Module 1 consists of 12 days over 5 weekends (2 are long weekends starting Fri 2pm):
12/13 Oct 2019
29-30 Nov / 1 Dec 2019
4/5 Jan 2020
7/8/9 Feb 2020
7/8 Mar 2020

A Serious Training in Vedic Chanting (ādhyāyanam)

In association with Sheela Shankar of Yoga Nidhi

At Sādhana Mālā we delighted to offer this course in association with, and under the supervision of, Sheela Shankar of Yoga Nidhi. Sheela, who is based in Chennai, was a student of  TKV Desikachar and taught as his senior chant teacher at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in the 1990s. She is also a trained classical singer in both the Carnatic and the Hindustani traditions, having trained extensively in both from a young age. She now runs Yoga Nidhi in Chennai with her husband Ravi, both teaching Yoga and chanting, whilst Sheela also works in the field of education with children and educators, both in India and around the world, to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.

The entire training is envisaged as 3 modules with a further optional advanced module,  covering all aspects of vedic chanting including teaching, so that graduates of the course  qualifiy as chanting teachers. Students signing up for module 1 are not committed to taking all three, but it is hoped that students would progress through the modules and all three would need to be completed to a satisfactory level to become qualified teachers.

Hear a sample of Sheela chanting

Module 1 details

This will run as 12 days over 5 weekends (2 are Fri-Sun) at the Living Yoga studio in Malvern. We will work with a good selection of chanting at a variety of levels so that students are exposed to a spectrum of material. The principle teacher will be Dave Charlton or Ranju Roy,  supported by other Sādhana Mālā teachers and associates. Technology permitting, Sheela will teach for a couple of hours on most days via video link from Chennai (which so far has worked pretty well!).

Please note: you will be expected to chant in small groups and at times solo on the course, but we will endeavour to create a supportive environment where no one feels too exposed. You will also be required to practice at home regularly – about 20mins at least 4-5 times a week. Without this you will not gain the necessary proficiency to be able to chant the taught passages independently with confidence. However, with this commitment, you will completely change your relationship with chanting and your ability to learn new material.

You are also required to have a minimum of 10 individual hours one-one chanting lessons over the duration of the module with a teacher acceptable to the course tutors. These can be via Skype. This is an additional cost paid direct to the tutor and is likely to be of the order of £350 over the course of the module (based on a typical cost of £35 per session). The one-one lessons are a mandatory requirement for successful completion of the module.

Also please note that the weekends are focussed on chanting exclusively, so do not include yoga practice.

Payments & Timing

Costs:

Module 1: £1025 (early bird £975 before 12 Sept 2019)
paid as non-returnable deposit of £325 (early-bird: £275) with balance payments of £350 on weekends 1 and 3.
(N.B. individual tuition costs are not included in the above)

Timings:

Fridays: 2pm – 8.30pm (on the two long weekend only)
Saturdays: 9.30am – 5pm (completion by 5.30 at latest)
Sundays: 9.30am – 4pm (we will be finished BY 4pm  and generally a little before)

Joining The Course

The course assumes a basic level of familiarity with vedic chanting and is not suitable for complete beginners. If you do not have any prior experience, but are very keen, please contact us and we will recommend either some preliminary workshops or maybe some individual sessions. We are not aiming to put unnecessary barriers to joining the course; our main concern is that you are aware of what you are committing to and what is involved.

To enquire about the course and to discuss joining, please contact Dave at dave@sadhanamala.com.

Further Modules

A Module 2 course is scheduled to begin towards the end of April 2020. This will include a 5 day intensive with Sheela who will be visiting the UK to run the course.

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