2025 Presenters

We're just two monkeys in love with Ram Aspiring to be like Hanuman, the beloved monkey deity, our greatest wish is simply to be of service. For us, our offerings are kirtan, music, and yoga. Our lives are devoted to singing kirtan, teaching Bhakti Yoga, and hosting spiritual retreats...all in the name of Sita and Ram. Jai Sita Ram! THE ROB AND MELISSA STORY When we met, which was before we discovered kirtan, we mutually agreed to place devotion at the forefront of our relationship. It was so important to us, we even created our first mantra (little did we know) to support it, “Be Nice and Have Fun!” As the seeds of devotion grew, we naturally gravitated toward the beautiful, heart-opening practices of Bhakti Yoga and kirtan. Soon, our devotion to Rob and Melissa: the couple, evolved into devotion to kirtan; to singing the divine names, mostly the name Ram. While simultaneously falling in love with kirtan, Neem Karoli Baba, and especially Hanuman, we began to contemplate a band name for our kirtan music. "Is Rob and Melissa a good name," we thought? Or should we have a more descriptive or spiritual name? Our desire has always been to keep kirtan accessible, so “Rob and Melissa” the band, seemed to work – especially for people new to kirtan. Simple, sweet, and accessible. Yet, is it too simple, we wondered? One day, while making our second CD, Tejase, we were playing around with logo ideas and wrote: Rob And Melissa When we looked down the line and saw R-A-M, both of us nearly burst into tears! It had been there the entire time and we hadn't noticed it before! On the outside, Rob and Melissa isn't an elegant Sanskrit name professing the spiritual nature of our music, but hidden within is the jewel, the name of God: RAM. Not to mention that Hanuman loves RAM more than anything in the whole world. Well, that pretty much sealed it for us and we've joyfully been Rob and Melissa ever since. Thanks for reading. Hope to sing with you soon! With love, Rob and Melissa

Ananda Das is a revered figure in the realms of Kirtan, Sattva Himalayan Kundalini Yoga, and the teachings of singing, mantra, and Bhakti Yoga. With a heart deeply rooted in devotional practice, Ananda Das has dedicated his life to exploring the intersections of music, yoga, and spirituality, guiding countless souls on their journey towards inner peace and liberation. As a Kirtan leader, Ananda Das is known for his soulful voice and the ability to create profoundly moving experiences through sacred chants and melodies. His Kirtan sessions are not just musical events; they are communal gatherings where the ancient practice of call-and-response chanting becomes a conduit for connection, healing, and the celebration of universal love. Ananda Das's music transcends cultural and spiritual boundaries, making the ancient art of Kirtan accessible and relevant in today's world. In the practice of Sattva Himalayan Kundalini Yoga, Ananda Das brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep personal experience. His teachings are infused with the wisdom of ancient lineages, offering a holistic approach to yoga that integrates dynamic kriyas, meditative asanas, and powerful pranayama techniques. Ananda Das's classes are designed to awaken the Kundalini energy, fostering transformation, clarity, and a profound sense of aliveness in his students. As a teacher of singing, mantra, and Bhakti Yoga, Ananda Das emphasizes the transformative power of the voice and sound. He skillfully guides his students in uncovering their unique vocal expressions and in harnessing the vibrational energy of mantras to deepen their spiritual practice. Through Bhakti Yoga, Ananda Das invites students to embark on a path of devotion, using song and chant as expressions of the heart's deepest yearnings and as a means to connect with the divine. Ananda Das's teachings are a reflection of his own journey—a testament to the power of music, movement, and mindfulness in achieving harmony and enlightenment. His compassionate approach and dedication to the path of love and service inspire all who cross his path, making him a beloved teacher and guide in the global spiritual community.

Madhurai is a yoga and meditation teacher based in Ashland, OR. She has been traveling back and forth to India for 7 years, learning yoga, singing kirtan, organizing immersive retreats, and volunteering with kids in a children’s safe home in Rishikesh, India. She has been sharing kirtan with the Mount Shasta community for a few years now, and loves witnessing the joy and connection that it creates. Madhurai plays harmonium and leads the vocals in kirtan regularly, and with great devotion.

Christopher Lionheart is a singer/songwriter whose music style is inspired by conscious alternative artists such Trevor Hall and Nahko, as well as devotional kirtan artists like The Hanuman Project and Guara Vani. He creates a warming blend of intimate acoustic, reggae and devotional sounds that quickly bring listeners into the heart space. Christopher was born with a passion for worship, often leading worship for Bible studies and youth groups, until he started searching for his own authentic path to God – which led him to Kirtan. Christopher offers a unique and heartfelt fusion of Kirtan and medicine songs. In recent years he has gravitated towards the path of Bhakti, devotional worship and chanting, and it has become a cornerstone of his music and life. The deep resonance and power he brings with his voice helps listeners and participants to allow their own voice to open from the depths of the soul. His intention for his music is to break people’s hearts open to divine love and that they realize that their own devotion through song is a wide open doorway to that.

Sara Joy will be joining us as the house singer! You'll be experiencing her melodic voice and radiant presence with Rob and Melissa, Madhurai Sumhara, Christopher Lionheart and more! She is a wellness practitioner, yoga teacher and life long musician. Coming from a background of studying classical piano and opera for the majority of her life, her love of music and spirituality eventually lead Sara to finding yoga, meditation and chanting mantras. Setting a foundation in these healing modalities has been pivotal in reconnecting her to body and spirit with the practice of chanting the sacred names. Her unique harmonies and uplifting and angelic voice along with the harmonium are sure to bring you to a state of peace and calm. Let us cultivate song and sound together on a vibrational level. May All Beings Be Happy.

