“], “filter”: { “nextExceptions”: “img, blockquote, div”, “nextContainsExceptions”: “img, blockquote, a.btn, a.o-button”} }”>
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
>”,”name”:”in-content-cta”,”type”:”link”}}”>Download the app.
A modern renaissance woman, Anané Vega is a DJ, dancer, producer, CEO, mother, and partner. As Vega declares in her bio on X, she represents “every strong woman out there doing her thang!!” And, throughout much of her career, Vega’s commitment to practicing yoga has been as constant as her presence on stages worldwide.
Vega was born on the island of Santiago, Cape Verde, along the West Coast of Africa, where her childhood coincided with the country’s fight for independence from Portugal. After her family relocated to Rhode Island, Vega dreamt of being like the musical artists whose pictures were pinned to her bedroom walls. In her teens, she used her earnings from waiting tables and factory jobs to take day trips to New York City for dance and modeling auditions. After just a few years, she was booking jobs as a dancer on MTV.
Vega eventually moved to NYC and, with her characteristic determination and resilience, began performing at local venues and collaborating with various artists and honing her soulful and emotive vocal style. As she developed her characteristic sound—a mix of dance, reggae, R&B, and soul— her debut solo album caught the attention of Billboard magazine.
She eventually met “Little” Louie Vega, a world-renowned DJ and producer who would become her husband. Not long after, she began her relationship with yoga.
“I immediately fell in love with it,” says Vega, who accepted an invitation from a friend to attend a hot yoga class about 15 years ago. The practice felt like an extension of her background in dance and her physically active childhood. But it wasn’t just the outer movement that drew Vega in. Despite the demands of the chaotic music industry, she found solace and balance through her practice. It brought her an inner stillness and centering that has helped her maintain clarity, resilience, and spiritual grounding necessary to stay true to herself.
Vega’s current schedule includes traveling worldwide for DJ sets and live performances, managing two influential record labels, Nulu Music and Nulu Electronic, all while being a dedicated mother and partner. She blocks time each day for herself to connect with something larger and recommends it for anyone. “Sit quietly, meditate, read, journal, or just stare into nature,” she advises.
Her dedication to both music and yoga reveals a harmony between her artistic career and spiritual practice. We talked to her about how, exactly, her practice plays such a strong role in her life.
It Prepares Her for Life
Not long after she attended class for the first time, Vega was practicing yoga six times a week. By integrating yoga into her daily routine, she was able to cultivate more balance between her jet-setting lifestyle and personal well-being. The style of hot yoga that Vega favors features a set sequence of poses that are taught in the same order each class.
“Because it’s always the same, people ask me, ‘Doesn’t it get boring?’ But that’s where the mind comes in—how to push yourself, go beyond, and go deeper, which makes it more difficult. I found a lot of that was also part of life.”
It Furthers Her Self-Exploration
In 2014, Vega completed an intense nine-week hot yoga teacher training course in Los Angeles. “The decision to delve into yoga wasn’t just about physical fitness. It was about finding a deeper connection with myself and aligning my mind, body, and spirit,” she explains.
Her subsequent understanding of yogic principles enabled her to align her passion for movement and wellness with something more. “The yoga journey is for self, to self, and by self, right? I took that philosophy into my life because that’s really what life is about: a journey of self and exploration,” she says.
It Expands Her Perspective
When Vega is on tour, she seeks out local yoga studios. Her tours have taken her to countless countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, allowing her to immerse herself in diverse spiritual practices and cultures. Whether she’s practicing in Ibiza, Milan, or Miami, the style of yoga in each location teaches her a unique perspective on mindfulness and inner peace.
“Traveling opened my eyes to the diversity of spiritual practices,” Anané explains. “I found that regardless of the cultural differences, the essence of yoga remains the same—an invitation to connect with oneself and the universe.”
It Supports Her Creativity
While coming of age in New York City, Vega immersed herself in the vibrant house and club music scenes. Unlike most genres, house music doesn’t typically abide by the traditional verse-chorus-verse-chorus structure. It’s experiential. It requires openness, connection, and patience. And, for Vega, it’s a meditative experience.
Intentionality is as central to her creative process as it is her yoga practice. Before stepping into the DJ booth or the studio, she focuses on uniting her audiences with vibrant, soul-filled energy. “My job is very simple. It’s to bring joy and happiness. My job is to simply make people dance,” she says. “It’s about creating something that resonates with people on a deeper level. I’ve always said that if music is played with intention, we truly have the ability to raise the spirits, whether past, present, or future.”
It Helps Catalyze Transformation
Vega envisions a time and space where yoga and music can meld into transformative, immersive experiences. Her vision is not just about her personal journey, but also about creating a community of like-minded individuals who turn to yoga and music to alter their lives and the world around them.
“I aim to inspire others to embrace wellness as a holistic journey,” she explains. “I see yoga as a catalyst for positive change.”
It Supports Self-Compassion
Resilience and hard work are evident in everything Vega does. Vega’s advice—especially for those with busy lifestyles—is to also focus on patience, kindness, and compassion for oneself. “We have to be kind to ourselves because this body is the vehicle taking us through life. I always say, be easy on yourself. Hug yourself. Have compassion for yourself because the world is already so harsh, so fast, and so demanding.”
Vega’s beginning to understand that she’s been incorporating mindfulness into her work and life all along. And she hopes to inspire others to do the same.
