sound yoga, Siddhi Shakti

The ancient practice of sound yoga or nāda yoga is a deeply transcendant and transformational art that can connect us to profound levels of deep soul connection.

This article focuses on one element of the practice, exploring how sound yoga and humming, and the production of sounds that generate vibration through the nasal region, results in the stimulation of nasal nitric oxide production.

This simple and powerful holistic practice has many health benefits. It can support us to calm the mind but also has profound physiological effects enhancing well-being.

What is Sound Yoga?

Sound yoga, also known as nāda yoga, is the practice of using sound vibrations as a form of meditation, inner connection and healing. A practice might involve the focus and inner attunement to specific sounds, tones, or vibrations to harmonise the body and mind, and to enliven our spirit. These sounds can be in the form of music, mantras, or through vibrations such as humming.

The Science Behind Humming and Nitric Oxide Production

Nitric oxide is a molecule produced in the body, particularly in the nasal passages. It plays a key role in various physiological processes, including vasodilation, immune function, and neurotransmission. One of the most remarkable aspects of nitric oxide is its ability to dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow and oxygen delivery throughout the body.

Humming, as it turns out, is a powerful way to stimulate the production of nasal nitric oxide. Research has shown that humming increases the resonance in the airways, leading to a significant increase in nitric oxide levels. A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine[i] found that humming can increase nasal nitric oxide levels by 15 to 20 times compared to quiet breathing.

Ancient Technology

Unsurprisingly this practice has been known by ancient yogis, and cultivated through the practice of Bhramari prāṇāyāma – the buzzing bee breath. It’s inbuilt into ancient sound technology. For example, when we chant the Sanskrit sound Oṁ, we are also activating the production of vibrations through the nasal region, through the ‘m’ in that sound.

How Does This Benefit Your Health?

  1. Improved Respiratory Function
    Nitric oxide has antimicrobial properties that help to neutralize pathogens in the respiratory system. By boosting nitric oxide levels through humming, you can support your body’s natural defense against infections and improve overall respiratory health.
  2. Enhanced Circulation
     The vasodilating effect of nitric oxide leads to improved blood flow, which can enhance cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and increase oxygen delivery to tissues. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with conditions like hypertension or those seeking to improve athletic performance.
  3. Boosted Immune System
    Nitric oxide is a critical component of the immune response. It helps to modulate the immune system, reducing inflammation and supporting the body’s ability to fight off infections and diseases.
  4. Stress Reduction and Mental Clarity
    Sound yoga, including humming, is inherently calming. The vibrations created during humming can stimulate the vagus nerve, promoting relaxation and reducing stress. This can lead to improved mental clarity, better sleep, and a greater sense of well-being.
  5. Support for Sinus Health
    Humming creates vibrations in the sinuses, which can help to clear mucus and improve sinus drainage. This can be particularly beneficial for those who suffer from chronic sinus issues or allergies.


How to Incorporate Humming into Your Daily Routine

Incorporating humming into your daily routine is simple and can be done almost anywhere. Here’s a basic guide to get started:

  1. Find A Quiet Space
    Start by finding a quiet, comfortable space where you can sit or lie down without distractions.
  2. Focus On Your Breath
    Take a few deep breaths to centre yourself and bring your attention to your breathing.
  3. Begin Humming
    Close your mouth, lips gently together, have the tongue nice and relaxed on the floor of your mouth. Produce a gentle ‘mmm’ sound on the exhalation. It’s important to breathe through the nose. Focus on the vibration in your nasal passages. You can hum for a few minutes or as long as you feel comfortable. Even 5 minutes can support an inner shift.
  4. Experiment With Different Tones
    You can experiment with different tones or pitches to see what feels best for you. Lower tones may create a more grounding vibration, while higher tones may feel lighter and more energizing.
  5. Consider Using A Drone To Support Your Practice
    The use of a bed of sound can support you to feel more comfortable in the practice and to help us drop into a more meditative and inwards state. You can find a tānpūrā drone in G# to support your practice in the online shop.
  6. Combine With Other Practices
    Consider incorporating humming into your yoga or meditation practice for a more comprehensive experience. You can also try humming in combination with specific yoga poses that open the chest and throat.

