Friday: Introduction to the Yoga of Sound and Singing 

This workshop is an invitation to explore the power of sound and singing as a tranformational tool and as an important part of a complete yoga practise.  Singing, much like asana, requires the perfect union of will and surrendur and can connect us almost instantly with both our limiting beliefs as well as our deepest connection with the Divine.  Sound and singing can assist in taking the experience of our yoga practise to a profoundly subtle level.  Sound, and in particular the use of the human voice can slow heart rates, release anxiety and stress and even bring us to certain states of consciousness.  When we work with sound as a meditation tool, we refine our ability to percieve as well as our ability to express ourselves and thus we can use the power of sound to reconnect to our own creativity and to deep states of inner peace.   

Saturday: Sound, Asana and Meditation

This workshop will expand upon the ideas introduced in the first workshop and will give us an opportunity to have a somatic experience of how sound can effect our state of being.  We will explore the vast science behind mantras, the healing power and even medicinal uses of sound and specific instruction on how to use your voice as an aid to meditation. We will cover both the strengths and weakness of the 5th chakra, the art of purification through sound and asana, and yogic techniques to connect you to your inner truth.  We will experience combining asana, sound techniques and mantra to uncover the authentic voice within and to bring us into a deeper understanding of the subtle energy body as well as deeper states of meditation. 

Saturday night: Modern Kirtan Explorations – live ecstatic chanting with Suzanne Sterling 

Kirtan (from the Sanskrit word meaning “to sing”) is a folk form of mantra chanting that arose from the Bhakti movement of 15th century India. The Bhaktis wrote ecstatic love poems to the divine, and went around singing all the time. Their message was simple: Cultivate joy.

Come join Suzanne and some of the best local devotional musicians for a night of participatory chant and intentional prayer. There is no prior experience necessary - just a deep soul desire to sing yourself Awake!!

Suzanne is a long time kirtan wallah who brings a modern, improvisational and deeply spiritual interpretation to this ancient art form. 

Sunday: The Power of Mantra and Ecstatic Singing

Singing has been an integral part of many cultures for centuries but in the West we have lost touch with the permission to use our voices and subsquently with the incredible healing benefits of sound and singing. Each of us has a uniquely authentic voice and when we create the correct physiological and psychological foundations, that natural voice is freed up to move through us, bringing us into a very real experience of bliss.  This class will focus on japa or mantra repetition, vocal techniques and the pure joy of ecstatic singing. Discover the blissful connection between sound, singing and the Divine!    There is absolutely no prior singing experience necessary for this workshop! 

 ***Interested to learn more about the science and art of sound? Shy about your voice? Always wanted to learn how to better express yourself? Curious about mantra? Love to sing but only sing in the shower? This is the workshop for you!  All levels are welcome.

In this workshop series we will learn about the history of sound in spiritual traditions as well as using the power of sound as a tool to enhance our yoga and our lives.

We will explore ways to combine yoga asanas with sound, mantra, pranayama, and guided meditation, thus deepening our understanding of the interconnectedness of these various yogic practises. We will focus on freeing the natural voice, awakening and refining the subtle energy body through toning, chanting and singing, allowing our creativity to expand, and tapping into our sacred self and our connection with the Divine. 

Workshop topics will include:

The Art of Living - creating meaningful ritual in a modern world.

Breakdown/Breakthrough - why we need ritual now more than ever

Conditioning vs. Intuition - clearing the clutter and activating inspiration

Painful Allies - trauma and transformation

Toolkit for our Times - fusing ancient and modern wisdom practices

Art, Spirit and Activism - what is your skill? what is your joy? what is your offering?

Sharing Power - how to collaborate cause we're all in this boat together

Devotion in Action - myth, story and tales for a new millenium

e all live in a time of information and technology overload, which can leave us shut off, shut down, and removed from the very ingredients of life that we came to enjoy...

our bodies, our breath, the sacred elements and our connection with the mystery and the purpose of our lives. But as yoga practioners, we are particularly sensitive to these things, and perhaps even more vulnerable to these fast-approaching changes. In this workshop we will re-member our innate and ancient wisdom and reconnect with the Divine Feminine/Masculine archetypes, exploring and expressing our unique gifts as facilitators of the sacred. We will immerse ourselves in yogic practices and combine them with ancient spiritual tools that can awaken both deep healing and ecstatic prayer.

What ancient wisdom wants to speak through you? How do you connect with others? How do you kneel down before beauty and pray? How do you celebrate your life? How do you speak your truth? Ritual asks us to become our own spiritual authority and to create moments of beauty and moments of power where we stand in community and declare who we are, what we want and what we are committed to. It is an act of courage, hope and artistry.

Modern, co-creative ritual can bring this wisdom back into our lives in meaningful, deeply spiritual and healing ways...empowering each of us to know that we have something important to offer and that the future is ours to consciously create with our eyes wide open and our full senses intact. As we meet the present with knowledge and imagination, we create a future beyond our wildest dreams.

This workshop also includes a call and response Kirtan Saturday night that will offer an opportunity for workshop participants to practice some of the skills of the weekend. Participants will be able to assist in creating the ritual and sacred container for the Kirtan.

In these private sessions you will gain an understanding of the following:

Vocal technique: Breath control, support and postural alignment. Vocal placement, resonance and movement. Ear training and note recognition. Healing of strain caused by incorrect vocal technique.

Creative improvisation: Discover your inner voice, release blocks to your creative expression and awaken inherent musical abilities. Use singing as a vehicle for soul exploration and play.

Studio recording and live performance: Professional techniques for use of microphones on stage and in the studio. Vocal performance and presentation Creating backround vocal parts and harmonies.

Style coaching: Work with a wide range of styles such as World Music (including unusual scales and modes), Rock, Pop, Blues, Broadway, etc.

Chanting, sacred singing and meditation: Discover the blissful connection between sound, singing and the Divine. Learn about yogic techniques, the healing properties of sound and how to use your voice as an aid to meditation Work with various chants, both English and Sanskrit and discover why these ancient techniques have been revered for centuries as pathways to bliss and heightened consciousness.

Plus many other specific and individualized techniques for improving the voice and freeing the spirit.

About the lessons: Weekly 1-hour sessions recommended. Lessons can be tailored to the individual needs and interests of the student. Lessons available in both LA and SF by appointment.

uzanne is a professional singer who has worked with hundreds of students and is committed to helping others find, support and express their deepest and most authentic selves through the power and beauty of the voice.

Unveil your own authentic voice...discover a blissful connection with the divine through sound...use your voice as a tool for emotional healing and empowerment...sing yourself awake!

In this class and in sacred space we will begin by learning some basic sound, rhythm and vocal techniques. Then, utilizing these new tools, we will begin an exploration into Deep Self that will culminate in the creation of individual and group prayer-songs. Our journey will include toning, voice orchestra games, simple chants and songs, chakra work, journaling, breathwork, guided meditation, and spontaneous play!

This will be a safe and sacred place to find your own unique song and to sing in harmony with others. There is no experience necessary - just a desire to find soul freedom and joy through sound!