Into the Bliss by David Newman

Sweet, soothing and uplifting, this 70-minute Cd and DVD captures the sprit and devotion of the Bhakti Yoga practice of kirtan. A rich, full sound is created using a simple lineup of two guitars, hand cymbals and a djembe/dumbek player. The Cd and DVD contain the same live performance, with the addition of a 20-minute bonus MP3 track on the Cd and an interview with David the DVD.  The five chants all have a contemporary “unplugged” style, and all are simple enough in their words and melodies to make them easy and fun to sing along to.  If you are interested in expanding your kirtan music collection, pick up this beautifully packaged, designed and produced Cd/DVD set.

Flow of Grace by Krishna Das

In this latest recording, Krishna Das has devoted 2 Cds to singing songs to Hanuman, the monkey warrior, primarily through different versions of the Hanuman Chalisa. The “Chalisa” is a famous Hindi poem praising Hanuman for his devotion, service, strength, and compassion and also reminding him of his great Divine powers.  On the first Cd, different melodies and arrangements of the Chalisa are on six tracks, with the seventh being a fun upbeat Indian folk song on the story of Hanuman finding Prince Ram’s beloved wife. On the second Cd are 2 tracks that are to be used to learn how to pronounce the complicated 40-verse Chalisa, so you can eventually sing along with the first Cd.  The words to the Chalisa are also transliterated and translated in the extensive 28-page liner notes, which also includes Krishna Das describing his experience learning this prayer, the story of Hanuman, and the practice of singing the Chalisa.  Even if you choose to not tackle the ability to sing the Chalisa in its entirety, this Cd is still a joy to listen to, and is a must-have for the Krishna Das fan.

The Kirtan Kit by Mandala Publishing

This beautifully designed box set contains Two Cds of contemporary and traditional kirtan chants, a 28-page instruction booklet, and other tools for the devotional yogic practice of sanskrit chanting. While the booklet is a great beginner’s guide to the practice of kirtan, it still contains relevant and detailed information for the more experienced practitioner of chanting. This includes how to participate in kirtan (singing, dancing, using instruments), the history of kirtan, information on the mantras, and the words with translations of the songs on the enclosed Cds. The Cds contain a varieity of artists and styles of kirtan, from the popular Krishna Das, to the beautiful Karnamrita, and to other lesser known, yet talented artists. The kit also contains a pair of kartals (Indian hand symbols) to play along with the chants, and beautifully illustrated song cards to use while singing along with the Cds. Overall, this is a well put together package, that would be a treasure to have for both the begining and intermediate chanting practitioner.

Asana: OHM Shanti by Stan Richardson

Ecstatic Indian vocals, groovy tabla beats, thumping bass and swirling electronica elements merge together in the fourth volume of the Asana series from Meta Records. This time, legendary bassist and producer Bill Laswell is featured on all nine tracks, utilizing his mastery of bringing musicians together from separate cultures and traditions to create inventive and spicy compositions. With most of these tracks having an upbeat tabla or electronica rhythm, OHM Shanti is best used as a motivation to move, flow and reverberate through a dynamic series of asanas.  Or this Cd can simply be enjoyed as the soundtrack to the modern yogi’s daily life.

Moon on the Water by Stan Richardson

The shakuhachi bamboo flute is used primarily in Zen Buddhism in the practice of Suizen (blowing meditation).  Using centuries old traditional compositions, Richardson plays the shakuhachi with beauty and precision, creating a tranquilizing and calming recording that is suitable for both meditation and yoga.  This two CD set features solo shakuhachi on the first disk and shakuhachi with nature sounds recorded from Stan Richardson's travels on the second.  The extensive liner notes document the history and origin of each composition with personal notes on the qualities, techniques and musical forms utilized.

Eternal Embrace by Baird Hersey & Prana

Baird Hersey & Prana combine the overtone techniques of Tibetan Buddhist multiphonic chanting and Tuvan throat singing with standard Western singing to create a mysterious and otherworldly sound. Using only the human voice, the Eternal Embrace is a meditative composition reflecting on Patanjali’s eight limbs of yoga.   These slow, harmonic and soothing sounds draw the listener into a deep state of reflection and absorption and guide one towards Samadhi, complete oneness in bliss. Great for use in meditation and yoga, this CD is worth a listen just to hear the human voice creating sounds you never would have thought possible.

