Bhakti Lounge the heart of yoga (formerly Urbanedgeyoga)

Bhakti Retreat – Dealing with desiresPosted by admin on November 20th, 2011

Title: Bhakti Recharge Retreat
Location: Sugar Ridge Retreat centre, Wyebridge
Start Date: Feb 18 – 19, 2012
Retreat Fees - $115 ($20 additional approx if you need us to arrange a ride)
Student discount : $15

Join us this winter for an enlivening weekend, away from the city and in the lap of nature.

No one comes into the world thinking I am just a no body with any purpose in life. We all have a dream – a desire, a hope that wakes us up every morning or keeps us going from job to job and from person to person. What is it that we are constantly seeking? Why is there always something more to be had before we can be fulfilled? Oscillating between the extremes of materialism and altruism there never comes a point when one feels like we have it all – my desires are fully satisfied. What is the root cause of our constant desire to strive for just a little bit more? What’s the right answer – freedom from desire, annihilation of desire or perfection of desire? Join in for a special retreat designed to take a fresh new look at the game of desire.

Join us for series of workshops designed to illuminate the spiritual interior. Key themes:
* Exploring heart’s desire
* Coping with desire
* Power of desire
* Desiring in perfection

What to expect

* Delicious vegan meals
* Yoga workouts
* Melodious meditation sessions with Kirtan
* Swaying to mantras
* Enlightening discussions on the knowledge from ancient yoga texts like Bhagavad Gita
* Snow walks

And a lot of amazing new friends ….all at Bhakti Recharge Feb 2012

Prior RSVP is required to make travel and accommodation arrangements. Contact 647 261 7499 for further details.

Bhagavad Gita – Karma KonnectionPosted by admin on November 16th, 2011

Title: Bhagavad Gita – Karma Konnection
Location: Centre for international experience, 33 St George Street, Baldwin room
Facilitator : Mangal-arti
Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner
Description: The world has now officially crossed the 7 billion human population mark. Looked at from a distance we are all the same with two legs, two arms, a mouth etc. However looked closely, no two people are the same. In this world we take pride in being unique and are groomed to uniquely position ourselves in the world through University education, formal training etc.You won’t find one pair of body exactly of the same nature. Yoga texts explain that is not possible. Because everyone’s karma is different – find out more about Karma, its connection with the body and the destination of our lives.

Join us for an enlightening discussion, meditation and a delicious vegan dinner.
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2011-11-18
End Time: 20:00

Kirtan Nights – MeditationPosted by admin on November 1st, 2011

Title: Kirtan Nights – Meditation
Location: University of Toronto
Date: Monday, Nov 07 2011
Time:06:30 PM till 08:30 PM
Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner

Description: Revive your spirits this evening with soothing musical meditations. Let go the stress and anxiety that we accrue through the course of our day. Start your week soaking in some spiritual strength from easy group meditations we will experience through the course of the workshop.

The cook prepares a delicious vegan meal while the team ventures into a spiritual quest to the sound of ancient yoga mantras. Enjoy the soul stirring atmosphere so created. While you are at it, you may even pick a few instruments and learn to play along.

Please RSVP to reserve a spot.

Roadmap for Green Tomorrows – Discussion & diningPosted by Mangalaarti on October 1st, 2011

Title: Roadmap for Green Tomorrows – Discussion & dining
Location: Centre for Internationl Experience, 33 St George street
Date: Thursday, Oct 27 2011
Time:05:00 PM till 07:00 PM

Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner
Facilitator : Mangal-arti
Description: As the world slips deeper in midst of the environmental issues, it is important to consider our impact, as a species on our environments. Scientists have coined the term Geo-physical force to describe human beings, not like a compliment but in terms of the destructive force we have applied. If we want our future generations not to be able to roam freely on the planet, breathe fresh air or drink clean water, scientists say all we need to do is to continue on our current track.

Now is the perfect time to ask yourself the question – can I make a positive difference in the world today and make it a better place for myself and everyone I know. If we still want to have forests and trees a few years from now, how are we going to make it happen. What is our roadmap for a green tomorrow ? Join in for an intriguing discussion to study the deep connection between yoga and sustainability issues of today.

