Music and Yoga: Keeping Up With The Times or Modern-Day Distraction?
There is a consensus among all creatures who walk upright that today’s world has more distractions than ever. But there are differing views over whether or not one of those distractions — music — should be allowed to enter the yoga studio. Should we combine yoga and music? The experts offer their opinions.
But is that possible? Or perhaps, more accurately, is it entirely necessary? We’ve gleaned some insights from a variety of yoga practitioners to find the answer.
Yoga and Music: It Wasn’t Always This Way
Playing music during yoga class has become the norm in many yoga studios, but this wasn’t always the case.
Ashtanga relied on the instructor’s cues and was taught in silence (and still is, by many instructors). Music was not compatible with some poses and styles, and it also impeded the effective use of mantras. (We’ll touch on those later in the post.)
But today yoga has evolved into more of a hybrid state, in which physical conditioning has achieved equal footing with the spiritual aspects of yoga. People may not have the patience to engage in the mental aspects of yoga.
In her post on music and yoga, Gaby Fleming explains that, “You have to invest a significant amount of energy into chanting and meditation before it starts to take effect. Your reward for the effort is an exponential increase in wisdom, compassion and vitality.”
That may not jive with modern day life. “We live in a society that’s fast-paced,” said Erica Merrill, yoga instructor in Chicago. “A lot of people want 60 minute classes, not 90 minute classes.”
Yoga Class With Music: A Silent Studio Might Not be the Right Fit in the U.S.
A yoga instructor is in a tough spot. As much as you may embrace the spiritual side of yoga, you still need to fill your studio to pay the bills. And silence doesn’t always fit the modern-day business model of a yoga studio.
“Most classes in the states offer music, so it is hard to get students to come to silent classes,” Merrill explains. In big cities, for example, they are now integrating hip-hop and live DJs into the classes. It may be contrast to what the yoga experience is like in India or other countries, where perhaps the pace is a bit slower.
Does a Quiet Yoga Studio Alienate People?
Merrill also wonders if people find it somewhat disturbing to be in a completely silent studio. Switching from the chaos of modern day life to complete silencio may just “freak them out.”
“I give them some music to lighten the mood and make it more enjoyable,” she said.
Is it just that we don’t have time to be quiet and look inward? Gaby Fleming writes, “You have to invest a significant amount of energy into chanting and meditation before it starts to take effect. Your reward for the effort is an exponential increase in wisdom, compassion and vitality.”
But are today’s yoga students in search of wisdom, compassion and vitality? Or are they there for the workout? “I think there is a time and a place for silent practice, but everything evolves,” Merrill said. “I’m not sure it will be embraced forever.”
Music + Yoga = Relaxation: Not All Music for Yoga Class may be a Distraction
If the approach to music in a yoga class is evolving, then what types of music fit the new paradigm?
Actually, if yoga is considered to be therapeutic, then there may be some validity to integrating it into the yoga studio. Considering some of the research:
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A study at McGill University found that when people listen to music, large amounts of dopamine are released, which can cause happiness, excitement and joy.
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Listening to music decreases the levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according to this article in Psychology Today. (And guess what else does — meditation!)
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A study by Hans Joachim Trappe showed that meditative sounds and classical music lifted people up (techno and heavy metal brought them down).
(Special thanks to lifehack.org for these links!)
These studies reveal the music does have therapeutic value. It can deliver the “fix” people are looking for, but perhaps not the ideal mental state yoga purists aspire to achieve. Consider Erica Leibrandt’s story.
To Listen or Not to Listen to Music During Yoga Class…What is the Answer?
In her post “Should we be listening to music to yoga,” Erica describes the push-pull experience of music and yoga. First, she finds silence.
Sometime after finding this studio, I decided to try Ashtanga. I was excited, but also kind of intimidated to realize Ashtanga is practiced silently except for the teacher’s cues. I worried that I had become dependent on music to relax me and would feel awkward and exposed without it’s comforting presence—but after five minutes, I was so engrossed in what I was doing that I didn’t give it a second thought.
Then, she hears the music.
Then I began to teach yoga myself and I got all excited about the idea of music again. There is a whole world of exquisite sound devoted to enhancing yogic experience, and I was fascinated by the endless variety and iterations, and how songs could shape the feeling and energy of a class.
Obviously, there are pros and cons to music and yoga. At the end of the day, it’s going to be a personal decision. However, there are some suggestions and best practices you should consider if you do decide to integrate music into a session.
Best Practices When Using Music for Yoga Class
We’ve compiled a list of ideas from Erica Merrill and the posts we’ve referenced here.
