First Class Free

by: Laura Mills

Last Wednesday morning as I drove home from an early appointment, I played one of my recently-purchased songs: “Kyrie,” by Mr. Mister (as many of my students have heard in my classes, I’m a shameless child of the 80s). I bopped my head, then added steering wheel drumming, and by the time I arrived at my garage door I was dancing as much as is safely possible in the drivers’ seat of a moving car.

Knowing that chores and another appointment awaited me in the afternoon, I hadn’t planned on practicing yoga when I got home. But I knew I couldn’t avoid yoga now; my body needed to move, and for some reason it needed to move to that song…almost like the song was stuck in my body the way songs sometimes get stuck in my head. I knew I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything else until I had done something about it. And so, in my limited time that afternoon—the duration of the song twice through—I took myself through a fast-moving combination of Warrior 1 and Warrior 2 variations, including lots of Vinyasas. I repeated the same sequence over and over to the beat of the music and my breath, and before I knew it I was in Child’s Pose feeling exhilarated.

What a great way to start my afternoon: remembering, among other things, to always keep my ears open for inspiration!

April 20, 2011.  Theme: Facing our Fears, Hanuman Salutation.

Twin Blue, Millions & Millions

Dreamcatcher, Bahramji And Maneesh De Moor

Those To Come, The Shins

Johnny B Goode, Peter Tosh

Track 11, Keiner+Carl

High Grade, Richie Spice

What a Feeling, Collie Buddz

Track 09, Keiner+Carl

Lively Up Yourself, Bob Marley

Stay Human, Michael Franti

Om Namah Shivaya, Govindas

Incense, Erykah Badu

April 17, 2011. Epic day of mountain biking with the most amazing friends.  So many meaningful conversations as we cycled our yoga! Peace in all ways, Silvia

AM MORNING YOGA PRACTICE DAY 2

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea

I Know Places, Lykke Li

No Jive, De-Phazz

Lebanese Blonde, Thievery Corporation

Heart Skipped A Beat, Xx

Crystalised, Xx

Dolly Parton Vs Jay Z - Jolene Is Mine (KMT Mix), KMT

Blue Monday, Flunk

Black Eyed Dog, Nick Drake

Infinity, Xx

Afterlife, Glorybox

April 13, 2011.  You know when you come upon the "perfect" playlist?  I had that moment today.  I love this.  It's sweet to start and then plays up in a sweet sexy way. Loving Dolly Parton/Jay Z mashup! And yes no problem going old school too.  This is a great mix for Springtime! Love and light, Silvia

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea, Yoga Sol

I Know Places, Lykke Li, Wounded Rhymes

No Jive, De-Phazz Detunized Gravity

Lebanese Blonde, Thievery Corporation, Garden State

Heart Skipped A Beat, Xx, xx

Crystalised, Xx, xx

Rolling In the Deep, ADELE, 21

Dolly Parton Vs Jay Z - Jolene Is Mine (KMT Mix), KMT, Waterproof London

Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang, The Sugarhill Gang Vs. Grandmaster Flash - The Greatest Hits

The Next Episode, Snoop Dogg

Till I Get There, Lupe Fiasco, Lasers

Jettin', Digable Planets, Blowout Comb

Blue Monday, Flunk, For Sleepyheads Only

Ardes Bhaee, Mirabai Ceiba, Jamtse - Love & Compassion (An Offering for the Tibet Fund)

Black Eyed Dog, Nick Drake, Way To Blue (An Introduction To Nick Drake)

Infinity, Xx, xx

Beatiful People, Rusted Root, When I Woke

Afterlife, Glorybox, Coffeeshop - Finest Selection

APRIL 11, 2011.  This one hour playlist is perfect for a purposeful, peaceful class focused on elegant effort. Enjoy! Love, Silvia

Chandra (The Moon), Michael Mandrell and Benjy Wertheimer

Child's Eyes (Jenny's Song), scott Cossu

The Hill, Markéta Irglová

Big Medicine, Mari Boine

Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars

Nungabunda, Ganga Giri

Grid Lok'd, Govindas

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

Pitchblack Darkness (feat. Reazun, Paradox), Kyteman

One Moment More, Mindy Smith

Wonderwall, Ryan Adams

Wash Away, Joe Purdy

Samba Sadashiva, Donna De Lory

April 11, 2011. Change is happening all around us.  And it’s easy to convince ourselves to go faster and do more, collect more in order to feel like we can control the changes happening.  But at the end of the day, end of class, end of our life: the person with the most poses doesn’t win anything more than anyone else.  The same can be said of life. If we insist on speeding up and collecting more work hours like we collect poses or we focus on doing more and faster we won’t get anything in particular for our super human efforts.  We need not push or shove or pull at change but learn how to get along with it keeping our hand on the tiller so to speak but without it letting it speed us up into hysteria or confusion.

Slowing down in sanskrit is SHANI. 

And science tells us straight out that our brains function at a faster frequency than our bodies. It’s like being in the same car with two radio stations dialed.  The noise of listening to two different types of music simultaneously can give anyone a headache. This is what is made more obvious the more stressed out we are.  Our minds get faster and faster, our bodies more tired and slow.

Yoga is that practice of bringing things into balance and tuning our dials.  Chapter 2.46 in the yoga sutras talks about this as sthira and sukha this balance between effort and letting go, doing and being, stability and freedom, steadiness and sweetness.  If the mind is spinning wildly then we come to the mat to slow it down, shani dude.  And if the body needs to energize we learn to move through poses.  Yoga dials us into the same radio station and the breath is that link to slow down the mind and encourage the body away from inertia.  Mindful moving helps us leave in a sweet state of SHANI. 

Today we used balancing poses to help us focus the mind more quickly and get our bodies going straight from the start.  And by the end you could feel the effect of the practice.  Savasana was sweeter than ever. Ah yes! Mind and Heart and Body as one again.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

TODAY’S PLAYLIST

Chandra (The Moon), Michael Mandrell and Benjy Wertheimer

Child's Eyes (Jenny's Song), scott Cossu

The Hill, Markéta Irglová

Big Medicine, Mari Boine

Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars

Nungabunda, Ganga Giri

Grid Lok'd, Govindas

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

Pitchblack Darkness (feat. Reazun, Paradox), Kyteman

One Moment More, Mindy Smith

Wonderwall, Ryan Adams

Wash Away, Joe Purdy

Samba Sadashiva, Donna De Lory

April 4, 2011. Really great flow. You'll love the new and old school mixed and the theme for class is movement and why movement benefits our mental health.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

Playlist timed at 75 minutes.

