California musician Russill Paul is out to put his audience to sleep. (While this may be interpreted as a negative remark, I consider it a compliment, especially since deep states of meditation and relaxation border sleep). Drawing from his mixed religious ancestry, the South Indian native combines classical Indian music, chanting and mediation into a ensemble he calls the yoga of sound.

Based on an Indian concept called nada yoga, the yoga of sound says music is embedded into all parts of the universe and can be used to promote health and well-being, Paul explained at a recent presentation at Dickinson College.

"Studies have found that the universe is composed of sounds. For example, black holes and the sun have rhythmic patterns," he says. "That's why we enjoy it when we're playing our keyboards. We're really just recreating what is already around us."

As a musician, Paul draws upon the rhythms in nature as inspiration in his music. Many of his songs have singing birds, trickling streams and crashing waves. On top of it all, Paul adds strings or a harmonica and sings haunting Indian chants he learned during his studies as a monk in South India. The entire element produces a soothing effect, evident through the closed eyes and peaceful expressions on a majority of faces of the people in the audience.

Health benefits

Carlisle yoga instructor Bonnie Berk attended the event and says she believes music like Paul's can produce health benefits for people.

"There is a lot of interest in how sound effects us on many levels from a health perspective. We're seeing more research on the effects of chanting and health," says Berk, head of the Carlisle YMCA Wellness program, which cosponsored the event. "For example, people who hum or chant have a lower case of sinus infections."

Paul is also a firm believer in the correlation between sound and healing.

"What we're learning is that music can be used for health. There is a strong physiological response to sound," he says. "Music can create endorphins and that affects someone's overall health."

Although Paul grew up performing pop and jazz, he says studying yoga and religion at the monastery changed his life.

"I never experienced the richness I've experienced as a monk. I've traveled around the world and done many things, but that experience as a monk has never been surpassed," he told the audience.

Balancing opposites

Paul left the monastery after five years, but he still carries the lessons and the music he learned during that time. He hopes his music not only provides a healing quality, but helps bring people together.

"Yoga is about the balancing of opposites," he told audience members. "I draw upon Indian spirituality and my Roman Catholic upbringing to bring a global mentality to my music."

In the end, the musician says his songs promote harmony. "It's a marriage of east and west. They compliment each other instead of being opposites."

By Leah Farr, Sentinel Reporter, lfarr@cumberlink.com

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