So all I read about lately is yoga playlists and how you gotta have one. Seriously? When I first started going to yoga the room was always silent, there was no music of any kind playing. We practiced to the sound of our own breath and of course, the teachers voice. Then, over the years music, a certain yogic style of music, a very calming, very Indian-inspired music was what was played at yoga.
I once had a teacher in New Zealand, I will never forget her because she was one of the best teachers I’ve ever had and she played very hip music during class – it was definitely not traditional yogic music. I liked it a lot and it helped me get into yoga on those cold mornings in our unheated room. More recently I read about Tara Stiles and how her playlists have completely turned her yoga classes into something out of the ordinary. Sarah Wilson wrote the following on her blog after attending a class with Tara:
“There I was in crow pose to the strains of Red Hot Chilli Pepper. There I was holding Warrior #2 for five minutes to Run DMC. And there was Tara purring her encouragement in her mesmerising lilt, skipping around the class to adjust and touch us on the ankles, chuckling like a little girl. She chuckles the whole time.”
Then last night in the middle of yoga my teacher Adam stopped to comment on the music, his exact words were: “Interesting music. I’m not sure how this made it to the playlist?“. I was actually really digging the music, it sounded a lot like an instrumental from Sting and even though I had noticed that it was different from the usual music played, it was not distracting in any way. Tara Stiles’ playlists include the likes of Eddie Vedder, Radiohead, The Church, even Willie Nelson. I have to admit I am not sure how this type of vibe would affect my yoga, and by that I mean music with lyrics and a particular beat.
It got me thinking because I never play music when I’m practicing at home because I am usually trying to squeeze in half a dozen asanas in between cooking dinner, doing the laundry and helping my girls with their homework. So music is the last thing on my mind. But as I said, it’s got me thinking and to my mind, the only musician for the job is Sting. I mean the man is a dedicated yogi, a musical genius and his music never fails to bring me joy. So I’ve decided that I am going to put a playlist together for my at-home yoga practice, and the first song of choice is going to be The Secret Marriage from …Nothing like the Sun by Sting. Simple, quiet, perfect. I’ll let you know how it goes.
How do you practice yoga at home? Do you play your own special playlist or do you practice in silence or like me, to the sound of your children playing/squabbling/singing in the background?
love & light xo