Lakshmi, Girish, Donna Delory, Greg Leisz & Georges Lamman

Govinda Fly, Sharon Gannon (Mixed By Mike D)

Quiet Dog, Mos Def

Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang

Friday Night, Girl Talk

Alors On Danse, Stromae

Miss Teardrops, Felix Laband

The Next Episode, Snoop Dogg

In Da Club, 50 Cent

Minute By Minute, Girl Talk

No Pause, Girl Talk

Mushaboom, Feist

Trapped In My Mind, Kid Cudi

I Will Be Light, Matisyahu

One Of These Mornings, Moby

Beyond Time, Blank & Jones

Simple Song, Lyle Lovett

While My Guitar Gently Weeps, The Beatles

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea

*Join me in class or on retreat check my schedule at www.silviamordini.com

April 2, 2011.  Count how many times you’ve set an expectation in the last 24 hours?  About the weather, your job, your partner, your children, your family? And then compare that to how many times the reality matched your expectation.

How did that make you feel?

When we have decided in advance how someone else is going to act or how a situation is going to be we open ourselves up to suffering when the reality doesn’t match our expectation.  In yogic philosophy this attachment to expectation is a root cause of human suffering.  

Focused inward another name for expectation is Self-Judgment. This critical prism of judging ourselves in advance of the outcome and again with the result only brings more disappointment.

We would do well to heed the advice of Eckhart Tolle in the Power of Now who writes, “When you surrender to what is and so become fully present, the past ceases to have any power.  The realm of Being, which has been obscured by the mind, then opens up.  Suddenly, a great stillness arises within you, and an unfathomable sense of peace.  And within that peace, there is great joy.  And within that joy, there is love.”  This practice on and off the mat helps us to see clearly without making happiness dependent upon our expectations.  This acceptance for sure brings about inner peace, joy and love.

So that no matter what the world presents we know we can manage remaining quiet and centered at our center.  "Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. It is part of the isness of the Now. You can't argue with what is. Well, you can, but if you do, you suffer." (Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth)

Who goes on to write “To offer no resistance to life is to be in a state of grace, ease, and lightness. This state is then no longer dependent upon things being in a certain way, good or bad. It seems almost paradoxical, yet when your inner dependency on form is gone, the general conditions of your life, the outer forms, tend to improve greatly.”  Try it for a week or even a day where you surrender your heavy expectations of yourself and others and live with less resistance to this isness of now and then decide if its worth going back to again living with the burden of expectation for even a day longer.  Love yourself, love your day, love your ilfe, Silvia

TODAY’S SWEET PLAYLIST

Gobinday Mukunday, Spirit Voyage Artists

In Another Time, Sade

Miss Teardrops, Felix Laband

Allah Hoo, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Yara Seeli Seeli, Lata Mangeshkar

Express Yourself, Mocean Worker, Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street

Mr Big Stuff, Jean Knight

In The Colors, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals

Blind to You, Collie Buddz           

Jet Lag, Joss Stone

Butterflyz, Alicia Keys

In A Sentimental Mood, Nancy Wilson with Hank Jones

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea

HIP HOP YOGA WORKSHOP PLAYLIST APRIL 2, 2011.  Ok seriously ch, check this out. Some old school along with what's up this week. Peace! Silvia  (times out @2 hrs)

I Do It For Hip Hop (Co-Starring Nas and Jay-Z), Ludacris, Theater Of The Mind

Thought Process, Goodie Mob, Soul Food

Mojo So Dope, Kid Cudi, Man On the Moon, Vol. II: The Legend of Mr. Rager

Love Lockdown, Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak

The Show Goes On, Lupe Fiasco, Lasers

Let Me Know, Collie Buddz, Collie Buddz

POWER, Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Not Afraid, Eminem, Not Afraid - Single

Hate It Or Love It (Remix), 50 Cent & G Unit, The Massacre

Life's A Bitch, Nas, Illmatic

Evening Chai, Blue Scholars, Blue Scholars

Gangsta Nation, Nate Dogg           

Don't Feel Right, The Roots, Game Theory

New People {Empire Remix}, Blue Scholars, New People

Motion Movement, Blue Scholars, Blue Scholars

My Chick Bad, Ludacris Feat. Nicki Minaj, Battle Of The Sexes

The Donque Song (Ft. Snoop Dogg), will.i.am, Songs About Girls

Rapper's Delight, The Sugarhill Gang, The Sugarhill Gang Vs. Grandmaster Flash

In Da Club, 50 Cent, Get Rich Or Die Tryin'

Set It Off, Girl Talk, Feed The Animals

Minute By Minute, Girl Talk, Night Ripper

No Pause, Girl Talk, Feed The Animals

Coming Up (feat. MDMA), Lupe Fiasco, Lasers

Summer Smoke, Girl Talk, Night Ripper

Friday Night, Girl Talk, Night Ripper

Hands In The Air, Girl Talk, Feed The Animals

Little Bit, Drake, So Far Gone

I Used To Love H.E.R., Common, Resurrection

Jumelles, MC Solaar, Mach 6

Soon The New Day, Talib Kweli Feat. Norah Jones, Ear Drum

April 1, 2011. You know how sometimes you create something that captures the essence of the day, the moment perfectly? Well that's this playlist. It is one of my all time favorites. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did in putting it together.  Love yourself, love your day, love your ilfe! Silvia  

Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu, Chandra Om, Be Receptive

Soon The New Day, Talib Kweli Feat. Norah Jones, Ear Drum

Southbound, Blue Scholars, Joe Metro

Man On The Moon (The Anthem), Kid Cudi, Plain Pat & Emile Presents a Kid Name Cudi

Hey Baby, Stephen Marley featuring Mos Def, Mind Control

Escaping Arkham, Common Market, The Winter's End EP

Khalgi Stomp, Transglobal Underground, Thievery Corporation - Versions

Paris, Tokyo, Lupe Fiasco, The Cool

Hey World (Don't Give Up Version), Michael Franti & Spearhead, All Rebel Rockers

Just Breath, Pearl Jam           

Let Me Know, Collie Buddz, Collie Buddz

Rolling In the Deep, ADELE, 21

Second to Numb, Kings of Convenience, Declaration of Dependence

Tenuousness, Andrew Bird, Noble Beast

Wash Away, Joe Purdy, Julie Blue

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea, Yoga Sol

www.silviamordini.com

March 25, 2011.  The Buddha says we should “practice as if your hair was on fire.”  This is such an amazing metaphor to remind us to wake up to our lives.  This metaphor in no way implies panic or alarm.  It encourages us stop treating life as a rehearsal for the future or ruminating over the past all the while not awake to present experience.  

