Boston's Irene Solea offers Kirtan/live music classes in Denver, Colorado
Thu, Feb 16 2012 02:41
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Yoga of Bass
Tue, Feb 14 2012 05:17
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Comments by YogiTunes founder, Rara AvisI recently had the absolute pleasure of meeting Darin McFayden and Claire Thompson, who together have developed an amazing practice called 'The Yoga of Bass'. It draws parallels between the spirituality found in the yogic path with that of the musical & artistic lifestyle.
Through my own intensive studies of music history, I also realized that music and art have been considered sacred channels to the divine in almost every culture previous to ours... yet with the modern day commodification of all things profitable, sanctuary has been diluted and often replaced with a formulaic repetition of 'creative' expression that at times borders on the profane.
Darin, more commonly known as Freq Nasty is a prolific, talented DJ/Producer who hails from the UK. He has been setting the tone of bass oriented music for many years and I for one have been on several dance floors late at night that have been rocked to their spiritual core by the sounds emanating from the speakers during Darin's memorable performances. Claire is a gifted yoga teacher who aside from studying and teacher various healing arts, also sings with the Dub Kirtan All Stars which is a project created by Darin and our dear friend David Starfire and is aimed at fusing the electronic underground with the magic of kirtan.
How sound can help quiet the mind...
Tue, Feb 14 2012 04:19
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There are at least three ways I have come to realize yoga music might help end our discursive thoughts, and no doubt there are more. I plan to discuss these in this and future Blog entries.
Gratitude for Gayatri
Wed, Feb 1 2012 10:35
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I sat on a mountaintop (a mountain for a Midwesterner, a hill for mountain folk) in Baja Mexico, looking out onto the Pacific, trying to meditate for 8 hours in fast and in silence. In practicing Satya (truthfulness), I must admit my silent and still attempts at meditation are challenging to say the least – I create an instant ADHD monkey child mind when I first try.Around hour two, I found a random pair of pants, from where I don’t know. I had matches for some incense with me and so to avoid clarity, I built a little fire and literally burned the pants (saving the mountain from mysterious clothing litter) as a symbol of burning up distraction. That worked to still the mind for a bit because I was doing something and yet I still couldn’t settle into the silence. Now I was just laughing at the nonsense of having a pants burning on a mountaintop in Mexico. Oh the things we humans concoct just to avoid reality!
Celebrate Earth Day w/ Shantala in Denver!
Wed, Feb 1 2012 05:54
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Music, Yoga and Spiritual Practice
Thu, Jan 19 2012 01:45
| Center Your Health
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I wonder this myself as I think of the playlists I create to support yoga classes I teach in Portland, and I also wonder why I am drawn to compose and record yoga music myself. How does music fit into a spiritual practice?
Dave Stringer LIVE in Denver Friday Feb 10!
Mon, Jan 16 2012 09:43
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Dave Stringer, an internationally-beloved chant artist, is coming to Denver's Temple Event Center on Friday, Feb 10 to perform at Friday Night Yoga Club. Tickets are available for a yoga and live music class followed by a concert or as a concert only ticket. Catch the live music/yoga class with Denise Cook and Hilary O'Toole at 6 pm or come for the concert only at 8 p.m. Tickets for yoga and concert are $25 adv/$30 night of. Concert only tickets are $20/adv/$25 night of.
Documentary Film Review: Yoga Is
Tue, Jan 3 2012 05:25
| Documentary, Center Your Health, Film, Yoga, YogiTunes
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Yoga Is: A Film About The Transformational Power of Yoga
Yoga Is is an inspiring, quick, 60-minute documentary on what yoga is all about. The filmmaker, Suzanne Bryant, found herself lost after losing her mother to breast cancer so she set out to explore and learn more about the ancient practice of yoga. Along her journey, both East & West, she met with some of the most prominent Western Yoga Gurus, teachers, and celebrity devotees such as Russell Simmons, Christy Turlington Burns, Michael Franti, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Alan Finger, Ana Forrest, Baron Baptiste, Cyndi Lee, Sri Dharma Mittra, Eddie Modestini, Elise Browning Miller, Erich Schiffmann, Gurmukh, Krishna Das, Nicki Doane, Robert Thurman, Saul David Raye, Shyam Das. Through her journeying, she attained much enlightenment (as one could imagine conversing with such great teachers, in such spiritual places!).
