In our lineage (the Krishnamacharya and Desikachar’s lineage) coordination of breath and movement is a fundamental aspect of asana practice. In this particular class, sound is added as a third component.
Chanting is an active practice where the vibrations are created from the inside of our own body. It is particularly helpful for melting physical and mental tensions, thus clearing some energetic pathways. It also trains our mind to focus.
Even though chanting has long-lasting therapeutic and transformational effects, we are fully aware that many people feel self-conscious about letting their voice be heard. However the particular form of chanting we teach uses only three simple notes and is done collectively so our own voice is always supported by the voices of others.
We chant passages of “the Veda”. These passages, called “mantras”, carry universal wisdom and can support anyone in their search for timeless truths, regardless of gender, age or beliefs.
Because these mantras affect our system at a subtle vibrational level, it is important to learn to chant them with an experienced teacher. The teacher for this class is Martine (she/her) and had no musical background whatsoever when she was introduced to Vedic Chanting 35 years ago by her yoga mentor, Mary Louise Skelton, a direct student of Desikachar. After Mary-Louise Skelton’s passing, Martine continued the study of Vedic Chanting for years with Sonia Nelson, another direct student of Desikachar, and director of the Santa Fe Vedic Chant Center,. Martine now continues her education in Vedic Chanting under the guidance of Sheela Shankar, who studied Vedic Chanting with Desikachar in India.
