Join Nina Rao for this transformational offering where you will learn traditional ancient chants:

Feb 12: Veda Chanting for Clarity
Nina will share her practice of chanting of the profound Gāyatrī mantra as she has learned in the ancient continuing lineage of her teacher from South India. We will learn the pronunciation, intonation, and practice japa (repetition) of this powerful mantra. Bring your mala. This practice will be in traditional recitation form without musical accompaniment. No experience is necessary.

Feb 13: Prayer to the Goddess:
Through music and mantra, we will invoke the divine in her feminine form as the Great Mother by singing traditional prayers and kirtan. Nina will share stories from her guru Sri Siddhi Ma. No experience is necessary.

Feb 14: Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa:
The Hanuman Chalisa is a sacred 40-verse devotional hymn recited for hundreds of years in India to the Hindu monkey god Hanuman. Together we will chant the Chalisa along with musical accompaniment and discover how this ancient practice is still relevant to us today.

Offered as three afternoon workshops and two satsangs (subject to change).

Schedule:

Wednesday

12:00–1:30pm Workshop
Evening satsang concert

Thursday
12:00–1:30pm Workshop
Evening satsang concert

Friday
12:00–1:30pm Workshop

This program will be followed by a three-day event The Yoga of Chant with Krishna Das. We invite you to stay for both!

The presentations associated with this Yoga Vacation Program begin with an 90-minute noon workshop on the first day of the program and conclude with an 90-minute noon workshop on the last day of the program.  Click here to read more about the Yoga Vacation Program details and view the ashram schedule for yoga classes and meals during your stay. We suggest you arrive at least one day prior to the start of your program for the optimal experience.

What is kirtan?

What is kirtan? Kirtan is derived from the Sanskrit root meaning to call, recite, praise, or glorify. Put simply, it is the act of praising and glorifying some form of divinity. Kirtan involves joyous chanting often performed in a community environment with the accompaniment of instruments such as the harmonium, tabla, and cymbals.

The resurgence of kirtan in the 20th century in the East coincided with a renewed zeal or focus being placed on Bhakti yoga, the yoga of self-surrender and devotion. Swami Sivananda, one of India’s modern sages, did much to reignite the fire of kirtan in India by going from town to town and vigorously leading the entire town’s population into chants that lasted days. Since the mid-20th century, kirtan and the chanting of mantras has found its way to the West. Many find the chanting of mantras appealing because it doesn’t require intense focus and is often done in a collective environment that is supportive and uplifting.

What are the benefits of kirtan?

Chanting mantra has been shown to reduce anxiety, depression, dependencies and many mental ailments. The Alzheimer’s Research & Prevention Foundation recommends the chant Saa Taa Naa Maa for improving memory, developing greater attention, concentration, and focus, and bettering the mood. Other research studies also showcase the benefit of chanting for chronic pain conditions.

The practice of kirtan or chanting mantra regularly has been shown to bring our bodies back into balance, promoting holistic wellbeing: mental, intellectual, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Chanting helps us regulate our sleep, energy input and output, and, thanks to the stimulation of the vagus nerve, the “rest and digest” response of our bodies which is also responsible for regulating breathing, heart rate, muscles, digestion, circulation, and even the vocal cords. Simply put, chanting helps slow down the heart rate, lower blood pressure, relax different muscles and produce slow, regular, and deep respiration.