Best New Songs for Your Yoga Music Playlist

This is a playlist of songs that are good to listen to while doing yoga!

If you’re looking to put together a playlist for your next yoga session, you’ve come to the right place. You’ll be able to find something that works for you on this list, whether the goal is to relax or invigorate.

“Mantra” by OneRepublic.

“Mantra” is a song off of the album Native by OneRepublic. While the original 2013 version wasn’t specifically written for yoga, it can be an excellent addition to your workout playlist. The song was written by Ryan Tedder after he returned home from traveling on tour with his band and started feeling stressed out about his life (https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/interviews/onerepublic-ryan-tedder-mantra-interview/). However, there is a version of “Mantra” featuring Peter Gabriel that has been slowed down to 60 BPM and runs for 5 minutes and 45 seconds—perfect for some relaxing yoga!

“Hold Me Down” by Halsey.

Halsey’s “Hold Me Down” was released on her last album, Manic, in January 2020. It’s a love song about accepting the inevitable chaos of being with another person wholeheartedly. It’s also a great addition to your yoga playlist—it’s got a good beat, and there are plenty of verses to sing along with. When you’re doing that warrior pose or moving from downward dog to the top of a mountain pose, it can be nice to have some music to distract you from thinking about how much leg strength this is actually taking. This song is perfect for blocking out any doubt or hesitation about whether or not you can do this—you’re going through the motions of moving your body in these positions while listening to an upbeat song, and that’s all that matters.

“Serenity” by James Bay.

The second track off of Electric Light, James Bay’s second album, completes the moody trilogy of songs with “Serenity,” a meditation that does just that. “When the world is on your shoulders/You can feel like you’re getting older and you don’t know what to do/I can see it in your eyes/That there’s something you wanna try/But you don’t know how to move,” Bay sings before launching into a percussion-heavy chorus where he croons about finding peace. It’s perfect for when your yoga session path is already set or if you need something big to help navigate through it.

“Lost in Yesterday” by Tame Impala.

“Lost in Yesterday,” the latest single from Australian indie-psych rockers Tame Impala, is a great addition to your yoga playlist for a number of reasons. It’s calming, slow-paced and meditative. This tune would be especially good for meditation practices where you’re focused on one thing and trying to clear your mind of distractions. But it could also fit into broader categories of yoga, like Hatha or Vinyasa.

It’s also a good option if you’re just starting out with yoga, as the song clocks in at over five minutes long and moves slowly enough that you’ll have plenty of time to focus on your breathing techniques and prepare yourself for more intense poses later during your session.

“Morning Sun” by Vocal Sampling.

This eclectic, funky song is worth the listen. With its steady rhythm and joyful tone, it’s ideal for most yoga poses. The music is a mix of samba and Cuban styles, with a touch of salsa here and there. The group Vocal Sampling is made up of nine singers who have been working together since 1993 to create this unique sound.

Cuban natives will feel right at home with this fun upbeat tune that may remind them of their childhoods. However, don’t worry if you’ve yet to experience Cuba firsthand—this song will transport you there instantly!

If you make it all the way through the 4:45 minute track without feeling like dancing, then you’re probably doing yoga in the wrong place or are just not the dancing type (and there’s nothing wrong with that!). You can take a break from your practice and bust a move before returning to your routine or continue on until the end of your workout for some quality cardio mixed in with your usual workout routine.

“The Less I Know The Better” by Tame Impala.

A great song for yoga flows over listeners like a gentle rain, and this one is no exception. Tame Impala, a band with the unique distinction of being described as both “electronic” and “psychedelic,” has released several songs that work well for yoga playlists. These include “Patience” and “Elephant.” However, “The Less I Know The Better” is particularly great because it’s neither too fast nor too slow. It’s also the optimal length for a yoga music playlist—4 minutes and 4 seconds. This means you won’t have to keep stopping and starting your music, which can be jarring. In addition to the song’s relaxing tempo and duration, its lyrics are easy to ignore if you want to focus on something else during your practice. Indeed, the singer Kevin Parker has described his voice as an “instrument,” and he delivers his lyrics in such a way that they sort of get lost into pure sound—ideal for yoga!

“Song for Zula” by Phosphorescent.

This song was written by Matthew Houck, also known as Phosphorescent. “Song for Zula” is the first song on Muchacho, an album released in 2013. The album’s producer is Matt Ross-Spang. Houck wrote the song in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was based at the time. The song’s length is five minutes and four seconds.

“Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes.

Alabama Shakes is an American rock band formed in Athens, Alabama, in 2009. The group currently consists of lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, keyboard player Ben Tanner and drummer Steve Johnson.

The song “Don’t Wanna Fight” was released as the lead single from their second album Sound & Color. It has a smooth feel that makes it great for your yoga class playlist because it can help set the tone for your session.

“Don’t Panic” by Coldplay.

• Vocalist Chris Martin’s soulful vocals make this an uplifting song to practice to.
• The upbeat tempo will help you get your chaturanga on.
• This song is about being in the moment—this is what yoga is all about!

This song was written by Coldplay in 1998, and the lyrics are a reference to The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.