MANTRAS & SACRED CHANTS
TRAINING in RISHIKESH, INDIA
March 16 - 24, 2023
Namaste,
Sharing this experience with you fills us with joy, it truly includes everything we love!
In 2014 we started traveling to India. The impact that Yoga philosophy had on our lives is infinite. This is why we felt that more than just taking you to travel and visit different places, we wanted to offer the powerful and transformative experience of studying in depth the philosophy of the Veda and living in an ashram. An ashram is a spiritual sanctuary, a center of practice and study of the ways to realize the Self, where a sangha, a community gathers to nurture the soul.
The benefit of doing the course we offer is to be able to understand in greater depth the local culture, spirituality, philosophy and to do it not only from the intellect, but from a practical part, being able to be part of and living from within a yogic lifestyle. This experience will awaken in us a deep devotion, completely changing our perception of life.
On the other hand, the choice of the place where we are going to do the experience, Rishikesh, is nothing less than the world capital of Yoga. This sacred town on the banks of the Ganges has a very special energy. Just steps away from the ashram, the streets are lined with temples, food stalls, restaurants and stores selling all kinds of items.
But the most fascinating thing is to see how spirituality is lived on this side of the world: to witness the rituals for the Ganges, to share life with saints and renunciants, to meet spiritual seekers from all over the world who pilgrimage to this land in search of something more.
And this brings us to the wonderful world of Sacred Sound. All over Rishikesh you will hear mantras and feel the call to explore the world of vibrations and Bhakti Yoga.
Our own voice is a sacred musical instrument, a key that can communicate in unique ways with divinity. The discovery of our own voice is a beautiful path of self-knowledge.
In this training we will use various tools that helped us on our paths to unveil the importance of tuning our body to a high vibrational frequency. We will have daily satsangs and rituals, philosophy talks, mantra chanting, chanting of medicine music, learn basic notions of music making, practice chanting, and much more. Every day will be unforgettable, because every day you will work deeply on your self-knowledge in a setting absolutely ideal to travel inward!
WHAT TO EXPECT:
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You will learn the classic Vedic mantras: meaning, philosophy and study of Vedas and Upanishads. You will learn Mantra Yoga, and the chanting of sacred syllables that create a psychic and energetic effect on your consciousness. You will experience Bhakti Yoga: explore devotion through singing and kirtan. You will learn about mythology, epics, archetypes and legends of Hinduism and Buddhism. You will learn basic Sanskrit phonetics. You will delve into Nāda Yoga, the universe of vibration and sacred sound practices.
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You will experience freedom to express, dismantling traumas related to speaking, saying what you think, singing, opening your own voice.
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You will learn how to take care of your voice and learn how to use it correctly, through different exercises and practices. You will explore your creativity and vocal freedom.
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You will learn basic notions of music and interpretation.
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You will experience chanting as medicine, exploring ancestral songs that come from shamanism.
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You will have the chance to start creating your own medicine songs.
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You will explore Anahata Chakra and Vishuddi Chakra, the most relevant energies of this training (love and communication), through self inquiry and sadhana.
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One of the benefits of living at Parmarth Niketan Ashram is the opportunity to attend the world famous Ganga Aarti every evening on the sacred banks of Ma Ganga, followed by Satsang / spiritual Q&A session with Pujya Sadhviji and/or Darshan [being in the presence of a living saint] with Pujya Swamiji whenever you are at the Ashram. Ganga Aarti and Satsang give you the opportunity to give thanks and integrate the teachings of the day, connect with the divine within and seek clarity to any questions you may have to discover the truth within.
DATES:
Check - in is on the 16th of march. The course begins on the 17th of march early in the morning and finishes on the 23rd of march, late in the evening. Check - out is on the morning of the 24 of march.
SAMPLE DAILY SCHEDULE:(each day may bring different surprises)
06.30 - 07.30: General Yogasana and Meditation at the Yoga Hall (Optional)
09.00 - 12.00 : Class 1- Mantras and Sacred Chants
12.00: Lunch break
15.00 - 18.00: Class 2 - Mantras and Sacred Chants
18.00: Dinner break
Around Sunset: Ganga Havan & Aarti – Main Ghat (Optional)
20.00: Closing activity
WRITTEN AND AUDIO MATERIAL:
You will receive a study manual with all the information of the training, plus audios to practice chanting.
