Presented by Yoga Nidhi

in partnership with Wisdom Roots Wellness

About the Course:

Introduction to Vedas:

The Sanskrit word Veda is derived from the root word vid –to know. The Vedas are considered the source of all knowledge by all the six classical schools of Indian philosophy. These six philosophical systems – Nyaya, Vaisesika, Sankhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, and Vedanta - all have their origin in the Vedas.

The Vedas contain both the knowledge of the highest Truth (para vidya) as well as the knowledge of the world (apara vidya). And so, in addition to the highest philosophy, the Vedas also deal with science, medicine, politics, psychology, agriculture, poetry, art, music and a vast pool of other subjects.

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What is Vedic Chanting?

The Vedas are believed to have been directly heard by ṛṣi-s (learned sages) in a state of deep meditation and so are called śruti (that which was heard). As they were received from a higher, divine source, they are called apauruṣeya – not created by man.

The Vedas have been transmitted and preserved through an oral tradition for thousands of years. This oral transmission of the Vedas, from teacher to student, through the ages, is called adhyayanam. This faithful oral transmission has ensured that the Vedas have been preserved in their pure and original form, without any alteration or interpolation even after thousands of years.

Every person irrespective of age, gender, race, or religion can practice Vedic Chanting.

UNESCO declared Vedic Chanting as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/tradition-of-vedic-chanting-00062

Benefits of Vedic Chanting:

  • It is deeply relaxing and therapeutic. It heals the disturbances of the mind as well as disharmonies of the body.

  • It helps in focusing the mind and brings on ekāgra – one pointedness. This happens as the person pays attention to what is being chanted and then repeats it in exactly the same manner

  • As the sound of the chant moves outward, they also send their vibrations within. These vibrations stimulate physiological function and return the system to harmony.

  • The person develops spontaneity as they reproduce the chant immediately on hearing without pause or reflection

  • Respiratory capacity is improved and strengthened as the passages are chanted aloud – in different lengths, different speeds, and different pitches.

  • The learning of chanting with its semi musical form and the changing pattern of the same chant develops new neural networks and enhances the person’s learning ability all around

  • The chants produce good vibrations in the space it is chanted

  • Listening skills can be developed by training the ear to listen to new sounds and compound sounds

  • The Sanskrit language requires the use of the entire palate in the process of chanting, and this helps develop clarity of speech

Course Structure:

The Vedic Chanting Certificate Course would comprise a total of 210 hours divided over three modules.

Module 1 would be the foundation. (Taking place in 2025.)

Module 2 would take the student into more advanced chants while also perfecting the chants done in Module 1. There would also be more complex voice culture exercises introduced.

Module 3 would work on the mastery of the chants done in Module 1 and 2 while adding longer and more difficult chants in this final module. There would also be the work of mastering the voice culture exercises of the previous two modules.

(Please note, Module 2 &3 will take place in subsequent years.)

A person could register for Module 1 and stop there too. As mentioned earlier, it is not necessary to have the intention to teach to do the course.

However, to receive the certificate to teach Vedic Chanting, it is necessary to go through all three modules and meet the requirements of proficiency.

The 5-day in-person retreat will cover:

  • the introductory theory

  • the foundational chants

  • the establishment of each person’s pitch

  • guidance in the movement through the notes (svara-s)

  • and the opening of the voice through voice culture.

The 6 (online) 2-day intensives will introduce new material.

Recording of these weekend intensives are provided to enable the student to revisit the material and practice it (again and again!).

The 4 small group (online) tutorials are about individual refinement and integration of that material.

Note: Participants can register for the 5-day in-person retreat alone.

Uncertain if you want to register for the full year-long program? Sign up for the 5-day Immersion and decide after.

Course investment:

Choose between these two opportunities to study with Yoga Nidhi and dive into the sacred art of Vedic Chant!

Full Certification Course:

The all-inclusive $2,450 fee includes:

  • Tuition for Module 1 in the Vedic Chant Certification course 
  • Personal guidance with the renowned instruction of Sheela Shankar of Yoga Nidhi
  • Private accommodations with en-suite bathroom for the duration of the 5-day immersion
  • 3 delicious all-natural, chef-prepared meals during the 5-day immersion, including welcome dinner and farewell lunch
  • Access to the grounds and facilities at Hilltown Commons, a beautiful 100-acre non-profit retreat center in Rensselaerville, New York

Five-Day Immersion:

The all-inclusive $1,935 fee includes:

  • Expert-led instruction and daily workshop sessions 
  • Private room with queen bed and personal bathroom for the duration of the 5-day immersion
  • 3 delicious all-natural meals during the 5-day immersion
  • Access to the beautiful grounds and facilities at Hilltown Commons
save 3% when you pay via cash or check
save 3% when you pay via cash or check

Meet your teachers:

SHEELA SHANKAR, a student of T.K.V. Desikachar who pioneered the use of Vedic Chanting as a meditative practice in Yoga. She has undergone the 2-year teacher training Diploma in Yoga at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), Chennai. She was one of TKV Desikachar’s foremost teachers of Vedic Chanting and is also a trained classical singer in both the Carnatic and the Hindustani tradition. 
Over the years, Sheela has continued to practice and teach Vedic Chanting and bhajans to several individuals and groups from various parts of the world.
She is the Vedic Chanting Course Faculty in Yoga Nidhi, India since 2000 and in Sadhana Mala, UK since 2017. She was the keynote speaker at the Association of Yoga Studies Convention, UK in 2019 with Ravi Shankar. She is the Vedic chanting faculty for the Der indische Weg, Miltenberg, Germany, and for Ropana, Japan.

RAVI SHANKAR has been on the path of Yoga for more than 30 years. He is a student of TKV Desikachar and has spent a number of years working under him and continues to teach in the same tradition. He has completed the intensive 2-year teacher training Diploma in Yoga at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram. The learning he cherishes most is the years spent working in association with TKV Desikachar on the KYM yoga journal - Darsanam.
He specialises in teaching the philosophy of the Yoga Sutra, Sankhyakarika, Bhagavat Gita, and the Taittiriya Upanisad. In addition, his breath-centric asana programs are very well received for their deeply meditative and therapeutic benefits.
He was the Scholar-in-Residence (2008-09), Denison University, Granville, Ohio. He was earlier the Lilly Scholar at the Laura C. Harris Symposium, March 2007 at Denison University, Granville, Ohio. He has conducted yoga programs for leading corporate houses in India in areas of Wellness, Stress Management, and Learning.