I’m a lover, not a fighter, and I especially love to share my yoga-class playlists. Here is a playlist I used a few times in December and for a class I taught on January 8. I got a few requests to share it, so here goes.
I started out my class by reading this awesome quote courtesy of Mario Duguay. It was the perfect statement to explain the importance of being present during yoga practice and to help get the class grounded.
Attain Serenity
I no longer let myself be swept into the turmoil of my mind and emotions.
From now on I let go of all stress, tension, and worry so I may attain harmony and serenity.
I will do one thing at a time and savor each moment.
I took the class through some breathing exercises, and when I felt everyone was relaxed and in the right frame of mind, I fired up the music.
I have to admit, there was not a specific theme to the music selected other than just wanting to share some of my favorites songs from a mix of new and classic artists.
Annie Lennox kicks off the class with “A Thousand Beautiful Things” and has such a great pool of music to select from that she may just be my next Yoga Playlist Featured Artist.
You have to check out the version of “Empire State of Mind” I selected. It’s not the rap mash-up version of Alicia with Jay-Z, but rather a slow-moving, beautiful ballad sang solo by Alicia.
I included a little shout-out for my love of Broadway musicals and Green Day by including a song from the American Idiot soundtrack.
For savasana I selected “Aqueous Transmission” by Incubus. If you are ready to commit to a longer savasana in your class, “Transmission” provides a full seven minutes and forty-nine seconds of blissful relaxation. The last portion of the song includes up to a minute of real frogs croaking outside the studio where the song was recorded. It is sublime and, trust me, the perfect background to peacefully bring your class out of savasana.
If you are wondering about the Cliff Habian Trio, I always try to include a local Ohio artist in my playlist, and Cliff and his boys (Bill Ransom and Glen Holmes) are a classical jazz group and mainstay of the Cleveland lounge scene.
Warm-Up
“A Thousand Beautiful Things” · Annie Lennox
“Like a Star” · Corinne Bailey Rae
“Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” · Alicia Keyes
“The Reason” · Hoobastank
“Somewhere Only We Know” · Keane
Standing/Sun Salutations
“Changes” · David Bowie
“Baby, I Love Your Way” · Big Mountain (This is a cool reggae cover version of the Peter Frampton classic.)
“Holiday” · Madonna
“Virtual Insanity” · Jamiroquai
“Speed of Sound” · Coldplay
Floor for Hip and Heart Openers, Cooldown
“Wake Me Up When September Ends” · Performed by Original Broadway Cast of American Idiot/Green Day
“Ordinary People” · John Legend
“Gravity” · John Mayer
“Long Time Sun” · Snatum Kaur
Savasana/Close
“Aqueous Transmission” · Incubus
“First Snowfall” · The Cliff Habian Trio
Total Music Time: 66 minutes
Total Class Time: 75 minutes
Stay tuned; next week I’ll be posting the playlist from my goddess-themed yoga class.
terrific list! and can’t wait to check out your fav savasana songs (always looking for new ones). I’m currently grooving on ananda giri for more mellow stuff and always girish for funky yogic tunes. thanks for this post!
Thank You for sharing! I like your sensibilities!
The Corinne Bailey Rae song is beautiful. Thanks for posting! I love how you broke up the song list into sequencing…you ROCK!
Personally I like heavier rock and would love a class with grunge and some serious AC/DC. 😀
Christa you rocker! I’ll have to put together a head banging playlist just for you!
Nancy thanks for the reco’s – I’ll check em out!
Absolutely love your music choices. Just downloaded ICUBUS’ Aqueous Transmission last night and used it in class today.
I have many faces in yoga… sometimes yoga and yogic inspired music, sometimes pop, sometimes guitar/strings (like Rodrigo & Gabriela) and sometimes rock… all depends on my mood, the weather, the class… music makes our yoga dance. I love looking around the class at how people move, how their faces reflect the music as I teach. However, at times, silence is the best music.
Maria,
You can just tell how much time and effort you put into your music, so special! And it is so so nice of you to SHARE girlfriend! I can’t wait to have a few moments to spend some time with this, I do have Corrine’s music and a few others here tho maybe not the exact songs you’ve selected! I’m excited, I need some new yoga music and got some itunes cards for Christmas! I start my little class here in two weeks, lots of prep needed for me….!!!
Do you have YTT this weekend? Hope you are well and enjoying it!
Happy weekend!
C.
Another GREAT playlist….thanks for sharing!
Great playlist, I’ll have to check out the few songs I’m not familiar with. I also like adding the thought (sequencing) behind the music. All in all I’d have to say your taste almost rivals mine (your Bowie choice is inspired)
Om Tat Sat