Music with Meaning

Last month I went to see Jill Scott in concert at the Brixton Academy. This is the second time I have seen her and once again she did not disappoint. Jill Scott is a fabulous performer, one that is able to command your attention and leave you transfixed, not due to sparkly clothes or dance routines but purely though her presence, voice and music that penetrates through the stuff that surrounds your heart, your core your soul.

The power of music is underestimated and with it the effects music can play on our general well being and psyche. There have been numerous studies to prove this. The following links are just two examples http://www.reversespins.com/effectsofmusic.html  http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/music.shtml .

Classical music is known to have a calming affect and is used in some prisons, organisations and train stations. As you surface from the underground at Tottenham station for example you are greeted by Mozart and Bach, which partly takes away the stressful train ride experience. However on an internal level the invisible sound waves can speak directly to our DNA and therefore it has the power to unlock or block information, feeling and expression. I found this link http://www.life-enthusiast.com/twilight/research_emoto.htm particularly interesting as it not only shows the power of words but also visually shows what I believe happens on an internal level.

Music is energy and therefore made up of vibrations of high or low energy. I tend to stay away from the latter as it actually disturbs my spirit. I know this sounds weird but I literally cannot listen to Jay Z’s “We run this town” or Giggs “ Talking the hardest" for example. I am either highly sensitive or just internally aware. I guess both are possibilities. The sound in both tracks are dense, heavy and dark and … well I don’t like the feeling so I switch off.

Scott’s music makes me want to move my feet, put my hands in the air and smile from the inside out, whilst singing out of tune and not caring. Music that comes from a place of honesty, truth, love and integrity has the power to positively affect many and I believe Scott’s music has the ability to do this. Her music tells a story, provides insight and an alternative commentary to the duplicated many. Service to others comes to mind as her music has foundations in personal and spiritual growth, through reflection, awareness and the acknowledgement of individual power and empowerment. Listen and you will hear her invitation for you to embrace and own who you are. The teachings are within and so are affirmations.

Rolling Hills 

There's power in them rolling hills, come on

You're a prize possession, not everybody's worthy

Only reason I know is cause I headed down that road

And it'd be a shame for you not to have your own glow

Maybe you don't recognize what you got between your eyes

So I'm gonna set you correct so you can get what you should get

Intuition's something deep

Let you know what you know, let you find before you seek

Spirit of determine, pray for it everyday

Let you know who should go and who you should let stay

Golden 

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden

Living my life like it's golden, golden

I'm holding on to my freedom

Can't take it from me

I was born into it and it comes naturally

I'm strumming my own freedom

Playing the God in me

Representing His glory

Hope He's proud of me, yeah

Unlike other tracks, repetition of words do not appear to be pointless time fillers, they are there and repeated for a reason. Words are powerful and like music, underestimated because there is life in both.

source: http://virtualmusic.tv/2010/01/dancing-graffiti/

 If music with meaning played a more central role within the music industry we would all benefit greatly on many levels. Perhaps this is the very reason as to why it isn't given the same air time as the profanity filled and lack lusted tunes.  The music industry is service to self. Controlled by the top, it has become more about strategic marketing, collaborations and money than anything else and clearly those who benefit would like it to remain that way. This is a very big world, big enough for all artists to have a voice in this field, though due to the cycle of the same faces you couldn't blame anyone for thinking there were only three as Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Nicki Manji are everywhere. Great team, clearly!

There is power in music and if utilised correctly who knows what could occur on an individual and collective level.

It’s time for people to truly wake up and think beyond the status quo. There is currently talk of all explicit music being labelled  as such.  Yes this is a good idea but it is more likely that it will make children want to listen to the restricted music even more. It all just seems backwards. Why not just put boundaries on what can be said within music? I too believe in creative licence but can someone please tell me what is so special about F**k, N**ga, C**t and any other word that is deemed explicit under the explicit label? What power do these words serve other than being derogatory insults that promote negativity?

Right now creative freedom or license holds no weight amongst commercial music as so many abuse their power and their voice. Many may disagree with me and I am happy to stand alone if this is the case. I believe artists do have some responsibility to the public because it is us who lines their pockets. We expect Royalty and the BBC to behave in a certain way, so why do artists and record labels get away with so much? Starting out, artists need the public to get them to a recognised position, once this happens it appears they too become service to self as I guess the love of money takes precedence coupled with the pressure of staying current.

You like what you like, but the options that we see and hear are limited as all the radio stations and music channels play the same thing. Empowering music may not filter thorough our digital gadgets in the way it deserves, but it doesn’t stop any of us from seeking it out. Floetry, Dwele, Maxwell, Raheem DeVaughan, Musiq Soulchild, Vivian Greene, Lyfe Jennings, Angie Stone, India Irie, Damien Marley, Dead Prez, Meshell Ndegecelo, Kem and so much more. There are alternatives out there. How many young teenagers have heard of these artists? If I am greeted right now with a virtual blank stare it's okay, they/you are not at fault, as I cannot remember the last time I saw any of the above being interviewed on a UK channel. I am more likely to hear these soulful tunes on a pirate radio station or through my own iPod.

Words are powerful as they are a transfer of energy and emotion. You become what you are told, if you are told it enough times, this is known. So why is music with meaning underrated?  "It does not sell" is not the truth!

