In this week’s article of our Rediscovering Ayurveda series, we interviewed Kulvinder Kaur.
A certified Yoga Instructor, Kulvinder possesses a vast experience of about 10 years of working as a Flight Attendant in the Middle East. She was introduced to Yoga during the initial years of her career in the skies and soon enough she realized the need to find a sustainable solution to cope with the erratic schedules and disturbed sleep patterns that severely took tolls on her body.
“When I touched by ‘troubled thirties’, I began to notice the changes my body underwent. Flying is one such career where you don’t realize how soon time flies. And a lot of time had already passed and that’s when I felt the need to take charge of my life in a way that helped me feel rejuvenated and fresh and bring back the lost balance.”
Just like any amateur, Kulvinder’s pre-conceived notions about Yoga included no more than a few sets of Surya Namaskar and perhaps, some meditation and breathing exercises. To begin with her journey of taking Yoga and Ayurveda seriously, she took up a foundation course at the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. She was instantly fascinated by the humongous learning and the miraculous ways of healing this ancient practice had to offer. When Kulvinder started experiencing the life-changing outcomes, her learning turned into a passion which made her notice the beautiful changes both physically and mentally. This was an eye-opener for her, as she puts it, which helped her make her mind to dive deeper into this holistic philosophy.
“This ‘learning turned into passion’ experience was an outcome after which I decided to quit my job as a flight crew and joined my husband who is an officer in the Indian Air Force. Apart from the need to continuously keep myself constructively occupied, I was also keen on finding an alternative career after flying. That’s when I decided to turn my passion into a profession and eventually progress towards mindful living.”
After a few weeks of brainstorming, Kulvinder successfully enrolled herself for a PG Diploma at the Annamalai University. Having finished her diploma, she was also keenly interested to do a teachers’ training course from The Yoga Institute. At the end of this six-week-long course, she became a certified Yoga Instructor with 200 hours of teaching and found herself completely invigorated with a brand-new outlook and approach towards life.
For Kulvinder, it is a beautiful feeling when people notice little nuances in her and that proved to be an ultimate game-changer for her. The joy she felt while sharing the knowledge and helping people in her own subtle ways to overcome their limitations was, as she puts it, extremely overwhelming and remains her biggest source of inspiration.
Her day starts with a glass of warm water and extending gratitude for a new day by bowing down to the supreme almighty and salutations to the sun. The morning rituals include a set of kriyas such as Mukhshodan, Jeevmoolshodnam, and Jalneti followed by her own unique version of herbal tea. By mid-morning, she likes to be done with the warm-ups, set of selected Asanas and Pranayamas.
“Come early noon and I am brimming with energy and plan the rest of the day depending on the number of students signed up for Yoga sessions. As part of my efforts towards healthy and mindful eating, most of my meals are homemade wild mild spices. I like to snack on soaked almonds and roasted makhanas and sip on turmeric tea between meals.”
Kulvinder believes in the motto of the future lies in the past. The world is finally preaching and adapting to the age-old practices and there’s truly no better way than that. To begin one’s day with a glass of warm water and herbal tea is one of the best ways to start your day. Moderate eating and early dinners are other important habits to be kept in mind if one wishes to live mindfully, says Kulvinder.
We ask her what does she think about the relation between Ayurveda and Yoga to which she says – “In my opinion, Yoga and Ayurveda are a match made in heaven and are deeply interconnected forming a significant part of the Vedic Science.” By integrating the principles of Ayurveda alongside the practice of Yoga, one can enhance their healing capacity and derive a greater rejuvenating experience. Kulvinder believes that increasing awareness about Yoga and Ayurveda should have a multi-level approach. It could happen by introducing them as subjects at school levels as the long-forgotten teachings need to be re-instated in the young minds. Inspirational stories of those having made a comeback in life after practicing Yoga and Ayurveda need to be brought to the forefront.
“The contemporary lifestyle is the feel of the materialistic comforts and distractions that have detached humans not only from nature but also from self. Yoga is what builds the connection of a person with their own soul.”
The ultimate goal to attain happiness lies in a satisfied and healthy mind and a healthy mind only resides in a healthy body, she adds. Kulvinder is enthused to try the Kuntal Care DIY Hair Spa as she spent most of her days at the beaches this past holiday season and coming home to the harsh Delhi winters, her hair could most definitely use some pampering!
At Amrutam, we take pride in having Kulvinder as part of our #AmrutamFamily!
