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Music and Mantras
The Yoga of Mindful Singing for Health, Happiness, Peace & Prosperity
By Girish
Contributions by Rolf Gates
Table of Contents
About The Book
“Singing is as human as breathing, and this book tells us why.” —Mark Guarino, contributing music writer, The Guardian
Celebrated yogi-musician Girish opens new possibilities for transforming your life through song, combining the ancient art of singing mantra with twenty-first century neuroscience research.
For as long as he can remember, Girish has created rhythm to accompany life. His first experience of music as sacred art came in college, playing with jazz bands. “During improvisational sessions,” he recalls, “there were these unexplainable moments of synchronicity and intuition that felt like magic.” This led Girish to an unexpected journey—a seeming detour to live as a monk in an ashram for five years that inadvertently nourished his musical artistry. Here, he studied Sanskrit as a means to understand the deeper meanings of ancient chants, which sparked a life-changing event that led him back to music—and to combine music with Sanskrit chants. Now he shares what he’s learned to help people of all ages, backgrounds, and traditions to transform body, brain, and life through mantra and music.
With Music and Mantras, Girish has created an interactive toolkit—including more than ninety minutes of companion audio material—for personal transformation through singing, sharing his own experience as a musician, yogi, and former Hindu monk. Weaving simple, elegant mantras from ancient traditions with neuroscience, Girish shows us how to achieve greater peace of mind, clarity, calm, focus, and even improved health and wealth through the yogic art of chanting—an ideal practice for singing our way to happiness, health, and prosperity.
Celebrated yogi-musician Girish opens new possibilities for transforming your life through song, combining the ancient art of singing mantra with twenty-first century neuroscience research.
For as long as he can remember, Girish has created rhythm to accompany life. His first experience of music as sacred art came in college, playing with jazz bands. “During improvisational sessions,” he recalls, “there were these unexplainable moments of synchronicity and intuition that felt like magic.” This led Girish to an unexpected journey—a seeming detour to live as a monk in an ashram for five years that inadvertently nourished his musical artistry. Here, he studied Sanskrit as a means to understand the deeper meanings of ancient chants, which sparked a life-changing event that led him back to music—and to combine music with Sanskrit chants. Now he shares what he’s learned to help people of all ages, backgrounds, and traditions to transform body, brain, and life through mantra and music.
With Music and Mantras, Girish has created an interactive toolkit—including more than ninety minutes of companion audio material—for personal transformation through singing, sharing his own experience as a musician, yogi, and former Hindu monk. Weaving simple, elegant mantras from ancient traditions with neuroscience, Girish shows us how to achieve greater peace of mind, clarity, calm, focus, and even improved health and wealth through the yogic art of chanting—an ideal practice for singing our way to happiness, health, and prosperity.
About The Author
Lorenz Photography
Girish is an internationally touring world music artist, teacher, and author. He began his music career as a jazz drummer, spent five years as a monk in a Hindu monastery, returned to music as a session tabla player on more than a hundred world music albums, and for the past twelve years has written, recorded, and performed his own original music and taught Sanskrit mantras and chanting in music festivals and yoga studios all over the world. His six albums have received critical acclaim from O, The Oprah Magazine, Yoga Journal, and The Guardian, among others. Girish's book, Music and Mantras, continues Girish's mission to share the art of meditation through music and mantra with the world. He lives in Santa Cruz, CA.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria/Enliven Books (October 4, 2016)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781501112232
Raves and Reviews
"In this beautiful book, Girish shares his long and wonderful relationship and experiences blending the practice of Chanting and Music."
– Krishna Das
"Long before popular music was industrialized, folk music in America was focused, not on the individual, but on community — people gathering together in living rooms, front porches, and town squares to play music of their ancestors and, more importantly, to sing in one voice. Girish shows how this tradition is an ancient one and why ritual is so important for nurturing wellness, not just of the individual but also among neighbors and friends. His own personal journey as a former jazz musician itself connects the dots between the West and East. Singing is as human as breathing, and this book tells us why."
– Mark Guarino, contributing music writer, The Guardian
"Let the masterful Girish lead you on a journey of spiritual unfoldment through the vibrations of mantra. The practices in Music and Mantras will transform and uplift you; listen and follow."
– Yogi Cameron, bestselling author, yoga & Ayurveda master
“I believe the book you are holding will change the world. In the years to come the inclusion of mantra practice and mindful singing into everything from yoga teacher training curricula to therapeutic treatment plans will be able to rest upon the foundation Girish has laid with this book.”
– Rolf Gates, teacher and bestselling author of Meditations from the Mat and Meditations on Intention and Being
"Girish has provided a pathway to an integration of personal awareness, expanded understanding, developed skill, and the experience of oneness with our Source. He invites the singer into a discipline which offers opportunities for growth, healing, and peace of mind. That wonderful mystery that while we each do our own work we are one can be seen in Girish’s sharing and experienced as we join our voice with his."
– Daniel Comstock, director of the Center for Attitudinal Healing & the Arts, Missoula, MT
“Girish has written a beautiful book with specific tools and information on this deep and life-changing practice. This book is a support to anyone finding their voice in the world.”
– Mariam Gates, ME.d, author Good Night Yoga and Morning Yoga
“Girish is one of the rare, few integrators of the power of traditional chanting with exquisite contemporary musical artistry. For years I’ve found his chanting to be profoundly moving. And now with his book, Music and Mantras, you too can be enchanted and transformed through Girish’s enlightened words and voice. This book will illuminate your mind and enhance your life with the power of mantra and chanting.”
– Dan Leven, director of Leven Institute for Expressive Movement and faculty member at Kripalu Center
“Girish writes and sings from a nonlinear place. He journeys deep into a cave and finds the Source, the Sound, which comes up through his Heart. His book will help and inspire so many... as when you are blessed to hear his voice.”
– Gurmukh, bestselling author and pioneering teacher of Kundalini Yoga
“Music & Mantras is a beautiful contribution to all of us who seek greater harmony in our lives. It artfully combines ancient chanting with modern applications to heal our bodies and free our souls.”
– Gay Hendricks, Ph.D., author of The Big Leap and Conscious Loving
"Music and Mantras is a must read for all those looking to deepen their awareness of Bhakti Yoga. Girish dives into the many facets of voice, sacred pronunciation and meanings to create a very rewarding and thorough experience for readers."
– Sridhar Silberfein, producer/creator of Bhaktifest, producer of “River of Love"
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): Music and Mantras eBook 9781501112232
- Author Photo (jpg): Girish Lorenz Photography(0.1 MB)
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