Guided Meditation in Sound

Ekayani and the Tom Glide Space at Jiva Mukti Yoga School March 2009

Yoga on the Dance Floor with Ekayani and the Tom Glide Space is both a journey of introspection and a rocking dance party! A perfect blend of Western form and Eastern content, it is renown for bringing the “disco to the yogis”. This very special presentation touches on all aspects of conscious and mindful living set to an irresistible beat! Each and every song was selected with a specific topic of meditation in mind. It is the perfect addition to a retreat, spa program, special event calendar at a yoga studio, outdoor festival, fundraising event, green conference, private party, Indian style wedding and traditional nightclub. Two to three hours in length (or shorter if need be). It’s fun! It’s now! It’s different!

The Concert

@ Jiva Mukti Yoga School March, 28, 2009

The Concert begins with a guided meditation. The audience is invited to clear their minds and focus on their breathe while contemplating the nature of the Universe and their place in it. This quiet and relaxing time leads into a narrative called “Space “ an excerpt from the Bhagavata Purana that recounts Mother Yasoda’s intimate encounter with the Divine. This guided meditation in sound focuses on the power of sacred song and ancient Sanskrit texts of the bhakti tradition known to purify the mind and heart of the hearer. A seamless transition to “Gaura Pahu” follows. A beautiful down tempo song written by Narottam das Thakur a 15th century Vaisnava saint, scholar and poet from Bengal about spiritual regret the author asks himself a series of questions: Why didn’t he use his life more wisely? Why is he unhappy? “Gaura Pahu” is beautifully reinterpreted by Ekayani and the Tom Glide Space with a swirling composition reminiscent of water and the passage of time. Songs from the great teachers Bhaktivinode Thakur. Locana das Thakur all renowned saints and scholars of their day have found there way into this presentation along with the more well known Bhagavad Gita.

The Dance Party

Gradually the set becomes more up-tempo and energetic until the atmosphere becomes decidedly joyous! Audience members are encouraged to dance to “Third Eye” and “rejoice and relish in the self” to a beat that was voted Best Urban Track! “Parama Karuna” offers an easy method of self discovery through singing and dancing. The Dance Party offer the best of both worlds; a fun night out at the disco without any of the side effects. Pure fun in pure goodness!
Yoga on the Dance Floor Concert & Dance Party Highlights
1. Space – The opening narrative in English from the Bhagavata Purana.
2. Money to Burn – Mantra one in Sanskrit from the Sri Isopansishad brings a Voice of wisdom to the modern problem of the financial credit crisis with the mantra “isavasayam idam sarvam” Voted Best Urban Track & Record of the Year 2008.
3. Parama Karuna: Experience yoga or union though dancing and singing! “Pahu Dui Jana” the Divine brothers Chaitanya and Nityananda encourage everyone to sing and dance there way to bliss. By Bhaktivinoda Thakur in Bengali.
4. Jaya – is a marriage of two songs- Jaya Radha Madhava and Radha Krsna Bol. They paint a picture of a loving spiritual atmosphere with a Brazilian flavor. By Bhaktivinoda Thakur in Bengali.
5. Third Eye: a fun upbeat song on meditation adapted from Bhagavad Gita. Voted Best Urban Track 2007 on the New Century Peoples Choice Award. In English.
6. Here’s the Light: A new twist on soul, this dub drenched tune in English with an introduction in Sanskrit gives thanks to the Source. Video bonus track included on the album shot entirely in the East Village of New York City by R. Serrini!
7. Pophelia; A remix of Ophelia Drowns by Tom Glide written by Ekayani, learn to see past deception and trust yourself. In English.
8. Dehino Smin (Sanskrit Rap): Nine key verses from the Bhagavad Gita in a reggae dub style how do we address ever changing circumstances?
9. Eye Chant; Don’t know what to do? Life got you down? Eye Chant suggests mantra meditation.
10. Gaura Pahu the beautiful and heart wrenching song of spiritual regret by Narotama das Thakur. In Bengali.

Ekayani and the Tom Glide Space @ Jiva Mukti Yoga School

Meditation is a practice with the goal in mind to bring the individual in touch with their innermost being. Creative visualization, breathe control and sound or mantra meditation set to house music with the flavors of Dub and Brazil are used to bring the individual to a heightend state of awareness, a sense of inner peace and joy.

