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| all one music
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In this time when we as a human race seem consumed by the differences that divide us rather than the commonality we share, when we accuse rather than embrace and argue rather than understand, what is it that keeps us from spiraling into violence and despair? Perhaps the answer lies in our inherent faith, however small, in the goodness of people, the glimpses of our shared humanity in the eyes of those suffering in the aftermath of the hurricanes that have ravaged the southeastern United States, or in the overwhelming outpouring of generosity and help these events have compelled so many of us to offer. Perhaps it’s the realization that it could just as easily be any of us in the shoes of those who are suffering.
Though we planned over a year ago for this issue of Yogi Times to be our music issue, we couldn’t have predicted the poignancy that music has taken on in light of the recent events in our country. Regardless of our heritage, music is something we all share. Every culture has its own unique music rich with tradition and identity, but in the end, filling the same space in our lives. Music inspires joy, romance, spiritual awakening, melancholy and devotion. We use it to celebrate and we use it to mourn. It comes as naturally to us as breathing. In this country, we are presently seeing an unprecedented explosion in the rich depth and variety of world music that is emerging into mainstream culture. From world groove, to trance electronica, to good old rock n’ roll, music is a universal language. Music moves us on a cellular level. It brings us into the moment and opens our hearts. Sounds a lot like yoga to me! I have always marveled that twenty years ago I danced in my bedroom in France as a teenager to many of the same tunes as my friends who grew up in America! In the end, our experiences are not so different.
So, this issue is an homage to all the great musicians out there who bring us together and remind us that we are all connected. Whether they are awakening our spirts, chanting in a blissed out kirtan or crowd surfing in a mosh pit, they force us to abandon our indifference. Like it or not, music is inexorably woven into the fabric of our culture, and just might be the key to healing the wounds we have suffered.
On another note, more wonderful people have joined Yogi Times since the end of the summer and we continue to grow and develop as a team and in our aim to be of service to the community. You can help us further this aim by contributing to our “Letters to the Editor” page, which begins next month. We are very eager to start receiving your observations and comments. Please email us at info@yogitimes.com. We are also just about also to launch our first E-newsletter, the YOGI TIMES Insider. You can subscribe to this bi-monthly newsletter online at yogitimes.com to stay dialed in to what’s going on in the community.
As always, I trust that you will find inspiration in these pages and go out and enjoy the last fading vestiges of the sunny California summer.
Namaste,
Sophie Parienti
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| contributors |
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christine stevens
Christine Stevens lives in Southern California where she enjoys yoga, hiking, mountain biking, and drumming! She holds masters degrees in social work and music therapy and is a member of a leading research team documenting health effects of group drumming. She offers presentations, workshops and retreats on musical expression for spirituality and health. Her most recent project, The Healing Drum Kit, was recently published by Sounds True. ubdrumcircles.com |
david silver
David wrote the highly acclaimed documentary, “The Compleat Beatles”. DS produced, directed films about Bob Marley, Bruce Springsteen, Roger Waters, Ringo Starr, Allen Ginsberg, Muddy Waters, Timothy Leary, Krishna Das, Frank Zappa, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Spalding Gray, Elvis Costello, Mick Fleetwood, Joey Ramone, Count Basie, Tony Bennett amongst many others.
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bruce schwartz
Following a career in theater arts, for which he received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1988, Bruce was drawn to yoga while searching for relief from chronic back pain. He co-founded the grassroots Pasadena Yoga Co-op in 1994 and now owns and manages Yoga House in Pasadena with Farzaneh Noori. Bruce has been teaching yoga since 1998 and has studied with Tias Little for the past two years.
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kelly laplante
Kelly LaPlante is the Principal Designer and owner of Organic Interior Design. Her firm’s mission is to create extraordinary interiors by using elegant furnishings which have the added benefit of helping to protect the earth’s resources. Many of the eco-friendly furnishings used in their designs are available to the public at the Organic Interior Design store in Venice Beach. www.organicinteriordesign.com
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