STUDY CERTIFICATION:
A certificate of 50 hs. study from the School of Yoga & Sound will be delivered to all those who complete the course and corresponding assignments.
TRAINING INVESTMENT: (accomodation and food are not included on the price)
EARLY BIRD PRICE - BEFORE DECEMBER 15th:
1200 EUR (400 EUR deposit is required. You have the option to make payments as long as the full payment is made by 13th june).
FULL PRICE AFTER DECEMBER 16th:
1500 EUR (in one payment).
PAYMENTS:
TRANSFER WISE : International Bank Transfer. Commissions will be handled by the student.
REGISTRATION:
E-mail us at: yogaysonido@gmail.com
Let us know why you want to be part of this training, what is your relationship with music and singing, if you have experiences with bhakti yoga and medicine music and if you have some kind of spiritual practice.
Spots are limited.
FREQUENT QUESTIONS:
Question: Do I need singing experience?
Answer: It's not necessary to have studied singing techniques before.
Question: Do I have to know about music and play any instrument?
Answer: It's not necessary to have notions of music or already know how to play an instrument.
Question: Do I need to bring any instrument?
Answer: It's not necessary to have any particular instrument, but the training will be richer if you bring along a percussive instrument (shaker, rattle, drum, etc.) and a harmonic instrument (guitar, ukulele, keyboard, piano or harmonium).
Testimonials:
Matteo Mici attended the training in Italy, July 2022:
"I did not know Sabi and Gea before entering the course. But something caught my attention when I saw the announcement of their Mantra and Sacred Chanting retreat on the Internet. I was looking for a way to get into bhakti yoga, sacred music and chanting (I was a total musical illiterate before I met them).
The course really changed everything for me: in just one week, I was able to play 2 instruments, ukulele and harmonium, and I learned many mantras and medicinal songs from different native cultures. It has been a week of transformation, and even now, after a month, the fire that was lit in those days is still burning: my sadhana is rich and passionate, I make it a point to spend time playing instruments and singing every day because it lifts my spirits. The meaning of life itself - it has never been as clear to me as it is now. Sabi and Gea opened this door, with so much love and dedication, and walked the whole group through it. So much unity has emerged, it has been magical and it is a gift that will stay with all of us forever. I have nothing but infinite gratitude to them."
Rebecca Van Eck attended the Face-to-Face Training in Italy, July 2022:
"I signed up for this training to work on my throat chakra and learn how to use my voice. My biggest fear was singing alone and having someone listen to me. Sabi and Gea create a safe environment for learning. They made me feel safe and I was able to not only connect, but also to stay with my fears and work with them.
The material in this training is divine and powerful, and it takes a lot of knowledge to pass on these important teachings. It truly feels like you both have embodied this deep wisdom within your hearts to be able to transmit it the way you do. I loved Sabi's chanting and philosophy, and Juan is the most patient music teacher ever. I am so grateful to both of them for taking me out of my comfort zone and making me really sing from my heart.
I am already looking forward to repeating the course. I never thought I could play the harmonium and sing in public. I have established a regular singing practice, and I can already feel the changes and impacts it has on my life. I am standing up for myself more, and I am slowly making progress in sharing my truth."
ABOUT US:
We are Gea and Sabina from Argentina. We love traveling the world exploring ancient cultures. We are passionate about sharing the paths that transformed our lives: the wisdom that we learned traveling through the Himalayas, the Andes and the Amazon. Self inquiry, intense sadhana and continous study have evolved in this beautiful project we share together. Music, arts and spirituality merge in all of our offerings. In 2015 we created the Yoga and Sound Project, leading retreats to celebrate life in nature and in community, to sing and dance, to connect with the spirit of the Earth and with our true essence.
Our mission in theYoga and Sound Project is to share transformational tools to realize our true nature of harmony, presence and blyss. We offer a unique combination of experiences using the practice of asana, pranayama, meditation, mantra, kirtan, the sound of ethnic instruments and medicine songs and vibrational therapy to expand consciousness, connect to Mother Earth and to the Great Spirit.
