Jai Uttal

Bhakti Yoga is the path of personal relationship with Spirit, with God, with Goddess; a relationship that includes all the flavors and moods of the human heart. In the journey of Bhakti our emotions become the fuel to reconnect us with the Divine and to find healing and wholeness within us. Through singing Kirtan we explore, express and share the deepest caverns of our souls and ultimately find the eternal spring of love.

For everyone who loves and practices Kirtan; or chanting the ecstatic songs of ancient India, Jai will share and demystify some of their secrets particularly the 'fact' that with just a little understanding of music and rhythm and a lot of self acceptance we all can sing and lead and share our hearts with others. The practice of chanting, itself, can become our teacher, guiding us home.

Jai Uttal, a sacred music composer, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, and ecstatic vocalist, combines influences from India with influences from American rock and jazz, creating a stimulating and exotic multi-cultural fusion that is truly world spirit music. Having traveled extensively in India, where he met many beautiful saints and singers, Bhakti yoga became his personal path. Jai has been leading kirtans around the world for more than 30 years, creating a safe environment for people to open their hearts and voices. His new album “Kirtan Kids” was just released by Sounds True. www.jaiuttal.com

H.H. Pujiya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji Maharaj

Pujya Swamiji is the president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh (Himalayas), India, one of the largest spiritual institutions in India to which tens of thousands of people from every country, every culture and every walk of life flock for inspiration, peace, and divine connection. He is also the founder/chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation, an international non-profit humanitarian organization running a wide variety of free schools, orphanages, medical clinics and women's empowerment programs. He is also the founder of Ganga Action Parivar, a world-wide family of scientists, environmentalists and activists working to preserve and protect the sacred Ganges River. Having spent his youth in silence, meditation, yoga and intense austerities in the Himalayan jungles and forests, Pujya Swamiji is one of India's most revered and beloved spiritual leaders.

Ram Dass

Ram Dass first went to India in 1967. He was still Dr. Richard Alpert, an already eminent Harvard psychologist and psychedelic pioneer with Dr. Timothy Leary. He had continued his psychedelic research until that fateful Eastern trip in 1967, when he traveled to India. In India, he met his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, affectionatelyknown as Maharajji, who gave Ram Dass his name, which means "servant of God." Everything changed then - his intense dharmic life started, and he became a pivotal influence on a culture that has reverberated with the words "Be Here Now" ever since. Ram Dass's spirit has been a guiding light for three generations, carrying along millions on the journey, helping free them from their bonds as he has worked his way through his own.

David Newman (Durga Das)

Sages and seers have always known that Love is the master key to happiness. Through the ages, the practice of Bhakti Yoga evolved to help seekers embody that Love and access the wisdom of the heart. Join us for a joy filled and inspirational blend of heart opening Bhakti Yoga teachings and Kirtan.

David Haberman

Who is the supreme Beloved, and how does the ultimate romance occur? This presentation will explore the teaching of the yogic path to the divine love affair expressed in the Bhagavad Gita. This mystical teaching is an essential dimension of the Gita that is very often missed in available English translations of this well-known text.

David Haberman is a professor of Hinduism in the Department of Religious Studies at Indiana University. He has spent several decades studying the bhakti traditions of Braj, the region of India most associated with Radha and Krishna. As a translator of Sanskrit texts, he has a special fondness for teaching the Bhagavad Gita.

Hari-kirtana Das

The Yoga Sutras describe yoga as a science of self-realization, a moral philosophy, and a psychosomatic process for the elevation of consciousness. In this workshop we’ll explore the sutras that focus on the devotional aspects of yoga, talk about what it means to be a person in relationship to the Supreme Person, and discuss why Patanjali characterizes submission to the Supreme Person as samadhi-siddhi: the ultimate state of meditative absorption.

Hari-kirtana Das is a life-long student of yoga practice and philosophy. Based in Washington DC, he currently teaches classes and workshops, leads kirtans and retreats, and participates in Yoga Teacher Training programs throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

Dr. Manoj & Jyothi Chalam

Using statues to illustrate, Manoj will relate the symbolism of these deities to archetypes within us. Through their myths, we'll uncover hidden symbolisms and learn the four ways to work with them as part of your spiritual practice. Manoj will help you to find your personal archetype or Ishtadevata. Discover how working with your archetypes can profoundly shift you, especially during moments of life transitions, and how these ancient teachings have practical relevance to your life, bringing peace of mind and uncovering our underlying common spirit.

