Canada Geese are waddling into the post in place of Brahma’s vehicle, the swan. Brahma is associated with creation and the vibration of OM. I think of him as the conductor who raised his baton and initiated the music of the spheres. As I stalked the leery geese with my camera they marched off to the beach. Some beat their wings, threatening to depart – not so different from my fledgling yoginis, balancing on one foot in Stork. When we pay attention, there are rhythms everywhere.

Hafiz’s poem, A Wild, Holy Band, from I Heard God Laughing, Renderings of Hafiz, by Daniel Ladinsky captures the essence of kirtan and served to set the context of this weeks class.

…. I have awakened to find violin and cello,

Flute, harp and trumpet,

Cymbal, bell and drum–

All within me!

From head to toe, every part of my body

Is chanting and clapping! …

For with constant remembrance of God,

One’s whole body will become

A Wonderful and Wild,

Holy Band!

I put extra effort in creating a play list of chants, jazz, and world music for this class. My students always comment when I chose unpredictable yoga music. The Hispanic students take the Latin selections personally and feel acknowledged, even though I am partial to Bossa Nova and Latin rhythms anyway. I discovered Josef Lateef when I was studying jazz flute and especially recommend his mysterious, Eastern sound for asana practice. During Sivasana we chilled out to John de Kadt’s drumming piece, spoken poetry overlaying percussion.

Invocation    5:04    Krishna Das     Invocation    New Age
Shyam Bolo Jai    5:53    Wah!    Jai Jai Jai    World
Third Movement: Moresca    2:55    Yusef Lateef    Concerto for Yusef Lateef    Jazz
You’re Somewhere Thinking of Me    3:23    Yusef Lateef    The Complete Yusef Lateef    Jazz
Esa Noche    3:27    Cafe Tacuba    Music From The Coffee Lands    World
M’Ban Samba    2:21    Raimundo Sodre    Music From The Coffee Lands    World
Stay With Me    5:19    Yusef Lateef    The Complete Yusef Lateef    Jazz
Maria Lando    5:35    Susana Baca    Music From The Coffee Lands    World
Don’t Blame Me    4:58    Yusef Lateef    Eastern Sounds    Jazz
Kothhbiro    5:33    Ayub Ogada    Music From The Coffee Lands    World
Love Theme from “The Robe”    4:02    Yusef Lateef    Eastern Sounds    Jazz
This Rhythm is Not Mine    6:44    John de Kadt    This Rhythm Is Not Mine    New Age
TrackTibetan Bowl I     0:56    Steven Halpern    Music for Savasana    New Age

Try the class…

Rhythm Lesson Plan PDF