Melanie Paulk Abderrahman aka Mandeep, has been a teacher of yoga & meditation for over 20 years. Her applied Yogic Science wisdom and knowledge flows into all elements of how she lives her personal life as well. In these particularly challenging and dynamically changing times, she fully recognizes and teaches the relevance of the yogic ancient mystical arts and sciences into today’s societal global reset. Her classes and teaching curriculums are uniquely focused on how to effectively manage stress and mental dis-ease with meditation, breathing and mental focus along with physical components of a daily yoga practice. Her philosophy is if you’re breathing, have a mind and body, you can meditate and transform everything about yourself to a higher consciousness and self healing experience!
Reflection
On October 1st, 2020, A.P.E.X. Events welcomed yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda teacher, Mandeep Khalsa, to Southern Utah University. Due to a chronic, painful low back compression combined with an intense early onset of menopause, Mandeep began her career as a yoga instructor and since then, she has earned +1000 hours of Yoga, Meditation, and Sound Healing certifications and is registered with the International Kundalini Teachers Association, Yoga Alliance as well as the International Yoga Therapists Association. Joined onstage by A.P.E.X. Events director, Dr. Lynn Vartan, for an interview, Mandeep shared with the audience techniques and practices for meditation, wellness, and self-elevation and led the audience through a mindfulness relaxation practice.
Dr. Vartan began the hour with asking Mandeep about her background, to familiarize her with the audience a bit more. Mandeep notes the earlier parts of her life were crazy, but described herself as “a mother, a wife, a teacher, a woman, I’m a lot of different elements of being a human.” She went on to describe her experiences with stress and intense back pain until her friend asked her to come to yoga class with her; according to Mandeep, the experience was life-changing and she began her journey with yoga and meditation, leading her to where she is now. Dr. Vartan and Mandeep went on to discuss the science behind yoga and meditation, various breathing techniques to promote relaxation, and even leading the audience through a brief meditation practice using the word “ong” as a mantra.
At the end of the meditation session, Mandeep further explained the importance of the particular meditation and how performing it properly can deeply relax and calm the person doing it. Dr. Vartan asked Mandeep for advice for those who struggle to stay still and wonder if they are doing it correctly; Mandeep recommended seeking authentic advice from Kundalini yoga resources online and even gave a shout out to two SUU professors who are both Kundalini certified. Dr. Vartan’s last question to Mandeep was advice she’d give to those starting out in yoga as well as things she wished she realized herself before starting: “Commitment is key. A consistent practice is very important, and to be relaxed about it. You don't have to be rigid about it, you don't have to force it, but you do need to be committed. Commitment is a way you build your caliber, and caliber is a very important part of who you are as far as how you move through challenges. Commitment equals excellence.”