No better reason to come to the mat than to stoke our wakeful energy through movement and breath and by taking risks in experience new poses (like handstand).  And what do we use to wake up? Our hearts first and foremost.  For in the wards of Annie Dillliard “If we listened only to our intellect we’d never have a love affair, we’d never have a friendship, we’d never go into business, because we’d be too cynical. Well that’s nonsense. You’ve got to jump off cliffs ALL the time and build your wings on the way down.”  Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

PLAYLIST: 

Day-O (Banana Boat Song), Harry Belafonte

Tangled Up In Blue, Bob Dylan

Good Day Sunshine, Beatles

Down on the Corner, Creedance Clearwater Revival

I Want You, Bob Dylan

I'm Outta Love, Anastacia

Rolling In the Deep, ADELE

Gangsta Nation, Nate Dogg

Sita Ram, Girish

Stir It Up, Bob Marley & The Wailers

Simple Twist of Fate, The Format

Ripple, Grateful Dead

Teach Your Children (live), Steve Acho

I'll Be Missing You, Puff Daddy Feat. Faith Evans & 112

Every Breath You Take, Carol Welsman

Peace, George Winston

March 23, 2011.  Wishing you a day of effortless effort where you are not feeling pulled or pushed. And a day where you aren't the one doing the pushing or pulling. I know from experience every time you push your partner, he or she will pull back and when we try to pull at them to stay longer they will then push away. It's the win-lose scenario of dualism.  Imagine how strong a person has to be that when you push them they don't react to your pushing while at the same time being careful not to overcompensate for the initial push all in effort to come back into balance.  Whew! That's not fun. 

But when we follow the lead of our breath and stop pushing and pulling at the people in our lives it all makes for living a life of delight.  It is fun.   

We practice on the mat to recognize Pushing and Pulling, Dvesa and Raga, so we can live better off the mat.  Take to heart the words of Judith Lasater who writes, “in life we are pulled between trying to get what you want and trying to avoid what you don’t want.  Pulling and Pushing away both limit our freedom.”  What is freedom? To me is about learning to BE happy with the playful side of life. It's so simple, if you want FUN in your practice you have to put FUN into it. If you want FUN in your life you have to stop pushing and pulling. We learned it in kindergarten and it all still applies.

This concept is from the Yoga Sutras: 

Yoga Sutras Chapter 2, Verse 7

Excessive fondness for pleasant experiences causes longing.  Attachment (Raga) which is PULLING

Yoga Sutras Chapter 2, Verse 8

Excessive avoidance of unpleasant experiences causes disdain.  Aversion (Dvesa) which is PUSHING

On and off the mat we can be aware of what we are thinking:

Where are your thoughts PUSH energy.  Push thoughts are things like “I don’t want to hold this pose, I don’t want to try this new or difficult variation”.

Where are your thoughts PULL energy.  And pull thoughts might be things like “I want another Sun Salutation, I should be able to do 35 vinyasas per class no matter what. Bring on side 2, I'll take it on.”

Maybe that's why I appreciate the website www.thefuntheory.com The site is dedicated to the thought that something as simple as FUN is the easiest way to change people’s behaviour for the better. Be it for yourself, for the environment, or for something entirely different, the only thing that matters is that it’s change for the better. Fun Theory asks us to think about why don't we do more of the things that we know are good for us?  And suggests that if we make those things fun can we get change our behavior. (You should know this initiative is sponsored by Volkswagen.) Go to their website to see how they got folks to take the stairs instead of the escalator and other playfully brilliant examples! Caution this site will make you SMILE. 

When we aren't pushing away positive change our pulling at it either we remain on easy speed and Fun Theory works in our favor which is always Win-Win.  Life is Win-Win (at least when we stop pushing and pulling). Try it and see!  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia 

TODAY’S PLAYLIST

Rainbow Connection, Muppets

Korean Dogwood, Devendra Banhart

Cold Wind, Arcade Frie

Queen Bee, Devendra Banhart

Days Go By (Acoustic), Dirty Vegas

Rise, Eddie Vedder

Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones

Just Can't Get Enough, Depeche Mode

Stuck in the Middle with You, Stealers Wheel

Say You Love Me, Fleetwood Mac

Fix, Jack Johnson

Come Out To Play, UB40

Pass the Dutchie, Musical Youth

Lively Up Yourself, Bob Marley

Freedom, George Michael

No Rest for the Weary, Blue Scholars

Lakshmi, Girish, Donna Delory, Greg Leisz & Georges Lamman

Faust Arp, Radiohead

Ocean Breathes Salty, Sun Kil Moon

Sitara Dreams, Rasa

Ahimsa, Baird Hersey & Prana

CHILL PLAYLIST: equally uplifting but easily so and just easy.

Om Padme Om, Wah!

Shri Krishna Govinda, Jai Uttal

Beautiful Boy, John Lennon

Sexxy Bicycle, Mad Rad

Nogo, Issa Bagayogo

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

Must Must,

It's a New Day, will.i.am

You And I, Wilco

How I Got Over, The Roots Feat. Dice Raw

Down on the Corner, Creedance Clearwater Revival

What a Feeling, Collie Buddz

Karaoke, Drake

Hawa Dolo, Ali Farka Toure

Rero, Ismael Lo

Hors d'œuvre, M?DE::IN::HEIGHTS::

Mahadeva Shambo, Wade Imre Morissette

Peace, George Winston

March 17, 2011.  Wonderful most blessed day!  And our most fun playlist ever.  So grateful to all the yogis that have shared time with me.  Love you all! Silvia

PLAYLIST:

River Flows In You, Yiruma, First Love (Yiruma Piano Collection)

Black Eyed Dog, Nick Drake, Way To Blue (An Introduction To Nick Drake)

Hate It Or Love It (Remix), 50 Cent & G Unit, The Massacre

Gangsta Nation, Nate Dogg           

Catacombs, Poi Dog Pondering, Liquid White Light [Live] [Disc1]

The Donque Song (Ft. Snoop Dogg), will.i.am, Songs About Girls

Buttons, The Pussycat Dolls           

Quiet Dog, Mos Def, The Ecstatic

So Doggone Lonesome, Johnny Cash, I Walk The Line - 16 Great Performances

California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg), Katy Perry, California Gurls (feat. Snoop Dogg)

Police Dogs Bonfire, Lazyboy, Ibiza The Sunset Sessions

Till I Get There, Lupe Fiasco, Lasers 

Jumelles, MC Solaar, Mach 6

Soon The New Day, Talib Kweli Feat. Norah Jones, Ear Drum

aint feel nothing, zino & tommy, Tears From The Moon

POST SAVASANA

Praan, Garry Schyman, Praan - Single

PS Join me on retreat www.alchemytours.com or in class www.silviamordini.com

March 14, 2011. Today's incredible playlist! Theme is focused on our Perspective and how if we change the way you look at things then the things you look at change. You create your own reality.  Love in all ways, Silvia

Stairway to Heaven, Led Zeppelin, Mothership (Remastered)

House of Cards, Radiohead, In Rainbows

Every Breath You Take, UB40, 50 First Dates (Love Songs from the Original Motion Picture)

