Practicing yoga to the sound of music or in silence is a vivid debate in the yoga community and will continue to be for it is a question of personal preference and choice rather than an absolute right or wrong.
A lot has been written and said on the topic already so I won’t elaborate on each opposing (yet sometimes complementary) theory but if I try to summarize, we have:
The “No-No” tribe. Their adage?
- Music is distracting and we don’t need more external stimuli, we’ve got enough
- Not everybody likes the same kind of music so don’t impose anything on anyone
- Music is often associated with emotions and can create unnecessary triggers
- Etc…
The “Hell Yes” posse. Their motto?
- Music creates a relaxing atmosphere
- Music helps release tensions, it has a healing power
- Music is a source of energy and positive vibrations
- Etc…
The “Well, it depends” crew. Their view?
- Yes but only Indian or soft ambient music
- Yes but for dynamic / flow classes only
- No unless it serves a specific purpose (focus and concentration, healing)
- No unless clients specifically asks for it
- Etc…
Wanna know how I feel about it? “Hell Yes” I am boosted by music, but I also believe it’s all about moderation (I’m Swiss after all) and appropriateness (the right placed song is just like the right placed pose in a sequence).
Now you. If you like the idea of “tuning in”, click HERE to get my November 60 minutes playlist for you to enjoy. And I bet it’s gonna get you unroll your mat pronto!
- Sentimientos – Tango Project
- Higher Love - James Vincent Mc Morrow
- Unintended – Muse
- Try – Colbie Caillat
- One Day – Matisyahu
- When We Were Young – Passenger
- Aloha Ke Akua – Nahko Bear
- Thunder – Imagine Dragons
- Happy – Burak Yeter
- Perfect – Ed Sheeran
- Life Uncommon – Jewel
- Om Namo Narayani – Edo&Jo
