Russill Paul is available to present weekend workshops and retreats on Chant, Meditation, The Yoga of Sound or related topics at your spiritual institution or educational center. Although single events, such as an isolated concert, workshop or retreat are possible, it is recommended that you choose a complete weekend that combines the types of events listed below. This will defray expenses significantly, help generate more income and publicity for your organization, and offer a variety of possibilities for your community to participate and share in an extended experience.
Programs with Russill Paul include the use of music, movement and meditation to explore spiritual experience in community and to help develop your personal spiritual practice. No prior experience of any kind is necessary, yet Russill presentations simultaneously address multiple levels and diverse groups. Whether you are new to chanting, meditation and eastern spirituality, or whether you are well seasoned spiritual or yoga practitioner, whether from a religious or secular background, a career professional or an artist, you will find his presentations meaningful, fulfilling and motivating.
Russill Paul offers stunning presentations of great clarity and depth, weaving masterful music and chant performed live with inspiring and informative lectures and discussions that are contextualized by profound meditation practices.
EVENT FORMATS
ONE-DAY EXPERIENCE: A one-day experience offers a day workshop or retreat with an evening presentation that very same day or the day before. For example: Saturday workshop: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with kirtan in the evening from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
TYPICAL WEEKEND: A typical weekend with Russill Paul typically involves an all day Saturday Workshop or Retreat (11:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.) and an all day Sunday Workshop or Retreat (11:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.). See definitions below.
ENHANCED WEEKEND: An enhanced weekend allows you to add an evening presentation to a typical weekend. Evening presentations may include a Kirtan Concert, a Sacred Music Concert, a Lecture Demonstration or a Satsangh, which could be on the Friday evening preceding the Saturday workshop or on the Saturday evening preceding the Sunday retreat. Again, see definitions below.
COMPLETE WEEKEND: A complete weekend allows for two evening presentations on the days prior to the Saturday and Sunday workshops or retreats. This is, by far, the most effective way to maximize your earnings as a hosting organization. Example: Friday evening presentation + Saturday workshop or retreat + Saturday evening presentation + Sunday workshop or retreat.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORKSHOPS AND RETREATS
Generally speaking, workshops place an emphasis on learning while retreats are more focused on experience. Although both, retreats as well as workshops, combine intellectual understanding and experiential learning with meditation practice, the difference lies in the emphasis of the day and how you want to market the event to your community to meet its specific needs.
WORKSHOPS: Workshops are intense learning experiences that focus strongly on the practical and theoretical dimensions of applying sound in your spiriutal practice. Participants come prepared to understand the use of sacred sound as a spiritual path, and they are taught how to effectively incorporate elements of spiritual practice involving sound to enhance their health and empower their spiritual lives.
RETREATS: Retreats focus on experience and rejuvenation rather than on learning. This allows for greater depth and interiority as there longer periods of deep meditation and reflection. The sessions involve inspirational talks along with readings from scriptures and mystical poetry, all combined to enhance extended sessions of chanting, movement and meditation. The sessions may also include mantra rituals, trance dancing and kirtan.
TYPES OF EVENING PRESENTATIONS
LECTURE PERFORMANCES: The audience is offered a 60 - 90 minute lecture on Sacred Sound and its value in spiritual practice or any related topic. Short demonstrations of various applications and styles of mantra are presented through a combination of recorded music and live demonstration. PowerPoint visuals are incorporated when appropriate and when a projector can be supplied. A discussion period follows the presentation, opening up the topic to questions from the audience. Book and CD signings follow the presentation.
SATSANGHS: A satsangh can be either a formal or informal spiritual gathering. The objective of such a gathering is to experience as well as discuss the nature of spiritual experience and the possibilities of spiritual growth. A combination of meditation practice, question and answer discussion periods, listening to audio recording and group chanting invite the audience to enter a deep level of consciousness through the use of sacred sound.
KIRTAN CONCERTS: Kirtan concerts are traditional call-and-response chants from the Indian tradition. Russill embellishes theses concerts with short solo performances of instrumental meditation music, uplifting invocations and devotional singing. An accompanying percussionist and/or other musicians are recommended to facilitate dancing and high energy dynamism in the chanting, if that is desired. The Bhakti Boys (Ajay and Pankaj Sharma) from Downingtown, PA are a fantastic duo that often Russill at kirtans. CD signings follow the presentation.
