Using Silence in Yoga Classes

It seems to have become popular to use recorded music in the background of asana yoga classes. The reasoning seems to be that it “relaxes” those who may require a stepping stone to being still. There may be some merit in this, but let’s also look at another side.

There is much to be gained from silence during practice. Mindfulness regarding what is going on, and being in the present, is aided by having less “other” stimuli distracting the mind. Compared to the streams of rushing thoughts many of us have in our minds, music might aid this, but let’s be aware that “adding” music, is adding something. As you listen to music, while also listening to verbal instructions, the mind is already in two places. Add to this the thinking required to perform the postures, the likely ambient sounds that exist in the space (such as other people’s breathing, a car going by), and possibly one’s inner thoughts still running on, and we find ourselves dealing with a lot of input, scattering the mind to various corners. The result could be a less deep, less connected concentration of focus during the practice, possibly reducing the experience to a purely physical stretch or a “yoga lite” session.

 That isn’t the worst possible scenario, but other issues are at play:

1) If the practitioner enjoys the music the instructor has chosen, the mind is pulled towards the music while trying to pay attention to all else.

2) If they don’t enjoy the music, they are dealing with the voice in their head saying “I hope they turn the music off”.

One of the key goals of any yoga, including asana yoga, is to get into the moment, right here, right now. We want to experience a deeper reality, asking the question with our bodies, with our whole awareness - “what is this?” Recorded music is a representation of something that was happening in another moment. Listening to it in this moment is like putting one’s mind on the project of exploring an event that occurred in the past, not what’s going on in the present. On another level, the music is pre-recorded and being played back in this moment, yes it is happening now. However, so are some local real events, in a sense more direct than the playback, and more likely to bring one to a deeper penetration of this moment. All other moments - past, future, recorded, imagined - are framed with even more filters and wrappings than the local ones, offering many pitfalls to the mind that is trying to “be here now”.

So, we have reasons to consider whether music listening is a good idea to regularly pursue during asana practice. 

Using recorded music vs. live played 

Recorded music was performed by people who had no idea about what you might be doing while listening back to it later. So, except by random relations and (perhaps arguably) universal mind, they have no response to you - only you to them (or a memory of them). Yoga is about union, and especially group practice. Union is facilitated by the parties moving towards each other. Pre-recorded music becomes union with shadows, and them unaware of you. Compare this to the possibility of someone playing live music in the room with you.

Surrendering to silence is a practice of faith.

Faith in the silence; faith that there is plenty going on all around you, faith that inspiration can be found without pouring savory sauces all over the main course, and faith that something nurturing and conscious actually exists right here with you, right now - that you needn’t cover it up any more than your mind already seems to be. Practicing in silence is a wonderful way to calm down and find truth in such thoughts. It is the direct path.

Conscious breaking of a rule can also be powerful to yoga to freshen up the senses and find new portals for experience. So, sometimes doing asana yoga to music might be helpful, even as a comparison to practicing in silence. It could be observed too, that certain music may bring a person rapidly to a space that is conducive to deepening the mood and finding the euphoric celebration that is the nectar of practice. The operative word above is “conscious” - meaning that one could practice in silence and then make an exception to explore the possibilities of these dynamics, ultimately leading to an appreciation of being in silence.

Wall to wall recorded music in a yoga session, a reliance, or even often practicing with music to “get into the mood” is more likely to be an impediment to progress in ones practice, if sustained as a long-term habit. It is like our North America urban culture to fill things up with “supports” that ultimately become noise such as constant talking, over eating, having the television on all the time, constant socializing, artificial stimulants, and all the things we do to try and “get in the mood” or keep “happy”. As far as yoga classes go, the same can be said of too much talking from the instructor - provide guidance yes, but having concisely stated the minimum of what needs to be said -give some space to the practitioner to listen to breath, listen to their body, watch their mind, and go through the practice -especially during savasana, but at all other times, too. This is the same principle as with music accompaniment -even if the voice or the music is pleasant and feels like something to rest on. Truth needs peace and peace needs space. We all need to learn to listen to the silence sooner or later.

Why do some yoga instructors use recorded music in their classes?

 -“My class is made up of beginners with busy minds and they need music to relax” (What level of “relaxing” are we providing them?  What else can be offered?  Are you giving them enough credit?)

-"It gets us in the mood” (What moods are available from silence? Which gives a wider array of mood possibilities?)

-“The music I play is from yoga culture and makes it feel more authentic” (What can be more authentic than the practitioner finding themselves in this moment right here? What risk is there you might be providing yet another dream - just with a different flavour?)

-“The music covers up other sounds that are the wrong ones” (unless blasting it loudly, sounds don’t really cover other sounds, much like air freshener does not give you cleaner air when added to the odor you are trying to cover up).

 Again, under certain circumstances, some of these notions may have merit -but it is not a decision to make frivolously.

A few more “cons” about using music vs. silence.

-One’s taste, or the “culture” of the music one selects is unlikely to match that of all the members of your class, so a practitioner may find themselves having to do yoga to an ambience that is inappropriate for them. Yes that could be true of the room décor, or any other factor, but adding in the particular music you have chosen is yet another variable. A transparent, nominal environment is the ideal. Silence has no “taste” or culture. It’s like water compared to milk, tea, juice or coffee. The other liquids are good sometimes, but you always need water -and a fair amount of it.

-The loudness /quietness you choose may be comfortable or uncomfortable to various practitioners in your class.

-The “flavour” of the people who made the music becomes part of what is brought into the room, for all to deal with. This might sound esoteric or that it would be a subtle thing, but that is not always the case. The very nature of music performance is that it amplifies expression. This is why we connect with it emotionally, but it is a very personal matter. We often react strongly - the same piece of music feeling joyful to one and abhorrent to another. The instructor and the practitioners have enough of a challenge leaving their own issues and ego at the door without adding yet another variable, such as that of the musician’s, or the chemistry of the musician and the practitioner!

At the same time, “it’s all good” can apply here –for a list of suggestions on how to use music in yoga classes – please see “Using Music in Asana Practice”- my blog that will be published shortly.

YOGASH CITTA VRITTI NIRODHAH