Loveland: Music for Dreaming & Awakening by Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach

When I first listened to the instructional Cd Pranayama, I instantly longed to be able to just listen to the amazing soundtrack by Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach.  In Loveland, my wish has been more than granted as this soundtrack has been reinvented, remixed and edited to produce an amazingly peaceful and sweet hour-long voyage into spirit and inner peace. These beautiful and mystic chants by Jai and his wife Nubia float above a mystical, resonate and complex interweaving of ambient soundscapes. Jai and Ben play a wide array of instruments and are joined by the amazing bansuri flute playing of Manose, and the hypnotic tablas of Daniel Paul.  Add Loveland to your collection of great Cds to use for yoga, massage and other healing arts.

Yoga Ragas by Manose Singh

These 72 minutes of improvisational Indian Ragas guide one’s awareness deeply inside to facilitate profound states of meditation and calmness. Nepali musician Manose’s delicate yet reverberating bansuri flute playing is skillfully weaved together with three other musicians playing sitar, tabla and tambura.  The result is a graceful, slow moving, soothing, and magical Cd perfect for yoga and other healing arts.

Yoga Harmony by Terry Oldfield

While this hour long Cd was composed and designed specifically for a Yoga class, its soothing rhythms and tranquilizing sounds would be suitable for other healing arts as well as for general relaxation.  The beautiful resonating tones of the tambura, veena, flute and keyboard draw the listener into a deep state of quiet absorption.  Tibetan bells, Indian cymbals and crystal singing bowls are sprinkled throughout the tracks and accentuate the Eastern vibe of this deeply calming Cd.  Terry’s production of music for TV and film shows in his intricate compositions and the flowing nature of these tracks.

Leap of Grace: The Hanuman Chalisa by David Newman

The Hanuman Chalisa is a 40-verse prayer to Hanuman, the monkey warrior who embodies devotion, strength, love and courage.  Son of the Wind god, Hanuman is possessed with great powers, and due to his mischief as a child, these powers were hidden from him. The Hanuman Chalisa is a prayer to help Hanuman remember his powerful, pure and divine nature, and at the same time this prayer also provides us a reminder of our own true nature of divine love and openheartedness. In Leap of Grace this prayer is repeated an auspicious 11 times, slowly adding depth and instrumentation with each repetition.  The Cd starts minimally with a harmonic textured drone, soft tabla, and David Newman’s deep beautiful voice, then slowly adds guitar and more ambient vocals and bells.  The simplicity of presentation, the melody of the prayer and the repetition of the chant all create a mesmerizing, relaxing and deeply absorbing experience.

Savasana 2 by Wah!

The success of Wah’s first Savasana cd encouraged her to study how to source divine energy and refine her skills in healing with sound.  Savanana 2 uses the slow, resonating, and deeply relaxing vibe of Savasana 1 as its foundation while using additional layers and techniques to take one even deeper into states of peace, bliss and tranquility.  The most significant change was the dropping of the tamboura and exploring the use of other harmonic overtones to replace it.  One of the most powerful of these new techniques is the overtone vocals of Baird Hersey, which creates the strangest other-worldly sound yet provides incredibly mesmerizing states of deep absorption.  The violin, upright bass, whistling, keyboards, and guitar were also utilized to create and add to the sonic overtone backdrop. Wah’s improvised chanting and harmonium playing provides the guiding force for this rapturous and captivating recording.

Dakshina by Deva Premal

On her latest release, Deva Premal continues to transform Sanskrit, Tibetan and Sikh chants into serene and deeply resonate soundscapes. Her lush voice is layered throughout the cd in a chorus of thick harmonies creating at times a haunting yet beautiful droning effect.  Premal is backed up with a plethora of instruments including acoustic guitar, orchestral strings, keybords, tamboura, and bansuri flutes. Dakshina seems to shine the most when the instrumentation is minimized and simple, which is emphasized towards the end of the cd.  Taken as a whole, this is my favorite of all her previous recordings.

