Yoga and Music and Chanting
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Yoga and Music and Chanting Compiled by: Trisha Lamb Last Revised: April 27, 2006 © 2004 by International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) International Association of Yoga Therapists P.O. Box 2513 • Prescott • AZ 86302 • Phone: 928-541-0004 E-mail: [email protected] • URL: www.iayt.org The contents of this bibliography do not provide medical advice and should not be so interpreted. Before beginning any exercise program, see your physician for clearance. “When we practice yoga asana, we [can be] easily seduced by an exclusively physical practice and all that may follow from this: obsession with youthfulness and fitness, compulsion for recognition, desire for physical perfection, a need to be the best, and a self-centeredness. As we begin to chant, longingly calling out to God, a Self-centered outlook develops; a life focused towards the Divine, towards spirit. This view brings into focus our friends, family, yoga community, neighbors and world community. We begin to desire not only a personal peace but a world peace.” —Kimberly Flynn From “Beyond Om” (cited below) NOTE: See also the “Mantra” and “Om” bibliographies. Allen, Ryan. Teacher profile: Steve Ross. LA Yoga, May/Jun 2003, pp. 11-12. Steve Ross, former professional guitarist, and teacher of Yoga for twenty years plays loud contemporary music in his asana classes. Ascent magazine. What Makes a Sound Sacred? issue. Summer 2002. See http://www.ascentmagazine.com. Balayogi, Ananda. The Yoga of Sound audiocassette. Kottakuppam, Tamil Nadu, India: International Centre for Yoga Education and Research, 1998. 90 minutes. (Carnatic vocal music with English lyrics.) Bergstrom-Nielsen, Carl. Meditative listening, meditative music. Bindu, no. 2, pp. 24- 26. Excerpted from Carl’s master’s thesis, “Investigations relating to the experimental concept and the experiment’s role in Western artistic music after 1945.” Bhajananda, Svami. Kirtan: The singing of the divine name. Namarupa, Winter 2004, pp. 74-76. Bodman, Roger. Kirtan. Australian Yoga Life, Jul-Nov 2004, no. 9, pp. 53-57. Carmen, Judith E. Yoga and singing: Natural partners. Journal of Singing, May/June 2004. Carrington, P. Music and chanting. In Patricia Carrington, Freedom in Meditation. New York: Anchor Press/Doubleday, 1977, pp. 172-174. Catalfo, Phil. Can you say om namaha shivaya? What’s old is new again. Chanting is a hot ticket in yoga studios across the country. Yoga Journal, May/Jun 2000, pp. 88-93, 174-178. 2 Chanting, Yoga Philosophy, and Meditation LP. International Center for Self-Analysis. LP CO-2429. The Chant Room of Dzogchen Center. Available online: http://www.dzogchen.org/chant/index.htm. Chinmoy, Sri. Music and spirituality. Article available online: http://srichinmoy.org/html/library/music_and_spirituality/music_and_spirituality.htm. Cummins, Claudia. Is that an asana you’re humming? Yoga Journal, Sep/Oct 2000, p. 25. (On Bernice Lewis, [email protected], a Yoga teacher who is also a singer- songwriter.) Genovesi, Bob. Kirtan call: Yoga master Krishna Das brings Hindu devotional chanting into the music mainstream. Body & Soul, Sep/Oct 2002, pp. 90-93. Das, Krishna. The Yoga of Chant video or DVD. Razor & Tie/Karuna, 2002. See also the citation in this bibliography for the article by Bob Genovesi, “Kirtan Call.” ___________. The Yoga of Chant retreat. For more information, contact [email protected], 1-800-783-YOGA, in Canada 1-800-263-YOGA. Dasanudas, Bhaktisiddhartha. The glories of spiritual sound. Article available online: http://www.iloveyoga.org/music/spiritual_sound.htm. ___________. Svarah Sapta: Intonation in Vaisnava music. 1984. Available online: http://www.iloveyoga.org/music/sapta_svarah.htm. “A thesis Bhaktisiddhartha wrote for his Bhakti-Vaibhava degree examination in India . describing the connection between the Vedic raga system and the quantum-mechanical model of modern physics.” ___________. Lilas and ragas: Radha-Krsna’s asta-kalia-lila (eightfold daily pastimes) set to the Vedic 36-raga daily cycle. Available online: http://www.iloveyoga.org/music/vrndavan-lila/lilas_and_ragas.htm. Desikachar, Kausthub. The Yoga of Sound and Silence: Asana, Chanting & Meditation as an Inward Journey retreat (seven days). ”Yoga is a process of linking with something precious that is devoid of agitation and faults. Once this link is established then the beauty within radiates. The experience of this joy is beyond words. It is true silence. ”Chanting and meditation are tools that help reach this state of silence that is devoid of disturbance and ignorance. Combining special vocal sounds in harmony, and meditative practices, participants will experience an inward journey and link with the precious 3 source of joy within each of us. The beauty of chanting lies in its simplicity and its ability to reach the heart. Combined with meditative practices, participants will recognize the power of sound and its value while embarking on such a path. ”Universally relevant sounds will be used in different