May 10, 2012 |
Yikes, it’s been a few months since I posted a Daily Downward Dog yoga class playlist. Sorry about that!
My playlists have morphed into a mix of mellower music with fewer words in the songs mashed up with some more lively tunes for the flowing sequences of class. I’ve really been into Chinmaya Dunster and am also using some of the tracks I picked up at Tadasana Festival. And, I didn’t realize it until I put this playlist on paper, but it’s really heavy on covers of classic rock and reggae songs.
The list of songs below represents a playlist I used last week and also includes a few additional favorites from playlists earlier this year.
Opening Breath Meditation and Warm Up
“Ong So Hung” – The Guru Singh Experience
This track is a whopping 22:15 minutes of blissful ong so hung-ing from Guru Singh. I actually started this track before class began to provide a peaceful zen-like mood for the students to settle into and then used it as the backdrop for the opening breath meditation.
Ong means creative consciousness, and so hung means “I am Thou.” Chanting the word “hung” stimulates and opens the heart chakra.
Guru Singh Performing Live at Tadasana Festival
I was lucky to attend Guru Singh’s Heart Centered Living yoga class at Tadasana Festival, and it was awesome to hear him sing live as he took us through an insightful and calming practice that taught me a lot about compassion (more on that to come in a future post).
“Manipuri Megh” – Chinmaya Dunster & The Celtic Ragas Band – Fragrance of the East: Live in India
Mellow, mystical, flowing flute music is perfect to move through warm-up asanas. I am in love with Chinmaya Dunster’s music for yoga classes, and my favorite track of his is used below for savasana.
Standing Asanas and Flow
“Never Know” – Jack Johnson – In Between Dreams
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRZ0CsqVY4U[/youtube]
“The Sound of Sunshine” – Michael Franti & Spearhead – The Sound of Sunshine
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqgHosrqJ8o[/youtube]
This is my prerequisite reggae song (because every yoga class needs one), and “The Sound of Sunshine” is the perfect theme song to accompany sun salutations. Watch this video and I guarantee you’ll get happy!
“Daniel” – Fisher & Friends – Acoustic Café 2
Kathleen Fisher’s sultry vocals and stripped down instrumentals make this Elton John classic perfect for class. This CD came out in 2007 and has quite a few more keepers (including “Imagine” and “Landslide”) that I’ll be using in future playlists.
“Opportunity” – Pete Murray – See the Sun
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9TlDXSQfs0[/youtube]
Great message in this song:
Your coffee’s warm but your milk is sour
Life is short but you’re here to flower
Dream yourself along another day
Never miss opportunity
Don’t be scared of what you cannot see
Your only fear is possibility
Never wonder what the hell went wrong
Your second chance may never come along
“Redemption Song” – Michael McDonald – Soul Speak
More reggae, but this time the classic Bob Marley song is expertly covered by Michael McDonald. It’s hard to describe Michael’s voice – raspy, soulful, and truly unique. I’ve been a long-time fan, and this is not the first time he’s graced one of my playlists.
Floor – Back Bends, Heart Openers, Hip Openers, Abdominals, and Twists
“Hey Jude” – Roberta Flack – Let It Be Roberta: Roberta Flack Sings The Beatles
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIGw6W6iIMU[/youtube]
Two words: Roberta, The Beatles (ok, technically that’s three). That’s all you need to know. Singing goddess Roberta’s take on this Beatles classic is stellar, and the rest of the tracks on this album kick ass too. I’ll be using her versions of “Here, There, and Everywhere” and “Let it Be” on future playlists.
“Breathe Me” – Sia Furler – Colour the Small One
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSH7fblcGWM[/youtube]
“Guru Sloka” – Masood Ali Khan
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGsmRGoxPEs[/youtube]
I love the little dancing girl in this video!
Check out this article and the pictures of Masood from the May edition of LA Yoga (he’s not hard on the eyes!). I got to hear him play at Tadasana Festival, loved him, and you will too!
Masood (2nd from left) performing live with Wah! at Tadasana Festival in a class led by Sara Ivanhoe
Savasana
“On Sacred Ground (Fourth or Heart Chakra)” – Chinmaya Dunster – Yoga On Sacred Ground
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPLaCv3Hgk4[/youtube]
Every yoga teacher needs to have this CD. Every song is perfect for the more mellow parts of class. This by far is my favorite cut.
I’m digging the vibe this playlist sets, and I hope you do too. As always, I would love your feedback or to hear about any great songs you’ve recently used for yoga class playlists.