RSVP to reserve a spot.

Reincarnation Demystified – Bhagavad GitaPosted by Mangalaarti on September 25th, 2011

Title: Reincarnation Demystified – Bhagavad Gita
Location: Bhakti Lounge, 324 Bloor St W, #1
Date: Friday, Sep 30 2011
Time:06:30 PM till 08:30 PM
Description : Is it possible that we have been traversing the Universe life after life? Join us a we share with you millenia of extensive research and spiritual insights. If you want to gain real control over your destiny, you must understand reincarnation and how it works.

Man’s eternal quest for immortality is so fundamental that we find it nearly impossible to conceive the thought of dying. Most of us seldom, if ever, think about death or what happens afterward, and if we do- then where do you start looking for answers? Some say that death is the end of everything. Some believe in heaven and hell. Still others hold that this life is only one of many we have lived and will live in the future. And there are many who accept reincarnation as an irrevocable fact of life. Reincarnation is not a “belief system,” or a psychological device for escaping the “grim finality” of death, but a precise science that explains our past and future lives- come out to the discussion to learn more!

Do we reincarnate instantaneously,slowly, or over a long period of time? Can other living beings, like animals, reincarnate in human bodies? Can man appear as an animal? Do we reincarnate forever, or does it end somewhere? Can we control our future incarnations? Can we be reborn on other planets or in other universes? Do good and evil actions play a role in determining our next body? What is the relationship between karma and reincarnation? All this and more will be discussed.

The discussion will be followed by soul soothing musical meditation .
To end the event- we will prepare, as always, an entirely vegan meal, including desert – to compliment your satiated spiritual and philosophical appetite!
RSVP to reserve a spot.

Bhagavad Gita – renunciation, walking away from it allPosted by Mangalaarti on August 1st, 2011

Title: Bhagavad Gita – renunciation, walking away from it all
Location: Bhakti Lounge, 324 Bloor Street W, #1
Date: Friday, Aug 12 2011
Time:06:30 PM till 08:30 PM
Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner
Facilitator : Gopal Krishna Swami

Description: Join us this Friday for an evening with Gopal Krishna Swami. He will unveil secrets of the Bhagavad Gita – ancient yoga text and share his realisations from over 40 years of spiritual experiences and travels to every continent of the globe. He guides and inspires students in several countries and continents like Russia, America, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.

A book of the Hindus or a mystery of the east, several myths surround this ancient text. Great mystics, thinkers and philosophers ranging from Gandhi to Emerson have derived great inspiration from it.

This book is a guided tour that helps you find answers to questions like : Is Karma the universal teacher, why do bad things happen to good people, the nature of consciousness, finding happiness in daily grind, does the world have a purpose and what is the art of love and relationships.

It talks of a highly advanced civilization that spread across the entire globe and of warriors who showed both prowess and wisdom. This ancient text was spoken in the middle of a battle field and at the heart of this text lies a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna through which Krishna imparts the most exquisite and detailed knowledge about the nature of Karma, Time, Material world, Reincarnation, soul and the supreme being…that’s the conversation we will explore every Friday evening accompanied with meditation, dinner and fun conversations.

For this course we will be using ‘Bhagvad Gita As it is’ by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Happiness – Your life, your future, your choicePosted by Mangalaarti on July 24th, 2011

Title: Happiness – Your life, your future, your choice
Location: Bhakti Lounge, 324 Bloor Street West, #1
Date: Thursday, Aug 04 2011
Time:06:30 PM till 08:30 PM
Guest Speaker : BB Bhagvat Swami
Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner

Description : Is happiness a question of helpless fate or a result of sustained aggressive planning? Do we stand a chance against an onslaught of depression amongst waves of increasing career and life pressures? Join us for an evening with BB Bhagvat Swami, a Swami for approximately 3 decades, who will share techniques for ever increasing happiness through the ancient knowledge of Yoga. He has designed several courses on study of ancient yoga texts and leads programs for advanced Bhakti Courses in several acadamies of Vedic learning. He has travelled extensively in India, Europe, America, Africa and Canada for past 30 years connecting people with the knowledge of yoga and meditation.

