I Was Scared to Include Spanish Music in My Yoga Playlists. Then Bad Bunny Happened.

I vividly recall watching Saved By the Bell as a little girl and being drawn to the character of Zack Morris. My grandfather Tati, however, would repeatedly mention AC Slater and the fact that a Latino cast member on an American TV show was amazing. After renting Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet on VHS and gushing over Leonardo DiCaprio, I would listen to my grandfather point out John Leguizamo in the cast. When I got Groove Theory’s latest tape and played it on repeat, he would listen and then balance it out by playing salsa music and giving me a dance lesson in the living room. He did this all the time. And it annoyed me.

When I started practicing yoga, all but one of my talented and amazing instructors were white. Although this didn’t affect my practice, I noticed. Not long after I began teaching yoga, a couple of students came up to me after class and told me that they chose my class on the schedule because of my last name. They expressed that seeing a Latino name made them less intimidated about trying something new. I, too, remember doing that 20 years prior.

After I became more comfortable teaching, I had the idea to incorporate a Spanish song in my playlist. I thought maybe it would be too much to speak Sanskrit and English with Spanish music playing in the background. Although I held off, the idea was always at the forefront of my mind.

I wanted to incorporate Spanish-language music into my playlist for several reasons. I was into a then up-and-coming Puerto Rican artist, Bad Bunny.  I thought the song “200 MPH” and its lyrics “Debajo De Sol,” which translates to “Under the Sun,” would be ideal for a Sun Salutation warm up. Also, I wanted to make people who might not have felt seen or comfortable in yoga spaces feel seen. Finally, I wanted to honor my Tati and myself in this way. Still, I was scared.

At some point, I received a negative review for including a Snoop Dogg song in my class playlist. I was new to the brutality of anonymous reviews and I was rethinking my entire existence in the yoga space. I thought I needed to turn my personality down, play instrumentals only, maybe even stop teaching yoga.

Yet these Bad Bunny songs were constantly living in my head rent-free. Then one day, I just decided to do it. I included a Spanish song in my playlist.

I teach at a studio where the owner and students are incredibly welcoming and supportive, and I continued to include Bad Bunny music in my classes. Sure enough, I started to attract my people. Newbies returned and complimented my playlist. One Latina woman brought her friend, brother, and fiance to class and later explained to me it was Bad Bunny on the playlist that drew her in.

I steadily incorporated more Spanish music in my classes and multiple people thanked me for creating an inclusive environment through music. It all started with that one Bad Bunny song as an Easter egg for my Tati. Actually, it started long before then. I didn’t realize it at the time, but my grandfather had always been teaching me to be proud of my identity, my culture, my heritage.

Eventually, I realized that I had never taken a class with Bad Bunny on the playlist and had an urge to teach a vinyasa class with a playlist dedicated to his music. When it was announced he would be the Super Bowl LX halftime performer, I asked the studio owner to create a special name for my regular Sunday morning class. Super Bowl Sunday Bad Bunny Flow sold out fast.

I started that class with the story of my Tati and how, years later, I had been scared to include a single Spanish song. I reminded my students that when you move in authenticity, your people find you.

The vibrant energy in that class was palpable. There was a little dancing and singing, especially when “Titi Me Pregunto” came on, as well as smiles and laughs. I led a sequence with asanas (poses) that allowed space for free movement, including during Goddess, Standing Wide-Legged Forward Fold, and Down Dog. And, of course, I had to include Rabbit Pose because, well, Bunny. The space itself was filled with energized love and joy, exactly like Bad Bunny’s music.

Afterward, a couple students DM’d to say thank you for holding space. Honestly, I can’t imagine not holding space. I am so proud to be Latina and to make students feel seen and empowered to take up space. Just as Tati taught me.

Practice or Teach to My Bad Bunny Yoga Playlist