Jan 24, 2012 |
It’s red carpet season out in Hollywood with award shows like the Golden Globes and the Oscars, and in true red carpet spirit, The Daily Downward Dog studio is rolling out its red yoga mats and finest yoga wear in support of the second annual YOGAR awards.
What are the YOGARS, you ask? Just a fun little way to recognize the best of the 2011 cool yoga experiences and to send out some loving kindness to the yoga asanas and people that have brought so much goodness to our lives.
Each year on the eve of the Oscar nominations, I try to imagine what it must feel like to get that call at 5:30 AM PT from your publicist letting you know that you’ve been nominated for an Oscar. It has to be a major rush, and I’m sure each of the 2011 YOGAR nominees has got to be thrilled!
This year we’ve added some new categories, and everyone is welcome to join in the YOGAR fun by voting and adding their very own nominations. I won’t delay the suspense any longer; here, my yogi friends, are the 2011 YOGAR nominees…
Drum roll!
Best Asana
Ustrasana (Camel Pose): In need of a little heart opener mashed-up with an awesome back bend? Camel pose had the ability to make us laugh and cry and at times made us downright dizzy, but this asana dug deep and pulled off an amazing heart-opening performance. It’s one of those asanas that yogis either love or hate, so with a great deal of controversy, Ustrasana is bringing some much needed drama to the 2011 Best Asana race.
Virabhadrasana II (Warrior 2): Forget about the acting performance of Sigourney Weaver in Alien, or Ryan Reynolds in the Green Lantern. Yeah, those were some kick-ass performances, but if you want to channel your inner fierce yogini goddess or kick-ass yogi warrior, just find your way into Virabhadrasana II, and it’s gonna deliver a star-worthy performance.
Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog or AMS): Last year, Salamba Sirsasana (Supported Headstand) pulled off a major upset and won Best Asana hands and head down over the highly decorated downward facing dog. I guess you could say adho mukha svanasana is a bit like Meryl Streep; it just always seems to win. I mean, face it: Have you ever been to a class where you didn’t do a few downward dogs? AMS is multi-faceted in its roles, moving with ease from the place we go to get the body stretched and prepared for practice to a delightful place of rest. This year, AMS really stepped up the game and is once again a huge contender to walk off the yoga mat clutching yet another more-than-well-deserved YOGAR.
Best Yoga Victory
I was fortunate to have many yoga victories this year. I got the head a little closer to the knees in paschimottanasana (seated forward bend) and the head a lot closer to the floor in prasarita padottanasana (wide-legged forward bend). One of the things I love about yoga is that, in essence, each time I come to the mat, there is always the opportunity for a victory, and this past year, there were two that really stand out. I would love to hear about yours, so nominate one or several!
SirsasanaII (Tri-pod headstand): This past summer, in a major coup, I pulled off my very first (unassisted) inversion and was more than just a little giddy about it. It felt so empowering to know that my core was strong enough to pull up those legs.
Fully present savasana: I got really good at turning off the monkey mind this past year and had many repeat performances of fully present savasanas. All I can say is aaaaaahhhhhh…
Savasanaaaaahhhhh!
Best Supporting Asana
Plank Pose: They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in yoga, it takes a lot of plank poses to build up the necessary arm and core strength to get to some of those more challenging asanas. Plank pose never gets the recognition it deserves, and this year it’s getting a major shout out with a nod in the Best Supporting Asana field.
Tadasana (Mountain Pose): Despite its rock solid performance each and every year, tadasana has been snubbed many times in this category. We are so proud to pay homage to the master and forerunner of so many asanas. Ain’t no mountain high enough…
Balasana (Child’s Pose): Just like AMS, balasana is a Best Supporting Asana spoiler and usually walks away with the YOGAR hardware each and every year. We’ll see if tadasana or plank can give this kid a run for the money this year.
Best Musical Score
Take a listen and then cast your vote – or let me know about a yoga class playlist that you created that really rocked!
A Lovely Yoga Day – Join me in a sing-a-long with The Daily Downward Dog’s yoga song parody of the classic Bill Withers’ “A Lovely Day.” This song is a sure-fire yoga class playlist pleaser.
Navigating New Musical Horizons – The YOGAR voting committee likes it when someone goes outside of the normal genre, and this playlist definitely fits the bill. As I waivered on what kind of music to use in my yoga classes this year, I took a real departure, and this playlist features music with no lyrics and is a little bit heavier on the spiritual side. The YOGAR committee responded with a enthusiastic thumbs up.
