Vinyasa Music Playlist - Week of 12/6/10

Some of you asked me to share my playlist for this week's Vinyasa classes. Here you go!

Woman At The Well - Tim Story - Glass Green
Truly, Madly, Deeply - Ray LaMontagne - Till the Sun Turns Black
Gódan daginn - Sigur Rós - Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
Living - Moby - Songs 1993-1998
Une Annee Sans Lumiere - Arcade Fire - Funeral
Another Likely Story - Au Revoir Simone - Still Night, Still Light
No Surprise - James Yuill - No Surprise - EP
You Are Here - Sam Bisbee - High
Fireflies - Owl City - Ocean Eyes
Edge of the Ocean (Duotone Mix) - Ivy - The Best Of Chillout Past and Present
Vapour Trail - Ride - Nowhere
Breathe Me (Ulrich Schnauss Remix) - Sia - Colour The Small One
First Cool Hive - Moby - Songs 1993-1998
Kiss of Bliss - Jamie Lawerence & Steve Gorn - OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Reading Those Letters - Tim Story - Glass Green

Fall Colors Yoga Retreat

A group of ten yogis and yoginis just returned from a beautiful weekend in northern Michigan at Song of the Morning Yoga Retreat Center. We enjoyed 4 different yoga classes: a Yin class upon arrival Friday evening, an Energy Flow class to wake us up Saturday morning, a fun Partner Yoga & Thai Yoga Massage class Saturday evening, and a vigorous Ashtanga practice Sunday morning.

The weather was absolutely perfect for us--sunny, blue skies and about 70 degrees. The cloudless skies also meant lots of stars at night. There is no place better to see the stars than out in the woods at Song of the Morning. There is no light pollution; there is no sound pollution. Just the sounds of nature: the wind through the trees, the critters in the woods, the ducks on the lake, the river gurgling.

Besides yoga classes, retreatants enjoyed a silent meditation walk, hikes in the woods, mountain biking on one of Michigan's epic trails, canoeing on the lake, relaxing massages and delicious vegetarian meals. We also enjoyed a sense of community, all being able to share this wonderful experience together.

If you have been thinking about going on a yoga retreat but, for one reason or another, have kept putting it off, I urge you to seize the day! As I know any of the retreatants from our Fall Colors Weekend Retreat will tell you, it is a healing, uplifting, nourishing experience.

Does Anybody Read This???

Just checking to see if anybody actually looks at this blog for music lists, inspiration, etc. If you do, please let me know!

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 9/7/10

Here's what's playing this week in my classes...

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
A mix of songs by Natacha Atlas and Azam Ali

Hatha classes:
A mix of songs from the albums 'Om Yoga Mix, Part 2' and 'Nataraja'

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 8/30/10

Here's what's playing this week in my classes:

Hatha classes:
Nadama & Shastro: ZeNotes

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Rasa: Union & Devotion mix

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu

The mantra that I chose for this week reminds us that we don't just do our yoga practice for ourselves, but for all beings. This mantra means:
May this world be established with a sense of peace, well-being and happiness.
It is an invocation for harmony and blessings for all of creation.
So the next time you're on your mat, send that good yoga energy you're cultivating out to the whole world!

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 8/23/10

Here's what's playing this week:

Hatha classes:
A compilation called "Soundings of the Planet"

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Woman At The Well, Tim Story, Glass Green
Truly, Madly, Deeply, Ray LaMontagne, Till the Sun Turns Black
Gódan daginn, Sigur Rós, Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
Living, Moby, Songs 1993-1998
Une Annee Sans Lumiere, Arcade Fire, Funeral
Another Likely Story, Au Revoir Simone, Still Night, Still Light
No Surprise, James Yuill, No Surprise - EP
You Are Here, Sam Bisbee, High
Fireflies, Owl City, Ocean Eyes
Edge of the Ocean (Duotone Mix), Ivy, The Best Of Chillout Past and Present
Vapour Trail, Ride
Breathe Me (Ulrich Schnauss Remix), Sia
First Cool Hive, Moby, Songs 1993-1998

Savasana in all classes: Loka Samasta by Mantra Girl

Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo

The mantra that I chose for this week is actually used at the beginning of traditional Kundalini yoga practices to tune in to your highest self. It means "Infinite Creative Consciousness, I call upon you. Divine Wisdom Within, I call upon you."