© Lisa Bent 2011

Afrikan Yoga- review

Thanks to Phenomenal Healthstyle I recently attended my first session in Afrikan Yoga with Pablo Imani. I didn’t know what to expect but I was excited and open minded. As I walked in Pablo invited me to lie down and place my legs on the wall and slowly open them into straddle splits. I cannot touch my toes and I can no longer do the splits so this exercise right here  revealed how tight and rigid I actually was, a shameful acknowledgement for an ex dancer. I was then instructed to breathe in and out and slowly my legs went further and further as I relaxed into the breath, giving a nice stretch.  However this only happened once my breathing was rectified by Pablo.

   Example of Straddle wall spilts

Breathing is the most natural and important thing as a human being and here I am doing it wrong. When you breathe in, the diaphragm is filled and your stomach pushes out and on the exhale, the diaphragm flattens as the air is expelled, as this diagram demonstrates

I can’t explain what I do, but I don’t do that. I used to be a dancer and I have been trained to hold a particular posture, which involves standing tall and sucking in, Pablo’s technique of breathing reveals the shocking revelation that I have a muffin top! Vanity aside, I have spent the last 27 years of my life not breathing correctly.

Breathing goes beyond a life-sustaining automation. It is among the most simple and important tools we can use to change our mood and raise awareness. Many spiritualists believe that through deep breathing and meditating  you gain a more connected sense of your self, connection with God, insight and clarity. I need to become aware of my bad breathing patterns and consciously change it within each moment, until it becomes natural and beneficial on a holistic level.

The movements were accompanied by the live sound of the Afrikan drum, the smell of incense and the vibration of affirmations. This type of yoga truly resonates with me as I understand the importance of energy, vibrations and words. The whole experience was just what my mind, body and spirit needed. After the session I felt relaxed, energised and awake. Everything felt awake and that night I dreamt a vivid yet surreal dream that could have come straight out of a Salvador Dali painting. The gym is not enough for me, my body needs this as a balance. 

After the class I spoke to Pablo and asked him a few questions

What is Afrikan Yoga?

P:Afrikan Yoga is a brand of Yoga founded by myself Pablo Imani it's foundation is based in Ancient Africa and it's philosophical bases are on the ancient African principles of Maat found in the oldest books in the world. These principles are now found in the Buddhist concepts of Dharma and the Yoga sutras of Patanjali.The postures can be found on the Ancient temple walls of Egypt and is still very relevant today for healing and stress reduction.

How does it differ from other styles?

P: Afrikan Yoga is different from other styles because of it's emphasis on the breath, elements and flowing motion that is characterised in African dance. It really allows one to experience a sense of freedom that is not forced. This particular style promotes naturalness, flexibility calmness, focus, bodily awareness that assists in the management of stress and enhance the nervous system to deal with dis-ease.

In which ways does this technique benefit those who are of African descent?

P: Afrikan Yoga benefits all people as I have had people from all over the world in my classes, often after a session I am approached by participants filled with surprise at it's simplicity  telling me what it's done for them. For those of African descent Afrikan Yoga works on a psycho- spiritual and cellular level that goes much deeper than a few stretches because it creates a connection that would not be otherwise realised.

You use music, incense and affirmations within this technique, why?

P:The drum in Africa held great importance and had many uses; we recognise it mainly for celebration, communication and to provide African warriors the courage and vigour to go into battle. In the case of Afrikan Yoga practice it enthuses the spiritual warrior whose battle is with the lower self. The use of drums is a particular character of Afrikan Yoga as the drum in itself is therapeutic and healing, the drum reminds us of the rhythm and the cyclic nature of all life, the very first instrument we heard in the womb was the drum beat of our mothers heart beat.

The drum invokes nurturing and keeps us in time with ourselves; it carries a message to our innermost being it is a call to be whole. The use of incense is to cleanse the air of negativity and invite good vibrations to be present to our awakening to be present to our work on self and our re-connection. The affirmations work on the premise 'as a man thinketh so is he'.  Affirmations re-affirm our connection and attune the mind and body to the elements and the essence of the universe. I also use sticks, stretch bands, crystals and stones in the practice.

There is a strong spiritual element within your work. How would you describe who you are and your purpose through Afrikan Yoga?

P: I am often unsure how to answer this question because who I am is never fixed, in light of the work I am simply acting as a catalyst for change. My purpose through Afrikan Yoga is to present balance and to promote healing on the planet. I started what is called the Afrikan Yoga Literacy Project which provides yoga, meditation and reading for young people. I work with disadvantage children in Kampala Uganda many of whom do not read or have access to books that will further expand their minds and empower them. I am offering an opportunity for interested ones who would like to be involved to contact me more info is found on the Afrikan Yoga website.

I also provide Afrikan Yoga Safari Retreats with Geolodges Africa, the next one is April 3rd -9th 2012 which is to encourage those who wish to experience the beauty of  Africa, immersed in yogic practice while recharging in luxurious environment. I am open to all who wish to deepen their personal practice and to those wish to have a better understanding of this African technology called Afrikan Yoga.

for more information please visit the site www.afrikanyoga.com and follow  facebook/pabloimani


Related Posts:
1. Pub Art School: Review 
2.Holiday Alone: Part 1
3.Holiday Alone: Part 2

© Lisa Bent 2011