For the LOVE of Kirtan...
KIRTAN SCHOOL!
With Rob and Melissa
March 19 - 25, 2023
Bhakti Heart Center, San Juan Island, WA
"Kirtan is food for the spirit, a life raft of song." ~ Jai Uttal
What is Kirtan School?
An intimate, in-person, residential 40-hour Bhakti Yoga and Kirtan immersion with Rob and Melissa. 5 full days and 6 nights immersed in the field of love and devotion through Kirtan, Storytelling, Sadhana, and Satsang.
It's called Kirtan School, but it's so much more!
Kirtan is emotional - we call out to the Divine, leading with our hearts. We express our love, our longing, and even our suffering. Repressing our emotions leads to dis-ease. Expression, on the other hand, leads to freedom.
Kirtan is physical (Body) - we use our voices to sing and our bodies to play instruments, clap our hands and dance.
Kirtan is mental (Mind) - the repetition of the mantra replaces the mind’s persistent swirl and helps us find peace and stillness.
Kirtan is service (Spirit) - having a chanting practice simply makes us better people and improves the quality of our lives. It benefits everyone we come into contact with and uplifts the whole world.
The majority of our time will be focused on learning kirtan skills and building our musical and vocal confidence, but we’ll also practice pranayama and yoga to open the energy channels in the physical body, spend time in Satsang to explore the deeper questions and to bring awareness to Spirit, dive into fun and interactive exercises to help awaken our voices and spend time in nature for healing, centering, integration and connection to the most important source - the Divine within.
Take your Bhakti practice to the next level with this new heart-centered offering!
During this unique kirtan immersion we will:
Learn at least one new chant every day
Review the difference between Eastern v. Western scale
Introduce music theory basics to help facilitate collaboration
Discover the benefits of vocal warm-ups, exercises and toning to help awaken your voice
Experience one-on-one harmonium/voice/guitar instruction throughout the week for a more personalized experience
Tap into the basic rhythm of kirtan during Kartal Basics
Discover the power, mystery and connection of storytelling in your kirtan
Uncover the art of leading kirtan (everyone will have multiple opportunities to lead kirtan for the group)
And much more…
To help facilitate our knowledge of the Bhakti Path of Kirtan we will explore several texts and references:
The 9 modes of Bhakti
Bhakti Yoga Sutras of Narada
The Bhagavad Gita - exploring the intersection between Bhakti (Devotion), Karma (Service), and Jñana (Wisdom) Yoga.
Yamas and Niyamas from Patanajali
The Yogic Deity Pantheon - a breakdown of the family tree, who’s who, and what energy they each hold
Ramayana - the story of Ram, Sita and Hanuman
This immersion is open to anyone seeking a deeper experience with kirtan and Bhakti yoga. There is no “advanced” Bhakti, for humility is a key component of a devotional practice. We approach every day with a beginner's mind and an open heart. We will meet you right where you are.
In addition to the above, our days will include:
Morning Sadhana
Yoga - all levels
Satsang Q&A
Free time
Access to the infrared sauna
Three high-vibe, vegetarian meals
Bonus: We'll also have a few island field trips throughout the week.
Where is Kirtan School?
Bhakti Heart Center
San Juan Island, WA
The Bhakti Heart Center is a small, intimate retreat center located on 10 beautiful forested acres with 180-degree views of the Salish Sea, the Olympic Mountains, and even Mt. Rainier on a clear day. Bald eagles soar overhead, and a red fox may make an appearance, but no matter what, you'll feel the peaceful, healing energy from the moment you step onto the land.
Think of the Bhakti Heart Center as your Ashram of Devotion for the week!
When is Kirtan School?
March 19-25, 2023
Starts at 2pm Sunday, March 19th, and ends after lunch Saturday, March 25th.
Typical day schedule:
6am Sadhana/Yoga
8am Breakfast
9:30am - 11am Morning session #1
11:15am - 12:30pm Morning session #2
12:30 Lunch
1:30-3:30pm Free time to read, nap, walk the land or enjoy the infrared sauna
3:30-4:15pm Afternoon session #1
4:30-6pm Afternoon session #2
6pm Dinner
7pm Kirtan and Satsang
9pm Bedtime
10pm Lights out
Cost:
Early bird price (register before March 1st):
$1750
Full price (after March 1st):
$1950
Includes 6 nights accommodations (shared), all meals, all activities, and a Bhakti Heart Center Kirtan School manual.
Requires a $500 non-refundable deposit to register. Space is limited to 10 participants.
Full payment is due by March 1st.
To register, please send an email to: info@robandmelissa.com
***Scholarship/Seva opportunities/Payment Plans available. Please inquire.
Here's what people said about our Online Kirtan training:
This is an awesome course!!! I am also a trainer and can really appreciate how well-organized this is and so easy to follow. So grateful!
(T.D.)
I so enjoyed your kirtan training class and have been singing and playing everyday! I feel so much better after each session! You two are wonderful and I appreciate all you've shared.
(M.H.)
I just wanted to express how awesome this whole process is. It’s transformative. Thank you for the opportunity and sharing your gifts with us.
(L.T.)
FAQ
Do I need to have a harmonium?
No, a harmonium is not necessary. You can bring your voice, your hands for clapping, a keyboard, a drum, a guitar…whichever instrument suits your fancy. All instruments are welcome. Although we will provide music and chord charts, our focused instruction will be for harmonium, guitar and kartals.
I’m new to kirtan is this training for me?
Yes. Kirtan is for everyone! And, in our opinion, the more of us singing kirtan the better! Whether in our homes for our pets, a session out in nature, or facilitating for your community, if you’re being called to sing, lead or share kirtan, then we can’t think of a better way to spend your time than learning mantras, playing music and spending time in a loving and supportive community.
That being said, we’ll have time for one-on-one and small group sessions for personalized instruction or for those seeking more of a challenge.
Can I get CEU's for this program?
Yes! You will be eligible for 40 CEU's through Yoga Alliance upon completion.
Are payment plans available?
Yes. Simply email us if you wish to discuss payment options: info@robandmelissa.com
Have a question we didn’t cover?
Let us know through our contact form or shoot us an email: info@robandmelissa.com
Ready to Join us?
