Our Staff and Board
3HO International is passionate about our diverse, inclusive, welcoming, and equitable working environment
We believe each member of our team enriches our diversity by exposing us to a broad range of ways to understand and engage with the world. We honor our staff and board for their experiences, perspectives, and unique identities.
Our Staff
Nam Kaur Khalsa
Interim CEO
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: Santa Barbara, California, USA
Languages: English
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Nam Kaur served as the founding Executive Director of IKYTA in 1994 and was CEO of KRI for 15 years. With Yogi Bhajan’s guidance she developed the international standard for Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training and produced the Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Aquarian Teacher Textbook.
Nam Kaur has been a student of Kundalini Yoga since 1973 and is a KRI Certified Professional Teacher Trainer. She is the author of Divine Relationships, and she edited and self-published Dr. Siri Atma’s books, Waves of Healing and Kundalini Yoga for Intuition & Destiny. Nam Kaur and her husband taught in the Master’s Touch Immersions with Yogi Bhajan, and enjoy teaching at Yoga Festivals and Teacher Training programs worldwide.
Merle Wallace
Chief Financial Officer
Pronouns: he/him/his
Location: Santa Clara, New Mexico, USA
Languages: English
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Merle Wallace is a dedicated and accomplished financial professional, serving as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for 3HO and is our longest standing staff member, having served under five different CEO’s over 18 years. With a passion for financial details and a heart for philanthropy, Merle plays a key role in ensuring the financial stability and strategic growth of the organization. He lives in Santa Clara Pueblo with his family when he is not busy balancing 3HO’s budget and bringing new perspectives and wisdom to the 3HO community.
Guru Tera Kaur
Web Editor
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: Espanola, New Mexico, USA
Languages: English
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Guru Tera generates and organizes web content and manages the Yogic Living newsletter. Formerly an Assistant Editor for Aquarian Times Magazine, she is a stickler for good old fashioned grammar and spelling. She took her first Kundalini Yoga class at Humboldt State College in California in 1972. She helped establish the Salt Lake City, UT Ashram and then became part of the Kundalini Yoga community in Seattle, WA. She has been living in Espanola, New Mexico since 1999.
Kirpal Kaur
Spiritual Names Administrator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Location: Española, New Mexico, USA
Languages: English
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Kirpal Kaur helps send out the Spiritual Names.
Guru Simran Kaur Khalsa
Copywriter
Location: Espanola, NM, USA
Languages: English
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SS Rupinder Kaur Khalsa is a Chilean-Canadian Sikh Dharma Minister, Professional Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainer specialised in yoga for women (based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan), Business and Marketing professional, Wife and Mother. She has worked for over 13 years in the nonprofit world in different capacities – as an Executive Director, Project Manager and in Marketing. She has served the global Sangat in many different capacities, one of them being representative for Sikh Dharma in interfaith projects and as a developer of several Kundalini Yoga programs and events aimed to support mental health and women who have suffered domestic abuse.
Guru Simran Kaur Khalsa fell in love with the 3HO lifestyle back in 1980. In those days one might be asked to teach one of the many classes that week even though you were quite green. You would be handed a set to teach and off you went with just enough faith to meet the challenge, lol. Along with her 40 plus years of teaching, she is also a coach who loves the entrepreneurial world as well as marketing. As a recent widow, she now plans to help other widows gain back their strength and resilience by sharing all her skills and knowledge that she has gained over the years.
She recently moved to Espanola, New Mexico from South Florida and as a Canadian she is more than happy to see the snow again. The past year has been full of challenges for her but still there is excitement towards the future and how she may serve all of you.
