Author: DancerAndDasher

Strength and wellness coach. Yoga teacher. Belly dance fitness instructor. Ballroom dancer. The LUVMVMT umbrella covers most of my recent writing. I have also shared my personal dance and yoga journeys on the following blogs: "Diary of a Mad Dancer" is my journey to the competition floor of glamorous dancesport. Yes, it's a tale that probably should have begun with dance-mad parents urging on their darling lass of three, in Europe. Instead: Virginia, suburbia, mid-life. It's a dream come true. Sometimes with all the logic and consistency of a slumbering mind. "Dance of Life Yoga" shares the beauty, peace and awareness that yoga can bring into your life. It transformed mine in ways I never anticipated.

Gentle Yoga Adieu, a playlist

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It has been my pleasure and privilege to guide the practice of the Gentle Yoga students at Weinstein JCC the past two years. The moment is ripe for a new phase in my life. I leave this group to the capable hands of a new teacher and will cherish my memories of them. My last session with them will be June 22. Namaste, m’dears!

“Three Little Birds” Bob Marley

“Summertime Is In Our Hands” Michael Franti

“The Way I Am” Ingrid Michaelson

“What A Wonderful World” Louis Armstrong

“Blue Skies” Willie Nelson

“Chan Chan” Buena Vista Social Club

“Gaucho” Gustavo Santaolalla

“How Far I’ll Go” Auli’i Cravalho

“Golden Years” David Bowie

“Love Never Wasted” Howard Jones

“We May Never Pass This Way Again” Seals & Crofts

“Makeda” Les Nubians

“Luna De Fiesta” Jose Luis Encinas

“Just A Cloud Away” Pharrell Williams

“Set The Tigers Free” Villagers

“Song For The Asking” Simon & Garfunkel

“Desert Sketch” Frederic Hand

“Nocture No. 2 Op 9, E Flat Major” Frederic Chopin

Balmy Nights Playlist

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Peaceful, dreamy, contemplative. Gentle tunes for a gentle practice of yoga on a balmy night. All songs available on iTunes.

“When the Darkness Comes” Colbie Caillat

“Ses Mains Tremblant Encore” Sylvain Chauveau

“Mon Couer S’ouvre A Ta Voix” Camille Saint-Saens

“Simple Gifts” Frederic Hand

“Butterfly Waltz” Most Beautiful Piano Wedding Music

“Dear Theodosia” from “Hamilton”

“Latika’s Theme” Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack

“Down to Earth” Peter Gabriel

“Hallelujah” Vitamin String Quartet

“Sweet Davila” Demouche

“I’d Go Back If I Could” Chris Thile

“Sadness and Sorrow” Piano Squall

“Rainbow Connection” Weezer & Hayley Williams

“Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14” Lawrence Foster

“Adagio for Strings” Samuel Barber

“Plaisir d’Amour” Jean-Paul-Egide Martini

Yoga Fitness: Take Me Higher Playlist

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For a high energy yoga flow or power yoga practice, this playlist gets the blood flowing and the endorphins soaring. I first pulled it together as a playlist for my running called “Runner’s High.” I use it in a group class I teach that is about half bodyweight strength training and half yoga poses. Fun to dance to, as well. Enjoy!

“Worth It” Fifth Harmony

“Shape of You” Ed Sheeran

“Chained to the Rhythm” Katy Perry

“Hold My Heart” Lindsey Stirling

“Man Like That” Gin Wigmore

“Freedom! ’90” George Michael

“Me Too” Meghan Trainor

“Bang Bang” Jesse J, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj

“Rebel Rebel” David Bowie (2016 Remastered)

“Suffragette City” David Bowie (2012 Remastered)

“Billie Jean (cover version)” Acoustic Tribute Band

“Send My Love” Adele

“You Need Love Like I Do” Gladys Knight & The Pips

“Forget” Pogo

** Followed by one or two slow songs for a brief Savasana (relaxation pose).

***If you want to have a playlist for a long run, I also use these songs to create a peppy groove for cranking out the miles.

“It Don’t Mean A Thing” Lionel Hampton, Electro Swing Vol 4

“Freaks Orchestra” The Noisy Freaks

“The Trouble” Pogo

“Tattoos” Caravan Palace

“Wonderland” Caravan Palace

“Hyperactive!” Thomas Dolby

“A Little Party Never Hurt Nobody” Fergie, Q-Tip & GoonRock

Emerald Yoga: St. Patrick’s Day Playlist

It is no huge deductive leap to look at me and suppose that I observe St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, as a celebration of my people. And, I don’t mean “Beer-Truck Saturday,” which Richmond used last weekend as an excuse to get sloshed in plastic, green derbies and cheap bead necklaces. Not that there’s anything wrong with that 😉 Slainte!

