Yoga Music

The countless time I’ve been in a class and fallen deeply in love with a song that I have no idea the name of. While trying to remain present and in the moment, I have at times tried to make a conscious effort to remember to ask my teacher the name of that mysterious piece of music; all the while being swept away by another beautiful song or often times hijacked by my many thoughts. If we end up in pigeon at any point, every emotion under the sun will likely arise and the chance of remembering even the start of the class goes straight out the window. Once I reach Shavasana I’m in a state of utter bliss, from there I will float out of class, make my way home and think to myself ‘I forgot to ask what that song was!!’ For me this story only seems to repeat it-self.

I thought many of you would enjoy some inspiring yoga music to start your collection or to add to it, so I asked some of the teachers at the studio some of their favourites that inspire them.

Here were the songs they contributed…

Helene Taito Jenson

Ben Leinbach- Mother’s Wingspan

Dj Drez- Floating Sweetness

Heather & Benjy Wertheimer- Baba Hanuman

Krishna Das- Heart as Wide as the World (Sri Ram Jai Ram)

Nadaka- Om

Janine Croft

Ben Howard - Only Love

Deva Premal- Chidananda

Dj Drez- A Sadhu Walk

Mirabai Ceiba- Ong Namo 

Sara Tavares- Exala

Trevor Hall- The Lime tree 

Xavier Rudd- Spirit Bird 

Jessica Mackie

Akyanna- Ra Ma Da Sa

Desert Dwellers- Lotus Heart

Dj Drez- Nectar Drop

Jon Hopkins- Immunity

Steve Gold- There Is So Much Magnificence 

Wah!- Heart Sutra 

Josephine O’Sullivan

James Vincent- Wicked Games

Jane Winther- Om

Masood Ali Khan- Bhakti Gita

Message to the Bears- You Are a Memory 

Rockey Heron- Lullaby of Lakshmi

Written by Nicole Ander

Kundalini Music

Music and Mantra is such a huge part of Kundalini Yoga. When Yogi Bhajan took the teachings of Kundalini Yoga to America in 1969, a fusion of Western-style music and mantra emerged. The mantras that we use in Kundalini yoga are in the sacred language Gurmukhi. The meaning of the mantras are encrypted in the vibrations of the sounds, and the way that they resonate internally through the body. 

When we chant a mantra, the meridian points in the upper palate of the mouth are stimulated by the tongue in a particular rhythm and pattern. This initiates a chain of chemical reactions in the body, to rebalance the energy throughout the glandular system and organs. The vibration of sounds reasonate in the body to promote energy circulation throughout the Nadi channels (the body’s energetic pathways).

Sounds vibrations connect us to the infinite flow of energy.  We do not even need to understand the meaning of the mantra for the power of the vibrations to bring energetic balance, and healing to the body and the mind.

In Kundalini yoga classes, you might chant along with the music, use it to set a pace or rhythm for a particular movement or breath pattern, or just listen to the mantra during relaxation periods.

I wanted to share some of my current favorites to inspire you during a home yoga practice, relaxation, or to enjoy in the car. 

The best place to purchase the music is Spirit Voyage (www.spiritvoyage.com) or iTunes Store. Alternatively, you could search for the songs on Spotify.

 Favourite Songs I love to Play in Classes:

• Aad Guray Nameh by Mirabai Ceiba (Awakened Earth)
• Anand (bliss) by Snatam Kaur (Anand)
• Ong Namo by Ajeet Kaur (At the Temple Door)
• Pavan Guru by Gurunam Singh (Breath of Devotion)
• Suniai by Ajeet Kaur (Darshan)
• Ong Sohung by Snatam Kaur (Shanti)
• Ardas Bhaee by Jai Jagdeesh (Of Heaven & Earth)
• Mul Mantra by Mirabai Ceiba (Mountain Sadhana)
• Mera Man Lochai by Sirgun Kaur (The Cosmic Gift)
• Longtime Sun by Snatam Kaur (Celebrate Peace)
• Ra Ma Da Sa by Snatam Kaur (Grace)

Beautiful Meditative/Relaxation Songs:

• Crimson Collection 1 & 2
• Crimson Collection 6 & 7
• Chattr Chakkr Deep Relaxation by Mirabai Ceiba
• Suni-ai (slow) by Snatam Kaur (Shanti)

Great Dance Beats/ Upbeat Songs:

• Wahe Guru Wahe Jio – Feat. Russell Brand by Kamari & Manvir
• Adi Shakti by Kamari & Manvir
• Bhangra Remix:  Kundalini Mantra Fusion Mix – whole album
• Kundalini Technology by Kamari & Manvir – whole album

Favourite Albums:

• Shanti by Snatam Kaur
• I am Thine by Jai Jagdeesh
• Light of the Naam: Morning Chants by Snatam Kaur
• Anand by Snatam Kaur
• Miracles Abound: Meditations for Transformation by Jai Jagdeesh
• Sevati by Mirabai Ceiba
• White Sun by White Sun
• Bhangra Remix:  Kundalini Mantra Fusion Mix
• Liberation’s Door by Snatam Kaur
• Prem Siri by Nirinjan Kaur
• Grace by Snatam Kaur

Healing Depression Through Mantra

 

We’d like to share with you a tale from the heart, from mantra singer/songwriter and formidable talent Franko Heke.  This self-confessed former “wayward youth” discovered how kirtan can help to alleviate depression and bring healing and joy to all!

MIND FULL...

As someone who has wrestled with bouts of deep depression and anxiety since I was a young boy it felt like I have always been searching for a “remedy” or “way out”. Throughout my adolescence and in my 20’s that remedy came in the form of partying and living a rebellious “bad-boy” lifestyle. Forever chasing that elusive high, when you’re riding the wave it’s amazing but when that wave comes crashing down, it crashes down hard and fast. I was a pretty lost and wayward young lad, just trying to numb the pain of being me. Now I can see that it was all just a means to fill a void of loneliness and a yearning to “fit in.”

Yet there has always been a common thread throughout all of these times – music. During my many highs and lows, music has always there with me like a familiar friend. I’ve loved music ever since I was a kid, I grew up in a household where music was really integral and my parents had great taste! And they often took me to concerts and this is where my earliest inspiration began.

I have done it all, Rap, Rock, Techno and Pop. Well I thought that I had done it all…until I was taken by the hand during what I called a “self-committed” solo monastery retreat to a Satsang and Kirtan. It was a Friday night and I vividly remember walking into this particular family’s home, whom I had never met before and feeling completely welcomed by their smiles and open heart. Everyone sat down and one person at the front started playing their guitar whilst launching into singing a line of mantra then everyone around me sang that lyric back in response. I’d never heard Sanskrit before or heard mantra sung like this in call and response, I was captivated and mesmerized. The power of that response sent shivers right through my whole body, I knew then that this was what I needed to experience.

So there I was, die-hard party-boy on a Friday night in Auckland singing, albeit sober with a whole bunch of strangers sharing smiles, energy, food and music. I loved every minute of it, I completely forgot about my inadequacies in those moments because I was at one with the mantra. My days of playing covers in bars and pubs are now over, I spend a lot of my time holding kirtan nights just like the one I experienced all those years ago in yoga studios around Auckland. I also write and compose much of what I play, and I’ve never looked back, because I understand how lucky I am to know firsthand the tremendous healing qualities of singing and mantra.

The thing I love to do the most on this stunning planet is bring people together and sing so I look forward to sharing this with you at Golden Yogi’s “Project Your Destiny” event on Sunday 22, May!  

MIND EMPTY.

 

Written by Franko Heke