Learn to Lead Kirtan Taster Workshop

It is inspiring to witness people who never imagined they would ever have the confidence or ability to use their voice as a Kirtan leader and to watch them open up and blossom throughout the experience many of who are inspired to take their journey deeper and sign up to my 200hr training.

Workshop content

• 9am – Herbal Tea Welcome
• 9.30am – Introductory Circle
• 10.15am – Yoga for Grounding
• 11am – Break
• 11.15am – Pillars 1&2
• 1.15pm – Lunch
• 2.15pm – Pillars 3&4
• 4.15pm – Break
• 5.45pm – Closing

Content covered in Vocal Technique Sessions:

• Pillar One of leading kirtan: Preparing your vocal instrument Nikki will expertly guide you in inspirational and fun processes for opening the voice that will enhance your ability to chant for sustained periods without losing your voice. This will also support you in having a voice that reflects the devotion that you are connected to when you chant. Nikki strongly encourages students to combine these vocal practices with a grounding practice such as asana or qigong.
• Pillar Two: Devotion (Bhakti) This is a beautiful enquiry into the path of devotion known as Bhakti Yoga. You will immerse yourself deeply into the path of devotion, whatever that may be for you, in the Yoga of Sound and express that through your chanting voice. We will explore heart opening processes and open to melodies (known as Ragas) that bring different moods (Bhavs) to the chants.
• Pillar Three: Mastery of the inner critic One of the major obstacles to leading kirtan is “getting out of the way of ourselves”. As kirtan leaders, what people are thinking about us can be a distraction, causing us to lose the experience of being a channel through which the ‘shakti’ or divine energy flows. Nikki will share several empowering processes to address this issue, all of which have been hugely well received by students on the triyoga 200+ hour foundation teacher training and the triyoga advanced teacher training on which Nikki has been a guest teacher.
• Pillar Four: Leadership skills with the harmonium Nikki will provide a harmonium for you to share in smaller groups, allowing you to explore the way this instrument complements and deepens the experience of chanting. She will teach you how to play a simple drone to accompany your voice, and you will have the opportunity and be empowered to lead a chant with a drone in your group, bringing together and consolidating all the day’s teaching modalities.
• NB you do not have to be a singer to attend this workshop.
• This workshop is for 18yrs and up.

Comfortable clothes to move in

A yoga mat

Water bottle

If you have a harmonium please bring it. don’t worry if you don’t have one

It is for anyone who has a desire to lead Kirtan and is often popular with Yoga Teachers, Sound healers and Therapists however this is definitely not a prerequisite. All are welcome

NB: If you are considering Nikki’s full kirtan training we highly recommend that you click on the link below to take a look at the dates.

Learn to Lead Kirtan Foundation Training 2022

If you are unsure whether this retreat day is suitable for you, contact us at info@samestaryoga.com for a chat.