To be clear, sound has a completely different relationship to yoga and rest…but playlists, tracks and tunes… what’s the nitty gritty?
There are so many great conversations out there and personally I love that challenge to my own comfort and narrative as a teacher and practitioner.
Here’s my flip flops on music as a key focus as part of classes BUT my conclusion may surprise a few yoga colleagues.
Music is great – but yoga isn’t pleasure seeking.
Music is wonderful – but it’s a distraction from the practice.
Music is evocative – but yoga is a practice of sensory withdrawal.
Music is beautiful- but the practice of yoga and tolerating yourself should be allowed to be ugly.
Music is uplifting- but are we pursuing more noise to distract us from facing our inner noise?
Music is immersive- but we are in the practice of trying to be drawn into ourselves.
Music supports us- are we infantilising adults who could mostly well learn to be with themselves?
Music is engaging- but we are trying to engage in observing our selves?
Music makes it easier- yep it’s not easy to sit with the mind.
Music adds the feels- or does it numb us more as a distraction to occupy us rather than face ourselves?
Is the class becoming a show, a performance timed to a soundtrack?
Are we obsessed with finesse, adding more and more rather than stripping back and going within?
Is yoga no longer enough, has studio culture got us selling sure outcome experiences through emotional manipulation?