Sky Rhythms
by Jay Andrews
Sky Rhythms is part of my 'Rhythm Yoga Project.' A hatha yoga practice done in synchronization with my drumming and rhythm. Entraining breath, body, and spirit under one rhythm, it opens us to communion with that one rhythm that underlies all the universe - The Nadam. I hope you enjoy this rhythm practice! One day at a time.
Transcript
Welcome everybody to this rhythm practice.
When you're ready,
We'll begin in Child's Pose,
Somewhere around the center of the mat.
The seat can move towards the heels,
And the hands can reach up towards the front of the mat over the head.
I'd like to pay homage to my teachers,
The practitioners and wisdom sharers of Hatha and Nada yoga who have come before us.
I'd also like to pay homage to all my drumming teachers,
Who have come before us.
I also like to pay homage to all my drumming teachers of the Scottish,
Irish,
Indian,
West African and Frame drumming styles that I have been lucky enough to study.
I share great gratitude for all of those who have come before me.
Every time I do this practice,
I treat it as a ceremony of liberation and unity.
As humans,
We are rhythmic beings,
And when we entrain drumming,
Movement,
Breath,
Spirit and mind,
We settle into our true nature.
It's here that we find communion with that pulsing vibration behind all sound,
The heartbeat behind all heartbeats.
We're able to align our rhythms with that of nature,
And in the words of Elizabeth Gilbert,
Find our wordless oneness.
You see,
When we are not aligned with our internal rhythms,
Or the rhythms of the environment,
This is when we find dis-ease.
However,
When we are able to attune to our internal rhythms,
We're able to synchronize our rhythms with the fluidity of nature.
We find great connection and great healing.
We do this practice to free our body and mind,
So that we can serve and be a catalyst of freedom for all beings.
Beginning to bring union to rhythm and breath.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Use the full four beats for the breath.
Exhale.
Keeping it very fluid.
Breathe in.
And breathe out.
Inhale.
Balancing breath with rhythm.
Exhale.
Inhale.
The sound of the breath is the melody to the practice.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
This time as you exhale,
Head up to a tabletop position.
A few cacao's to begin.
Inhale.
Drop the navel towards the mat.
Exhale.
Push out the hands and dome the back.
Inhale.
Dropping the belly,
Raise the crown and the tailbone.
Exhale.
Curl around your heart.
Inhale.
Open up the chest.
Exhale.
Dome the spine.
Inhale.
Last time.
Drop the navel.
Tuck your toes.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
We'll breathe here five times.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Allow yourself to really fall into that groove.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Reach up at the tailbone.
Exhale.
Reach out the fingertips.
Inhale into the space,
The back of the heart.
Exhale.
Walk the feet up towards the hands.
Inhale.
Floats you up.
Halfway lift.
Long in the spine.
Exhale and fold.
Take all four beats.
Two more times.
Inhale.
Halfway lift.
Exhale and fold.
Last one.
Inhale.
Lift halfway.
Exhale.
Fold around the heart.
Inhale.
Reach the arms all the way up towards the sky.
Look up.
Exhale.
Hands down to heart center and we breathe here.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Tadasana.
Some sun salutations.
Inhale.
The arms reach towards the sky.
Right hand takes a hold of left wrist.
Exhale.
Lean to the right.
Inhale.
Back to center.
Switch the hands.
Exhale.
Lean to the left.
Inhale.
Back to center.
Nice and tall.
Exhale and fold.
Inhale.
Draw the right foot towards the back of the mat.
Exhale.
The right knee lowers.
Inhale.
The arms reach up towards the sky.
Exhale.
Draws you to downward facing dog.
Wave forward to plank.
Breathe in.
Knees,
Chest and chin as you breathe out.
Slither forward.
Inhale up cobra pose.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Inhale.
Step the right foot forward.
Exhale.
The left knee settles on the mat.
Arms reach the arms up towards the sky.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Hands frame the front foot.
Lift up the back knee.
Inhale.
Step the back foot forward.
Exhale and fold.
Inhale.
Float the arms up towards the sky.
Urdhva Hastasana.
Exhale.
Tadasana.
Second side.
Inhale.
Sweep the arms up.
Left hand takes a hold of the right wrist.