We will explore the spiritual meaning and significance of chanting through both Vedic chants and Kirtans.

Jerry Landau

Whether the intention of our yoga practice is to transform physically, emotionally, or spiritually, we can use the diagnostic models of ayurveda to choose what to pull out of our yoga toolbox. Moving beyond asana, we will discuss how to integrate pranayama, meditation, chanting, mudra, nyasa, and ritual to optimize the results of practice. This class will include discussion with some practice.

Darlene Vander Hoop

Yin Yoga postures guided with skill, humor, intelligence, and home-made aerosols of pure therapeutic grade Essential Oils, all take participants on a journey “inward” and into the Present Moment … Dar has created blissful states leading people through Classic Yin postures, slowly opening heart, shoulders, hips, feet, ribs … until light, space, and breath replace everyday physical and mental tightness. Enhanced with scents of earth, a world music playlist, and 34 years of teaching experience, Dar creates a space of acceptance and clear observation of “what is.” Be Prepared to BlissOut!

Dar Vander Hoop has been a teacher and student of yoga studies for 35 years, and has taught nationally and internationally; Vinyasa Flow, hot Bikram, Yin, Chakra workshops, aroma yoga, teacher trainings, and a student of aromatherapy for 7 years. Humor, wisdom, compassion, knowledge, age, and colorful life adventures gives her teaching its unique depth. Aromayogascents.com Certifiedbikramyogateacher.com

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati grew up in a traditional upper class family in Los Angeles, California. Having graduated from Stanford University, she was completing her PhD in psychology when she came to India in 1996 as a tourist. Touched and transformed by the power and presence of the sacred Ganges, the Himalayas and Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, she stayed in India. She was ordained by Pujya Swamiji into the tradition of sanyas (renunciation) and she has lived for the last fifteen years at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, where she serves a wide variety of humanitarian projects, teaches meditation, gives spiritual discourses and question-answer sessions and counsels individuals and families. She also travels frequently with Pujya Swamiji throughout India and the world.

MaaShakti Das

Learn to deepen your Yoga practice by combining the use of sound and ancient mantra within your asana practice. Through the use of sound and Sanskrit mantra, the yogi learns to expand the exhalation of breath, increase their focus/concentration, and control their senses, resulting in natural flowing meditational states. Some asana (poses) will be practiced throughout the workshop. Maa will also lead participants through a short Kirtan and meditation.

Abby Bechek Hoot & Dave Tomaszewski

Explore traditional and timeless yoga techniques combined with modern philosophical wisdom to create a pragmatic and simple practice that you can do every day to live a more conscious, compassionate and vibrant life.

The wisdom of yoga is vast and deep. In this workshop we will attempt to elucidate the essence of the teachings from these ancient, mystic scientists and reveal very simple and practical practices that anyone can do. This is yoga for everybody, regardless of physical condition, age or religious background. We will explore the essence of ancient yoga philosophy and combine it with modern spiritual thought to rediscover our own vibrant, healthy and conscious life as it has been given to us. In addition to covering new philosophical ground, we will learn and practice simple yoga postures and flows to restore the body and allow us to feel more intimately connected to our self as well as the world around us. We will experience the beauty in the mundane. Everyday life will be transformed into sacredness.

Zach Leary (Ramana)

Zach Leary (Ramana) is a practitioner of Bhakti yoga as taught by his Guru Neem Karoli Baba. Through the practice of kirtan he has found keys that unlock doorways that allow the soul to experience it's true nature of being eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. In addition to Bhakti yoga, Zach has been influenced by many different methods and traditions ranging from trans-humanism, hatha yoga, Buddhism and psychology. But above all he believes first and foremost in his Guru's teaching that "love is the strongest medicine." 

The Hanuman Chalisa is a 40 verse Hindu prayer that sings the praises and glories of Hanuman who is the essence of love and devotion to God in the form of Ram. In this workshop, Zach will lead the group in the practice of singing this prayer while maintaining focus on service and devotion. Zach will also talk a little about what the Hanuman Chalisa means to him, the practice of Guru Kripa, and Bhakti.

Hand-outs with the transliteration of the words will be provided. 

Moses & Zeina

Join Moses and Zeina and Experience the great Freedom, Intimacy and magic of Mantra CHANTING.  Do you love to Chant? Are you Scared to chant? Are you curious? Do you want to have more freedom with your voice? Have you always wanted to be in the Band. If So then this Class is perfect for you. Come Celebrate and Activate with us.