Sean Johnson & the Wild Lotus Band Bhakti Weekend
Heart of The Village Yoga Presents
A Weekend Of Music, Mantra & Magic: Concerts, Live Music Yoga & Story Time With Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band
Friday October 15th – Sunday October 17th at Stratton Mountain Resort, Vermont
Join Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band for their only New England event of 2021 including two concerts, two bhakti flow yoga sessions, and a storytelling music finale.
The weekend’s events:
Friday Night Mantra Music Concert: 7-9pm
Evening #1 of interactive, soul-stirring ancient mantras given new voice through dynamic songs that merge conscious lyrics and New Orleans roots, rock, gospel, and world grooves. The band will play a completely different set of music from Saturday night.
The event also celebrates the October 29th release of the band’s new album MYSTERY. Their last album Unity debuted #1 on the iTunes World Music Chart, #3 on Billboard, their songs have appeared on Putumayo World Music, and they are the first mantra-based band to ever play The New Orleans Jazz Festival.
Saturday Brigid’s Flame: Live Music Flow: 2-4pm
Learn about the inspiring Celtic goddess and saint Brigid and invoke her archetypal power within you. This imaginative vinyasa yoga practice weaves yoga and Celtic Spirituality, a nature based way of being that invites us to be our authentic selves and to live from our heart. Brigid represents the flame within us to nurture, heal, and protect which we’ll ignite and kindle throughout the practice.
Saturday Night Mantra Music Concert: 7-9pm
Evening #2 of interactive, soul-stirring ancient mantras given new voice through dynamic songs that merge conscious lyrics and New Orleans roots, rock, gospel, and world grooves. The band will play a completely different set of music from Friday night.
The event also celebrates the October 29th release of the band’s new album MYSTERY. Their last album Unity debuted #1 on the iTunes World Music Chart, #3 on Billboard, their songs have appeared on Putumayo World Music, and they are the first mantra-based band to ever play The New Orleans Jazz Festival.
Sunday Morning Sanctuary: Deep Peace — Chanting & Live Music Chill Out: 11am-1pm
Indulge yourself, relax and recharge with this mellow, all levels practice guided by Seán and supported by the soothing live sounds of the band. The class includes serene lullabies and chants to support deep calm and rest.
Sunday Afternoon Story Time: Mystery, Romance & Crazy Wisdom: 3-5pm
Dive deep into the playful, mythic world of yoga. Loosen your mind, laugh, cry, and unpack some inner wisdom. Seán believes that yoga teachers can be modern day bards who help us remember who we are through storytelling. He puts a fun, deep, contemporary spin on inspirational tales from the lore of yoga to bring the stories to life in your own heart. Each tale will be accompanied by the enchanting sounds of The Wild Lotus Band. You’ll have the option to journal and explore what the stories mean to you through intuitive art. Bring a journal and markers or crayons.
Per CDC recommendations for public indoor settings, we have decided to require everyone attending this event to be vaccinated and to wear a mask in the event space. Once you register, and prior to the event, please email a photo of your Covid 19 Vaccination Card to info@heartofvillageyoga.com. You will not be allowed in the event without proof of full Covid 19 vaccination and a mask.
We also recommend you dress in layers and arrive prepared for warm and cold weather. October in Vermont can be warm and in the 80’s or it could be snowing or both – all within 24 hours! We plan to keep the doors to the outside open during the weekend events regardless of temperature to keep fresh air circulating. We will also have portable fans and air cleaners running in the event room throughout the weekend. In addition we are providing ample space between attendees for both the concerts and the mat workshops.
About Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band
New Orleans’ Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band create a universal style of spiritual music filtered through the depth, sincerity, and soul of their own American and ancestral roots. Their music merges conscious lyrics, sacred chants from the spiritual traditions of yoga and beyond, and roots, rock, gospel, and global grooves. They are known for creating interactive, soul-stirring songs to dance and sing along with as well as to grieve and heal.
In 2005, Seán founded the band as a post-hurricane Katrina philanthropic music project, raising funds across the country for relief from the devastation of the storm. The theme of searching for grace and inspiration amidst challenge and destruction has permeated their music ever since. In 2007, they released their first album, ‘Calling The Spirits’ which caught the ears of pioneering Canadian record producer Terry McBride, founder of Nettwerk Records and Lilith Fair. McBride signed the band to Nettwerk for the release of their follow-up album, ‘Devaloka.’ When Putumayo World Music founder, Dan Storper heard ‘Devaloka,’ he chose music off the record to be featured on Putumayo’s first compilation of music designed for yoga. Inclusion on three Putumayo albums has helped propel the band’s music to listeners across the globe. Their last album ‘Unity’ debuted #1 on the iTunes World Music Chart and #3 on Billboard. Their upcoming album ‘Mystery’ will be released on October 29th on Be Still Records. They are a favorite headliner at conscious music festivals across the U.S. and have played The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on multiple occasions.
The band features vocalist/lyricist/harmonium player Seán Johnson; Alvin Young on six string fretless bass and electric guitar; and percussionist/vocalist Gwendolyn Colman. This weekend, they’ll also be joined by Narada Wise on drums.
Seán’s Yoga Bio
In addition to being a musician, Seán is also a yoga teacher and teacher trainer who teaches at conferences and retreat centers internationally including Yoga Journal, Kripalu, Bhakti Fest, and The German Yoga Conference. He is the founder of Wild Lotus Yoga in his beloved hometown dubbed "New Orleans’ Home for Heart-Centered Yoga," and Soul School, an interdisciplinary yoga teacher training program that focuses on teaching yoga with skill, heart, and imagination. He has a Master’s degree from The Naropa Institute-Oakland with focus on teaching chant as spiritual practice, apprenticing there with south Indian musician and teacher Russill Paul, author of The Yoga Of Sound He is the co-curator and coordinator of Putumayo World Music’s yoga music series. Seán is passionate about his Irish roots and ancestry, a pillar of his spirituality. He co-leads online Celtic Spirituality gatherings and retreats in Ireland each year with his friend, Ireland native Mary Meighan, founder of Celtic Journeys.
In all these roles, Seán relishes creating a playful, tender, brave space for people to open their hearts and voices, and embrace their innate creativity.
For more info, visit www.SeanJohnsonAndTheWildLotusBand.com
LODGING: If you are looking to stay at the Stratton Mountain Resort, click here to book discounted lodging by October 1. Please know that it is the off season at the ski resort with plenty of hiking and beautiful vistas but a strong likelihood of no open food venues. So if you book a condominium unit at the Long Trail House, where each unit has a full kitchen, bring coffee, tea, lunch, breakfast, dinner, snacks for the weekend. The nearest deli/grocery/package store is 4-5 miles away. Manchester is a 30 minute drive offering restaurants, shopping and lodging as well.