Hey yogis,
Welcome to the much-debated topic of yoga playlists.
Let me begin with a nod to the counter-argument: Yes. Absolutely, no doubt: yoga does not require a soundtrack. Your self practise does not need music, nor do group lessons. Some practitioners never ever have music, and I wholeheartedly respect that. My self practise often has no music, and occasionally I will teach a class with no soundtrack. It changes students’ focus, breathing syncs across the room, alongside many other benefits that I value.
However. Like much of yoga practise and teaching, I think this one comes down to personal preference. And personally, I like using music both within my practise and in class for two reasons: it helps students to move and to feel.
Suddenly asana can become a dance, and emotion perhaps normally suppressed is permitted to emerge. (I learnt this one the hard way when a teacher played Jeff Buckley’s ‘Hallelujah’ in Savasana and I, shortly after a breakup, burst into tears.)
Now.. the playlists themselves. As many of you know, a TPRYoga class will typically follow a sequence familiar to many practitioners. There will be a Warm Up → A Flow → A Lunar Section → Savasana.
My classes normally involve a 90 minute playlist, arranged with today’s class in mind, that takes you through all four phases.
However I recognise that music is hugely personal, and you may not like all the songs for your self practise, or you may wish for more variation on a regular basis. In light of this, I present you with the following four playlists.
May you pick and mix as you choose, may it enable you to move and to feel.
As ever, please report back! We’d love to know if you enjoyed these, or if you have any recommendations of your own. After all, it is your practise..
Love,
T x
Warm Up:
Flow:
Lunar:
Savasana: