Yoga & Sound Workshop

Ramanand is a lifelong student of yoga. At twelve years of age he was initiated into yoga practice and philosophy by his father. After meeting a few other teachers, he started more serious study under Yogacharya Sri B.K.S. Iyengar in 1968. Since 1984, he has studied Vedanta philosophy under H.H. Swami Dayananda Saraswati. He has also learned from sharing his knowledge with a vast number of students and teachers since 1964. He has a special interest in the effects of sound on yoga practice and developed a unique workshop in this subject with his friend and world class musician in the North Indian classical style, Pandit Mukesh Desai. Mukesh is a disciple of Pandit Jasraj. In this setting, Ramanand and Mukesh combine their efforts for a safe and penetrating introspection into yoga practice. Ramanand will provide the expertise on learning various asanas in the Iyengar Tradition. Sound will be used as a prop to support deeper penetration and to help introject the breath and senses. While Ramanand instructs the student in asana and breath, Mukesh performs Classical Indian music.

Smith College is a typical well established New England college. Students live in large welcoming wood-frame or brick houses on a leafy campus -- featuring a botanic garden complete with a pond and a waterfall -- in the lively New England town of Northampton. Northampton is conveniently accessible by car from I-91, by rail, and by air from Bradley International Airport in nearby Hartford, CT. It is surprisingly cosmopolitan for a town of 30,000 people and offers many fine restaurants, music venues and a movie theater within walking distance of the downtown campus, as well as an art museum on campus. If you choose not to stay on campus, there are guest houses, a downtown hotel and motels a bit farther out along Routes 9 and I-91. There is a bicycle path through the woods in nearby Amherst.

Cost and format of any future workshops has not been set, however, in 2006, the weeklong workshop was $420, to include residence on campus $600, to include meal plan $840. The format was morning class for 2 1/2 hours, afternoon class for 1 1/2 hours, and an evening session to be determined by Ramanand. One of our evenings included a performance by Mukesh. Any further information or to request to be on our mailing list, email us at hampshireyoga@verizon.net