I’ve taken different yoga classes at various studios for the past few years, and at long last, I can conclude that there is one universal truth to yoga: when the instructor decides to play music during a class, her go-to artist is Enya.

I recognized Enya’s voice immediately when I went to my class today. I got to the studio 10 minutes early, and the moment I walked into the studio space, I heard Enya singing quietly in the background. I was already beginning to unwind. I set up my mat, gathered the supplies I would need, and stretched. Then the instructor came in and started the class.

There are many types of yoga. Some involve really utilizing the ideas of spirit and chakras when students practice each pose. Others are taught simply on a physiological level. I prefer the latter. You focus on your breathing, you work certain muscles, and you relax your entire body. There are many types of yoga instructors as well. However, only two types matter to me: the instructors that teach in silence and the ones that teach with music.

Again, I like the latter more. I love Enya. I love a lot of classical or instrumental pieces, too. Music always improves my mood, so I look forward to any yoga class in which music is being played. Yoga itself isn’t particularly exciting like other forms of exercise, yet it’s meant to slow things down, and I feel like the right kind of music definitely helps with that.

People practice yoga to get their mind off of the worries in their lives and, basically, chill out. Instructors tend to tell their students to clear their minds of everything and try to just listen to their breathing.

I don’t know about you guys and girls, but I often can’t do that. In a sense, I don’t want to. During a yoga class, I want to feel good. So I close my eyes, listen to the music, and think about what makes me happy. For today’s class, I was thinking, among other things, about how excited I am for season 7 of Game of Thrones. Seriously, THERE’S ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT. Ahem…

I believe that it isn’t a bad thing to have some stuff on your mind when you practice yoga. I get that you should leave Negative Nancy at the door. Completely emptying your brain, though? That’s not necessary.

Right before class was done, while we were all in our final pose, I thought about the new Enya song I wanted to get for my music library. I took deep breaths and listened to the last song that played. And I thought about what I was going to do with the rest of my day as class was dismissed.