forms of practices like asana, pranayama and meditation to prepare us in this journey. Apart from these experiential practices, the workshop will also include theme presentations, dialogs and reflective sessions. No prior experience of chanting or meditation will be necessary to participate.” Some or all of the following topics will be addressed, depending on the interests of attendees: • The use of sound in its many forms in asana practices • The use of sound in its many forms in pranayama practices • The use of sound in its many forms in meditative practices • What sounds produce what effects – the langana/brahmana types • How to utilize sounds in asana/pranayama/meditative practices to people with different backgrounds/cultures/interests • The relevance of certain mantras and their effects when combined with appropriate asana/pranayama/meditation • The symbolism behind some of these mantras and what they mean • Bija mantras (source mantras) and how to use them in different practices Desikachar, T. K. V., with Kausthub Desikachar. Vedic Chant Companion. Krishamacharya Yoga Mandiram, URL: http://kym.org/preview.html. “A companion to those interested in Vedic chanting, this book is presented in three parts. The first part deals with the history of the Vedas, their origin and evolution. The second part describes Vedic chant pedagogy. Answers to frequently asked questions on Vedic chanting form the third and final part . .” Devi, Meenakshi. Music: A spiritual sadhana which enriches and stimulates the brain. Yoga Life, Sep 1998, 29(9):20-21. ___________. The yoga of sounds: A bridge between East and West. Yoga Life, Sep 1998, 29(9):16-19. Dunn, Earl. Kundalini and musical genius. Yoga Today, Jan 1981, 5(9):14-17. Elthink, Merle. Yoga and the young musician. Yoga Awareness, Feb 1980, 4(1):27-31. “The ability to avoid tension and to exert mind control in situations of performance requires considerable skill on the part of the student. This process of mind-discipline is a further desirable addition to the child’s activities. When we consider these needs of (a) flexibility and harmonious muscle development, (b) breath control, and (c) mind- discipline, we find that the one activity which will involve these three aspects is the practice of Hatha-yoga . .” 4 Evenings with song and dance. Bindu, no. 10. “Song and dance can bring us together and break the ice, but [they] can also raise our consciousness and open our hearts.” Faust, William Hull. The big brass. I.D., Sep 1995, 42(5):78. “Inspired by his studies of music and yoga alike, David Monette takes an unorthodox approach to designing the world’s most innovative trumpets.” Fields, Gregory P. Sacred music; Sacred music as a religious therapeutic. In Gregory P. Fields, Religious Therapeutics: Body and Health in Yoga, Ayurveda, and Tantra. Religious Studies Series. New York: SUNY Press, 2001, pp. 155-157; 157-166. Flynn, Kimberly. Beyond Om. Article available online; http://www.ashtangayogashala.com/articals-Chanting.html. On the value of chanting. “When we practice yoga asana, we [can be] easily seduced by an exclusively physical practice and all that may follow from this: obsession with youthfulness and fitness, compulsion for recognition, desire for physical perfection, a need to be the best, and a self-centeredness. As we begin to chant, longingly calling out to God, a Self-centered outlook develops; a life focused towards the Divine, towards spirit. This view brings into focus our friends, family, yoga community, neighbors and world community. We begin to desire not only a personal peace but a world peace.” Freeman, Richard. Chant musicology. Article available online: http://www.ghita.com.au/index.html (use the Site Map to locate the article; the Site Map lists it under “Other,” as “Musical analysis of OM’s & the prayer”). Garde, R. K. Prayers, mantras and music. In R. K. Garde, Principles and Practice of Yoga-Therapy. Bombay, India: D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co., 1972, 1984, pp. 97-99. Gass, Robert, with Kathleen Brehony. Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound. Bantam Doubleday Dell, 2000. Gordon, Daphne. Blissful are the words of chanting chanteuse. The Toronto Star, 25 Feb 2001. On Marla Berg. Govea, Boomer. Singing the praises of yoga. Yoga Journal, Mar/Apr 2003, p. 21. 5 About Yoga teacher and classical singing teacher Judith Carman’s Yoga for Singers classes in Houston, Texas. Govindan, M. Devotional Songs and Chants from the Kriya Yoga Tradition. Audiocassette, 45 minutes. Available from Babaji’s Kriya Yoga, 196 Mountain Road, C.P. 90 Eastman, Quebec J0E 1P0, 450-297-0258, [email protected], www.babaji.org. Tracks: Homage to the 18 Siddhas, Babaji is Love, Dance, Dance..., Song of the Science of Sunworship, Amazing Grace, and many other chants. Green, Amy Yull. Beauty and the Beastie Boy [Adam Yauch]. Shambhala Sun, Jan 1995, pp. 18-25. Green, Suzin. The Yoga of Chant weekly workshop. Rutgers University, 2003. From Suzin Green: “This weekly workshop offers sanctuary and respite from the demands of campus life.