It wasn’t supposed to go down like this.
I never forget my music.
I have it in my purse at all times.
Except this week, when I switched purses.
Any yoga teacher knows that her playlist is everything.
And anyone who has ever taken yoga remembers the playlist.
They may not remember what was on that playlist but they remember how those songs made them feel.
So when I arrived at the studio on Tuesday without my music, I felt empty handed, to say the least.
I should mention that my music fail was preventable.
That “free” cell phone upgrade I took last month for $200.00 was to simplify the music end of things. I thought an iPhone would be “the answer” to my never leaving home without my music again. I mean, when was the last time you left your house without your cell phone?
I’m more likely to forget a child at home than to forget my phone!
Except one month into owning my first iPhone, I had still neglected to load my music on that thing.
I had an iTunes account. I had music on it!
All I had to do was plug that silly phone into the computer and download.
Downloading music was on my list of things to do, along with figuring out why all of the sudden, I had to restart my washing machine mid cycle, clean the fish tank, import my blog to Word Press, and mow my lawn (although when one day, I couldn’t find my youngest, who was playing out front, because the grass was taller than she was, I finally decided to give into that one and hire landscapers).
My failure to download left me in the compromising position of being at the mercy of the yoga studio House CD’s.
I sorted through the CD rack by the stereo to review my options.
There were three yoga CD’s, all which featured different sounds in nature.
I’m not a fan of teaching yoga to the sound of a forest stream or birds chirping. I like to teach to “real” music versus sounds in nature. I’m also not the biggest fan of “yoga music,” mind you – except for MC Yogi, who is kind of the like the Beastie Boys and Bob Marley and The Police, when they were a ska band, rolled into one, and who raps – yes! He raps, people! About Hanuman the monkey god and the Hindu deities and the chakra system. Yes, he’s that cool.
Except last night, while MC was lying, forgotten and alone on my messy desk in my office at home next to that really long, negleceted to-do list, I was thumbing through CD’s that featured the sound of rain falling for 48 consecutive minutes (yawn) and additional discs that were used for children’s dance classes, Disney, Folk music, Justin Bieber.
There are many reasons people go to yoga. For a good stretch through the hips and hamstrings, for stress relief, and for those ambitious types, to pursue to the path to enlightenment.
Most people I know don’t come to yoga to listen to Justin Bieber.
But given my choices, Bieber was the best playlist option I had.
And so we began.
We down dogged to “Boyfriend” and did sun salutes to “To All Around the World,” and balanced in Tree to “As Long as You Love Me.”
While I don’t think I’d intentionally bring the Beebs to class with me again and while he’d never replace that other Justin in my book, I certainly appreciated him more than the sound of wind or tress falling or whatever else the nature CD featured.
I left the studio Tuesday night with the young Beebs on my mind and the crazy ride he’s had these past 5 years.
Not to be judgmental or anything, but when you’re a 19 year old millionaire pop star and you get pissy when the neighbors in your gated community ask you to stop driving all over their lawn in your Ferrari, I tend to think that you could benefit from yoga. So, Beebs, if you ever happen to read this, take some motherly advice. Before you try to plow through another airport without going through security, or speed your car around a foreign country or cheat on another girlfriend, why not try exploring your inner nature and balancing out the fluctuations of the mind and harmonizing your mind, body, and spirit? You may actually like it.
At the least, Never Say Never.
What’s the one surprising thing you did this week?
What’s on your playlist that would surprise me?
Sounds like he’s going down the path of becoming a male Lohan 😉
Surprising thing I did this week? I frosted a cake and it wasn’t a disaster.
Laughing out loud…really! My yoga teacher has a new boyfriend who keeps making her play lists. I don’t like his choices… hers were much better!
He does need yoga! I’ve thought that before!
Music and yoga is such a good subject! Some of my best classes have been when crazy music comes on. A few weeks ago old Prince popped up during a kriya and it was awesome. When I used to practice more at home I’d listen to a cd from start to finish. It made my home practice that much more wonderful.
I don’t really listen to Beebs.. ever. The other Justin every chance I get. I really need to start yoga, I mean I have a DVD but some of those poses are hard for a bigger girl like me.. sighs
Snicker. I’m afraid I’d have skipped class. The Beebs gives me the skeeves.
