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Describe the term "Yoga of Sound"?
Technically the official term for sound as a form of yoga is known as Nada Yoga. Nada is sound, pitch, drone, stream, flow or current of sound. This term has existed in Indian spirituality for about 2000 years. I use the term The Yoga of Sound to imply sound as yoga in its broadest applications and deepest aspirations, bringing together many sub-traditions of sacred sound that developed within the Indian tradition. I also use this term it in a very specific way i.e. to denote a unified spiritual system that brings together all sub-traditions of sacred sound into a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary approach relevant to our present times and needs. Read more ...
Is The Yoga of Sound like Hatha Yoga? Can they work together?
The word Yoga means "to yoke" or "to join"; it is also "the way" to getting yoked, which is to get "connected". Sound Yoga is therefore "the way" that uses "sound" to connect our ego with our higher Self, the physical to the non-physical, the human to the Divine, matter with spirit. The terminology may differ, but the process and the result is exactly the same. Hatha Yoga, the popular yoga method of postures and stretches, comes from the root "Ha" and "Tha" which denote the sun and the moon: this is a way of bringing together masculine and femine energies in harmony through well formed and properly aligned physical posture and dynamic breathing. A key difference in Hatha Yoga is the strong physicality (body postures, stretches, bends, etcetera) that Hatha Yoga uses in its process. Sound Yoga does not engage the dynamic range of postures used in Hatha Yoga, although the element of sound can be combined with many Hatha Yoga postures. However, the "postures" of Sound Yoga are themselves sounds and they are known as mantras.
To put all of this in perpective, it helps to understand that traditionally, in Indian spirituality, the word "yoga" is always qualified because it denotes the end result as well as the process, the way, which gets us to that result. Thus, there are many forms of yoga, and each one of them is a legitimate way or path to the goal (of yoga). Yoga is the deep sense of contentment and fulfilment that comes from balance, poise and harmony. This balance is the result of the harmonious union of all the pairs of opposites that make up the matrix of life: hot and cold, pleasure and pain, male and female, and etcetera. When there is imbalance, there is discontent, which is the psychological breeding ground for physical disease. The key pair of opposities through which all other opposites are reconciled is the merging of our personal energies with those of universal of cosmic energies, or in theistic terms "the soul's union with God, or the Divine". This is the heart of Yoga and way toward this "union" is to dissolve the boundaries that have been erected by self and society so that we can become truly "connected" to that which is our source and sustenance.
One may view the blending of opposites as the masculine and feminine parts of ourselves coming together in wholeness, a merging of our brain hemispheres that result in optimal brain functioning. Yoga is thus any means by which we achieve this balance and harmony of our personal energies with the universal life force that circulates in all things. Such balance produces a sense of "oneness", which is a sense of the individual "yoked" to the universal or the cosmic principle, that which we also call "Spirit" or "God" or "the Divine".
The physical, mental and psychological benefits of Hatha Yoga practice are immeasurable and this has been established beyond all doubt and because of which Yoga has entered the mainstream of life in the western world. Hatha Yoga is far superior to any form of physical exercise because it introduces the spiritual element consciously into the process. Lesser known, yet steadily gaining credibility, is The Yoga of Sound. This yogic spiritual path is equal in power, scope and application to the path of Hatha Yoga with a historical development that is just as ancient and just as sophisticated and whose effects you must discover for yourself.
Central to The Yoga of Sound is the tradition of mantra, which is a universal component in which all ancient languages and spiritualities are grounded. In the Indian spiritual tradition, mantras have been formulated as the sculpted sounds of yogic effort and may be compared to the postures of Hatha Yoga. These "acoustic postures" are audible forms of the sacred dimension of all existence and they help to configure our personal energies with that of the universal life force that lives and breathes in all things and all creatures. Like physical postures they also awaken subtle dimensions of the mind, leading to altered states of consciouesness and a deeper perception of life.
Mantras are constructed using the Sanskrit language which employs subtle forms of spiritual energy in its sound structures. Just as in Hatha Yoga we use stretches and postures to relax and tone the physical body, in Sound Yoga we use consonants, vowels and musical intervals to flex and expand parts of our being that are less tangible. The two can work marvelously together, as much as they each have singular value within their own respective contexts.
What can The Yoga of Sound accomplish for you?
