Yoga playlists
I have been teaching yoga for almost one year. Part of the craft is constructing music playlists. Here’s my approach:
- Working towards having 26 ready-to-go playlists, different playlist each week. So I’ll recycle every six months. Currently at 16. But some of the older ones need a revamp.
- Playlists are not attached to any particular sequence. All my sequences and playlists follow the same broad arc so they are interchangeable. This is a privilege of teaching C2 instead of Yoga Sculpt – matching the beat is much less important in vinyasa flow.
- The arc of each playlist is: slow instrumental for integration series, then faster instrumental for the transition from integration to Sun A, then pop music, then pop dance, then house music (for core), then reverse order back to savanasa. Maybe an opportunity for a slower instrumental song prior to savasana during spine and hip stretching at the end of class.
- Prefer a mix of older and newer music. Ideally each person knows at least two songs each class. So I play mostly pop songs. My friends say I’m pandering to my audience and perhaps that is true.
- I like to embed one “rare” or “questionable” or “obscure” song I adore within each playlist, surrounded by more popular songs. Such that if there is a student out there who shares my adoration they are pleasantly surprised to hear an unexpected but familiar song in class.
- Lyrics are good during the middle of class. When I started teaching I got distracted by the lyrics. But as a student I generally get bored if the music is instrumental. So now that I’m more comfortable teaching I’m happy to offer that to my students.
- In general, I play music I like to listen to. Music that gets stuck in my head that I want to listen to again for my own gratification.
- Never include songs with cuss words. Never include songs with super dark themes, even if the instrumentals are upbeat. People come to yoga to feel good. For this reason I also tend to avoid sad or depressing or particularly emotive songs (think Adele) even if they would be nominally acceptable. It’s not what I would want to hear if I were taking class.
- Hack for playing popular but profane or sad songs: use an instrumental cover. People who know the song will appreciate it, those who don’t will just find it a nice instrumental.
- Hack for playing good songs that are just a bit to slow for class: use a “workout” remix. There are a lot of these on Spotify and they are pretty upbeat and also tend to be cleaned up a bit.
- To stay relevant with the next generation I sometimes play TikTok viral songs and current pop XD
- Something to watch out: songs very heterogeneous in tempo or volume. Can be distracting to teach to, distracting to practice to.
- Overall I end up playing a lot of what I like to listen to: 80s pop music, saxophone, house, jazz, classical, hip hop, classic rock, chillwave, country.
- I’d like to explore themed playlists. For example only songs related to Chicago. Perhaps after I finish the standard set of 26.
- But I’m always seeking inspiration. In airports, grocery stores, and yes elevators. Always curious what people like, what to use for inspiration.