Exhale.
Lean to the left.
Inhaling.
Back up to center.
Switch the hands.
Exhale.
Lean to the right.
Inhale.
Reach the arms up.
The hands part the clouds.
Exhale and fold.
Inhale.
Float the left foot towards the back of the mat.
Exhale.
Settle the knee of the earth.
Inhale.
Sweep the arms up tall in the torso.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Let the drums move you.
Inhale.
Forward to plank.
Exhale.
Knees,
Chest and chin.
Slither the body forward.
Inhale.
Lift the head and the chest.
Cobra.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Inhale.
Step the left foot forward between the hands.
Exhale.
Settle the right knee on the earth.
Inhale.
The arms reach up.
Exhale.
Hands frame the front foot.
Lift the back knee.
Inhale.
Step the back foot forward.
Exhale.
Fold.
Hands reach all the way up to the sky.
Breathe in.
Exhale.
Hands down through heart center.
Tadasana.
Sweep the arms up towards the sky.
Inhale.
Right hand holds left wrist.
Exhale.
Lean to the right.
Inhale.
Floats you back up to center.
Switch the hands.
Exhale.
Lean to the left.
Inhale.
Hands reach up towards the sky.
Exhale.
And fold.
Inhale.
The right foot steps back towards the back of the mat.
Exhale.
Right knee settles on the earth.
Inhale.
Hands reach up towards the sky.
Listen carefully.
Exhale.
Bend the elbows.
Open up the chest.
Inhale.
Extend the fingertips towards the blue sky.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Wave forward to a plank pose.
Breathe in.
Exhale.
Chaturanga Dandasana.
Or knees,
Chest,
And chin.
You decide.
Inhale.
Upward facing dog or cobra.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Inhale.
Step the right foot between the hands.
Exhale.
Left knee finds the rhythms of the earth.
Inhale.
Reach the arms up.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Bend the elbows.
Open the chest.
Inhale.
Reach high.
Exhale.
Hands frame the front foot.
Lift the back knee.
Inhale.
Step the back foot forward.
Take your time.
Exhale and fold.
Inhale.
Sweep the arms all the way up towards the sky.
Urvahastasana.
Exhale.
Tadasana.
Last side.
Inhale.
The arms reach high.
Left hand takes hold of right wrist.
Exhale.
Lean to the left.
Inhale.
Back to center.
Switch the hands.
Exhale.
Lean to the right.
Inhale.
Reach the fingertips to the sun.
Exhale and bow.
Inhale.
Left foot steps towards the back of the mat.
And gravity lowers the left knee as you breathe out.
Inhale.
Reach the arms high.
Proud.
Exhale.
Open up the chest.
Bend the elbows.
Inhale.
Nice and tall.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Inhale.
Drop forward to a plank pose.
Exhale.
Chaturanga Dandasana.
Inhale.
Upward facing dog.
Pull the chest through the shoulders.
Exhale.
Downward facing dog.
Inhale.
Step the left foot between the hands.
Exhale.
The right knee finds the floor.
Inhale.
Sweep the arms high.
Exhale.
Open up to the sun.
Bend the elbows.
Inhale.
Reach tall.
Exhale.
Hands frame the front foot.
Pick up the back knee.
Inhale.
Step the back foot forward.
Take the full four beats.
Exhale and fold.
Sweep the arms up towards the sky.
Breathe in.
Draw the hands down through heart center.
Breathe out.
Hold here and feel.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Surya Namaskar A.
Inhale the arms reach high.
Exhale and fold.
Inhale halfway lift.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Take your time.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale the hips rise downward facing dog.
We breathe here five times.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Breathing in.
And out.
Inhale.
Exhale.
One final breath comes in.
Look up between the hands.
Exhale step or jump forward.
Inhale float up halfway lift.
Exhale bow over the legs.
Reach the arms up high.
Breathe in.
Breathe out tadasana.
Number two of three.
Inhale sweep the arms.
Exhale fold.
Inhale float up halfway lift.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Downward facing dog.
Be with breath.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Look up between the hands.
Exhale step or jump forward.
Draw up halfway.
Breathe in.
Exhale fold.
Inhale reach the arms high praying to the sun.
