Singing into Wholeness: A Sacred Chant Retreat

Singing into Wholeness is a five-day kirtan retreat at Drala Mountain Center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, led by Sacred Sound Lab. It is a sacred chant retreat for anyone drawn to devotional singing, mantra and Indian sacred music, whether you have never sung in a group or have played for years. Sheela Bringi, Brent Kuecker, Puja Singh, Nabin Shrestha and Elden Kelly make up the faculty.

The premise is simple: we sing not to perform, but to remember our wholeness. The teaching draws on musical traditions from India, including call-and-response devotional songs (kīrtan), chants (mantra) and ancient melodies (rāga).

What to Expect

Each day follows a steady rhythm. Yoga and gentle movement begin at 7:00 AM to prepare the body for singing, followed by breakfast. The whole group gathers from 9:30 AM to noon for voicework, chanting, Indian classical voice, mantra, sonic meditation and rhythm. After lunch there is a long midday break, then small groups meet from late afternoon to 5:30 PM to sing, play and support one another. Dinner is at 6:00 PM. Evening sessions run from 7:30 to 9:00 PM, when everyone comes together for ecstatic chanting, dancing and group singing.

Along the way you can learn kartāl (finger cymbals) and the rhythmic foundations used in kīrtan, and deepen your own voice with guidance suited to every level. You will never be asked to sing solo unless you want to. The retreat opens on arrival day with a Sacred Sound Lab kirtan concert, and an optional harmonium pre-immersion is offered for the two days before.

Your Teachers

Sheela Bringi is a sacred music artist and educator rooted in North Indian classical, devotional and Western traditions. She plays rāga harp, harmonium and bansuri and sings in a Hindustani-inflected style. Raised in Colorado by her South Indian parents, who were her first teachers, she went on to study with maestros G.S. Sachdev and Aashish Khan and continues Hindustani vocal training with Sri Subhashish Mukhopadyay. Her mantra albums Shakti Sutra and Incantations have been featured by NBC News, NPR and PRI.

Brent Kuecker is a yoga teacher, devotional singer and musician who has spent 23 years helping people feel at home in their bodies. He has toured worldwide with Sacred Sound Lab co-founder Sheela Bringi, offering practices that open the voice, attune the nervous system and restore balance through sound, breath and movement.

Puja Singh (they/them) is a queer, non-binary Indian-Canadian teacher of yoga, meditation and devotional music based in Los Angeles. Rooted in their Punjabi Sikh heritage, Puja continues to study their lineage and the traditions that inform their practice. Students describe them as warm, intuitive and deeply grounding.

Nabin Shrestha is a tabla virtuoso and educator, born and trained in Nepal. He holds a Master's degree in Music from Gandharva Music University and has played across Nepal, India and the United States, moving between classical, fusion and jazz settings.

Elden Kelly is a guitarist, improviser and composer whose sound grows from jazz and classical forms. He draws the voices of the bouzouki, oud, sarod and sitar from his guitars, and uses a rotating fret system called the Magic Fret.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center sits in the mountains near Red Feather Lakes. Sessions take place in some of its most resonant spaces, including the Sacred Studies Hall and the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, a 108-foot structure whose stillness and acoustics suit the singing.

Lodging is chosen separately and ranges from off-site stays and car camping to platform tents, dormitories, monk rooms, private rooms and junior suites. Bedding is not provided with tents. Some campgrounds were affected by a recent wildfire, and the effects may still be visible, though they are safe to use. Meals are vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options.

Before You Go

No prior musical experience is needed. Participants receive optional video lessons of about two and a half hours, covering Sanskrit chanting and Indian solfège (sargam), by email after registering. Harmonium materials are offered for beginning, intermediate and advanced players.

Morning movement can be modified for all levels, and music sessions are mostly seated on the floor or in chairs, with freedom to move as needed. Mats, cushions and props are provided. Instruments are not included, and players are encouraged to bring their own.