It is nothing new to experience live musicians in Western yoga classes, but the trend seems to be growing. When done well, the musicians can help bring a spontaneous vibrational force to the experience that can inspire, charge and soothe the space and practicing students. Aside from musicians tuning into the energetic flow of the class and the sequence of the day, the students themselves must be able to let go of the show (watching a band) and allow the vibrations of the music to move through them as they go deeper into their own internal practice. When both sides truly connect, the result can be truly transforming. Similar to the way we score a film: the audience is not to be made aware that there is music, nor that they are even watching actors in a film. Rather, to be drawn deeper into the present and emotional catharis of the story unfolding before them.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking one of Shiva Rae’s Sunday morning classes at Sacred Movement in Venice. The class was packed to the brim from her teacher training students and accompanied by singer/musician Steve Gold and friends. In addition to a few mantras, and Shiva infusing the asana flow with breathing and sound, Steve closed with everyone singing along to a beautiful song that has become Steve’s calling card – “So Much Magnificence”. What was more impressive to me, however, was how Steve and Matt carried the majority of the class with a simple and extremely soulful blues vibe that disappeared into the background and seeped into the unconscious fiber of my being as I moved through my practice.
Next weekend, I head off to Lake Tahoe to joins hundreds of yogi’s and musicians for a full-on festival combining live music and yoga – The Wanderlust Festival. It is my first year to attend and I am looking forward to it. Aside from my personal soul-feeding experience of sitting in with Steve’s band, as well as Donna De Lory and Shaman’s Dream, I am excited to see how the combination of thousands practicing to various configurations and styles of live music in an incredible natural setting can help carry and expand the positive energetic force that is growing in the Western yoga movement.