I think it’s funny that you’re writing about Beebs on the same day that I posted my interview with Kristin Cavallari. We’re so trendy.
Love MC Yogi. And the fact that you play real music during your classes. I so want to go to one!
I really should look into this yoga stuff beyond the wii. I wish you lived near me.
The Beebs is not allowed in my house, my car, or my daughters music listing. They agree thankfully. As for the one surprising thing I did this past week? Well, I got on a paddleboard!! I didn’t stand up – did it on my knees, the wind was too rough – but I did it!! I’m waiting for a friend to upload her pics because she was the one that took the pics of me on the paddle board 🙂
I got my phone almost 5 months ago, and still haven’t downloaded my music onto it – gotta get that done. I confess I always imagine yoga music to be trickling waters and birds chirping. It is awesome to have a new perspective on that – but now that I think about it, music has such a way of connecting people on so many levels, so it makes perfect sense.
I totally prefer the Beebs to the typical yoga music any day! I think a stop in NJ on my way to the in-laws to take your yoga class is 100% in order!
Ahahaha! He disgusts me. Like I look at him and feel ill. His poor family! Although your story is awesome and I bet people walked out of there very refreshed. What did I do this week that surprised me? Mostly everything because of my husband’s shoulder! The most surprising was to install an irrigation system in our garden. And to garden at all. It was my first time ever and it was very soothing.
Ah, I love this post Ilene! Got me laugh which is always a good thing. I hope Justin is reading this somewhere and taking your advice. He should at least give back the monkey. I mean, really.
I’ve been to yoga classes where the teachers would play Florence + the Machine and Adele instead of your ‘typical’ yoga music, and I always found it to be a nice little jolt, especially in the middle of class. By that point I’m usually going through a “crap, why am I here again?” mental battle as my shoulders and quads start screaming from holding all those poses. But music has a great way of waking up the senses and getting the blood flowing. I’m not a Bieber fan but I would have loved to be a fly on the wall in that class! Maybe you should do a JT-themed class? Great post!! 🙂
Oh and I just saw your questions!
The one surprising thing I did this week was commit to do a vlog which is TERRIFYING. Me and video? Not friends. Fingers crossed.
And as for music?? Not sure what you’d think is surprising, but I’ve got Patsy Cline, Bob Marley, David Guetta, and Timbaland all on the same playlist. Only music I don’t like is jazz, with the exception of the classics (ella fitzgerald, louis armstrong, etc). 🙂
This. Is. Awesome. I’m obsessed with his monkey.
I bet you could make even this Justin fun to listen to! My music taste is all over the board and I know nothing about music, so I can’t think of anything to surprise you this time. I’ll work on it! 😉
I read this as As Long As You Love Me played on my Pandora. That’s not surprising though, for some reason I’ve been really drawn to pop music lately. The strange thing I did this week? I started taking a Zumba class…that the college students I work with talked me into. The first class didn’t kill me, but there are five more to go!
Uh oh. I haven’t been following young Justin’s antics! He does sound he could use some yoga. I hope he doesn’t go the way of some of these other young stars!
Oh how funny!!! What did your class think about Beebs? I am curious how they responded!!! I’m sure it was a hit of some sort!! Poor guy- I mean, I don’t know if I would also be driving crazy and cheating and pushing camera’s in people’s faces too if I were young and adorable and gifted and richer than rich…oh and kinda famous too. I mean, I was a total mess at that age- without all that! Honestly? I did much much worse! Little ol’ me. “Wild child” I was!! 😉
Haha! He sure could use some yoga!
He drives me crazy, but his songs get stuck in my head every single time.
Was the cake for your little man? It had to have been! Happy birthday to him again! And yes, I can see him becoming the male version of Lindsey. Good call. Unfortunately. What are we going to do with these kids? I’m thinking yoga would help!
Oh no! Keep the BF away from the playlist making!
I listen to crazy music too – especially at home! But Prince – you just gave me an idea…
I don’t think I’ve ever *intentionally* listened to Beebs until the other night! And I think I can go a while before doing it again! As for you and yoga – if you were in my class, I’d tell you to work with the body God gave you and remind you that not every post is for everyone! xo
LOL! I’d have forgiven you for playing hooky!
That is quite to coincidence! And MC – isn’t he the greatest? Love him!
