Art of Spiritual Life Bhakti-yoga Retreat

ART OF SPIRITUAL LIFE BHAKTI YOGA RETREAT: BHAKTI-YOGA WOMEN-LEAD RETREAT Under the Guidance of Srimati Syamarani didi Women Participants only SCHEDULE: FRIDAY, APRIL 24 Morning: Arrival Noon:  Lunch (plant-based meals) 3:00  Welcome, schedule, logistics Sharing circle 5:00 Bhajans/ Kirtan 6:00 Srimati Syamarani didi talk 7:00 Dinner SATURDAY, APRIL 25 6:00 am Mangala-arati (morning auspicious ceremony) 6:30 to 7:30 Japa chanting (including 15 min of Srimati Syamarani didi sharing glories of chanting holy name) 7:45 Yoga with Dharma-sakti 9:00 Breakfast 10:00 - 11:00 Kirtan workshop (With Rasika) 11:00 - 12:00  Art of Spirtitual Life Workshop. How to go deep in our SPIRITUAL PRACTICE (with Srimati Syamarani didi) 12:30 Lunch 2:30 to 3:15 Conscious Cooking 3:30 to 4:30 Dance (With Malini) 5:00 Bhajans/Kirtan 6:00 Srimati Syamarani didi talk SUNDAY, APRIL 26 6:00 am Mangala-arati (morning auspicious ceremony) 6:30 to 7:30 Japa 7:30-8:30 Breakfast 8:30 - 10:30 - Breathwork (with Madhavi, followed by kirtan with Rasika) 10:30 - 11:00  Break 11:00 - 1:30 Art of SPIRITUAL LIFE (Srimati Syamarani didi) Q and A Closing circle 1:30 Lunch Home SYAMARANI DASI, also known as Jadurani dasi, is a master painter of Bhakti Art and the most well known female spiritual teacher of Gaudiya Vaisnava Dharma in current times. She has created over 300 works of art to date, and is recognized as one of the most influential artists to emerge out of the worldwide Hare Krsna movement. From humble beginnings in post-war era New York, Syamarani came of age with the counterculture of Greenwich Village in the turbulent 1960s. Her life was transformed one day when, walking through Tompkins Square Park, she heard a voice singing_ kirtan_ of the Holy Names. She followed the divine sound vibration until she saw Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada sitting beneath a majestic elm tree, leading the assembled crowd in heart-felt prayer. She soon became one of his first disciples and received the name “Jadurani” from him. From then on, her life quickly evolved into a vibrant whirlwind of devotional service and sacred art. In 1992 she travelled to the holy land of Vrindavana, India and met Srila BHAKTIVEDANTA NARAYANA GOSVAMI MAHARAJA. Under his guidance in that SPIRITUALLY SURCHARGED ATMOSPHERE, she continued to grow and mature as a person, as an artist, and as a _bhakti-yoga_ teacher. He affectionately called her “Syamarani,” and in one of their early meetings he momentously asked her if she could depict the most esoteric heart of Gaudiya Vaisnava theology in a painting. This work would become her greatest masterpiece, “Seva Kunja and the Manjaris.” The devotional art of Syamarani, created over five decades, has directly and indirectly transformed the lives of millions of people around the world. As a beloved SPIRITUAL LEADER AND NUN WITHIN THE _Krsna-bhakti_ community, Syamarani travels internationally each year teaching the science of pure _bhakti-yoga_. She also serves as a senior editor with Gaudiya Vedanta Publications and continues to produce new, vivid canvases which act as windows to the spiritual world.   RASIKA DASI is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from the “City of Angels,” California. Her sound is a blend of traditional Kirtan music originating in India, soul, and contemporary vibrations. Rasika Dasi was born into the ancient Vaisnava tradition of pure devotion. From a young age, under the guidance of her Sri Guru, she was introduced to the many Indian classical and traditional love songs written by the great teachers on this path. Her love of music has taken her around the world with multiple bands including the KIRTANIYAS, Mystic Prophets, and New Braj Kirtan. Over the last 10 years she has chanted with people from various cultures; from the villages in Bengal India, to Bhakti Fest in the California desert, and many places in between. Chanting Kirtan brings one serenity, ecstasy, joy, and much more. Rasika Dasi hopes that all experience this bliss! MALINI TANEJA is always ready to move her feet. By the blessings of her spiritual master, she has dedicated her life to exploring dance as a means to connect and express devotional sentiments to the Divine. Trained in various classical and folk Indian dance styles, such as Bharatnatyam and Kalbeliya, Malini synthesizes the graceful discipline and spontaneous playfulness of Indian dance in her performances and hopes to share her love for dance and evoke others to feel liberated in their own expression of devotional