Here, The Yoga of Sound, refers to an integrated spiritual system that provides the practitioner with an array of tools and techniques that allow him or her to work with a variety of conditions: spiritual, psychological and physiological. For instance, chanting is now medically proven to reduce blood pressure, stabilize heart rate and increase circulation. It is also known to produce endorphins (the body's natural pain killers), reduce the production of stress-related hormones in the body and to assist in the production of beneficial chemicals such as interleukin-2, a protein that is good for the blood.
Medically professionals such as Dr. Dharma Singh Khalsa M.D., who runs an Integrative Medicine Center in Tuscon, AZ, and Dr. Mitchell Gaynor, a New York based oncologist, are utilizing mantras in therapeutic applications with remarkable success. We now know now that chanting, and particularly the chanting of mantras, have a direct and immediate effect upon our brain chemistry. Sanskrit pronunciation strikes energy meridian points in the palate facliliating a powerful surge of subtle energy in the bodys nervous circuitry. This type of energy surge awakens us to the spiritual dimension of our existence and contributes significantly to our health and our sense of wellness. Read more ...
The therapeutic application of sound is also tremendously validated in the field of psychology as attested by numerous self-help gurus in the west, including Dr. Wayne Dyer and Shakti Gawain. Positive affirmations are mantric in their function and work in precisely the same manner to accomplish the same goals. Mantras, I believe, are immensely more powerful: we just have to learn how to incorporate them more effectively into our spiritual practice and use them intelligently to compliment our affirmations. This moves the power of sound simultaneously into the physical and as well as spiritual dimensions, creating a multi-dimensional effect.
What does practicing The Yoga of Sound involve?
There are five components that make up the practice of The Yoga of Sound. They are sound, breath, posture, movement and consciousness. When all these five components flow harmoniously together, Yoga happens!
SOUND. Sound is the central component of Sound Yoga and it consists essentially of mantras that are chanted, spoken or sung. Vowels and consonants affect energy flow; musical intervals affect our mood, and certain forms of improvisatory vocalizations, devotional songs and vocal exercises can facilitate ecstatic states of consciousness, transform negative emotions, increase energy and dramatically improve health.
Next, there are dynamics that one learns to employ in ones voice, certain inflections in speech, tongue positions in the mouth, and so on. The greater the coordination, the more power and energy and transformation one experiences through the practicethem. At the heart of this tradition is the knowledge that sound is a spiritual technology: language, music and mantra and are actually embodiments of energy, intelligence and consciousness that can be manipulated to facilitate extraordinary outcomes. This spiritual technology should be used wisely and for the good of the world, employed from a therapeutic and healing perspective, to empower oneself and others.
Our sonic technology transfers into speaking, chanting, singing, vocalizing, writing, listening, experiencing, doing, moving, seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, being, loving, living, sleeping, dreaming, thinking, perceiving, relating, connecting ... and more!
The other components are complimentary to the principle of sound. They are:
- BREATH. Breath control is traditional to Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga. Yogic breathing known as pranayama: the control of the life force "prana". Breath control can range from simple to advanced types of breathing. Control of breath helps to harmonize our thoughts and emotions; in other words, to control the content of our mind and its corresponding fluctuations.
- POSTURE: Advanced Hatha Yoga practitioners may employ their skill and adapt a wide range of asanas to their sound yoga practice. Posture helps contain and distribute our energy effectively. Those who are not Hatha Yoga practitioners can still employ Sound Yoga practices through simple postures or through sitting on a chair.
- MOVEMENT. Movement meditation practices like Tai Chi or Chi Gung are an excellent compliment to Sound Yoga. Mudras (ritualalized yogic gestures) enhance mantra use considerably. Movement gets our energy to flow and to circulate. It also helps us change our mental states.
- CONSCIOUSNESS. Our consciousness is often qualified by the mental and emotional disposition we bring to our practice. Sound Yoga can deepen our awareness, perception and relationship with energy. This has a direct effect upon our consciousness, refiing it and expanding it. The distinctive vibrations of energy produced by mantras and chanting are powerful catalysts that bring deep levels of consciousness into our immediate awareness.
What are the requirements for study? Can anyone do it?
If you can speak, you can chant! You do not require prior experience of either music or yoga to get started on this path and you can begin anywhere at anytime. Furthermore, you do not require having a good voice: the goal is to transform, not perform. Yet, through this practice, you will come to love your voice, and you will improve your knowledge of music. Additionally, you will improve your speaking capabilities and your singing voice. Most of all, you will learn to control your mind and your emotions so that your energy flows more harmoniously within you and between you and others. You will discover that you can influence the outcome of circumstances and deal more effectively with life's challenges.