I can’t gush enough about the benefits of yoga! That would be great if you could find a class that worked for you!
I am so proud of you for getting on that paddleboard! And no, I don’t think I’d let Beebs on my daughter’s playlist either!
Music connects ourselves to our souls and ourselves to others. It’s such an awesome thing. And I am so glad I am not the only one who is taking time to adapt to my new phone!
I would love to see you in my yoga class! And yes, when I had to choose between the birds chirping and Beebs, the choice was obvious.
Do you know I’ve never gotten into a garden either? I bet it’s soothing. I’m glad you found it to be so, given I am sure you’ve taken on a lot with your husband’s injury.
Yes! I think JT deserves a shout out in one of my classes for sure! I should add Florence and the Machine to my playlist. They are awesome. I’ve found music keeps me going in my practice too when I am holding those difficult poses.
Yes! That boy could definitely benefit from yoga! And I know about those songs being stuck in my head. I know they’re designed to be that way, but oh, it just wouldn’t stop after class the other night!
My students are very kind to me. They totally let me get away with this one, and honestly, it brought some fun and laughter into the class, which was nice.
One of these days, I want to hear about your wild child years for sure!
I really hope he changes course and cleans up a little. But I think a yoga intervention could make a huge difference!
Oh yay you for Zumba! I’ve never tried it but I know it’s pretty challenging! Have fun with it! And too funny that Beebs was playing while you read this!
Vlog! I can’t wait to see it! Seriously can’t wait! And I love your playlist! Just love it!
Oh, that boy and his monkey!
I know so very little about top 40 music. I don’t think I’d know the Beebs existed had it not been for my kids! But it became the comic relief in class the other night, for sure!
Love, love, love this post! Just last year I finally went to a yoga class that didn’t play all those nature tracks and I loved it! I had no idea you could do yoga to Pink – but it was awesome! Not sure I’d have been as enthused if it was the Beebs but I do have to agree, he is better than crickets 😉
You did yoga to Pink? That’s fantastic! I may have to add her to my playlist after hearing that. And yes, Beebs was not my first choice but I will take him over the sound of crickets!
Hahahahaha. I actually like that JB CD…I KNOW…but I do. Now I’ve not done yoga to it (or at all) that does sound like it would be a last kind of option. YOU POOR THING. That had to be a TERRIBLE feeling when you realized you didn’t have your tunes. Oh, the worst!
I think the most surprising thing I have on my playlist is dubstep…Skrillex mostly. –Lisa
Hi Ilene, I’m back from my MacBook, let’s try this again! I have a hard time downloading music to my iPad and I don’t even attempt it with my Android Razor. I do keep backup CDs in my gym bag, I don’t know just in case one breaks or scratches or something. We teach 90% pre-choreographed classes but it’s not a bad idea to have some backups there that everyone knows in case something happens. I will pass that on to our GFM. I do teach a freestyle Abs class every now and then, I think I could dig a little Beeb in a time of need! His personal life is out of control though. Happy Mother’s Day!
Although I have a hard time seeing Beebs’ music playing in your yoga class (although I agree he’s preferable to nature sounds 🙂 ), I have no problem seeing Beebs benefiting from your yoga class. You’d have him straightened back out in no time, and he’d love you for it. 🙂
I felt a little naked in there without my music, for sure. But it made for a good laugh! I just had to google skrillex. I live under a rock!
Yay! Your comment made it to my page! The backup CD’s are totally necessary. Even once I get my iTunes up and running, I think I will keep a few CD’s in the car, just in case of emergency, you know? One class with Beebs was enough!
Amen, Kim! Amen! Perhaps I should send a tweet to young Beebs inviting him to my yoga class!
OK first off, I thought that I commented on this post but apparently I haven’t. Ugh. It’s been that kind of week. I don’t always remember the music in my yoga classes but I do remember when the music has been weird or when I didn’t like it. I actually bet that the Beebs in your yoga class worked well. PS You totally should tweet the him and invite him to you class.
I always remember when the music is weird too! One of my favorite teachers plays Soundgarden and Radio Head and he was my inspiration for going out on a limb. None of that would have flown in YTT! Ha! Can you imagine Beebs showing up for one of my classes?
It was definitely worth the experience. I felt my muscles more than I have in other work outs but WOW!! I’m looking forward to doing it again.