Gary Kraftsow

March, 2008 -- Steve Ross

Los Angeles yoga teacher Steve Ross has made a career out of his love for music. He has recorded with bands such as the Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac, and Men at Work, and has taught yoga to the likes of Def Jam Records founder Russell Simmons, which is perhaps why radio-friendly hits continue to play such a big role in RossÕs yoga classes.

ÒPop music allows me to reach a group of students who might not do yoga otherwise,Ó he says. ÒEven though the lyrics may not always align with yoga philosophy, the music provides a familiar backdrop so that students can have a good time while theyÕre learning and growing as yogis.Ó

Mainstream tunes also help to bring people into a more meditative space. ÒPeople come in from the traffic and noise, high on Starbucks,Ó he says. ÒYou canÕt take somebody from a place of chaos and put them immediately into deep meditation. You have to take them from where they are.Ó

The following playlist, which was designed to accompany the Vinyasa Yoga portion of RossÕs class, is followed by slower tracks and longer-held Yin Yoga poses that lead up to Savasana. - ERICA RODEFER

Click here for this month's playlist.