In our fast-paced world, time is our most precious commodity. In her book, The 13th Month, Gurutej Khalsa reveals strategies to reclaim time and live more fully. We sit down with Gurutej to learn how managing energy and practicing Kundalini techniques can seemingly add more hours to each day. In her book, The Moon She Rocks You, Gurutej Khalsa delves into the moon’s impact on women’s emotions and energy cycles. As a master of Kundalini Yoga, she offers unique insights into how the moon’s phases influence emotional well-being. Join us as Gurutej discusses the secrets of harnessing lunar energy, the power of women’s inner rhythms, and how understanding these cycles can lead to a more balanced and empowered life. Join Mystic Mag to read more.
You’ve been a Kundalini Yoga Master for over 50 years. What initially drew you to Kundalini Yoga, and how has your relationship with the practice evolved over the decades?
What initially drew me was a very strong sense of connection. I grew up Catholic, and we went to mass every day until I was in college. Once I got to college, I explored Transcendental Meditation (TM),Self Realization and then other self-discovery practices. I was really searching for something that would incorporate the body in the journey to the divine, rather than separating the body and spirit as “bad body, good spirit.”
At the time, it wasn’t like it is now, where there’s Ashtanga on one corner and Vinyasa on another, or even in the same studio. I met a young man who fell in love with my roommate and dear friend, who had transferred universities with me. He was smart enough to realize that if he invited her to dinner, he’d have to invite me as well. He made dinner for us in college, which was almost unheard of, right? It was delicious, and he had so much fun cooking it. He then mentioned that he was a vegetarian. I asked, “What does that mean?” He explained it to me, and I was immediately intrigued, thinking saying, “Sign me up!”
He thought I was such an easy convert that he told me he was doing yoga and showed, and also showed me the one yoga book that was on the market at the time. This was 1969, and he practiced yoga in a small closet space. I loved the concept of yoga, but I didn’t want to learn it from a book. Around that time, I was taking a speech class, and the teacher assigned us to give a speech on something we were interested in but know nothing knew little about. I thought, “Yoga. OK!”
So, I went to the University of Arizona library, and I couldn’t check out any books—they were all manuscripts. I had to stay in the library and read them there. I remember seeing pictures of these really lean men with bright eyes wearing what looked like diapers—no women to be seen anywhere! I read about yoga and its focus on uniting the mind and body through various practices. I saw them doing poses that I could already do, like putting my leg behind my head. I thought, “I can do this,” believing that yoga was mainly about the poses. I would later learn that yoga was so much more than that.
After I gave my speech, people came up to me and asked, “Where can we do this thing called yoga?” I said I had no idea! Then, one day, someone mentioned that there was yoga happening in the park. I went, and I immediately fell in love—with how I felt, the breathing, the chanting—everything. I started attending every day, sometimes even twice a day. It became a love affair that grew from there.
Then, it was like a series of opportunities presenting themselves. “We’re having a big celebration for the summer solstice. Do you want to go?” And my answer was always, “Yes!” That’s really how I got into it—by just saying yes. But the desire was always there. Even as a child, I would spend my money on 3-foot-high statues of my favorite saints, like Mary, and read books about different saints, such as Father Damien, who worked with lepers. My interests were a blend of Nancy Drew and the saints—those were my inspirations.
You’re known as the “Energy Guru.” How do you define energy in the context of your teachings, and how can individuals begin to harness their own energy for personal empowerment?
We talk about energy all the time, and most people think of things like wind, solar power, gasoline, and similar sources. But we rarely consider our own energy. And when we do, we often reach for something like Red Bull, Rockstar, sugar, or something else to give us that energy boost, instead of realizing that we can regulate our own energy states naturally. We can regulate it through what we eat, how we eat, how we breathe, how we move—essentially, through various practices. It’s not just one thing.
When I worked with businesses, they often said, “Oh my God, we feel so good after you’ve worked with us. If only you could stay with us all the time!” So, I created a series of videos and developed small energy charts with one- to three-minute exercises that people can do throughout the day. Everyone’s day has challenges—they may be small challenges or huge ones—but the question is: how do we regain our balance? So many things can make us feel off, scattered, or pulled in multiple directions. That’s why I created these tools.
One really simple technique is called “break breath” or “segmented breath,” which is meant to break up feelings of overwhelm. There are different variations: two-part breath, four-part breath, sixteen-part breath, even twenty-two-part breath—there are countless types. But I want to focus on a very simple four-part breath.
The beauty of this technique is that if you get into your breathing and give yourself just three minutes, you’ll notice a significant difference. Think about how much time we waste on social media and other distractions—three minutes is nothing! People often react by saying, “Three minutes? Really?” But trust me, if you take three-minute breaks three or four times a day, you’ll have a completely different experience of your day.
Why? Because scientists have shown that we cannot concentrate effectively for more than 60 minutes at a time. So, set an alarm on your computer, and at the end of 60 minutes, do something that will change your energetic state. It will help you come back to your work with a clear mind and renewed energy. If you just keep pushing through, it doesn’t get easier or more productive; you just end up more drained. But if you step away and do something to shift your energy, you can return with a fresh perspective and more clarity.
Now, let’s try the four-part breath for a couple of minutes. When you’re stressed, you’re not breathing deeply; it becomes shallow and rapid. When someone says, “Take a deep breath,” it can feel like a struggle, right? So, let’s start by placing your hands on your abdominal area and trying to breathe into your hands, letting your breath expand your lower abdomen. Feel your ribs expanding on the inhale, and on the exhale, feel everything compress and empty out, releasing the tension and stress.
