Yoga Tunes

When I began my yoga teacher training, I remember my teacher telling me, “Some people will like my yoga, and some people will like someone else’s yoga, and that’s okay”.  This quote really stuck with me as I began teaching and wanted to create my own path as a yoga teacher.

As a teacher, I sincerely believe it is important to take different types of yoga classes.  Even if it is not the same style in which I trained, I can still garner something from every teacher.  Each teacher has something unique and different to offer from the instructor’s consideration of different ability levels and basic encouragement and energy brought to the experience to the way the poses are connected to the music which is playing in the background.  The atmosphere created by the music sets the mood for every class. 

Alright yoga instructors; let’s stop chastising other yoga instructors for the style of music they wish to play in their class.  That’s just one element that makes each instructor unique and gives participants choices.  It is just like students in school having their favorite teacher because of the elements they bring to the classroom.  Exercising for some people is a struggle within itself, offering them choices gives them one less reason to find not to show up.

The other day, I was reading over some posts on a Facebook page for a yoga teacher who is very popular, and I could not help but notice the negativity that someone used in their comment toward this instructor.  The comment geared towards how sad it was that a popular pop song, (with words in it, God forbid), was playing during the yoga routine. 

One word popped into my head:  “Ahimsa”.  You know non-violence, even with words.  One participant may not like having current pop tunes playing while they take a yoga class, and that is okay.  Someone else may only enjoy having instrumental meditation type music playing while they take a yoga class and that is okay.  Guess what, instructors can teach their class however they want and participants can visit and take classes from any type of studio that appeals to them.  You know why? Because some people will like my yoga and some people will like someone else’s yoga, and that’s okay. 

Let’s stick together yoga teachers; lift each other up and support each other.  After all, as long as we give our students good energy they can take out and share with the world, who cares if they get their good energy with instrumental music or the latest pop tunes.  

Namasté!