by Michael | Aug 18, 2018 | Stuff I like, Yoga Music
In a yoga class setting up a vibe with lights, music and space is such a key part of the experience.
It really takes you to a sacred place and I tend to get all bejiggety is my sound system is not working. Whenever I am teaching at a new place or subbing I make sure to spend awhile understanding how their music system works (I’m not technically inclined and tend to panic when the music won’t start) I tend to play the same 30 CDs all the time but I love picking up new ones all the time ( a few years from now this list will be very different) Even if you don’t practice yoga, these CDs will work well if you want a sacred vibe for meditation or a special ceremony. A few of them will work well for cocktail parties too.
Shamanic Dream – When I play this in my classes, I almost always get a student come up and ask me what the CD is. It is hypnotic, ambient and a bit tribal all at the same time but with a fairly even tone. I teach a lot of couples yoga classes and I usually play this at the end so peple can drop into a very deep space when the lights are very low. This will transport you.
Sound Sleep for Infants -Another CD you won’t usually find on your top ten yoga music CDs. I don’t know if I would play this during the entire class but it works stunningly during Shivasna. It is some ambient music with a heartbeat in the background. This doesn’t work well if there is background noise like an AC in background though. I also play this CD for 40 minutes at night when I have insomnia. This CD makes me feel like I am in the womb.
Snatam Kaur – I discovered her when I was at Omega a few years ago. She was part of the Ecstatic Chant weekend. Don’t let her turban scare you. She does a few songs in English as well. She has a voice like an angel and you can feel her soul pouring into all of her chants. This is one of the CDs that my yoga students ask me about the most in my yoga class.
Rain – Another CD you won’t usually find on your top ten yoga music CDs. This is acoustic guitar and piano and I remember playing this when I driving around in the mountains of Vermont during the changing of the leaves. I still see the leaves whenever I listen to this. The music just matched the mood so well – melancholically beautiful.
Desert Dwellers – One of my students suggested this to me a few months ago. I tend to have a lot of CDs that are not just Sankrit chants and Ooommming. I like the chill, funky vibe but the tone is even enough to play in a class. A good one to play at cocktail hour as well.
Wah! – The ! is not a typo. I discovered Wah! when I was working at the Chopra Center in San Diego a few years ago. We used to play her CDs in the store to give it a Chopra Center vibe. I’ve seen her play a few times and it always shocks me that she is is not in bigger venues ( she usually leads a Kirtan at a yoga studio) If Natalie Merchant and a chanting Indian guru had a baby then this is who they would produce.
Le Spa Sonique – Don’t let the purple flowers scare you. This had a euro chill kind of vibe to it, sweet, sultry and sexy. I think I discovered this at Kripalu a few years ago.The beat can be a bit funky and might not work that well during shivasana. This is a great CD to play for a cocktail hour as well.
Deva Premal & Mitten I don’t think you can call yourself a yoga teacher unless you have at least 2 of their DVDs. Deva’s voice is like an angel and their tunes are soulful, sensual and penetrating. I get plenty of students that come up to me after class asking what the music is. I remember the first time I went to one of their concerts. They think of their concerts more like a group of people getting together and singing…very interactive and the way that they lead some of the mantras you’ll feel incredibly connected to the ether of the universe. My favorite song is in English though, “There is so Much Magnificence”.
Krishna Das What Bruce Springsteen is to Modern Rock, Krishna Das is to the kirtan (group chant) scene. I saw him perform at Omega a few years ago and have been a fan ever since. His songs are in Sankrit which could turn off some of your students ( or could turn the other ones on…everybody’s different). His CDs are good to play in class but attend one of his live shows and watch yogis jump and twirl around in delirium to his music. 
What are your favorite CDs or music to play during yoga or meditation? Post your thoughts on our Facebook page.
When I play this in my classes, I almost always get a student come up and ask me what the CD is. It is hypnotic, ambient and a bit tribal all at the same time but with a fairly even tone. I teach a lot of couples yoga classes and I usually play this at the end so peple can drop into a very deep space when the lights are very low. This will transport you.
by Michael | May 19, 2016 | Partner Yoga, Yoga Clothes, yoga mats
Best Yoga Mats
Part 2 of 3
THICKNESS
If you are older or you have knee issues you might want a thicker mat. It will provide more cushion that you will need. If you have sensitive knees then when you are in the lunging poses, a thin mat will be your knee’s worst enemy. If you do have a thin mat you can always roll it up a bit under your knee or put a folded blanket underneath. The tradeoff is that thick mats can make it harder for you to feel a strong connection to the floor, making you more wobbly in tree pose. You can always stand off the mat in the balancing poses. For beginners, I often have them use a wall without a mat for extra support.