Online Sound Yoga Course

If you’d some support to cultivate your own practice, have a look at this video course.


Final Thoughts

The practice of sound yoga and humming offers a simple yet powerful way to enhance your health and well-being. By stimulating the production of nasal nitric oxide, humming can improve respiratory function, circulation, immune response, and mental clarity. Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or new to holistic practices, incorporating humming into your daily routine can provide profound benefits for your body and mind. So, take a deep breath, hum a little, and let the healing vibrations of sound yoga transform your health.
[i] Citation:

Weitzberg, E., & Lundberg, J. O. (2002). Humming greatly increases nasal nitric oxide. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 166(2), 144-145. DOI: 10.1164/rccm.2202021. Link

 

Energy, Sound, Mantra to Shape Our Reality

Have you ever wondered if sound could be visualised? The mesmerising world of cymatics demonstrates how every note, every beat, and every sound can create beautiful, intricate patterns.

What is Cymatics?

Cymatics is the study of visible sound vibration and its patterns. The term comes from the Greek word “kyma,” meaning wave, and was popularized by Swiss medical doctor and natural scientist Hans Jenny in the 1960s. By placing substances like sand or water on a vibrating plate and using specific frequencies, Jenny demonstrated that sound could produce complex geometric patterns.

How Cymatic Patterns are Created

Imagine a thin layer of sand on a metal plate connected to a frequency generator. As the frequency changes, the sand arranges itself into different patterns. Higher frequencies typically produce more intricate designs. The same can be done with water, where sound waves create dynamic, ever-changing shapes on the water’s surface.

Check out these YouTube videos from Nigel Stanford, Go Experimental and The Amazing Resonance Experiment for amazing visual representations of cymatic patterns created with different frequencies, and the effect of coming into resonance.

Masaru Emoto: The Hidden Messages in Water

Japanese researcher Masaru Emoto researched the effect of vibrational energy by exploring its effects on water. Emoto believed that human consciousness could affect the molecular structure of water. He conducted experiments where he exposed water to different words, music, and even thoughts, then froze the water and photographed the resulting crystals.

Positive words like “love” and “gratitude” produced beautiful, symmetrical crystals, while negative words like “hate” resulted in distorted, chaotic shapes. Although Emoto’s work has been met with skepticism and calls for more rigorous scientific methods, it has sparked a fascinating discussion about the potential impact of our thoughts and environment on the world around us.

You can see the stunning images of the water crystals of Masaru Emoto’s work on his website.

Veda Austin: Continuing the Legacy

Building on Emoto’s work, Veda Austin has delved deeper into the study of water and its response to external stimuli. Austin focuses on the idea that water has a “memory” and can store information. Her experiments often involve photographing the shapes that water forms after being exposed to various stimuli, from words to music to environmental factors.

Austin’s work emphasizes the beauty and complexity of water’s responses, and her photographs reveal intricate patterns and shapes that are both aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking. Her research suggests a profound connection between water, consciousness, and the vibrational energies around us.

For a glimpse into Veda Austin’s fascinating research, check out her website her Instagram for interesting pics of her water experiments and regular updates and images of her work.

Chanting and Its Effects on Our Energy Patterns

Chanting, a practice found in many spiritual traditions, is known to create vibrations that can influence our energy patterns. When we chant, we produce specific frequencies that resonate with our body and mind, creating a harmonizing effect, and bring us into attunement and alignment with uplifting cosmic forces.

Cymatics, along with the work of Emoto and Austin, demonstrates this link beautifully. By visualizing the patterns created by different chants, we can see how certain sounds produce harmonious, symmetrical designs, while others may result in more chaotic patterns. This visual evidence supports the idea that chanting can help balance our energy, promote healing, and foster a sense of well-being.

These studies offer a visual representation of the invisible world of sound and energy, opening our eyes to the potential connections between physical phenomena and our emotional and mental states.

Exploring these patterns invites us to consider the unseen forces that shape our world and the impact of our thoughts, words, and actions on our environment. Whether you’re a scientist, artist, or simply a curious mind, the world of cymatics offers a beautiful, mysterious window into the hidden messages of our universe.