Da Da Da I Don't Love You You Don't Love Me Aha Aha Aha, Trio, Da Da Da

No Rain, Blind Melon           

Run-Around, Blues Traveler, Four

Jai Ho, A.R. Rahman, Sukhvinder Singh, Tanvi Shah & Mahalaxmi Iyer, Slumdog Millionaire (Music from the Motion Picture)

Push It, Salt-N-Pepa

Flip Ya Lid, Nightmares On Wax, In a Space Outta Sound

Mast Kalander, Rehan Khan, Sajid Khan, Salim Shehzada & Shankar Mahadevan, Heyy Babyy

Ela Mia Nichta, Theodosia Stiga, Greece: A Musical Odyssey

Saï, Kanda Bongo Man, Kwassa Kwassa

New Slang, The Shins, Garden State

Jesus, Etc., Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

You Know I'm No Good, Amy Winehouse, Back to Black

This Years Love, David Gray           

Mere Guru Dev, Krishna Das, Greatest Hits Of The Kali Yuga

Ohpa-Me, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, Jamtse - Love & Compassion (An Offering for the Tibet Fund)

PS Join me in class www.silviamordini.com

March 13, 2011.  Dedicated today's 80's inspired playlist to my best friend who celebrate's his Birthday this Tuesday!  Big love to all, Silvia

Only You, Yaz, Upstairs At Eric's, 1982

50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, Paul Simon, Negotiations And Love Songs, 1988

Shock The Monkey, Peter Gabriel, Shaking The Tree, 1982

Saving Grace , Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers                       

Just Can't Get Enough, Depeche Mode, Catching Up With Depeche Mode, 1987

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, Michael Jackson, Off the Wall, 1983

Don't Go, Yaz, Upstairs At Eric's, 1982                       

Some Kind of Wonderful, Grand Funk Railroad                       

Walkin' Boss, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman           

Midnight Rider, Brandi Carlile                       

Baby did a bad bad thing, Chris Isaak                       

Mama Told Me (Not to Come), Three Dog Night, The Best of Three Dog Night, 1986

Ananda, Solar Quest, Namaste Experience Ibiza

Java Shiva Shankara, namasté , Magical Healing Mantras           

Be the Change (Niraj Chag's Swaraj Mix), MC Yogi, Elephant Power           

Still, Wade Imre Morissette, Strong As Diamonds        

Join me for regular weekly classes see www.silviamordini.com

March 12, 2011.  Noon class.  Theme was Showing Up for Your Life as the CEO.  Some great French Hip Hop. And the first song really spoke to me.  Really best class ever! Love you all, Silvia

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, Bree Sharp, Live At the Fez

Prayer In Passing, Anoushka Shankar, Rise

Ganga River, Wade Imre Morissette, Sargam Scales Of Music

Assaisin's Tango, John Powell, Mr and Mrs Smith Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Allah Hoo, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Monsoon Wedding

Jumpin' Jumpin', Destiny's Child           

Suerte (Whenever, Wherever), Shakira, Laundry Service

Use Me, Bill Withers, Lean On Me: The Best Of Bill Withers

Drive. Ziggy Marley, 50 First Dates (Love Songs from the Original Motion Picture)

Jumelles, MC Solaar, Mach 6

Soon The New Day, Talib Kweli Feat. Norah Jones, Ear Drum

Dreamsome, Shelby Lynne, I Am Shelby Lynne

Misty, Ella Fitzgerald, Compact Jazz

I May Know The Word, Natalie Merchant, Tigerlily

Playlist March 11, 2011, 60 minute flow, easeful. Theme Trust and Surrender.

Helplessly Hoping, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, So Far

Fire And Rain, Jonatha Brooke, Back In the Circus

For All Mankind, George Fenton; Ravi Shankar; The Wren Orchestra, Ghandi Movie

Allah Hoo, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Monsoon Wedding

Anand (Bliss), Snatam Kaur, Jamtse - Love & Compassion (An Offering for the Tibet Fund)

Long Nights, Eddie Vedder, Music for the Motion Picture Into the Wild

Dust in the Wind, Kansas, Point of Know Return

Buckets of Rain, Bob Dylan, Blood On the Tracks

Old Fashion Morphine, Jolie Holland, Escondida

Dawg's Waltz, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman

March 5th, 2011. Our playlists for Xinalani Mexico Yoga Retreat. Enjoy! Love, Silvia 

ALCHEMY TOURS XINALANI RETREAT FEB 26-MAR 5, 2011 MUSICAL INSPIRATION: PLAYLIST SUMMARY 

DAY 1 MORNING

DAY 1 EVENING 

DAY 2 MORNING

DAY 2 EVENING

DAY 3 MORNING 

DAY 4 MORNING

DAY 5  MORNING

DAY 6 

DAY 7

PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 21, 2011

*New Radiohead! And almost new Black Eyed Peas!

Gobinday Mukunday, Spirit Voyage Artists

Ardes Bhaee, Mirabai Ceiba

Song for You, Alexi Murdoch

New People {Empire Remix}, Blue Scholars

Hate It Or Love It (Remix), 50 Cent & G Unit

Sexxy Bicycle, Mad Rad

Xoxoxo, The Black Eyed Peas

Morning Mr Magpie, Radiohead

Karaoke, Drake

Mahadeva Shambo, Wade Imre Morissette

Yellow, Jem

River Flows In You, Yiruma

Awesome great vibe! 63 minute playlist to rock your practice!

Gobinday Mukunday, Spirit Voyage Artists

Paul Valery, Blue Scholars

It Takes a Muscle, M.I.A.

I'm Outta Love, Anastacia

Outta Control, 50 Cent

Xoxoxo, The Black Eyed Peas

Govinda Fly, Sharon Gannon (Mixed By Mike D)

Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I), Kid Cudi

Enjoy, Janet Jackson

Inna di Red, Stephen Marley featuring Ben Harper

Lively Up Yourself, Bob Marley

Stay Human, Michael Franti

Yellow, Jem

River Flows In You, Yiruma

There is So Much Magnificence, Shiva Rea

www.silviamordini.com

February 16, 2011.  We have a CHOICE: As you think so shall you be.  What we tell ourselves is reflected back to us by the world.  How we see ourselves in term of the quality of our thoughts and healthy choices determines how others see us and how the world responds.  We actually are a sum of our choices. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves.  The process never ends until we die.  And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."  Or in the song BIG BANK HANK by the Blue Scholars "Whatchya gonna do today?"

The yogic teachings on the mat remind us that within every moment we are faced with making loving choices in how we breath, how we stand, how we act (or react) to a new pose or sequence or teacher. We can walk in the path of darkness or choose the path of LIGHT. We can choose negative thoughts or positive thoughts. We can choose Fear or LOVE. And if we can practice CHOOSING LOVE in every pose then we'll stay with it off the mat. This is the yoga of knowing your heart well enough to choose wisely and from love.  And the fact is that all in all we don't have that long in this earthly body to choose the happiest life ever or as Robert Braul puts it, "Life is short, God's way of encouraging a bit of focus."

