By Kezia Royer-Burkett, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
On June 22, the Lions Club in Burlington was transformed into a sanctuary of sound, stillness, and soul as the community gathered to celebrate International Yoga Day through the Sahaja Yoga Meditation Network. The event was part of their 100 Seeds of Joy initiative, a global movement that explores the intersectionality of yoga, poetry, music, dance, and meditation with a goal of cultivating a joy-giving society. Among the highlights were Dutch performers Mari Joël and Kenny Clarys, whose unique blend of music and meditative rhythm touched the hearts of those in attendance.
Their journey to Burlington is part of a broader mission that began decades ago. The duo met in 1999 through a shared love of music and letters — literally. “I had already composed a few songs and made some recordings. Mari somehow found out and asked me to send a copy of the album,” Clarys recalled. “We started writing to each other by hand. Eventually, Mari moved to Belgium to study music production, and we started playing music together.” That partnership has now spanned over 26 years, and they’ve been married for 21.
Initially part of a rock band, their sound has since evolved into something softer, more meditative — a merging of Joël’s singer-songwriter roots and Clarys’s instrumental expertise. “We were asked to create music together for a wellness resort,” Joël explained. “That’s when we really blended our styles and created what became our album Elaisa, named after the resort. It stands for Egyptic Atlantis and Inner Source Awakening.”
During their Burlington performance, Joël played the keyboard and sang while Clarys alternated between the flute, violin, and keyboard. The room fell into quiet reverence as attendees meditated, listened, or simply absorbed the high vibrations emanating from the couple’s music.
“You’re just an instrument, and everything flows through you,” said Clarys. “The music isn’t coming from us, it’s coming through us.”
Their commitment to their craft extends beyond the stage. The couple now teach music online, with more than 600 students globally, many from the Toronto area. Clarys specializes in the harmonium, a portable Indian instrument that he first encountered when his father brought one back from India during a transformative spiritual journey.
“He had been struggling and wanted to change his life, so he went to India in search of healing and change. When he returned with the harmonium, I was just a child, but I started playing it right away,” Clarys said.
Also present at the event was Anjali Gandhi, a longtime attendee of Sahaja Yoga classes and now a dedicated volunteer. She joined the Burlington group in 2008 after getting married and relocating from Montreal, a transition that proved emotionally challenging.
“It was a big change for me, having to leave my big family in Montreal,” she shared. “I was feeling a bit alienated in this new community.” In search of a lifeline, Gandhi came across a Kijiji ad for free yoga. “I walked in with my yoga mat, but it turned out to be a meditation class. After that first session, I knew I had found what I was looking for — it was the most beautiful experience. I felt joy for the first time in a long while, and I knew I had to keep coming back.”
Gandhi credits the practice with pulling her out of depression and inspiring her to give back.
“I really wanted to pass on the goodness these classes have to offer,” she said. That spirit of community was on full display throughout the event, which also included a video message from Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and concluded with a guided heart-focused meditation.
The celebration was part of a series of events that included a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall and performances by Joël and Clarys at a local seniors’ home. Their journey is one of perseverance, passion, and purpose, proof that music, even when it’s not mainstream, can have a profound impact.
“We know we’re not radio music,” said Joël, “but when people are relaxed and open, like at a spa or a meditation class, they really feel it. That’s what makes it all worth it.”
As Sahaja Yoga prepares to celebrate 20 years in Oakville in 2026, and the Lions Club marks its 100-year milestone this year, this year’s International Yoga Day reminded everyone present that joy, healing, and connection are not just possible — they’re already growing, one seed at a time.