Conclusion

Cymatic patterns provide a captivating glimpse into the world of sound and vibration. Through the pioneering work of Hans Jenny, Masaru Emoto, and Veda Austin, we are reminded of the profound interconnectedness of all things and the potential power of our consciousness. Whether you’re inspired to experiment with cymatics yourself or simply enjoy the stunning visuals, this field can expand our understanding of the unseen forces at play in our world.

Cymatics and the research into the consciousness of water, is  a reminder that our thoughts, words, actions and energy all have an effect and are shaping our experiences.

Further Reading, Exploration & Video

Sound Yoga and Mantra for Pets

In our busy lives, stress is something we all encounter, and our pets are no exception. While we often seek solace in yoga, meditation, or soothing music, did you know that these practices can also benefit our fur friends? Sound yoga and mantra chanting can be powerful tools to help calm and soothe pets, promoting a harmonious and peaceful environment. Let’s delve into how these practices work and their remarkable benefits for our pets.

Understanding Sound Yoga and Mantras

Sound yoga, also known as nāda yoga, is the practice of using sound and vibrations to bring harmony, attunement, and some might even say cosmic connection, to body, mind and spirt. It may include the use of musical instruments and/or vocal sounds to bring us into greater listening awareness, inner connection and peace, and to create a serene atmosphere – in both our inner and outer worlds. Mantras are repetitive sounds, words, or phrases chanted during meditation to focus the mind. They can bring a sense of tranquility and support a vibrational shift within our being.

How Sound Yoga and Mantras Affect Pets

  1. Vibrational Healing: Animals are highly sensitive to vibrations. The sounds and vibrations produced during sound yoga and mantra chanting can resonate with pets, helping to calm their nervous system. This can be particularly beneficial for anxious or hyperactive pets.
  2. Stress Reduction: Just like humans, pets can experience stress and anxiety from various sources such as loud noises, changes in routine, or separation from their owners. The soothing sounds of mantras can create a calming ambiance, reducing stress levels and promoting relaxation.
  3. Improved Sleep: Pets often struggle with sleep disturbances due to stress or discomfort. The calming effect of sound yoga and mantra can help regulate their sleep patterns, ensuring they get the rest they need.
  4. Behavioural Improvement: Regular exposure to calming sounds can lead to noticeable improvements in your pet’s behaviour. They may become less aggressive, more obedient, and exhibit fewer signs of anxiety.

Practical Tips for Practicing Sound Yoga and Mantras with Pets

  1. Create a Calm Environment: Choose a quiet space in your home where you and your pet can relax without interruptions. Gentle lighting and a comfortable temperature can support the experience.
  2. Use Gentle Sounds: Start with gentle sounds such soft music, or maybe a singing bowl. My preferred option is vocal chanting using mantras. Observe your pet’s reaction and adjust the volume and type of sound accordingly.
  3. Consistency is Key: Regular practice is essential to see the benefits. Set aside a few minutes each day for sound yoga and mantra sessions with your pet. Over time, they will start to associate these sounds with relaxation and comfort.
  4. Be Patient: Every pet is different. Some may take to sound yoga immediately, while others may need more time to adjust. Be patient and gentle, allowing your pet to explore the experience at their own pace.

Mantras In Stressful Moments for Pets

Sometimes we can’t always control the environment and pets might be triggered in a stressful circumstance. I had a recent experience of transporting a friend’s dog on a long drive. Pickles, the staffie, and I had never met. I could feel her concern as we drove off, leaving her owner behind. Inspiration led me to chant mantras for much of the 6.5 hour journey. Within a very short time the sounds helped her relax so much that she happily slept for most of the journey.

Conclusion

Incorporating sound yoga and mantra chanting into your pet’s routine can be a wonderful way to enhance their well-being. By creating a peaceful environment filled with calming sounds, you can help reduce their stress, improve their sleep, and promote overall better behavior. It’s a beautiful transformational practice that not only benefits your pet but also strengthens the bond between you and your fur baby. Give it a try and watch the positive transformation in your pet’s life!

