I’ve been hearing this super mellow song about floating down the river quite a bit in my yoga classes. It’s sung by a dude with a sultry, soothing voice who is accompanied by something that sounds like a lute. The mystical sounds of a Japanese orchestra in the background and the dreamy mixture of soothing lyrics, like, “Maybe we could meet again further down the river and share what we both discovered…then revel in the view,” provide all the required elements for the ultimate savasana session.
It’s also a pretty damn seductive song, and it could very well make a sexy songs playlist, right up there with just about anything from Barry White.
I’ve always wondered who sang this song and figured it must be someone in the mellow yoga music genre, like Wade Imre Morissette. I needed to find out who the artist was so I could add it to my favorite savasana playlist, and my Google search for “Flowing Down the River” was not bringing the desired results. Not to worry. I knew I would hear it again in yoga class, and, sure enough, the song had its calming effect on me during savasana one day last week. I asked my yoga instructor about the song, and you can imagine my surprise when she told me it was performed by Incubus.
Incubus! No way…aren’t they an alternative rock band? Not the kind of group I’d expect to put out a mellow little ditty that is played in yoga studios around the world.
Check it out being performed live.
For those of you wondering, that funky four-stringed musical instrument being played by lead guitarist Steve Vai is called a pipa.
Unfortunately, the live version left out the nearly one minute of real frogs croaking like you hear on the 7-minute and 46-second recorded version. The frogs were recorded live right outside the studio in Malibu, California, where the album Morning View was recorded.
The lead vocalist, Brandon Boyd (who is pretty darn hot!), said that the purpose of the song was to make “the listener pee in his/her pants” from relaxation. Brandon, I haven’t seen anyone pee in their pants yet while listening to this song during savasana, but I do have to say that you hit the mark on recording a song that is synonymous with relaxation.
In case you’re curious about which songs have made my savasana song playlist, so far the list includes:
If you have the perfect savasana song—one that really makes you relax and get deeper into the pose—please leave me a comment with your suggestions so I can fill up my playlist with yoga songs that rock!
I need to start keeping a list of my favorite music for savasana.
I wrote a few weeks ago about “Be Here Now” by Ray LaMontagne, which I think is probably one of the best songs to listen to if you need to come down a few notches on the stress-o-meter. That song is going to be on my top-ten list of all-time favorite savasana songs for a long time.
After my yoga class last night, I’m now going to add “Glitter in the Air,” by Pink, to my yoga music playlist. It’s a beautiful song with touching lyrics. Here’s the video of Pink performing “Glitter in the Air” at the 2010 Grammys. If you didn’t catch the Grammys, you’ve got to watch this video. Pink gets almost naked, flies up into the air, gets showered with water while doing acrobatics, and still manages to carry a tune—a truly amazing feat! Why can’t I multitask like that?
When I lay in savasana and listened to Pink’s voice, it didn’t make me want to get naked and hoist myself into the air, but it did bring me into a relaxed state of complete bliss. I thought about looking fear in the face and laughing at it and I wished for a beautiful endless night.
I know that during savasana, you are supposed to completely clear your mind and get into a relaxed state, but sometimes hearing calm, soothing yoga music with a little bit of a message can take me on that journey in a more aesthetically pleasing way.
If you are going to add this song to your yoga music playlist, I would recommend finding a nonlive version, as I think the clapping and cheering could be a bit distracting while trying to relax.
Do you have a favorite savasana song or a great yoga music playlist? I’m putting together a savasana party mix tape, so let me know!
I’ve been writing a lot about savasana, the time at the end of yoga class where you lie still, breathe, and seal in your yoga practice. It’s basically a mini nap, and how cool is it that you get to take a nap at the end of a workout?! I never take naps on my own, so savasana, to me, is a guilty pleasure and unexpected delight.
I recently went to a more challenging Vinyasa yoga class and really got a great yoga workout. The instructor that day did an incredible job of taking the class through the relaxation process during savasana. It was wonderful listening to his calming voice and following his directions to get into a deeper state of relaxation.
So, while in savasana he asked us all to remember the state of calm we were in, to take that feeling throughout our day, and to come back to it whenever we encounter stressful situations. I was feeling rather yummy at the time, so I am doing my best to remember that place so I can visit it whenever I need to feel at peace. Yeah, I’ll take that savasana to go!
Next time you’re in savasana, take a mental picture of your calm, peaceful state and tuck it away in your brain’s internal photo journal for future use.
I found out I had scoliosis when I was in junior high and it was devastating. After many doctors’ visits and enough radiation from X-rays to make me lethal, I was finally fitted for a back brace. If you think going through junior high was a nightmare, try hiding a back brace under baggy clothes for three years when you’re trying to look cool and fit in. Good times!
I can look back at junior high now and laugh, but the pain associated with having a curve in my back has haunted me throughout most of my adult life. I think everyone with back pain knows you’re supposed to do stretches and exercises to strengthen your back but let’s face it—we never do.
But I have to tell you, for the first time in my adult life, my back feels great, and I am attributing my victory over pain to my practice of yoga.
When I practice yoga it is one big workout to strengthen my back. Yoga stretches and strengthens the muscles around your spine and lengthens your spine, and this is exactly what I needed to deal with the curvature in my spine caused by the scoliosis. My back pain did not go away overnight; it took a while for the benefits of my yoga practice to take effect, but it is so worth it.
I recently did the 50-minute Yoga for ScoliosisDVD workout with Elise Browning Miller. Elise has been teaching yoga since 1976 and has successfully used it to minimize the effects of her own scoliosis. In the DVD she has four additional people practice with her who also have various forms of scoliosis. Elise does an excellent job of pointing out different adjustments that can be made to each pose to deal with the various curvatures of the spine.
The practice is taught in the method of yoga master B.K.S. Iyengar and includes information and an interview with an orthopedic surgeon. If you are new to yoga, this is a great DVD, providing helpful instructions for each pose. The practice is made up of three parts:
Part 1: Breathing and spinal-lengthening poses (16 minutes); these are great basic poses to lengthen the spine.
Part 2: Centering and strengthening poses (18 minutes); includes standing poses, back-strengthening poses, and twists.
Part 3: Restorative, releasing, and relaxing poses (16 minutes); relaxing poses to derotate the spine and align the hips.
And my favorite part: it ends with Savasana. There’s also a bonus section with six additional postures done with props (wall stretch, down dog, shoulder stretch, warrior 1 with wall, chair twist, and 3-part pull).
If you have scoliosis or back pain and have never tried yoga, I highly recommend this informative and helpful yoga DVD. It provides a great introduction to the practice and has all the best poses that have helped me tremendously in eliminating back pain and improving my posture. Plus, it beats the alternatives. Who wants to take painkillers or have surgery when you can work out the kinks in your back on a yoga mat?
The other day my yoga instructor had us start out class in Savasana pose. The first thing that popped into my head was; I hope this means we still get to do it at the end of class. She wanted to mix things up, and get the class out of our normal routine. If you do the same thing every day, the routine can get boring, and it’s good to work your body (and brain) in a different way.
So, try doing something different today. Take a different route home from work. Try a kind of food you’ve never had before. Take a break in the middle of the day and go out for some fresh air. I’m going to unplug from checking e-mail, phone, and Twitter and really turn everything off (kind of like a Savasana at work) and focus on writing the next episode of No Songs for Men today.
If you think of a creative way to mix it up today, let me know!