PORTABILITY
A standard mat is about 1/8 inch thick, while the thickest swell up to 1/4 inch. There are also wafer-thin mats, often billed as “travel mats,” that are a mere 1/16 inch thick. They fold easily and don’t weigh much, making them a cinch to fit in a suitcase. Consider how much room you have to stow your mat, how important portability is, and where your sweet spot is on comfort.
If you use public transport or walk to your yoga studio, you will probably want a lighter mat. I’d also recommend getting a mat bag as well if that is the case.
If you drive right up to the studio, then a heavier, thicker mat won’t bother you and there’s not much point to geting a mat bag. If you are on airplanes a lot and who wants to pay the extra $25 each way to check luggage, then get yourself a foldable travel yoga mat in the 1/16 inch range. I haven’t used them yet, but am always temped to buy the Yoga Paws so you just put on yoga gloves and slippers and don’t have to worry about carrying a mat. Has anyone out there tried them…what do you think?
TEXTURE/STICKINESS
The texture of your mat dictates how much traction it provides. Like stickiness, texture affects how much slipping and sliding you do. It provides physical barriers to sliding (whereas stickiness relies on suction). And because texture affects the way a mat feels, it’s also a component of overall comfort. If you’re a Princess and the Pea type, any bumpy texture will likely aggravate you in savasana. Texture is more important for those hot, sweaty classes where you are more likely to slip on a smooth surface that doesn’t give you any traction.
If you’re looking for a mat that prevents slipping and you’d like to avoid PVC mats (the traditional sticky mats), look for a rubber, jute or cotton mat that has a raised, tactile pattern. The added grip the raised texture provides can help you stay put no matter how sweaty or vigorous your practice gets. If you are new to yoga, take off your socks in the standing poses or you might slip. (I’m always surprised how often I have to tell this to my yoga students in class.)
If smoothness is of prime importance to you, a PVC mat is the way to go. And if you relish stickiness but are curious about the newer, more earth-friendly options, test drive a few before you buy. Some eco-friendly mats may surprise you with how much traction they provide even though they don’t have the traditional “sticky” feel.
by Michael | May 1, 2016 | yoga mats
Yoga Mat Reviews; How to Choose a Yoga Mat – Part 3 of 3.
MATERIAL
Most standard yoga mats are made of PVC or vinyl. Newer, more earth-friendly options include natural and recycled rubber, jute, and organic cotton or natural cotton (which means the fabric is not treated with synthetic finishes during manufacturing). Most yoga mats are chemically treated unless they are organic or have strict eco-friendliness materials.
If you’re allergic to latex, avoid yoga mats made of natural rubber. If you want to stick with sticky, choose a yoga mat made out of PVC, which can endure your sun salutations for more than a decade. A sticky mat keeps you from sliding all over the place and helps you maintain your alignment as you move from one pose to another, as well as when you hold poses for several seconds like Warrior Pose. PVC yoga mats have the highest sticky factor. I recommend washing a mat with soap and letting it air dry if it is treated with chemicals.
ECO-FRIENDLINESS
Yoga mats
As yogis, we hold ahimsa, or non-violence dear to us. That makes practicing on a yoga mat that will ultimately end up clogging a landfill for decades to come bothersome.
Earth-friendly yoga mats are typically made from natural or recycled rubber. These mats may also include natural materials, such as jute or organic cotton.
Wait a minute….what the F–K is jute? I’ve been practicing yoga for over 15 years and never heard the word jute before I did some research into how to choose a yoga mat. Jute is a natural plant fiber grown primarily in South East Asia. Jute is a highly versatile fiber, combining breathability with high tensile strength.Jute plants take only 4-5 months to grow to maturity, making them a sustainable resource. They clean the air by consuming carbon dioxide, and the leaves are a natural soil conditioner. Jute mesh has the strength of fiberglass and the biodegradability of lawn clippings. However, the natural fibers of the mat can be very itchy and uncomfortable until you wear it in a little. No funky rubbery smell because its a mixture of natural fibers, which also makes it super easy to keep your grip; your hands rarely slip no matter how much you sweat. Be careful because bits of the material can start to come off with wear if you use this with high frequency.
If eco-friendliness is important to you, avoid mats made of PVC, which does not break down in landfills and is difficult and costly to recycle. Rubber and cotton mats, while available in a range of thicknesses, tend to be thicker and slicker than PVC mats. You can get a mat that’s eco-friendly, has a thickness that meets your needs for comfort and portability, and has a texture that prevents slippage.
