Healing Journeys with Suzie Daggett
I had the opportunity to visit with a very interesting young healer and teacher - Jai Dev Singh. You may have seen him around town as he wears a white turban, and always, I mean always has an air of peace, love and a smile on his face. He changed his life through Kundalini Yoga and Ayurveda practices and is now helping others do the same.
You grew up in the South - what made you take the path of Kundalini Yoga?
I was introduced to Kundalini Yoga during my first year of college while living in Tennessee, where I was dealing with some very serious health challenges and was very stressed out. I had heard about yoga but wasn't really sure what it was. My first yoga class was one of the most powerful experiences of my life, I literally felt as if I was floating for the next two days. It just so happened that the first yoga class I attended was Kundalini Yoga, and I've stuck with it ever since. It is powerful, practical, and it truly changes lives, as it did mine. I haven't seen anything more effective in assisting a person from living a life of stress or depression to discovering their true potential as a human being. People begin to see that not only is it possible for them to be happy and healthy, it is their birthright. Kundalini Yoga awakens the spirit of life inside you. Yoga is really not about flexibility at all. Yes, it does make you flexible, strong and healthy, but that is just the beginning. If I'm flexible and have a nice body, but am depressed and stressed all the time, then who cares! When we bring health to our bodies and peace to our minds, there are greater things that begin to happen, things we could never imagine if we haven't experienced them before. We begin to love life for what it is and live with passion and purpose.
Your name, Jai Dev Singh, was bestowed by your teacher. What does it mean, and how has it changed your life?
Yogi Bhajan gave spiritual names based on how he understood that person's unique potential. He had a gift of being able to see right into the core of a person, right into the essence of their being. He was a very powerful teacher in the sense that he would get in your face and shatter your ego if needed, and at the same time he had a way of elevating you to be your best. My name, Jai Dev Singh, means the Lion of Victory to God. It fits me well and I'm reminded every time someone calls my name. The idea is to create an environment that leaves little room to stray from the path of truth and goodness. How can you when you're given a name like that and are doing whatever you can to live up to it? This world is filled with distractions from the things that are most important in life. By taking this name, I choose different and I'll do what I can to support others in living their truth as well.
What is Kundalini Yoga and how does it benefit a user?
Kundalini is simply the energy of consciousness, and Kundalini Yoga is a science of awakening consciousness. It does so through yoga postures, breathing exercises and a variety of other techniques. It uses the human body, breath and mind as a tool to awaken one's untapped potential. We all have a greatness to be realized and lived and Kundalini Yoga is a powerful tool to assist in that process. It is an ancient science that dates back over 5,000 years. Its effective, safe, and most importantly, fun.
You are a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist and Pancha Karma Specialist with the California College of Ayurveda - how do you assist people in their healing journey?
Ayurveda is the healing side of yoga. Yoga is actually a science of Self Realization, while Ayurveda is a science of Self-Healing, and in my opinion one of the most fantastic health-care modalities on the planet. I am the Clinical Director of the California College of Ayurveda, where I see patients, supervise interns, and teach as well. Ayurveda is a holistic health-care system in the biggest sense of the word. When a person comes to see us, whether they are sick or coming in for preventative care, we will assist them in making the changes in their life that are needed to feel good. I believe we all want two things; optimum health and peace of mind. We work with diet, herbs, massage therapy, and other modalities. I find the most powerful thing a person can do is transform their lifestyle. So we help our patients identify what it is in their life that isn't supporting their health and happiness and help them turn it around with something that does.
Jai Dev Singh C.A.S., P.K.S., is the Clinical Director of the California College of Ayurveda in Grass Valley and teaches Kundalini Yoga at Wild Mountain Yoga Center in Nevada City. He can be reached at 530-575-0753.
Healing Journeys is a column written by Suzie Daggett for the Grass Valley Union newspaper. Suzie interviews a variety of health practitioners most Fridays in the Wellness section. Click here to read past articles. Enter "Suzie Daggett" in the search box to get listing of all articles. |
