A Friday night, a yoga mat and a DJ mixing beats…does that sound right? Well yes if you are talking about ‘Shakti Groove.’
Curious? So was I.
Intrigued by how a fusion of yoga and decks would come together…as well as being the closest I’ll get to clubbing these days…I found myself pulling on the yoga pants and unrolling the mat on a Friday night.
Shakti Groove is a project by Michele (Mickey) Maselli to unite his two passions – balancing his love for Yoga and Electronic Music. As a yoga teacher-by-day and DJ-by-night, many have often seen these two apparently disparate activities as conflicting, whereas Michele has seen the opportunity to unite the two.
And what a world it would be if we all spent more nights grooving on a yoga mat!
From start to end Shakti Groove was an uplifting and balancing blend of yoga to the backdrop of a music mix matched to the energies of the sequence. And when done well like this, it can become a seamless fusion. Add in some free flowing movement and you have a wonderful weave of rhythm and dance. We were also lucky to have a special guest sitar player in what was another magical and seamless interlude.
Michele describes the vision behind Shakti Groove is to blend the ancient Yogic wisdom with a contemporary sensibility – using traditional Yoga poses and sequences, but then inspiring creative movement through the postures.
“It’s an opportunity to engage in a session which is part Yoga workshop, part creative dance and a whole lot of fun. You can expect the unexpected, as each session is a unique journey. There will be moments of intensity, with challenging postures and sequences, then moments of relaxation and visualization and much more. And always guided by the music which is also very eclectic with a DJ laying down the beats live,” he says.
“ Yoga is about being present in the moment. Groove is what happens if you tune into the music and allow it to flow through you. You embody the vibrations of sound and allow it to make you… groove!”
The process for developing a session will see Michele devise a playlist outline and suggest different types of tracks for different ‘feelings’ and energies. These are designed to match the energy of the sequence he will be working with, physically and emotionally.
“I then allow my DJ to be creative and he or she may also source their own tracks which would match that energy once they understand it. My DJ’s are also Yoga students of mine, which I think is important so that they understand the process of Yoga to an extent. A ‘superstar DJ’ may not be suitable for this project if they were not sensitive to Yoga,” explains Michele.
With a chai n’ chat and some snacks at the finish, my yogi friend and I agreed it was a great way to start the weekend, safe in the knowledge that you would wake up feeling good the next morning (except for a few unused muscles that may complain the next day).
So no high heels required. No glow sticks in sight. Just bring an open heart, an open mind and let the grooves guide you.
Shakti Groove is running throughout June at several locations in Melbourne. To find out more visit shaktigroove.com
