‘Road to enlightenment’
Did you know that yoga can rescue victims of substance abuse? And that the first government-granted drug rehab program in the US in the 1970s using yoga and dietary techniques was set up by Kirantana “Kir” Khalsa, an accomplished musician, author, peacekeeper, healer and naturopathic medical doctor? He is the only student publicly recognized by Yogi Bhajan, the founder of Kundalini Yoga in the US, as a master of Kundalini-Laya yoga before his passing in 2004.
According to published sources, after Kir’s formative training years, he struck out on his own into private rehab work in the entertainment industry in Hollywood, and privately trained many colorful movie personalities.
“We are blessed to have him in the country for some time since most international teachers just come and go. A lot of people will benefit from his training considering he has extensive experience in handling persons with addictions and trauma,” says yoga practitioner Rosan Cruz.
According to Cruz, Kirantana used yoga and dietary techniques to rehab hard-core addicts and help PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) patients in Bosnia and Serbia during the war, working with severely traumatized war victims.
The guru will be holding an immersion program dubbed “A Road to Enlightenment” starting Nov. 11. (For inquiries, contact Pia Casequin at 0977-8262636.)
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Kirantana Khalsa has practiced and taught Kundalini-Laya yoga for over four decades. Early on, he shied away from teaching in yoga “studios” and instead chose to stretch the parameters of his craft in public service.
He was one of the early pioneers and teachers of “Yoga in Prison” for the California prison system, both juvenile and adult prisons. Later he became director of the first government-granted drug rehab program in the US using yoga and dietary techniques to rehab hard-core addicts. It became the most successful program in the country, based upon two-year follow-up statistics.
Always pushing the parameters of what could be done with yoga, he then served as a private contractor in Bosnia and Serbia with various UN organizations in the last years of the Bosnian war, working with severely traumatized war victims. It was here that he took his many years of experience and developed his unique style of Kundalini-Laya yoga with a focus on PTSD.
Upon his return to the US, he founded a retreat center in the swamps of Mississippi and rejoined his practice as a solitary Kalachakra monk to embody and work for world peace from the inner planes as taught to him by Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama) and the late Kyabje Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma lineage.
‘Veggie’ good!
I know of a significant number of friends who believe they’ve discovered the fountain of good health by turning vegetarian.
I also know of those who didn’t get by with a vegetarian diet, suffering some nutritional deficiencies despite supplements.
My own sister avoids red meat because of her animal welfare advocacy.
We are what we eat, and what we feel strongly about. Ultimately, we control what we eat and avoid, and go the way of our own brand of wellness.
But for those who want to try being vegetarian like heartthrob Rafael Rosell, take note of this vegfest.
To commemorate World Vegan Month, Vegans of Manila and Manila Vegans have come together to launch the Philippines’ first vegan festival called VegFest Pilipinas on Nov. 12 and 13 at Eastwood City in Libis, Quezon City. Another weekend festival will happen on Nov. 19 and 20 at Lucky Chinatown Mall in Binondo, Manila.
More than just a diet free from any animal products such as farm meats, fish and other sea animals, as well as animal by-products like dairy (eggs and honey), VegFest Pilipinas aims to spread awareness that veganism is a lifestyle that has tons of benefits to the body, the planet and the animals. Through the activities that are lined up, VegFest Pilipinas is set to show the Filipinos that going vegan is fun, easy and relevant.
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This year, VegFest Pilipinas highlights empowerment, awareness and compassion on the environment, as one of the many positive and direct effects of adopting a vegan diet and lifestyle. As climate change continues to worsen, the festival encourages the public to do their own share of saving and protecting the planet.
The festival will kick off at 6 a.m. on Nov. 12 with the start of the Gu Pru Fun Run, where vegans and non-vegans will run 1k, 3k or 5k at Eastwood Central Plaza. The festival will also feature a wide variety of vegan food, live music, talks, workshops and vegan-friendly vendors selling bags, shoes, household cleaners and other projects. It is open to the public with free entrance.
“Eastwood City is one of the public places in Manila that actively encourages mallgoers to bring their pets to the mall,” says Jaq Abergas, founder and head organizer of VegFest Pilipinas on why they chose Eastwood City as the venue of the festival. “They also encourage proper animal care by requiring the animals to have their regular shots. Eastwood City encourages the public to embrace the animals as part of the family.”
Abergas, who has been vegan for four years, explains that a change from animal-based lifestyle to plant-based makes a big difference. “A small change in our lifestyle makes a world of difference to our planet, to our body and to our animal friends.”
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The festival will be showcasing local independent vegan businesses that sell food, clothes, shoes, bags, and even hotel accommodations. In addition, people will also get a chance to join other activities such as fitness classes in VegMoves, cooking competition and baking workshops in Vegan Cookoff and Veg Workshops, celebrity talks on veganism and compassionate living on VegTalks, and so much more.
Celebrity and surfer Rafael Rosell, who has been vegan for about two years, came to the realization that he no longer wanted to harm anyone or anything for the benefit of his own appetite. “I tried it out for a week and my whole body and mind took a whole different turn in an awesome new direction,” Rosell says when asked about how his journey to a vegan lifestyle began. He adds, “More energy, enhanced libido and clearer thinking. I never had to take any supplements, be it vitamins or pharmaceuticals.”
Attending the weekend vegan festival will give you an insight on how a vegan lifestyle affects one’s overall health and wellness. Lifestyle medicine specialist Dr. Johann Kim Mañez shares results from Adventist Health Studies, “Those who were vegans lived longer than any other groups and had significantly less chronic diseases. They were living their best life ever, without worries of insulin injections, pills, dialysis or surgeries. It’s not just about longevity anymore. It’s about adding happiness to those extra years and enjoying life to the full, every moment of every day.”
A vegan since early 2011, Mañez stresses that one can be vegan and still be very unhealthy. “Optimal health is about consistently living and eating healthy...Many doctors would even advise against going vegan. (I) do not blame them because we were never taught much nutrition in medical school...We were trained to pass the role of advising nutrition to the nutritionists. When my patients ask me about sources of protein and if they should worry about getting enough of it, I simply point them to the humble water buffalo (that just eats grass). Where do they think the carabao gets all its protein to get big and muscular and strong? There are hundreds, if not thousands, or more bodybuilders worldwide who get their protein from purely plant sources. The only real deficiency anyone has to be worried about when going on a whole plant-based food (WPBF) diet is vitamin B-12, but that’s easy. Just pop a vegan Vitamin B-12 supplement every other day and you’re good to go.”
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To help achieve the goals of VegFest Pilipinas, 20 percent of the proceeds will go to two beneficiaries: CARA Welfare Philippines, a non-profit animal rescue group that rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes cats and dogs in need through adoption; as well as Science of Identity Foundation (SIFCare), a humanitarian organization working towards the development of enlightened, happy individuals and communities through environmental programs.
Abergas invites vegans and non-vegans to join the festival and discover more about veganism. “VegFest Pilipinas is for the moms who want to make healthy and conscious choices for their family. This is for the working and studying millennials who want to make an active change in their routines but don’t know where to start. This is for the foodies who want to explore meat-free and dairy-free offerings. This is for the animal lovers and tree huggers. This is for everyone who wants to make a difference,” she says.
(For more information about VegFest Pilipinas 2016 visit www.VegFestPilipinas.com and www.facebook.com/VegFestPilipinas.)
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