YOGA MAT CUSTOMIZATION
A recent celeb trend, one in which Jennifer Aniston gave to Oprah recently, was a custom yoga mat of Oprah’s dogs from yogamatic.com is to have a design you choose on the mat. If you have a friend or family members that does yoga on a regular basis this is an outstanding present. Before you buy this, find out how much they like or don’t like the current mat they use. Find out if it works for them for thickness, portability and the materials. A yoga teacher friend of mine is getting married and doesn’t want all the traditional china dishes so we ‘re going to put her wedding photo on her mat…. so excited about her reaction!
PRICE RANGE
Typically, a basic 1/8 inch thick, plain solid-color PVC sticky mat will be toward the low end of the price range. From there you may pay more for patterns, designs or logos; premium thickness; antimicrobial treatments; and cool textures, especially raised tactile patterns. Eco-friendly mats tend to be toward the high end of the price range. While you can get mats at most places that sell anything sporty at most major retailers like Walmart or Target, or specialty stores focused on yoga and pilates gear like Amazon and Yoga Accessories with a much wider variety of products.
by Michael | Jan 13, 2015 | Beginner Yoga
Yoga Mat Reviews
Part 1 of 3
Buying a yoga mat is a very personal thing since not many materials will come into direct contact with almost every part of our physical body with our sweat and maybe tears during a very internally focused practice and one that can be quite physically demanding as well. This may sound strange but I’ve never bought a yoga mat, I always seem to have friends that were giving theirs away or people that gave them to me as gifts or students that left them behind and didn’t return my calls to pick up their mat.
So I now have about 7 yoga mats of all textures, thicknesses, colors and materials. I even have mats with body paint on them from a yoga class where we painted ourselves in neon colors made the room dark and practiced with a black light.
You get very attached to your yoga mat. I had a thin blue one for years that got a lot of use and abuse. It wasn’t so easy to clean and it kept getting dirtier and smudgier (is that a word?).
I just couldn’t bear to throw it away or use any of my other mats. One day I was in a well lit class and we were having a lecture and just looked at my dirty mat in comparison to everyone else who had a shiny clean one and felt embarassed. It was hard but I threw that smudgy mat away in the dumpster immediately after.
I used to take my thin blue one when I am traveling or on public transport but when I am driving to a studio near here I like my eco-friendly, textured green one. Oh, and surprise, I don’t have a purple yoga mat although that seems to be the most common yoga mat color.
If you are brand new to yoga I don’t recommend buying a mat immediately. Try out the extra mats at the studio first to see which ones suit your needs. You usually can’t return a yoga mat. This sounds peculiar but if you are borrowing a mat at a studio, they are not always cleaned so well so take a whiff before you start your practice. Some studios just don’t get in the habit of cleaning mats so ask about this before you pick one out if you are suspicious. If you see yoga mats drying in the studio because they were recently cleaned that is a good sign that the studio has some hygenic mats.
I think you know you are a yogi when you have your own mat. You know you are a serious yoga practitioner when you have 2-3 mats. You’re a yoga business owner when you have 5 plus mats.
What are your thoughts of your yoga mat?
by Michael | Jan 7, 2014 | Anniversary Gift Ideas, Date Night, Romantic Date Ideas
The 2014 New Year rolled in and hopefully you enjoyed all the Family time, grazing on delicious meals, decedent deserts, and fun conversations.
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As a kid, and to this day I’ve always looked forward to this festive time of year celebrating Christmas and New Years with friends and family. I remember those chocolate gift baskets with the wide variety of goodies and perfectly aligned presentations. Some of them tasted a lot better than others.
As I’ve matured, I can’t say I still love those Whitmans milk chocolates. Maybe its a sign of maturity or just changing tastes. Now I love those Godiva Chocolate Truffles and actually asked from them as a gift, receiving two Godiva Chocolate Truffles from my significant other 🙂
Have you heard those phrases…
The only constant in life is change?
Chance Favors the prepared mind?
So just like my chocolate tastes have changed what has changed for you and your significant other this last year?
Has the daily grind made everyday life with your significant other less satisfying?
Have you made any resolutions for this New Year?
Watch this video above and sign up for our series of free Love Coupons.
Yep, when you are planning your daily or weekly routine, make sure you include date night time and
start rekindling that flame by printing out one of these Love Coupons.
Our Love Coupons are a great way to spice things up & get it moving again.
Namaste,
Jasmine
