I am a big believer that ANY kind of music can effectively be used in a full-spectrum vinyasa yoga class.  Does it make sense to play heart-pumping booty music in a candle-lit, restorative yoga class that introduces five poses within an hour?  Probably not.  But for the high-energy, sweat-inducing type of yoga that I practice and teach, it makes sense, and it can be done.  If you are ready to raise your home practice to another level, make your own yoga playlist.  I’ll show you how.

First off, there is a method to the madness. 
You will not enjoy your yoga experience if you simply string 60-minutes of your favorite songs together.  A yoga practice has ebb and flow—like a wave that builds, reaches a peak, and then falls off into peacefulness. The music must follow this wave-like trajectory to mirror the movement of the practice.

Here’s the basic structure of my own 60-minute practice and how I pick the music to fit.

0:00 – 5:00 minutes
Type of Music:  Peaceful instrumental
I like to use the first five minutes of my practice to sit in peace.  I close my eyes, I breathe deeply, I do some very light stretching (like reaching my arms overhead), and I set an intention for my practice.  I find it necessary to remind myself why I step onto my mat.  I set my purpose.  I find it difficult to do this however, if the music playing in the background is distracting.  I need purely instrumental music to tune into my own inner voice.  The perfect song for my first five minutes of practice is “Beyond this Moment” by Patrick O’Hearn.  Go listen to it.  I bet you’ll want to add it to your own playlist.

5:00 – 10:00 minutes
Type of Music:  Slow tempo
In the next five minutes, I usually do a number of warm-up poses.  Seated twists, light hamstring stretches, a few cat-cows to warm up the chest and back, and maybe a nice long downward facing dog.  In these five minutes, I am beginning to move.  I am no longer sitting with my eyes closed as I was in the first five minutes, but I am also not moving through a flow.  It makes sense for the music to remain low key.  I do not usually pick an instrumental song, but I do pick something with a slow tempo that will match my slow movements.

10:00 – 15:00 minutes
Type of Music:  Faster tempo; upbeat
At this point, I’m ready to start moving and raise the heart rate.  In these five minutes, I am doing multiple rounds of sun salutations.  I find this to be a great way to build heat and to fire up all of the muscles.  The music should reflect the increased pace of movement.  I love doing the sun salutation portion of my practice to “Sadeness, Pt. 1” (Extended Trance Mix) by Enigma.

15:00-30:00
Type of Music:  Upbeat, good energy, makes you want to move
Between minutes 15 and 30, I’m seriously flowing through my practice.  I love having music in the background that makes me want to move.  I don’t find it distracting to play hip hop, R&B, rap music or top 40 hits.  I actually enjoy it!  I like fast-paced fitness yoga, and I choose music that matches that level of energy.  I love Tupac, Jay Z, Gyptian, MC Yogi and many, many others.

30:00-40:00 min
Type of Music:  Upbeat, but a little slower for balance series
Between the 30 and 40-minute mark, I slow the music down just a bit.  I am still standing, but moving through a slower flow, as I practice my standing balance poses (dancer, tree, single-leg balance poses, etc.).  To me, it makes sense to lower the energy of the music just a bit as my heart rate decelerates slightly.  My song choices for this segment of my practice include “One Day” by Matisyahu, “Alone” by Heart, and “Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts.

40:00-50:00 min
Type of Music:  Slower for backbends and inversions
Slow it down even more!  Remember that you are building a playlist that rises, peaks and then gently falls.  We are in the falling stage here, and you want to pick music that is not distracting.  Backbends and inversions require slow focus, and the music should reflect that mood.  Some of my favorite choices for this part of my practice are “Down to the River to Pray” by Alison Krauss and “Higher Love” by James Vincent McMorrow.

50:00-55:00 min
Type of Music:  Peaceful music for seated/reclined stretches
In the final segment of my practice before savasana, I choose a song that is so peaceful that it could be used during savasana, too.  This is the part of my practice where I might take a gentle supine spinal twist or spend a few breaths in a seated forward fold.  Right now, my playlist includes Sarah McLachlan’s “Possession (Piano Version)”.

55:00-60:00 min
Type of Music:  Restful music (possibly instrumental) for savasana
What we’ve all been waiting for…savasana!  We’ve all been to yoga classes with savasana music that is distracting and actually detracts from the experience.  Fortunately, with your own playlist, you can choose the music that works best for YOU!  Personally, I do not mind music with lyrics.  I am still able to release tension and fall away into my own little world.  If it doesn’t work for you, then find a slow peaceful song that does not distract you.  Try an instrumental piece or even music with lyrics in another language so it is less distracting.  One of my absolute favorite savasana songs is “Fields of Gold” by Eva Cassidy.  This woman’s haunting, beautiful voice guides me right where I need to be.  I have structured this hypothetical class to be 60-minutes, but if you have time, enjoy a longer savasana.

Finally, let me introduce you to my favorite hour-long playlist.  If you are looking to start your own playlist, feel free to use my songs as a starting point.  Good luck, and happy flowing!

MY FAVORITE PLAYLIST