How To Be a Badass Yoga DJ

By Sarah Stevenson • October 15th, 2012 • 4159 Views

This is the second article in a series on how to teach life changing yoga classes that will ensure both you and your students will blossom and flourish in their practice.

“Music melts the separate pieces of our bodies together” ~Anais Nin

Sometimes, I like to make believe that my life is a movie—and one of my favorite aspects to a movie is the soundtrack. I remember early in my yoga career when the studio’s stereo was on the fritz. (It wasn’t really broken by the way. It was just that the 30 girls working at the place needed one of the male students to finally show us the right button to push.) That was the week I realized the importance of music to the yoga experience. Hearing certain songs can bring back a whole array of memories, some you love to remember and others you could live with out. I have found that when I take the time to design a new music mix for each of my classes, I become instantaneously inspired and I can’t help but pass that inspiration on to my students.

Here’s a formula I have developed over the years that synchronizes movement and sound to calm, invigorate, center and inspire each student.

Beginning of class: At this point in the practice your students are rushing in from a busy day. They are looking to quiet and center their minds before they move into the practice. The best music for the beginning of class is instrumental, quiet pieces. I like to use classical music.

Sun Salutations: Now you want to get your students bodies moving. So bring in some lively music, something upbeat that will get them pumped.

Standing Asanas: Again, pull in some upbeat music. It’s a good time for inspiring music because this is when our students start to get in touch with their bodies. We hold emotions in certain areas of our bodies. When we loosen up those areas and connect to meaningful words or music, it is a perfect recipe for shedding not only stress, but pent up emotion we may otherwise not be aware of.

Seated Asanas: It’s now time to ground the body. Intense, deep, slowing music is perfect at this point. Our emotions ebb and flow with music, as does our heart rate. Now that our students are sitting, the heart slows...

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Location:  US

Sarah Stevenson, a.k.a., The Tini Yogini, is a Certified Yoga Instructor in Southern California.  Sarah began her journey into yoga the day her son was born and placed on her chest. As Sarah recounts “The moment...