For this week’s Gentle Yoga class, I built an Erin Go Bragh playlist that lifts the spirits and soothes. Had to leave out the countless jigs and reels available, as well as more rocking, martial offerings such as U2’s “Bloody Sunday.” All songs are available for download on iTunes and probably elsewhere, if you take my meaning. Angelic voices, harps, flutes, some Gaelic indecipherable to the American ear and even a recitation of a William Butler Yeats poem. (Apologies that I cannot work out how to get proper accent marks on the Gaelic.)

“The Stolen Child” The Waterboys

“She Moved Through The Fair” Sheoda

“The Foggy Dew” The Chieftains & Sinead O’Connor

“Boadicea” Enya

“Smaoinim” Enya

“Siuil a Run” Lisa Kelly

“Danny Boy” James Galway & The Chieftains

“Linger” The Cranberries

“October” U2

“Chasing Cars” Snow Patrol

“Port na bPucai” Triona Marshall

“Irish Harp” Wellness Chillout

“Sally Gardens” Celtic Harp Soundscapes

“The Parting Glass” UCD Choral Scholars

ChaCha meets Yoga

It’s been about three years since I competed in Cha Cha at ballroom competitions, but this lively, Latin dance keeps a place in my heart and in my playlists! It also does wonders for livening up a quick-flowing yoga class or inspiring students in my YogaFitness class, which is a fusion of bodyweight strength-training and yoga poses.

During one class set-up, I actually set the high energy mood with a couple of Quickstep selections (a dance I currently compete in):

“Can’t Touch It (Radio Edit)” Ricki-Lee

“Cool” (West Side Story) GLEE Cast

And, another class, while students set up mats and claimed their spaces, I set the pace with two pop selections from my playlist for running:

“Shape of You” Ed Sheeran

“Chained to the Rhythm” Katy Perry

Here are the Cha Cha selections:

“Walking on Broken Glass” Annie Lennox

“4 Minutes” Madonna

“Get Out” Macy Gray

“Me, Myself and I” Vitamin C

“Fidelity” Regina Spektor

“Smooth” Santana (feat. Rob Thomas)

“I Need to Know” Marc Anthony

“The Healer” Santana

“Oye Como Va” Santana

“Believe Me” Fort Minor

“The Cup of Life” Ricky Martin

And, then, naturally because we have relaxation time at the end of class, some soothing, slow-paced tunes.

Namaste, amigos!

Gentle Yoga Valentine’s Tunes

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For a peaceful flow in your Valentine’s session, check out this array of songs that includes such unlikely bedfellows as Metallica and Andrea Bocelli. Opposites can attract!

All songs available on iTunes for download, if you desire.

“All My Love” Led Zeppelin

“Everywhere” Fleetwood Mac

“O Mare E Tu” Andrea Bocelli

“Nothing Else Matters” Metallica

“Greensleeves” Mannheim Steamroller feat. Elyse Davis

“Smile” Uncle Kracker

“Take Your Mama” Scissor Sisters

“Best of My Love” The Emotions

“The Mating Game” Bitter:Sweet

“Muskurane (Romantic)” Jeet Gannguli

“Andante Cantabile” Brian Crain

“The Secret Wedding” “Braveheart” soundtrack

“Meditation (from Thais) Lawrence Foster

LUV Yoga Peppy Playlist for Valentine’s

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Suited for a fast-flowing Power Yoga style practice, this playlist may put a little love in your heart. All songs are available for download on iTunes.

“Heroes” David Bowie

“You Can’t Hurry Love” Phil Collins

“Classic” The Knocks (feat. Fetty Wap & Powers)

“Stereo Hearts” Gym Heroes (feat. Adam Levine)

“Na Na Na” Pentatonix

“Passion” Kreesha Turner

“Jai Ho” From “Slumdog Millionaire” soundtrack

“Get Up Offa That Thing” James Brown

“Elastic Heart” Sia

“Workin’ Day and Night” Michael Jackson

“Ex’s & Oh’s” Elle King

“Pocketful of Sunshine” Natasha Bedingfield

“Cheap Thrills” Sia

“Bad Romance” Lady Gaga

“True Love” Coldplay

“Dance Me To The End of Love” Madeleine Peyroux

“Priya (Beloved)” MIchael Mandrell and Benjy Wertheimer