This interview is the second of a two part interview. To read the first part click here. Otherwise, enjoy! 🙂
S: What is your favourite kundalini music?
J: I have some mantras that I like to play. One mantra I used to play all the time is Chattr by Snatam Kaur. It’s very heart opening. Ra Ma Da Sa by Mariba Ceriba. I find that to be very soothing. I also enjoy listening to Jai Jagadesh I really enjoy. I am Thine is one I really like. Those are the main ones.
And Eck On Kar, Sat Gur Purasad on Youtube
S: By whom?
J: I’m not sure who its by. It can be used for intuition and out of all the mantras in kundalini yoga it is important for you to pay attention to what you are thinking when you are chanting the mantra because it will manifest that exact thought.
I love live music. I really love anything live. In my classes I like to use different kinds of instruments.
S: Yeah, when I had your class a few days ago it was really cool because you brought out an instrument I’ve never heard of before and a mini gong. Gong is a traditional instrument in Kundalini yoga. Are you bringing in all these other instruments to your classes?
J: Yup, yeah, I use all sorts of instruments. I am currently learning how to play the gong. I currently have a small gong a feng gong and I like to use chimes. Wind chimes that you can get from France one is called the Koshi and the other Zaphir. They have specific tunings and they are very relaxing. I also like to use singing bowls, crystal bowls, rainsticks before, the sansula. I’ve been playing around with different kinds of instruments in my classes. I’ve been told I should use tuning forks. Apparently using the two notes c and g with the tuning forks creates the musical scaled called the perfect fifths and what happens when both notes are played at the same time around a person it starts producing all the notes on the musical scale.
S: Oh interesting. I wonder what that would sound like.
J: Very harmonizing. Very relaxing and it also does something to the mind where it aligns your frequency and completely wipes out what you were thinking about. It brings you back to zero.
S: Wow. That sounds amazing.
J: Yes, it is.
S: So where do you see yourself going with Kundalini yoga?
J: I see myself going on tour. {laughter}
S: As a kundalini yoga musician?
J: Yeah, totally, I feel like that’s in my future. Going on tour and teaching on the road and having all my instruments and collaborating with a lot of people to.
S: Who’s your dream collaboration person? Who do you want to collaborate with on your tour?
J: I would love to get a group of people together to be honest. Oh my god. That would be amazing!
S: Is there anyone you would choose that we would know about or would they all be people who aren’t really in the public eye right now?
J: They would be people not really in the public eye right now. I know a lot of very talented local artist – woah! I just saw an angel! – {laughter}
S: Its happening then, its happening! We are manifesting here! {Laughter}
J: I know a lot of talented local artists that I would love to work with. I would like to have live music as I am teaching. I feel like it would bring a lot of people in.
S: Yeah, I remember having live music on my birthday when we did Sadhana in the early morning and it totally changed the whole feeling of the practice. It was so enlivening. Normally I fall asleep in early morning Sadhana but that one we were dancing! It was amazing.
I could really see you doing well with that for sure.
J: Yeah for sure I really feel it. Collaboration is something I want to do more of in the future with my practice and teaching.
S: So do you see yourself becoming a full-time teacher in the future?
J: I wouldn’t say full time teacher but I see myself teaching a lot. Doing other things as well as teaching.
S: And do you want to focus on a certain group of people for your teaching or do you want to let the music dictate who comes to you?
J: Well I love teaching people that really need it. People who have experience trauma, people who are overcoming addictions or people who want to overcome depression or anxiety. I want to teach to those people because I know what its like to feel that and what its like to overcome it. Also, the music, the love and the devotion to self naturally draw people in. People who want to experience their most highest self come around.
S: And those were the things that brought you to kundalini yoga right it was your experience of trauma depression anxiety and just wanting to connect with your highest self and get clarity on who you are?
J: Yes, that’s what brought me to kundalini yoga. I didn’t want to go through pain anymore and I knew there was a way out of it and there was a lesson in it.
S: And do you feel like you are out of that pain now or do you feel like you are still working through it?
J: I feel like I am out of a lot of my pain. I mean there are still things I am working through. In this human experience things will always come up. We are like onions, there are layers and layers and layers of stuff that will come up. I don’t want to say its getting easier but the stronger my sense of self is and the more grounded I become, the more I am able to respond to what’s happening in my life as opposed to reacting.
S: Yup, that’s something I’ve noticed in myself as well just getting more grounded and centred in who I am and also being able to tell what is mine and what is not mine. That was a big problem for me and I used to not be able to live in cities. I used to get so overwhelmed and I’d just freak out! {laughter}and now there’s a solid sense of self and I feel like there’s a gradual opening and un-peeling. You are just unpeeling yourself.
J: Yes.
S: Would you say its effortless because of the practice? All the effort going into the practice but the un-peeling happens effortlessly?
J: Yes its the nature of the practice. There are moments during my practice where I’ll receive messages or I’ll be told to do something, like break up with the guy you’re seeing.
S: That’s So purkh! {laughter} So Purkh will change your life, yes!
J: Oh yea, Your relationships will change too. That’s another thing that happens with kundalini yoga .You start to relate to yourself at a higher level that your relationships begin to change. You will find yourself walking away from certain relationships or going through certain challenges with the people in your life and overcome them.
S: Do you find you surround yourself with a different kind of person?
J: OH completely. {laughter} I find myself around many beautiful creative souls that are inspired to keep inspiring and creating. Its all a reflection of me and that’s what I’m experiencing myself so it makes sense that that’s what I’m attracting into my life.
S: And how has your relationship changed with drugs and/or alcohol and/or partying?
J: {laughs} Its changed. Well, first off, I feel high all the time. You know there comes a point in this spiritual practice where you start to understand the power of the organic experience. I can go out dancing all night and have so much energy and feel the same kind of euphoria (PLUS MORE) than when I used to take ecstasy. I feel bliss all the time! I don’t have to put anything into my body to have that higher experience because its a constant in my life. Its in every breathing moment.
S:Â Amazing. I’m feeling this is a good time to wrap up the interview. Do you have anything else you want to say?
J: I’ll just say a few things. If you really do want to connect to yourself if you really do crave that connection with your highest, creative potential. Try it.
S: Should we give them a forty day challenge?
J: A forty day challenge. Yeah. Kirtan Kriya.
S: For how long?
J: 31 minutes.
S: Oh, your hardcore!
J: Yeah, I’m hardcore! {both laughing}
S: Joy’s challenge to you all if you want to try it is kirtan kriya for 31 minutes a day. I actually do have a facebook group to support you in that and Joy is part of that group. You just have send a little request. If you want support or anything you can post there and there are people who will answer your questions and give you support in that way.
Thank you so much for interviewing with me Joy! I really enjoyed it! Thank you!
Additional Music Joy Recommends & Uses in Her Classes:Â
With You
Forgiveness
Guru Ram Das
Joy has been practicing a variety of yoga for the past ten years. She discovered Kundalini Yoga in 2012 from a friend online and began initiating herself into a daily practice. Kundalini yoga has helped in her personal healing from trauma, depression and taught her the power and capacity we hold to overcome obstacles. In the midst of one of her meditations in front of the ocean, she received a message to become a teacher. This inspired her to move from Winnipeg to Vancouver to complete the teacher training at Yoga West in 2014. From that experience, she has learned the value of the sacred teachings in Kundalini Yoga and continues to elevate those around her by sharing what has been one of the most powerful tools for her self empowerment and healing. She enjoys using a variety of sound healing instruments in her classes. She is currently teaches at the Vancouver Recovery Club. She is also a Reiki master, is learning about sound healing and has a passion for dance.
