Kirtan Vancouver presents…
…:: Bhakti Immersion Retreat ::…
A day retreat to cleanse the mind and connect with the soul.
Join us for a day of mantra meditation, yoga, bhakti-centered workshops and a kirtan infused evening bonfire to wrap up the day. Located at the breathtakingly tranquil Tuscan Farm Gardens in Abbotsford, there’s no way you’ll want to miss out on this incredible opportunity to recharge your spiritual batteries in this little oasis just outside the hustle and bustle of Vancouver.
Vegan meals and snacks prepared by our bhakti chefs will be included throughout the day.
Registration and check-in starts at 12:30 pm on event day.
Register online in advance for only $35 or pay $45 at the door.
RETREAT SCHEDULE
11:30 Registration Starting
12:00 Lunch (provided)
1:00-1:30 Introduction/Invocation/Ice Breaker
1:30-2:10 Kirtan
2:20-3:20 Secrets of Sound Workshop by Muni
3:30-4:00 AyurVeda: The Vedic Diet by Manjari
4:00-4:30 Snack Break (snacks provided)
4:30-5:10 Kirtan
5:20-6:20 Integrating Our Bhakti Workshop by Nitai
6:30-7:15 Yoga Asanas with Will accompanied by Live Kirtan by Hari
7:15 Dinner (provided)
8:00 Bonfire Kirtan with Muni and Sacred Storytelling
Meet our Facilitators and hosts:
Secrets of Sound - by Muni
Muni will be giving a workshop on singing, where in which he will be guiding us on how to open our channels in a way that will allow to use our voices to their full potential. In addition, he will be sharing wisdom on the theme of sound, based on both modern science and ancient scriptural evidence. Some of the topics that you can expect to hear about are:
The source of sound
What are transcendental sound vibrations?
Sound in daily life.
Why is sound so important?
How sound can heal?
The importance of hearing.
Muni has been playing an assortment of instruments since 1996. In more recent years, he has taken it upon himself to focus his musical abilities in kirtan-specific instruments, such as harmonium, sitar and most importantly, his voice. In 2006 he began his spiritual path of bhakti yoga and commenced his study of the ancient Indian scriptures.
AyurVEDA: The Vedic Diet - by Manjari
This workshop is designed to broaden your food horizons and open your conscious food palate. During this half-hour session, we will discuss a brief history and the basic principles of Ayurveda, as well as how to eat to satisfy the consciousness along with the body.
This workshop will be facilitated by Manjari Kansal, CNP. Manjari is a Holistic Nutritionist who has over15 years of hands on Vedic style culinary experience. Her popular food page Made By Manjari - Holistic Nutritionist highlights her love for conscious healthy eating. Join her at the Bhakti Immersion Retreat and experience Ayurveda through storytelling, visual meditation, and open discussion.
‘Ayurvedic medicine evolved in India about 5000 years ago, and is considered to be the world's oldest healthcare system. Ayurvedic medicine is entirely holistic. Its adherents strive to create harmony between the body, mind, and soul, maintaining that this balance prevents illness, treats acute conditions, and contributes to a long and healthy life. Ayurveda views each person as unique with individual needs. We may all be human but we have slightly different physiologies and emotional tendencies. In Ayurveda teachings for this reason, each person's path toward optimal health is also unique.’
Integrating our Devotion - by Nitai
This one hour workshop addresses how to harmonize the responsibilities of material life with the time needed for spiritual practices. This is not only an issue for the modern day spiritualist. It existed as a challenge for even the sages of antiquity.
The workshop will focus on meditating with sacred beads (japa), along with how to understand the resulting benefits. There will also be discussion about the need to develop intentional spiritual communities (sanga) and the importance of revealing the mind (guhyam). These are all integral components to the practice of Bhakti Yoga.
For 20 years, Nitai has been living in spiritual ashram communities across Canada, practicing and teaching Bhakti Yoga. His full concentration on spirituality has led him to have deep realizations on the power of mantra.
Free your mind and your asana will follow - by Will
This 30 minute Hatha Yoga session will aim to incorporate and compliment devotional practice while also releasing some of the pain and tensions associated with having a body, and long periods of sitting! The session will include breathing techniques (pranayama), mantra infused sun salutations (Surya Namaskar), and deep relaxation (Savasana).
It will be the perfect way to release tension, deepen and smooth our breath/nervous system, bring strength and vitality to our bodies, and of course plenty of time left at the end to “reeelllaaax”!
Will’s yoga practice began in 2009 as a physical one involving a pair of shorts, a single book on yoga asana and a desire to change. This desire led Will to the beautiful studios of Vancouver where his heart opened to a community and spiritual path. A path, which in recent years has balanced Will’s professional life by leading him to the ashrams of India where he has studied a Synthesis of Yoga. The Synthesis of Yoga infuses into ones day-to-day life Karma, Jnana, Hatha and of course Bhakti yoga! Will is currently a regular teacher at Karma Teachers !
Kirtan (Sacred call and response musical chanting) with Ani and Krishna-Prana
Kirtan is one of the oldest sacred yoga traditions of the world. It is a call-and-response chanting genre. “Say the Mantra, Repeat, Faster, Louder, Be Meaningful.” Kirtan helps us connect with ourselves, focus our attention and achieve true harmony between mind, body and spirit. Kirtan is part of the Yoga of Sound, in which you produce sound waves and follow them with your awareness. Think Ommm! Kirtan can bring about dramatic, positive changes in overall health and wellness
As a third generation practitioner of Bhakti Yoga, Ani has been surrounded by beautiful mantra vibrations his whole life. He has been graced with many talents in chanting, playing Harmonium and Mridanga drums along with engaging others in traditional style Kirtan. Stemming from his passion of Mantra Meditation, he co-founded Kirtan Vancouver to share the practice he loves with the whole community.
Krishna-Prana has formally studied the art and philosophy of Kirtan in Europe from world renowned artists and has been travelling a great deal to share her talent. Her daily personal spiritual practice deepens her understanding of the mantras and brings her to sing from the heart.
The BHAKTI Chefs
The wonderful vegan food offering at the retreat will be created by Kirtan Vancouver's Chefs Kala and Manjari.
Chef Kala of "Veggie Lunch" who has been servicing a delicious healthy meal at SFU for several years now and is known in Vancouver as a source for Karma Free catering. Her love of cooking shines through in her unique style of spice combination! With 20 years of culinary experience you'll be left hankering for more of her divine preparations.
Chef Manjari is a Holistic Nutritionist and Birth Doula. She is a graduate of IHN and is running a very successful food page called "Made by Manjari". She will make sure that not only the items cooked are rich in flavour, but also rich in nutrients. Her specialty lies in food combination and Ayurvedic practices to maximize the absorption in our body of vitamins and minerals giving us the highest benefit of health on top of the love, devotion and blessings that go into our Conscious Food offering
Don't make any plans for the evening of the retreat, because you'll definitely want to be there for the evening bonfire! We'll have guitar-infused kirtan, sacred storytelling and to satisfy your sweet tooth, there will be vegan marshmallows to be roasted
What to bring
Notebook
Pen
Warm clothing
Something to sit on (lawn chair, blanket, cushion, etc)
Yoga mat
Water bottle
Sunscreen
Blanket (optional)
Snacks (optional)
We really hope you can make it to the retreat this Saturday. If you have any concerns or have any special arrangement requests like rides or bringing children, please contact us and we will try our very best to accommodate so that you can come. You may call:
Nitai - 778 836 9082
Krishna Prana - 778 240 6372
Ani - 778 998 4276