If you can walk you can run. Through incorporting sound into our spiritual practice we explore the transformation of our consciousness through sound. All the parts of the practice (types of mantras, movements, vocalizations, dynamics of chant, inflextions, etcetera) make up a vocabulary that we master over time. Just as you started with the alphabet and slowly built up your powers of expression and comprehension in your primary language; you will, over time, discover a rich vocabulary of experiences and combinations through the techniques of Sound Yoga. There is much fun to be had and profound insights to be gleaned every step of the way.
Who does it benefit? Read more ...
What is the best means of absorbing this tradition of sacred sound?
There are three levels to absorbing this tradition:
- By listening: The easiest way to absorb the healing and therapeutic effects of mantra and yogic music is to listen to authentic performances of these sounds in a live setting or through well produced audio recordings. It is also important to listen to your own body and to the sounds of nature - the ocean, birds, the wind, etcetera - but without allowing your mind to dilute the listening experience. Working with mantras and Sound Yoga practices can enhance your ability to listen in this manner.
- By engaging: The next level of exploring Sound Yoga is to start using mantras knowledgeably. You do this by learning the vocabulary of Sound Yoga, which combines posture, movement and breath-work in addition to the use of sound. Proper pronunciation of mantras is also crucial toward enhancing and deriving the intended benefits and effects. Additionally, when the mind and body should be optimally prepared, the efficacy of mantra increases. Combining intention with visualization and proper contextualized understanding adds layers and dimensions to the experience.
- Through in-depth study: Eventually, you want someone to train, inspire and challenge you to grow in your understanding and application of mantras. This is by the far the best and most authentic way to study the tradition, which is accomplished through direct contact with a living teacher. I am presently in the process of designing an Institute to train people at the highest level.
How does one get started with the Yoga of Sound?
The simplest way to get started, even initiated, on this path, just get one of my yogic music or mantra CD’s from our website (or from any store nationwide) and listen to it while you meditate or relax in your favorite chair. While there is a plethora of chant based CDs in the market, and each one of them is representing in some fashion The Yoga of Sound, my CDs will connect you to an ancient vibratory network that has been gifted to me through my teachers and through the grace of Spirit that combines more than two decades of dedicated spiritual learning and practice together with more than twenty-five years of professional expertise in the music industry.. What is specific to my work is the broad scope and depth of Sound Yoga that I have sought to bring together under one umbrella.
When you listen, notice how the sounds and music rearrange your cellular structure by affecting your mind, your moods, your emotions, your inner disposition and the clarity of your perception. This is not music for entertainment: it is "innerattainment". You may also start by listening to some short samples on this website, however, the CDs have extended track lengths that immerse you in the experience.
To go a step futher, read the liner notes accompanying the CDs and begin to engage with the tracks while you listen. Most of my CDs come with informative booklets. This will give you deeper insight into the working of sacred sound and its effects upon consciousness.
To understand the scope and depth of this path, explore my book The Yoga of Sound: Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant, which offers a thorough exposition of the system, the traditions it draws from, the practices and their applications in specific contexts, and more. (A teaching CD accompanies the book).
For a personal experience, attend one of my events. This gives you direct contact with the power and presence of the tradition.
What are the resources available to study the Yoga of Sound?
- Audio CD's: All of my CD’s include comprehensive information booklets that explain how you can understand and apply specific components of the yoga of sound system to each track.
- Books: The Yoga of Sound: Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant offers 300 pages of information and exercises that enables you to understand and apply the Yoga of Sound in daily life. The book is accompanied by its own audio CD that teaches you various practices and principles expounded in the book. It also lists a select bibliography that will help you develop an extended vision of this rich spiritual tradition.
- Nationwide Workshops: I offer single day, weekend and weeklong workshops on the Yoga of Sound at leading-edge conference facilities, retreat centers and prestigious learning institutions widely across the U.S. and internationally. Attend these.
- Academic courses: I teach at Wisdom University in San Francisco, CA. On occasion, students who are not enrolled in the academic programs can audit some of my courses and avail themselves of in-depth study through five day intensives.
COMING SOON: For those you who wish to study with me through an intensive personalized program, your wish will be granted soon. A comprehensive program is currently in the works.
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