Yoga + Music
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Do you practice Yoga with or without music?
I began my Yoga journey practicing in a studio where music was only played during Savasana. I recently attended my first Yoga class with music and found the music to be quite distracting. I caught myself singing along or tapping my fingers to songs I knew, even feeling annoyed by songs I didn't enjoy. I missed the silence. I missed feeling the connection to breath, the calm energy in the room.
As I continued to attend classes with music, I began to notice the music less and less. The music moved into the background of my mind and I regained the connection to breath. Sometimes I caught certain inspiring lyrics, sometimes the beat of the music helped me get through more challenging postures or sequences.
The Power of Breath
I now typically play music during my practice, however, I still enjoy the silence and sometimes practice without.
Practicing in silence can allow you to better tune into the sensations of each posture, into which muscles you are engaging, and can teach you how to engage Ujjayi breath - to become comfortable with hearing, with feeling, your own breath.
The Right Volume
If practicing with music, it is important to find an appropriate level for the volume.
You want to be able to hear the music, however, you don't want it so loud that you lose the connection to breath or the quieting of the mind.
If teaching, you don't want to be shouting over the music - you want students to clearly hear your instructions, as well as be able to hear their own breath.
The Right Playlist
Having the right playlist is key when practicing Yoga with music. The songs need to sync with the sequences, as well as compliment the emotions you want yourself, or your students, to feel.
I like to begin and end my playlists with songs without lyrics. This allows one to quiet the mind and connect to the rhythm of their breath, without any distraction from lyrics.
Sample Playlists
Below are a couple playlists I created for a 60 min practice:
Vinyasa Flow
- Folds - Thrupence
- Bowspirit - Balmorhea
- Time is Dancing - Ben Howard
- I Need - Maverick Sabre
- Intro - The xx
- Zimbabwe (Flume Remix) - New Navy
- Way Down We Go - Kaleo
- Free Me - Joss Stone
- High Life - London Grammar
- Grow - Rae Morris
- I See Fire - Ed Sheeran
- Inside + Out (Apostle of Hustle UnMix) - Feist
- Threnody - Goldmund
- Halving the Compass - Helios
Yin
- Oasis Moon - Karunesh
- Promise - Ben Howard
- Ain't Gonna Lose You - Brett Dennen
- Poison & Wine - The Civil Wars
- Never Let Me Go (Live) [MTV Unplugged, 2012] - Florence + The Machine
- Dust to Dust - The Civil Wars
- The Lime Tree - Trevor Hall
- Incomplete - James Bay
- Work Song - Hozier
- White Blood - Oh Wonder
- Raining in Baltimore - Counting Crows
- Walk Quietly - Trevor Hall
- Shanti (Peace Out) - MC YOGI
Enjoy! :)
xx