Part of the fun of teaching yoga is being able to pick music to go with the class. I find that with children’s yoga classes I try to match poses with music and I try to be very careful of lyrics. Music can be a powerful tool.
I like to start class off with something upbeat. Lately I have been using Jack Johnson. The kids often recognize the songs from the movie Curious George. I have also used Snatam Kaur’s Feeling Good Today CD to start off class. The music once lead to a class discussion about the origins of yoga as many of her songs use sanskrit.
Music sets the tone for a class as it can increase or decrease energy. When I turn on Who Let The Dogs Out while we practice our down dogs, you can feel the energy crackle with anticipation for flipping our dogs and barking and working hard. In contrast, I have used a new age song called Hot Air Balloon by Aerial Acoustics while doing the breathing exercise “Balloon Breath” which lends itself to gracefully flowing through the classroom as our balloons deflate.
For my older kids classes, I make a point of finding songs with lyrics that inspire. There are so many songs for the tween/teen age group that are about needing someone else for things to be better that I try to find songs that are self affirming. Some examples are Everlife’s Daring to Be Different or Find Yourself in You, JoJo’s song Exceptional and Jordan Pruitt’s Outside Looking In.
I also like to end class with something more gentle like Sarah McLachlan’s version of Blackbird or Israel Kamakawiwo’s version or Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Check out some of the music I’ve mentioned and please share your favorite yoga music!
3 comments
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June 18, 2009 at 6:43 am
Yoga for children
Music is a good way to start yoga with. Children will find it good. Its amazing to teach children something new rather than tennis, cricket etc. And it feels good to know that parents are also taking interest to teach yoga to their children. They will find this something new and also its good for health. It will help them to increase their concentration, fitness, self control, flexibility and coordination, also make them calm, controlled and many other benefits.
August 2, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Tania Frechette
MC Yogi has a great CD that would be suitable for teens. It’s called Elephant Power. http://www.mcyogi.com/
August 2, 2009 at 11:39 pm
karmaspot
Hi Tania,
Thanks for the MC Yogi recommendation. I think I had heard the Vote For Hope song during the election but didn’t investigate the group. I love what I’ve heard and will try some songs out in class.