WASHINGTON 鈥� Yoga playlists packed with sounds of Tibetan chimes and trickling steams are so pass茅. These days, it鈥檚 all about reggae.
And if you think yoga and reggae don鈥檛 mix, Anne Harrison disagrees.
鈥淎ctually, they鈥檙e so related,鈥� says Harrison, a senior yoga instructor at . 鈥淵oga is for peace of mind; it鈥檚 for relaxation, it鈥檚 for stress relief. The poses are meant to help one be meditative, and the spiritual reggae music is very much like that.鈥�
Take for instance Bob Marley鈥檚 famous line from 鈥淩edemption Song.鈥� Harrison starts: 鈥淓mancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds 鈥︹��
鈥淭hat is yoga in one sentence,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 it 鈥� that鈥檚 it right there, so it is a natural marriage.鈥�
Harrison has been teaching yoga in D.C. for several years, and in that time she鈥檚 found different ways to bring reggae into her studio 鈥� whether through recordings or live performances.
But this weekend, she鈥檚 stretching the union to new heights in the form of a festival, which she co-founded with longtime friend and reggae promoter .
On Saturday, Sept. 19, Washingtonians will be able to rock steady while holding a steady plank at D.C.鈥檚 first at Gateway DC East.
At the daylong event, there will be from the legendary reggae band Third World, as well as from several local artists, including Zedicus & Abyssinia Roots, Dejazmatch Kwasi and Bomani Armah.
At the same time, Faith Hunter, HawaH, Nichele Vaughan and others, will lead yogis through poses, movements and workouts that coincide with the music.
鈥淵oga is a way of life, and reggae is the voice of Rastafarian, which is also a way of life,鈥� says the festival鈥檚 co-founder Kings. 鈥淭his is a fusion of yoga and reggae.鈥�
Yoga Reggae Festival, which runs from noon to 9 p.m., will also have wellness workshops and food and craft vendors on site. for children and seniors are $1; general admission is $40.
