Vibrations of Love with Jack, Soorya, Matthew, & Deviki: Community Kirtan Chanting | Nectar Yoga Bowen Island

Vibrations of Love is a community kirtan on Bowen Island, British Columbia, led by Jack, Soorya, Matthew, and Deviki at Nectar Yoga Retreat. It is an evening of Bhakti kirtan, the devotional practice of call-and-response chanting, open to anyone who wants to sing with others, whether kirtan is familiar or new. Bowen Island is about 20 minutes from Vancouver.

What to Expect

The gathering runs 90 minutes and moves in a gentle arc. It opens with grounding breathwork and mindfulness, so the voice and the body have time to settle. From there the group eases into call-and-response mantra practice: the leaders sing a line, and everyone answers. Most of the mantras are chanted in Sanskrit, the ancient language of Yoga.

The practice connects people through sound, stillness, and community. There is nothing to perform. In call-and-response chanting you follow along, listening and singing back, and the shared sound carries the room.

The Leaders

Kirtan on this evening is offered by four people: Jack, Soorya, Matthew, and Deviki. Deviki also hosts her own heart offerings at Nectar, including a session on relaxing into presence and listening to the deepest longing of the heart. Nectar's page does not give further biographical detail about the four, so the focus here stays on what they bring to the evening: leading the community in devotional chanting.

The Setting

Nectar Yoga Retreat is on Bowen Island, known to the Squamish people as Nexwlélexwm, in Howe Sound. Nectar is a home for visiting yoga teachers and wellness facilitators who host their own retreats, workshops, and classes in its space. Its yoga dome sits among cedar and fir, with forest views and a fireplace. The island is just 20 minutes from Vancouver.

Before You Go

No prior experience with kirtan or Sanskrit is needed. The practice is built around listening and answering, so newcomers can join in as they feel ready. This is a community event, and the aim is to sing together rather than to sing well.