Exhale tadasana.
Last one.
Inhale reach up look up.
Exhale let the drums float you down into a fold.
Inhale halfway lift shine the chest forward.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale pull the chest up through the shoulders.
Exhale downward facing dog.
We breathe five breaths.
Inhale.
Breathe number three.
Inhale.
Last breath comes in through the nose look up between the hands.
Exhale step or jump forward.
Inhale rise halfway.
Exhale and fold.
Inhale the hands reach up they part the clouds of the mind.
Exhale tadasana.
And we breathe here.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Breathe in finding ritual in that rhythmic repetition.
Inhale let the drums move the body in the breath.
Exhale.
Surya namaskarbi bend the knees sit the hips back.
Inhale the arms up utkatasana.
Exhale fold over the legs as they straighten.
Inhale lift up halfway long in the spine.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog step the right foot forward root the left heel inhale warrior one.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana keep the movements nice and smooth inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog effortless rhythm step the left foot forward drop the right heel inhale warrior one.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog will breathe here five times.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Take a lot of joy in the breath.
Breathe in.
Look up between the hands exhale step or jump forward.
Inhale halfway lift.
Exhale and fold.
And the knees at the hips back.
Breathe in.
Exhale tadasana stand all the way.
Second time inhale.
Exhale fold over the legs as they string.
Inhale float up halfway.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana move with the drums.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog hold here and breathe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
We're going to move into a warrior one pattern.
And not so much moving from the mind but feeling it.
Let the body let the breath let the drums move together like the cyclic energies of the world.
Drink up that feeling of being alive.
Inhale the right foot lifts towards the sky.
Exhale right foot draws up between the hands.
Room your left heel.
Inhale sweep the arms up warrior one.
Exhale hands come down behind the back.
Interlace your fingers.
Inhale open up the chest towards the sun.
Hold and exhale.
Inhale float the arms up warrior one.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Second time.
Inhale the left leg lifts towards the sky.
Exhale left foot draws up between the hands.
Earth the right heel.
Inhale float up virovajasana one.
Exhale hands come down behind the back.
Interlace the fingers.
Inhale open up to the rhythms of the sun.
Take an exhale.
Inhale weightless up to warrior one.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Take a break anytime you need.
Inhale the right leg lifts.
Exhale draw the right foot up between the hands.
Settle the left heel.
Again fingertips towards the sky warrior one.
Exhale hands sweep down behind the back.
Interlace the fingers.
Breathe in open up the chest.
And take an exhale.
Inhale reach the fingertips to the sky.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Breathe up upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Find your groove.
Inhale the left foot lifts up.
Exhale left foot up between the hands.
Earth the right heel.
Reach the arms up towards the sky virovajasana one.
Exhale dance the hands behind you.
Interlace the fingers.
Inhale open up.
And exhale.
Inhale reach the arms up towards the sky.
Exhale chaturanga.
Lift upward facing dog.
Breathe in.
Downward facing dog.
Breathe out.
Keep the rhythmic prayer going.
Inhale right foot lifts.
Exhale right foot between the hands.
Settle the left heel.
Inhale virovajasana one.
Exhale hands behind the back.
Interlace the fingers.
Inhale open the chest.
And exhale.
Inhale hands reach high.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Last side.
Inhale left leg lifts.
Exhale left foot between the hands.
Settle the right heel.
Inhale warrior one.
Exhale hands interlace.
Inhale open up the chest.
Exhale.
Inhale warrior one.
Exhale chaturanga dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog.
And breathe with the drums.
Inhale.
Exhale.
That rhythmic breath is keeping us here.
Inhale.
Massaging the mind and the body.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Building on that last sequence.
Inhale lift the right leg up behind you.
Exhale right foot up between the hands.
Plant the left heel.
Raise up warrior one.
Listen carefully.
Exhale warrior two.
Inhale flip over your front palm.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Hold here.
Breathe into that front side body.
And release.
Inhale warrior two.
Exhale extended side angle.
Whatever version you'd like.
Hold here.
Inhale.
Exhale.
And now dancing through those.
Inhale warrior two.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Inhale warrior two.
Exhale extended side angle.
Inhale raise up.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Inhale warrior two.