I Just Want to Light You Up – You can’t go wrong with a playlist that mashes up Pink, Shawn Mullins, the New Radicals, and Ray LaMontagne. Lots of cool messages were weaved into these songs, my favorite being “You Get What You Give.”
Best Set Location aka Destination Yoga Event
No, I didn’t travel to any of the cool yoga festivals or destination retreats in 2011, but that doesn’t mean that a girl can’t dream. I am going to make it to one of the festivals or Yoga Journal conferences this year, so help me out and tell me which ones you went to, or which ones you think are best. If you had to recommend only one event/yoga destination for me to attend, what would it be?
Wanderlust Festivals (Vermont/Squaw Valley/Colorado)
Yoga Journal Conferences (New York/San Diego/Colorado)
India/Bali/Costa Rica/Jamaica, etc. There are just too many yoga destinations and retreats to list here, so I want to hear from you. Fuel my wanderlust for travel and yoga by telling me who you would nominate and vote for.
Best Cool Yoga Experience
The year of 2011 is going to be hard to top, as I attended workshops with the likes of Rodney Yee, Max Strom, Kathryn Budig, and Cora Wen. I find it incredibly cool that I live in an area that brings so many yogalicious yoga teachers in for workshops, and quite frankly, there are so many that I can’t even make them all. Here’s my list of my favorite cool yoga experiences:
My Close Encounter with Rodney Yee at Yoga High in Columbus, Ohio.
My Close Encounter with Max Strom at Yoga Bliss in Rocky River, Ohio
Learning how to Aim True with Kathryn Budig
Living my dream and teaching beach yoga on the shores of Lake Erie all summer long!
Sharing some hot yoga and yoga philosophy with Delicious Dylan of the Weinermobile
Best Director
I have attended so many amazing yoga classes this year that I can’t even begin to whittle down the list to just a handful. Again, I feel truly blessed that I live in an area with such a strong yoga community and so many awesome yoga studios and teachers.
I think the best award that any yoga instructor can get is a kind word expressing how much you enjoyed their class or letting them know how they have helped you on your yoga journey. In this coming year, please take the time and show your “Best Directors” some love and gratitude.
Best Seva
For the last YOGARs, I asked readers to help me out by nominating their favorite seva artist. If you are not familiar with seva, it is the spiritual practice of selfless service and the desire to uplift and assist people, giving help and compassion to others with no thought of what is to gain or what is to be lost by doing so. The practice of seva becomes a path to self-realization, which is the essence of yoga.
Last year, I was introduced to Sean Corn and her organization, Off the Mat and Into the World. I also had the honor of working with Girls With Sole and am super excited to attend teacher training with Street Yoga this coming March. Help me out again this year; share the love and spread the word about an organization or person that is a shining example of seva.
Help Me Live My Dream
I have to admit: ever since I was a little girl, I have dreamed about winning an Oscar. In actuality, it’s a pretty crazy dream being that I never pursued acting professionally. I guess it’s more of a fantasy.
Well now, I have a chance to win an award, and I’m asking for your help. If you live in Ohio and have attended one of my beach yoga classes (and liked it), please nominate The Daily Downward Dog Beach Yoga at Firefly Beach in the Funcost.com Reader’s Choice Awards. Deadline for nominations is January 27. Even if you don’t nominate DDD Beach Yoga, please nominate a local yoga studio so that we can spread the word about the great places to practice yoga in and around Sandusky and Huron County.
Cast Your Vote TODAY!
The red yoga mats have been unrolled, and I’m opening up the YOGARS for additional nominations and votes, so please leave a comment below and nominate or vote for any of the categories above. Heck, if you have a cool category that I’ve missed, go ahead and bring it – I’m open to sharing the YOGAR love.
The YOGARS will be presented on Monday, February 27.
2010 YOGAR Winners
Purple Music Note Image: Billy Frank Alexander
Dec 21, 2011 |
Do you have a yoga asana (pose) that you dream of doing? Maybe it’s adho mukha vrksasana (the elusive handstand) or a challenging arm balancing asana like bakasana (crow or sometimes called crane) or astavakrasana (eight-angle) pose.
It’s the time of year where I do a lot of dreaming and goal setting, so I thought it was a good idea to start putting some dreams out into the universe for the poses that I want to master in the coming year.
