Rosalinde Heiml was born in 1963 in southern Germany. At 20, she moved to Italy to work. In 1985, at 22, she met Guru Meher Singh, the ashram leader in Rome, to become his yoga student.
In February 1986, Yogi Bhajan visited Rome and ordered her to come to the U.S. Despite her very limited English, and internal hesitation, she quit her job and left L.A. After two weeks in Los Angeles, she left for Ram Dass Puri and joined the Ladies' camp in New Mexico.
Back in Rome, she traveled with Guru Meher and his brother’s family to the European Yoga Festival in Loches, France. Afterwards, they got married and her name was changed to Guru Meher Kaur. As the ashram director’s wife in Rome, she was expected to embody the perfect Sikh woman, so in 1989, her husband sent her to the Hamburg Germany Ashram to be trained by Tarn Taran Kaur.
Just two years after the birth of her son they abruptly left 3HO in 1993. Guru Meher Singh continued to teach a KY hybrid style of yoga in Italy, and became a sort of "Family Guru”. She gave birth to her daughter in 1995 and nine years later in 2011, she finally divorced. With professional support from trauma therapists affiliated with anti-violence centers in Munich and Venice, she began her journey toward freedom and self-discovery..
In June 2024, after reading Under the Yoga Mat, she contacted Els Coenen and started sharing her story of abuse. This helped her prepare for this interview.
Rosalinde is currently involved in legal cases to regain her freedom and achieve peace. These days, she rents out a studio to tourists in Venice, which brings her great satisfaction. She hopes to keep pursuing her passions, especially arts and design, and maybe write a book.
Song: Joan Baez Donna Donna
Spotify Playlist: Uncomfortable Conversations 3HO Playlist:
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Resources mentioned in this episode:
Conversations You Can Feel: www.gurunischan.substack.com
https://abuse-in-kundalini-yoga.com/
Under the Yoga Mat: The Dark History of Kundalini Yoga
The Cultish Nature of Kundalini Yoga
The Banality of Evil: Hannah Arendt and the Final Solution
Palestinian solidarity and resource links:
https://bdsmovement.net/campaigns
https://electronicintifada.net/
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Illan Pappe
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi
@eyeonpalestine
https://sumudpod.com/
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GuruNischan is a writer, pleasure activist, and consultant for high achievers in transitions after loss. To learn more about her inner reinvention work, you can join her Inner Orbit Monthly and subscribe to GuruNischan.com to stay connected.
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