And every time I step on the mat I am reminded of this gift of asking myself "whatchya gonna do today", what am I choosing.  I hold to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." And how do I translate this yoga into the yoga of life? I have been driving what is commonly referred to in Seattle as "the Mercer Weave" and moving across 3-4 lanes of traffic in 2 minutes to get to my exit into the city has been a practice of either choosing loving, positive thoughts (that on-coming traffic will let me cross over) or of expecting the worst and seeing those other cars as out to get me.  The more I consciously choose loving thoughts the better and smoother it goes.  But that's only one small example. We have opportunities every day and in every moment to choose love and happiness.  

The point being that we allow ourselves to keep making our own choices. Sadie Nardini wrote in her book Road Trip Guide to the Soul "Our biggest mistake as humans is to look at our destructive, habitual patterns and think we cannot choose again, because we have fallen prey to the illusion that what we have chosen repeatedly is how we are stuck with being.  You ALWAYS have the POWER - and the RIGHT - to CHOOSE again."  This is why today after some Sun Salutation A (the gold standard) we moved into variations of poses to feel that we can always keep experiencing other choices.  

You might wonder what suggestions I might have for choosing love?  Good news is that the Yoga Sutras tell us.  They actually give us the 4 keys to happiness - how to choose love.  The way to live with an open happy heart is nurture these attitudes in choosing "whatchya going to do today?":

1. Kindness and friendliness to those who are happy
2. Compassion for those that are suffering or less fortunate
3. Respect for those that who embody noble qualities and inspire us
4. Equanimity for those whose actions oppose our values

At first these attitudes that enable us to choose love in all circumstances seem easy.  But applying these in day-to-day life is more challenging than we think.  But all we can do is take responsibility for co-creating our life saying to ourselves "I choose to be happy. I choose love” and let the rest unfold.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

 PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 16, 2011

Gobinday Mukunday, Spirit Voyage Artists

Cafe Noir, Akmusique

Song for You, Alexi Murdoch

It Iz What It Iz            , M.I.A.

New People {Empire Remix}, Blue Scholars

Hate It Or Love It (Remix), 50 Cent & G Unit

It Takes a Muscle, M.I.A.

The Fire, The Roots Feat. John Legend

BIG BANK HANK, Blue Scholars

Xoxoxo, The Black Eyed Peas

Waka Waka (Time For Africa), Shakira/Freshlyground

I Know What I Know, Paul Simon

Walk Like an Egyptian, Buckley

Don't Rock My Boat, Bob Marley

Redemption Song, Richard Bona and Michael Brecker

Ganapati, Girish

Don't Give Up, Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush

I Shall Be Released, Buckley

Guru Mari, Shri Anandi Ma

DAY  6 BLOGGING 21 IN 2011 ABOUT LOVE.

PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 14, 2011. Theme Balance of Love.

Hey World (Don't Give Up Version), Michael Franti & Spearhead

Pink Moon, Nick Drake

Ananda, Solar Quest

Deep South, Layo Paskin & Matthew Bushwacka

Nogo, Issa Bagayogo

Gate To The Silkroad, Mokhira

Free Tibet, Hilight Tribe

Rero, Ismael Lo

Hard Sun (Main), Eddie Vedder

Yellow ,Coldplay

Grace, U2

Savasana

HIP HOP YOGA PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 12, 2011

Fire, Coco De Mer

Hate It Or Love It (Remix), 50 Cent & G Unit

No Rest for the Weary, Blue Scholars

The Fire, The Roots Feat. John Legend

BIG BANK HANK [Main], Blue Scholars

Xoxoxo, The Black Eyed Peas

Just You & I, Dzihan & Kamien

Free Tibet, Hilight Tribe

Strong Will Continue, Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Coming Home, Diddy - Dirty Money & Skylar Grey

I Will Be Light, Matisyahu

One Of These Mornings, Moby

Lakshmi, Girish, Donna Delory, Greg Leisz & Georges Lamman

Beyond Time [ambient edit], Blank & Jones

BONUS: I’m Too Sexy, Right Said Fred

February 9, 2011. Wendell Barry said, “The earth is what we have in common.” I’d add that our ability to lose our balance and allow over-worrying to make us feel ungrounded is also what we have in common.  You know, that feeling of being disconnected and just off center. 

So we devoted today’s practice to getting grounded into the earth, our common ground. Grounding serves us as a simplifying force, one which helps us plug back into ourselves and allows us to be fully present and balanced. Once centered we feel empowered and stable to see the circumstances of our lives with increased clarity.  We no longer over-respond or over-worry.

Just like building a yoga pose from the ground up, we need stability to form a strong foundation for our lives. On the yoga mat we used a long series of standing poses to help us achieve the security that comes from connecting our nervous system to the earth. In Sanskrit this is known as Sthira. As a result we all left the practice with our inner stillness intact once more ready to be the rooted influence amongst our families and friends. May you stay grounded and keep coming home to balance.

And if you are looking to do even more in depth work on balance and grounding join me for the two places in the world that always make me feel more centered: Moab, Utah and Tuscany Italy. Check out www.alchemytours.com to join me April, June, or October 2011.  In the meantime let’s stay in touch, the earth is what we have in common.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 9, 2011

Very balanced chill 60 minutes to invoke the earth element and promote grounding, trust and calm.  Perfect for those times you need to quiet the anxious mind or impatient heart.

Shiva Invocation, Shantala

Assyrian Women Mourners, Anja Lechner & Vassilis Tsabropoulos

Realms, Sigal Brier

Duduki, Anja Lechner & Vassilis Tsabropoulos

Pluznick, Raphael & Steve Kindler

Kerala Dream, Shaman's Dream

Trois morceaux après des hymnes byzantins I, Anja Lechner & Vassilis Tsabropoulos

Trois morceaux après des hymnes byzantins III, Anja Lechner & Vassilis Tsabropoulos

Night Song, Bill Dougrlas / Ty Burhoe / Kai Eckhardt / Steve Smith

Purnamadah, Shantala

Stars (Instrumental), John De Kadt

February 5, 2011. Just a year ago I used GPS for the first time. I get the idea. You plug in where you want to go and it helps guide you there. The key point being you KNOW where you want to go. Yoga to me has been that which helps us ask the question “who am I” and eventually we get to the “why am I here” and even further down the path “WHERE THE HELL AM I GOING?” So this concept of GPS is pretty vibrant.

