As part of our Music for Fitness series, we chatted with the co-founder of Hotpod Yoga, a business we've been curating playlists for for a long time...

Hotpod Yoga - as the name suggests - offer innovative hot 37°C Vinyasa Flow yoga classes that take place inside hotpods. Combining heat, scents, colours, and of course music, Hotpod Yoga classes are a 360° sensorial experience.

We asked Hotpod Yoga's founder Nick Higgins a few questions about yoga and music...

Yoga and music make a great pair, though not all yogis agree. While music has always been an integral part of the yoga practice - let's just think of yoga chants and yoga mantras - modern music is not accepted by the entirity of the community. What are your thoughts on this?

I think that it depends on the school/training that the individuals have been on/a part of and ultimately their beliefs. I believe that as long as the music or sound can help ease distraction and allow the individual to go deeper into themselves, therefore aiding their experience in a positive way to soften their mental state, then that's powerful.

How can music change someone's yoga practice for the better?

Music taps into the subtler states of us, and - if the music suits - it helps enrich our experience of that moment. This is the same for when practising, it softens the mind, body, and nervous systems, and can (pending the type of track) up the energy or bring it down, all whilst helping the individual get into a deeper flow state. This is similar for teachers too, it helps bring the energy, and ease it.

What was the music brief you gave to Open Ear?

Deep bass, future garage, ambient and atmospheric. All to suit the vibe of the experience so not to jar nervous systems more so to enhance it.