In honor of the Year of Alice, the Integral Yoga Institute partnered with The Coltrane Home to host a special Kirtan service in celebration of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda’s birthday. The history of the Integral Yoga Institute intertwines with the life and legacy of Alice, making it the perfect venue for this service. Swami Satchidananda, the founder of The Integral Yoga Institutes, was Alice’s mentor. He guided her in her path of deep connection and cultural practice. Alice’s album Journey in Satchidananda, which was recorded in the basement of the Dix Hills Coltrane home, was directly inspired by her mentor, his teachings, and the impact that he had on her life.
The Kirtan was led by Sita Michelle Coltrane, and included a musical service presented by Sita Michelle and members of the Sai Anantam Ashram community. Participants sang mantras, hymns, played instruments, and meditated together. In addition to the Kirtan, Integral Yoga Institute presented a special viewing of the new never-before-seen documentary, Divine Harmony: Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda’s Spiritual Journey with Swami Satchidananda, which explored the relationship between Alice and Satchidananda.
A copy of the documentary can be found on the Integral Yoga Institutes YouTube page that can be viewed at any time.