Chanting circle
facilitator course
1 - 7 July 2026 | Seglora, Sweden
Deepen your ability to facilitate, hold space and lead Mantra Chanting circles and Kirtan with Kevin James and Susana Rodríguez
This course will provide everything you will need in order to lead your own chanting circle with more confidence, to have the room singing together with you in harmony.
Carefully designed for anyone interested in going deeper into creating chanting circles: from yoga
teachers who want to lead a chant after a class, to budding musicians with a vision to hold their
own circles, to those who want make a life of chanting, recording, and songwriting, we will be sharing all that reflects a lifestyle of Bhakti (devotional singing).
To put yourself as a leader in front of a group can be a daunting or even a terrifying obstacle to
pass. We have designed this course to help you to transform that experience into
something that is inspiring, enjoyable and relaxing, where you can give people a heart opening, and profound experience of your music.
“My intention is to share the deeper meaning of what it is to hold space for these kinds of circles in community, in service and to hold your intention with what you are sharing.
I will give you the tools, based on years of on-the-ground experience to support your musical offering, either as a workshop leader, or professionally as a Bhakti singer.
All could benefit from these effective and powerful tools of connection.” Kevin James
The Chanting circles
If you’ve sat in a chanting circle, and let your voice fly, surrounded by other voices in harmony like a chorus of angels, then you know the feeling.
It’s pure magic, a feeling that, at the time, is beyond any need or wanting. It’s complete fulfillment that transcends time. For me, the chanting circle allows us to co-create a wave that lifts us higher.
As a chanting circle leader, our role is to ride that wave and guide the group energy to take flight, to a place where there are no leaders, and then recognize the moment to land us back again smoothly and safely.
For me, it’s a taste of pure presence, when what is happening outside of us is so beautiful that you can only surrender, and let go of the endless searching for more, and drop into your own true nature.
When we hold a chanting circle, we offer an opportunity for everyone to harmonize and connect with the source together, directly, without the middleman.
Over the years of leading chanting circles with different groups around the world, I’ve developed it as a form of art based on real experience, that follows a natural flow. Making chanting inclusive and accessible to everyone regardless of experience, language or culture.
I feel the greatest service we can give as a chant leader, is to provide a space that helps people to reconnect with their hearts, experience positive feelings, and also deal with challenging emotions or situations in their lives.
If you are passionate about singing, love mantras and want to provide this experience to others, then this course is for you
What we will cover
By the end of this course, you will have the tools, knowledge and techniques to lead your own chanting circles, and share your music with the world.
Here’s how we will do that together:
The Location
Our group will be hosted at the beautiful retreat center of Himladal in Seglora (1 hour southeast of Gothenburg, Sweden and 30 min from the airport), a quiet and peaceful place in nature, next to a beautiful lake.
The ambiance is simple, grounded, natural, relaxing, transformative and supportive for healing, inner growth, and relaxation.
It´s a place with a lot of privacy and many different spaces to hang out.
About the food
When we tasted Ingrid’s cooking, it completely sealed the deal with us, that we must do this.
The food is vegetarian/vegan, colorful, delicious and when in season cooked with Himladal’s homegrown organic veggies
Please let us know upfront if you have any allergies to take into account.
About the accommodation
The retreat center offers shared rooms of 3 or 4 beds with shared bathrooms. Bedding & towels will be available to rent (in Sweden you bring your own or hire at the center).
There are 2 single rooms that can be booked under request.
If you enjoy camping, you can bring your own tent or van.
The distribution of the beds will be done per order of registration and keeping men and women separated.
Highlights
• Chanting and more chanting. There will be chanting every day and we will also support each other to lead the group.
• Open Bhakti night chanting circle. For the last evening, we will be welcoming people from outside the retreat center and create a “Bhakti band” where some participants will have the opportunity to lead the group and put into practice what we have learned.
• Song sharing sessions. Depending on the group, we will take some time to share and learn new songs and mantras from around the world, provided by Kevin, but also amongst each other as we feel, expanding our repertoire and sourcing inspiration.
