Yoga Music

Doing yoga is challenging for first timers not just physically, but also mentally. Due to the amount of stress we experience daily, it’s not always easy to sit still and listen to our breathing without our minds reverting to the worries we face at work and at home. This is why some people prefer to have background music playing while doing yoga — to help clear their minds and feel a sense of peace and calm.

Types of Yoga Music

Choosing between these different types of music would largely depend on your preference and the type of yoga you practice. Some people are able to meditate best when they hear forest sounds and other sounds of nature, while some feel more at peace hearing ambient music or more upbeat sounds. There are several types of sounds used as yoga music, some of which are discussed below.

Sounds of Nature

This is the most common type of yoga music used in studios as well as on instructional DVDs. For many, the sounds of ocean waves, water flow, birds chirping, and other sounds of nature are what helps them calm down and clear their heads of internal and external distractions. This type of yoga music can be used for just about any style of yogic practice, except the vigorous ones like Ashtanga.

If you are doing Vinyasa yoga and are thinking of buying yoga music to inspire you and get you “in the zone,” this type of music is ideal to remind you of the natural energy that flows within your body.

Chants and Mantras

Chants and Sanskrit mantras make for good background yoga music if you are doing meditative styles of yoga. Advanced yogis are commonly schooled and taught yoga by Hindu sages who have mastered the art of yogic practice. These are the ones who live by Sanskrit mantras that reflect Hindu and yoga philosophies. If you are doing yoga for meditative purposes, this type of music will help you learn more about the ancient art through the mantras and inspire you to get in touch with your inner core.

Instrumental Music

If chants, mantras, and harmonious recitation of words prove to be too distracting, then instrumental music may be the perfect audio background for you. As mentioned, your choice of yoga music depends on your preference and what you think works best for you — so you can go for Western instrumental music or go for more ethnic sounds. Some instrumental music genres popularly used as yoga music are chill out, ambient, and lounge music. You can even go for instrumental “shoegaze” music that make use of typical guitars and percussion but with low, steady, and “flowing” beats.

Indian and Ethnic Music

Yoga is an ancient practice that originated in India, so it’s natural that some students and yogis would feel most “at home” doing yoga poses with traditional Indian music or Indian-inspired sounds playing. This type of yoga music is usually composed of harmonies of Indian stringed instruments like the sitar, combined with low percussion beats from the tabla.

Ethnic music, or at least those which are commonly used in yogic practice, tend to be quite upbeat. This is why this type of music is usually suited for the more fast-paced styles of yoga like Ashtanga or Power Yoga.

Where to Buy Yoga Music

You don’t have to worry about finding the right yoga music if you are taking yoga classes because most studios provide their own music. But if you are a long-time yoga enthusiast and bring your yoga practice with you wherever you go, you may want to look into buying yoga music to inspire you and help you center your thoughts as you do different yoga poses.

You can buy yoga music at physical record stores or online, where you can browse through countless catalogues of yoga and meditation music. You can even buy compilation CDs with tracks that are specifically designed for certain styles of yogic practice.