In a Kathryn Budig Aim True workshop I recently attended, she referred to dream poses as challenge poses. She talked about the fact that we often set goals to accomplish many poses at one time, when in actuality we should pick only one or two poses per year to really apply ourselves to; we should dedicate the time needed to build up the strength and flexibility to achieve one goal, one asana at a time.
Good thinking, Kathryn! I’m a habitual overachiever, so I took Kathryn’s advice to heart when I selected my top two DREAM POSES for 2012. (I prefer the word “dream” over “challenge.”)
2012 Dream Poses
My #1 dream asana is crow. I can do it now…but just barely. I don’t have the confidence that I should have; I wobble and hold it for about 5 seconds tops. By the end of 2012, I want to ROCK crow pose. I want to be able to jump into it from downward dog and hold it steady for at least a minute. I may even post some videos on The DDD next year to track my progress and the celebration when I finally get there!
My #2 dream asana will be to take crow pose one step further and move into parsava bakha (side crow pose).
The long-term plan is to eventually – someday or some year – move into mayurasana (peacock pose). I figure if Bette Calman can do this pose at age 83, I need to get there sometime before I hit 70. And, can I just say that it is going to take a ton of core and arm strengthening to get me where I want to go in each one of these asanas.
I have to add one more pose that I’m going to work really hard on this coming year (like I said – overachiever). Savasana is one of the easiest poses to get into, but in actuality, it is probably one of the most unbelievably challenging poses I know. I think every yogi should set a goal to master savasana in 2012, to strive during each yoga practice to fully relax, let go, and receive the full benefits.
So what’s your dream pose for 2012? Have some fun with me and set a goal for yourself. Leave me a comment, and I’ll check in throughout the year to follow everyone’s progress. I hope you will keep me in check and motivated as well!
You don’t have to pick something super challenging; it could be an asana that you’ve struggled with getting into proper alignment, or you could set a goal to simply move your foot higher up your leg in tree pose. Make it something that is attainable based on your abilities, but don’t compromise – dream BIG!
Thanks to @SuddenlySus for inspiring this post a while back on Twitter. Her dream pose is to do a handstand unassisted, so go for it in 2012, Sus! I’ll be checking in with you.
Handstand Image: Jakub Sopicki
Sep 29, 2011 |
The very first yoga mat I ever purchased cost five dollars, came in a lovely shade of lavender, and was ultrathin. If you’ve never bought a yoga mat, I’d just like to say that ultrathin is not a product feature you want in a mat. I still have and love this mat. (Hey, you never forget your first one!) Despite its lack of cushion, I quickly learned that I could compensate with a trusty blanket under my knees during the kneeling poses.
The studio I was frequenting at the time had “professional” yoga mats for sale that had the thickness and support my body craved and came in a palette of gorgeous colors, but they cost over a hundred dollars. Yikes, there was no way I was going to shell out that much money. Even though my knees coveted those mats, my motto was that yoga should be affordable. I didn’t need hundred-dollar yoga pants or a hundred-dollar yoga mat to deepen my practice.
So, what the heck am I doing on a new mat that costs over a hundred dollars?
Well, I have learned an important lesson. Just as it is wise to invest money on the mattress for your bed (we spend one-third of our time there), it is wise to invest money on the best yoga mat you can find for added comfort and support of your body.
My downward dogs are now done on a Vernice Vita (VV) three-layered yoga mat and my wrists have never been happier. If you are familiar with memory foam, this mat is made with that material. And before you get all hung up thinking that there is no way you can be stable on a cushy mat, I’m here to tell you that I’ve never felt more stable and grounded on a yoga mat.
The bottom layer of the mat is a skid-proof EVA material that stabilizes your mat and prevents it from slipping and sliding on studio floors.
The middle layer has one-half inch of cushy memory foam that not only supports you, but provides a super-comfortable practice. This yummy layer relieves pressure points and pain in your knees, elbows, ankles, and hip bones in yoga postures and even your head during inversions.
The top layer is textured neoprene that is water-resistant, so it helps to stabilize your hands and feet when you are in poses like downward dog.
Rachel Ennis, a yogini from Manhattan Beach, California, came up with the idea for this mat when she found that her yoga practice was not progressing due to pain she experienced during some yoga postures. She bought a piece of memory foam and laid it on top of her traditional yoga mat and immediately noticed a huge difference. The relief this brought amazed her, and she eventually knew she had to share the benefits with others. She got a patent and has worked hard to develop an ethically manufactured product (PVC-free, 25 percent natural rubber, recycled packaging).