Third Eye

As Tom and I were talking about  the remixes project we were working on out of the blue he asked me to write a poem about the third eye. “Okay ” I replied and off I went to my bookshelf and picked up the Bhagavad Gita As It Is  with a translation by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami  that has a chapter on Dhyana Yoga or meditation. There I found several verses about going inward but in the editing process Tom selected “See the self by the pure mind and enjoy and relish in the self.” Simple and powerful, it was set to a killer beat and wah- la  a hit was born!  People just went crazy over  that track and soon we were fielding inquiries from yoga teachers on where they could get the album. Since there was no album at the time, we quickly set to work to create one which was an adventure in itself.  Since Tom and I live in different cities we created the album using the internet sending files back and forth through skype and other file sharing tools.  Tom would receive my vocals and them mix them in his studio. The album took shape relatively quickly but not without trials. Equipment broke down as our deadline loomed for the October  release of  Yoga on the Dance Floor and Sanskrit Mantras at the 2008 Amsterdam Dance Event. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, right?  In the Bhagavad Gita there is discussion that any austerity or offering performed should be done in remembrance of God and in that way we become liberated. It is the opposite of the performance  of  “fruitive” activities strictly for material gain that merely entangle the soul more and more in a cycle of forgetfulness and push us farther away from our loving relation with the Supreme.

I would be untruthful if I said it’s been all sweat and no joy. We both felt immense satisfaction and gratitude that the album received a four star review in Time Out New York  in the club section which is amazing for a yoga album!!! We look forward to meeting many of you along the way in our travels.
 

how our third eye led to yoga on the dance floor

What’s Yoga on the Dance Floor?

Yoga on the Dance Floor with Ekayani and the Tom Glide Space is a new genre of dance music which combines house music with yogic transcendence! The act is a unique combination of world-class electronic dance music and live vocals inspired by the spiritual tradition of India. Set to minimal and tech house beats with flavors of Dub and Brazil it has been called the “music of the future”. The “cutting edge and revelatory” album Yoga on the Dance Floor and Sanskrit Mantras, features melodies sung in Sanskrit and Bengali. The source material includes the Sri Isopanishad, Bhagavata Purana, songs of Indian saints, the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, (the epic Sanskrit poem addressing the diverse paths of yoga) as well as originals in English.

 

The international duo is comprised of France’s Gold, Platinum, and Diamond house music producer, composer and DJ, Tom Glide and New York City singer and writer, Ekayani.  The musical pair met when Ekayani was working as a fashion model in Paris in the mid- nineties. After an initial collaboration on BMG Records (France), they each

went on to have distinguished careers spanning fifteen years respectively. They reunited artistically in 2007 releasing the EP “The Tom Glide Space Like Fire Remixes” which contained the smash single  “Third Eye” winning Best Urban Track 2007 on the New Century People’s Choice Awards. The success of “Third Eye” was the inspiration for their subsequent four star album.

 

Released at the 13th Annual Amsterdam Dance Event in October 2008, went on to be voted # 1 in all categories in the People’s Choice vote cast.  Money to Burn was voted Record of the Year and Best Urban Track, Yoga on the Dance Floor and Sanskrit Mantras  – Album of the Year, Here’s the Light – Best Song with Space winning Best Spoken Word. An additional honor went to Tom Glide recognizing him as “Producer of the Year”. The ten track album also features a first rate music video “Here’s the Light” by producer and director Roberto Serrini (NY Street Films).

 

Their follow up album Money to Burn The Remixes Album (March 2009) offers chilled interpretations of this topical song about the world financial crisis by select international djs Boddhi Sattva, Domy Dee, Jedsa & Lust with Tom Glide reappearing with a West Coast Mix that charted # 5 on Dancefuel.  Money to Burn appeared as a single on the April 2009 deluxe double compilation put out by Club Star Records (DE) Fashion House No. 2 Dubai Edition receiving top billing among more than two dozen titles by well established acts Morecheeba, Michelle Weeks and Osundade. 

 

 

 

Yoga on the Dance Floor with  Ekayani and the Tom Glide Space have appeared at internationally reknown New York City venues  including the dj paradise Cielo, APT, Sapphire Lounge, Label Lounge, The Knitting Factory, Jiva Mukti Yoga and East West Yoga, the festivals International Dance Day and  Dance Parade.   They have been featured on airwaves and podcasts worldwide; KFOR (Serbia), Radio Beach FM Mar del Plata  (Argentina), The English Breakfast (NL), XtraTrancecast (NL), Back to Fundamentals, Musique Radio (France), The Liquid Sound Lounge (WBAI), WPS1 Art Radio (MoMa), East Village Radio and Legends Radio (NYC). Their album has also been used as part of freshman curriculum at Hofstra University.

 

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