All One by Krishna Das

This one-hour Cd repeats the same chant with the same melody with a 20-instrument orchestra and a 70-voice choir, making it Krishna Das’s most ambitious and challenging recording yet.  And while this may sound already like a really boring and monotonous project, Krishna Das pulls it off by creating four essentially seamless tracks that all have a unique and individual vibe.  The first track “Calling From Afar” is a mellow and deeply devotional track with mostly traditional Kirtan instruments: harmonium, tabla and finger cymbals.  “Refuge in The Name” slowly builds the energy up adding piano and more emphasis of the violin.  The third track, “Rock in a Heart Space” cranks up the vibe with a full drum set and acoustic and electric guitars.  “Township Krishna” features a wonderful funky South African influence.  Each track starts and ends the same way with a slow simple call and response of the chant and then magically builds up the energy and intensity in the middle of each track.

Yogitar by Stevin McNamara

With its roots in classical Indian music, this Cd is a perfect soundtrack for any yoga class.  These deeply soothing compositions have just enough spice to them to keep one flowing outwards and focused inwards yet are gentle enough to not be distracting. Stevin’s soft nylon guitar playing flows through the entire disc amongst soft yet complex rhythms of world percussion.  These sweet melodies blend with a delicate mix of the string instruments of sitar, tambura and violin.

Kerala Dream by Craig Kohland and Rara Avis

This Cd is an enchanting mix of original recordings from master Indian musicians with contemporary sonic elements, soft electronic beats and environmental sound recordings.  Beautiful Sanskrit vocal chants soar over hypnotic tabla, flute, guitar, sitar and violin.  The tracks are sequenced to work perfectly with a yoga class: starting slow and gradually building in speed and complexity, and then ending with a slow soothing track for shavasana.  This wonderful Cd would also be great for dance, meditation, massage, healing arts, or just chilling out at home.

Dasi: Prayers by Women by Karnamrita

These songs have touched my heart. Karnamrita’s sweet and powerful voice empowers these Sanskrit prayers and infuses them with love, joy and bliss.  Flowing drones, dancing percussion and spicy strings beautifully match the tone, tempo and bhava (feeling) of these sacred prayers. After growing up in an ashram studying Sanskrit and Bhajans, Karnamrita spent four years training in Indian classical vocal music in India, and her mastery of voice is apparent on every track.  The enclosed full color 16-page booklet contains the Sanskrit and Hindi words, an English translation and the story of each woman saint’s prayer.

Jaya Bhagavan by Tina Malia & Shimshai

These humble “bhajanistas” create a remarkable winding and whirling journey into the heart of the Divine.  Ancient Sanskrit bhajans (songs of praise) are transformed into soulful and rocking duets.  The beauty of Tina and Shimshai’s voices layered on top of lavish acoustic compositions creates pure magic and easily enters the depths of one’s heart. Tina and Shimshai have drawn from their eclectic backgrounds of singer/songwriter, reggae, folk, and worldbeat to produce a diverse blend of accessible sacred music. A great roster of guest musicians (including Jai Uttal and Omar Faruk Tekbilek) adds further depth, diversity and spice to these tracks.

The Gate by Terra Ambient

Terra Ambient creates a series of hypnotic and deeply trance inducing compositions that invoke mystical Persian deserts and exotic Arabian nights.   Slow bansuri flute melodies dance within the most amazing textured backdrops of lush interwoven drones of didgeridoo, Tibetan singing bowls, electric guitar and harmonic overtone singing.  An impressive percussion section of exotic instruments provides a gentle rhythm and guides the listener along this rich ethno-ambient journey.  What is truly amazing about this recording is the fact that it has been created entirely from live recordings of over 20 instruments played exclusively by the artist.

Tibet: Nada Himalaya, Vol. 2 by Deuter

This sequel to Deuter’s first Tibetan singing bowl CD was intended to lead the listener into a deeper exploration of sacred sound and meditative states.  These tracks contain the power, grace and beauty of the first CD, but were composed to be used individually for shorter meditations, as well as designed to flow together as one 78-minute piece.  While the CD works great for meditation, it is even more powerful to use with shavasana (relaxation pose) and healing work.  The highly resonate and harmonic Tibetan singing bowls are masterfully recorded and combined to enhance their natural soothing and stress relieving properties.

