Chanting and Yoga Spirituality 

#1 -Why chant mantra?

 I began my yoga journey in 2000 and for the first several years I approached my practice from the angle of an athlete. Being raised by active parents and being a dancer, yoga felt complementary to my favorite activities. Although from a young age the world of the meta-physical was so strong that yoga started feeding that part of me as well.

As my yoga exposure and experience evolved I was definitely drawn to the spiritual side of yoga more and more and less about the body’s performance in a pose even though that was still a big part of my practice and teaching. 

In 2007 as I took my next yoga training with an Anusara focus I was finally feeling satiated and gobbled up the deeper dive into philosophy like it was yoga crack candy! Along with that came the practice of reciting chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya' and my world would never be the same. My body, mind and soul took to chanting as a way for radiating my love for the meta-physical reality and shouting it from the roof tops. 

What is Mantra?

 The root word man means mind and tra is tool or transport. Mantra literal means mind clearing and protection. Mantra is a mind tool that helps to bring about an intention of inner peace, connection and wisdom depending on which mantra you choose. It is also a self-realization technique which gives it a huge boost to your yoga practice.

 Mantra is a very effective tool for training a mind to focus and establish a meditation practice especially for those that struggle with meditation. It gives the conscious mind something to do so that it ceases to interfere with a deeper state of awareness and mindfulness. Mantras can be an affirmation that you have felt resonates well with you or it can be a mantra from the yoga tradition like the Gayatri Mantra.

Chanting..

Chanting is when you take your mantra of choice and recite it out loud or in your head over and over with many repetitions or even to a melody. Reciting a mantra can change the frequency in your energetic field allowing you to resonate with what you desire to create in your life or it can shield you from negativity or habitual patterns you’re working to overcome. 

Now, even if you have never dipped your toe into the world of chanting or mantra, don’t worry, you still can and receive the many benefits associated with this practice, even if you start small.

Kirtan is when mantra is taking to the next level and used as a devotional practice to the divine consciousness within all.

https://kripalu.org/resources/beginners-guide-kirtan-and-mantra 

kirtan is also “a practice for cutting through the idea of separation, for connecting to our hearts and connecting to the moment through sound.”

 “It's like an older, deeper, bigger being. It's a space, a presence, a feeling. These names are the names of that place inside of us that is love, pure being, pure awareness, pure joy.” Kirtan—and other forms of mantra practice, such as seated meditation—help us uncover that place inside of us, he says: “our true nature.”

As a trained singer and yet shy to really share my voice I am feeling ready to move in this direction for my growth and purpose. So once a month I will be offering an hour Kirtan at Evolve Wellness Collective in South Jordan, Utah. This will be a beautiful offering that can ignite a sense of profound purpose and enjoyment. I would love to have you join me. Please visit there website for the Grand Opening and events will be posted as well. Look for Kirtan w/Julz and I'll see you there.

Julz