MANTRA YOGA + HEALTH MAGAZINE: Click here to read the Interview: BRENDA MCMORROW – HER SONGS ARE A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE WORLDLY AND THE INFINITE

When people ask why I chose to dedicate my life to chanting mantra, I’m always inclined to answer “I didn’t – it chose me!” If you’ve chanted before, you too may have felt an inexplicable pull towards this uplifting and healing practice. See More…

Kirtan, Yoga and Story in the Sacred Valley

Join John de Kadt and Brenda McMorrow with Katie Campbell for a magnificent week long journey into Peru. This retreat takes place in the Sacred Valley of the Andes Mountains and includes enlivening and enchanting daily yoga, kirtan and storytelling. We will be treated to delicious vegetarian food and cleansing juices, as well as unforgettable trips to sacred sites including Machu Picchu and beyond.

We will reside at the beautiful Illa Wasi Retreat Center, tucked into the Urubamba mountains with accommodations in traditional round Incan buildings. We will be near sacred ancient sites and Incan ruins including one of the wonders of the world – Machu Picchu.

This retreat will include Bhakti yoga chanting sessions with Brenda and John, evening Kirtan under the stars and storytelling that will weave a tapestry of ancient myths throughout the week. Each day Katie Campbell will offer a wonderful yoga class. We will be served delicious, fresh food grown naturally right here in the Valley and juicing can be a part of your daily experience if you wish. Together we will journey to these auspicious and powerful Incan ruins and sites as part of our cleansing, rejuvenating and inspiring week in the Peruvian Andes.

Various accommodations are available depending on your preference. $1950-$2400 all included other than airfare.

For More information please contact:

Eleonora: aleya@aleyajourneys.com Aleya Journeys: info@aleyajourneys.com www.aleyajourneys.com

Brenda: ameyamusic@gmail.com www.brendamcmorrowmusic.com

John: johndekadt@gmail.com www.johndekadt.com

Katie: kbyogalife@gmail.com www.katiecampbellyoga.com

John de Kadt and I stopped by Central Co-op in Seattle yesterday and it rocks : – )

1600 E Madison St  Seattle, WA 98122, United States
+1 206-329-1545 www.centralcoop.coop

As I embark on another Kirtan tour, I’m feeling extra gratitude for the beautiful Natural Food stores that we find everywhere we go. One of my favourite things is to discover the places that provide vibrant, healthy, organic, delicious food to fuel us.  It’s essential, as the flights, the long car rides, less sleep can take a toll. Yay for GOOD GOOD food!!

And then we continued deliciously on…

Portland, Oregon

Portland, OR

Ashland Food Co-op, Ashland, OR

Power House, Nanaimo, B.C.

Power House, Nanaimo, B.C.

Crested Butte, CO

Crested Butte, CO!

With David Newman at Bhakti Fest Midwest

Singing with Jai Uttal at Bhakti Fest Midwest (w/ Joni Allen and Sean Johnson)

Dancing Nataraja with Sean Johnson, Bhakti Fest Midwest

With Emy Berti at Bliss Beat Festival, Italy

Bliss Beat Festival “Love-In”, Italy

Singing with the Hanumen in Maine (Benjy Wertheimer, Gaura Vani)

Arriving at Hillside Festival, Guelph, ON (Morgan Doctor, Jason Fowler, Shannon Kingsbury, Andrew McPherson, Robert Kingsbury)

Shanti Retreat Crew! Wolfe Island, ON

With Adam Bauer and Narada Wise, Yoga Fest, Northern Michigan

Joining Parvati Devi on stage at Yoga Fest, Michigan

Adam Bauer, Atmaram, Krishnamoyee at  Yoga Fest, Michigan

Gospel Hour at Hillside Festival, Guelph, ON with Sarah Lee Guthrie, Johnny Irion, Martha Wainwright, Shane Koyczan, Ruth Moody

Gospel Hour at Hillside Festival, Guelph, ON with Sarah Lee Guthrie,  Johnny Irion, Martha Wainwright, Shane Koyczan, Ruth Moody

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!)

I’m revelling in the blessings that are abounding, like having the opportunity to sing with two magical inspirations on my devotional music path – Snatam Kaur and David Newman!In Boulder, Co, February 2, 2013 with Philippo Franchini, Snatam Kaur, Brenda McMorrow, Emy Berti, David Newman and Ramesh KannanSinging “Long Time Sun” with Snatam Kaur. Pure Bliss.

As I traipsed around Canada, U.S. and Italy this summer, the wonderful company  prAna  kept me very well outfitted. Many thanks to this Conscious and Uber Cool company for their support!!

Today, August 12 is the last day of their “Garage Sale” so check it out. If you’ve missed it, don’t worry, their new fall collection is sure to be Amazing!!

Feeling a little sassy in that Quinn Dress with Narada Wise and Michael Plasha in Erie, PA

Simone Maxi Dress – perfect for a glorious HOT day of Kirtan at Bhakti Fest in Madison, WI!

Loving my Mikayla top in Madison, WI and Alessandria, Italy

Blissing out in my fav Chai T at Bliss Beat Festival, Alessandria, Italy