Extended side angle.
Inhale lift Virajasana two.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Inhale rise.
Exhale Utthita Parsvakonasana.
Inhale warrior two.
Listen carefully.
Hold here.
Exhale root the feet into the earth.
Inhale hands sweep down.
Frame the front foot.
Exhale Chaturanga Dandasana.
Inhale lift into your backbend.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Finding the other side.
Inhale the left foot lifts towards the sky.
Exhale left foot draws up between the hands.
Root the right heel.
Reach the arms up.
Breathe in warrior one.
Exhale open up warrior two.
Inhale flip over the front palm.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Hold here.
Breathe expansively into that front side ribcage.
Exhale and release.
Inhale lift to warrior two.
Exhale extended side angle.
Again whatever version works for you.
Hold here.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Now dancing through the ocean of energies.
Inhale warrior two.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Inhale lift.
Exhale extended side angle.
Inhale rise.
Exhale.
Inhale Virabhadrasana.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Inhale lift.
Exhale.
Inhale back up to warrior two.
Listen carefully.
Exhale settle into the pose.
Inhale both hands frame the front foot.
Exhale Chaturanga Dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Your next inhale floats you forward to plank.
Exhale move the right hand forward about six inches.
Inhale roll to the outside edge of the right foot.
Stack the feet.
Exhale left arm reaches up towards the sky.
Vashisthasana.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale reach out the top hand fingertips.
Exhale push the floor away with the bottom hand.
Inhale feel that rhythmic pulsation of the body.
Exhale.
Your next breath in brings you to plank pose.
Exhale lift the hips downward facing dog.
Second side.
Inhale forward to high plank.
Exhale move the left hand forward about six inches.
Inhale roll to the outside edge of the left foot.
Stack the feet.
And then raise the right arm up towards the sky.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale up out the crown of the head.
Exhale reach out the heels.
Last breath cycle.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale both hands find the floor.
Plank pose.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Inhale wave forward.
Plank.
Exhale lower all the way down to the floor.
Hands come underneath the forehead and we breathe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Release any doing out of the body.
And feel your heartbeat.
One breath more.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale bend the knees soles of the feet face the sky.
Exhale hands reach back find the ankles.
Inhale kick out the feet lift the head and the chest the legs off the ground.
Exhale.
Think length in this pose rather than a deep backbend.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Breathe in.
And breathe out.
Inhale.
Exhale and slowly release.
Again hands come underneath the forehead and breathe.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Hands come underneath the shoulders.
Inhale lift to a tabletop pose.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Inhale lift the right foot up towards the sky building on what we've done.
Exhale right foot up between the hands.
Plant the left heel.
Reach the arms up.
Birodrasana one.
Exhale open up warrior two.
Inhale straightening the front leg.
Exhale reach the front hand far forward and find Trikonasana.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Breathe this whole shape.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Lots of room for breath to move in the body.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Listen carefully heading towards half moon.
Inhale look down towards your front foot.
Slight bend in the knee.
Exhale half moon.
Arda Chandrasana.
Inhale left arm reaches up towards the sky.
Exhale.
Hold the pose not the breath.
Inhale reach out the crown of the head.
Exhale reach out the lifted heel.
Inhale bend the lifted leg knee.
Exhale top hand reaches back finds the foot with the ankle.
Chipasana.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Opening up the heart as much as you like here.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale begin to release the foot and the ankle.
Exhale settle back in warrior two.
Inhale flip over the front palm.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Open up that front side body.
Inhale lift warrior two.
Exhale Chaturanga Dandasana.
Inhale lift the chest.
Exhale downward facing dog.
Last side stay with the breath.
Inhale left leg lifts.
Exhale left foot up between the hands.
Earth the right heel.
Inhale reach up warrior one.
Exhale open up warrior two.
Inhale straighten the front leg.
Hinge at the front hip.
Exhale front fingertips far forward and then settle in Trikonasana.
Inhale right hand reaches up.
Exhale.
Inhale gaze can look up towards the top hand.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Half moon.
Inhale look down towards your front foot.
When you're ready exhale float forward Ardha Chandrasana.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Breathe the sound of the wooden drums.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Headed towards Chapasana.
