Sada Nam Singh has completed over 660 hours of Kundalini Yoga training as a KRI-certified yoga teacher, as well as training as a Reiki Master and gong sound healing therapist. He took level 2 Conscious Communication training with Gurmukh in Rishikesh in 2016, and another 200-hour Kundalini training by Yogi Amandeep in India in 2017. Sada Nam is passionate about supporting, teaching, and aiding in the healing of all beings, animals, plants, and people. He strives to share the gifts and benefits of yoga with the world and to clear the clouds of doubt and limitation that prevent us from realizing our true self, which is absolute bliss. MysticMag finds out more.
SadaNam, what inspired you to transition from a career in multimedia and technology to teaching yoga and offering healing practices?
I began practicing yoga at Ohio State University in 2007, and it became a lifeline for me during periods of depression, low energy, illness, or overwhelming stress. Many people only scratch the surface of yoga’s potential benefits by taking occasional classes. However, as a student, I was deeply committed to attending every class, studying the texts, journaling, and fully engaging with multiple yoga lineages. It was in these college courses that I first encountered Kundalini Yoga and chakra balancing meditation under the guidance of my initial teacher, Beaker Prince.
After completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art & Technology with a minor in Philosophy, I worked at the university for seven years, producing educational multimedia and conducting workshops on video production and digital storytelling. This experience not only honed my teaching skills but also funded my first Kundalini Yoga teacher training in 2014, by which time I had already been teaching a weekly class for a year.
In 2015, I was the Manager of Educational Technology Media Services, and my colleagues urged me to leave my teaching role. Although I was hesitant to leave a secure job with benefits, fate intervened. At a Kundalini festival, two women invited me to join them for a level 2 training with the renowned teacher Gurmukh in India. Despite my lack of vacation time and funds, they encouraged me to set my intention and trust in the universe.
Shortly afterward, both my supervisor and the Associate Dean of my department resigned, leading to a chaotic and hostile work environment. The new supervisor terminated my employment to appoint a friend in my position, as HR had denied her a raise. This period was incredibly stressful, but I found a silver lining when I realized I could use my retirement savings to attend the training in Rishikesh with Gurmukh. It turned out to be a transformative journey through the birthplace of yoga, even though the women who initially inspired me were not present at the festival. Sometimes, I wonder if they were angels in disguise!
Can you share a memorable experience where you witnessed the healing power of Kundalini Yoga or Reiki in action?
I’ve had several miraculous healing experiences that inspired me to teach and help others heal. The first Kundalini Yoga teacher I ever met was named Sat Kartar Kaur. She actually came into the computer lab where I worked at OSU to record some philosophical video pieces for Dr. Ruzabe Mattich. Despite being in her 70s and wearing a turban, she exuded wisdom and offered to read my numerology. After crunching down the numbers of my birthday, she told me that I would become a great teacher one day. At that time, I was just starting to learn yoga, but six years later, her prediction came true.
In 2009, I was on a spirit journey hiking and camping in Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. After our medicine ceremony, my friend went to sleep, and I was sitting by the lake meditating and watching the sunrise with golden beams of light shining through the early morning mist. It was so beautiful and heart-openingly moving that I realized the greatest thing I could do with my life would be to hold space and guide others to the experience of that bliss within themselves.
For a more physically miraculous example, in 2014, I was at Sat Nam Fest, a Kundalini yoga and music festival in the Joshua Tree desert in California. On the first day of five days camping, dancing, and practicing Kundalini yoga, I injured my toe. I snagged my baby toe on a rock, splitting the tip in half and causing it to bleed. I was crestfallen, wondering how I would walk around in sandals in the desert for four more days and do yoga every day with a split toe. I wrapped it in a napkin and went into the sanctuary for a special workshop with the famous duo Guru Prem and Simrit Kaur Khalsa, whose albums we play in class. I sat for 15 minutes before class and sent all my energy to my toe, knowing that I needed to heal it completely then, and thinking at least it’s a Kundalini festival and we won’t be doing sun salutations and jumping on our toes… Of course, that was the one workshop of the festival that we did do sun salutes with planks and down-dogs.
By the time I left that workshop, the napkin had fallen off, and I had forgotten the injury even happened. When I remembered and looked at my toe, the wound had closed up and didn’t even hurt. I’ve had many other miraculous healings and unexplainable psychic phenomena during Reiki sessions as well, but I’ll save those for another time. 🙂
How do you incorporate multicultural elements into your sound healing and kirtan concerts, and why is this diversity important to you?
I sometimes refer to my sound healing concerts as MMM, which stands for Multicultural Musical Meditation (also because that spiritual ecstasy is so yummy mmm 🙂 ). I am a Pantheist, which means I embrace and learn from every spiritual practice I come across that resonates with me.
I studied Asian Philosophies in college, which supplemented my 4 years of yoga courses with the teachings of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Jainism, and more. In 2009, I started taking workshops from a Medicine Man named Aster, Yewyn Draoi, and Iggy Garcia, who introduced me to a wealth of ceremonial medicine practices, sweat lodge ceremonies, cacao ceremonies, and Quechua chanting/prayer practices.
I believe that the same sun shines on all of us, whether we call it “the sun,” “Surya,” or “Sol.” Likewise, the divinity of the Universe shines through everyone and everything everywhere.
I lead people to open their hearts in devotional, meditational, and prayerful songs from Native American traditions, as well as both Eastern and Western spirituality. I’m particularly fond of songs that merge East & West like George Harrison did with Hallelujah/Hare Krishna.
I play acoustic guitar, flute, handpan, didgeridoo, singing bowls, and other cultural instruments during my gong baths, where I often sing Across the Universe by the Beatles, which includes a Sanskrit mantra.
In this way, I strive to bring people together in Universal love and harmony, breaking down the walls of illusion and separation created by political, ethnic, and historical boundaries.
How do you approach meditation consultation, and what benefits do you believe it offers to individuals seeking inner peace and clarity?
I frequently guide new clients through chakra balancing meditation to help them identify their needs. Despite learning about 100 different meditations, the first one I learned from Beaker in 2007 remains my favorite for its thoroughness, addressing all aspects of the body, mind, spirit, and human condition.
Over my 17 years of training and workshops, I’ve accumulated a wealth of techniques and information on various health and wellness topics. Owning Elevate Yoga & Healing Arts in Columbus from 2018-2020 allowed me to host regular Ayurveda workshops and deepen my knowledge of diet, nutrition, herbs, oils, and cleansing practices.
Many of my regular students have reported significant improvements in daily clarity, peace, energy levels, focus, and emotional stability.
As someone who creates sacred jewelry, how do you infuse your pieces with intention and meaning, and what role do they play in your practice and teachings?
One of my favorite workshops to lead involves chakra balancing meditation followed by creating malas and bracelets with beads that resonate with each participant. My love for gemstones dates back to childhood when I dreamed of becoming a geologist, fascinated by rocks and the Earth’s splendor. I particularly enjoy using fragrant sandalwood and Palo Santo beads. The affirmation, “My body is a temple,” resonates with me, and I adorn it accordingly. Whether addressing life’s needs or balancing chakras, stones, woods, and oils can assist us. Mala beads can be used for chanting prayers or mantras, aiding mental and emotional wellness. Stringing beads is a form of meditative art therapy for me, and I delight in sharing these intentional pieces with others. The vibrant colors of labradorite remind me of the miracles and majesty of a living Mother Earth. I always wear a variety of spiritual symbols, woods, and stones to remain connected, and I offer them to others to uplift them as well.
If you would like to find out more about Sada Nam Singh, please visit https://sadanamsingh.com/
