“ We are slowed down sound and light waves, a walking bundle of frequencies tuned into the music of the cosmos, we are souls dressed up in sacred biochemical parents, and our bodies are the instruments through which our souls play their music”
Sangita Lakhanpal
Sangita has dedicated over two decades to exploring the embodiment practices of Tantric Yoga. This philosophy is a progressive, all-embracing tradition which recognises the unity at the heart of life’s exquisite diversity.
She began her career as a human rights lawyer, advocating for some of society’s most marginalised people. Though the trajectory of her life was soon to radically change, she continued to carry this passion for humanity with her, as evidenced by her work with the healing modality of yoga. It was through yoga that she found her true passion and vocation, and she has shared its transformative teachings in a variety of settings; from prisons, and rehabilitation centres, to educational institutions.
It wasn’t long however, before India began calling, and Sangita felt herself summoned to the land of her ancestors, to a country steeped in mysticism and ancient legacy. She established an Arts Education Centre in Madhya Pradesh - providing an oasis for the underprivileged. She supported this visionary endeavour by running international retreats, sanctuaries where participants were deeply immersed in yogic wisdoms and practices.
Over the years, Sangita’s work evolved to incorporate a more visceral expression of the yogic arts. Dance, mantra, and myth-telling were introduced, and this proved to be a profound and powerful offering to the lives of those she worked with in this community.
During the pandemic Sangita returned to England, and began work on a project adapting the Vedic romance stories.
The fruit of these labours was the Durga Opera - a feminine epic which contains themes that are acutely pertinent to the current ecological crisis.
SHAKTI LEELA: NGO SUPPORT
Sangita Lakhanpal and Kapil Srimali created the NGO, Rewananda in 2017. The aims are to empower, educate, economically emancipate, and enrich the lives of underprivileged communities in Maheshwar through a resurgence of the sacred arts of India. The base of our NGO is on the banks of the sacred River Narmada, a place long associated with Pilgrimage, Yoga Tantra and Temple Arts.
Our Centre houses a free sacred arts school for children as well as regular yoga/meditation classes for the local community.
We also offer courses by sacred Artists from around India, these works support the aesthetic traditions of Indian Spiritual Art. This enables us to ethically employ men and women from low caste backgrounds who help to run the Retreat facilities, as well as provide the local community free access to the education available from the visiting artists.
Courses are held in our daramsala, a centre for healing and sacred Arts. We are in the process of building an Earth Centre, which will also house courses and events. This is situated on the idyllic banks of the River Narmada.
