Singing into Wholeness: A Sacred Chant Retreat

We gather to sing not for performance, but to reconnect with the fullness already within us.

Join Sacred Sound Lab for a five-day retreat designed to awaken and deepen the music in your voice, body, and heart.

Over five days of chanting, singing, rhythm, movement, and meditation, participants explore sacred sound in a welcoming, heart-centered setting. Led by teachers with decades of study in Indian sacred music and yogic traditions, this learning space embraces everyone — from complete beginners to experienced musicians — and honors every voice.

Drawing from devotional call-and-response singing (kīrtan), mantra, and ancient Indian melodies (rāga), the retreat offers accessible daily practices that help you embody your voice more fully. Mornings begin with gentle movement, voicework, and chanting. Afternoons are devoted to small-group music-making, where participants can sing, play, and support one another. Evenings bring the full group together for uplifting singing, dancing, and connection.

Sessions take place in some of Drala Mountain Center’s most resonant spaces, including the Sacred Studies Hall and the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, a 108-foot structure whose stillness and acoustics enrich every note. Surrounded by mountains and supported by a long history of practice on this land, the environment invites presence, quiets the mind, and opens the heart. Whether you come to sing, listen, lead, play an instrument, or simply rest in the current of sacred sound, you are welcome exactly as you are.

You may also arrive two days early for a pre-immersion focused on harmonium. More information about the pre-program is available through Sacred Sound Lab.

What to Expect

• Yoga and embodiment practices to prepare the body for singing
• Contemplative Indian singing and meditative chanting
• Devotional and ecstatic group singing
• Small-group sessions to sing, play, and learn together
• Accessible training in Indian rhythm and finger cymbals
• Expert voicework to support all levels
• Open to everyone — beginners and experienced musicians alike

Retreat Faculty

Sheela Bringi (she/her) is a sacred music artist and educator grounded in North Indian classical, devotional, and Western traditions. Her radiant sound, shaped by rāga harp, harmonium, bansuri, and Hindustani-inflected vocals, creates a luminous and transcendent atmosphere. Raised in Colorado by her South Indian parents, her first teachers, she later studied with maestros G.S. Sachdev and Aashish Khan, and continues Hindustani vocal training with Sri Subhashish Mukhopadyay. Her acclaimed mantra albums Shakti Sutra and Incantations have been featured by NBC News, NPR, and PRI.

Brent Kuecker (he/him) is a yoga teacher, devotional singer, and musician who has spent 23 years helping people feel at home in their bodies. Through the intertwined paths of yoga and sacred sound, he supports others in remembering the body as a sanctuary — an instrument of listening, presence, and devotion. He has toured worldwide with Sacred Sound Lab co-founder Sheela Bringi, offering practices that open the voice, attune the nervous system, and restore inner balance through sound, breath, and movement.

Puja Singh (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, trans Indian-Canadian teacher of yoga, meditation, and devotional music based in Los Angeles. Their work invites students to slow down, cultivate presence, and reconnect with their authentic voice. Rooted in Punjabi Sikh heritage, Puja is committed to ongoing study of their lineage and the cultural traditions that shape their practice, sharing through a lens of decolonization and the dismantling of oppressive systems. Students describe Puja as warm, intuitive, and deeply grounding, with musical offerings that open the heart and invite stillness, healing, and connection.

Nabin Shrestha (he/him) is an acclaimed tabla virtuoso and educator whose artistry bridges Hindustani classical depth with contemporary global influences. Born and trained in Nepal, he has devoted his life to rhythm, earning a Master’s degree in Music from Gandharva Music University, the Shri Hari Om Trust Award, and an ICCR scholarship. His playing combines technical mastery with immersive expression, moving fluidly between classical, fusion, jazz, and cross-cultural settings across Nepal, India, and the United States.

Why Attend?

• Begin or deepen your sacred sound practice within a compassionate, supportive community.
• Receive clear, expert guidance rooted in decades of study in Indian and Western traditions.
• Strengthen your musical skills through accessible training in melody, vocal expression, and rhythm.
• Nourish your mind, body, and spirit through movement, breath, and the calming effect of chant.
• Leave renewed and inspired, with practices you can continue at home and greater confidence in your voice.

Daily Schedule

• 7:00–8:00 am — Yoga / Movement
• 8:00–9:00 am — Breakfast
• 9:30 am–12:00 pm — Morning Session (Whole Group) Vocal warm-ups, Indian classical voice, mantra, sonic meditation, and rhythm exploration
• 12:30–1:30 pm — Lunch
• 1:30–4:00 pm — Break (rest, practice, etc.)
• 4:00–5:30 pm — Small-Group Music-Making
• 6:00–7:00 pm — Dinner
• 7:30–9:00 pm — Evening Session (Whole Group) Ecstatic Chanting

Lodging

Several accommodation options are available during checkout, and all include healthy meals and drinks. Meals are vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.

Off Land
Participants who prefer to commute from home or arrange their own lodging off-campus, such as a bed and breakfast or nearby camping, pay tuition plus $40 per night for meals and use of the facilities.

Car Camping
Five primitive parking spots are available in the Rigden parking lot for those who wish to park and sleep there. This includes food and access to the bathhouses in Rigden Lodge. Please note that there are no water or electric hookups for RVs.

Single and Double Tents
Located in campgrounds throughout the property, these 12′ x 14′ tents include two twin beds, two bookcases, and a hanging clothes rack. Each campground has a shared bathhouse. Summer platform tents are available from late May through early September. Tents may be rented as single or double occupancy. Some campgrounds were affected by a recent wildfire, and signs of that impact may still be visible this summer, though the areas are safe to use. Bedding is not provided; please bring twin sheets, a blanket or sleeping bag, a pillow, and towels.

Dormitories
Rooms accommodate up to 7–8 people and are gender-segregated, with men in one dorm and women in another. Bathrooms are shared and located down the hall, with shower stalls available.

Monk Rooms
A cost-effective indoor option for solo lodging, these rooms offer more privacy than the dorms while still using a shared bathroom. Located in the same hall as the Rigden Dormitories, they include a bed, bedding, a private room, closet, large window, desk, and desk chair.

Single and Double Rooms
Ideal for those seeking both privacy and an attached bathroom, these rooms offer a bit more space, along with a dresser, closet, and a 3/4 bathroom with toilet, sink, and shower.

Junior Suite
The Lodge Junior Suites feature a queen-size bed with a cozy comforter, desk, dresser, closet, private bath with bathtub, and a sitting area.

FAQs

What if I feel shy or self-conscious about my voice?
You’re not alone. Many people feel this way, and the retreat container is compassionate and supportive. You will never be asked to sing solo unless you choose to.

Is this retreat appropriate for beginners?
Yes. No prior musical experience is needed.

Do I need to prepare?
Optional self-paced prep videos, totaling about 2.5 hours, are available, along with harmonium materials for all levels. The link is included in the confirmation email from Drala.

Is this retreat right for me if I already have a musical practice?
Absolutely. The instructors support all levels and help participants grow within the group experience.

How physically active are the sessions?
Morning yoga and embodied movement are accessible, with modifications for all levels. Music sessions are mostly seated, either on the floor or in chairs, with freedom to move or adjust as needed. Drala provides mats, cushions, and props.

Will I learn how to play an instrument?
You’ll deepen your vocal instrument, learn kartāl (finger cymbals), and explore the rhythmic foundations used in kīrtan. Harmonium learners receive optional prep materials, and those who already play are encouraged to bring their instruments.