• Tailoring to your needs. During the registration process, we send a detailed questionnaire that will make this course more tailored as best we can to your needs.
• Personal attention. The course will have a maximum of 25 participants, to make sure all of you have the guidance you deserve and we can all get to know each other.
• Evening Jam session. Every evening, after dinner, is free time and a favorite amongst our participants is to get together in the living room or out by the fire and jam. Sometimes someone just shares a song and we all support or we start that way and then completely create something new on the spot. Either way, to be part of a circle of devotional musicians together is a rare and amazing opportunity and experience.
• Course & retreat. We believe that the best way to learn something is to immerse yourself in it. That’s why we created this course to be also a retreat, where you can completely focus on receiving, disconnect from the daily distractions, and at the same time be in a peaceful and inspiring natural environment.
• Final project. After the course, we will encourage a “final project” (or starting project 😉) to create a chanting circle in your hometown, where we can support you online with any doubts you have in the process during the following 8 weeks after the residential course.
Format of this course
[NEW] A hybrid course: retreat + online course + and guided integration
This facilitator training is designed as an immersive 6-night residential retreat at a beautiful retreat center in Sweden. Our main focus is to create a hands-on, practical experience, where participants spend plenty of time singing, playing, and sharing music together.
Based on the experience of previous editions, we felt the need to make the residential part even more practice-oriented. To support this shift, and to ensure that all the content remains available to you in the future, we are offering for the first time our Online Course & Resource Library. Here you will find the core teachings, technical explanations, and structured lessons, accessible to you with lifetime access.
By offering these materials online, some of the more detailed content that would normally require long explanations on site will instead be available for you afterwards—leaving us more space during the retreat to practice, create, and immerse in the group experience.
This hybrid format gives you the best of both worlds: the depth and connection of the live retreat, together with the clarity and continuity of an online course you can return to whenever you need.
After the retreat, you will create a Private online group, offering ongoing support, so you can integrate the teachings into your own offerings and ask any questions that may arise along the way.
8 Possible outcomes when you implement this course
Set up and offer a professional, high quality chanting circle where it’s easier to feel confident, relaxed and at your fullest potential.
Facilitate your circle as a ceremonial experience, shifting the consciousness away from performance based, into an inclusive co-creation, supporting people to open their hearts and sing.
Know how to create a space where it’s easier to connect, where the participants feel a sense of trust in you as a leader, allowing you to guide the group from separation into oneness.
To adapt to different situations, groups, and energies.
Tap into your creative juice and expand your repertoire to have a great selection of mantras and heartsongs where you can flow through different moods and feelings.
Bring more of your personal taste into your chanting circles, to create more of an inspiring, authentic and fulfilling experience for all.
Save time and money when recording and avoid common mistakes to make the most of your abilities and music.
Know how to run and market your business in a way that is in alignment with what you sing about and staying connected to the heart.
- Feel part of a supportive community of like minded devotional musicians that are encouraging and inspiring each other, collaborating and sharing knowledge and also our challenges and weaknesses.
Price
SUPER EARLY BIRD
Until 31st of January 2026
Shared Room
2.240 €
Tent / Van
2.175 €
EARLY BIRD
Until 30th of April 2026
Shared Room
2.360 €
Tent / Van
2.295 €
STANDARD PRICE
From the 1st May
Shared Room
2.480 €
Tent / Van
2.415 €
What is included?
- Tuition for 7 days with Kevin James and Susana
- Delicious daily vegetarian/vegan breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Snacks in between meals, coffee and tea.
- Accommodation for 6 nights in shared room or tent.
- Use of the sauna
- Access to the Online Course from the 1st May 2026
What is not?
About Kevin James
About Susana Rodríguez
Susana Rodriguez is originally from Spain and met Kevin in 2016, soon after, they began their life journey together.
Susana studied Psychology and a Master’s degree in Human Resources. After years working in the corporate world, in 2013 she decided to drop her “secure” life in Madrid follow a calling to travel the world.
