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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 7A
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
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FROM YOGA PAGE 5A
energy that was created.
"There is also a lot of spontaneous dancing and play," Carter said. "The chanting is usually call-response with the audience, so it synchronizes breathing and focuses attention. It is simple, energetic, powerful and feels great."
Carter said kirtan can make him feel open, happy, connected with others in the room, deserving, complete, appreciated, fulfilled, empty, high and more. He said he hopes to bring these powerful feelings to the participants of the Lawrence Bhakti Festival.
Over the course of the weekend, Larry Carter said local bands will perform kirtan music with all distinctively different approaches, sounds, instruments and materials. He said these bands are composed of musicians who are experienced and dedicated to this practice.
Carter will perform with his band, Whole Earth Kirtan. It will perform its blend of Sanskrit chants, an ancient Indic language used in Hindu scriptures and classical Indian poems, along with other traditions. The band frequently performs in Kansas and Colorado.
Some of the bands performing include: Jai Spirit, Ras Mandala, Whole Earth Kirtan, Lana Maree and the Sonic Mystics, HeartSong Kirtan and The Bhakti Yogis. While some mix traditional and contemporary kirtan chants, others evoke ancient chants.
THE MUSIC
of a pool of musicians who join him in various combinations. Carter said the name of the band explores chants from a wide variety of spiritual perspectives.
"Some of our performances are mix and match affairs where we might do a Sanskrit chant followed by something from Wiccan, Christian, Native American, Sufi or some other belief system," Carter said.
According to the Bhakti Festival website, Sunday will also include a band called The Sound Posse who will offer a healing session through a total immersion in the vibrations of Paiste gongs. The use of Nepalese bowls, bells and tingshas, harmonium and voice and the Australian didgeridoo work together in a combination of sound healing and chanting.
"To see audience members deeply moved by what I'm presenting is terrific," Carter said. "Since it is audience participatory, it also is much easier for musicians, thus allowing for more improvisation than would be found in most ensembles."
As a musician who has performed for years, Carter said he prefers to perform in a setting where people listen closely and respectfully to his music.
"Most bhakti festivals draw in bands from all over, so to be able to have a festival that features this many local bands is quite the accomplishment," Carter said.
THE SPECIAL GUEST
the sound healing session. She will be flying into Lawrence from San Francisco to attend the festival.
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According to Karnamrita's website, she was classically trained as a vocalist in India for nearly a decade. She has been immersed in kirtan since birth and has dedicated her life to composing, recording, performing and collecting rare Sanskrit poetry in honor of her mother's passion for the ancient Bhakti tradition. From yoga retreat centers to music festivals to the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., Karnamrita performs and teaches at hundreds of venues worldwide and has won numerous awards.
"We want participants to engage the body, intuitive mind, healing heart, soul and spirit through a collection of modalities by qualified teachers and therapists who practice with integrity and truly serve from the heart," said Gopi Sandal, a yoga instructor at Westside Yoga who has studied and practiced Bhakti yoga for over 10 years.
According to Carter, all of the yoga instructors who will be performing at the festival are all from Lawrence yoga centers. Be Moved Studio, Obiji Yoga and Om Tree Shala are all sending instructors to the event. Instructors from Westside Yoga, the studio that will house the event, will be present as well.
THE YOGA
According to Gopi, each of her classes combines a balance of asana, breath work and spiritual centering practices. She teaches a holistic style of yoga, drawing on the principles of body alignment
JOHN GRIEFIN/KANSAN
with grounding and centering techniques to bring the classic yoga poses to life.
Be Moved Studios will be holding a morning class during the festival.
Another participating yoga studio is Be Moved Studio, whose goal is to send instructors to help achieve the studio's mission by serving the community with an alternative expression of the healing arts.
Amie Carter, a Lawrence native and instructor for Be Moved Studios, has been studying various kinds of yoga since 2002 and has been recently teaching private lessons both in Lawrence and in the San Francisco Bay Area. She will be doing individual and group therapy with children and adults at the festival.
Katie Winslow is also an instructor from Be Moved Studios and will be holding a rejuvenating morning class.
a $40 to $60 sliding scale, and admission Sunday is on a $25 to $45 sliding scale. Visit http:// www.lawrencebhakitfest.com/ for more information.
Edited by Jordan Fox
"Lawrence is blessed with an abundance of excellent yoga teachers, and this festival is
"My take to teaching yoga is very detail oriented and I hold a lot of integrity in my life and I expect that from my students." Winslow said. "I believe that through all aspects of yoga, you find a balance. I believe my mental brain needs more of a physical workout." She said her lesson plan for the festival includes starting with a small breath workout and then very slowly moving into standing work.
The festival will be held at Westside Yoga in Lawrence at 4935 Research Park Way. Saturday-only admission is on
an opportunity for them to combine their talents in a common festival." Carter said.
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