New year, and you started yoga again, right?
You prepared yourself, you wanted to share the beauty of that reparative exercise.
Maybe it worked at first, but soon you recognised that uniform, nonsensical new-age meanderings in the background.
And you don’t have a say over that schmaltzy music intended to complement your holistic experience.
Flutes, a stultified tanpura or a sitar, lazy tabla beats, that fake eastern feel in the predictable background muzak to your practice.
You know the story, no matter where, no matter when, chances are your most accomplished teachers don’t know any different.
All set on the body, they did not really care to try any different music.
I can see them checking on YouTube video, selecting one lengthy set, using that from that point on.
They settle for one with many viewers and stop their journey to creating a real blending of the senses, made of smells and sounds as well as postures.
Well, you don’t need to settle. Here are some recommendations after an exchange with DIA, we hope to get you started on a journey for the best synesthetic yoga journey of your life.
We go in phases: beginning, breathing, and warming up, building up to a peak, then release, end with music for meditation.
A practical demonstration of the potential benefits of the right music will follow on Sunday morning, here on radiopeng.
CENTERING (arrival, breath, focus)
Tony Scott — Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys Why: Clarinet over tambura drone; clear tone, steady breath support. Use: First 5–10 minutes to settle and lengthen exhale.
Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith — Tides: Music for Yoga and Meditation Why: Warm synth textures, gentle pacing. Use: Opening grounding or slow mobility.
Hiroshi Yoshimura — Music for Nine Postcards Why: Patient motifs, lots of space. Use: Seated centering and simple spinal work.
Pandit Pran Nath — Ragas of Morning and Night Why: Voice and tambura; profound stillness. Use: Breath-led focus; keep very low.
Sarah Davachi — Gave in Rest Why: Long tones on harmonium/strings. Use: Quiet, attentive arrival.
BUILD (warm-up to peak; moderate energy without crowding)
Jon Hassell — Vernal Equinox Why: Earthy trumpet, subtle percussion. Use: Standing flows; encourages grounded rhythm.
Loscil — Plume Why: Subtle pulse and spacious ambient. Use: Vinyasa sequences; keeps pace soft but organized.
Laraaji — Ambient 3: Day of Radiance Why: Bright zither cascades; uplifting without push. Use: Sun salutes, gentle backbends.
Caterina Barbieri — Ecstatic Computation (select slower pieces) Why: Clear patterns; alert stillness. Use: Focused standing work; choose restrained tracks.
Huerco S. — For Those of You Who Have Never… Why: Soft-focus ambient with gentle motion. Use: Flowing transitions; avoids lyrical distraction.
Terry Riley – A Rainbow in Curved Air Why: This has been my private yoga music for years. It’s perfect. Use: Get you in the right mood.
RELEASE (post-peak, downshift, integrate)
Harold Budd & Brian Eno — The Pearl Why: Bell-like piano, soft atmospheres. Use: Wind-down, floor work, forward folds.
Alice Coltrane — Turiya Sings Why: Devotional voice and organ; tender, centering. Use: Supported poses; keep volume low to preserve breath.
Hiroshi Yoshimura — Music for Nine Postcards Why: Calm, minimal textures. Use: Gentle twists and hip openers.
Meredith Monk — Book of Days (quiet selections) Why: Vocal minimalism; ancient-present feel. Use: Slow transitions into restorative.
REST (restorative, yin, savasana)
Don Cherry, Latif Khan – Music Sangram Why: A singular communion of of eastern beauty and jazz freedom Use: getting back to the world in auspicious ways.
Stars of the Lid — And Their Refinement of the Decline Why: Orchestral drones that hover. Use: Long holds and savasana; keeps attention open.
Steve Roach — Structures from Silence Why: Near-still pulse; deep calm. Use: Restorative setups; 10–20-minute stretches.
Biosphere — Substrata Why: Glacial ambient; cool, steady space. Use: Final rest; very low volume.
Max Richter — Sleep (excerpts) Why: Designed for drift and recovery. Use: Yin or closing; pick short movements.
Nikhil Banerjee — Raga Darbari Kanada (slow alap) Why: Unhurried sitar exploration. Use: Extended savasana; supports timelessness.
NOTES
Keep lyrics minimal or wordless during focus work. Match volume to breath: if cues feel overshadowed, lower the music. One track per phase often suffices; silence between phases is welcome. If a piece grabs attention too strongly, save it for release or rest. Please do get in touch if you have recommendations for this yoga practice playlist, we welcome your contribution.