Yoga is a wonderful way to build strength, flexibility, and a deeper connection to yourself, the world around you, and the cosmos. From the Yoga siddhas of ancient India to modern Vinyasa practice, the practice has been used for centuries to both physical and spiritual ends.
When it comes to finding the right yoga studio, there are lots of factors to consider. Do you want a studio that’s close to home? Or do you want to go to a studio that’s more extreme? Do you want a studio with teachers, or do you want a class without a teacher? How important is cleanliness in your studio experience? And what about the accessibility of the studio itself?
Yoga can be an effective fitness regimen, and a great way to relieve stress—but you’ll need to find a yoga studio to suit your needs if you want to get the best results.
You all know this expression. There are more and more of them in Texas. And that includes yoga!
When it comes to Austin, Texas, one of the fastest growing cities in the country, all eyes are on yoga. In a city known for its live music scene and South by Southwest festival, yoga and music have a special relationship. To find out how the two are related, we reached out to several Austin yoga studios to see how they use music in their classes.
What kind of yoga do you teach at Dharma Yoga?
Dharma Yoga is a mindfulness and relaxation method, founded in 2003 by Keith Kachtik, which explores traditional Hatha Yoga through the lens of Buddhism. Classes range from energetic Vinyasa Flow to gentle, relaxing Hatha.
What do you think makes your studio special?
All our classes are based on intention, whether it is the Santoshi culture or the Zen concept of the beginner’s mind. No mirrors. No artificial heat. Every aspect of Dharma Yoga practice, from sitting in meditation to mastering handstands, becomes an opportunity to be present, to transcend the ego and develop our full potential.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Dharma Yoga likes to use music to reinforce the theme and invites local musicians to accompany our classes. It can be an electric cello, a Spanish guitar, Tibetan singing bowls, a harp, a mandolin, a flute or a tabla and a harmonium.
What types of yoga do we teach at Modo Yoga Austin?
Modo Yoga Austin is part of a large yoga community with over 70 studios worldwide. We primarily teach the Modo series, a Hatha-based practice done in a room heated to about 100 degrees. It is a therapeutic practice suitable for both beginners and experienced yogis. We also teach Modo Flow, using the same mindfulness approach used in the development of the Modo series, applied in a vinyasa-based practice.
What do you think makes your studio special?
At Modo Yoga Austin, as at all Modo Yoga studios, we are guided by seven principles: be healthy, be accessible, be communal, be peaceful, be fulfilling, learn to live and be green. Specifically, we want to help people develop healthy habits in a yoga practice they can call their own.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
We love everything about Austin: Music, art, madness and tacos. We did a lot of live music lessons with local Austin talent. We are hosting a free pop-up class for SXSW and will also be hosting free pop-up classes for Blues on the Green.
What kind of yoga do you teach at Breath and Body Yoga?
Our main program is Power Vinyasa Yoga. This is a powerful and heated exercise that combines life-affirming breathing with conscious movement to create a powerful flow.
What do you think makes your studio special?
Our studio is different because we have a special tuning system that we strongly believe in. In addition, our classes were voted the hardest in the entire city!
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
We have musicians who rehearse regularly in our studio, and our community is always looking forward to festivals in town like ACL and SXSW. I think the practice of music and yoga have a lot in common in many ways.
What kind of yoga do you teach at Sanctuary Yoga?
At the sanctuary, we really try to meet the needs of all types of yogis and people. That is why we offer many different types: Hatha and meditation classes, restorative yoga and, of course, the different levels of Vinyasa.
What do you think makes your studio special?
Sanctuary Yoga is Austin’s only non-profit yoga studio. The sanctuary was set up in the backyard of the Amal Foundation, a small non-profit in Austin, and all proceeds from the classes go to the Amal Foundation’s youth programs. Every time our students take to the mat, they are directly supporting young people from all over the world and from all walks of life.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Music influences our society in many ways. First, we have several yoga teachers who are also musicians, and many of them often incorporate live music into their classes – especially in the late night recovery classes!
What kind of yoga do you teach at Bodhi Yoga?
Our studio teaches vinyasa in the Baptist style. We also offer unheated Yin Yoga and Vinyasa classes that follow the flow of the Baptist style.
What do you think makes your studio special?
Our studio is special because of our community of teachers and practitioners. We enjoy a fun, relaxed and challenging lifestyle for yoga on and off the mat.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
We allow all teachers who are members of our community to choose the music played in their classroom.
What types of yoga do you teach at Studio Mantra?
At Studio Mantra, we offer a variety of yoga, pilates and barre classes. We have all levels; for everyone from beginners to the most experienced practitioners. Our yoga classes include Vinyasa Flow, Slow Flow and Power Vinyasa, Mantra Sculpt (light Vinyasa), Mantra Fit (Bootcamp style class), Mantra Calm (restorative), Alignment Yoga, Kundalini and Mantra Mellow (Yin).