One by Mark Ciaburri

This Cd is the one of the most beautiful and deeply soothing and relaxing Cds that I have every listened to.  One starts off slow, with resonating drones of tambura, keybords, and cello and continues to add layers with melodies of acoustic guitar, harp, and flutes.  Some mellow tabla playing adds just the right amount of percussion and feel, and if you listen closely you can hear subtle yet angelic choir voices in the background.  One was composed for creating a state of oneness – especially for yoga and meditation practices, and is easily attained after listening to just a fraction of this 66-minute composition.  Recorded in Maui, One’s timing was intentionally set to the soft rhythm and flow of the ocean.

Samsara by Cyril Morin

French composer Cyril Morin creates an evocative and haunting soundtrack for the film Samsara, and effectively captures the feeling of spiritual quest and longing.  A lush background of soothing string instruments is beautifully punctuated by Tibetan bowls, Bansuri, Indian flute, Duduk, Ney, Sarangi, Lyre, Mongolian and Tibetan violins, guitar, and sanza.  These compositions range in depth and tempo from quiet stilling ambient soundscapes to soaring rich instrumentals and effortlessly produce states of deep inner calm and peace.  Samsara rises to a state of stunning splendor on the tracks containing the deeply resonate Tibetan chants and prayers from the Lamas and Nuns of Ladakh.

Invocation by Silvia Nakkach

Nakkach, an award-winning composer, psychologist, author and healing music artist employs words of power, seed syllables, deity calls, and divine utterances to invoke the divine in this exquisite Cd.  Invocations are found in many spiritual traditions and cultures to enable one to create a doorway into the transcendental. Nakkach utilizes vocal invocation in a variety of styles and traditions, with many drawn from common Sanskrit chants.  Nakkach’s sweet angelic vocals intertwine with mesmerizing strings and drones, and become punctuated by acoustic guitar and soft percussion.

Selwa By Choying Drolma and Steve Tibbetts

The soft, soothing chants of Tibetan nun Choying Drolma have a power behind them that touches the soul. Traditional Tibetan chants and melody are fused with lush and sensual instrumentation to invoke a still and open spiritual landscape. Steve Tibbetts’ gentle and soothing acoustic guitar is layered with arrangements of electronica, drones, percussion, and overdubbed vocals to create an album rich in depth, rhythm, resonance and beauty.

Shamanic Dream 2 by Anugama

This remarkable Cd is guaranteed to transport you to an altered state of consciousness with its slow, trance inducing pulse and hypnotic drones.  A relaxed heartbeat rhythm is contained throughout by the use of the shamanic drum, talking drum and doira drum.  A sonic undercurrent of tambura, didgeridoo and keyboards contain sound therapy elements to induce feelings of well-being and deep peace.  The soothing shakuhachi flute creates the dominant melody on most of the Cd and is interspersed with mantra chanting of Shanti and Om.

Mala by Dave Stringer

This is defiantly not your traditional kritan album.  Drawing heavily from gospel, jazz and rock, Stringer melds the ancient Indian mystical practice of kirtan with the soul and spirit of American music to create a very accessible, upbeat and fun approach to chanting Sanskrit mantras.  Stringer has also managed to use an incredibly diverse and large number of musicians and instruments on these tracks all the while maintaining a very unified, exquisitely crafted and cohesive style.  The traditional “call-and-response” format of kirtan is utilized through most of the tracks and becomes strikingly beautiful on the songs with vocal duets.  The liner notes contain the words to the chants with a brief commentary of its meaning and relevance.

Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga by Krishna Das

This “best of” album by chant master Krishna Das is an overview of the last 7 years of his soulful recordings of a unique fusion of ancient Sanskrit chants with modern melodies and arrangements.  Having one new studio track plus a DVD will make this a must have for the Krishna Das fan as well as serve as a good introduction to the newbie of Kirtan.  The DVD contains a wonderful documentary “One Life at a Time” featuring the history, practice and performances of Krishna Das as well as containing 4 live filmed kirtan chants.  The DVD makes this package a gem, and is worth the price of admission alone.

For more info or to buy Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga, click here.