Ganesha Das has been offering his kirtan ministry, holding the space for you to have your own experience of the boons of chanting, for over 25 years. Ganesha Das accompanied Bhagavan Das for over a year when they both lived at Harbin Hot Springs and, at Bhagavan Das's urging, kept kirtan going at Harbin, leading it there for almost two decades. Like Bhagavan Das, Ganesha Das leads kirtan with an ektar which provides only rhythm and drone, putting the emphasis on the singing rather than on orchestration. After moving to Ashland in 2016 he established Ashland Sunday Kirtan and has held his "Chant Church" every Sunday since, even live and in person all through that strange time when other churches were closed. At a Ganesha Das kirtan you'll be inspired to join him in cheerleading for God by invoking the divine qualities of Ganesh, Hanuman, the Devis, Shiva and RadhaKrishna with simple, easy to follow, perhaps familiar chants to transcend the mind and let your soul and spirit soar.

Kristen Sofia Valentina is a kirtan artist devoted to the Bhakti path. Through this practice, she has witnessed her whole life change for the better. She is passionate about devotional music, pouring her heart into chanting, and bringing listeners to the state of Bhakti bliss through the unity of song and dance. Kristen has been a consistent support vocalist for Ganesha Das and for the Ashland Kirtan Collective for the past few years, and is joyful to spread her voice and her love of kirtan at A Day in the Bhav.

Sedona Swan Soulfire is a present day priestess, goddess embodiment coach and ritual artist. She has been dancing for a lifetime and has always connected with movement as her deepest source of joy and empowerment. She is a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and in addition to teaching and performing also choreographs, directs and produces for both stage and film. Her discovery of Yoga, Bellydance and Classical Indian Dance were all monumental on her path. Each of these forms inspired her deeply with their rich cultural essence, supreme beauty, empowered embodied expression and encoded spiritual wisdom. She has traveled researching and training in these forms for the last two decades immersing in sacred dance cultivation in India, Turkey, Egypt and Greece. She has been so lucky to have had the opportunity to study with incredible teachers and lineage carriers throughout the many years whom include Rehka Tandon, Aida Nour, Colleena Shakti, Suhaila Salimpour, Ra Lalita Dasi, Prajwal Vajracharya, Swami Ramananda and Swami Satchidananda. In addition to her dance studies she is an initiated 13 Moon Priestess. She is the co-author of the Cosmic Dancer Oracle, and an instructor on the global online dance school Datura Online. She teaches and performs nationally and internationally as well as through her virtual temple & school; Goddess Embodied. She dedicates all of her work towards the collective realization of love and unity. Sedona Swan is leading a Priestess Dance immersion June 10-16 with a performace at a Day in the Bhav- find more details to join here: https://goddessembodied.love/priestessdance

Lady Graelynn is a Life Coach of the Sacred. She has been a practicing Priestess since 1991, is Founder and Director of The Goddess Temple of Ashland Oregon and its annual Priestess College since 2001. Graelynn is a Midwife of the Veils serving Childbirth, First Blood, Spiritual Intimacy, Marriage, Parenting, Divorce, Sovereignty, Death, and Rebirth. With over three decades of teaching various trainings in the Priestess Arts, Dance, and Devotional Yoga, Lady Graelynn is guided by the depth of her connection betwixt her heart and womb, and the bridging of Avalon, Ashland, Lake Atitlan, and Mt. Shasta. Her profound and personal communion with nature fuels her passion for sharing practical skills on walking The Path of Sacred Living. For details on her menu of global offerings and 13 Guidebooks : www.PriestessGraell.com www.GoddessTempleAshland.com www.PriestessCollege.com

Begin the day by dropping into your body and connecting with the essence of bhav—devotion, presence, and feeling. This grounding practice weaves gentle yin-inspired stillness with slow, intentional vinyasa to awaken the heart and attune you to the sacred energy of the day. Rooted, open, and fully embodied, step into the flow of devotion from the inside out. YOGA & GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR Kaitlyn has embraced movement since her baby ballerina days. She began dancing at the age of 5, which then evolved into jazz, lyrical, and hip hop as she progressed. To this day she loves all expressions of dance! While studying at Cal State Long Beach, she stumbled upon Exercise and Yoga and fell in love! In 2012 Kaitlyn began teaching Group Exercise classes like Body Sculpt, Butts&Guts, and StrengthX soon after at 2 different facilities on campus for students and faculty. After graduating with a BA in Kinesiology and teaching group fitness classes for 4 years, she felt her calling to begin Yoga Teacher Training with CorePower Yoga in 2016. By blending her knowledge and passion for physical and spiritual wellness, Kaitlyn’s intention behind her classes is to create a deep connection between Body, Breath, and Being. When she’s not teaching, you can find Kaitlyn dancing around the house, eating yummy food, and exploring the world! Find her on instagram @kk.jones

Immersed in the enchanting realm of spirituality, Sharanya discovers profound magic in the sacred practice of Puja and Hindu Sadhanas. Like spells woven in the fabric of time, each ritual gesture and whispered mantra invokes an otherworldly presence, bridging the gap between the mundane and the divine. With reverence akin to alchemy, she arranges offerings with meticulous care, infusing each gesture with the essence of devotion and gratitude. As incense spirals skyward and lamp flames dance in reverence, she feels the veil between worlds thinning, inviting celestial energies to converge in a symphony of divine communion. Sharanya loves the joy of sharing these sacred rituals with others, becoming a conduit for the divine, spreading the light of spiritual wisdom and awakening the hearts of all who are touched by its magic.