Twin Cities Yoga Festival Minneapolis MN
Who

This event - and building this event - is for all people who want to experience being present to life and prospering in spirit, self & community through the practice and application of Yoga Exercise, Meditation, Chanting, Kirtan, Pranyama, Respect for Nature and Service.

When & Where

Saturday, October 23, 2009
Location & Hours to be Announced

We have had three Yoga Festivals since 2007.

February 2010 gave us the first Twin Cities Kirtan Festival.

Kirtan — also known as “Mantra Yoga” or “Bhakti Yoga” — is an integral part of  yoga and will be featured at all of the festivals. Read more:

KIRTAN – By John Hakim Bushnell

It is helpful to make a distinction between what Kirtan does and what Kirtan is.

What Kirtan does:
The effect is quick expansion of consciousness, entering states of ecstasy and bliss through singing the Names of Divine Source.  This frequently feels like quite a party!  Everyone in the room is moving and vibrating together, entering a spiritual state quite beyond limitations of creed and dogma.  Frequently people have experiences of deep peace as well.

What Kirtan is:
The mystical traditions of the earth all contain the Spirituality of singing, or intoning, or chanting Divine Name. This is the version of the practice that comes from India. Many people are familiar with the physical Yoga of postures and breath.  This is considered a kind of Yoga as well.  Kirtan
usually involves singing Divine Name and Sacred Phrases that are quite short and easy to pick up.  Kirtan has a call and response format, with a lot of repetition, so someone new to it gets to hear it over and over.   The languages used can include Sanskrit, Pali, Urdu, and English.  When you are new to this, nobody expects perfection at the first try.  Intention to draw near to Divine Source counts for a lot.  Get what you can and hum along for the rest.  It is largely about Joy, relaxing into the sound of the instruments, the drums, the voices of the people in the room, and the presence of Spirit.

-oo0oo-

2007 MidtownYoga Festival

2008 Midtown Yoga Festival

2009 Midtown Yoga Festival:

Thank you to the people who presented and made these events possible!

  • Sat Purkh, Sat Jivan Kaur & Nath Kumar for another stellar performance!
  • Sheraton Hotel for fine accommodations once again
  • Our Vendor Simply Jane – open artist studio
  • Our Vendor Windwater Harmony
  • The Midtown Global Market vendors, staff and friends
  • MC Banjo Sam Podany
  • Drew, Laura & Sophie Prakash for Hatha Yoga
  • IKSON (www.mplskirtan.com) for Live Krishna Kirtan
  • Karen Soroko (www.yogaprairie.com) for Vinyasa Yoga & Sponsorship
  • Jim Nelson & The Meditation Center (www.themeditationcenter.org) for Speaking and Exhibitor Table
  • Laura Sat Rattan Asheim (www.CenterforHappiness.com) for teaching Kundalini Yoga & Exhibitor Table
  • Friends of Lord Krishna (www.iseekperfection.com) for Live Krishna Kirtan
  • Jeanne Schmidt, Lucy Hewitt & My Time Out Studio (www.mytimeoutstudio.com) — for a fabulous NIA session & Exhibitor Table
  • Jennifer Colletti (jenyoga.net) for HEART OPENING YOGA
  • Minnehaha Yoga (www.MinnehahaYoga.com) and Bianca for Vinyasa Yoga
  • YogaSoul Center and Featured Guest Sat Purkh (www.YogaSoul-center.com) for Teaching Yoga & Exhibitor Table
  • Rocio Ronquillo for Spanish Speaking Yoga Class
  • Lucina Pepper (www.Embodied-Health.com) for Vinyasa Yoga

YOU WERE WONDERFUL!