Chanting: A Wallet-Friendly Exercise In Body And Spirit

nytimes.com:

As with meditation, the intent of chanting is to calm and focus the mind, relieving it from its usual chatter -- grocery lists, money worries, petty arguments. "Chanting works well because it engages the mind and because it's musical," said Mitra Somerville, 49, who leads Integral's community kirtan. "The melody and the vibration of the words are very soothing and uplifting so people can really connect with it."

And an increasing number of Americans seem to be connecting with kirtan. At the Omega Center in Rhinebeck, N.Y., attendance to its Ecstatic Chant festival has doubled over the last five years. The numbers are also up at Integral. Jo Sgammato, 57, the center's general manager, said the Friday-night kirtan would have about 25 participants 10 years ago; now the center will sometimes host 400 in a single weekend when kirtan stars like Krishna Das, Jai Uttal and Wah! perform. At the Jivamukti Yoga School in Manhattan, 700 people came last September to see Krishna Das, setting a record for kirtan at the center.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[stella8]

I loved the article about chanting. I started chanting Sanskrit in 1992. I'll never forget the first time I put the cassette tape in of an aarti ceremony. Weirdest thing I ever heard in my life. A week later I was chanting at an ashram in Colorado and it felt like divine nectar was pouring into mouth with every breath. The pujaris always made fun of my Southern accent. They didn't know how hard I was trying with the sounds! Chanting has changed my life for the better in so many ways. What a lovely deep practice for opening the heart.

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

Hi Sara, I met Sri Swami Satchidananda (aka the Woodstock Guru) when the Integral Yoga Institute first began. Chanting was part of the core program along with asanas (yoga postures)
Chanting works on the chemistry of the brain releasing endorphins, the feel good factor.
I have produced a chanting album and it was a heartwarming experience.

Deb and I have a new book coming out in October 2009 with contributions from Krishna Das, Deva Premal, Seane Corn, Cyndi Lee -- great Yog's and Yogini's

Om Shanti Peace,

Mitra (Ed)

[hulagirrrl]

For years now I have enjoyed visiting the Buddhist ceremonies, because the chanting is just absolutely relaxing to me.