Kirtan by Jai Uttal

In this 2-Cd set of beautifully arranged and recorded Sanskrit chants, Jai Uttal uses a traditional call-and-response vocals in conjunction with his solo ecstatic chanting.  Long interludes of traditional and western instrumentation are lush, soothing and hypnotic and magically take the listener deeper into the practice of Bhakti yoga.  On the introduction track, Jai Uttal shares his thoughts, experiences, personal history, instruction and suggestions on the art and practice of Kirtan (chanting).  The liner notes are excellent with detailed translations of the chants with commentary and descriptions of the qualities of the Hindu deities as well as an introduction of the Bhakti yoga path and a wonderful personal story of a magical spiritual experience in India .

For more info or to buy Kirtan, click here.

Music for Yoga & Other Joys by Jai Uttal and Ben Leinbach

Creating a fantastic blend of East and West instrumentation, Grammy nominated world music pioneer Jai Uttal, and multi-talented producer/instrumentalist Ben Leinbach have produced their first CD specifically designed to accompany a yoga practice. These long compositions ebb and flow with an eclectic mix of melody, rhythm, texture, and chant, and effortlessly create a magical and mystical journey of sound and spirit.  Jai’s deep, soulful and ecstatic chanting of ancient Sanskrit prayers creates even greater depth and spirit. This 75 minute CD ends with a blissful Surya (sun) mantra recitation to accompany the practice of sun salutations .

For more info or to buy Music for Yoga & Other Joys, click here.

Language of Love by Craig Pruess

Created specifically for the Kama Sutra, these compositions invoke devotion, open heartedness, connection and compassion.  Although this CD is primarily intended to use during a “Tantric love session,” these lush and melodic songs work in any spiritual context.  Based on ancient Indian ragas, spiced with haunting female vocals, and layered with Indian instrumentation, this hour long CD is an enchanting journey that ebbs and flows towards a state of bliss .

For more info or to buy Language of Love, click here.

Spirit of Yoga by Ben Leinbach

These compositions for yoga practice, created specifically for master yogini Shiva Rea, are some of the finest that I’ve heard.  The ecstatic chanting of Jai Uttal punctuates incredibly resonate and lush backdrops of created from seamless blends of tamboura, synths, and harmonium.  Acoustic and electrical guitar, bamboo flute and minimal percussion are generously sprinkled throughout giving the pieces texture and form.  The Spirit of Yoga effortlessly draws one’s attention deeply inwards for yoga, meditation or other healing and spiritual practices.

For more info or to buy Spirit of Yoga, click here.

Journey to the Heart by M Path

Recorded as a soundtrack for yoga practice, this tranquil and soothing CD starts and ends with simple, quiet compositions and slowly builds the tempo and complexity to mirror the intensity of a typical yoga class. The beautiful, deep resonate drones featured on every track along with a diverse mix of eastern and western instrumentation and Sanskrit chants work effortlessly to open the heart center and create a sense of inner peace.

For more info or to buy Journey to the Heart, click here.

Sacred Spaces by Stephen Deruby

This beautiful fusion of exotic instruments and mesmerizing interweaving of global sounds produce a highly tranquil and meditative soundscape conductive for any type of spiritual or healing work.   Steven amazingly plays all of the diverse instruments on the CD including guitar, Chinese harp, hammered dulcimer, keyboards, percussion and Native American and Armenian flutes.   The undulating and multi-layered chorus of flutes ties the album together and guides the listener through a journey into Indian, Middle Eastern and Asian compositions.

For more info or to buy Sacred Spaces, click here.

The Lover & The Beloved by Donna De Lory

Sweet, soulful vocals of ancient Sanskrit mantras soar above a blend of American electronic pop music and the traditional Kirtan instruments of tabla, harmonium, sitar and tambura. Raised in a musical home, Donna has a strong musical sense and it shows in her playful arrangements and beautiful compositions. These songs radiate love, devotion, joy and bliss.

For more info or to buy The Lover & The Beloved, click here.

Lady of the Spice Lands by Chris Brenne

These solo acoustic guitar recordings are remarkably beautiful and have the ability to instantly transport one to a calm and tranquil space.   Encouraged by his yoga teacher, Chris rewrote these compositions specifically for enhancing yoga, meditation and massage practices.   These lush and heart warming songs draw inspiration from a range of styles to create complex harmonies, intricate melodies and introspective landscapes.