We created the Yoga and Sound School, with an offering of Sound Healing Training & Mantras and Sacred Chants Training.
You can listen to out first mantra album "Bhakti" on Spotify by "Gea & Sabina", find us on YouTube and follow our adventures on our Instagram @yogaysonido.
ABOUT GEA:
My relationship with music began at a very young age. At 8 years old I took my first steps with the guitar. It was a huge passion, so at the age of 14 I began to study at the conservatory of classical music. During 8 years of deep study of the theory and practice of music, I specialized myself in guitar, piano, and orchestral percussion. At the same time I was already composing and recording my own music.
My bond with the voice began when I was a child, singing popular music and also at the classic music conservatory where I learned the use of the voice and worked with choirs.
My approach radically changed after several master plant rituals, where the use of the voice became a tool for expanding consciousness and healing. That's how I discovered another way of relating to music and sound. After several trips to India, devotional chanting also left a strong imprint on me, experiencing the healing power of circle chanting to the sacred.
I have been researching the relationship between sound, art and healing for several years. I have been deeply touched by the guidance of Amazonian and Andean shamanic teachers, transpersonal psychology, Vipassana meditation and self-inquiry. This has led me to share self-knowledge tools through art and deep meditative practices for the past 10 years.
Spirituality lives in all things, every experience, every day of our lives is an opportunity to reach our essence. Music, sound and the arts are doors that lead us there.
My mission is to share this magic in workshops, retreats and concerts.
ABOUT SABINA:
My relationship with music and singing began at the age of 15, when I discovered my older brother's CDs and asked for a guitar as a gift. Although what I wanted most in the world was to be a professional musician, I let myself be carried away by other academic paths, and I always felt that because I had not graduated from a conservatory, I was not adequate enough. I did train as a singer in Marcela Aibé's School at the age of 22 and then I had several bands where I sang, but always with a certain discomfort of showing myself in public.
In 2014, on my first trip to India, I sat in a kirtan in an ashram for the first time.We wew sitting in a circle on the floor, with no real separation between the musicians and the rest. An Indian woman played and sang. I noticed that she closed her eyes at the beginning and for two hours she did not open them at all. Each time her face expressed more love and dedication. Her voice really came from the heart. It was not a show, but she seemed to be in a state of deep inner ecstasy. Where was her mind gone? Had she forgotten she was there with us? What was she thinking? Where was her heart? That experience of dedication and meditation really caught my attention. Wherever her joyful soul was, I wanted to go too. Could someone give me the key to that door?
Still not knowing what I was reciting, I closed my eyes and began to sing and understand from experience that the vibration of the words is what lifts us into a meditative state. I had been infected and was floating in a cloud, several meters above the ground and neither she nor anyone else in the room wanted to go down.
As I deepened my path in Yoga, the practice of Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of devotion) gifted me with many insights. I always knew that music had a main role in my life. But it was not until I sang mantras and medicine music from the heart that I did not understand the depth of this path and the infinite love that can pour from our voices. Since I connected with my voice in this way, many new doors have opened synchronously, such as being able to accompany various master plant ceremonies with my voice. I discovered that many different voices inhabited me and that encouraging myself to play with them made me feel free and happy. I delved into the path of devotional singing with Harmonium with Neeti from Devi Music Ashram, in India, and with Yasia Leiserach in a Bhakti Yoga training, in England, where we explored various techniques to free the voice. I also explored drum singing with Yael Haboulafia.
Chanting is a blessed tool, a key to the heavens. I sing the different names of the sacred, whatever name you want to give to the highest thing you can perceive: nature, God. I enter altered states of consciousness singing, opening my expression, opening my heart. I enter a space of immeasurable bliss and high vibration. I have been singing from the depths of my soul since 2015 in kirtans, ceremonies and rituals. I know that with the voice and the instruments, I can channel different voices, that lift me up and take me on a journey, that moves the fibers of those who listen to it. That is my role, to let the voices pass through. And when I free myself, I inspire you to free yourself a little more. And when you free yourself, you inspire me to be a little more free.
We would love to walk this path together,
Sending you love and blessings,
Gea & Sabina.
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