Trillium Seedpod Fredonia NY (carolyn grady photo)

Need some mellow music and a timer for your deep relaxation and meditation practice? Here is one from a hypnosis website.

The Sound of the Soul

When it comes to music in class or during my own practice, I generally don’t use it, preferring to open myself to an inner listening. The sound of my own soul, if you will. I think it’s important for my students to do the same.

Our culture is very noisy. It’s hard to go anywhere without recorded sound. And I’m digging the iPod I received for my birthday as much as the next yogini on the block, BUT I am dismayed when I notice that the minute anyone steps out for a walk, their ears are stuffed with earbuds, hooked into music or a phone. Can anyone hear themselves think anymore?

It’s ’bout impossible to practice mindfulness when engaged in more than one activity at a time. Notice your self and let me know what you think about this. I don’t think the culture is going to change on this anytime soon, but we DO have pwoer over our own created culture.

That said, just to change things up, sometimes I DO play music during class. I find it especially effective when occasionally used for deep listening experiences in savasana. Students inevitably ask what’s playing, so here’s my current list.

Rochester NY zen center buddha (ckg photo)

Chuck Wild ~ LIQUID MIND VI spirit

Kenai ~ SPIRITUAL HEALING ancient medicine flute music

David Darling ~ The TAO OF CELLO

Prem Joshua ~ YATRI mystics of sound

Deva Premal and Miten ~ SATSANG

Ustad Imrat Khan and Surbahar Shafaat Miadaad Khan ~ SITAR and SURBAHAR

DEEP LISTENING DURING SAVASANA:

The Monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery ~ LAMA CHOPA: A Buddhist Tantric Celebration

Jim Donovan ~ PULSE