Learn Some Mantras to Use with Your Pets

Have you tried sound yoga or mantras with your pet? If you’re new to this practice, start with short sessions and observe how your pet responds. If you’d like some tips on mantras you can work with, then get in touch for a mantra coaching session.

 

With the holistic approach of sound yoga and mantra chanting, we can offer our beloved pets a sense of tranquility and joy, enhancing their lives and ours in the process.

Sound Yoga for Injury Recovery

I have had the amazing opportunity to facilitate regular online sound yoga (nāda) sessions for My Social Support Network (MSSN). It’s a Psychosocial Occupational Rehabilitation Specialist service that focuses on social recovery to support return to community, work and transition to retirement, aimed at better psychosocial health, community participation, and/or work outcomes.

In the article link below, MSSN founder Dr Caroline Howe, shares her insights about the results of the weekly online sound yoga sessions I’ve been facilitating with the network.

I’ve witnessed first hand how one participant in particular with a severe physiological injury, has literally allowed more light into his life. When I first met him not even 6 months ago, he was sitting in a dark house and I could barely make him out on the Zoom call, withdrawn and depressed. Last week, he was laughing during the session, sitting in a light filled room, and the shift in his energy was palpable. I’m told that these sessions are the only thing he’s been able to really engage with. Amazing!

I hope you enjoy Dr Caroline’s article on Sound Yoga, vagal tone and stress response. Click here to read.

mantra-and-sound-souladvisor

Here’s a link to an article I wrote for the May 2023 editor of the Soul Advisor newsletter. Whilst it really only scratches the surface, I hope there is enough in it to encourage your own exploration of this profound science of sound. Read more.

mantra for mental wellbeing siddhi shakti

The use of sacred sound in the form of mantra is a powerful tool to transform our inner landscape. The invoking of the sounds through the use of certain mouth placement creates an energy which promotes changes within our ‘beingness’.

For example, certain vocal sounds will promote the release of nitric oxide within the body, which has an impressive list of natural health promoting benefits, releasing ‘feel good’ chemicals that aid in stress relief, relaxation, boosting the immune system and building resilience.

The use of mantra is a simple, safe and powerful way to give the mind a point of focus, to achieve a state of calmness to help us enter into meditative states of inner stillness and connection. It’s a tool of personal empowerment, to help us reclaim and direct our energies and sometimes turbulent inner landscape into a place of greater clarity, peace and stillness.

There are many studies emerging about the power of mantra to effect change and make a difference in conditions such as PTSD.

It has been a pathway of tremendous personal transformation for myself, and I love sharing these tools of empowerment with others.

If you’re interested in connecting to find out more and experiencing your own mantra practice for mental wellbeing, please get in touch for an obligation free chat. We can arrange 1-1 or group sessions if you have a few people interested. Currently sessions are via Zoom or phone given the restrictions around movement.

No previous experience is required.

Check the event calendar for upcoming Yoga of Sound group classes using sound frequencies and mantra to support mental health and wellbeing.

 

Reference Article

Boston University, School of Public Health, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Mantras Repetition Effective in Treating Veterans with PTSD.

Siddhi Shakti, Mantra, Sound of the Soul

At our essence we are frequencies of light and sound. Rather than feeling powerless when buffeted by life’s inevitable twists, we can choose to consciously hold ourselves in an internal space of strength, cultivating inner calm and transforming our energy through the power of high vibrational sound.

Mantra Meditation

Every thought, word and emotion impacts our vibration and creates our world. Mantra gives us a safe and positive means to focus our mind, to use it as a tool for conscious creation, rather than reaction. It’s a mechanism for focussing our thoughts, mind and energy to align with uplifting energy, the essence of the energy of creation, bringing greater alignment between mind, body and spirit.

The Power of the Sacred Sanskrit Sounds

The sacred sounds of Sanskrit hold transformational power. They attune us to cosmic frequencies and are a means of activating our bodies through all the levels of our being. Our body is in essence a supercomputer. Using the gifts of mantra, breath, focus of energy and intention, and precision in the formulation of mantric sounds including an awareness of the five mouth placements and the specific duration for each of the sounds, we can engage our body of sound and awaken to more the fullness and essence of our true nature.

