Live Streaming Satsangs from Sivananda, Bahamas

Carved Om on the beach at the Sivananda Ashram, Bahamas

Hello Yogis and Yoginis!

Head's up!  The Sivananda Yoga Retreat in the Bahamas is now live-streaming their morning and evening satsangs (and even some of their workshops) on Facebook!

I know it's not the same as being there with the sun on your skin and sand between your toes, but I feel like it's the next best thing, like somehow we have been blessed with a siddhi to transcend time and space!  And in case you can't catch the events in real-time, please note that you can watch the recordings at your convenience.

I'd like to bring your attention in particular to this workshop with Krishna Das from last weekend's Yoga of Chant Retreat.  I found the questions very timely, and the answers are truly beautiful. 

The ashram cat also makes a special appearance at a particularly poignant moment that you won't want to miss. 😉  Forget Netflix for a night.  Watch this instead.  I think you'll be glad you did.

Sivananda Yoga Retreat, Workshop with Krishna Das, Saturday, February 22, 2020

Happy Mahashivaratri 2020!

Om Namah Shivaya

Tonight many yogis will be fasting, keeping vigil, meditating and chanting all night long in celebration of Lord Shiva, the Adiyogi, or "first yogi".

If you're in the Edmonton area, you can join celebrations at the Bhartiya Cultural Society starting at 6 pm.

If you'd rather participate from home, you can join Krishna Das  live online at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas' Facebook Page for the Mahashivaratri vigil starting at 8:45 pm tonight and continuing all night long!

Om Namah Shivaya!

Har Har Mahadev!

Jai Shiva Shambo!

Prayers for Shyamdas

Oh, it is with many tears that I offer prayers for release from samsara for one of my most beloved Kirtan Wallahs EVER.  Shyamdas left his body in India a couple of days ago.  World-wide his students and fans are saddened, but I doubt he's feeling the same way. 

Since I saw him in the Fall of 2009 at the Omega Ecstatic Chant Retreat in New York, I've been affectionately referring to him as the "Drunken Uncle" of the Kirtan scene. 

I arrived that weekend utterly broken hearted and desperately in need of a big bhakti bandaid and some serious pressure washing for my nadis. 

All of the artists were amazing:  Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Snatam Kaur, Deva Premal and Miten, David Newman (Durga Das) and Vishal Vaid... but I was so shattered that I just couldn't relate to either the ecstatic dancing or the sweet meditative vibes. 

I simply wasn't "in the mood".

At four in the morning, onto the stage came Shyamdas.  He had the voice and air of the last drunk Uncle standing at the end of a night of wedding celebrations.  His Bhava, and the perfection of his imperfection cracked me wide open. 

You can get a glimpse of what I mean in this Shyamdas Tribute on YouTube from Substratum Films.  The clips were pulled from interviews for the upcoming documentary One Track Heart, which I shared with you just a few days ago in this post.

Shyamdas-ji, from the bottom of my busted and bursting heart, thank you!  May you be forever melting in Blissful Union with the Divine!  Jai Sri Rahde!  Jai Sri Krishna!

Sattvic Movie Saturday: One Track Heart

Ok, I'm putting it out there into the universe...

 

I am officially on a quest for my own harmonium! 

 

 

In the process, I found lots of information on Kirtan Central.

 

AND the trailer for an upcoming documentary about Krishna Das called One Track Heart (Click here to watch the trailer)!  I can hardly wait!

The film is named after Krishna Das's first album. Click here for more info on his website.  And here to listen to the whole album on YouTube. 

PLUS check out this little gem from the Virtual Kirtan Choir which brought me to joyful tears.  I just had to share it with you!  Jai Ma Durga!

Happy Holy Days

Click here to watch By Your Grace on YouTube.

Happiness and the Hanuman Chalisa

Hanuman by Betsy Schott

The crazy winds today have me thinking of Hanuman, Son of the Wind God and Perfection of the "Monkey Mind".

And also of a wise "peace" of advice from my friend Marci: 

She says that when you feel blown around by life, when the mind is as turbulent as the wind, there are two sure ways to get happy: 

1. Hang out with uplifting people. 
2. Listen to the Hanuman Chalisa. 

There are lots of gorgeous versions of the Hanuman Chalisa out there, but this peaceful and mesmerizing tune by Krishna Das is the one stuck in my head today. 

And if you like that, 

here are a few more...

This one is just so cheerful you can't help but feel uplifted...

Another from Krishna Das that's great for chanting along with:

And another from Krishna Das with Roshi Bernie Glassman:

Have fun finding more, and let me know your favorites!

Sri Hanuman Ki - Jai!