Prajna Vieira: Perpetual Devotion

Prajna Vieira has been practicing meditation and bhakti (devotional) yoga since childhood. Formerly a classical ballet dancer, she began her asana practice in 1998 with some of LA’s most beloved yoga teachers, and has been teaching her signature style of soulful, creative Vinyasa Yoga since 2003. Prajna maintains a steady personal practice both at home and within the Bay Area yoga community, and is dedicated to preserving the authenticity of yogic traditions, while at the same time embracing yoga’s modern evolution.

In addition to teaching yoga, Prajna is lead singer of the kirtan ensemble “Mukti,” and also sings regularly with world music pioneer Jai Uttal. She is currently finishing a duet album with Ben Leinbach, due for release late 2011.

Bhakti Yoga Shala Classics 1: by Govindas

These bhava-based tracks are kirtan classics and are on regular rotation in my classes at the Shala. Sing, Dance, and Practice In Joy!

Govindas is a California-based bhakti yogi, kirtan singer, and as his spiritual name suggests - " a servant of the divine". He is the founder and director of Bhakti Yoga Shala in Santa Monica, California. His great love and devotion for life itself, his guru, and the traditional yogic practices of India is reflected and transmitted through his teachings and music. Govindas and his wife Radha have released 3 kirtan cd's: "Endless Surrender Kirtan Experience" and "Waves of Love", "Kirtan Vibrations" and have more kirtan cd's due to be released soon. They lead evenings of kirtan, bhakti yoga classes and workshops, and transformative retreats throughout the world.

Kirsten Hedden: Yogi Car Karaoke!

I’m always on the lookout for great, sing-along songs. What are some of your favorite sing-along YogiTunes? If we cultivate the intention, hopefully we will see Bhakti Yoga Car Concerts at every stoplight in America and BEYOND!

Kirsten currently teaches and practices at Namaste Wellness Studio in Peoria, IL. She also practices Reiki and motherhood.

Nianna Bray: Venice, CA

Nianna is a dynamic and inspiring teacher with compassion for her students and a sincere regard for their healing path. She infuses music into her teaching both recorded and live to create a rich atmosphere which lulls her students into ecstatic states of passion and bliss. As a dancer music played an important role, now she brings the music into the studio. For over a decade Nianna has studied yoga, dance, and movement arts in India, U.S. and Europe. Yoga found her at the ripe age of 18. While attending Cornish College in Seattle she was a modern dancer who hungered for a life of integration which yoga satisfied. Nianna now teaches from years of personal practice and embodiment, intelligent intuitive sequencing and applied spiritual wisdom. She leads transformational and insightful public classes, private sessions, speaking engagements, and workshops in Los Angeles and New York. She is co-director of Away Inward, a company that specializes in uniquely personal, playful, and healing cultural submersion, spiritual pilgrimage, and eco-adventure retreats. She is a native Los Angelino, born at home in Santa Monica, CA. Her home studio is Exhale in Venice, CA.

Krishna Das: Live Ananda

Live Ananda is the first-time release of live recordings of classic Krishna Das favorites drawn from his early studio recordings. These tracks capture the depth and spirit of the group of chanters on a 3 -day retreat in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Krishna Das accompanied by tabla, mridanga, bass, violin, and flute, blends the musical and spiritual tradition of the east with the voice of the west to create this rendition of call-and-response chanting that lead us into Ananda - Happiness and our true state of Being.

Zen Lounge/Soulfood and DJ Free

Zen Lounge comes out of the gate kickin’ on all four hooves with a nice up-tempo number called Go Zen, which GOES. A nice steady backbeat drives synth strings and a male vocal sustaining drone takes the listener (or exerciser) on a nice beat driven directed journey.

Marimba notes in the high end with scratch breaks structure segues in the song and close it out to lead to Funky Buddha a nice swirling dream concoction of funky happiness. Funky Buddha would be a track good for a yoga session of standing poses in a flow-maybe a set where maintaining a consistent rhythm and beat is just as important as aspiring to the optimistic exuberance of the track.

The third track Mystico bumps into play with its own style of new sound on the scene funk.  A nice rhythmic push of repeating Indo-Asian voco-samples propels the music listener towards a well-imagined sonic heaven, as elegant string synth work and sweet tabla taps build the groove, great for the sweating, drenched yoga workout.

Album Review: DJ Drez - Jahta Beat: The Lotus Memoirs

The morning of April 17th, 2012, I lazily scrolled through my iTunes playlists in hopes of finding something awesome to listen to.  Then I remembered...DJ Drez's new one was being released on that very day, Jahta Beat: The Lotus Memoirs.  Sweet!

I downloaded the precious tracks while I heated water on the stove (for my morning hot lemon water which, by the way fellow yogis, I highly recommend each morning during the springtime for a gentle liver cleanse) and enjoyed the rest of my morning giving the album a good few listens.