Kirtan CD: A joy-filled experience at your fingertips

Yoga for the Heart CD by Tyag Fenton and Peter Fernando

  Yoga for the Heart CD review Yoga for the Heart: what a great title! It sets the intention behind the CD; alive and joyfilled. Certainly a true reflection of every kirtan session I’ve gone to with Tyag, as his smile reaches into the lyrics, and playful nature pours out as music. On a quiet Saturday, I sat down and listened to the CD, snatching some time to myself before my lunch time guest arrived. Tyag’s low resonant voice filled my room. Very quickly I could feel the … [Read more...]

A video interview with Swami Ji, touring NZ in April 2011

Swami Govindananda

Swami Ji, born in NZ, gives the low down on how a Kiwi boy became a Swami, and how the wisdom he speaks of is relevant to your every day Kiwi bloke and blokini. See tour details here... Swami Ji NZ Tour 2011. … [Read more...]

Kirtan musician Steve Gold talks about his new album Stoned on Shiva

Steve and Anne-Emilie Gold

One of the best things about going to LA for Prana Flow yoga teacher training with Shiva Rea was the inspiring folk I meet along the way. Folk like Steve and Anne-Emillie Gold. They met singing kirtan, and are now expecting their first baby, and their second album. The new album, Stoned on Shiva, is a 'down to the Delta journey through the Mississippi blues and world folk music, merging with the power of Sanskrit mantras of the Ganges'. Having experienced Steve and Anne-Emilie … [Read more...]

Christchurch Yoga Teacher: Pavitra of Yoga for You

Christchurch Yoga Teacher Pavrita

It's been a few weeks since The Yoga Lunchbox featured a yoga teacher from around the country, and it is my great delight to introduce you to Pavitra. Born in Germany, she discovered yoga through books at the age of 17. Already burning with a strong desire to know more about the mysteries of life, Pavitra didn't let the lack of a real-life teacher stop her from starting her yoga journey. Now living and teaching in Christchurch, New Zealand, Pavitra - a Satyananda Yoga teacher who studied … [Read more...]

Gaura Yoga Bhakti Centre introduces a vinyasa flow class with musicians and kirtan

Live music accompanies the vinyasa flow and kirtan

If you've been reading The Yoga Lunchbox for awhile, you'll know that I'm a huge fan of Kirtan, or call and response chanting. Kirtan is a practice of the Bhakti Yoga path, the path of devotion, and as a heart opening practice it's awesome for challenges we face in the 21st century. We all need to be doing it! So I was super excited when I heard from Gaura Yoga Bhakti Centre in Wellington that they're introduced a regular Thursday night vinyasa class that adds in music and kirtan. What an … [Read more...]

Music as a spiritual tool

Yoga Teacher and musician Premratna

by guest author Premratna (Sarah Spence) Over the last few years I have started to see the difference between the different levels that music can take me to. After the hip hop, pop and theatre music of my teens and early adult years, I was relieved and excited to find a world of fun upbeat music that is spiritual in nature: kirtan and mantra came into my life. I can liken my musical journey to a music pyramid (like the healthy food one). I started at the wide bottom range of … [Read more...]