I take this to mean that we all have our own inner wisdom, inner guide, that we need to listen to. We have an opportunity on our yoga mats (and, if we meditate, during our meditation practice) to get quiet, to slow down, to turn our focus inward, and to connect to that inner guide. We have the answers we are looking for within ourselves. We just need to get quiet and learn to listen for them.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 8/16/10

Here's what's playing in my classes this week...

Vinyasa & Energy Flow:
Castles In The Sand, Unknown Guitarist, Sea Breeze
Nagual, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix
Swadisthana , Vive, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Durga Shakti, Shaman's Dream Project, Kerala Dream
Aegean Dub, Jef Stott, 2008 Amazon Free Sampler
Track 06, Azam Ali, Azam Ali
Ishq - Love and the Veil, Niyaz, 2008 Amazon Free Sampler
Qalanderi, Cheb I Sabbah, 2008 Amazon Free Sampler
Namaste, Beastie Boys, The In Sound from Way Out!
The Way You Dream, 1 Giant Leap featuring Michael Stipe & Asha Bhosle, 1 Giant Leap
Gentle Voice, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Sunset Reflections, Unknown Guitarist, Sea Breeze
Ong Namo, Snatam Kaur, Grace

Hatha:
This universe, Singh Kaur, This universe
Ong Namo, Snatam Kaur, Grace
Long Time Sun, Snatam Kaur, Grace
Aad Guray, Deva Premal, Dakshina
spark in the night, Singh Kaur, This universe
Ma, GuruGanesha Singh, Pure Ganesha

Om Shrim Mahalakshmyai Namah Mantra

Reverence to the power of Sri, the great goddess Lakshmi!

This mantra celebrates the power of Sri in the form of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi. The word simultaneously means prosperity, elegance, radiant power and sacredness.

When you recognize the power of sri within you, it leads to contentment no matter what your circumstances. You'll feel less like grasping, and you'll be better able to experience gratitude for all that you have. Lakshmi teaches that the inner feeling that you have enough creates the experience of prosperity in your outer life, not the other way around. No matter how much time, money and love you have, you will always feel as though it's not enough until you can evoke and honor the sri within you. When you do this, what you have feels like more than enough.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 8/2/10

Here's what's playing in my classes this week:

Hatha classes:
Sri, Various Artists, Nataraja: Compiled By Shiva Rea
Kiss of Bliss, Jamie Lawerence & Steve Gorn, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Gentle Voice, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Durga Pahimam, Jai Uttal, Shakti Rhythms With Shiva Rea
Ganesha, Wah!, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
He Maha Lakshmi, David Newman, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Swadisthana, Vive, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra, Reema Datta, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Govinda Hare Gopala Hare, Krishna Das, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Nagual, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix
Sembahyang Pagi, Jalan Jalan, Bali

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Sri, Various Artists, Nataraja: Compiled By Shiva Rea
Gentle Voice, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Durga Pahimam, Jai Uttal, Shakti Rhythms With Shiva Rea
Ganesha, Wah!, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
He Maha Lakshmi, David Newman, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Guru Ma, Wade Imre Morissette, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Mahe Dev, Jai Uttal, Dial M for Mantra
Swadisthana, Vive, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra, Reema Datta, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Govinda Hare Gopala Hare, Krishna Das, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Sembahyang Pagi, Jalan Jalan, Bali

Adi Shakti Mantra for Security, Creativity & Abundance

This mantra invokes the primary Creative Power which is manifest in the feminine. It will help you to be free of personal insecurities which block freedom of action. It is a mantra of devotion to the Kundalini, the Mother of all energies, which is the life force stored at the base of the spine. Call upon the strong, powerful shakti energy of this mantra to find security and create abundance in your life.

Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Namo, Namo
Sarab a Shakti, Sarab a Shakti, Sarab a Shakti, Namo, Namo
Prithum Bhagvatee, Prithum Bhagvatee, Prithum Bhagvatee, Namo Namo
Kundalini Mata Shakti, Mata Shakti, Namo, Namo

Translation:
Primal Power, I call upon you!
All-Encompassing Power and Energy, I call upon you!
That through which Divine Creates, I call upon you!
Creative Power of the Kundalini, Divine Mother Power, I call upon you!