Yoga Is is an inspiring, quick, 60-minute documentary on what yoga is all about. The filmmaker, Suzanne Bryant, found herself lost after losing her mother to breast cancer so she set out to explore and learn more about the ancient practice of yoga. Along her journey, both East & West, she met with some of the most prominent Western Yoga Gurus, teachers, and celebrity devotees such as Russell Simmons, Christy Turlington Burns, Michael Franti, Sharon Gannon, David Life, Seane Corn, Shiva Rea, Alan Finger, Ana Forrest, Baron Baptiste, Cyndi Lee, Sri Dharma Mittra, Eddie Modestini, Elise Browning Miller, Erich Schiffmann, Gurmukh, Krishna Das, Nicki Doane, Robert Thurman, Saul David Raye, Shyam Das. Through her journeying, she attained much enlightenment (as one could imagine conversing with such great teachers, in such spiritual places!).
Yoga in the Prison System
Thu, Dec 29 2011 02:36
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If you've ever seen a Robert Sturman photograph, you'll know how graceful and gifted he is with a camera. His love of both yoga and music have taken him to many places around the world, creatingan incredible body of stunning work. Now his craft has taken him into the prison system of California...The following interview gives some insight into what yoga is bringing to prison inmantes and how Robert is bringing his art to a place often completely devoid of beauty.
Transparency Tk 2
Thu, Dec 29 2011 02:33
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As we try to create a website dedicated to the music of yoga we find ourselves humbled by the immense effort it takes to launch a company. The support and excitement we've received has been amazing... and for that we're eternally grateful. But at this point the challenges seem endless.
Autumn Harvest Practice
Thu, Dec 29 2011 02:27
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A great aspect of home, personal practice is the creative way you can include your environment and invite nature into your asana and meditation. In this offering, I invite you to connect directly with autumn by practicing with a tree for 4 weeks.
If you haven’t tried this before, autumn is a fantastic starting point. Try taking your mat (or just bare feet!) and find a tree. Commit to coming to this spot once a week for 4 weeks. Set up your mat towards the tree as if it was your teacher. To center in, take a few rounds of breath. Breathe in a little more than you think you can and press out the breath a little longer than you think you can. Notice your enhanced awareness and use it to study the tree.
Crystal Light Bath
Thu, Dec 29 2011 02:12
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His mastery of relaxation music, frequency, breathing techniques, yoga and diet helped many terminally ill people to heal themselves rapidly.
Brown Chicken, Brown Cow
Thu, Dec 29 2011 01:23
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If you are totally confused by the title, let me say it’s a parent friendly way to say Boom-chicka-bow-wow without kids knowing you are using sexy speech. I heard it on road trip and adopted it into my sexy speak code. The agni in my mula bhanda area (if you know what I mean ;), well it apparently died when I got pregnant. I was freaked out because from everything Hollywood had taught me, pregnant goddesses are supposed to be down with the boom boom. My libido didn’t get that message and after my little guy was born and my breasts turned into milk machines I still couldn’t find that fire. It’s taboo to talk about this stuff, so often a new mom is left alone, confused, and really nervous about being able to physically connect with her partner. So let me tell you something:
Reduce Stress with Slow Breathing - the App
Thu, Dec 29 2011 01:18
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What's really interesting is that the app helps you find your RESONANT FREQUENCY. Which as a sound healer, I have to say piqued my interest. I love resonant frequencies... and what's so cool is that they're different and unique for everyone. It turns out that when it comes to relaxation, it's the space between your heart beats that is most important - and it has to vary. If the space between beats is steady, it's a sign of stress.