Life in big city can easily get overloaded by work demands, rising rental prices, school pressure, time issues, relationship constraints – the list is endless. Depression is almost a chronic epidemic in such times and happiness a goal for the future. Even though we spend all our time planning for a future happiness – did we truly get there ? If not, what’s our plan to get there ?

Join in for an evening of meditation, dinner and exclusive insightful discussion with BB Bhagvat Swami.

RSVP to reserve a spot.
Delicious vegan dinner for all participants followed by a round of dessert.

Yoga, Meditation and eat all you can – the complete packagePosted by Mangalaarti on July 8th, 2011

Title: Yoga, Meditation and eat all you can – the complete package
Location: Urbanedgeyoga, 324 Bloor Street West, #1
Date: Tuesday, Jul 26 2011
Time:06:30 PM till 08:30 PM
Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner
Facilitator : Mangal-arti

Description: Come experience a 60 minute yoga class designed to stretch, relax, and revitalize your muscles. We will be flowing through a variety of postures starting with Surya Namaskar – Sun Salutation, while listening too the Rhythmic music of mridanga (traditional Indian drum), cymbals and tambourine in time with the pace of the postures. Enhance your yoga practice by allowing the music to complement the movements and reach new heights !
After 60 min we’ll sink into deep relaxation and cap it all with some meditative kirtan. Kirtan is a powerful Sonic Yoga experience, a jewel of the ancient yoga system. Kirtan is a mix of music and meditation to cultivate inner strength and clarity of mind. Sometimes it is soft and meditative and sometimes it can get a little wild! Come and join in!
To top it all off there is an amazing vegan dinner and desert- all prepared fresh on site.

Yoga – Spring into actionPosted by Mangalaarti on March 24th, 2011

Title: Yoga – Spring into action
Location: Urbanedgeyoga, 324 Bloor St W, #1
Date: Tuesday, Apr 05 2011
Time:06:30 PM till 08:30 PM
Facilitator: Mangal-arti
Event Fee : $7 ($5 for students)

Description: Join in for an all in all relaxing and revitalizing experience. A 60 minute yoga class designed to stretch your muscles. We will be flowing through a variety of postures starting with Surya Namaskar – Sun Salutation. Rhythmic music of mridanga (traditional Indian drum), cymbals and tambourine in tune with pace of the postures. Enhance your yoga practice by allowing the music to aid release and reach heights yet to experience !

After 60 min we’ll sink into deep relaxation and cap it all with some meditative kirtan. Kirtan is a powerful Sonic Yoga experience, a jewel of the ancient yoga system. Kirtan is a mix of music and meditation to cultivate inner strength and clarity of mind. Sometimes it is soft and meditative and sometimes it can get a little mild, all to make you feel good!

Top it all with a delicious Vegan dinner and a delicious desert.

Special Krishna Fest – Golden Moon RisingPosted by Mangalaarti on March 12th, 2011

Title: Special Krishna Fest – Golden Moon Rising
Location: Urbanedgeyoga, 324 Bloor St W, #1
Date: Sunday, March 13 2011
Time:11:00 AM till 01:30 PM
Event fee : $7 ($5 for students) includes vegan dinner

Description:
• delicious vegan cuisine
• intriguing yoga philosophy
• unique live music – kirtan (mantra chants)
• creative dramas
Krishnafest is a unique time out. Come experience mantra chants with vibrant world music and hear the stimulating spiritual knowledge of ancient India. Relax over a super tasty vegan dinner with a diverse range of thoughtful people. Krishnafest is a great way to end the week and start a new one spiritually recharged.

Don’t be surprised to see some of the staff dressed in the traditional dhoti and sari garments of ancient India. The Krishnafest experience is pretty cool. Feel free to ask any question. You may be surprised to get profoundly satisfying answers to questions you never thought answerable. Or, if you are just curious, that’s okay too.

The Krishna literature teaches that we are not our external material body; nor are we the endlessly restless mind. Instead, we are a spiritual being of pure consciousness. The nature of pure consciousness is to be continuously happy. However, our consciousness is currently masked by the mind and body. Just like dust covering a mirror. All activities at Krishnafest help to gradually wipe the dust off the mirror and reveal the true happiness that lies beneath. Try it, see for yourself and taste the bliss.