Kirtan with Katyayani:
Exploring the Yoga of Chant
Spiritual teacher Ram Dass once quipped, ‘Those who can – meditate; those who can’t – chant !’ He was playing when he said this; yet, such an experience is in fact shared by many western seekers, for whom the rigour of the zafu cushion proves unappealing or appears rather stern. Kirtan, in essence, is an active and group practice of meditation of a much softer-edged persuasion.
One of the foremost things about the ancient spiritual art of kirtan of which Katyayani is most passionate is this very accessibility and egalitarian nature.
To participate at the fullest level, you need not have any prior experience of chanting or of voice work, you need not have been made ‘ eligible ’ to practice through any sort of initiation or other human connection, you need not know any ‘words’ as such. All you actually require is a heart that is just the slightest bit open to the possibility of its – and your – own inner nourishment and maybe soul unfoldment also.
Through the heart path of call and response chanting, you meet the practice at exactly the point at which you need to be met. For some chanters this might simply be about finding a still point of inner relaxation after a hectic week at work, for some it could be about ventilating or exploring emotions that have been held in the body, for others it could be a vehicle for expressing the joy of feeling truly alive. Kirtan is a group practice in which we all sail the boats of our hearts where the winds of grace take us. The form of the practice ensures that we set our sails together and yet the essence of it ensures that, through the vibration of our individual voices, we find ways in which to chart the waters of our souls on our own.
Katyayani is currently holding regular open kirtans in west London. These are suitable for everyone, regardless of experience or indeed vocal prowess either. They offer an informal and friendly, yet precious space, in which to explore and deepen your practice of the sacred devotional yoga of kirtan.