Yoga and Music All that you
should know about it.
A fiery duo, yoga & music
“Without music , life would be a mistake” these words by Friedrich
Nietzsche are true in all their senses. Music is more often than not
looked as a gift from heavens, after-all it is therapeutic, aids our
bodies in daily functioning, makes us feel good, refreshes and most
of all uplifts our spirits! Um, does this not seem similar to the
benefits offered by yoga? Well, it sure does. Now let’s imagine what
it would be like when Yoga and Music are combined! Sounds
ethereal, right? However, there are two sides to this coin and before
we get into figuring out how this awesome duo of Yoga and Music
is, let’s look at what are the do’s and don'ts of this combination.
First things first, yoga & music, to do or not to do?
Well few things are obvious, you wouldn’t want to listen to Rock or
Metal while indulging into your Hatha or Vipassana practice (some
might prefer, but then to each their own). The reason is pretty
simple - the purpose of yogic practice is to attain physical, spiritual
and mental well-being.
Patanjali defines yoga as “Yogas chitta vritti nirodha”. Translated
from Sanskrit this means yoga is cessation of the modifications of
the mind. According to this philosophy yoga calms the fluctuations
of the mind. What is left is mental stillness which enables you to
experience life as it really is without distracting thoughts or
judgements. You may also call it turning inward or coming home to
yourself and to your body while the mind quietens. A Duke
University paper suggests that music could assist calming our mind
and improving our mood by over three times compared to an
environment without music. In fact an article, entitled Why Music in
Yoga Matters, written by Derek Berres weighs up the pros and cons
of combining music and Yoga; "Knowing what music to play and
when to play can elevate your classes to another level."
Thus, Yoga and correct choice in music can greatly assist your
practice. While some yogis do believe that music rather than
mantras can corrupt, disrupt and distort one's practice. However we
at Adhiroha feel that it is a matter of personal choice and the
principles of Yoga encourage to consider every individuals opinion
with regard. Hence it boils down to an individual's personal choice
and one should have an open mind and to adapting to new things
be it Mantras or Music.
Therefore, the balance of music, mantra, the ragas, swaras and
sruthis all should be perfectly matched (or one should at least strive
to match) with the kind of yoga practice a person wishes to indulge
in. An incorrect balance of the aforementioned elements could
disrupt your yogic practice greatly.
The perfect recipe for yoga & music
How to make sure your music isn’t a distraction but a help to
your yogic practice
So here’s a brief guide for having the perfect recipe for your Yoga
and Music duo
1.Have a Playlist!
You do not want to get up every time your music ends in between
your asanas. Make sure you have a playlist ready before your
session.
2. Type of music matters
Fast upbeat music, heavy piano recitals or lyrics may not work for
everyone during their practice. So start with selecting music that
can deepen, motivate and guide your practice.To use the words of
well known yoga teacher David Lurey “music is like the banks of a
river and your asanas are the river itself led by the many curves and
bends of the river banks”.
3. Change music depending on the type of your Yogic practice
Your music should vary depending on what you are doing, While
Vinyasa could use dynamic music that you can ‘flow’ with, Hatha is
more static so it needs a different - less dynamic -approach.
Generally speaking, each type of music be it fast or slow has its
own effect and you must know when to use what depending on how
it affects you.
For starters, make sure to use engaging and flowy music for the
more active parts of your practice and mellow music that facilitates
concentration and relaxation for the calmer parts of your practice
like balancing poses
4.Bottom Line
Try out some of our recommendations and then gradually can
modify them as per your needs and types of yoga practice. Make
sure you have a playlist and are using the right kinds of tracks for
the right kinds of asanas and breathings also make sure to update
and switch your playlists regularly. In the end, it all boils down to
how it makes you feel. If it feels good, you’ve made the perfect
recipe for Yoga and Music, if not try something else or drop it all
together.
Wanna know what we’ve been hearing?Here’s our recommendations
When it comes to finding the right kind of music it could be like
finding a needle in a dessert but that’s where your friends at
Adhiroha are going to help you. Here is a list of 4 of our favorite
playlists. Do note, these are subjective based on one’s preference
but you could sure begin from them!
- Sunrise Yoga-Leading the charts on Spotify
This one is perfect for a light, early morning yoga session, it goes
with multiple types of practices, from tantric, to vipassana and can
be extended to many other types of practices too. Check it out at-
here
- Spotify Kai Franz – Surya Namaskar
Another one of all time favourites, specifically helps in sun
salutations and is sure to get you going for a power packed yoga
session. Check it out- here
- Dhyanam-Jack of all trades
If you are trying your hand for the first time with music and yoga, we
feel this playlist could be your tool, it has all variations of music
which can assist you depending on the kind of yoga you wish to do.
Listen to it and select the one that you want! Find it at spotify!
- Yoga and Meditation-Ambient Music
This playlist takes it away with the most soothing tracks, you could
enjoy them not only during yoga but also during bedtime and while
relaxing! Do try these out in a child pose for the best experience.
Find it here
Taste in music is very personal and subjective so take your time to
find something that inspires or moves you do some mix and match
and see what works the best and if nothing does, make sure you
drop it all together and try hearing your own breath. Cause’ trust us,
yoga with or without music can change the way you live your life!
