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Considering that I would not have heard of him prior to listening to this CD over ten years ago, Rich has cranked out an amazing array of albums. My favorite, undoubtedly, is the exotic "Rainforest" CD. The music takes you through ambient instrumentations that appear to be melodic depictions of actual rain forest sounds....wind, water, creature inhabitants. The mood of the CD ranges from playful to spooky, from lively and erratic to still and contemplative. I would peg this as my #1 choice for music to yoga by.
awestruck by how he manages to convey an obvious mood with the magic of the keyboard. His style is somewhat percussive, but not jarring, making his music a nice deviation from more-of-the-same yoga/"new age" selections. I have two particular favorites of Joe Sample: "Night Flight," off his "Sample This" CD, to me evokes the image of an owl traversing the night sky. And while there is an underlying mysterious quality to the song, there is also a sense joy and
jubilance, a statement that appears to celebrate the hidden but active life that swirls after sunset. A great pick for floor poses. My absolute favorite from Joe Sample, though, would have to be "Hippies on a Corner," from his "Old Faces Old Places" CD. The oh-so-cool mood is so pervasive, it seems to hang in the air. I prefer performing my standing and powerful floor poses to this one--probably because it allows me to slip in the occasional hip sway, shoulder pulse, or heel tap. Yes, I sometimes break out of the straight-line traditional yoga rules!
Loreena manages to incorporate melodies that resonate of multiple cultures, while retaining her unmistakable style. Her music brings a mysterious, almost magical quality to yoga practice. Her songs elicit images of grand, pristine landscapes....cliffs, shores, bare trees against a moonlit sky, moors. Listening to Loreena feels the most transcendent of all of my selections; I feel literally lifted away from Everyday Life when tuned into her CD's. While her music can easily accompany the entire yoga session, you may find it specifically welcome during meditation, when the body is still and the mind open.
comprised of very rhythmic drum music. The tempos might not be what people normally associate with yoga music, but the exotic global percussion helps bring an earthy quality to my yoga sessions. I find myself feeling more grounded, attuned to my instincts, whenever I listen to this wonderful CD. Of course, half the time I play it, I end up succumbing to the drumbeats in a yoga session that looks decidedly like my Afro-Caribbean dance repertory, but it doesn't change the fact that I emerge from the routine feeling recharged and de-stressed!
album in the CD changer. While I tend to dwell mostly in his older compilations (I will forever be mellowed by "There is a Mountain"), I will also frequently turn to this late-'90s release for setting a peaceful yoga mood. The CD captures Donovan's distinctive and mysterious voice, but the music also possesses a more contemporary quality, perhaps less exotic but no less contemplative, when compared with his hurdy-gurdy era. Still, the tone retains that sage-like aura that won me over to Donovan's music even before I knew he'd ever done yoga...it's nice to witness the evolution and continued success of a musician whose roots were so much a part of the '60s, that moving forward could easily prove next to
impossible.
with Guaraldi's wonderful compositions. But if you have the chance, you ought to check out other music by Vince Guaraldi, as well. While I could easily recommend any number of juicy selections, there is quite the nice sampler to be had with the 1989 "Best of" CD. Along with classic Peanuts selection "Linus and Lucy" and the ever-touching "Christmas Time is Here," and of course, Guaraldi's early '60s hit, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," are songs that capture a more Latin-influenced mood. The rhythms are distinct, but made more relaxing by the reassuring presence of Guaraldi's piano. I particularly like "Star Song," and "Zelao," yet they both have very different sounds. "Zelao" is exactly how I love
to move when I wear one of my flamenco skirts; rhythmic, colorful, but in a controlled, laid-back manner; "Star Song" brings to mind the proverbial fireplace-hot cocoa scene after escaping in from a cold winter storm: soothing, comforting, reassuring. The balance of tunes wanders back and forth between those two extremes, and the result is a satisfying accompaniment to a complete yoga session, though I must admit, it's hard for me to listen without a lingering tinge of sadness, for Guaraldi died of a heart attack in the '70s; he was only in his forties. I am, nonetheless, so very grateful that we have his music to continue to enjoy.
Vince Guaraldi ever since the day I heard them playing this CD at the local mall's Natural Wonder store. Five minutes later--you must know, I don't ever buy music impulsively, I was the proud owner of this lovely selection of tunes. Winston brings a smoother, less percussive quality to Guaraldi's rhythms, and the result is a calming choice for a very relaxing yoga workout. My two favorite selections on this CD would have to be Winston's version of "Skating"--and yes, my mind immediately bounces back to images of Snoopy and the gang tasting snowflakes and whirling around on the frozen pond--and "Peppermint Patty," a charming and energetic tune that captures its namesake's personality perfectly. A nice
addition to the collection, particularly if you're as fond of Vince Guaraldi and George Winston music as I am!
tradition along to the dancers I have taught. What's nice, though, is that this live version off of the "Weekend in LA" CD is equally adaptable to yoga warm-ups, especially if you happen to be a fan of smooth jazz music. Its tempo provides a nice rhythm base for simple shoulder, arm, and torso isolations, yet remains easy-going in mood to keep the mind on an even keel.
mood that hangs in the air. I feel myself chilling out whether I'm doing yoga (and grooving) or driving in my car to this tune. Benson's more occasional use of vocals, coupled with his masterful guitar work, give "The Thinker," from Benson's "That's Right" CD, its undeniably hip quality. I can listen to this song anytime during my yoga and feel immediately released of the day's tensions, not to mention rather composed!
enchanting regardless of your background. Actually, there quite a few songs by this contemporary flamenco guitarist that possess a mood suitable for yoga. This one, "Urban Gypsy," is certainly a prime example. The rhythm is steady, almost heartbeat-like, and the melody appears to build very slowly and gradually to an exotic, expansive mood, which is perfect both during warm up, and also when holding stretches for longer periods of time. This music always seems to heighten my posture, broadening my ribcage for better lung expansion with my breathing.
often use this song (OK, maybe two rounds of it) to perform my warm-up, or even a bit of pre-yoga cardiovascular exercise. Ditto for another great hit of this guitarist called "South of Market," which appeared on an earlier CD, "Playing it Cool." "
probably always rank as my favorite. Off the "Volume 2--Hardcastle" CD, it has a very smooth and relaxing jazz rhythm, with a mid-song interruption of bird calls, which helps in bestowing an exotic quality to the song. This song works for all of my yoga postures, including the end-of-the-session relaxation. Other great Hardcastle tunes include "Shelby," and "Walking to Freedom," both on other CDs.