For more info or to buy Lady of the Spice Lands, click here.

Midnight Flower by Drala

The second release from Drala, continues with divine music specifically created to accompany hatha yoga sessions.   Slow soothing drones dwell underneath tranquil bansuri flutes and funky jazz-like grooves of guitar and electric bass.   These six tracks vary in tempo and are sprinkled with the exotic sounds of the sitar, tabla, world percussion and vocal improvisations.

For more info or to buy Midnight Flower, click here.

This Dewdrop World by Suvarna

Drawing from the melodies of the Indian Ragas, Suvarna has created these beautiful compositions using ancient mantras and vocal improvisations. Her powerful soaring voice pierces one’s heart and draws upon a deep sense of spirit. A great blend of ambient keyboards; guitar, flute, violin and other string instruments intertwine in the background with rhythmic electronic beats and world drums. Beautifully produced and expertly orchestrated, this is a great CD to transport yourself to a tranquil realm.

For more info or to buy This Dewdrop World, click here.

Dramatic by Kotaro Oshio

The talented Japanese acoustic guitarist Kotaro Oshio continues to amaze and delight with his mesmerizing string plucking and guitar tapping. Eleven sweet and beautiful original and cover compositions grace Kotaro’s second CD, covering a wide range of tempos from upbeat to mellow. Kotaro’s playing is passionate, artistic and contains such an amazing sense of depth and intricacy that it is difficult to believe you are only hearing one guitar being played.

For more info or to buy Dramatic, click here.

Sufi Splendor: Music for Whirling Meditation

Sufi Splendor invokes the heart and spirit of the Persian whiling dervish dancing between the material and cosmic realms. Driven by the insatiable rhythm of frame drums, djembe, tabla and other world percussion these tracks allow you to experience the connection between movement, spirit and sound. A seductive swirl of flute, stringed instruments and haunting vocals are effortlessly woven together enhancing the hypnotic eastern vibe.

For more info or to buy Sufi Splendor, click here.

Door of Faith by Krishna Das

These slow, reverberating and complex chants lack the “Kirtan Posse’s” call and response and upbeat vibe on KD’s previous recordings. At first this is a bit of a shock, but when it resides you hear the beauty and feel the bliss of KD’s heart and soul radiating out from these deeply intimate and personal prayers. Sanskrit and English chants flow seamlessly into the next carried on by KD’s amazingly resonate voice. There are many sweet moments on this CD, but the top is when KD sings with his daughter on Jai Jagadisha Hare. Plus, a seven-minute documentary on the making of Door of Faith including interviews with KD and Ram Dass comes on the CD.

For more info or to buy Door of Faith, click here.

Dhyana Aman by Manose

The Tibetan bells, bamboo flute, tambura and vocal chanting on this CD transport one to the still, expansive majesty of the Himalayas. Slow and simple combinations of these highly resonate and saturating vibrations create elaborate and mystical results reflecting the rich spiritual traditions of Nepal, Tibet and India. A great CD to use with meditation, yoga or relaxation.

For more info or to buy Dhyana Aman, click here.

Yoga: On Sacred Ground by Chinmaya Dunster

Composed specifically for yoga practice, this melodic and hypnotic CD is a mix of dynamic and relaxing compositions. An amazing mix of instruments combined with enchanting deep vocals create a mystical far eastern groove that activates the charkas and inspires one to go deep inside.

For more info or to buy Yoga: On Sacred Ground, click here.

Spirit Rising by Sonic Tribe

This CD is a beautiful, intricate and seamless blend of spiritual music from the world’s mystical cultures. Soulful East Indian and Tibetan chants, soaring vocals and beautiful harmonies are sung by Gina Salá, a lead vocalist for Cirque du Soleil and Beth Quist, lead vocalist in Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra. Blissful, rocking mix of drum, guitar, flute, didgeridoo and tribal percussion create a feast for the senses and a slow yet danceable beat.

For more info or to buy Spirit Rising, click here.

Music for Zen Meditation by Riley Lee

The shakuhachi is a simple end blown bamboo flute made with only 5 holes and is the only instrument used during Zen meditation. Playing the shakuhachi is itself a meditation requiring masterful attention to produce subtle variations in tone and pitch. Riley Lee is the first non-Japanese to master the shakuhachi, and his skill and art is evident in this 2 CD set. These soft yet soaring compositions flow like water and create pure calm and deep inner focus.