1. If you’re going to play music, don’t make it too loud.
Be aware that people in the class are tuned in to your instruction. Keep the noise level at a point where people can easily hear you.
2. Choose soothing, ambient or classical music for meditation and yoga.
The studies referenced above indicate that classical music or meditative sounds can work toward the goal of relaxation. Merrill related an anecdote where the instructor played “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John, which proved to be infinitely distracting.
3. Don’t tie in music to breathing.
Gaby Fleming urges instructors to avoid trying to combine music and breathing as part of the yoga session. She writes music “is random at best and undermines the science of yoga.” It’s nearly impossible to find the song that will match your breathing, much less multiple songs on a playlist.
4. Work on building a great yoga music playlist.
Speaking of playlists, if you’re going to use music in a class, do it right. Erica Merrill spends hours compiling her playlists and she’s made hundreds throughout the years. Listen to this audio interview for insights into her playlist creation process.
5. Check out YouTube for soft yoga music.
Besides radio stations on Spotify and Napster, you can also find long compilations on YouTube of great music for practicing yoga.
6. Alter your approach to create a music – yoga meditation.
Erica notes that her approach to meditation is through the music. “I’m not good at sitting still and meditating,” she said. Many people are likely in her boat, and probably don’t want to spend their precious time meditating in a still position on the floor.
Use music to help them leave their everyday worries and find that inner calm that we all aspire to achieve.
7. Go to a yoga music festival.
If you’re going to go with the flow, why not make a road trip out of it? There are a number of yoga festivals, each featuring music. It’s a great place to get music ideas and bag a vacation in the process. Here are a couple to consider:
Sukhava Bode Yoga and Music Festival
8. Go with a neutral sound, but be prepared to have a thick skin.
Do your best to avoid anything provocative. Erica relates the story of someone approaching her after a yoga class and telling her, “I love your class, but I hate your music.” You’re going to win some, you’re definitely going to lose some.
At the end of the day, this is an entirely subjective decision. But keep in mind that it’s not yours alone. Erica Merrill is very conscious that people who attend her class like the music, otherwise they wouldn’t be there.
If you want a silent class, there are definitely students out there for you. Just be prepared to explain its advantages to an increasingly distracted world.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter in the comments section. And If you do share music in class, please leave some of your favorites in the comments below!
Yoga Playlist
Yoga Songs and Artists from Yandara Instructors
Amber Young
Nina Simone:
I think it’s going to rain today
To love somebody – live
I can’t speak – La Luz
White I rise – Rabbit Wilde
Phone down – Erykah Badu
Fruits of my labor – Lucinda Williams
Running home to you – Bee Caves
Cass McCombs:
Opposite House
Medusa’s outhouse
666 – Bon Iver
Singing to me – David Wax Museum
Sean Hayes:
Boom boom baby
Low light
Angela – The Lumineers
Satya Sutra – DJ Drez
Open heart – Zara McFarlane
Mercy Runk
Craig Kohland and Shamans Dream:
Moonlight Saptah
Gift of the Blue Pearl
Into the Deep Blue
Wind Walkers – Shaman’s Dream
Ocean of Grace – Prema Hara
Heaven is here – MC YOGIA
Desert Dwellers:
Union (Groove Mix) Desert
Saraswati Mata
The Sacrament
Om Namo Bhagavate
Ecstatic Rapture (Open Space mix)
Misty Mountains (Glitch Space mix)
Christopher Perkins:
We Could
Kopernikus
Decay
Elara
Wicked Games
Sacred Feathers
Quadrant
Yuyun
Subterranean Sanctuary – Desert Dwellers
Eyesdown – Bonobo
White Sands – Lotus
Indra – Thievery Corporation
Durga Pahimam – Jai Uttal
God is Real – Hare Ram – Krishna Das
Embrace Feat. Morely – EarthRise SoundSystem
Shanti (Peace Out) – MC Yogi
Elements Into Light – Layne Redmond
Baba Hanuman – Steve Gold
Hymnala – Rigzin
Nicolina Sandstedt
(Artists only):
Jaya Lakshmi
White Sun
DJ Drez
Guru Singh
East Forest
Garth Stevenson
GuruGanesha Singh
Nada Sadhana
Allison Eaton
(Artists only):
Jai Uttal
Krishna Das
Snataum Kaur
Rasa
Craig Pruess
DJ Drez
Deuter
Maneesh De Moor
Steve Gold
Jonathon Goldman
Do You Have a Great Yoga Music Playlist? Share It in the Comments!