If you can get to the point that you know where you want to go then you know your spiritual maturity is evolving in the right direction. Until I finally decide to go to Tuscany on a Yoga Retreat one year I just played at entering a real GPS for my life. Then from that point forward I got clear. I want that for you. Get on the mat, do the practice, get your destination in gear and watch what happens. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

PART OF MY PLAYLIST TODAY 2/5/11

Hard Sun (Main), Eddie Vedder
Nogo, Issa Bagayogo
Break Your Heart, Taio Cruz Feat. Ludacris
Vamos A Bailar, Gipsy Kings
Tighten Up ,The Black Keys
Express Yourself, Mocean Worker Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street
Mr Big Stuff, Jean Knight
Dedication, Kirby Shelstad
AMAZING GRACE

Join us on an amazing spiritual adventure www.alchemytours.com or come take class with me www.silviamordini.com

PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 4, 2011.

Hope (Live for the art of peace), Rush

Hard Sun (Main), Eddie Vedder

Escucha Me, Gipsy Kings

Nogo, Issa Bagayogo

Mahamrtyunjaya Mantra, Reema Datta

High Low (feat. Zap Mama) [Acoustic Mix], Michael Franti & Spearhead

Escaping Arkham, Common Market

No Rest for the Weary, Blue Scholars

Queen Bee, Devendra Banhart

Jesus etc., Wilco

Faust Arp, Radiohead

While My Guitar Gently Weeps, The Beatles

Join me for wonderful yoga retreat www.alchemytours.com

PLAYLIST FEBRUARY 2, 2011.  Theme was about Shiva/Shakti and we talked about appreciating endings as much as we do beginnings.  And in those endings we are completing cycles nothing more or less. In that way we can tap into the Power of Creativity, Creation and make the best lives ever!

Om Ram Ramaya, Deva Premal

Every Breath You Take, The Police

Believer, M.I.A.

Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars

Dream Machine (Down Tempo Mix), Mark Farina & Sean Hayes

Groovejet (If This Ain't Love), Spiller

Freestyler, Bomfunk MC's

Now That We Found Love, Heavy D and the Boyz

Let Me Know, Collie Buddz

I Ka Barra (Your Work), Habib Koite and Bamada

What a Feeling,            Collie Buddz

High Low (feat. Zap Mama) [Acoustic Mix], Michael Franti & Spearhead

(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay, Otis Redding

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, Bree Sharp

Mahadeva Shambo, Wade Imre Morissette

Infusion (Bombay Mix), Adham Shaikh

Thanksgiving, George Winston

Shine On, Wade Imre Morissette (POST SAVASANA!)

Join me on retreat www.alchemytours.com 

PLAYLIST JANUARY 31, 2011

The power of YES was our theme for class tonight. Thank you kindly and whole heartedly to JL for letting me sub this evening.  And love to all yogis who rocked with me in this class or any other class.  You inspire me! Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia  (Join me on an active vacation this year www.alchemytours.com)

Eminence Front, The Who

Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones

The Time (Dirty Bit), The Black Eyed Peas

Govinda Fly, Sharon Gannon (Mixed By Mike D)

Ancient People, Nas, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley & Jr. Reid

POWER, Kanye West

Lamaset (Miami Mix), Jef Stott

Lost In The World [feat. Bon Iver], Kanye West

Bhagavate

Just Can’t Get Enough, The Black Eyed Peas

Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I), Kid Cudi

Rofiki (DNA Remix), Zap Mama

Paris, Tokyo, Lupe Fiasco

Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Thievery Corporation Feat. Gunjan

Postales, Federico Aubele

I'll Be Missing You, Puff Daddy Feat. Faith Evans & 112

Oh My God, Michael Franti & Spearhead

Infusion (Bombay Mix), Adham Shaikh

Down Slow, Moby

www.silviamordini.com

PLAYLIST JANUARY 31, 2011

What a beautiful way to start the week! Here is the engaging, world influenced playlist from today 12pm-1pm yogalife.  Love your day! Silvia (And join me at yogalife 12pm-1pm M/W/F every week) 

Stir It Up, Bob Marley & The Wailers

A Well Respected Man, The Kinks

On the Hudson, SHAKE YOUR PEACE!

On the Dub-ble, DJ Krush

Liberate Your Mind, The Ginger Ninjas

Letting Go (Gaurav Raina Breakz Mix), Various Artists

Lamaset (Miami Mix), Jef Stott

Sita Ram, Girish

I'll Be Missing You, Puff Daddy Feat. Faith Evans & 112

Cold wind blowing           

Dreamsome, Shelby Lynne

Rain, Jill Knight

In My Solitude, Billy Holiday

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea

**Join me and www.alchemytours.com this year for the best active vacation of your life!  And keep checking my schedule www.silviamordini.com

PLAYLIST JANUARY 29, 2011

Tajabone, Ismaël Lo

Matadjem Yinmixan, Tinariwen

I Ka Barra (Your Work), Habib Koite and Bamada

Everything (...Is Never Quite Enough), Wasis Diop

Good Thing , The BoDeans

They, Jem

All Of The Lights, Kanye West

Mr. Rager, Kid Cudi

Stand By Me            Various Artist

Patience, Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Hey World (Don't Give Up Version), Michael Franti & Spearhead

Talk to You, Tracy Chapman

Rain, Jill Knight

Solo Para Ti, Armik

Still, Wade Imre Morissette

*Shared at www.hauteyogaqueenanne.com 12pm-1pm. Join me weekly! www.silviamordini.com

PLAYLIST BACKBENDING CLASS JANUARY 26, 2011

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea

Comfortably Numb, Dar Williams

Kind and Generous, Natalie Merchant

Sympathy for the Devil, The Rolling Stones

Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, Rod Stewart

Chaiyya Chaiyya, Sapna Awasti & Sukhvinder Singh

Ya Rayah (Sonar Remix), Dahmane El Harrachi

Nogo, Issa Bagayogo

Tajabone, Ismaël Lo

Joy, George Winston

Jesus etc., Wilco

Something In The Way She Moves, James Taylor

Yellow, Jem

Heart And Soul, Mel Tormé

Light My Fire, Patricia Barber

Thanksgiving, George Winston

Guru Brahma, Shaman's Dream

Samba Sadashiva, Donna De Lory

January 24, 2011.  Here is today’s playlist 60 minutes long. And supporting the philosophical theme of Peace.  When is all is said and done what I aspire to most in this life is being peaceful.  With lovingkindness, Silvia

PLAYLIST 

Dream, Priscilla Ahn

Tesegu, Danone O'Sow

Land Of Anaka, Geoffrey Oryema/Brian Eno

Blue Indian, Widespread Panic

Promised Land, Grateful Dead

Friend Of The Devil, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman

What's Been Going On, Amos Lee

American Tune, Simon & Garfunkel

Stay Human, Michael Franti

Chão de Estrelas, Baden Powell

Ganashyama, Dave Stringer

Pascal's Waltz, Gary DeMichele

Consciousnesss Unfolding, Saggio

January 22, 2011.  I was so happy to hear that there are other Grateful Dead lovers! Whew! So right on. One song today, more to come. And BTW China Cat/Sunflower is one of my all time favorites. Hope you enjoyed the flow and sweetness of songs by Lyle Lovett and Bree Sharp.  Love the day! Silvia