For more info or to buy Music for Zen Meditation, click here.

Yol Bolsin by Sevara Nazarkhan

Uzbekistan pop singer Sevara Nazarkhan and French producer Hector Zazou create a haunting and mystical synergy of ancient and modern sounds in this amazing record. Sevara’s richly layered vocals soar above and intertwine with her intricate lute playing and the samples, keyboards, hand drums and electric guitar. The vocals and rhythms, deeply rooted in the traditions of central Asia, takes you far away, beyond time and place.

For more info or to buy Yol Bolsin, click here.

Chanting the Chakras by Layne Redmond

Chants of the Bija mantras of the seven chakras flow amidst trance inducing drums, bells and sitar on this powerful recording. The Bija mantras are monosyllabic “seed” sounds that resonate with the frequencies of each chakra. Chanting or listening to these mantras balances, harmonizes and activates the chakra energy centers in the body as well as promotes deep relaxation, inner peace and well-being. Included is a great 24-page study guide with diagrams and explanations of the chants and the chakras.

For more info or to buy Chanting the Chakras, click here.

Starting Point by Kotaro Oshio

Sweet, beautiful compositions and covers fill this CD by the amazing and innovative Japanese guitarist Kotaro Oshio. Kotaro’s playing is interwoven, intricate and just dazzling at moments, making it hard to believe that this is created on one acoustic guitar. Kotaro’s songs range in tempo and complexity from upbeat to mellow and invoke a whole spectrum of emotions from joy, to wonder, to quiet introspection.

For more info or to buy Starting Point, click here.

Planet Yoga by Various Artists

This wonderful compilation 2 CD set was created specifically for the practice of yoga. The first CD contains the major Western Kirtan (Indian chanting) artists: Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Bhagavan Das, Wah! and others. They all present this ancient form of prayer in a very non-traditional and unique way, mixing in modern melodies, instruments and arrangements. If you haven’t heard this genre of music before, this CD serves as an excellent introduction. The second CD is a marvelous mix of relaxing instrumental music of four different artists with a similar ambient meditative sound. Sitar, flute, guitar and vocals are used to provide a great backdrop for yoga practice. The CD’s booklet even provides a 21 yoga posture sequence.

For more info or to buy Planet Yoga, click here.

Timbuktu by Issa Bagayogo

Traditional West African music and vocals are woven with modern electronic samples, beats, bass and horns in this masterfully arranged and produced CD. Issa Bagayogo’s rich soulful voice punctuates these infectious grooves and ancient melodies and is backed up by a small chorus of beautiful female voices. Issa masterfully plays the kamélé n' goni' (a six stringed lute) as well as the acoustic guitar and is joined with the djembe, flute, balafon (wooden xylophone) and more lutes and guitars.

For more info or to buy Timbuktu, click here.

Sufi by Al Gromer Khan

Sufi is a sonic journey through a labyrinth of slow intricate rhythms and soft resonate atmospheres, moving in towards the inner depths of soul and sprit. Sitar master Al Gromer Khan’s intention was to create trance-inducing experiences to access certain inner states. This is a beautiful, mellow, slow, inwardly focusing CD perfect for yoga, meditation, and massage.

For more info or to buy Sufi, click here.

Now by Bhagavan Das

The legendary Bhagavan Das teams up with Mike D of the Beastie Boys to create a swirling, soaring, and spiritually inspiring first CD. Bhagavan Das belts out traditional Sanskrit chants with a deep, resonant, charka-piercing voice. Mike D fuses traditional Indian instrumentation with techno beats and lush samples, producing a sweet hypnotic blend. A bit of southern gospel is magically mixed in, fueling Bhagavan Das’ wild fiery spirit. Prepare to be moved physically, emotionally and spiritually.

For more info or to buy Now, click here.

Guitar Meditations by Soulfood and Billy McLaughlin

Billy McLaughlin’s masterful guitar playing stands clearly in the foreground of these gentle compositions. His mesmerizing acoustic guitar floats above a subtle backdrop of ambient synthesizers. These songs seem to wash over and soothe the listener, yet do not call enough attention to themselves to become distracting. This CD works wonderfully as a backdrop to yoga, meditation or massage, or can simply be enjoyed by itself.