Our Board
OngKar Kaur Khalsa
Board Chair
Location: Nevada, USA
Languages: English
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OngKar was first introduced to 3HO at the age of 5 when her parents met Yogi Bhajan in 1969. She spent her formative years growing up in the ashram community in Denver, Colorado. She had a wide range of educational experiences, including attending school in India, 5 years at Catholic school, and finishing her formal education at New Mexico Military Institute. She attended summer and winter solstices from the very early years and spent every summer with Yogi Bhajan at the annual KWTC (Khalsa Women Training Camps) during the 1980s and 1990s. She was a Co-Director of the “KWTC Camp for Young Women” program for five years from 1992-1997. OngKar and her husband lived in the Northern Virginia Sangat for 34 years where they raised their two sons. She was an active leader in the local community, including serving as the Executive Secretary of the Administrative Council from 1998 to 2011 and serving on the SDVA Board from 2014 to 2020. She worked with her husband from 2002 to 2012 as Vice-President in their companies. OngKar served on the SDEI (Sikh Dharma Education International) board from 2007 to 2010. She began working for Sikh Dharma in 2012. She was the SDI Corporate Secretary from 2012 to 2023 and is currently the SDI Marketing Director. OngKar is grateful for being part of the 3HO community and feels blessed to have Yogi Bhajan as her Spiritual Teacher. Her goal in life is to share his teachings to inspire and uplift humanity.
Lakhmi Chand Singh Khalsa
Board Member
Location: San Diego, CA, USA
Languages: English
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Lakhmi Chand is a “2nd Generation” 3HO community member. His parents, who began their yogic practice in the 70s, shared the love and devotion of their practice with their children through daily Aquarian Sadhana. Lakhmi Chand is a graduate of Miri Piri Academy, in India, where he took teacher training in 1999.
In the 2000s living in Espanola, he attended Northern New Mexico College while working for Akal Security and Sikh Dharma. While in Espanola, Lakhmi Chand gained an appreciation for working at 3HO events beginning with Seva—selfless service—during the Summer Solstice celebrations. Having attended over 40 Solstices, he has served at everything from an Area Manager to Assistant to the Camp Director.
He lives in San Diego, California where in his spare time, enjoys teaching at Cosmic Flow, a local Kundalini studio.
Agya Akal Singh
Board Treasurer
Location: Viña Del Mar, Chile
Languages: Spanish & English
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Agya Akal Singh has been a dedicated practitioner of Sikhism and Kundalini Yoga since 2005, with a consistent commitment to Dharmic practices. His involvement with various spiritual organizations, such as “Breathe International,” “Guru Ram Das” Ashram in Viña del Mar, “Langar Viña,” and many others, is a reflection of his willingness to serve and contribute to the community, and his steady engagement with the teachings and the communal aspects of his spiritual path.
Professionally, Agya Akal Singh combines his spiritual dedication with a practical approach to business. With a background in civil engineering, he has taken on roles that required strategic oversight and effective decision-making, including positions as a marketing director and as the founder and CEO of a mining company, amongst others. His professional journey indicates a balance of industry knowledge and the capacity to lead teams and projects aiming for sustainable growth and operational efficiency.
Agya Akal Singh is happily married to Charansev Kaur Khalsa, with whom he has a beautiful son, Harprit Singh Khalsa.
He and his family share a deep feeling of gratitude to the Siri Singh Sahib, Harbhajan Singh Khalsa Yogi Ji, for bringing them to this sacred path. They have made it a life commitment to honor Him and continue sharing His Teachings, exactly as they were given to us, so that current and future generations may also have the blessings of experiencing them.
SS Rupinder Kaur Khalsa
Board Secretary
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Languages: English & Spanish
More info
SS Rupinder Kaur Khalsa is a Chilean-Canadian Sikh Dharma Minister, Professional Kundalini Yoga Teacher Trainer specialised in yoga for women (based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan), Business and Marketing professional, Wife and Mother. She has worked for over 13 years in the nonprofit world in different capacities – as an Executive Director, Project Manager and in Marketing. She has served the global Sangat in many different capacities, one of them being representative for Sikh Dharma in interfaith projects and as a developer of several Kundalini Yoga programs and events aimed to support mental health and women who have suffered domestic abuse.