World Yoga - Various Artists, Putumayo Presents Series CD

The album “Putumayo Presents: World Yoga” contains the global sound of restorative relaxation music from various artists, ideal for Yoga and other purposes. Take a relaxing journey around the world with these soothing songs which in their diversity range from Mali to Nepal and beyond.

In our modern times, Yoga has become global. Throughout the world, people of all ages and backgrounds are now practicing yoga to relax and rejuvenate, and many different musicians are creating wonderful music to accompany it. This planet-wide interest in the age-old Indian practice inspired the Putumayo Presents World Yoga CD, being the follow-up album to their first release of 2010, the album Putumayo Presents: Yoga.

Drawing on contemplative sounds which range as wide as from Wales to Tibet and from Armenia to Uganda, this collection of yoga music and meditative music leads you to deeper relaxation and connection with life. With an engaging balance of more traditional yoga sounds — mantra-based pieces with Indian elements — and unexpected acoustic gems from Africa and beyond, the album World Yoga reflects the practice’s planetary impact and grace.

"Yoga has become a global experience, and we wanted to expand the music beyond the traditional soundtrack", explains long-time yoga instructor and musician Sean Johnson, who advised on the compilation and selection of songs on this album and contributed the beautiful chant "Ramachandra". "We tried to reflect yoga’s full geographic scope".

Created from Putumayo’s massive music library and tested in Sean Johnson’s own Yoga Studio in New Orleans, World Yoga follows the same sequence as in a yoga class: it begins with a call to focus and quiet the mind and body, thanks to the lush, evocative voice of Gambian-British singer Sona Jobarteh ("Reflections"). Following tracks offer more dynamic moments, without breaking the flow or concentration. And the album closes with deeply relaxing songs such as "A Prayer to Dispel Sickness and Harm" by Tibetan-Nepalese singer Kelsang Chukie Tethong, designed to accompany the more meditative period of practice.

All songs on World Yoga hail from disparate yoga, musical and cultural traditions, such as the Kundalini Yoga tradition, as expressed through "Ong Namo" by Mirabai Ceiba. The music flows from regional roots such as the Welsh electronic folk, or display an electronica kick such as the track "Floating Sweetness" by DJ Drez. The diversity of World Yoga reflects yoga’s ability to transcend borders and cultural barriers, to move people of different backgrounds. The music promises to turn a daily commute or next round of yoga practice into a meditative yet energizing experience.

Tracks:

• Reflections - Sona Jobarteh (Gambia) (1:56)
• 1977 - Quentin Dujardin (Belgium) (3:10)
• Om Asatoma - Deva Premal & Miten (Germany/UK) (4:56)
• Ong Namo - Mirabai Ceiba (USA/Mexico/Germany) (4:37)
• Floating Sweetness - DJ Drez (USA) (5:34)
• Cariad Cyntaf - 9Bach (Wales) (2:37)
• Saya - Sona Jobarteh (Gambia/UK) (3:55)
• Moon Magic - Stevin McNamara (South Africa/USA), Pt. 2 (6:00)
• Yarabi - Balla Tounkara (Mali) (3:13)
• Exala - Sara Taves (Portugal) (3:26)
• Ramachandra - S. Johnson & The Wild Lotus Band (USA) (4:08)
• Offering - Ara Dinkjian (Armenia/USA) (3:34)
• Makambo - Geoffrey Oryema (Uganda/France) (5:01)
• A Prayer To Dispel Sickness and Harms - K. Chukie Tethong (Tibet/Nepal) (4:53)
• Le Valse Petit - Tiny Island (Sweden) (3:18)