Three years later, when Kevin and Susana met, he passed her the harmonium.
Without having a musical background, her life was taking an unexpected turn to becoming a musician.
Thanks to her experience in previous jobs, she also started to support, not only with the music, but also in all the organizational part that is required to travel and create events.
She dived into event management, marketing, graphic design, website development, and travel agent so to speak.
As our friends sometimes say, Kevin is the “creative mind” the one who creates the music and Susana is the “practical mind” who keeps the structure.
What previous participants say about this course
Our philosophy
We respect each participant for who they are and where they are at, simply offering support, with the freedom for they to choose, because we recognise that each of us grows in our own way and in our own time. We just provide the best we can to help you grow.
So, no matter who you are, where you are from, your beliefs or music preferences, I will share from a universal perspective where you are encouraged to keep or find your own style and my mission is to help you to expand and own it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Practical information
How do I register?
Here are the steps in order to register:
-
In order to adapt to the needs of the group and to make sure there is a similar level of experience with music and/or Kirtan, the first step is to fill out an application form HERE
-
We will review your application and respond by email within 2–3 days, providing you with further details about the retreat as well as instructions for the deposit payment (500 Euros). To make it easier, the course fee is divided into three payments: the initial deposit, a second installment, and the final balance before the retreat.
-
Once the reservation is done, you can start to plan your journey to Himladal and back home.
What level of musical knowledge is necessary to participate in this course?
This course is for you if you have an intermediate level of music experience or above. In other words, that you can play and sing multiple songs, and have basic knowledge of chords on your instrument.
This is not for you if you are completely new to music and singing (if so, hold tight as we will be holding a beginners course in the future)
Language
The course is held in English.
Making the Course Accessible
We want to make this course accessible to anyone who feels the calling to start or continue offering chanting circles.
If you would like to discuss an individual payment plan based on your financial situation, please mention that in the application form.
Special payment plans will be a possibility during the Super early bird period.
Arrival & departure times
The course will start on Wednesday 1st July. The check-in starts at 3.00 pm and our first activity will be at 5.00 pm.
And it will finish on Tuesday 7th after lunch at 3.00 pm.
Getting to Himladal
By airplane
The closes airport is Gothenburg-Landvetter and it’s only 30 minutes by car from Himladal.
From there, the best way is to get a transfer that we can arrange for you (150 SEK per way).
By train/bus
Most of the time the easiest way is to take the train to Gothenburg and thereafter the bus 300 to Hyssna Handel where we will pick you up by car.
Bus company: https://www.vasttrafik.se/en/travel-planning/travel-planner/
By car
Himladal address:
Tomta Nedergården 1, 515 93 Seglora
Recommended items to bring
Your instrument (guitar, ukelele or harmonium, or other), pen and notebook.
Loose and light clothing and warm clothes in case it gets fresh during the night, swimsuit, mosquito repellent, water bottle and your personal toiletries.
Cancellation fees
Sometimes plans change – in such circumstances, the following charges apply to cover costs already incurred with the processing of your booking: 50% charge of the first payment applies if a booking is canceled before May 1st, 2026. After this date no refund is possible, but you may transfer your booking to another person.
Online Course & Resource Library
Do I need to complete the online course before coming to the retreat?
No. The online course is designed to support you both before and after the retreat. You are welcome to explore the materials in advance, but it’s not required. The retreat itself will be a complete and immersive experience on its own.
How long will I have access to the online materials?
You will have lifetime access to the Online Course & Resource Library, so you can revisit the teachings whenever you need them in the future.
Will the online course replace the in-person retreat?
Not at all. The online course contains the technical teachings and reference materials, but the retreat focuses on the hands-on practice, group connection, and shared music-making. They complement each other, but the live experience is at the heart of the training.
When will I get access to the online course?
You will receive access to the Online Course & Resource Library one month before the retreat. This gives you time to explore the material at your own pace, so you can arrive already familiar with the foundations. That way, our time together in Sweden can be even more focused on practice, music-making, and community.