What do you think makes your studio special?
Unlike many studios, Studio Mantra offers more than just yoga classes. Mantra is a boutique studio that offers an integrative approach to healing the body and mind through group and individual classes, therapeutic massage and acupuncture, all in one space!
With all of this in mind, we feel that the most unique feature of our studio is a true sense of community. Although it has only been open for less than a year, as soon as you walk through the front door you feel calm and beautiful and, we were told, at home. Studio Mantra has created a safe, warm and welcoming community for all.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Music is so important to Austin, and by extension, to our students and clients. It’s the foundation of everything we do in Austin.
At Mantra, we welcome our teachers’ musical choices for each class and give them the freedom to use the full range of music available. Our teachers (many of whom are very familiar with Austin’s music scene) are often given the honor of introducing students to new music.
What types of yoga do you teach at Energies Balanced?
Lisa and I (Todd Johnson) are husband and wife and own and operate Energy Balanced Yoga and Massage Center. Lisa Johnson is our head yoga teacher, a certified Iyengar teacher with over 10,000 hours of teaching experience.
What do you think makes your studio special?
What makes our studio so special is that we have dedicated instructors and a welcoming community for people of all ages, body types and abilities/limitations.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Austin is definitely the live music capital of the world. We have a yoga troupe (Energies Balanced Yoga Troupe) that performs live at various festivals and music events. We have performed in bars, parks and other music related events.
What kind of yoga do you teach at Yoga Illumined?
We have over 35 classes on our schedule each week! We offer Power Kundalini, Shakti Vinyasa Flow, Inspired Hatha, Meditation, Acro and Partner Yoga, Restorative Yoga with props, Ashtanga, Kirtan, and special events like yoga with live music.
What do you think makes your studio special?
Recognized as the most spiritual studio in Austin, our community is unique because of our dedication to the ancient teachings of yoga. At Yoga Illumined you will not only practice yoga, but you will also experience an inner glow through meditation, inner peace and an immersion in the yoga philosophy of the Yoga Sutras.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Yes! Every Friday evening there is live music in our studio, called Kirtan. There are also monthly workshops on live music and restorative yoga, Hip-Hop Soul Floo and Glow Yoga. We love music and we love yoga! It is therefore only natural to combine them.
What kind of yoga do you teach at Sukha Yoga?
We offer a full range of yoga classes in Sukha. Every day you can find an activity that suits your mood and needs….. You can choose between a Slow Flow Vinyasa suitable for all levels, a quiet and healing Yin practice and a dynamic and expressive Sukkha.
What do you think makes your studio special?
Suha has so many beautiful translations, each one embodying the heart of our offering. Sukkha means bliss, sweetness, home, nectar, lightness and good space (we laughed when one of our students told us it was sukha in Russian). We belong to Mom and Dad and are completely local, born of a dream and created by deep community roots. Our instructors are selected for their passion, creativity and dedication to their craft.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Absolutely. Music and yoga are at least complementary and at most dynamic. In Austin, many talented musicians work with yoga teachers/studio owners to offer their musical talents in classes and workshops. It doesn’t hurt to have one of the world’s best musician collections on your studio doorstep! Yoga and the music community will thrive if they continue to work together and grow together.
What kind of yoga do you teach at Black Swan Yoga?
We teach heated, energetic, personalized vinyasa flow classes.
What do you think makes your studio special?
Our studio is primarily donation based, meaning anyone can come and donate as much as they want to attend a class. We believe yoga is for everyone, so we try to make it as accessible as possible by lowering the cost, eliminating the fear of yoga that most people have, and creating a fun and entertaining studio where students feel comfortable.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
We host classes with live music and are the official yoga studio of SXSW and other music festivals. Our goal is to bring yoga to the whole world!
What kind of yoga do you teach at Wanderlust Yoga?
We are currently teaching power vinyasa classes at Wanderlust. Our classes range from basic to slow vinyasa, heated vinyasa, intermediate vinyasa, yin yoga and yostrong (yoga with weights).
What do you think makes your studio special?
Classes are led by musicians, we hold outdoor yoga classes on the roof of the adjacent Brazos Hall, and we bring people together not only for yoga classes but also for community events. We host art exhibitions and workshops and continually work with the community to help with fundraising and more.
Austin has been called the live music capital of the world. Is there an intersection between the music and yoga communities?
Absolutely, especially in Wanderlust. The music, coordinated with the yoga practice sequences, accompanies the yoga practice and creates a beautiful background. We bring our two loves, yoga and music, together in the greatest city in the world.
What is your favorite yoga studio in Austin? How do you use music in your yoga classes? Share it with us in the comments below!
Yoga can be a great tool to help you feel relaxed, connect with your body, and work towards lifelong goals. Austinites can find some studios that cater specifically to their needs, whether it’s to learn about the benefits of yoga, find a certified instructor, or just experience the best yoga studio in town.
