“ it’s deep in my heart, it’s deep in my soul. "  -Jai Uttal, Kirtan for Kids

She doesn't know Gaga or Beyonce..  

My 3.5 year old daughter, Saylor,  knows Govinda, Jaya and Shanti, the sounds of Jai  Uttal and Krishna Das ring in her head.  She dances around, singing "Om Namah  Shivaya"  and sings mantras to herself when engaged in quiet play at home. Kirtan and chanting has become a more integral  part of my yoga practice in the past few years. especially when I was pregnant.  I went alone to many kirtans while pregnant with Saylor and at least 1 with Milo. I believe the power of the vibrations of the mantras and all that "feel good" energy wsa great for my growing babies and MYSELF! 

I walked into my first Kirtan many years ago- to hear the lovely sounds of Gura Vani. I sat down, settled in and my cells exploded. I had never heard music like this before and my heart loved it. it felt like coming home, like my true calling.I felt like I belonged, like I was part of something bigger. I felt like I had found the thing I had always been searching for. The warmth in my body- I had never had music make me feel so alive. I was energized after my first kirtan. I don’t ever remember being as deeply connected to music as that night.. ( at least not sober).

When I need  grounding, I play the sacred chants. And I am instantly able to breathe and  be mindful. There is no doubt that the mantras have "magical" healing powers.  This music fills my heart and makes my body vibrate with life. There's a reason it's been around for so long.  Kirtan is the call and response style of music, usually mantras that invoke strength, letting go, and often a respect and acknowledgment of our own intuition. One chant that is common in a yoga class is ( English translation) "may all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to their freedom"  how awesome is that?

If my children  feel connected to the music, that is a divine gift I can give them. Somewhere for them to turn and tune in, a place for them  to realize the divine light and power within us all . It took me a long time to learn this, to trust myself and to use music to heal.  I spent a long time using not -so- healthy things (do I need to list them all?) to try and feel good. They didn't work. Eventually those not healthy things made me feel worse, and I did more unhealthy things. It was quite the cycle. Then I found yoga . At first,  the physical practice and gradually the other 8 limbs/areas. Over many years, the yoga began to balance out my system in a healthy and mindful way. My heart began to open, my mind began to ease and I became tuned into my body, my intuition , my inner teacher. 

Recommended Artists  ( kirtan/chanting for newbies) * all on itunes

*Krishna Das

*Jai Uttal

*Deva Premal 

*Snatam Kaur