Sequoia, who goes mostly by her first name, explains the chanting. “The kirtan chanting is devotional singing in a call-and-response style, rooting from the ancient yoga of India called bhakti yoga,” she says.

Sequoia said the chanting will have benefits for those attending the yoga sessions. “It provides an opportunity to sing,” she says, “and be open to the vast moments of the heart through music.”

Whitwell will be the featured instructor at an upcoming yoga retreat in November at Calliote Canyon in Ojai. The event will feature three days and nights of yoga practice with specially prepared ayurvedic food, massage, consultations and, of course, yoga mat instruction at the posh retreat nestled in the mountains of Ojai.

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Bhakti as a process of yoga (Bhakti yoga) is described in detail famously within the Bhagavad Gita, wherein it is given as the ultimate form of religious expression[3], for which all other dharmas should be abandoned[4] and also in other texts such as the Narada Bhakti Sutra.
Bhakti is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning devotion. Within Vaishnavism bhakti is only used in conjunction with Vishnu, Krishna or of the associated incarnations,[1] who are the source of attractiveness. Krishna is currently an important and popular focus of the devotional and ecstatic aspects of Hindu religion, particularly among the Vaishnava sects.[2] However, it is likewise sometimes used as a term toward Shiva by some traditions of Shaivism and Shakti by some traditions of Shaktism.

The word ‘bhakti’ means devotion, and Bhakti yoga may be defined as devotional yoga. It is considered to be the most natural path for those who are seeking emotional well-being and fulfillment. The focus of Bhakti yoga is to surrender oneself in the face of the Divine through worship, prayer, chanting and singing. This yoga is based on the doctrine “Love is God and God is Love”.

With Bhakti yoga, one meditates by visualizing, thinking and feeling that his Lord is sitting or standing before him. He then shares his love, adoration and deepest thoughts and concerns with his Lord until there is a continual flow of awareness moving between himself and his Lord. This results in a superconscious state of awareness known as a bhava which can improve the character and bring about more frequent moments of higher consciousness. With further practice, a sense of a permanent relationship with his Lord can be achieved.

Rupa Gosvami wrote the Bhakti-rasamrita-sindhu in which nine primary activities of bhakti are detailed and include the following:

• Hearing about the Lord, including songs and chants with God’s name as well as stories from scripture.
• Remembering the Lord which is achieved through internal mediation on the Lord and his from, activities, names and/or personality.
• Worshipping the Lord.
• Offering Prayers to the Lord, including any form of prayer intended to please God.
• Serving the Lord, which is comprised of any service offered for the Lord’s pleasure.
• Creating a Friendship with the Lord, achieved through building a loving internal relationship
• Glorifying the Lord by means of describing the all-attractive features of God.
• with God.
• Surrendering All unto the Lord, including one’s thoughts, deeds and actions.
• Serving the Lotus Feet of the Lord which is achieved through physical service.