Before I share my thoughts with you, what are yours?

What’s your experience of music been in group yoga classes?
How has music added to or detracted from your practice?
Has it deepened your experience or distracted from it?
Did you like the music?
Did you like all of it or just some of it?
Did you find yourself singing along, or tuning in to the lyrics?
Did it trigger memories (happy or otherwise)?
Did the teacher share an intention for what the music was used for?
Did it make you feel a certain way, or even multiple ways?

These are some of the things to consider when deciding whether music is relevant to yoga full stop.

But in a trauma-informed approach, I train my teachers to wean themselves and their students off using it.

Why? Read the comments

Because it detracts from the present moment. And while we’ve all treasured classes that have been thoughtfully accompanied by a really good playlist, there are too many reasons against using it.

Let’s look closer.

Trauma Informed Yoga is designed to:

Ground students in an embodied, moment to moment experience of their bodies
Detect gross and subtle sensations arising in real-time
Choose what to do with their bodies on account of being connected to them
Viscerally override the trauma signals and chemicals keeping them stuck in the past

If we’re playing music - however beautiful and soothing you think it may be (and remember, you’ve no idea what might trigger someone else and potentially re-traumatise them) - you take your students out of the present moment.

It’s that simple.

The intention of yoga is to make connection with ourselves through audible, conscious breath-work and mindful movement.

There are enough distractions in modern life as it is. And if we can’t carve a space for prayer in yoga, where can we?

Try phasing out the music and tell your students why you’re doing it.

Own it.

It’ll probably feel a bit uncomfortable for a bit - you may even lose some pupils, who knows? - but stick with it and you’ll see your students’ focus, development and attunement ripen as they deepen their practice and intimacy with self.

Let me know how you get on x

If you're ready to step on the path to being a confident trauma-informed yoga teacher who gets paid to do work you love, I'd love to invite you to apply.

Here's what past mentees have had to say about The Trauma Informed Yoga, Social Change & Mindful Business Mentorship.

5 spaces are available next month.

👉Apply here 👈

Much love,
Ellie X