|
Snatam KaurArtist Bio: Snatam Kaur was introduced to music and spiritual practice at an early age. Schooled in kirtan, meditation, and Gurmukhi, the Sanskrit-based language of Sikh scriptures from Northern India, the young Snatam Kaur began to develop the devotion and skills that have grown and blossomed into a compelling, profound talent. Snatam Kaur's parents brought her up in the Sikh tradition as taught by Yogi Bhajan. From an early age, she practiced yoga and meditation daily and her mother taught her Gurmukhi. "My mother taught me the alphabet on my way to school every morning," recalls Snatam. Her Sikh community augmented these lessons with instruction in kirtan (devotional chanting). "Through these experiences, I learned the pronunciation," she says, "but also I learned the passion for [+] Click to read morewhat I was singing because these gatherings were so spiritual." As a child, Snatam also had training in voice, violin, guitar, and percussion. She obtained a solid foundation in Western classical music while playing violin in an orchestra and giving solo performances. Her many opportunities to use and expand her musical talent in a spiritual setting emphasized for her the connection between her music and spirituality. "I learned about the importance of sound currents from Yogi Bhajan," she says, "but I also had the personal experience of how the energy of these sacred words can have a very real, positive effect." Snatam further explored the power of sound in India. After high school, her love for the Indian musical tradition and for children took her to Miri Piri Academy, a boarding school for children in India. She spent time taking care of the young children, teaching physical education, and providing music for the children's morning and evening chanting. When she returned to the United States, she attended Mills College in Oakland, California, where she obtained a degree in biochemistry, taught yoga classes, and shared her chants with Western audiences. But India called her back. After touring and performing Kirtan in northern India, Snatam settled in Amritsar where she studied music with the accomplished ragi (Indian master of Sikh-style kirtan) Bhai Hari Singh. This was a great honor for her, and particularly meaningful because Singh was the same teacher who had taught her mother when she was just a little girl. Snatam embraced everything that Singh taught her, from the technical aspects of the notes, to the ability to sing with presence and awareness. The lessons took place in Singh's home, where Snatam was welcomed by the entire family--daughters, sons, and grandchildren.  While in Amritsar, Snatam lived next door to the Golden Temple, considered the world's holiest Sikh temple. Sacred music resonates from inside the temple from about 2:30 in the morning to midnight every day-sounds created by world-class masters of Sikh kirtan. This enabled Snatam to continually soak in the essence of the Sound Current. Upon returning to the US from India, Snatam began her career as a recording artist with a band called the Peace Family. She served as the band's lead singer and, with two skilled and accomplished musicians - Livtar Singh and GuruGanesha Singh, had her first opportunity to write songs. Two years later she began to develop her own sound and style and embarked on a very fruitful solo career. |
| |
 | Sacred Chant Concert | Lebanon, New Hampshire | 09/01/2010 | | Children's Yoga Adventure | Lebanon, New Hampshire | 09/01/2010 | | Ecstatic Chant: The Yoga of Voice | Rhinebeck, New York | 09/03/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Auburn, New York | 09/07/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Auburn, New York | 09/08/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | New York, New York | 09/10/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | West Long Branch, New Jersey | 09/12/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 09/15/2010 | | Children's Yoga Adventure | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 09/15/2010 | | Spirit Fest | High View, West Virginia | 09/17/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Norfolk, Virginia | 09/21/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Atlanta, Georgia | 09/24/2010 | | Sacred Chant Workshop | Clearwater, Florida | 09/26/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Sarasota, Florida | 09/29/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Clearwater, Florida | 10/01/2010 | | Sacred Chant Concert | Hollywood, Florida | 10/03/2010 |
 Meditation:Healing with Ra Ma Da Sa
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Sit in easy pose with a straight spine. Bring your arms in towards your body so that the upper arms are up against the ribs and place the palms skyward at a 60-degree angle from the body. Feel the healing energy that comes into your hands.
Eyes:Close the eyes and focus at the third eye point.
Time:11 minutes
End:Inhale deeply, hold the breath , meditate on the being that you wish to bring healing to. Keep that image in your mind and exhale. Inhale deeply again and visualize a green healing light around your visualization. Repeat the breath cycle a total of 3 times, with the visualization in your mind. Exhale and Relax.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Connect to the Golden Chain of Teachers
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: To meditate to this, simply bring the hands into prayer pose at the heart center, close the eyes, and chant. Feel Yogi Bhajan with you, and the light of Guru Ram Das as you tune in. There is no time set for how long you should chant it...Just keep chanting until you feel connected.
Eyes:Eyes are closed.