PLAYLIST 

Simple Song, Lyle Lovett

China Cat/Sunflower, Grateful Dead (Europe 72 Disc 1)

15 to 20 (Den Haan Remix), The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Heyy Babyy, Loy, Neeraj Sridhar, Pervez Quadir & Raman

POWER, Kanye West

Rotolando verso sud, Negrita

Ka, Patchwork

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

These Boots Are Made for Walkin', Nancy Sinatra

Yardie Bone (feat. Wayne Marshall), Sean Paul

Say Something, Mariah Carey Feat Snoop Dogg

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right, Bree Sharp

Arms of Mary, Leo Kottke

Savasana Singing Bowls

*Join me on a yoga retreat in 2011 and enjoy a new playlist for our twice daily yoga classes* www.silviamordini.com and www.alchemytours.com 

January 19, 2011. Physical focus today was shoulders, philosophical focus was Sutra 1.2 and how we make a big deal out of the small stuff and as a result over-respond. Yoga helps us to choose what's important.  And as always love to include something either French, Italian, Spanish. Enjoy the flow! Silvia

PLAYLIST

Child's Eyes (Jenny's Song), Scott Cossu

The Hill, Markéta Irglová

Big Medicine, Mari Boine

Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars

Nungabunda, Ganga Giri

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

Just You & I, Dzihan & Kamien

You’re The One, Paul Simon

Grid Lok'd, Govindas

Revofev, Kid Cudi

Pitchblack Darkness (feat. Reazun, Paradox), Kyteman

Maintenant, Rupa & The April Fishes

City Is Burning (feat. Reazun, Paradox), Kyteman

One Moment More, Mindy Smith

Wonderwall, Ryan Adams

Wash Away, Joe Purdy

Into Dust, Mazzy Star

Samba Sadashiva, Donna De Lory

**Join me and Alchemy Tours in Puerto Vallarta Feb 26th-Mar 5th early bird until January 31, 2011!**

January 17, 2011.  Here is my playlist from class on MLK Day.  Focusing on freeing up our intentions as the best way to show gratitude for all those like MLK that sacrificed so much in order for us to do our hardest pose of all: be ourselves.  That is the ultimate freedom! Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia www.silviamordini.com

PLAYLIST

Big Medicine, Mari Boine

Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars

Nungabunda, Ganga Giri

Grid Lok'd, Govindas

Just You & I, Dzihan & Kamien

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

Pitchblack Darkness (feat. Reazun, Paradox), Kyteman

One Moment More, Mindy Smith

Wonderwall, Ryan Adams

Wash Away, Joe Purdy

Child's Eyes (Jenny's Song), Scott Cossu

The Hill, Markéta Irglová

Samba Sadashiva, Donna De Lory

***Still time and room to join me in Puerto Vallarta Feb 26- Mar 5! www.alchemytours.com

January 13, 2011.  Seriously an amazing playlist.  Very few spoken songs but when they were included like old school Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin or new Kid Cudi, Benni Chawes they were powerful.  And the flow was easy to allow for lots of more in depth verbal cuing on alignment.  Enjoy! Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

PLAYLIST - 90 minute class

The Host of Seraphim, Dead Can Dance

Another Brick in the Wall, Pt 1, Pink Floyd

Beyond Time [ambient edit], Blank & Jones

Sterne, Martinek & C-Deluxe

Afterlife, Glorybox

All My Love            , Led Zeppelin

Trapped In My Mind, Kid Cudi

Om Namah Shivaya, Sean Johnson and The Wild Lotus Band

Boee (Come to Me), The Idan Raichel Project

Darbari NYC, Prem Joshua

Have a Little Faith In Me, Benni Chawes

Meditate (feat. Gabriel Teodros & Khingz), Suntonio Bandanaz

Elusinian Blue, Gabrielle Roth

Conga Jog, Al Gromer Khan

Chandra (The Moon), Michael Mandrell and Benjy Wertheimer

PS – If you want to really delve deep into the living your yoga join me on Yoga Retreat in Puerto Vallarta Feb 26-Mar 5, Xinalani resort (all suites, all beach front, all gourmet food included and transfers too along with 14 yoga classes with me!) www.alchemytours.com or www.silviamordini.com

(Thank you Ginger for letting me guest teach tonight!)

JANUARY 12, 2011.  Here is a really beautiful, fluid playlist aligned with this snowy winter's day. Enjoy!

PLAYLIST:  

Beautiful Friend, Light Rain

Gate To The Silkroad, Mokhira

Ananda, Solar Quest

Deep South, Layo Paskin & Matthew Bushwacka

Nogo, Issa Bagayogo

I Ka Barra (Your Work), Habib Koite and Bamada

Do U Wanna Partner, Clington, Shaan, Suzi Q, Udit Narayan & Wajid

Everything (...Is Never Quite Enough), Wasis Diop

Ganapati, Girish

One Step Closer to You, Michael Franti & Spearhead

This is How I Feel, Finley Quaye

January 9, 2011. My life has a sound track.  My yoga does too!  Some great influence of reggae for a Winter's Day.  What amazing energy from some really fun yogis today at 4:30pm!  Here is my playlist you guys. Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome and for laughing at my jokes!  Can't wait to see more of you.  And feel free anytime to ask me anything at all.  Happy to sweat, flow and breath together. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia www.silviamordini.com

 PLAYLIST JANUARY 9, 2011:

Flip Ya Lid, Nightmares On Wax

Under Pressure, Queen & David Bowie

Diarabi, Issa Bagayogo

Mamacita, Collie Buddz

Clothes Drop, Shaggy

Breathe, Stretch, Shake, Mase

Breathe, Alexi Murdoch

Twist, Xavier Rudd

Jamaican In New York, Shinehead

The End, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Drive, Ziggy Marley

Enchantment, Corinne Bailey Rae

Something So Right, Paul Simon

Purnamadah, Shantala

Shavasana/Deep Relaxation, Shiva Rea

January 8, 2011.  My playlist today for an awesome vinyasa flow class with highlights of asana including: creative core with eagle arms; road runner switch ups; crow pose; eka pada galavasana arm balance; and variations on pigeon. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

PLAYLIST JANUARY 8, 2011

Om Shreem Shriyei, Steve Gold

Count Your Blessings, Nas & Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

The Ave, Blue Scholars

POWER, Kanye West

Miss Teardrops, Felix Laband

Govinda Fly, Sharon Gannon (Mixed By Mike D)

Alors On Danse, Stromae

Trapped In My Mind, Kid Cudi

Motion Movement, Blue Scholars

What a Feeling, Collie Buddz

Meditate, (feat. Gabriel Teodros & Khingz)Suntonio Bandanaz

Hey Baby, Stephen Marley featuring Mos Def

Afterlife, Glorybox

Visit my website to get more ideas for Yoga Music www.silviamordini.com 

Hey guys here is my playlist today, the first day after the new moon!  Enjoy and super namaste to all. Love yourself, love your day, love your life, Silvia

