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he says: "for me, whether it was writing raps or meditating; practising yoga or creating hip hop music - it all came from the same place - the heart and soul. One was more tangibly expressive and the other was little more introspective, but they were like two sides of a coin and I felt they could share the same space - that I could love and represent both! Why not? Like a mother might have one yogi son and one hip hop son, and be proud of them both!"
Neil then went on to introduce yogic philosophies into his music and more radically, rap music into his classrooms!
"at first students were a little surprised to hear the Fugees or the Notorious B.I.G. whilst they practised, but when they saw how it helped keep their timing in the sequences, they liked it... and it's not just rap, I will also use RnB and my traditional Asian fusion Indian music from great artists like Nitin Sawhney.."
As people started to come and review Neil's work it became apparent he was onto something. METRO Newspaper recently came down to review Patel's yoga and the rather startled young journalist was quoted as saying "it's the fastest I've ever moved in a yoga class!"
Neil breaks down his class as such: "well the class is split up into seven main sections representing the seven main chakras or energies in the body...
1) "Hot in here" is the warm up section
2) "Phenominal abdominal" - the ab section
3) Choreographed sequences like "Hip Hop Surya Namaskar"
4) Breakdance and yoga freezes
5) "Mind yoga" is the meditation section
6) "Spiritual lyrical" is the open mic section
7) "The Chi Kri chillout" where everyone learns to relax!
The situation now is that TV and major nightclubs in London have taken hold of this innovation and are beginning to move on it. It's still all very fresh in Neil's mind, and his attitude towards yoga itself seems quite interesting considering he is so heavily involved in hip hop.
"I think the hip hop world actually NEED yoga to give the huge phenominon that rap has become some grounding and sense of spirituality and purpose again; and I think the yoga world needs to embrace rap as being the poetry of the modern day. As a rapper myself, I know exactly the sensivity and self-tuning a rapper needs to have to be able to produce quality lyrics. I don't like the arrogance and egoism that follows the yoga world. I find more ego in yoga than in rap! People always say rap is this and that... but yoga people can be just as egocentric. Ego is a human problem, not a rap thing"
"I want open mics at my hip hop yoga classes because self expression is a gift we should all have. I want to give people a space to take a poem, a rap, even a song - and share it after class. You don't have to, you can just watch! But I know in my life and music, that moment when you speak from your soul is a beautiful thing"
Neil Patel's passion for his work is an obvious selling point, and through his 19 year teaching career you just get a sense that he's going to go from strength to strength.
/ Mahogany Sanchez
About Hip Hop and Yoga!
Hip hop culture is deep. The actual music is one small part - there is self expression, breakdance, performance, clothes, art, and most of all... the FEEL of hip hop - which is bold, brave, and in your face! Hip hop was born out of a need to express, coupled with simple human resourcefulness.
Hip hop is the attitude of endevour, spirit, and confidence. Hip hop is the single most important part of modern culture; it has defined the sound and look of the street since the 80s.
Yogic culture is deeper still. The postures and exercises are one thing, but it's the mental and spiritual (yea, spiritual - don't be afraid to learn about this!) aspect of yoga that is key. I grew up in a yoga teaching household whilst practising my hip hop arts. It was the yoga that gave me the strength, health and wisdom to get through life. It gave me power over my mind and body and knowledge of self, and of the Higher Powers.
Together hip hop and yoga to me are the life blood of all I care about. When you come to my classes you can be sure to have fun, learn loads, and get a teacher who will genuinely care about YOU...
the 8 limbs of chi kri yoga
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