#YogaEveryDamnDay – Day 37: Five Artists Who Should Be On Your Yoga Playlist

Yesterday was Labor Day (hopefully you caught my NSFW post on your day off). That means summer is more or less wrapping up. The onset of autumn is a love/hate for me: I love me some cozy sweaters and fluffy socks, but I hate to say goodbye to my deck yoga practice.

When I’m not in a studio class or watching a streamed yoga class, I love nothing more than putting my earbuds in and freestyling my asana. Doing sequences off the dome not only sparks my creativity, but gives me a chance to listen to music I handpicked for my practice.

If you’re looking for some ideas to spice up your yoga or cardio cooldown playlist, you can tune into one of mine on Spotify. I have a few playlists I’ve crafted for yoga, but this is the one I love the best. From R&B to hippie rock, choral to hip-hop, I keep a soothing mix of all of my favorite genres in this eight-hour collection. Even as I add to my playlist, I make sure the following five artists are in heavy R-O when I’m pulling poses:

• Aretha Franklin: I don’t consider her the Queen of Soul – she is the Queen of Music, period! From gospel to disco, the Diva of all Divas covered it all throughout her fifty-plus decade career. Second only to Prince (who has a yoga playlist all to himself), she is my all-time favorite artist so it’s only right she takes up space in my yoga practice.
  • Song/Pose Pairing: People Get Ready/Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar)
    
• Yuna: Hailing from Malaysia, this singer gives throwback 90s R&B vibes with her soft tunes and lyrics of love. Her tracks are a welcome presence when I’m getting introspective during my practice.
  • Song/Pose Pairing: Used To Love You featuring Jhene Aiko/Warrior Series (Virabhadrasana)
    
• P.J. Morton: This artist may have began his career behind a keyboard for Maroon 5, but the R&B grooves he’s made behind his solo mic are where he really shines. His melodic & smoky voice paired with his ivory tickles really add to a mellow practice.
  • Song/Pose Pairing: Mountains and Molehills/Pigeon (Kapotasana)
    
• Jeff Buckley: Though he was taken from this earth far too soon at the age of thirty, this classic 90s acoustic artist left behind a catalog of songs that tug at the soul and wrench you dry.
  • Song/Pose Pairing: Everybody Here Wants You/Supine Spinal Twists (Supta Matsyendrasana)
    
• Beautiful Chorus: I discovered this quartet from one of Yoga with Kassandra’s playlists and I’ve been addicted to them ever since. Their soulful a cappella take on choral music is the perfect soundtrack to end your practice.
  • Song/Pose Pairing: Please Prepare Me/Corpse Pose (Savasana)

BONUS: If you put these five songs into a playlist with their poses,
you’ve got yourself a 20-minute practice!

See you on the mat tomorrow!
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