Chanting The Divine Name

WOODBURY — Woodbury Yoga Center will host a free Sunday evening program on February 6 with Michael Mansuhk Lategano and his son Lonny Gopal Evica for an evening of Kirtan.

In yoga, Kirtan is the practice of singing and repeating the name of God, as well as using descriptive phrases or divine attributes. The purifying power of God’s name is mentioned in almost every spiritual tradition.

The free program will begin at 6:45 pm. It is open to the public, and free instruction in meditation is provided.

Michael Mansuhk Lategano first visited Woodbury Yoga Center in 1978. He would show up with brought his guitar and, with the founding members of the center, would chant for hours with the wood stove crackling in the background in the small meditation room in the house before the Meditation Hall was built.

“Throughout the years chanting has always been the surest way to come home to my heart,” say Mr Lategano.

 Mr Lategano’s son, Lonny Gopal Evica, was born into the yoga center family in 1990. Through his father’s example, Mr Evica also learned to enjoy chanting and finds it is a great way to the inner most peace.

Father and son recently participated in an all night chant, for world healing and peace, at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Both gentlemen live at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Woodbury.

The evening will end with group meditation and an informal tea reception.

Woodbury Yoga Center, at 122 West Side Road in Woodbury, can be reached by calling 203-263-2254.