfortable, preventing us from diving into the fluidity of the chaos. We miss the experimentation that allows us to reimagine the knowledge that has sustained us in the past to allow us to be in tune with the times.

Sat Naam Dear Teacher Trainers,

In my various conversations this past week, I was again struck by the strong diversity of opinions in our
community. How will we talk about Yogi Bhajan in the future – in our books, manuals, and trainings?
With the delay of the report into the allegations of misconduct by Yogi Bhajan until mid to late July, we
won’t have that as a reference for a little while longer. But regardless of what is in that report, I think it
is important that we keep our focus on the practice of this yogic technology – our legacy – not on the
personality or certain specific actions of the man who shared this unique body of teachings. How
exactly that focus looks is something for us to talk about together.

Please come to the Trainer Forum and Summit July 9, 10 and 11th to begin this, and many other,
important discussions together.

These times are pushing us to polarize – there are those who think any image or mention of Yogi Bhajan
is unacceptable, and there are those that feel that not maintaining his presence would be a betrayal.
We are strong enough to gracefully handle this polarity! We can give ourselves, personally and
collectively, the time to be with our opinions and beliefs, the time for the report from An Olive Branch to
come out, the time for us to digest that report, and time for a new collective way of holding and
speaking about our practices and our history that is authentic, honest, and empowering.
Yes, these are messy and uncomfortable times. And they are going to stay that way for a little while
longer. But over time we will adapt and evolve a new and better culture and message. KRI will continue
holding the space for our entire teacher trainer community to go through this difficult growth process,
together, with openness, inclusion and transparency.

I am looking forward to seeing you online at the Trainer forum next month, and may Guru Ram Das bless
us all.

• Global Trainer Forum and Summit – Register for this important event here.
• Upcoming facilitator trainings in Italian and German – If you are open to facilitating calls with other
trainers, to hold the space for sharing and processing about our current circumstances, please
register for a facilitator orientation here.
o In Italiano – Martedi, 16 di Giugno 2020 dalle 15:30 alle 17:00 (Roma, Italia)
o Auf Deutsch – Mittwoch, 24. Juni von 19:00 bis 21:00 Uhr (Berliner Zeit)

• Full course catalogue of the Aquarian Development Series professional development online
courses – https://learntogether.sutra.co
Watch our course catalogue for updates and new courses! All “live” courses are pinned to the top.
If you can’t catch it live, just watch the replay one week later.
The catalogue is color coded: purple=pedagogy/art of teaching, blue=research, orange=chapter
content, green=inclusion & social justice

o Kundalini Now: Permaculture Perspectives on Organizational Change – Thursday June
18th, 10:30am EDT (New York City). Miguel Mendez, holistic wellness teacher and earth
regenerationist, explores supporting social movements that lead to real systemic
change! From a permaculture perspective let’s make sustainable progress in times of
crisis. Through observation, circular, non-hierarchical leadership, and the centering of
marginalized voices, we can tend to our organizations, together, and be fruitful.
Thursday June 18th 10:30 AM EDT. Join us and dialogue with us as he shares a vision for
truthful change!
o Our ongoing Embodying Anti-Racism: Being the Change! – jump in at any point in the
six-week series to unpack, explore & grow together.
o If you have a topic to present, email [email protected]

Sat Naam Dear Teacher Trainers,

In the past few months, so many of you have served our teachers and students through online support – through group calls, individual calls, emails, and more.  Thank you for your compassionate service that has supported so many on their self-reflective journey following the announcement of the serious allegations against Yogi Bhajan.  Through your service, we believe many of our teachers and members of the ATA have felt the support that they needed as they struggled with difficult questions.  Most have found the path to remain Kundalini Yoga Teachers and Trainers. 

With the anticipation of the report from An Olive Branch being released in late June, we believe that it is more important than ever to strengthen our connections and continue to listen deeply to one another.  An Adhoc Community Dialogue Process committee has come up with a plan to offer Zoom calls in all regions, in many languages, for members of the Trainer Academy.  Everyone will be invited to join a call in June before the report comes out, and to join another call in July, probably after the report and before the Trainer Forum/Summit. 

Why More Zoom Calls?  The intentions of these listening zoom calls are to:

• Make sure that every member has the opportunity to share and/or express how the allegations have impacted their lives and practice
• Provide a space of dialogue to listen, heal, and reconcile
• Find in our collective wisdom a source of inspiration and commitment to deepen our practice and to serve the future
• Find where there is excitement and passion to work together as a community

Facilitators needed:  We know how much this community means to you, and that is why we are asking if you would be willing to facilitate one or more of these calls.  Here are some questions that might help you decide if you would like to serve in this way:  

• Are you able to maintain an open heart and a neutral mind during difficult conversations?
•  Are you in a personal space where you can hold space for others and keep your neutrality in listening?
•  Are you comfortable setting aside your beliefs and expectations to listen and facilitate this process?

If your answer to the above questions is yes, and are interested in serving in this capacity, we would start by discussing and preparing guidelines for these meetings, and if needed, provide training to help you.  We will organize facilitator orientation meetings as well as debriefing meetings to support you in this service. If you would like to discuss possibly being a facilitator, please contact Hari Charn Kaur at [email protected].  

      We hope you will enjoy these opportunities to connect and share and be heard.  And we look forward to co-creating our shared future with you, starting with the Trainer Summit/Forum July 9, 10, 11th on zoom. 

Sincerely, 

Hari Charn Kaur 

More on How We Are Moving Ahead Together:

• Leadership, social change and conscious activism – Check out Amrit’s video this week about service, and share this link for KRI’s upcoming donation-based 6-week webinar series on Embodying Anti-Racism: Being the Change, with all donations collected being donated to the George Floyd Memorial Fund and to Black Lives Matter.

• Global ATA Trainer Forum & Online Summit: Engage in critical conversation, meditate with community, and create meaningful connections – more details and to register, please click here: https://na.eventscloud.com/ehome/534606

• Kundalini Now: Permaculture Perspectives on Organizational Change Thursday June 18th, 10:30AM ET (New York City) – Miguel Mendez, holistic wellness teacher and earth regenerationist, explores how to support social movements that lead to real systemic change during this time as our community and orgs are searching for organic ways to evolve. He shares the wisdom from a permaculture perspective as a basis for making sustainable progress in times of crisis. Through observation, circular, non-hierarchical leadership, and the centering of marginalized voices, we can tend to our organizations, together, and be fruitful.  Join us and dialogue with us as he shares a vision for truthful change!