~ Connecting & Creating Community for Kirtan Lovers in Toronto and Beyond ~

Kirtan opens the heart and stills the mind. It is the yoga practice of ecstatic chanting. Through repeating the Divine Names in Sanskrit, the mind is cleared of worry, doubt, fear and all limiting concepts. The joy of peace and infinite love is given to the practitioner, and transmitted through the world by chanting. This is the practice of bhakti yoga or the yoga of devotion.

To receive a weekly list of kirtan events or to have your kirtan posted, please email torontokirtancommunity@gmail.com

FaceBook TorontoKirtanCommunity Group: the following week's kirtans are posted onto the group wall.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/torontokirtancommunity/

Facebook TorontoKirtanCommunity Page list links/info.
https://www.facebook.com/torontokirtancommunity

ALL known kirtans are posted on the Kirtan Calendar below, on the left.

“Kirtan is for all people. There are no experts, no beginners. The practice itself is the teacher, guiding us to ourselves. Kirtan allows us to enter into a mystery world—a world where all the logic of our minds, all the condition and learning are left outside. And in this mystery, we create a temple inside of our hearts, a place of refuge, a place of love, a place of just being.” —Jai Uttal


Monday, May 14, 2012

AUG 3 - 5 SUMMER RETREAT with SHYAMDAS, BRENDA MCMORROW, ADAM BAUER & friends




*click on pic for larger view


Aug 3 - 5 2012: 
Kirtan with Shyamdas, Brenda McMorrow, Adam Bauer and friends
Yoga with Darin and Wendy

Darin and Wendy, Shanti Retreat 89 Waldo’s Lane, Box 36 Wolfe Island, Ontario K0H 2Y0
Phone 613-385-9912
E-mail info@shantiretreat.ca
http://www.shantiretreat.ca/events/retreat-lineup/
http://shyamdas.com/
http://www.brendamcmorrow.com/


Devotional practitioner, translator, author and musician, Shyamdas brings India's ancient Vedic literature and medieval devotional renaissance to life in the West. He has written and translated more than 20 books on Bhakti Yoga and the Path of Grace. Shyamdas specializes in classical temple singing and the mystic poets of North India. As we say in Krishna's sacred land of Vraja, "Jai Shri Radhe!"


Brenda McMorrow is a featured artist on the White Swan Records roster, a Colorado label well known for it's high-profile yoga-inspired artists like Deva Premal. She has accompanied Grammy award winning cellist David Darling and esteemed Kirtan musicians Jai Uttal, Wah!, David Newman, Girish and Dave Stringer, and has been invited to Bhakti Yoga festivals and events across the U.S., Canada, Italy and Germany as part of her most recent tour schedule. When not on the Bhakti road, Brenda calls beautiful Guelph, Ontario home.


A scenic ferry ride will bring you to us…


Shanti Retreat Center is located on beautiful Wolfe Island, near Kingston, the gateway to the Thousand Islands.
To reach us, board the Wolfe Island Ferry conveniently located in the heart of downtown Kingston. It’s a scenic 20 minute free car ferry ride to this island getaway. Enjoy the tranquil 11 acre property where our spacious century inn and cabins are situated on 1000 feet of private shoreline.
Delicious vegetarian meals are lovingly prepared in the Shanti kitchen.


From Toronto and Montreal it takes about 3 hours to reach the Wolfe Island ferry dock in downtown Kingston where the free ferry (Wolfe Island Ferry) departs hourly.
Coming from Ottawa the drive is about 2 hours.

Monday, May 7, 2012

HRIDAYA YOGA OF THE HEART KIRTAN


Toronto: Sunday, May 27th, 7:30pm - 9:30pm,
Location: Carrot Common, 348 Danforth Ave.
Room 212 - upstairs
(Chester subway)
$7 Suggested Donation
please bring a pillow or blanket to sit on


*click on poster for larger view


Hridaya Yoga - Yoga of the Heart


Phone      416-578-8503
Email       
hridayayoga@gmail.com
Website    
hridayayogaoftheheart.com
GFTE        giftsfromtheearth.ca


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

John William Bauld & Bobbyji @ Moksha Brampton


Come sing with JOHN WILLIAM BAULD & BOBBYJI on Saturday May 26th @ 8pm

*click on poster for larger view



In his newsletter, music producer/musician Ben Leinbach writes:

-John William Bauld and Bobbyji are two of the nicest chaps you'll ever meet. They also create some beautiful music. They came down from Toronto for three weeks to create this EP of uplifting songs. We had a blast sitting around with acoustic guitars and percussion, arranging the songs, and co-writing a few things together.


johnwilliambauld
John William Bauld and Bobbyjiwww.cdbaby.com
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnwilliambauldbobbyji



http://liveyogamusic.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/itunes/

http://www.johnwilliambauld.com/


venue:  Moksha Yoga Brampton

50 Peel Centre Drive, Unit 205

Brampton, ONT, Canada
L6T 4G8

Phone:289-926-0797

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

ALYSSA COHEN KIRTAN sat april 28th @ 7:30pm


Saturday, April 28, 2012 @ 7:30pm until 9:30pm
Alyssa Cohen Kirtan
@ The Centering Space, 59 Cambridge Avenue, Toronto, (Broadview/Danforth area), ON
Alyssa Cohen, Garry Norman (tablas) and Naomi Tessler (vocals) sing their way into spring. Back from a wonderful time teaching yoga and leading kirtan in Jamaica, she is keen to reconnect with the Toronto chant lovers.
Cost: $15 (sliding scale available).
Alyssa Cohen plays uplifting kirtan music that softens the heart and guides people home to themselves. Sanskrit mantras, enlivened with western melodies, are played on an Indian harmonium and accompanied by drums and vocalists.
https://www.facebook.com/events/352714691431048/

Sunday, April 8, 2012

JOHN WILLIAM BAULD & BOBBYJI's CD release celebration on Thursday April 26th


JOHN WILLIAM BAULD & BOBBYJI

California shots from http://liveyogamusic.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/california-trip-of-a-lifetime/






JOHN WILLIAM BAULD & BOBBYJI
with CD producer Ben Leinbach and violinist Genevieve Walker



Please join us Thursday April 26th, 2012 from 7:30-10:30pm @ Eatalia for our official cd release/thank you/celebration evening!
527 Brant Street, Burlington. Ontario L7R 2G8
905-634-3300
http://www.eatalia.ca


Bhaktifest 2012, iTunes

& CD Release

Posted: April 8, 2012 in News
Tags: , ,


It has been a while since I have had a chance to post, and so much has been happening. We officially released our album produced by Ben Leinbach in California , on Tuesday March 27th, and the first run of discs were sold in 3 days! Thank you for all of the support friends, listeners and yoga studios. The music is available through iTunes, and CD Baby.Through the power of the internet, we have been receiving digital downloads from all over North America, and as far away as The UK, Germany, South America & Korea!

More news includes that Krishna Das‘ online radio station has confirmed that they will include the music, which streams on Sirius Xm & through the net, we are so honoured to be a part of this amazing station. Bobbyji and I have been invited to perform at Bhaktifest in both California & the US Midwest, and are thrilled to be a part of this amazing gathering alongside so many artists & teachers, the music has truly become shared internationally. Our cd release evening is scheduled for Thursday April 26th @ Eatalia from 7:30-10:30pm. This evening is more of a thank you to all of the people who have helped make this journey possible, please join us for some great food, music, and celebration. The intention has always been to share music of the heart, and this continually unfolding journey has been such an incredible experience. Thank you friends, those who come to the classes, and enjoy the music -you make this possible ...

by John William Bauld

http://liveyogamusic.wordpress.com/2012/04/08/itunes/

http://www.johnwilliambauld.com/


In his newsletter, Ben Leinbach writes:

-John William Bauld and Bobbyji are two of the nicest chaps you'll ever meet. They also create some beautiful music. They came down from Toronto for three weeks to create this EP of uplifting songs. We had a blast sitting around with acoustic guitars and percussion, arranging the songs, and co-writing a few things together.


johnwilliambauld
John William Bauld and Bobbyji
www.cdbaby.com

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnwilliambauldbobbyji

Friday, March 30, 2012

An Evening of Bhakti April 13th @ Toronto's Hare Krishna Centre's Govinda's



We invite you to come and dive into an evening full of divine chants as you learn more about the ancient teachings of the yoga of the heart. The premise of the "Evening of Bhakti" is to hold a spiritually-soaked event for you. Whether you are completely new to the concept of bhakti-yoga or a seasoned veteran, you can expect an incredible evening of chanting, wisdom, dancing and more, followed by a vegan dinner.


Hosted at beautiful Govinda's Dining Hall in Toronto's historic Hare Krishna Centre (243 Avenue Road), we warmly invite your for an evening that will feed the mind, body and soul!

Free Admission - Donations Accepted.

Looking forward to meeting you on Friday, April 13 at 6:30pm! See you there! :-)

Please register at: www.tinyurl.com/eveningofbhakti



Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga

Thursday, March 22, 2012

SPIRITFEST RETREAT JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2012





Spiritfest Retreat: 
A Community Weekend of Music, Nature & Art
June 29 - July 2, 2012
Mansfield Outdoor Education Centre, near Shelburne, ON


Come & join the community celebration! Spiritfest Retreat offers a variety of expressive arts & eco-workshops, performances, concerts, kids' activities, as well as unstructured, relaxing time to wander the forest, splash in the river, swim in the pool, sit by the fire, or offer your own workshop!


Dance—Music—Visual Arts—Drumming—Theatre—Poetry—Storytelling—Frisbee—
Medicinal Plants—Meditation—Sweat Lodge—Yoga—Tai Chi—Kirtan—Song—Community!


Spiritfest Retreat is now only 7 weeks away. Are you ready for summer? Music, dancing, warm air, sitting outside by the fire, swimming... 

We are excited about the extra day, since it's a long weekend. You can relax with us on Monday—enjoy a mid-morning brunch & closing circle. 

There are still 2 weeks left to buy early-bird tickets. 
We're happy to announce the great facilitators we have lined up so far!
 
Contact Improv Dance with Kathleen Rea
Intro to Intimacy with Eric Nagler of the Human Awareness Institute
Tribal Creativity (painting/movement/singing) with Laura and Vide Geiger
Hatha Yoga & Yin Yoga with Carolyn Poplak 
Kirtan & Meditation with Shara Claire
Kids' Crafts & Performances with Marni Levitt, Sarah Rainbow Heart & Cheryl Clifford

We're planning a dawn-to-dusk jam on Saturday evening, too...
 
And much more—including your spontaneous inspiration! Space will be made available for your workshop offerings—see what you feel like sharing with us.
 
Volunteer positions are also available, now: check out the website for information on volunteering. 

Bring your tent and sleeping gear, or share a cabin with family, friends, or new friends. 

Tickets:
Tickets include all meals, accommodation, workshops, concerts, & full use of the beautiful, forested Mansfield Centre and facilities. 
FULL WEEKEND Early Bird Prices—Before May 30thAdults: $275.00
Kids 3 & under - Free
Kids 4 - 12 - $125.00
Youth 13 - 17 $175.00
FULL WEEKEND Later Bird Prices—After May 30thAdults: $325
Kids 3 & under - Free
Kids 4 - 12: $150
Youth 13 - 17: $200
DAYPASSES for Saturday June 30th & Sunday July 1st:
Adults: $75/day
Kids 4 - 12: $35/day
Youth 13 - 17: $50/day

More details and workshop schedule soon to come at www.spiritfest.ca.
To register or for more details, email info@spiritfest.ca or call 416.694.8444.