7-day Chant Retreat & Training

This seven-day chant retreat and training in the Sydney hinterland of Australia is an immersion in Sanskrit mantra chanting and sound yoga therapy with Anandra. It is open to beginners and experienced singers alike, and suits anyone who wants to come back to the pleasure of singing, rest in nature, and gather a practical toolkit of vocal and mantra practices to carry home.

Anandra has led nearly 100 retreats over a 25-year career, and this one belongs to her Heart of Sound series, offered with a global chant community in person.

What to Expect

Days are built around daily devotional mantra and music sessions, where the aim is to find your heart's voice and sing with others. Alongside the singing there is time for play, spaciousness and rest, and for taking in the healing quality of the natural surroundings.

The teaching side of the week is optional. If you would rather simply be on retreat, you are welcome to skip the study sessions. For those who enjoy the details, the content includes:

- The living vibrations of each Sanskrit alphabet sound, with more refined pronunciation
- The Tantrik, non-dual philosophy of the Sanskrit alphabet as a language of conscious creation
- The tones of Indian music (Sa, Re, Ga and so on) and devotional songs based on Indian rāga
- Tools for working with mantra to shape the mind and change old habits
- Practices for self-regulating the nervous system, supporting physical, emotional and mental wellbeing
- Everything you need to start or deepen a home chant practice

The retreat also includes a Sanskrit 101 course, which gives a basic foundation in mantra pronunciation for those who engage with it.

About Anandra

Anandra teaches sound yoga therapy and Sanskrit mantra chanting, and leads the Heart of Sound community and its teacher trainings. Her 25 years of work include nearly 100 retreats held in places such as Hawai'i, Europe and India, and she describes her approach as one that keeps the full power of mantra while steering clear of cultish dogma and dull, unskillful chanting. Retreats under the Heart of Sound name are offered worldwide by Anandra and by graduates of her training.

Before You Go

No experience is necessary. Musicians and non-musicians, introverts and extroverts, and people of any age, ability, gender, nationality, and religious or non-religious background are welcome.

The retreat also counts toward in-person attendance hours for the Heart of Sound 200-hour and 500-hour Yoga Alliance teacher trainings, and package deals combining a retreat with a training are available. Yoga Alliance registered teachers can use the week toward their annual 40 hours of continuing education.

If you are unsure whether this retreat or a package is the right fit, a free 30-minute discovery call with the team is available.