Kirtan - Vedic Chanting with Lesley Charters

Vedic Chanting

The aim of this workshop is to teach and learn mantra(s) according to the principle of Adhyayanam (chant and repeat), whereby the teacher recites with the students listening and the students then recite. Handouts will be provided to help with this. Sound is a powerful tool that yoga practitioners have at their disposal. Vedic chanting is, as the name suggests, chanting the Vedas in the Sanskrit language.

Lesley has chosen chants that have a great deal of meaning to her and which she practises daily to support her in her life. The session will consist of:

• Introductory Chant - Sahanavavatu, the student teacher prayer. Sit and feel body and breath.
• Chants to practise pitch.
• The Gayatri Mantra practised with movement and including the the seven vyahritis (vyahriti is a Sanskrit word that translates as “speech” or “to utter”) and a delve into the meaning of the Gayatri mantra.
• Maha Vakya (or Asato Ma) and explaination of the meaning of asato ma.
• Ending practice- chanting with movement, including supine, and sitting with silent chanting

Benefits of Vedic Chanting:

• Deepens the breath and increases lung capacity, which calms the mind and shifts our energy.
• Brings clarity and focus to our thinking and increases our sense of peace.
• Improves our ability to listen and the quality of listening.
• Helps us to find our voice and speak our truth.

Lesley Charters has been practising yoga since 2000. She first learned Vedic chanting with Sarah Waterfield (her current chant teacher) when she undertook a three year yoga teacher training course with the Inner Yoga Trust (IYT) yoga teacher training course from 2004 to 2007. Vedic chanting has been a part of Lesley's daily practice ever since then. She completed a 60-hour Foundation Course and is soon to complete the 200-hour Vedic Chant Teacher Training Course with TSYP in the tradition of T Krishnamacharya and his son, TKV Desikachar.

Lesley taught yoga and vedic chanting on the IYT yoga teacher training courses from 2010 to 2019. Her teaching style is inspired by teachers of the Inner Yoga Trust and by students of Vanda Scaravelli. She currently teaches two yoga classes a week and a vedic chanting group session every 6-8 weeks.

Lesley is also a qualified Mountain Leader, running Duke of Edinburgh’s Award groups and working on Mountain Leader Training courses run by Hampshire County Council. She loves walking in the Lake District, Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor as well as the more local Southdowns and New Forest.

Website: Time to Breathe Yoga
Email: lesley@time2breathe.co.uk