“The petals of the chakras represent an unfoldment of primal sound through the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. The six lower chakras contain a total of fifty petals, each of which relates to one of the fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. This is the “garland of letters” that shows the vibratory frequencies of the chakras. The thousand petal lotus or crown chakra indicates all possible sound combinations of these fifty letters.” ~ Dr David Frawley, Mantra Yoga and Primal Sounds.

Yoga of Sound (Nāda Yoga)

Sacred and energised sound filled with love, intent and a high vibration can bring deep change, healing and transformation. The practice of nāda yoga is a means of cultivating the essence of listening awareness. Through the use of sound, tone and rhythm we elevate our vibration and open to higher states of consciousness. It’s a journey within, through sound into the silence, the space and essence of our vast and true eternal nature.

Group Classes – Yoga of Sound & Mantra Meditation

Check the event calendar for yoga of sound and mantra meditation experiences online. It’s a great opportunity to relax, reset and lift your vibe. Offered by donation, please register online to receive the Zoom link.

Private Sessions

I offer private sessions online. If you’re keen to establish a mantra practice, or looking to take it to the next level through refinement of the sounds (which will supercharge your experience of the energy), I’d love to work with you. You can book with me for an individual session or a series of 4, scheduled over 40 days via Zoom. This will give us the opportunity to:
• Determine an appropriate mantra to support you
• Learn the key mouth placements, correct pronunciation, timing and svara (pitch)
• Understand the meaning and origins of the mantra
• Connection, insights and support over 40 days.

Insight Timer Meditation

Go within, ‘Into the Silence’ on Insight Timer to support your meditation practice. If you join the mailing list for good vibes to your inbox, you’ll receive a link to download the mp3 file.

Soul Light Diane de Zylva Siddhi Shakti Sound Healing

Our modern life is awash with a confounding amount of choice and complexity, information and decisions on a daily basis. It’s easy to become overloaded and stressed, and for many we can opt unhealthy ways to numb the noise or seek to escape. This is where the profound and ancient practice of mantra can help.

Vibration shapes our reality

Mantra is an ancient practice of the repetition of high vibrational, sacred sound to attune us to cosmic frequencies, transforming the essence of our ‘beingness’. It’s a means of focussing our thoughts, mind and energy to align with higher vibrations, the essence of our soul and the energy of creation.

Increasingly there is a reawakening to the wisdom of the power of our intention, thought and affirmation, how we hold our personal energy, and how this shapes our reality. The regular practice of chanting is a powerful tool for self transformation.

10 benefits of mantra meditation

  • Feel uplifted, clearer and more optimistic
  • Decrease stress and anxiety – activate the parasympathetic nervous system
  • Still the mind with mantra meditation, defrag, reset & lift your vibe
  • Build engagement, happier people, conscious workspaces and connectivity
  • Enhance resilience, emotional intelligence, mental and creative faculties
  • Cultivate relaxed alertness, improve sleep quality, enhance energy
  • Improve cognition and creative thinking
  • Oxygenate the brain, reduce heart rate and blood pressure, calm brainwave activity
  • Develop communication skills, social connection, relaxation and wellbeing. Mantra meditation has been used to positively impact toxic stress, PTSD, and addiction patterns e.g. alcoholism
  • Connect with the field of inspiration, creativity and have fun!

For the mantra enthusiast

If you’re keen to really get the most out of your practice then combining skill and devotion in your practice will deepen your experience. I offer instruction in understanding and experiencing how to produce each of the unique 50 Sanskrit sacred syllables:

  • Experience the 5 key mouth placements for more accurate pronunciation
  • Appreciate the 50 Sanskrit letters and how to make the sounds
  • Connect more precisely with the energy of the sounds to supercharge your practice

A customised programme for you

It would be my great joy to share with you my love for the transformational power of sacred sound and to develop a customised personal program for you. I offer:

  • 1-1 coaching, and
  • 40 day support program

Your take outs from a session

  • Guidance in establishing a mantra practice that you can use to support you in a daily meditation/connection practice
  • Identification of a mantra to work with
  • Tips for pronunciation to get more energetic alignment from your practice
  • Energetic grounding and clearing to help you ‘drop into’ the practice and the heart space

Get in touch

Contact me or View online courses.