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 7/26/10

This week I am playing select songs from Mantra Girl's albums Truth and Trinity in all of my classes, including our 'mantra for the week,' her version of the Adi Shakti mantra.

Siri Gaitri Mantra for Healing

This week I shared the Mantra for Healing in my classes. It goes like this:
Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung

When we hear, say, think or chant this mantra, we should visualize someone who needs some healing energy (including ourselves). This healing could be physical, mental or emotional. We visualize this person as totally radiant, strong and healthy.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 7/19/10

Here's what I've been playing in my yoga classes this week:

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Krishna Das - Krishna Das: Greatest Hits

Hatha classes:
Snatam Kaur - a mix of songs from her albums Shanti and Grace

For savasana in all classes, I've played Ra Ma Da Sa by Snatam Kaur, a version of the mantra for healing.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 7/12/10

Here's what is playing in my classes this week:

Hatha classes:
Deuter: Sea & Silence

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Rasa: Union & Devotion mix

For savasana, I'm playing the mantra Aad Guray by Deval Premal

Aad Guray Mantra

This week we are focusing on the Aad Guray mantra in my classes. It goes like this:

Aad Guray Nameh, Jugaad Guray Nameh, Sat Guray Nameh, Siri Guroo Dayvay Nameh

Its literal translation is:

I bow to the primal wisdom
I bow to the truth that has existed throughout the ages
I bow to True Wisdom
I bow to the Great Divine Wisdom

It is a mantra of protection and is recited to invoke the protective energy of the universe. It is often spoken before driving a car to create a protective energy around those in the car. (I thought this was fitting after my car accident this past weekend!) It also helps to bring clarity when there is doubt and opens to a sense of guidance from our highest Self.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 6/28/10

Here's what's playing in my classes this week:

Hatha classes:
OK, I have to be honest, I have no idea what the name of this CD is. It was a gift from one of my students who just returned from China, and it is all in Chinese! If anyone can translate it, please let me know!

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Truly, Madly, Deeply, Ray LaMontagne, Till the Sun Turns Black
Gódan daginn, Sigur Rós, Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
Another Likely Story, Au Revoir Simone, Still Night, Still Light
This Sweet Love (Prins Thomas Sneaky Re-Edit), James Yuill, This Sweet Love (EP)
No Surprise, James Yuill, No Surprise - EP
Natural High, Tosca, Natural High - Single
Mango, Sascha Funke, Mango
A Pain That I'm Used To (Jacques Lu Cont Remix), Depeche Mode, A Pain That I'm Used To (DJ Version) - EP
Pure, Mystical Sun, Deeperworlds
Living, Moby, Songs 1993-1998
Track 04, Amrit Kirtan Sacred Circle

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 6/21/10

This week, in honor of the Summer Solstice, we are doing some mellower, Yin and Yinyasa sequences in my classes--to balance out that intense sun energy. My music selections are, likewise, a bit more mellow.

Hatha classes:
Ambience Minimus - Liquid Mind

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Drala - Drala

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 6/14/10

Here's what's playing in my classes this week...

Vinyasa & Energy Flow:
Devotion & Union mix - Rasa

Hatha classes:
OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 6/7/10

Here's what is playing in my yoga classes this week...


Hatha:
The Bells of Arcosanti - Daryl Simmons, David Blanski, Kate Price, Bor Simmons

Vinyasa & Energy Flow:
Shakti Rhythms with Shiva Rea - various artists

Brahmacharya

The classical interpretation of brahmacharya is celibacy, but this yama can have a broader interpretation which includes preventing the dissipation of one's energy through the misuse of the senses. In a piece I've been reading from in my classes this week, the author says that we can experiment with this interpretation of brahmacharya off our mats any time we find ourselves in a difficult, challenging, stressful situation. When this happens, we can ask ourselves, "Can I let go of my tension and relax into this moment, knowing that the situation does not need my stress to resolve itself?" I thought this was a really good piece of advice that I'm going to try working on. Maybe it will resonate with you too.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 5/24/10

