So many articles are highlighting the benefits of music in
the yoga class and different playlist for different flows, moods, and themes of
classes. Heck, in some YTT programs, how to build a playlist is something that
is being taught to aspiring teachers. I am lending a different perspective. I want to say a fresh perspective, but in the
sense of the yogic tradition, this view is very old school. My suggestion is to not play music or at the very least, take the attention off the
music and put it back where it should be, our students, our teaching, and the
practice. I know I am not going to be
making any friends by saying this and in general am going against the grain of
modern yoga in America, but I think something must be said for the simple
connection to breath that is the internal soundtrack of any yoga practice. Here are three reasons to turn off the tunes
in your yoga practice.
Reason #1
If a student walks up to you after class and says “Great
playlist” what are they really walking away from their yoga with? A deeper connection to self, a stronger
understanding of their bodymind, or are they humming some recently made popular
tune by the Luminaries or FUN.? As
teachers, we are not important, but the work we do is very important. It is our job to facilitate the growth of our
students. Sometimes this means giving
them what they want, sometimes this means giving them what they need; often two
very different things. The average yoga
class is full of Type A students, practicing a power or strong vinyasa based
flow class, listening to very rhythmic, upbeat tunes. Students come to class after leaving their
high stress jobs, after sitting in traffic, rushing to get to class, to be
physically and mentally stimulated by their practice and the accompanying
playlists. Is this what they want?
Yes. Is this what they need? I am not so sure. Maybe a chance to connect to the sweet
mantra of the breath would be more healing and beneficial in the long run. As teachers, we should be setting the tones
of class, not the other way around.
Reason #2
If the skill and artistry being put into a playlist is more
than that of the yoga, what are we really teaching? If as a teacher you always have an upbeat,
current playlist, then out of the blue stopped the music, what would
happen? Would your students, your
regulars, continue to show up? Or would
they find another teacher with a playlist more suited to their “needs”? Do your students come to class because they
are soothed by the sounds of your playlist, or because the overall effects of
the teachings has left them feeling more connected to self and balanced? Is the
same mastery, thought, and skill put into the energetics, the sequencing, and
the theming of every class, as is put into its playlist? As my teacher the
amazing Mary Bruce says, “What do you want to be? A yoga teacher, or a DJ?”
Reason #3
“Yogas chitta vritti nirodha” Yoga
is the calming of the fluctuations of the mind.
Music invokes motion and emotion, emotion being energy in
motion. In this second sutra, Patanjali
clearly states a main goal of our yoga practice, for the mind to become
still. Is this clarity, this stillness
available to a student with a loud playlist “energizing” the asana? Is a student who is singing along with the
music really making any connection to source? Where is the opportunity for
stillness, for settling in? Our chitta
vritti may be our thoughts from our day, or our plans for tomorrow; however,
song lyrics are just chitta vritti in pretty disguises. It’s all distraction.
I am not by any means saying to go cold turkey on your
playlists! Just imagine the panicked
frenzy in yoga studios across America!!
I am hoping to inspire some reflection.
As a teacher, is music one of the most important aspects of your class,
or the most important? Try just skipping
music in savasana for one class a week, then bump up to a whole class without
music once a week. Give your students
some context; let them know the philosophy behind practicing without music, the
importance of stilling the mind and connecting to breath. Instill in them a desire to try something new
and to achieve a deeper connection with their practice. Just observe and note,
the practice may become challenging to students, but in new and exciting ways. I know there are a lot of amazing teachers
out there teaching amazing yoga with amazing playlists to amazing people. I think
we could literally “drop some beats” here and there and still have a whole lot
of people enjoying the benefits of this amazing practice that is yoga.
As a student and/or teacher, have you ever practiced without
music? Try it. If it’s challenging, good, see what you can
learn. Where is your resistance? What are you holding onto? Let’s get
comfortable with the uncomfortable. You might be surprised what silence and
connection to breath will reveal.
The practice of yoga is ancient and timeless. Like all things, it is expected to evolve
with our modern times. The way we
practice, the clothes we wear when practicing, the places we practice in, are
all examples of this ancient practice evolving to accommodate the very
different needs of modern day Americans.
Under all of this change, the “hype”, the common threads of the
philosophy should be strong and unchanging.
Yoga is not a contest to see who can hold the longest handstand in the
middle of the room, or a fashion contest displaying our newest purchases from
LULUlemon, and it certainly is not a disco, dancing and singing along encouraged.
(We are not talking Kirtan here, we are talking top 40). The thread of yoga is union, a connection to self that helps guide us to a better place
of understanding, knowing, and balance in our lives. The science of yoga is meant to expose our
own radiance, not drown it in thumping bass beats. It is in the space between
thoughts and actions that true connection occurs. It is resting in the sweetness of stillness
that our inner radiance begins to shine.
Turn off the tunes, tune into the melody of your own being and let the rhythm
of your breath guide you to new places in your practice.
1 Whole Roasting Chicken