By: Virginia Iversen, M.Ed.
When does Yoga class music have any impact on the lesson? Is music generating enthusiasm in your classes? Granted, there is nothing quite as unsettling as calming music in a Power Yoga class. Even more, attending a Yin Yoga class with hip hop music playing at a high volume might encourage students to leave. As a Yoga instructor, a very simple and straightforward way for generating enthusiasm in your classes is to choose appropriate musical selections that match and enhance the postures and breathing exercises through which you are guiding your students.
Class Pace
If you choose musical selections that are “at odds” with the sequence and pacing of Yoga postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques that you are teaching in any given class, you may dampen your students’ initial enthusiasm for the class. For instance, if you are teaching a restorative evening class, and you are playing very upbeat music on your headset or stereo system, you run the risk of undermining the very state of relaxation that you are trying to create in your students.
Balance and Flow
On the other hand, if you are teaching a vigorous, flow-based Yoga class during an active part of the day, such as early morning, noon, or early afternoon, and you play very soft, soothing, quiet music, you also run the risk of dampening your Yoga students’ enthusiasm and energy for the class. In India, traditional musicians are very adept at choosing appropriate melodies for certain times of the day and evening. Each raga is said to stimulate and balance the flow of prana, or life force energy, through the physical and emotional structures of the body and mind.
About Ragas
In this way, by matching a particular melody or raga to the time of day or evening, classical Indian musicians are able to enhance the balance and flow of energy, both within the listeners and between the listeners and the external environment. Different ragas are also said to evoke different emotional states of being. For instance, some ragas bring about states of inner peace, while other ragas generate energy, enthusiasm, and buoyancy. Quieter ragas often help listeners to fall into a relaxed meditative state, as the mind’s chatter is attenuated by the soothing music.
Specific Music
As a professional Yoga teacher, you can use this ancient knowledge of how to match the tone, pace, and sequence of the Yoga class. At the same time, you are teaching with the specific melodies and musical selections that you play during class. During some Vinyasa classes, you may also find it to be helpful to begin playing soothing Yoga class music at the start of your session. Then, you can increase the pace and tempo of the music you are playing as the class begins to peak in intensity. Afterward, the class begins to wind down and your Yoga students are practicing inversions, forward bends, and other finishing postures. As a result, you may find it helpful to play tracks that are calming and lead your students to a state of relaxation.
Music for Active Class Segments
During the most active and vigorous portion of your Yoga class, you may find it to be a nice change of pace to play contemporary music. For example, selections by artists such as Michael Franti, Krishna Das, or even Bruce Springsteen are possibilities. Although Bruce Springsteen’s music does not readily come to mind as the type of music one would hear in a Yoga class. Sometimes, playing traditional rock and roll songs is a great way to generate enthusiasm and energy during a vigorous flow of Power Yoga asanas.
About Mantras
There are also a number of beautiful recordings of ancient meditation mantras that help to relax the mind and support a state of meditation. By playing a 5-10 minute recording of one of these mantras, such as Om, Om Namah Shivaya, Guru Om, or So Ham, you will help your students to glide easily into meditation. Next, by matching the rhythm of your Yoga class with the musical selections that you are playing, you will support your students. Further, rhythm in class is flowing through a sequence of postures, pranayama exercises, and meditation practices in a seamless fashion.
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Matching the rhythm with yoga asanas support to generate enthusiasm in yoga class and its very effective. Thanks for nice posting.