Here's what's playing in my yoga classes this week:

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
My Spirit Flies to You by Los Monjes Budistas

Hatha classes:
Kerala Dream by Shaman's Dream Project

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 5/17/10

Here's what's playing this week:

Hatha Classes:
Tim Story - Glass Green


Vinyasa & Energy Flow Classes:
Jai Uttal - Dial M for Mantra

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 5/10/10

Here's what's playing in my classes this week:


Hatha Classes:

Aad Guray, Deva Premal, Dakshina
Jap Man Sat Nam, Snatam Kaur, Anand
Ishq'allah, Miten, Songs for the inner lover
People of Love, Snatam Kaur, Celebrate Peace
Ma, Girish, Reveal
Wah Yantee, Guru Singh, Game of chants
Long Time Sun, Hari Bhajan Kaur
Deep Blue Sea, Snatam Kaur, Celebrate Peace
Ma, Guru Ganesha Singh, Pure Ganesha
Ra Ma Da Sa, Snatam Kaur, Grace


Vinyasa & Energy Flow Classes:

Shiva Invocation, Various Artists, Nataraja: Compiled By Shiva Rea
Such Great Heights, Iron & Wine, Garden State
Dark Water & Stars, Natural Calamity, Thicker Than Water
One Of These Things First, Nick Drake, Garden State
My Guru, Kalyanji Anandji, Thicker Than Water
Witchi Tai To, Harpers Bizarre, Thicker Than Water
Track 04, Mandalay, Solace
Track 06, Azam Ali, Azam Ali
New Slang, The Shins, Garden State
Don't Panic, Coldplay, Garden State
Caring Is Creepy, The Shins. Garden State
I Want To Be The Boy To Warm Your Mother's Heart, The White Stripes, Elephant
Track 06, Jet, Jet
Track 01, Zero 7, The Garden
In the Sun, Michael Stipe
Goodbye Hollywood Blvd, Ryan Adams
I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You, Colin Hay, Garden State
Sembahyang Pagi, Jalan Jalan, Bali

Clarity

This week in my yoga classes, we concluded our practice with a meditation for clarity.

Putting our palms together over the 3rd eye, we ask for clarity of thought--a calm equanimous mind.
Putting our palms together over the lips, we ask for clarity of speech--to be able to say what we mean and mean what we say.
Putting our palms together over our heart, we ask for clarity of action--to take what we learn on our yoga mats and integrate it into our lives.

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 4/12/10

Here's what's playing this week...

Hatha Classes:
Ambience Minimus - Liquid Mind


Vinyasa & Energy Flow Classes:
Drala - Drala

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 4/5/10

Here's what's playing this week:

Hatha classes:
Glass Green - Tim Story

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Krishna Das Greatest Hits

Begin Within

I seem to find a lot of inspiration from bumper stickers. This is what one of them said that I saw on a car in front of me last week. Good advice!

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 3/29/10

Here's what's playing this week...

Hatha:
Sri, Various Artists, Nataraja
Mantra, Krishna Das, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Nagual, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix
Swadisthana, Vive, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Shri Krishna Govinda, Jai Uttal, Dial M for Mantra
Gentle Voice, Michael Hewett, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Shiva Invocation, Various Artists, Nataraja
Kiss of Bliss, Jamie Lawerence & Steve Gorn, OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2
Saraswataye, Various Artists, Nataraja
Surya, Jai Uttal & Ben Leinbach, Music For Yoga And Other Joys

Vinyasa & Energy Flow:
Sea of Vapours, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
OM, Wade Imre Morissette, Maha Moha: The Great Delusion
Nothing Without You (Tery Bina), Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
The Game, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
Tana Dery Na, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
Meena Devi (Goddess), Tulku, Season of Souls
Mausam & Escape, A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Guru Ma, Wade Imre Morissette, NuTONE Music to Inspire: Sampler - Fall 2008
Tracery, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
Fault Lines, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
All Our Ancestors,Tuu, All Our Ancestors
Shadow, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mustt Mustt
Latika's Theme, A.R. Rahman & Suzanne, Slumdog Millionaire
Sembahyang Pagi, Jalan Jalan, Bali

