Teachers
Santokh Singh Khalsa, D.C., Awareness Center Founder, Owner & Lead Trainer
Dr. Khalsa is the Lead Trainer to the Awareness Center. He has been practicing Kundalini yoga for over forty years. He and his wife, Suraj, were founders of the Awareness Center in 1974 and both have been teaching ever since. He is the lead teacher for the Level I and Level II Kundalini Yoga teacher training program. Dr. Khalsa also teaches the Wednesday, 7:00 P.M. Beginner’s Series once a quarter in January, April, July and October and has a thriving Chiropractic practice in Pasadena. www.khalsachiropracticpasadena.com
Suraj Kaur Khalsa - Awareness Center Co- Founder & Co-Owner
Suraj Kaur Khalsa began practicing Kundalini Yoga in 1974 and became a teacher in 1976. Her classes are a gentle yet invigorating combination of kriyas and breath work. Using inspiring Universal readings and teaching, she creates a soothing, uplifting environment that is healing to all; beginners and long time students alike.
Suraj teaches Mondays at 11am and Saturdays at 9am.
Atma Kaur, Gillian
Gillian (Atma Kaur) brings a warmth and light to her classes that allows one to reinvigorate, relax, and renew on many levels. In a class with Atma, enter the flow of true identity and acceptance of self by integrating mind, spirit, and body. Sharing awakenings through life's changes is built into the fabric of her classes, as is a supportive atmosphere.
Atma embraced the gentle power of Kundalini Yoga as a foundation for living while taking Santokh Singh Khalsa's beginners series in 1995. She became KRI certified in 1998 and teaches a variety of ages and abilities. All are welcome.
Atma teaches Saturdays at 11:00 am.
Nirmaljeet Kaur, Sheila
Sheila (Nirmaljeet Kaur) enjoys teaching all levels of students, from first-time beginners to practitioners with years (or decades) of experience. Her classes emphasize the Kundalini Yoga basics of breathing and postures that serve to ground students in a strong foundation for their practice.
Featuring a wonderful range of eclectic music such as Eastern, Chill out, World and a plethora of non-traditional music (Louis Prima, anyone?), you can learn in a comfortable, fun, and stress-free environment. Her classes work to bring passion, joy, enthusiasm, and humor into your life.
Nirmaljeet teaches Fridays at 9am for Breakfast Club Kundalini Yoga.
Swava
Swava is a new teacher at The Awareness Center. She has been a high school English teacher for 17 years, but in January of this year, a magical series of synchronicities led her to sign up for the Kundalini Teacher Training program led by Dr. Khalsa. She immediately felt the teachings of Kundalini Yoga were in direct alignment with what she was already learning about trusting in her own intuition and becoming her highest self in connection with the infinite cosmic consciousness. She is grateful for the practices this yoga has taught her because through them she has gained a deeper understanding of herself, an ability to listen to her own internal wisdom, and the courage to live that wisdom. She is excited to teach Kundalini Yoga and help others connect to their own wisdom and become part of the healing energy that exists within all of us and that our world so desperately needs. Swava teaches Mondays at 7pm.
Yolanda
Yolanda (Teg Kirtan Kaur) focuses on releasing mental and physical blocks that could cause imbalances in your life. She guides you through powerful movements that will strengthen the core muscles while focusing your awareness inward.
Yolanda is Certified in Kundalini Yoga and Energy Balancing. She enjoys teaching her students to connect within and assists them through kriya techniques that encourage balance in their lives.
Yolanda teaches Tuesdays at 7pm.
Dawn Marie
Dawn / Avtar Tara practiced Hatha yoga for over twelve years before discovering Kundalini yoga at a meditation festival. She took a deep dive into Kundalini through theAC's Teacher Training program and became a certified Instructor in 2018. Also a Certified Health Coach, Dawn is dedicated to inspiring people to embrace life fully.
In her Kundalini classes, Dawn shares a variety of tools that helped transform her health and her life. With love, light, and a healthy dose of laughter, Dawn empowers her students to shine a little brighter.
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Dawn-Marie teaches Thursdays at 7pm.
Mamert Paykart
Mamert began his yoga adventure as a means to deal with cycling related soreness. It worked! To his surprise, he also discovered gains in mental clarity and an awakening of his spiritual side.
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Mamert has been certified in 200 hour Vinyasa Yoga teacher training. He cherishes his asana practice and would love to encourage you with yours as well!
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Mamert teaches Sundays at 11am.
Diana Bohan
Diana is a certified Yin Yoga instructor, an Awareness Center certified Kundalini Yoga instructor and past Energy Exchange Student, and Myofascial Release Practitioner.
Diana has a profound appreciation for the human body and incorporates her anatomy based knowledge as a bodyworker into her yin yoga classes. She guides students into gentle stretching to release fascial restrictions seen in muscle tension, poor postural habits, and injury. She enjoys empowering others to heal their own body, mind and spirit through yoga, meditation and bodywork.
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Diana teaches every Thursday morning qt 11 AM.
Kelly Quan
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Trained as a Zen buddhist, Kelly has a daily practice of meditation and mindfulness, which she incorporates in her yoga class. Her curiosity led her to study Hatha yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini yoga, and Qigong. Her class emphasizes the healing power of breathing, body awareness, and conscious movement. She enjoys bringing students to a heightened level of awareness and a state of peace and joy while removing physical and emotional blocks. She is also a Qigong teacher and has assisted teaching in Ashtanga yoga teacher training.
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Kelly teaches very Tuesday morning at 9 AM.
Cara Torricelli
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A radiant and experienced Kundalini Yoga teacher with over 20 years of self-practice, Cara is now ready to share her light with others.
Studying under Guru Singh & Brett Larkin, she focused on the technology of Kundalini yoga and its ability to access stuck emotions so they can be transformed through movement (asana), breath (pranayam) & sound (mantra). She has a deep connection to nature and incorporates moon cycles within her teachings and classes.
With a compassionate heart and deep commitment to personal growth, Cara creates a safe space for all as she guides students of all levels on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and awakening.
Join her to tap into your divine potential and embrace more joy, purpose, and boundless possibilities.
Diana Novelo, Sat Darshan Kaur
Diana's journey began at the Awareness Center when she attended the six weeks Kundalini Beginners series. She loved the overall experience so much that it inspired her to want to volunteer for such an amazing place and be part of the community. The classes, staff, and overall energy of the AC has positively impacted her to become the AC Event, Marketing, and Scheduling Coordinator. She utilizes her skills from her full time job and incorporate them as an event coordinator. As a volunteer, she kept the AC looking spotless clean and organized. She is very grateful to be part of the AC family and work with the community who attends it.
Adele Guerra
Adele is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the E-500 level. Trained with Michelle Mazur in Iyengar, Restorative and Hatha yoga, she comes from a background working with special needs children and their families and found her calling in helping others heal their mind, heart and body. She is grateful to have been introduced to yoga through her chiropractor who treated her from an accident which fractured 2 vertebrae in her spine. She found yoga as a vital key to healing life and is committed to inspiring others to explore the healing elements of yoga!
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Adele teaches Wednesdays at 6pm.