For the Love of Food and Yoga
I don't recall how or why I started playing my violin at yoga sessions but I discovered it to be not only a musical opportunity but also a different way to enjoy a yoga setting. Sometimes I'll play a few songs at the beginning or end of a session or other times I will play through a full session with a prepared set list. People seem to absolutely love hearing and moving to violin at these sessions. How wonderful is that?! This is one of my unexpected musical pleasures that my playing and song choices would be appropriate and welcome in such an environment.
I mostly play at River Yoga, located on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, NY. The river is the Canadian border of northern New York State and it is a truly majestic river, extending from the Atlantic ocean to the Great Lakes. Photo opportunities are everywhere in every season. Like this one here of me in the now-popular Warrior Pose at a pavilion on the St. Lawrence River just before a summer morning yoga class. I wasn't really warmed up for the morning pose but the class was soon to begin and we wanted to get the picture-taking done. Yet it turned out to be a pretty strong-looking picture. I am humbled and honored that this picture is featured on "Page 103" in a cookbook called For The Love of Food and Yoga, and on top of that, the authors had even asked me to create a music trailer prior to the book publishing! The gals who wrote the book (Liz Price-Kellogg and Kristen Taylor) support my musical prowess (often called a "gift", for me it's just what I do) and that I can move in and out of yoga poses while playing my violin (it's not that hard but people believe it is.) The book, which is loaded with beautiful pictures and commentary of yoga thought and poses, was published in 2015. It features vegetarian/vegan recipes, and really, they are delicious. Some combinations are surprising at first but sure enough, the flavors and textures are winners.
So maybe you'll consider checking out RiverYoga.net, or the book itself, or, while I'm at it, if you would like me to play at a your yoga studio just invite me.
