Cover Story by Iyesha Lynch "You are not a man, not a woman, not a student, not a teacher, not sitting," Dr. Khalsa said.

Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Cover Stories | Send mail to The Voice American Sikh belives yoga is the path to relaxation "By design yoga is meant to relax people, but it's not the only way to get out the stress," Dr. Khalsa said. - Iyesha Lynch, photo His white turban, striking blue eyes, pale skin, and white beard set apart this American doctor from his professional counterparts. Dr. Hari Dass S. Khalsa, a chiropractor and a Sikh, teaches yoga in his free time at One-in-heart, a health club on Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard. The health club is in a large transformed garage, equipped with mirrors and punching bags. A red dragon kite hangs from the ceiling, and colorful banners decorate the walls. About a dozen students heaped their shoes in the hall, laid several colorful mats on the floor, and stretched, chatted, or meditated on their own before the class began. Dr. Khalsa added chant music to the background and turned on a small lamp. "Let's bring our hands together, palm to palm. Close your eyes," Dr. Khalsa said to the students. And then he asked them to repeat a mantra after him. "Ong namo guru dev namo," the class said in unison. According to Dr. Khalsa, this means, "I bow down to the god that's everywhere, and I bow to the god that's inside me as well." The group then raised its hands as if worshiping a higher power. A microphone attached to Dr. Khalsa's turban amplified his instructions to the students. "Take a deep breath in," he said. A girl with blue hair breathed in deeply, and a balding man crossed his legs and closed his eyes. People from different age groups and social groups come to the Yoga classes. Some come for medical reasons or to become more flexible, Dr. Khalsa said. He always recommends yoga to his patients. But one common denominator he said he sees in everyone is the desire to "get their hands on their own steering wheel of life and to empower themselves." After some stretches, Dr. Khalsa told students to relax. "Negate any thought or identity that comes up," Dr. Khalsa said, looking through his papers and watching the clock. "You are not a man, not a woman, not a student, not a teacher, not sitting." The mantra in his handout reads, "You are not the body, mind, or spirit but the consciousness that gives rise to and integrates them all." In preparation for a time of deep relaxation, the students pulled on their socks and covered themselves with blankets and coats. They lay on the floor for approximately 11 minutes. Chant music resounded in the background: "Sa ta na ma, Sa ta na ma." At the end of the session, the group sang in harmony a song written by The Incredible String Band in the 1960s: "May the long time sun shine upon you. All love surround. And the pure light within you, guide your way on." Yoga is not so much a spiritual practice, Dr. Khalsa said, but preparation for spiritual practice. "It makes you sensitive," he said. " It gets stress out of body and off the mind so you can be human. You have to have a way to relax in our society." Mark, a student said, "It [yoga] does a good job making you more aware of a spiritual side. It's relaxing, and it takes your mind off of normal, everyday stuff." Dr. Khalsa first practiced yoga in a PE class at the University of Oregon when he was 18. He is now 46, and said he has centered his life on yoga. Other yoga instructors are less spiritually direct than he is, Dr. Khalsa said. "God sent you here to do something. Yoga helps you follow through on that." he said. Back to Table of Contents | Back to Main Index Previous Cover Stories | Top Of Page Send mail to The Voice| Journalism department website © 2003 The Voice. No part of this publication may be reproduced in written or electronic form without prior written consent from the journalism adviser of Multnomah Bible College. All rights reserved.