Kirtan

Happy Sunday, everyone!


Thanks to everyone for coming to the Glowing Body's customer appreciation party last night, it was great to see all you beautiful yogis outside the classroom! Also, a BIG thanks to Tammy Kaousias, Jen Coffin, Ajeet Khalsa, and the rest of the Glowing Body staff for such a great party!

The wine, yogi tea, and desserts were wonderful... but my favorite part? Kirtan, of course!
For those who are unfamiliar with the practice, Kirtan is a tradition from Bhakti yoga, one of the eight limbs of yoga.  Bhakti means "devotion" or "love" and contains different practices to unify the Bhakti yoga practitioner (bhakta) with the Divine.  The practice of Kirtan dates back to ancient India where people would gather in the streets praising deities and losing themselves in a state of bliss.  Kirtan is call and response chanting using the vibrational language of Sanskrit to "purify the mind, open the heart, and awaken the soul". 

What draws me in to Kirtan is the sense of community and connection I feel with myself, others, and the world around me.  The first Kirtan I attended was during my teacher training at the Glowing Body.  Being the third weekend to meet, I was reserved about fully opening my heart and mind to the practice in front of a group of people I just met- it seemed too vulnerable.  However, once the music began it allowed us to all shed our masks and just be.  That continues to be my experience with Kirtan and the reason why I love it so much-you see every individual's personal experience with the chant as well as their contribution to the powerful group energy in the room.  It provides a platform to say "here I am! here we are!", as well as an opportunity to fully realize the deep connections between yourself, others and the Divine.

Here is a link to one of my favorites... enjoy! Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu