I attended a memorial for the victims of the October 7 Hamas attack last night, and it was REALLY good to be with community and feel the ripples of pain and prayers and hope for peace.
It’s easy to become numb and overwhelmed by the staggering numbers and each human being’s story is so… human. Shutting down is an evolutionary efficiency mechanism to enable us to survive, and I forgive myself that luxury sometimes.*
Right now I have friends, students, and friends of friends who died at Nova, who have fled Gaza, Northern Israel, and Lebanon, who are...
I had the honor of sitting down with Punnu Wasu, an incredibly talented musician and spiritual teacher from Hyderabad, India. His journey through music, yoga, and mantra chanting has touched countless lives, and his insights provide a unique perspective on how these ancient practices can awaken peace and joy within ourselves.
Punu’s connection with music began at a very young age, learning Kirtan from his father at the age of five and later diving into Hindustani classical music. Throughout...
Trauma can profoundly impact our brains, affecting our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Understanding this connection is crucial for healing. This blog post delves into the easy to understand science behind trauma and its effects on the brain, highlighting how experiences can shape our neural pathways and influence our mental health.
By exploring concepts like resonance and self-compassion, we can learn to navigate our traumas and foster resilience. The...
Since the magazine itself is only available if you are a C-IAYT yourself, or for purchase online, they've given me permission to share our interview with our Heart of Sound community.
Sound yoga therapy is so potent!
I got another gushing thank you from someone who told me mantra saved their life, just yesterday. I am inspired to keep doing this work so people FEEL the FULL POWER of sound and...
Watch the video below! Chief Scientist for India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Dr. Hemant Bhargav, explores the fascinating intersection of ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience in his research on the effects of chanting Aum.
“What we observed was that when the subjects chanted Aum, there was a deactivation of the limbic system of the brain, particularly in the amygdala. We know that the amygdala is the primal area of the brain, which is associated with emotions like fear...
For over a decade I taught mantra workshops and led chant experiences, sound baths, and led kīrtan at some of the largest yoga festivals in the world. Yoga Fest Yokohama Japan, International Yoga Fest in Rishikesh India, Bhaktifest in California, etc.
Like most of us though, I stayed put during the pandemic, and have just started leaving my house again. LOL! Within the last year I attended a few festivals different countries, and my oh my... have things changed, or have I changed?
I learned A LOT about the zeitgeist in the wellness scene. Mostly, it was awesome to...
If you love mantras, you know that finding properly spelled Sanskrit Mantra is really challenging!
This post is part of a series on accurately spelled Sanskrit mantras in IAST. If you're looking for reliable information on how to spell the Savitri Gayatri Mantra you'll find it below:
The only reason I travel!
Outside of Frankfurt today someone threw themselves in front of a train.
So I’m an hour late to my destination.
Or a decade late, if we might have had a chance to help them feel connection, hope, empowerment, and that warm feeling of okay-ness that spreads from within… when the mantra sounds are tuned in to listening sensory pleasure and the voice vibration is massaging the heart.
Travelling is tiring and can be overwhelming. There’s nothing in the world I really want to see, no food I really want to taste.
But people, I want...
The Savitri Gayatri Mantra (also know as "the Gayatri") is often celebrated for its profound spiritual resonance and universal appeal.
I was on the phone once with tech support for my web hosting service. The guy (who sounded like a nice Southern California surfer) was looking at my website, and asked, “What's a mantra?"
I said, “It’s a collection of sounds or words that you repeat over and over to yourself as a form of meditation, either out loud or silently in your mind.”
And he said, “So kind a like ‘think happy thoughts?' "
Laughing, I replied, “Sort of. If...
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