Try Something Different: Music To Make Yoga To

I love practicing yoga to music.  Mantra and kirtan (chanting with musical accompaniment) are wonderful and can add so much to the transcendental aspect of a meditative yoga class.  However, much like individual people, there is so much music out there, all so varied and beautiful.

“Music is what feelings sound like.”

In conjunction with the physical movement of a yoga class, music can provide an incredible emotional release.  We tend to store a lot of emotions within our physical body (example: notice what happens to your neck and shoulders when you’re feeling stressed).  The power of practicing yoga postures is the way in which it strengthens our body-mind connection.  The power that music has is its ability to get you out of an analytical, thinking state and into a more intuitive, feeling state. The two combined can be quite effective for releasing emotional “stuck” places.  Music also has the ability to inspire a frame of mind open to creativity and joy.  Think about a song that, every time you hear it, you feel different, you feel like moving and dancing, simply for the fun of it!

“Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without” -Confucius

Mix it up. A universal language, there is truly music for everyone and for every experience.  I recommend trying something a little different next time you practice.  Try making a playlist of your favorite songs, no matter the genre or if it might seem totally wrong at first.  Try music that moves you – to tears, to laughter, joy, excitement, rage, anything.  Experiment with this.  Play around and above all, have FUN with it.  By the way, it is also perfectly acceptable to sing and dance in a yoga class.  In fact, I recommend it.

“Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul”-Plato

Upbeat and Uplifting. Here are some examples of music that is GREAT for a yoga class, music that I enjoy playing on occasion:

• The Beatles pretty much any song
  
• Coldplay Viva la Vida, God Put A Smile Upon Your Face
• Jason Mraz I’m Yours
• Jem It’s Amazing, Keep On Walking
• Gnarls Barkley Going On, Smiley Faces
• Justin Timberlake My Love feat. T.I. and Timbaland
• MIA Pull Up the People, Sunshowers, Paper Planes
• Bitter:Sweet Don’t Forget To Breathe
• Goldfrapp Beautiful
• Feist I Feel It All
• OK Go Invincible, Do What You Want
• Vampire Weekend M79, Bryn, The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance

Yoga and music dork that I am, I could go on and on ….. and on.  Hopefully, you get the idea but if you happen to be thinking, “What the heck is she talking about?”  It’s okay.  Emotional reactions to music are completely subjective.  Like I said, try some of YOUR favorite music and see what happens.

Namaste and Rock On with Your Funky Self ……

Lindsay

Please share an example of your favorite music to “make yoga” to below!

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

October 11, 2009 | Categories: Musings, Yoga Tips | Tags: Articles, depression, music, tips, well-being, yoga, yoga benefits | 6 Comments »