Bhakti Summer Holiday Retreat

Program Description

This fourth of July weekend….

Join us at Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville to sing from the depths of your soul. Revel like a child in playful storytelling. Mend your heart through music. Deepen your sense of devotion through ritual. Feel gentle asana as a poetic dance of the heart. Float into mellifluous lullaby, all supported and nourished by the enchanting sounds of Seán Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band.

Bhakti is a Sanskrit word that points to the universal human experience of connecting to the mystery of life through the depths of the heart. Many of bhakti’s practices are devotional folk arts like singing, dancing, storytelling, poetry, and ritual that are meant to be accessible for all.

In this special weekend holiday summer retreat, guided by Seán, and accompanied by The Wild Lotus Band (Alvin Young, Gwendolyn Colman & Narada Wise), experience the depths of bhakti through enchanting storytelling, live music, heartful kirtan chanting, and an imaginative yoga practice that weaves all these elements together.

Join us for a heart-opening Bhakti retreat that includes two concerts, two Bhakti Flow Yoga sessions, and a mythical, musical storytime journey. 

Friday Night

Mantra Music Concert

We welcome you to our retreat together with a night of interactive, soul-stirring music and chant. We’ll light up the room together, like fireworks, with our voices joined together in devotional song. Experience heart-expanding ancient mantras, given new voice through dynamic songs that merge conscious lyrics and New Orleans roots, rock, gospel, and world grooves.

Saturday Morning

“Celebration of Nature” Live Music Bhakti Flow 

This bhakti-inspired all levels flow practice — fueled by storytelling, imaginative vinyasa yoga, chant, and the heart-opening sounds of The Wild Lotus Band– is an opportunity to celebrate the many gifts of nature this holiday weekend in full summer bloom. We’ll embody the elements into this practice through song, movement, and ritual.

Saturday Afternoon

Story Time Journey

Dive deep into the playful, mythic world of Yoga. Relax 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.

Saturday Night Satsang Concert

An evening of Satsang and inspirational mantra music open to the wider Yogaville community! Another evening of interactive, soul-stirring music and chant. We’ll light up the room together, like fireworks, with our voices joined together in devotional song. Experience heart-expanding ancient mantras, given new voice through dynamic songs that merge conscious lyrics and New Orleans roots, rock, gospel, and world grooves.

Sunday Morning

Sanctuary: Deep Peace – Live Music Reclining Yoga Practice & Lullabies

Indulge yourself, relax, recharge, with this slow, spacious, all levels practice guided by Seán and supported by the soothing live sounds of the band. This session includes calming seated and reclining poses, peaceful chants and serene lullabies to support deep rest, sweet closure, and integration to your summer bhakti holiday retreat experience. (

If you can’t make it for the weekend program, join Seán Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band for an intimate Saturday Evening Satsang Concert. All are welcome. The concert is part of the weekend workshop.

Interested in Receiving a Continuing Education (CE) Certificate for this program?

• Yoga Alliance (YA): Approximately 8 contact hours.
• You can input your contact hours using your YA login information.
• Integral Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) can provide you a CE certificate with your program’s total contact hours for a $10 fee (free for IYTA members.) For more information, email ce@iyta.org.

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Schedule