The Breakfast Yoga Club - BYC in the House!
Thu, Dec 29 2011 01:03
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YogiTunes Co-Founder Rara Avis is about to head out that way to dive a little deeper into the thriving Texas yoga community - Austin here we come! Also Desert Dwellers is booked for the Texas Yoga Conference this coming February, when we'll be trying to hook up with the BYC to do a serious commUNITY throw down!
Music for Relaxation
Thu, Dec 29 2011 12:22
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The first time I met Craig Kohland I felt an overwhelming sense of warmth emanating from his heart and into mine. I was hired to be his sound engineer for something called Zen Dancing... a seminal experience in the Los Angeles yoga and ecstatic community created by yoga teacher - Micheline Berry. It's an improvised live music ecstatic dance journey that featured Craig's band: the Shaman's Dream World Groove EnsembleLittle did I know as I was helping to prepare the sound for that night that this would become my first real yoga music family. I also had no idea that Craig and I would go on to produce household records in the yoga music community and spawn project after project with teachers, musicians and other talented yogis that ultimately would culminate in the launching of this website together.
Yogi Karaoke: The Greatest Car Concert Ever
Thu, Dec 29 2011 12:07
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The first thing you need to know is that I totally rock the house with my car concerts. I’m the person that you give strange looks to at the stop light. I’m beating the drum of the steering wheel, expressing the soul of the song through weird facial contortions, and if the window is down – you will hear me belting out my bhakti. Yoga music, and especially devotional chanting has been my main yoga practice during my recent period of intense travel. I love to have a good sing-along and it occurs to me that the holidays are a time when everyone needs a great playlist to jam in the car before contemplating the endless “Is Yoga a Religion?,” questions that often creep up from concerned family members.
SUP Yoga Interview with Lauren Peterson
Thu, Dec 29 2011 12:01
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Q: Where did SUP originate?A: Some believe SUP Yoga originated in Florida. SUP Yoga really did not start taking off until around 2009, it was about this time that YouTube videos of SUP Yoga started appearing on the web.
Q: Why do you think it has become such a widespread trend, so rapidly?
A: SUP Yoga, is unique and offers something for everyone. Yoga is therapeutic, as well as a work out. When you put those two characteristics together with water and nature it adds another dimension to Yoga.
Paypal now supported!
Thu, Dec 29 2011 11:55
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As of this week, YogiTunes will now support Paypal in it's shopping cart. This is all thanks to a YogiTunes fan who wrote us recently saying that while he loved the site, he just wished we offered Paypal as a more secure way to checkout.We love hearing from our fellow Yogi's! So we responded and now you can feel safe and secure using Paypal as a way to pay for your lovely YogiTunes yoga music.
Adri Kyser @ Yogavibes!
Thu, Dec 29 2011 11:52
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One of the beautiful perks that come with this particular job is that I keep being introduced to amazing teachers all across the country who are doing unique things with yoga and happen to have a passion for music. How cool is that?Adri Kyser is one such teacher, and her recent videos created for YogaVibes were an awesome opportunity for us to work together a little more closely in providing a special selection of music that she could teach to in the videos.
Festival of Lights
Thu, Dec 29 2011 11:35
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Yoga Rocks the Butte~!
Thu, Dec 29 2011 11:27
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Hey there yoga music fans. YogiTunes has hooked up a sweet deal - $100 off tickets for an amazing yoga and music festival in the breath taking mountain resort, Crested Butte in Colorado.3 days of asana, good vibrations and of course powder-riffic turns for boarders and skiiers alike. Benefitting Yoga World Reach, this exciting weekend festival allows participants to engage their bodies, minds and souls through yoga classes from some of the world's most respected instructors, music, and organic food, surrounded by an inspiring mountain scenery.