movement. So much of Malini’s inspiration comes from spending time living in the ashram in Vrindavan, India year after year, studying the deep philosophical truths of Bhakti, bringing them into her own practice and sharing its beauty and simplicity to people of all ages. She is the founder of Bhakti Kids Camp, a sleep-away summer camp for youth and children, co-founder of the DESERT FIRE dance project, and is a touring solo artist on the Festival of Colors USA. MADHAVI GLICK has studied Bhakti Yoga and Maha-Mantra meditation her entire life, and intensely in India for 4 years under the guidance of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja a stalwart and guide of the Bhakti Yoga tradition. She is also a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Breathwork Facilitator, and is Certified in Vedic Thai Yoga. Madhavi has been teaching groups and individuals Breathwork, chanting and meditation for the past 10 years. Her gentle, and relaxed nature immediately gives one a sense of calm and solace.  DHARMA SHAKTI Having taught at many yoga studios in long beach and seal beach since 2005, as well as co-owned and operated Trilogy Yoga for 2 and a half years (2010-2013), she now has her own sacred space to facilitate the power of yoga: Yogalution Movement and Ayurveda. She is a motivational speaker and empowers people to connect with their Authentic Self, Yoga Teacher, Ayurvedic Practioner, High Performance and Coach.  She teaches weekly yoga classes, leads RYS 200 hr teacher trainings, organizes “free yoga on the bluff”, as well as hosts events, workshops kirtans and retreats all year round. ACCOMODATIONS IN THE AREA: This is the airbnb that is closest.    https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3225861location=Ojai%20stays&source_impression_id=p3_1581390248_ieApm%2F554wL%2FJLp7 [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3225861?location=Ojai%20stays&source_impression_id=p3_1581390248_ieApm%2F554wL%2FJLp7] Right now, it appears to not have availability that weekend.   We should keep an eye on it just in case.    This one is nearby, but looks like it's booked on Friday:  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4691367location=Ojai%20stays&source_impression_id=p3_1581391866_B4XnV4FfzGssbIFN [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4691367?location=Ojai%20stays&source_impression_id=p3_1581391866_B4XnV4FfzGssbIFN] https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13226418location=Ojai%20stays&adults=4&check_in=2020-04-24&check_out=2020-04-26&source_impression_id=p3_1581392054_cVW%2BsrMBwG1axJRz [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13226418?location=Ojai%20stays&adults=4&check_in=2020-04-24&check_out=2020-04-26&source_impression_id=p3_1581392054_cVW%2BsrMBwG1axJRz] I think people should book things soon.    Here are some less expensive options in Oak View (15 minute drive):  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17134238location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392213_34KiCI3wwfWpTZlZ [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17134238?location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392213_34KiCI3wwfWpTZlZ] https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/554885location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392276_O4XfGGfxpPMxgkfW [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/554885?location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392276_O4XfGGfxpPMxgkfW] https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/737502location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392329_m7xdWn%2Fq0iby55vo [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/737502?location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392329_m7xdWn%2Fq0iby55vo] https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18827319location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392347_HZvT3Dz%2FfD5BOln%2B [https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/18827319?location=Oak%20View%2C%20CA%2C%20United%20States&source_impression_id=p3_1581392347_HZvT3Dz%2FfD5BOln%2B] MOTELS NEARBY:  Casa Ojai Hummingbird Inn Capri Motel  Chantico Inn . (downtown)  Lavender Inn (downtown)  El Rancho Inn (downtown)  Oakridge Inn (cheaper in Oak View)  CAMPING: https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/inland-parks/camp-comfort-ojai/ [https://www.ventura.org/parks-department/inland-parks/camp-comfort-ojai/] https://www.casitaswater.org/recreation/camping [https://www.casitaswater.org/recreation/camping] Many Airbnbs/hotels in Ojai