Nothing but the beat

I have a not-so-secret love for Top 40s high-energy music. Kanye, Rihanna, Beyonce, Pitbull… and even J-Lo and Britney get heavy rotation in my playlists. Despite the simplistic (sometimes down right ridiculous) lyrics, over-produced vocals, and lack of originality, these songs with their catchy hooks and repetitive beats get stuck in my head, make me want to dance, and put a smile on my face.

This Top 40s-happiness spilled over into my yoga practice when I wasn’t paying attention and left my iPod on shuffle… on came David Guetta in the middle of a sun salutation. The energy of the song ramped up my energy and I started timing my movements and breathing to the beat.

The next time I did an energetic practice, I intentionally played Nothing But the Beat by David Guetta. Talk about a fun way to practice! Without even trying, the poses flowed into each other and yoga started to feel like dancing. No yawning during that practice 😉

For more typical yoga music, I’ve updated my listen and meditate song lists with some new songs and albums:

  • Eternal Om by Yogi Hari Eternal Om - Yogi Hari
  • Flores by Mirabai Ceiba Flores - Mirabai Ceiba
  • Har Hare Haree by Gurudass Har Hare Haree - Longing to Belong
  • Ma by Guru Ganesha Singh Ma - Yoga Living Series - Meditative Moon
  • Yoga: 8 Limbs to Bliss by Maggie Diaz Del Castillo Yoga: 8 Limbs to Bliss - Maggie Diaz Del Castillo

Ma is a wonderfully relaxing song – perfect for savasana – although it may induce yawning!

There’s lots of great mellow music to have on while doing yoga, but sometimes being entirely unmellow is just what a practice needs!

Updated mellow music list

A few new mellow tunes that I’ve added into the rotation. Take a look at the Listen page for a full list of songs that are great for a yoga practice and at the Meditate page for meditation music I recommend. Click on the iTunes button to purchase a specific song.

  • Holding a Heart by Girl Named Toby Holding a Heart - We Are - EP
  • Long Time Sun by Snatam Kaur Long Time Sun - Celebrate Peace
  • Never Ending Road (Amhrán Duit) by Loreena McKennitt Never Ending Road (Amhrán Duit) - An Ancient Muse
  • Where are you Going? by Dave Matthews Band Where Are You Going - Busted Stuff

Mellow tunes for practicing yoga

Take a look at the Listen page for a full list of songs that are great for a yoga practice and at the Meditate page for meditation music I recommend. Click on the iTunes button to purchase a specific song.

  • Aad Guray by Deva Premal 
  • Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons 
  • Costa Rica (Acoustic Version) by Vince Vaccaro 
  • Full of Grace by Sarah McLachlan 
  • Hide & Seek 2 by Imogen Heap 
  • Homeless by Paul Simon (with Ladysmith Black Mambazo) 
  • Into the West by Howard Shore & Annie Lennox 
  • Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson 
  • Lonely by The Boom Booms 
  • Lost by Anouk 
  • She’s Only Happy In the Sun by Ben Harper 
  • Song for Leaving by Brett Dennen 
  • Till Kingdom Come by Coldplay 
  • Tu Es Belle by Toby 
  • You’ll Go Far by Jenn Grant