compiled by Beth Shaw
Sequoia Records
If you have been looking for something to freshen up your yoga playlist, or something to turn on when you want to unwind at home, the new compilation Yoga Moods 2 offers a solution that cultivates an chill ambiance.
This album flows with songs that are perfectly suited for almost any style of asana or meditation practice. Each track was hand-selected by YogaFit founder Beth Shaw with gentle rhythms and calming beats that contain just enough of a hint of electronica to create a feel both both modern and playful.
The opening song “Water” evokes a combination of both spiritual openness and mental rest. In this particular track, the vocal talents of Helene Horlyck are featured with high notes that deeply penetrate the heart.
Throughout the album, the aptly titled tunes provide clues to their intended mood. For example, the upbeat tempo of “Asana Lounge” offers a groovy lift to build the practice while “Savasana Glow” features twinkling chimes and calming flutes that support transitioning into a state of bliss.
The well-sequenced playlist culminates with brothers David and Steve Gordon’s “Entering the Now (Yoga Nidra Mix).” My students loved it when I chose this album as a recent class soundtrack as the humming notes and soothing beats serve as a guide to help the listener travel down their yogic path.
Reviewed by Jessica Malloy, who teaches in Orange County at a number of studios including Aesthetic Yoga at Aesthetic Climbing Gym in Lake Forest: aestheticclimbinggym.com.
Jessica Malloy is a freelance writer torn between the California Coast and Kentucky Countryside. Aside from Yoga, she spends as much time as she can in the sunshine rock climbing, water skiing, and traveling.