For more info or to buy Guitar Meditations, click here.

Oru: the Natural Order by Gary Stroutsos

On Oru, Gary Stroutsos creates a mystical blend of Native American and Afro-Cuban music based on ancient Nigerian religious chants. Beautiful flute melodies are interlaced with world percussion (wood boxes, rattles, chimes and clay pots) and soft deep vocals with sprinkles of the sounds of birds, nature, piano and string bass. A deep sense of spirit and honor of the divine is imparted through these hypnotic tribal rhythms, chants and flute songs. This CD invokes a deep atmosphere of peace and relaxation, perfect for yoga, massage or meditation.

To have a listen or to buy Oru: the Natural Order, click here.

Musical Massage: Synergy by The Atlantic Arts Ensemble

Of all the beautiful Musical Massage series of CDs, Synergy is the most Zen-ful. Quiet, expansive and slow, these compositions remind me of a gentle spring rain. Synergy is a wonderful blend between Ambient and Jazz musical genres using piano, keyboards, violin, guitars, flute and saxophone. Just over 60 minutes long, this is a wonderful CD for relaxation, meditation, gentle yoga or massage. My favorite track is Turquoise.

To have a listen or to buy Musical Massage: Synergy, click here.

Music Meditation: Unwind by Silvia Nakkach

This is the perfect CD to instantly transport you into a state of meditative bliss. This is one of the few CDs where I feel a strong effect consciously and energetically on my body and mind. Silvia Nakkach’s voice is amazingly beautiful, resonant and melodic and is gracefully supported with string and keyboard drones, gentle percussion, soft horns and world instruments. Music Meditation: Unwind will magically take you away from the troubles of the world and transport you to a place of oneness with the divine.

To have a listen or to buy Music Meditation: Unwind, click here.

Kala Rupa: Explorations in Rhythm by Greg Ellis.

The percussionist of Vas takes you on an exotic journey to the East on the reverberations of the drum. Kala Rupa is richly textured and layered with African, Middle Eastern, Indian and Asian drums, bells, and wind and string instruments. Greg Ellis goes far beyond his previous work by intertwining complex patterns with flowing melodic forms and creating an amazing exploration of rhythm and beat.

To have a listen or to buy Kala Rupa, click here.

In a Distant Place by Nakai and Nawang.

I would have never thought to put the Native American flutes of R. Carlos Nakai and the Tibetan flutes of Nawang Khechog together, even though they are both amazing and masterful musicians. But it works, beautifully. Their enchanting and peaceful flutes are blended with warm reverberating harp guitars and deep resounding drums and world percussion. The results are mesmerizing compositions that seem to tell a ancient story. There is a perfect balance between upbeat, alive, animal spirited tracks and soft, soulful and melodic songs. My favorite track is “A Gathering of Eagles”.

To have a listen or to buy In a Distant Place, click here.

Asana 2: moving meditation

Droning tamburas, ambient synths, groovy tablas and haunting vocals are the common elements on this great compilation CD by Meta Records. This is one of the most unified collections of music for yoga I have heard, each track gracefully flows into the next and keeps the upbeat Eastern vibe alive. Most of these tracks have an upbeat tabla rhythm, creating the motivation to move, flow and reverberate through a dynamic series of asanas. This is balanced with droning and ambient backdrops, creating the feeling of a moving meditation. My favorite tracks are “Solar Spirit” and “The Calling”.

For more info or to buy Asana 2: moving meditation, click here.

Pacific Moon by Gary Stroutsos.

Inspired by the Northwest Oregon coast, these soothing and tranquil compositions softly flow in and out of the sound of the Pacific surf, almost without notice. Gary Stroutsos masterfully plays wood, ratan and bamboo flutes, and creatively adds unusual instruments in these compositions, such as koto, frame drums, tablas, percussion, and keyboards. This is a wonderful CD for a gentle yoga practice, and is especially great for shavasaana as these compositions help transform the listener into a peaceful, relaxing state of focused awareness.

To have a listen or to buy Pacific Moon, click here.