REPLAY: Movement in Silence vs with Music
A Movement Journals workshop exploring the effects of music on our experience
When I was in Yoga Teacher Training, I was required to observe yoga classes. This is when I observed my first yoga class with music.
Yoga classes with music are not uncommon but to be honest, my yoga practice was very purist (and probably a bit snobby). I didn’t practice with music–that was for other people.
What I saw in that class was very interesting. The teacher turned on her music and began leading her students through a flow series. Judging from the students' body-language, they loved it. They were blissful, ecstatic even. The music took them to a new place.
This confounded me. Yoga was supposed to help you be present–in your body, on your mat, in the studio, at this moment. Spacing out to a music-induced altered consciousness seemed to miss the point.
This contradiction has stayed with me for years. People continued to report that classes with music are enjoyable, relaxing, and helpful. I continued to wonder if they helped you be grounded or helped you leave your body.
And if music helps you leave your body, is that a good thing?
This year I took a course from Willa Blythe Baker who wrote “The Wakeful Body”. Lama Willa is a highly regarded embodiment teacher. She’s has a PhD from Harvard titled “Secrets of the Vajra Body” about the role of the body in Buddhist thought and practice. She is a lineage holder in the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. And she has written many articles and lectured about embodiment.
Even in her class, she uses music.
Now, silence vs music is an open question for me. What is this music thing? Do all people space out and leave their body when they hear music or is it just me? Is spacing out helpful?
In the spirit of experimentation, I offer this session of Movement Journals. I will guide you through 20 minutes of music in silence and 20 minutes of movement with music. Afterwards, you’ll journal to discover how they affected you.
I would love to hear from you. What did you discover? How does music affect you?
NOTE: I fussed with the volume of the music and the instructions but in the end, I didn’t get it right (I’m a movement instructor—not an audio editor!!). If you can’t hear me, just follow the movements in the video. Remember to breath and notice what you are experiencing!
Silence vs Music Workshop Details
Who: This is for all everyone, regardless of skill, health, or injuries. However, you must be a subscriber to receive the replay link notification.
What: A simple movement routine that compares moving in silence to moving with music and a low pressure journaling exercise to process your experience
What you need:
Chair or cushion to sit on
Yoga block
Your favorite journal and pen
About the Movement Journals series
This workshop series explores your relationship with movement and how it makes you feel. You'll use simple movements and journaling to learn about your relationship with your body and add to your wellbeing toolkit.
This series is available to all Embodied Living subscribers.
About the Music
Almost in F - Tranquillity by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
About Julia
I’m Julia, a yoga, Pilates, and meditation instructor in Madison, WI. I’ve been a contemplative movement instructor for over 7 years but I’ve had a personal movement practice my whole life.
In my professional practice, one of my specialties is working with people who are on the hypermobility spectrum. This has given me direct experience with people who have very challenging bodies–bodies with chronic pain, chronic inflammation, circulatory issues, digestive issues–generally bodies that give people a lot of trouble.
After thousands of hours of observing people with even the most challenging physical conditions, I can see patterns. I have a good understanding of how certain movements support and enhance wellbeing.
I bring this deep understanding to my workshops.