Inhale bend the lifted knee.
Exhale top hand reaches back finds the foot at the ankle.
Inhale open up the chest as much as you'd like.
Exhale.
Breathe this shape.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale release the bound foot.
Exhale settle back into warrior two.
Inhale flip over the front hand palm.
Exhale reverse the pose.
Inhale lift back fear of just the two.
Exhale Chaturanga Dandasana.
Inhale upward facing dog and lift the hips exhale downward facing dog.
Five breaths.
Inhale.
Breathing in.
Breath number three.
Four.
Final inhale.
Look up between the hands exhale step or jump forward.
Inhale halfway lift.
Exhale fold.
Bend the knees sit the hips back.
Inhale the arms up Utkatasana.
Listen carefully exhale sit a little bit lower.
Inhale reach out the crown of the head.
Exhale deepen the pose.
Last time inhale out the fingertips.
Exhale find a seat on the ground.
Inhale roll down onto the back.
Let's just breathe in this ocean of energy.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
One last breath.
Inhale.
Exhale setting up for three bridge poses.
Inhale bend the knees soles of the feet on the ground about hip distance apart.
Exhale the arms fall down by the side.
Inhale the hips lift up towards the sky.
As you exhale you can wrap the hands underneath maybe the shoulder blades and breathe.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale reach the tailbone up towards your knees.
Exhale maybe the sternum moves closer to the chin.
Two more breaths.
Inhale.
And as you exhale release down towards the floor.
We'll take two breaths here.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Inhale.
And exhale setting up for bridge number two.
Root the feet.
Inhale the hips lift towards the sky.
Exhale the hands the arms can reach underneath the fingers interlace.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Three more breaths here.
Inhale.
Inhale.
Drawing breath in.
And the exhale compassionately lowers you to the mat.
Two breaths.
Breathe in.
And out.
Inhale.
Headed towards bridge number three which could be Urdhva Danyarasana.
Planting the feet inhale lift the hips up towards the sky.
Exhale hands come underneath and interlace or plant by the head.
Push up we're here for four breaths.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
One final breath draws in.
Exhale slowly lower towards your mat.
Two breaths.
Inhale.
Breathe in.
And release.
Draw the knees up into the chest.
Inhale.
And an exhale rolls you up to a seated position.
Legs go long.
Inhale bend the right knee.
Exhale sole of the right foot to the inseam of the left leg.
Hands come behind the back.
Inhale sit nice and tall.
Exhale fold forward Janu Sirsasana.
Five breaths.
Inhale.
Inhale.
Inhale.
Perhaps number four.
Inhale.
Inhale floats you back up to vertical.
Exhale both legs go long and we switch sides.
Inhale bend the left knee up towards the chest.
Exhale sole of the left foot to the inseam of the right leg.
Inhale sits you nice and tall.
Exhale hinge forward with the long spine.
Five breaths.
Exhale.
Breath three.
Inhale.
Inhale.
One final breath comes in.
And goes out.
Inhale draw yourself up.
Exhale both legs go long.
Baddha Konasana.
Inhale soles of the feet come together.
Exhale the knees fall wide.
Take a hold of the ankles of the feet.
Inhale tall.
Exhale fold the pose inward.
Eventually curling around the heart to be with breath.
Noticing the effects,
The influence of this practice on breath,
Body,
Spirit,
Mind.
That feeling of entrainment,
Of union.
And whenever you're ready you can take yourself onto your back,
Hug the knees into the chest and find a twist.
Or open up the legs,
Take a hold of the soles of the feet for a happy baby to finish.
And when you're called to do so begin to lay out.
Release any control or manipulation of breath,
Of body.
There's nothing left to do but to listen.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
Feel that internal drum beat,
The heart.
This is the pulse of life.
Just listen.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
And feel that subtle vibration of being alive.
4.7 (6)
Recent Reviews
dennis
August 30, 2025
The combination of clear and concise guidance, an ideal movement sequence, and beguiling rythymic music was powerful. I left the session feeling invigorated and inspired. Thank you for creating and sharing such a wonderful experience.
Lauren
July 6, 2020
That’s the best yoga meditation I’ve ever done. Who is this guy??