Time:11 to 31 Minutes
End:Inhale and hold the breath for 10 seconds and relax.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Awaken the Soul to the Universal Flow of Light
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Sit in easy pose, with a straight spine, and slightly tuck the chin in. With the elbows straight bring the hands into Gyan Mudra. Gyan Mudra is where the Jupiter finger touches the thumb and the elbows are straight as seen in the picture, with the hands resting on the knees.
Eyes:Focus the eyes at the tip of the nose.
Time:11 to 31 Minutes
End:When you have finished the meditation, take a deep breath and hold the breath for 20-30 seconds. Merge with God. Then relax the breath.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Trust the Divine Self
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Sit in easy pose, with a straight spine, and slightly tuck the chin in. With the elbows straight bring the hands into Gyan Mudra. Gyan Mudra is where the Jupiter finger touches the thumb and the elbows are straight as seen in the picture, with the hands resting on the knees.
Eyes:Close the eyes, and focus the eyes at the third eye point (the point in between the eyebrows) .
Time:11 to 31 Minutes
End:To finish, inhale, hold the breath for 20-30 seconds and feel the energy of this sacred chant circulate throughout your body. Clear yourself, and allow the energy of Guru Ram Das to be with you.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Experience & Project Your Original Self
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Sit with a straight spine. Bring your left arm up parallel to the ground, elbow bent, hand in front of your heart center, palm facing the Earth. Stretch your right arm out to the side and bend your elbow at a 90 degree angle with your palm facing forward, your hand in gyan mudra, fingers pointing to the Sky. Chant this mantra.
Eyes:Close your eyes.
Time:11 to 31 Minutes
End:When you finish, inhale and hold the breath for 20 to 30 seconds. Relax and exhale. Then inhale and hold the breath again for 20 to 30 seconds. Then relax the breath and the posture and sit for a few minutes in silence and gratitude, allowing the meditation to integrate into your being.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Synchronize with the Universal Flow of Light
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Sit it with a straight spine. Hold the hands at the level of the heart center. The right hand is on back of the left hand, both palms face down. The right thumb is bent and comes under the left hand and touches the palm. The left thumb is bent and also touches the left palm. The bent thumbs are pressed together so that thumbnails touch.
Eyes:Look at the tip of the nose.
Time:11 to 31 Minutes
End:When you finish, inhale and hold the breath for 20-30 seconds. Relax the breath. Then inhale and hold the breath again for 20-30 seconds. Then relax the breath and the posture and sit for a few minutes in silence and gratitude, allowing the meditation to integrate into your being.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Release Fear
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Sit on your heels with a straight spine. Stretch your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground (A).
Your palms should be facing the ground, fingers pointing straight forward. Your arms should be shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms up to a 60º angle (B).
Aadays (B) Tisay (A) Aadays (B)
Aad (A) Aneel (B) Anaad (A) Anahat (B)
Jug Jug (A) Ayko (B) Vays (A)
Continue, keeping your hands and elbows held straight out firmly, and with no bend, fingers pointing straight forward, chin pulled slightly in, and spine straight. This is done in a precise beat, and with projection and strength. Chant from your navel.
Eyes:Keep your eyes focused on the tip of your nose.
Time:11 to 31 Minutes
End:To end, inhale deeply and hold the (B) Posture briefly and then relax.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |  Meditation:Transform Challenges into Stepping Stones
Teacher:Snatam Kaur
Posture: Section A: 0 minutes- 13:50 minutes. In the first few minutes of the recording, enjoy the musical melody, sing and open your body and mind to the possibility of transformation. You can sing, do simple yoga stretches, breathe, or meditate.
Section B: 13:50 minutes – 15:07 Prepare your self for deep meditation as outlined in section C as the music transitions.
Section C: 15:07- end. Sit in easy pose, with a straight spine, and slightly tuck the chin in. With the elbows straight bring the hands into Gyan Mudra. We ask that you cover your head for this sacred recitation experience. Gyan Mudra is where the Jupiter finger touches the thumb and the elbows are straight as seen in the picture, with the hands resting on the knees. Focus the eyes at the third eye point. Allow yourself to go deeply into the recitation as you chant along, giving yourself fully to the energy of the Shabad. Yogi Bhajan taught us to recite this Shabad 11 times per day, and to perfect the sound current of it. In this recitation section the Shabad in fact repeats 11 times. So, spend time listening to the recording, and try to match the pronunciation. At first you can read the words until you are familiar enough with them to assume the eye focus as instructed above.
Time:31 minutes
End:To finish, inhale and hold the breath for 20-30 seconds, and in silence allow the energy to circulate. Exhale and relax.
Continue Reading at Meditation Page
| | |
|
|
|
|
| |
In the News |  |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|