The chances are you’ve done yoga before. It’s highly likely you’ve seen a live DJ before. But have you ever done a yoga class where there is a live DJ picking and mixing the music right in the moment?
What could be better than a euphoric hour of disco balls and downward dogs, soulful stretches, bends with a boogie, cool cats and wicked warriors?
I love yoga, and I love music, and as I had never tried live DJ yoga before, I decided to give it a go as one of my fifty-two new things for 2024!
What Is Live DJ Yoga?
Live DJ yoga is pretty much what it sounds like. There may be variations on the theme, but in a nutshell, it’s a yoga class with an instructor guiding participants through the practice, whilst a DJ picks and mixes the music right there in the moment, so you never know what the soundtrack will be, and each session will be different.
My Experience Of Live DJ Yoga
The Den at Micklegate Social in York was the perfect venue for the session, with disco balls, coloured lighting and enough space for at least 16 of us to roll out our yoga mats and flex.
The group was really welcoming, with a mix of regulars and a couple of other first timers on the night I went along. It had a lovely sense of community about it, where everyone was friendly and all abilities encouraged.
The class was brilliant fun; there was no judgement. It was about following along as best we could, taking a breather as and when we needed, and just enjoying being in the moment and having a fabulous full body workout. Huge thanks to our super enthusiastic instructor Hannah who clearly loved delivering the session – her energy was infectious!
The Yoga
Starting off with some thoroughly lovely stretches to get warmed up, the DJ eased us in with some very chilled Balearic sounds.
Feeling limber after the warm up, our instructor guided us through some great flows which worked out the whole body and really got the heart rate up, all with an added groove.
Paying attention to the breath, we flowed through moves that felt as though they were targeting particular parts of the body at different times. Of course, as everything is connected, it meant that this was a full body workout, even if it didn’t feel like it at the time.
I wasn’t the only one who had to reach to grab onto something to steady myself as I was excessively wobbling through some balancing poses, and getting lefts and rights mixed up really didn’t matter. It was such a welcoming and non judgemental class. Everyone was welcome, and all abilities catered for.
The session rounded off with some utterly blissful stretching and relaxation to cool us back down before we headed on our way. After all the bends and pulses and moves we’d put our bodies through, this part felt especially heavenly.
The DJ
Perfectly pairing the beats, the DJ delivered a cracking set with a mix of music from across the decades, bringing the tempo up when we needed it and taking it right back down for the final stretch.
Alongside a whole host of ridiculously good tunes I didn’t recognise, we were treated to Donna Summer, Groove Armada, Idris Muhammed, D’lacey and the classic Groovejet from Spiller – it was the perfect soundtrack that meant I kind of forgot I was doing a workout at times!
Why You Should Try Live DJ Yoga
- If you like music and want to do some exercise which is less impactful on the joints but really does workout the whole body, you should definitely try live dj yoga!
- You can get lost in the music! If you’re doing a move that perhaps feels more challenging, you can focus your mind on the grooves rather than focusing on the fact it feels difficult.
- The music will differ depending on the DJ, no two sessions will ever be the same!
- Music is incredibly powerful in influencing how we feel. Exercise is proven to be a mood booster. Anything that combines the two is a surefire good thing!
Want To Try It Yourself?
- To try the same class that I took, follow instructor Hannah on Instagram where she shares the latest live DJ Yoga events that she is running.
- For the latest dates for the live DJ yoga session that I went to, and to book your place, take a look at the DJYoga page on Fatsoma
- If you’ve got a yoga studio near you, why not take a look to see if they offer any classes to music?
- Have a look online to see if there are any live DJ yoga events coming up near you.
- This list of over 25 places to find new things to try might help you find a live DJ yoga session near you.
- Festivals often offer active workshops, so if you’re heading to any why not see if there’s a live DJ yoga session on the line up that you could attend?
- Class Bento offer a disco at home yoga session, so if you can’t get to a session, you can always bring the session to you!
- If you’re interested in other more unusual exercise classes to try, how about aquafit, a k-pop dance class, or perhaps morris dancing?
Cost Of Experience
- The particular class I joined in 2024 cost me £10 for the 1 hour session, plus a £1 booking fee.
- Prices will vary by location and instructor.
Recommendations
- Wear something that is comfortable and easy to move about in.
- Maybe don’t wear a top that is overly baggy, otherwise you might find you lose your head in it for some of the downward dog moves.
If you’re fairly new to yoga, and especially if you are not familiar with the names of the poses, choose a space near to the front of the class where you can easily see what the instructor is doing.
- If you don’t have a yoga mat, check in with the instructor as often they may have a couple of spare ones that you can borrow.
- Take some water, and don’t forget to take a sip regularly throughout the class.
- Have a breather if you need it, it’s ok to go at your own pace.
- Don’t worry if you think you’re wobbly, or if you don’t bend as far as other people into a stretch, or if you need a break more often than other people, remember that this is your yoga practice, and everyone will be so focused on what they are doing they won’t notice what you’re up to.
- Have fun! Enjoy the music and enjoy the movement! Let me know how you get on if you give it a try!
Yoga, music, and a DJ – what an awesome combination! It sounds like such a fun way to exercise. I can imagine how uplifting and invigorating the atmosphere must have been. Thanks for sharing your experience with us, it’s inspiring to hear about unique ways to stay active and enjoy music!
Ah, you’re right! It really was uplifting and such a great way to get the body moving. Thank you so much for reading! :o)