Soundscapes for Serenity: 20 Tracks to Elevate Your Yoga Flow
NEW YORK, NY – As studios reopen and at-home practices continue to flourish, the demand for curated yoga playlists is surging, with practitioners seeking sonic environments to deepen their mindfulness and movement. A well-chosen soundtrack isn’t merely background noise; its a vital component of a transformative yoga experience, setting the tone for breathwork, asanas, and meditation.
The right music can instantly quiet the mind, enhance focus, and unlock deeper levels of relaxation. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just beginning your journey, a thoughtfully crafted playlist can elevate your practise from a physical workout to a holistic experience. Here are 20 songs to instantly set the vibe at the start of yoga class, drawing from ambient electronica, world music, and meditative soundscapes.
- Desert Dwellers | “Wandering Sadhu” (5:41) – From the 2012 album Anahata yoga dub, this track layers earthy percussion, subtle bass, and ethereal vocal chants to evoke a spiritual journey. A staple in yoga and meditation spaces, it’s described as “sonic incense.”
- Tycho | “japan (Instrumental)” (6:15) - Warm synths, airy guitar lines, and steady beats create a sense of spacious calm. Producer Scott Hansen balances movement and stillness, aligning his music with yoga practice, inspired by the landscapes of Hakone, Japan.
- Then let + doctor flake | “Ie Koba (Dub version)” (5:59) – A mystical, slow-burning track grounded in mantra, blending deep bass, spacious percussion, and layered vocals. As one listener notes, “When I listen to her, I feel the call of the vibration in every cell of my body.”
- East Forest | “Music for Presence” (7:04)
- Jon Hopkins | “Open Eye Signal” (6:34)
- Bonobo | “Cirrus” (5:27)
- Röyksopp | “Eple” (3:47)
- kiasmos | “Looped” (5:01)
- Nils Frahm | “Says” (7:18)
- Olafur Arnalds | “Near Light” (4:08)
- Aphex Twin | “#3” (5:22)
- Boards of Canada | “Dayvan Cowboy” (5:24)
- Four Tet | “Two Thousand and Seventeen” (6:14)
- Burial | “Archangel” (5:29)
- Brian Eno | ”An Ending (Ascent)” (4:26)
- Stars of the Lid | ”the Daughters of Quiet Minds” (9:34)
- GAS | “Pop” (9:54)
- Tim Hecker | “Harmony in Ultraviolet” (7:38)
- Grouper | “Heavy Water/I’d Rather be Sleeping” (8:41)
- William Basinski | ”Disintegration Loops 1.1″ (14:24)
