Best Music of October 2009: Kundalini Meditation Music
But finding the right music can be tricky, and most new age music is too airy-fairy for my taste. It's thin and whispery, like cotton candy, and I need something solid and whole and grounding. New age music also tends to scare people by conjuring images of droning monks, sleepy piano music, whalesongs, or other nature sounds, or ridiculously cheesy CD covers featuring temples nestled in the clouds or dolphins arcing through the waves.
Fortunately, Kundalini Meditation Music is none of these things. Featuring seven powerful tracks, this album is instantly calming, and just listening helps me rediscover a sense of balance. The word "kundalini" means "coil" in Sanskrit, and in yoga, the term "kundalini shakti" refers to a coil of energy that lives at the base of the spine. One can awaken this energy through meditation, or yoga, or pranayama (breathing), and cause it to uncoil and journey upward through the spine.
This music is no doubt intended to aid in process of awakening your kundalini energy, but you don't have to be a kundalini practitioner to enjoy it. The album features a number of well-known mantras warmed by just the right touch of instrumental music--soft guitars, a hint of cello and violin, unobtrusive piano, and background harp. But the voices of the singers remain front and center, as they should. The instruments serve to keep each track both texturally and rhythmically interesting, while at the same time remaining appropriately in the background--subtly enhancing, not detracting from, the featured mantra. Again, it's all about balance, and each track delivers. It's not easy to set a mantra (typically sung without instrumental accompaniment) to music--kudos to the arrangers.
My favorite tracks are the regal "Heal (Ra Ma Da Sa)," sung by peace activist Snatam Kaur, "Miracle (Guru Ram Das)" sung by German-Mexican duo Mirabai Ceiba, and "Universe (Universal Gong)" (an intriguing track consisting entirely of gong music), performed by Harijiwan Khalsa. I think the gong track might be my favorite, simply because I had no idea that gongs could create such fascinating, shimmering sounds--it was wholly unique, and somehow deeply grounding. Who knew that a gong could sound so primal, so "earthy"?
While this music is a fitting backdrop to mellow practices like yoga or pilates, it's also suitable for winding down at night, or zoning out during a bus ride home from work, or sitting down to a relaxing dinner. Give it a try, even if the term "new age" tends to make you want to run away. You just might like it.
--Bri Nguyen
hargobind on November 03, 2009 at 02:24 PM
This is a beautiful compilation and a nice introduction to kundalini yoga music
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music videos on October 14, 2009 at 10:36 AM
So sweet! All of them are soulful. I love this CD for my kids yoga classes..
Geschenke on October 13, 2009 at 10:27 PM
These are really sweet once. All of them are soulful. I like to listen them again and again.
pyramisa sharm resort on October 11, 2009 at 10:43 PM
I visited your blog for the first time and just been your fan. Keep posting as I am gonna come to read it everyday..
dubai holidays on October 08, 2009 at 02:58 AM
I love this CD for my kids yoga classes. We’ve made up some movements to “I am the Light of my Soul” and the kids love to do the whole song at the end of class – as young as 1 year olds!
Bri Nguyen on October 06, 2009 at 02:27 PM
We're working on the MP3! Stay tuned.
hanky on October 06, 2009 at 01:27 PM
an mp3 would have been nice, now i'll just file this away with the rest of my "forget" pile