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 3/22/10

Here's what's playing this week:

Hatha classes:
A compilation called "Soundings of the Planet"

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
Woman At The Well, Tim Story, Glass Green
Truly, Madly, Deeply, Ray LaMontagne, Till the Sun Turns Black
Gódan daginn, Sigur Rós, Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust
Une Annee Sans Lumiere, Arcade Fire, Funeral
Another Likely Story, Au Revoir Simone, Still Night, Still Light
No Surprise, James Yuill, No Surprise - EP
You Are Here, Sam Bisbee, High
Fireflies, Owl City, Ocean Eyes
Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), Arcade Fire, Funeral
Rebellion (Lies), Arcade Fire, Funeral
Edge of the Ocean (Duotone Mix), Ivy, The Best Of Chillout Past and Present
Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles), Arcade Fire, Funeral
Living-instr, Moby, Songs 1993-1998
Reading Those Letters, Tim Story, Glass Green
Glass Green, Tim Story, Glass Green

By the way, if anybody has suggestions for music they'd like to hear in their yoga class, please send them my way!

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 3/15/10

Here's what's playing this week:

Vinyasa & Energy Flow classes:
A mix of songs from the albums 'Union' and 'Devotion' by Rasa.

Hatha classes:
A mix of songs from the albums 'Truth' and 'Trinity' by Mantra Girl.
(By the way, I've got a couple extra 'Trinity' DVDs that Mantra Girl gave me for my students. If you're reading this post and want a FREE copy, email me!)

Yoga Music Playlist - Week of 3/8/10

Students often ask me what music I'm playing in my yoga classes, so I thought I'd start posting my playlists each week. Here's what we've been listening to this week!

Energy Flow and Vinyasa Classes:
Track 02 - Anoushka Shankar
Living- Moby - Songs 1993-1998
Forever - Moby - Hotel
Nothing But The Sky - Ivy - In The Clear
Only Got One - Frou Frou
It's Good To Be In Love - Frou Frou
Dream About Me - Moby - Hotel
Slipping Away - Moby - Hotel
Lift Me Up - Moby - Hotel
Corners Of Your Mind - Ivy
Night Nurse - Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham - L'Avventura
Clear My Head - Ivy - In The Clear
Love Should - Moby - Hotel
Knives from Bavaria - Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham - L'Avventura
Out Walking - Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham - L'Avventura
Into The Blue - Moby - Songs 1993-1998
Kiss of Bliss - Jamie Lawerence & Steve Gorn - OM Yoga Mix, Pt. 2

Hatha Classes:
Guru Ram Das - Guru Hari Bhajan Kaur
Track 02 - Amrit Kirtan - Sacred Circle
Track 03 - Amrit Kirtan - Sacred Circle
Ong Namo - I Bow - Gurunam Singh - The Journey Home
Gobinday Mukunday - Eight Names Of The Divine - Gurunam Singh - The Journey Home
Track 05 - Amrit Kirtan Sacred Circle
Track 06 - Amrit Kirtan - Sacred Circle
Track 04 - Amrit Kirtan - Sacred Circle

Affirmations

I'll be honest. Contrary to what some people believe, a yoga teacher's life is not all peaceful and stress-free. I have been particularly stressed-out the past few months, dealing with some unpleasant situations and relationships that have been challenging to say the least. Sometimes the stress is overwhelming. Doing yoga helps, but it's usually when I'm trying to fall asleep at night that all those negative thoughts start racing through my mind. That's when I remind myself of the affirmations that a therapist I once had recommended to me. All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe. The Universe is conspiring in my favor. I repeat the affirmations over and over to give my mind something else to focus on instead of the upsetting thoughts. I repeat them until my mind starts to believe them. They're like a mantra, and they work. I end up feeling more peaceful. All is well. Everything is working out for my highest good. Out of this situation only good will come. I am safe. The Universe is conspiring in my favor.

Om. Shanti. Peace.

When Chocolate and Chakras Collide

A student just sent me the link to this interesting New York Times article about yoga. Thought I would pass it along!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/dining/27yoga.html?pagewanted=1