Holy cow – it has been way too long since I’ve written about cool yoga music! So, to make up for my yoga playlist slacking, I’ve decided that my next few blog posts will be dedicated to CD reviews, cool summer yoga and music events, and my new favorite yoga theme song.

Get ready for some happening harmoniums, musical mantras, and soothing savasana serenades perfect for your home yoga practice or to put together an awesome yoga class playlist.

Because I’m Happy!

I started out my yoga classes a few weeks ago with a few poetic lines from one of my favorite songs these days.

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you.

Because I’m happy!

If you have not heard these lyrics – you must not have turned on your radio in the last few months because “Happy” by Pharrell Williams has been a big hit this year.

[youtube]http://youtu.be/y6Sxv-sUYtM[/youtube]

I especially like the second verse of the song where Pharrell starts singing about bad news. He says, “Give me all you got, don’t hold it back, because I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine. No offense to you, don’t waste your time. Here’s why: because I’m happy.”

Hummm, I wonder if Pharrell practices yoga because he obviously is really in touch with the concept of santosha, or contentment.

Santosha is part of the eight limbs of yoga and is one of the niyamas. From the translation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Satchidananda, the definition of santosha is being content with what you have and where you are at, instead of wishing for things you don’t have, or daydreaming of the future. Santosha is living in the present and feeling true satisfaction. And, here’s the kicker: When you have this kind of contentment, supreme joy is attained. In other words, living in the present leads to HAPPINESS.

In his hit single, Pharrell is basically telling the bearer of bad news, “Hey, I’m not ignoring the issues of my life. What I’m doing is practicing santosha so that even in the midst of all these challenges, I can be content. I can be happy by practicing happiness and contentment with what I have right here, right now. Don’t try to bring me down, because I am HAPPY! Woo Hoo!”

Yes, even Pharrell likes to bust out a big Woo Hoo when he’s happy.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but feel happy when I hear this song, and for that very reason, it has become my new favorite yoga theme song. I’ve used it as a theme for my yoga classes, on my yoga class playlists, and to dance around the yoga studio while I set up for classes (i.e., while I’m raking the beach for beach yoga classes). I bought the song from iTunes and have it on my phone and listen to it whenever I need a little fix of santosha happiness.

It reminds me to think about what happiness means to me, to bring a little dance and smile to everything I do, and that being happy is what life is about. I was really touched when a few people sent me links to “Happy” and told me it made them think of me 🙂

Pharrell, you got it right: Happiness is the truth.

Here are a few more of my favorite yoga theme songs:

Today is Going to Be the Best Day of My Life

A Lovely (Yoga) Day and awesome song parody!

You Just Got to Believe – Believe in Yourself

Or, head on over to the Cool Yoga Music page on The Daily Downward Dog for all my yoga theme songs, cool yoga playlists, and featured yoga musical artists!

Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!