OM meets...
Belinda Carlisle
OM talks to singer-songwriter Belinda Carlisle about her love of all things yoga and landing the prized Namaste Award in 2024 from the charity, Yoga Gives Back
American singer-songwriter Belinda Carlisle gained fame as the lead vocalist of the Go-Go's, before moving on to a hugely successful solo career. She’s also a big yoga enthusiast with a practice that now dates back more than three decades.
This year, she is the confirmed recipient of The Namaste Award by the global charity Yoga Gives Back. The award is a tribute to visionaries who inspire the global yoga community and beyond with their vision. Past award recipients — who include the likes of singer Alanis Morrisette and movie maker David Lynch — have committed themselves to humanitarian causes to make the world a better place.
In 2020, Belinda Carlisle, and fellow artist Donna De Lory, donated the ’Sat Siri’ music video to Yoga Gives Back with all proceeds benefitting women and children in India.
The award also recognises her advocacy for animal welfare and human rights as a co-founder of Animal People Alliance. Its mission is to provide high-quality, compassionate care to neglected street animals in India and Thailand, employing vulnerable people from the community and paying a living wage.
OM caught up with Belinda Carlisle to find out a little more about the award and her passion for yoga.
How does it feel to be given the Namaste Award this year from Yoga Gives Back and what is your connection with the charity?
Of course, it is amazing! I am truly honoured. I co-founded Animal People Alliance in 2014 and since then we have treated almost 80,000 animals in both Kolkata, India and Chiang Rai, Thailand. We do mostly on-site treatments in Kolkata and lots of adoption and spaying and neutering in Thailand. We also head rabies drives in both places. In addition to animal services in both locations we provide employment for vulnerable people — disabled or trafficked people in India, and in Thailand we work a lot with state-less people.
When did you start yoga and what sort of practice do you enjoy?
I started with Kundalini Yoga back in 1991. My first teacher was Gurmukh Khalsa. I have done two teacher trainings, just for myself. I also did a lot of Iyengar Yoga, which I loved, but I find as I get older Kundalini is more fitting for me. Kundalini is internal yoga and it’s very effective. I have a daily practice and am on a three-year meditation — I’m a year and a half into it!
What does yoga and meditation bring you personally?
A balance in life and a change of perspective on things. I connect daily to my higher self and that power is greater than me. I also start my day with 30 to 40 minutes of a great teacher, from Eckhart Tolle to Ram Dass to Sadhguru.
Any other spiritual or holistic practices you enjoy?
Right now, I’ve been studying Hermetica, which is fascinating and I do resonate with it. It’s very similar to Vedanta. I studied Vedanta years ago.
Any highlights or unusual experiences from your time on the yoga mat?
I’ve had a couple of unexplainable, weird experiences that were connected to rebirthing classes. Let me just say, I was once a sceptic, but no more when it comes to believing in the unseen.
How has your yoga and spiritual practice influenced your music and creativity?
I did a whole mantra album called ‘Wilder Shores’. They are Kundalini mantras — some of my favourites — put into a pop song format. I’m very proud of that — although my record company thought I was nuts! I always listen to mantra before my shows and do pranayama work along with it as well, it does help me get into the flow.
Any favourite yoga teachers or studios?
I love Gurmukh and Tej Kaur Khalsa, also Guru Singh. I live in Mexico City and have found a few studios for Kundalini Yoga there, but for the most part, my favourite studio locations are in Los Angeles.
What are your work and yoga plans going forward?
I have new music coming out, work with the Go-Go’s. I’m as busy as I want to be. As far as my spiritual plans go, it’s just to finish this three-year meditation, but I would love to go to Andandamayi Ma’s ashram in Dehradun, India — that’s on my bucket list!
Belinda Carlise
Quick Q&A
Favourite yoga or spiritual book?
Kundalini Yoga or The Power Of Now
Go-to health drink?
Green juice
Most inspiring quote?
Be here now
Favourite yoga pose and why?
I love triangle pose — it’s so expansive
If you could take a class as a student with any teacher from anywhere and from any period of time (now or in the distant past) who would it be with and why?
I would have loved to do a class with the great Yogacharya BKS Iyengar. I did take a class in Pune with one of his students. This yoga really got me interested in the physiological effects of pranayama and the poses. Iyengar’s Light on Yoga is one of my favourite yoga books.
Om Magazine
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