Thanks to Rachel, I’ve been test-driving my very own VV yoga mat for the past few weeks in both gentle Hatha and hot power classes and love the way it feels under my feet and my hands. No issues with slip-sliding away (although I still recommend using a NamaSTAY Yoga Towel on top for those really hot sweaty classes), and I feel as if I can hold poses longer.
If you are a fan of savasana, then I can tell you that doing savasana will never be the same now that I have experienced it on my ultra-comfy Vernice Vita mat. It is truly the definition of yogalicious!
I recently went to a three-day yoga workshop, where we spent a lot of the day sitting on the floor. While everyone was grabbing blankets and bolsters to sit on, I was totally comfy on my cushy VV. If you are in yoga-teacher training or spend a lot of time sitting on your yoga mat, I highly recommend a VV.
The VV yoga mat is also highly recommended for pregnant yoga students and is perfect for meditation and restorative yoga.
The mat is thicker when you roll it up, so you may want to pick up one of their over the shoulder mat straps so it is easier to carry, but I’m sure other yoga-mat straps would work as well. Be aware that when you take a VV mat into a class, it will attract attention. People get very curious when they see me unroll my mat, and I always let them touch it so they can feel the comfort.
My only complaint is that the mat does have a strong scent when you first remove it from the packaging. I’ve already noticed that this scent has diminished, and you can air out the mat by laying it outside just as long as you avoid direct heat or sunlight.
So, what is up with the name of this mat? Well, Vernice Vita (pronounced ver nee chey veeta) means to “paint life” in Italian and is a positive approach to how much more you can add to the world and the people around you when you’re at one with your own mind, body, and spirit. My Italian soul loves that, and my knees do too!
Give your body the comfort and support it deserves and purchase your very own Vernice Vita yoga mat from The Daily Downward Dog and save $10 on each mat. Just click the Buy Now button below, and you can order and pay securely through PayPal or your credit card. Or you can order direct from vernicevita.com and use offer code MARIA10 and you’ll still get the $10 savings!
The pricing for shipping and handling that is applied in the PayPal transaction is only for standard shipping within the United States. If you would like to order a Vernice Vita Mat and you live outside the United States or need expedited shipping, please contact me and I’ll provide a quote to handle your order.
Mar 26, 2011 |
This past week kicked ass! Here are just a few highlights in no particular order.
1) DoYogaWithMe.com founder David Procyshyn wrote a pretty cool review of The Daily Downward Dog. DoYogaWithMe.com has a wealth of information about yoga poses, breathing, meditation, and they just so happen to have FREE online yoga classes!
2) I taught yoga to awesome students this week, several of which were new to yoga. What an honor to get to teach someone yoga for the very first time. I hope the first time was as good for them as it was for me and that they continue to have a fulfilling yoga journey.
3) I led my very first yoga nidra during my Back Care Yoga Class at Nirvana Yoga and loved seeing the blissful faces afterward. Do you think it would be weird for me to record my own voice so I can practice yoga nidra, listening to myself?
4) I remembered to take the time to also be a yoga student and attended a kick-butt Power Yoga class led by Jeremy Weiss at Yoga Bliss Akron. The hot room is downright tropical, and I almost felt like I went on a vacation. It felt good to sweat and push myself.
5) YogaMint is featuring one of my all-time favorite stories about savasana on their home page.
6) I got an unexpected surprise when I got to meet Cherie, a fellow Twitter yogini buddy, who was sweet enough to attend one of my yoga classes. Cherie has a new line of NamaSTAY towels coming out in bright, new spring colors, so be sure to check them out.
7) I really enjoyed the mash-up of work, yoga teaching, writing, and family this week. I’m starting to feel more balanced and am so appreciative that I get to do work I’m passionate about.
8) The neti-pot confession booth was a big hit (thanks for all the comments), and I’m thinking my fellow yogis and yoginis may just need some more confession-booth time in the future.
9) I’m on the way to breaking a few traffic records this week at The Daily Downward Dog, so THANKS to everyone who stopped by.
10) I got to wake up this morning to the sound of the waves from Lake Erie and a beautiful sunny day in northeast Ohio. Despite the cold temperatures, the crocuses were blooming today and spring is here! Tomorrow I am heading to the Cleveland International Film Fest with my hubby. I feel blessed. Life is good.
Can’t wait to see what this coming week will bring!
Photo: Bert van ‘t Hul
