workshop at Sacred Music Fest

lovely flowers and lovely child at the Coonoor Market

A family of wild elephants blessed 
us with a rare appearance by the road in the Nilgiris!

with Tiras and Anand (bass player) after kirtan in Tiruvanamalai

Kirtan at the Sri Vast Satsang in Tiruvanamalai

with John de Kadt at the Int’l Sacred Music Fest at the Sri Vast Centre

Guruji Sri Vast, Therese, Irene and some of his lovely team

Beautiful flower arrangements by the Sri Vast community on our trip to Tiru

copper pots that hold our nourishing food at Ayurveda Retreat in the Nilgiris

Join Brenda, Fabio and Julia for this unique experience: a 10 day Yoga & Chant Retreat at the beautiful Vérité Guest House in the International Community of Auroville.

Each day includes yoga with Julia and Fabio, chanting with Brenda, 3 delicious organic, vegetarian meals, plus the infinite possibilities that India has to offer!

Dive deeply into this heart expanding journey of body, spirit and song!

Take advantage of this special opportunity to deepen your yoga practice while enjoying a holiday in yoga’s motherland!

We will practice traditional hatha yoga (asana and pranayama) each morning and evening, and you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Bhakti Yoga practice of Kirtan chant each day – all the while connecting with like-hearted people from around of the world and discovering more about the multifaceted realm of yoga and the secrets of India.

Everything is wonderfully green this time of year in South India, with the temperatures still pleasant at around 24-32 ° C. It is the best time of year to travel to the south of India.

The community of Auroville is described as “a project, a living experiment and a spiritual society… the purpose of Auroville is to realize human unity” It is a multi-national community, populated with many artists and innovators. For more information visit: www.auroville.org

There is plenty of free time for optional excursions such as:

Visiting the Auroville community and it’s projects; visits to and Anugama MeditationMusic at the Matrimandir; shopping, holistic treatments and enjoying time at the beach; visiting the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, sight-seeing and shopping in the charming town of Pondicherry; trips to the holy city Tiruvannamalai or to the “rock carvings” in Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram).

We can also decide spontaneously to take small separate day tours with an Auroville resident to various Indian temples in surrounding villages

(any costs associated with the activities above are not included in the retreat fee).

Accommodation / Food

We will be staying at “Vérité”, an idyllic eco-community guest-house which is surrounded by greenery, in cozy single, twin or double rooms, enjoying delicious organic, vegetarian meals.

Your investment:

999 € ($1,340 USD)

(Applies per person shared accomodation, excluding arrival, tourist visa and paypal money transfer costs)

Retreat Includes:

2 yoga classes daily and one chanting session

11 nights accommodation in a twin / double / single room (rooms are assigned on a “first come, first serve” basis according to when you register)

3 organic, vegetarian meals daily

Sheets, towels, laundry, internet, bike rental, free use of the “Guest Lounge” with Kitchenette

Retreat does not include:

Cost of participation in other activities in Auroville (such as a day tour, various holistic treatments, etc.)

Food on excursions

Taxi for excursions to Pondicherry and surrounding area

Arrival (flight, visa, taxi to and from the airport)

Requirements:

An open heart and an open mind!

A willingness to engage in the unexpected – India is full of surprises 🙂

Our teaching style will allow everyone to have their individual skills nurtured accordingly, whether you’re a beginner or have been doing yoga and/or chanting for some time.

We focus on attending to each participant’s individual needs.

Check in:
From January 31st 2014 at noon until noon on February 1st 2014 at the latest.
The flight to India – Chennai (formerly Madras) – is not included and must be booked independently.
Please note that when booking your flight, the taxi ride to and from Chennai Airport is about 2 1/2 to 3 hours long. If you choose a flight that arrives in Chennai late at night, it is recommended that you book a flight that arrives late night January 31st or early morning February 1’st so that when you arrive in Auroville in the early morning hours your room will be available for you. (rooms are not available until lunch time on January 31, making arrival in the very early morning on the 31st less desirable for you)

Check-out:

From February 10, 2014 after 11 a.m. (when the official program portion of the retreat concludes) to February 11, 2014 no later than 11:00 a.m.

