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Sat Nam Yoga Studio is a Community for Healing and Growth

Aug 26, 2015 ● By Carrie Jackson

While there is no shortage of yoga studios in the Chicagoland area, few of them offer as full a menu of events, workshops, healing services and comprehensive support to their students like Sat Nam Yoga Chicago, in the West Loop. Karampal Kaur, co-founder, director, yoga teacher and meditation leader considers the staff, volunteers, students and clients as part of one big family. “Our mission is to encourage people to expand, to have their own authentic experience, to learn and laugh and do it all in a knowledgeable, soulful, supportive community,” she says.

Kaur, who has a background in management, has always enjoyed connecting with her community, but never saw herself opening a yoga studio. After taking a kundalini teacher certification course at an ashram in New Mexico, however, she felt an urge to serve people in a different way, and in 2010 opened Sat Nam Yoga in a single 750-square-foot room. Five years later, the studio has three practice rooms, a spirit boutique and rooms for healing services in a 2,200-square-foot space. “It wasn’t a decision to open a studio, but rather an evolvement. I really had no choice. My practice of kundalini yoga, as taught by my teacher, Yogi Bhajan, has changed me for the better and transformed my thought patterns. It has taught me how to fully love myself and has given me the courage to take control of my life and be of service, besides improving my physical and mental health immensely,” says Kaur. 

Karampal Kaur
Karampal Kaur

Sat Nam offers a wide variety of yoga classes, including Kundalini, Vinyasa Flow, Mindful Vinyasa, Qigong, Hatha, Tween Girls Yoga and a Yin class that includes a personal Reiki treatment. What really makes Sat Nam stand out is their unique events. “Our workshops and events are a great opportunity to share in practices that are not widely taught in depth, including Akashic records, Reiki certifications, sound healing, gong journeys and art therapy,” says Kaur.

Once a month, they offer a Community Healing Circle, which includes a vegetarian-friendly potluck, a sound healing kirtan room and 10-minute gong integration. Practitioners offer 15-to-30-minute sessions on a range of healing practices such as light therapy, crystal therapy, shamanic and tarot readings, chakra balancing, cupping, acupuncture and Thai body work.

Events like Full Moon Fire Ceremony with Live Music and New Moon, New Beginnings Gong Journey with Reiki Healers are favorites. “Most of us live our lives so disconnected from the Earth and devoid of any kind of ritual that creates the space for us to connect,” says Kaur. “The new moon and full moon provide us with opportunities to carve out time in our lives for the sacred space needed to take care of ourselves. It’s essential.”

​Kaur encourages the Sat Nam Yoga community to take an active role in their own health and well-being. Besides a yoga class for tweens, they have students ranging in age from 20 to 75 years old. “It’s a joy to see how alike we really are,” says Kaur. “Sat Nam Yoga Chicago is for anyone who is curious about the benefits of yoga and meditation and how they may fit in their own lives, as well as anyone who would like more information on physical and mental preservation.”

Sat Nam Yoga is run largely by volunteers. The practice of seva, or selfless service, is a huge part of what they believe. “We teach people how to create more space within for living passionate, healthy and happy lives, all while being supported by a community of people who are shifting, recreating and loving,” says Kaur.

Sat Nam Yoga Chicago is located at 1304 W. Washington Blvd., in Chicago. For more information, call 312-818-5791, email Info@SatNamYogaChicago or visit SatNamYogaChicago.com

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings Chicago, and the chair of recruitment for the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Connect at
CarrieJacksonWrites.com.

 


Sat Nam is hosting it’s 3rd Annual Yogathon Open House Saturday, September 19th from 9:30am to 4:00pm. The Sat Nam Yogathon features 13 classes stretching across 8 disciplines, Reiki Healing, Tarot Readings and more, all for free! It’s the perfect opportunity to experience the diversity of Sat Nam Yoga’s yoga styles and healing services, while mingling with its vibrant and growing community. Each class has been condensed to 45 minutes to make it possible for you try out as many classes as your heart desires. Whether you’re just getting into yoga, or a seasoned practitioner, the Sat Nam Yogathon has something for you. Create the inner harmony you’ve been looking for.