IKEA Employee is sharing her passion for Meditation @ IKEA Burlington’s Staff meetings

Colleen‘s Passion for Sahaja Yoga Meditation and its Benefits

Colleen - IKEA employee and Ioana - sahaja yoga meditation volunteer instructor

“I’ve worked at Ikea for  a long long time, and I’ve been practicing Sahaja Yoga for 3 years now.  I feel very honored to have been asked to introduce meditation to our staff meetings. For instance in one of those ‘Voice’  meetings, about 50-60 coworkers, from other departments of the store have tried with me this form of  wellness practice.  Actually to my surprise, my manager has sent out emails around to other managers from other departments, as she recommended me to do a meditation session  at the end of their meetings.  For example,one weekend (at work), I had been asked to contribute with 2 such sessions and I felt really good about this, it *felt right*.
 
They both went very well. I realized that all I had learnt at Burlington public weekly sahaja yoga meditation classes, I was able to apply efficiently for the specific concerns for our team at work: focus on the heart chakra , then the nabhi chakra and swadhistahana chakra. Even though it was a very simple meditation,  I put the attention on the center heart because I was feeling it blocked. We had awakened the qualities of self respect, forgiveness and then asked for self-realization.  Sat in mental silence for a couple of minutes.  About fifteen minutes in total.  Of course, the groups varied in age and attitudes too. It was really great to see the interest and I am glad to say that few of my co-workers had actually used the information/website contact that i had provided and they’ve started coming the public weekly classes in Halton area.
 
Since then, I ended up to introduce this beneficial practice for one’s self realization to 3 departments this year and it has been all positive feedback.

 
At the end of each meditation I asked everyone to sit in silence and in a state of thoughtlessness awareness and to put some attention on their hands and see if they feel anything.  Once a young coworker asked me what it means if she felt coolness in the palms of her hands. I smiled and told her that is exactly where she is meant to be.  It was a great moment because she didn’t know what she was supposed to feel. *:) happy    Other people felt tingling or pressure, some felt heat, and after ‘translating’ what those sensations were trying to tell about one’s own energy centers, for each case it was clear that the sensations were meaningful and helpful!
 
I only had about 15 min. for each meditation so there wasn’t time for much in depth explanation about Sahaja Yoga meditation; just time for quieting the mind, relax and experience of energy awakening that is called as self-realization experiment. My experience after all these sessions was that most participants thanked me and said they really enjoyed it.  I was sitting at the employee entrance so they all walked past me as they left.  Over all it feels like it went really well.

 So now I guess we’ll wait and see what happens next.  It feels like it’s starting to pick up interest and this will only improve the lives of people that I know work with and care for after being for so many years in IKEA Burlington family!
 
I am hoping that maybe we can have a class for Ikea employees in the future sometime, or even a class available at Ikea for customers, wouldn’t that be awesome!! I also take time to thank you for helping me to learn how to help me first, so now I can help others!”

Colleen’s Journey with Sahaja Yoga Meditation

 

This Post Has 9 Comments

  1. SILVANA

    Super Gratuliere Super !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. Kruti

    Great work colleen. We are all so proud of you. It takes a great courage to introduce a meditation technique to your workplace, and you did it, not once, twice, but more times. Amazing.

  3. paula

    Colleen your story can only inspire all Ikeas to jump on board! It only took your spark,to get the fire going! Your growth, your depth in Sahaja yoga, has made you positively magnetic. You are glowing and emitting the light of the spirit. You have a knack for simplifying this meditation practice and you know how to present it with confidence to absolutely new people of all walks of life. May the force be with you!

  4. Karen

    Colleen that was a wonderful story….feel the vibrations!!!!

  5. Sam

    So amazing! I’ve watched this incredible story unfold over the last… Well many years really, my whole life I could say- and what a journey it’s been, it’s been so amazing to see how everything comes together to create this and these incredible opportunities to bring such a great thing as Sahaja Yoga into a great place like Ikea. Here’s to continued meditations at Ikea’s in Burlington and someday, across the world!

    So proud of you mom!

  6. Rusty

    I am glad you finally found what you truly believe you have been searching for, many will benefit from your journey as you share your passion. Good luck always in your adventures.

    I am also very proud of you Colleen
    love you always

  7. Tracy

    Tremendous initiative! It is delightful to read about bringing Sahaja Meditation to new places of work. Best wishes for continued Sahaja Meditation opportunities at IKEA and for improved well-being of corporate culture worldwide!!

  8. Shulin

    It’s always a thrill for us to hear about all the amazing workshops that was brought to IKEA by aunty Colleen! And I really think it’s not a bad idea for IKEA to have a room for meditation 😉

  9. Sahaj

    The greatest joy is to give the peace you have and it’s mysterious that by giving it never ends but certainly multiplies itself. Great work Colleen you are a great example I can follow.

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