VINYASA YOGA PLAYLIST JANUARY 6, 2011

Gobinday Mukunday, Spirit Voyage Artists

Just Breath, Pearl Jam

Escaping Arkham, Common Market

Lumière [MAIN], Blue Scholars

Dream Machine (Down Tempo Mix), Mark Farina & Sean Hayes

Evening Chai, Blue Scholars

Boda Boda Rap, Fossil Fool, the Bike Rapper, with Lawi One

Now That We Found Love, Heavy D and the Boyz

Govinda Fly, Sharon Gannon (Mixed By Mike D)

POWER, Kanye West

Paris, Tokyo, Lupe Fiasco

Under Pressure, Queen & David Bowie

Motion Movement, Blue Scholars

The Traffic Jam, Stephen Marley featuring Damian Marley

Second to Numb, Kings of Convenience

In Another Time, Sade

Twin Blue, Millions & Millions

Dreamcatcher, Bahramji And Maneesh De Moor

Join me on an amazing yoga retreat www.silviamordini.com with Alchemy Tours

The philosophical theme today is Patience and this playlist I created felt to support the physical focus of backbends and practicing patience as we take a step by step approach to our own development.  Enjoy!  Peace in all ways, Silvia

Shine, John Legend & The Roots       

Gayatri Mantra, Bruce Becvar & Nada Shakti       

Easier, Grizzly Bear       

Dance Me to the End of Love, Madeleine Peyroux       

Come Let Go, Xavier Rudd       

The Ave, Blue Scholars       

We No Speak Americano (Original mix), Yolanda Be Cool & Dcup        

Ka, Patchwork       

Haterade (feat. Nicki Minaj & Pharrell), Gucci Mane       

Georgia's Most Wanted

Serenity, Arthur Lee Land       

Things I Cannot Recall, Blind Pilot       

Birds And Ships, Billy Bragg & Wilco       

Hymn (For Ishaja), John Consemulder       

Consciousnesss Unfolding, Saggio       

Enjoy today's playlist.  Great vibe, easy, fun then chill and sweet. Love, Silvia

Inna di Red, Mind Control               

Dream Machine (Down Tempo Mix), Hôtel Costes: Vol. 8 by Stéphane Pompougnac,

Cruz, Oof! EP               

Yardie Bone (feat. Wayne Marshall), The Trinity               

Karaoke, Thank Me Later       

Om Shakti Om, This Is Blue               

Friend Of The Devil, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman

Purnamadah, The Love Window - Sacred Chants of Devotion

Chão de Estrelas, Personalidade - The Best of Brazil: Baden Powell

Cuidándote, Pafuera Telarañas (Edición especial)

Cedar Flute Love Song, Native Healing        

Namaste Yogis, 

I am back from Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon  with a new spark to live life to the fullest, and to bring a sense of adventure into every moment. Adventure is the willingness to commit to an uncertain outcome with an open heart & open mind.  It's the ability to take a leap into the unknown with mindfulness and grace.  It's the ability to think big about who you are, how you live, and what you can do in the world, whether it's  climbing to the ridge of the Grand Canyon, putting all your $ on red, or flowing through asanas. Please come on an adventure with me tomorrow at 9:15 am.  I will have a new playlist from The Beatles  to Barry Manilow :)

Life is uncertain! Being adventurous means seeing that uncertainty as the gift of possibility!

Peace & Namaste,

Christine

*Don't forget this month refer a friend and they get 30 days unlimited yoga for $30!! And you get entered to win 2 FREE months of yoga

SEPTEMBER 2010.  The theme tonight was LOST & FOUND. Really this gets to the heart of what nondualism means in seeing the world holistically, its challenges, and its ease.  In yoga can we be sthira and sukhum at the same time instead of pitting strength and flexibility, effort and happiness against one another.  We can apply this to all aspects of our lives: for instance how do we forgive when we are hurt, how do we balance strength and flexibility in the poses, how do we stand bravely but with heart? 

It’s as Einstein said:  “The rational mind is a faithful servant. The intuitive mind is a sacred gift. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”  

In this example even Einstein is saying to us that we shouldn't be all or nothing, a dualistic philosophy.  Instead as much as you engage your rational mind stop being mindful of the gift of your own intuition. Tap into both at the same time and realize one is not better than the other and we need not pick only one.  The same then can be applied to what happens we get lost.  And if you're honest with yourself we ALL get lost sometimes.  We lose track of where we are in our lives and why we are doing the things we do.  This is also what Elizabeth Gilbert comes to play out in her book Eat, Pray, Love.  She has everything she could want and is lost within herself.  The difference between those of us practicing yoga, meditation, mindfulness is that we are seekers.  We see we are lost and want to be found.  We don't punish or judge ourselves when we get lost we simply do the work for reconnecting to who we really are.  

You see being lost is not bad in and of itself.  It is just part of the whole spectrum of who we are. Perfectly imperfect and simply amazing human beings!  So take the time on the mat to help you find your own balance - more ease, more playfulness, more discipline, more strength....find both.  Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia

Music tonight 6:15pm Yoga included: Dream Machine by Mark Farina, Ancient People by Nas, Damian Marley, In Another Time by Sade, Outre by M.Ward, Salsoul Nugget, even some Blue Scholars and Trevor Hall. 

OCTOBER 6, 2009:  Gosh you guys it takes time to build a life! Good thing there are a million ways to practice being human.  And part of our humanness is our perfect imperfection.  There is immense courage in accepting that life is messy that no matter how much we try to control the outcome of a situation, we just don’t know what comes next.  Life is funny that way, it is full of trail and error, falling and picking ourselves up again.  The important part is not to get paralyzed in the fear of not trying stuff because we’re afraid of the imperfection. 

Instead DO one thing everyday that scares you:  Favorite line from this utube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTJ7AzBIJoI

There is neither a reason to try to change the past or over rehearse the future because it only makes the present miserable. That’s a shame because we only have this one chance to live today.  There are no do overs so we might as well spill coffee, try to balance on one leg, wear a red dress, go to a midnight movie, travel across the country to make a new friend or whatever else seems a bit of a stretch.

Life is messy already so we might as well live with what life is offering us. Today we talked about the Vata derangement and full moon and mercury retrograde influences going on. Well that’s what we have to work with so we can elevate our attitudes and act our way into feeling better about our lives.  Lama Yeshe said, "A human has a positive and a negative side. We have an ignorant side, but we also have a beautiful potential."  Let’s allow for that beauty to shine out in all its messy, often inconvenient glory!  Love and courage to really live in love, do what you love, and be with whomever you love!  Silvia

LEVEL 2 CLASS PLAYLIST: