october playlist

When you walk into the studio music surrounds us, and inspires us to move and flow or to ground in stillness. B.K.S. Iyengar says, “Yoga is like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.” I know that music can sometimes make or break my practice; especially, when I pick a random playlist on Spotify or Amazon Music! “Why is this song even on here?”, “This is way too fast for savasana”, or “I should not pick this playlist/station again”. So, I decided to dabble in making my own playlists for my home practice, but felt a little nervous about the process. I had been to classes, but I am not a yoga instructor. I kept thinking I needed some deeper understanding, yet in actuality the process was extremely grounding and satisfying! The experience of picking songs, listening, moving the order around, gave me a sense of relaxation and preparedness for this fall season. We are going to be posting for you a monthly Yoga Home Playlist in order to help you build your yoga practice in way that is meaningful to you.

In the fall our minds turn to pumpkin patches, scarves, apple picking, warm boots, crunching leaves, cool air, and breaking out those cozy sweaters! Every change in season is a time to transition both our external and internal selves. When our rituals and routines mirror the seasons we begin to use less force, but rather invoke a gentle balance and acceptance of where we are in this earthly time and space. I don’t know about you, but I am ready for a respite from the intensity and heat of summer. During this time we can start to let our practice begin to cool down as well, and what better way to inspire this transition within than with music. Your practice begins with “Breathing Space” by Sacred Earth and “Morning Fog” by Izzard to set the tone of your October practice for grounding down like the fall leaves beginning to fall to the Earth. Then, if it serves you, you can begin to start to quicken your personal flow with songs like “Sun Salutations” by Robyn Goodall and “October” by Broken Bells. As the music and you flow on, begin to settle back into yourself during cool down and savasana to Wah!’s “Twilight” and Mary Youngblood’s “Silent Wolf”. Finally, focus in on your version of meditation with Jane Winther’s “Singing Bowls and Bells”

The light in me honors and bows to the light in you, Namaste.

written by Rosie, Front Desk