Once you get the hang of it, you can close your eyes. We’re going to inhale in four parts, like this: inhale-inhale-inhale-inhale, and then exhale in 4 parts. Keep your shoulders and upper chest relaxed; the movement should come from your core. Inhale again: inhale-inhale-inhale-inhale, and exhale. Do this for 2-3 minutes and promise you will have much more clear energy. Now, place your hands over your heart, and as you inhale breathe, gently squeeze your pelvic floor muscles and sex organs. Keep your eyes closed and focus on the sensation as your held breathe. Hold as long as you can. Exhale slowly.
This practice is so simple yet effective. It’s like taking mini short breaths to go deeper, breaking up all the tension and pressure that builds up during the day.
On my website, I have 18 exercises for rejuvenation and 18 for release. Release is just as important as rejuvenation because sometimes we need to let go of what’s weighing us down. You can change your energetic state on your own without relying on external factors. We often think we need drugs, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, sex, or food to change our state. And usually, when we turn to food for a quick fix, it’s not the healthiest choice—we reach for ice cream, chips, and other comfort foods.
But by practicing these breathing techniques, you can take control of your energy and shift it naturally.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer courses, including several online ones, and one that I believe could really benefit people right now is called Your True Success. This course focuses on the idea that your success doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Often, society gives us a predefined notion of success, which is usually centered around financial achievements or being the greatest in your industry—the “GOAT,” as people say. But instead, what about your soul’s success?
I recently came across a beautiful quote by Rumi that resonated deeply: “You can be in charge of the world and not be happy or content. But if you are in charge of yourself, you will be.” This emphasizes the importance of understanding what success truly means to you, right now—not yesterday’s definition or the idealized version you hope for in a couple of years, but what it means in the present moment.
My course provides tools to help you embody this authentic version of success so that you can go out into the world and share your unique gifts. To me, our gifts are the channels through which we open up to the divine and allow its energy to flow through us most powerfully. When we speak of “my gifts,” it’s not really our gifts—it’s our ability to open ourselves up and let the divine work through us.
In your book The Moon She Rocks You, you explore the impact of lunar cycles on women’s emotions. Could you share some insights into how women can work in harmony with these cycles?
I have four books and probably five or six online courses. I also have energy charts that you can download and keep on your computer. These charts are available for just $15.00 each, making them an accessible resource to use throughout your day. My offerings range from $15.00 and up, depending on what you’re looking for.
I also work with people privately, allowing the divine to flow through me to support them in whatever situation they’re facing, whether it’s personal, relational, or business-related. I offer certification courses, as well as a six-week program, covering various topics to help people deepen their understanding and transformation.
A key focus in my work is understanding how women’s energy is influenced by the moon, while those in male bodies are primarily influenced by the sun. The sun’s cycle changes every 28 days, but the moon changes every 2 1/2 days, which is why women tend to experience more frequent shifts in emotions and energy.
Women’s bodies are governed by 11 Moon Centers: hairline, eyebrows, cheeks, lips, earlobes, nape of the neck, breasts, navel, inner thighs, clitoris, and the membranes of the vagina. Each center has a positive, neutral, and challenged state. In my book, I provide tools to help women move from a challenged state back into a positive or neutral one, because each of these Moon Centers has its own unique gifts.
I can’t cover all the Moon Centers in the limited time we have, but I’ll share an example. The hairline is associated with intuition and the ability to download insights. When you are not in a positive or neutral state here, you may feel paranoid, as paranoia is simply a lack of intuition. It’s about trusting yourself and what you know, rather than second-guessing.
Knowing the nature of these Moon Centers and how to shift your energy can be invaluable. It’s like having a treasure map to your being, allowing you to access your unique gifts as you move through each phase. For example, when the moon is in your lips, it’s an ideal time to speak and inspire others, whether it’s giving a lecture, participating in a summit, or expressing yourself authentically. In the challenged state, however, you might feel like you have nothing meaningful to say, or that everything coming out of your mouth sounds snarky or harsh.
As women, we are naturally more emotionally dynamic than men, but understanding these Moon Centers can help you navigate your emotions, rather than being controlled by them. When you know which Moon Center you’re in, you can recognize that you’re not “crazy” — you’re just experiencing the challenging aspect of a specific Moon Center. For example, if you’re in the challenged state, you might feel exhausted because you’ve been over-giving. Recognizing this allows you to take steps to restore your energy and move back into an empowered state.
The spiritual journey can be deeply personal. How do you support people in awakening their spirit while still honoring their individual path and experiences?
That isn’t a problem for me at all because I grew up Catholic. I’ve explored several spiritual paths since then. My husband, for example, comes from a completely different spiritual background. He studied with a Jewish Mystic teacher and Lakota Native Americans. So, I have a broad and diverse background, and I am not limited by the idea that there is only one way. The true path to your spirit is finding the tools that help you connect more deeply to your essence. That is the gift I can help you discover.
Each path is just one pathway among many. Ultimately, they all lead to the same destination. I believe that even scientists who delve deeply into their studies have a similar experience when they explore the unknown, almost like diving into a black hole. There is something mystical about being open to the journey, having tools at your disposal, and understanding that there is no “wrong” path—only the opportunity to expand your awareness.
There’s a beautiful saying: “Your path is sharper than a dagger’s edge and finer than a hair’s breadth,” which means that spiritual paths are not wide, obvious, or easy. I always tell my students that, when starting on a spiritual path, it can feel incredibly exhilarating at first—you may have visions and profound experiences that feel wonderful. But then, all of a sudden, it’s like you’re being asked to “pick up your shovel and dig.”
When you reach that stage, having support is crucial because that’s where many people struggle and fall off the path. That’s why it’s often described as narrow—because it’s in those challenging moments, when you hit the hard places, that it’s so easy to give up.
Now is your time to expand not give up yes? Blessings