We recommend that you book a late night flight back on the evening of February 10 if possible. If you book your flight for February 11, you must check out of your room by 11:00 a.m. and will need to keep your belongings with you until you leave for the airport.

We are happy to help and give advice on booking  flights and will also book you an Auroville taxi, which will pick you up at the airport in Chennai. The advantages of this are that you will be able to pay a fixed fare and the taxi driver works for Auroville and knows the Vérité guesthouse. The cost of taxi fares will be paid by the participant.

Retreat Facilitators:

Fabio Giaccone & Julia Deutscher

Fabio & Julia, founders of the Ananda Yoga Zentrum, Germany are celebrated Yoga teachers who have spent much time traveling through India discovering it’s secrets and sharing their discoveries far and wide with students at teacher trainings, classes and retreats throughout Germany, Italy and India, with Auroville being their beloved second home.

Brenda McMorrow

Devotional Chant Artist Brenda McMorrow travels worldwide sharing her deep devotion to the celebration of our true beings through the joyous Bhakti Yoga practice of Kirtan. Brenda is invited to share her music at chant at festivals, workshops, retreats and concerts across North America, Europe and Asia. Auroville is where, years ago, Brenda first began delving deeply into the beauty of Kirtan.

More Information and registrations:

Euro Registrations:

Ananda Yoga Zentrum – Kempten, Germany

wir@yoga-ananda.net

www.yoga-ananda.net

U.S./CAD Dollar Registrations:

Brenda McMorrow

info@brendamcmorrow.com

www.brendamcmorrow.com

Everywhere we turn in India there are fascinating sights

One of the Yoga Halls at Verite

The community in Auroville and surrounding area is so warm and inviting!

“Quiet Beach” nearby to Auroville – bring your one piece swim suit : – )

3 delicious, organic, vegetarian meals daily!

one of the rooms at Verite

Verite Guest House

50-hr Cross-Disciplinary Chanting Immersion With

Brenda McMorrow, B.Ed, RYT

This training is an elective 50 hour course within the DevaTree School of Yoga 500 hour Yoga Teacher Training.  It is also open to participants who are not working towards their 500 hours and who are interested in an in-depth chanting immersion.

At its most basic and universal level, Bhakti can be defined as an expression of love or devotion. Anyone who has experienced the spontaneous heart-expanding effects of chant understands that the Bhakti Bhav (mood) is a sweet, pure and expansive feeling not easily described in words. Like our physical yoga practice, devotional chanting has the power to create healing shifts in the body, mind and Spirit. Acting like a tuning fork for the entire system, chanting can help us clear blocked energy and open us up to the Universal frequency of compassion, expansion, trust, and love.

Experience the benefits of mantra repetition as applied to chanting and meditation, and learn common Sanskrit & yogic chants and their meanings. Participants will gain insight into traditional deities, stories, myths and practices, and their application to our modern lives.

Learn about the typical instruments used for Kirtan, and explore the possibilities of creative chant composition at your own comfort level.

No musical ability and/or training is required for this program, as all students will have opportunities to nurture their own unique chanting voice in a supportive atmosphere of like-hearted others.

Brenda’s personal stories, humor and revelations from her own path and worldwide travels light up these two weekends of brilliant Bhakti bliss!

Dates:

The schedule includes two 3-day weekends: November 22-24 and December 6-8, 2013

Cost:

$925 CAD + tax

For more information and to register, go to: http://devatree.com/calendar/event/137/

Click on the image above to watch “Carthweel Galaxy”, from the album “Love Abounds”

I’ve been slow at posting photos from my most recent Kirtan journey throughout North America and Europe. However, I somehow think this photo captures it all quite well (taken my dear friend and videographer of my new video for “Cartwheel Galaxy” which was being filmed while he took this!)

UPCOMING EVENTS

Emy Berti  and Brenda will be providing the music while Anna Inferrera teaches!

BE Yoga 02-5465590

I am humbled and thrilled by the wonderful support that has been flowing into the Indiegogo Album Fundraising campaign over the last few weeks! We have one week left to reach our goal and I’m excited at the energy that I’m feeling that is making it possible!!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/brenda-mcmorrow-s-album-fundraising-campaign/x/1173731
Read more