I’ve got music on my mind today. There’s a music only yoga class at Sacred on Sunday evenings, instruction at a minimum. It’s a standard Bikram-style sequence, so it works for anyone who’s taken a similar class before, and it is beautiful, a room full of people breathing together and moving silently and in sequence, adjustments to poses coming from within rather than from a teacher. Teachers are wonderful and insightful and irreplaceable, of course, but there’s a special kind of focus that comes from tapping into yourself for guidance, and the music can feel like magic.
Songs for the Sunday night class are usually based around a theme, singing along encouraged when the songs are familiar and call for such a thing. Tonight’s class was lovely, but there weren’t many opportunities to hum or mumble along, and I kind of missed it.
When I practice massage, I tend to keep the music pretty tame. No evocative sing-along songs, usually no lyrics at all, just relaxing songs to serve as part of the backdrop for your session. A fellow massage therapist had a great post about music the other day, in which she mentioned specifically avoiding “super-familiar, easily identifiable songs.” I tend to agree with this — unintentionally stirring up memories, whether good or bad, is not my goal. It can be distracting and can shift the mood, and I like to keep things nice and calm.
That said, sometimes you just want to hear your tunes. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend a sing-along massage (singing through the face cradle sounds crazy awkward), you may have a particular song or album that puts you at ease. You may be soothed by Beck or Pink Floyd or Nina Simone; music from a particular era might make your heart feel glad. We all have our comforts. If there’s something you’d like to hear during your massage, you are welcome to bring it. I use an iPod dock, nice and simple, and you are welcome to replace my music with yours during your session if you’ve got tunes you want to hear and a compatible device. If that’s not your thing, I’ve got a nice ambient mix at the ready.
Bodywork Brooklyn 
As a fellow LMT, I would love to know what is one your playlist?
That should read “on your playlist”. 🙂
I tend to like more ambient music — Brian Eno and the ilk — as well as music with a little more rhythm, more along the lines of John Huling. There’s an instrument called the hang that I love, which I don’t really hear much outside of my massage room, so it might just be me. It’s funny how personal preferences can go. I’m fine with total new age ambient, but dislike Chinese flute, for instance. I know lots of people are exactly opposite.
What’s on your playlist? Share!