I've been on a kick lately about music rhythm and today I'm going to compare it to yoga rhythm.
I practice in a couple of different hot yoga classes on a weekly basis. The typical class goes 90 minutes with each pose done twice. My early morning class are shortened classes for us working class that need the workout before we actually rush off to work.
These shorten class offer opportunities to be approached differently.
Same Class Different Rhythm
What is interesting is that each yoga guide provides their own tempo and rhythm of practice.
One guide may just move through each pose one time at full length and then choose a number of poses to be done twice.
The next may decide to do as many as possible of the poses twice but using a shorter time for each pose. Another may alternate which poses get done twice.
So each guide brings a different rhythm to the practice. A couple of them even like to mix it up each time they come to class.
Each guide also brings their own music to class, it's background music, but can also have effect on the flow or experience of the class.
Is is a Balance of Consistency or Boredom?
In music we are looking for consistency, In yoga we are looking for improvement, but rhythm plays a different role in each.
In music the rhythm binds the music and flow to a consistent and predicable pattern. Changing the notes and adding rests gives that rhythm a flow or story line.
In yoga the rhythm may provide a new way to approach your practice and mix it up so that you gain improvement. You may think that consistency of practice would help. In ways it does, however, just as in muscle training you have to mix it up so as not to become predictable. It's the changes that allow for growth.
Growth in Music Using Rhythm
In music the rhythm is the timeline and the growth becomes utilizing that rhythm to apply expression and emotion. Have you ever noticed that a band can play a piece of music differently from one venue to the next?
Application of a different rhythm in an introduction or a stylist change from country to rock can give a tune a new life.
We especially notice that in jazz the rhythm can allow for many opportunities for the soloist to experiment with melody and timing. Mixing up the pattern in the base rhythm brings us new excitement to the tune.
The Underlying Commonality of Rhythm
The changing rhythm of a yoga practice allows for growth. And even with in a given pace you can rush or slow down the entrance and exits of a pose. I've noticed significant growth when I purposely reduced the tempo of my practice at each pose.
Similarly I've experienced growth in expression of music by changing a the tempo of a song. This worked both in increase speed and more so in slowing down.
Different approaches to yoga and music can have a growth effect. They are different but can have the same result. That is of growth.
Exploring Rhythm
Pay attention to rhythm to become aware of how it influences your life whether it be yoga, music, or some other aspect of your daily routine.
To become more attuned to rhythm you can explore some recourses:
The Rhythm Workshop will help you increase your awareness of rhythm by providing you with 36 different patterns to acquire knowledge, develop endurance, and groove.
Victor Wooten's Grove Workshop is another great skills improvement option.
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