Full Moon Yoga by Gurmukh
Sometimes we can get spoiled in Los Angeles, seeing as it’s the American hub of yoga. We’ve got the best yoga teachers and the best yoga studios in the country. I’ve already studied with Shiva Rea; last night I ventured bravely out to Hollywood for a Full Moon Yoga class with Gurmukh at Golden Bridge. People have traveled from far and wide just to take a class with her.
I’m familiar with Gurmukh because I have an old video of hers stuck in my big pile of yoga videos. I got it years ago and I have to admit it didn’t do much for me, but all I was looking for was exercise at the time. Kundalini Yoga really isn’t about exercise so much as moving your energy. As such, it just wasn’t something that I was looking for in my 20s.
Gurmukh’s class last night was quite beautiful, however. Not for the exercise, but for the beautiful energy. She started off with a half-hour discussion, then we did some of those semi-painful repetitive exercises (squatting for what seemed like forever, ouch!), and then finally we had a healing circle.
We all had a chance to either be inside or outside the healing circle, sending healing to the people within. I did both. After I got out of the center and sat back to chant with the circle, I was struck by all the people laying on the floor, opening themselves up to the healing energies. It was extremely touching and made me cry.
But that’s what seems to happen when you go to certain events at Golden Bridge. A new friend I met there told me she’s ended up crying the few times she’s gone as well.
Gurmukh has a sweet, gentle energy and it’s not surprising so many people are fond of her. While I’m not giving up my Hatha Yoga anytime soon, I am definitely open to trying more of the offerings at Golden Bridge. For me, Kundalini Yoga is the best when you are following it with some sort of meditation or healing. For exercise, I prefer my forward bends and twists and inversions.