Dave Stringer Retreats at Esalen
Thu, Dec 29 2011 09:33
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Mantras & Molecules: From the perspective of Eastern philosophy, the bliss we are seeking is already inside of us. From the perspective of modern brain science, this is also a true statement. To the scientist, bliss is a chemical state that the body itself produces, and it is a state that we are apparently hard-wired to seek. Chanting Sanskrit mantras is one of the world’s oldest means of finding it.Yoga is better than golf
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Hawaii Sprit Fest
Fri, Oct 28 2011 01:13
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Expanding Yoga and Health Awareness while supporting the local community
Over 45 Workshops Offered in Yoga, Dance, Movement and Conscious Related Topics Music Festival Featuring: Paula Fuga, Mike Love, DubKonscious, Makana, Stephen Inglis and Jon Swift Free Karma Day and Hawaii Healing Garden to Educate the Public The 2nd annual Hawaii Spirit Festival will be held from Nov 4-6, 2011 at the Turtle Bay Resort. This festival blends 3 events to offer an exciting and unique community experience to both Oahu residents and visitors.
New Pepper Mary Video from Dalien 13 Hands!
Mon, Oct 10 2011 04:26
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The new single and video "Pepper Mary" by 13 HANDS has arrived. A modern day tale of an old Celtic hero, Pepper Mary with a very unique way of making the world a better place. Enjoy...forward, embed, kindly purchase THE LEGEND OF PEPPER MARY EP at YogiTunes, spread the word if you like the song and want to turn people onto it...
OM is a Magic Word
Wed, Sep 28 2011 07:38
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We chant OM in order to ground our energy in the present moment.When teaching kids who are brand new to yoga, I am determined to invite them into the wondrous world of all that is yoga without pushing them into a place of spooky sounds, weird ways and stuff completely unrelated to anything they’ve ever known. This mantra is a mode of transportation from where we were in our individual lives moments ago to where we are now - together in yoga.
Since explaining the true meaning of OM may not be enough to put all kids at ease, one way to make it less ominous is to give each letter a familiar association. When chanting OM, let O represent the past. The One Outcome that Occurred each instant of your life to lead you to where you are and who you are at this exact moment in time. In other words, once something is in the past, it boils down to the One thing that was, out of all the things that could have been.
Just A Spark
Tue, Sep 20 2011 04:36
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As a teacher, you bring people in from the outside world and help them decompress from the day. You use breath awareness and centering, but in a class that only lasts an hour and a half, there is limited time. The right musical language can facilitate a feeling of “timelessness” and “spacelessness” in a mere 90 minutes. Utilizing a mellow melody can bring the student to that experience just a little faster. Don’t just believe me – try it now. Click on one of YogiTunes playlists titled “Opening” and just experience it right now in your desk chair. Go ahead, I’ll wait...
This Tornado Loves You
Tue, Sep 6 2011 07:10
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Music in class – yes or no?
Thu, Aug 25 2011 04:48
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Yoga Music is defined by the way in which it supports the flow and sequencing that occurs during a yoga class. Stylistically, it can be relaxation music, meditation music, fitness music, ambient music and can also draw from a wide range of popular genres such as hip hop, chillout, soul, r&b, funk, classical music, etc.What makes it yoga music is the way in which the songs are put together - hence YogiTunes supports the creation of the yoga music playlist. A playlist in this context is a specific sequence of songs designed to fully support yoga poses, positions, sequences and structure so that the practitioner experiences a deep surrender into the overall flow of the class.
Yoga Organix
Mon, Jun 20 2011 11:35
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Never will you find a more soulful combination of humor, creativity, humility, grace and style than in David 'Duke' Schommer. We recently had a chance to hang at the Hanuman Yoga + Music Festival in Boulder, CO - which, in it's first year, was combined with White Swan Records 20th Anniversary. White Swan graciously undertook the task of bringing together artists on their label which is
