Review(s) for CD: CHINMAYA DUNSTER - Yoga: On Sacred Ground

Total running time: 59 minutes

The Tracks:
1 Natrani (Queen of the Dance) Media Player | Real Player
2 Gratitude Media Player | Real Player
3 Breathing-Prana
4 On Sacred Ground
5 The Watcher
6 Ha - Tha (Sun meets Moon)
7 Purnima Namashkar (Homage to the Full Moon)

They say: I have composed this music with two complimentary aims:

Firstly, to provide music to accompany the practice of Hatha Yoga. Recognising that each person has their own unique routines for this, I have included both music that is invigorating for the more dynamic movements, and relaxing for the stiller ones (and for those who include pranayama and/or a form of meditation in their practice). Secondly, the seven tracks aim to evoke and stimulate the subtle energies of the seven chakras, details of which are given in the sleeve notes for each of the tracks.Chinmaya Dunster:

Chinmaya Dunster: My own experience of Yoga dates back to the 1970s in Kent, England when, under the guidance of an exceptional instructor (whose class I took over as teacher under her encouragement when she returned after three years in India) I acquired both a basic knowledge of the asanas and a physical flexibility which, I am grateful to say, has lasted me to this day.

In the years since, while continuing to practice the asanas intermittently (people who know me well will recognize the irresistible attraction a fresh green lawn has to make me stand on my head!) I have explored other forms of movement-based meditation such as Osho's dynamic meditations, Tai Chi, landscape gardening. Reconnecting to Yoga philosophy in the making of this CD has been a great pleasure for me, one that I hope you will find reflected in the music.

We say: This is I feel quite an unusual album. It is obviously very influenced by Indian music. It is earthy and at times quite coarse which gives it a strong character. Not being a practitioner of yoga I don't feel fully qualified to comment on this aspect of it, so I will leave that to Joseph Robertson:

'This is heartfelt music infused with the fragrance of joy: the plaintive violin, sarod, guitar and flute stir feelings of gratitude, making yoga practice an offering, a spontaneous celebration. I found myself practicing with more joyousness while listening to the bright sounds and sensuous rhythms of Yoga: On Sacred Ground, and my students give it two thumbs up!' Joseph Robertson, Co-Director, Yoga Centre of Columbia, Columbia, Maryland, USA