Siddhi Shakti Kirtan, Sacred Music, Sound Healing

The use of sound, particularly sacred and energised sound, filled with love, intent and a high vibration, can help us effect deep change, healing and transformation. On a physical level it can support stress reduction. Spiritually, it helps us expand our hearts, lift our spirit, connect with others, and align our resonance and frequency to more positive attributes, bringing greater alignment between mind, body and spirit.

The yoga of sound: Nāda and bhakti yoga

Be guided in the formation of specific vocal toning sounds that have a number of health and wellness benefits. Through these sounds we can access deeper states of meditation, connect to the power of our authentic resonance and the greater field that connects all life.

The benefits

  • Destress – shift from the sympathetic into the parasympathetic nervous system
  • Stimulate the release of nitric oxide – promoting blood flow, supporting the lymphatic system, reduced blood pressure and heart rate, and enhancing the immune system
  • Induce calm, enhance sleep
  • Still your mind with mantra meditation and meditative voice exercises
  • Utilise breathing techniques and simple body movements to support relaxation
  • Connect with your authentic and unique sound resonance and vibration
  • Lift your resting state of feeling through the use of high vibration sound frequencies
  • Align more fully with all parts of your being – body, mind and spirit
  • Cultivate listening awareness
  • Express your creative essence and feel the empowerment that comes from expressing your unique sound
  • Experience vocal practices to enhance fluidity, clarity and resonance in your sound
  • Share connection, community and bonding
  • Go beyond barriers of race, gender or age
  • Connect with the greater field that connects all of life

Chant experiences – kīrtan

Another powerful means of transforming and healing with sound and sacred music is through kīrtan, or call-and-response chanting. Group chant experiences are not only joyful and community connecting, but extremely powerful as a deep means of chanting our inner resonance and lifting our energy and vibration. These sessions are working amazingly well online in the current climate of social distancing.

A professional tailored experience for you

I customise sound and energy wellness sessions suit your requirements, time frame and audience. It’s an amazing way to build connection and community, and facilitate deep transformation, and works well for:

  • Conferences, workshops, seminars, functions
  • Team building, leadership days, retreats
  • Wellness, stress reduction, mentoring programs
  • Yoga studios, community events, festivals
  • Private or group sessions

Contact me

Find out more.

 

Siddhi Shakti Mantra and Sanskrit Classes

Deepening your experience of the transformational essence of mantra and the science of the sacred sound can take your chant practice into a whole other dimension, particularly when you’re able to combine skill and devotion in the production of sound.

I love sharing what I’ve learned in this area. Truly I wish I’d known about this years ago. When you realise that there are nearly double the sounds in Sanskrit compared to our Western alphabet, not knowing how to make the full range of sounds is the equivalent of trying to make a complex meal with only a couple of spices instead of a whole pantry. There’s so much more energetically you could be experiencing by connecting more precisely with the sacred sound frequencies of Sanskrit.

Learning the Sanskrit sounds – a customised programme for you

I’m not a Sanskrit scholar, but I have been taught a framework that I love to share – a breakdown of simple steps to understand and experience the key mouth positions, the distinctions between the sounds, including vowel lengths and why that matters. Once you understand this you will be able to interpret any correctly marked up transliterated Sanskrit text. You don’t need to understand the Devanāgarī traditional script to learn the pronunciations.

Experience the vibration of the sacred sounds – what you’ll learn

  • Experiential and interactive – feel the unique vibrations as you connect more precisely with the sacred sound frequencies of Sanskrit
  • Understand the science behind the Sanskrit language – the journey of consciousness into form
  • Experience the five key mouth placements for accurate Sanskrit pronunciation
  • Accurately pronounce the 50 Sanskrit letters
  • Understand how to interpret the romanised markups, the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST), to accurately read transliterated Sanskrit
  • The body of sound meditation practice – tune your body as an instrument of sacred sound
  • Learn commonly mispronounced yogāsana terms and accurate pronunciation for common poses
  • Move into deeper states of meditation and silence

Get in touch

If you’re interested in private or group sessions, continuing education for your yoga practice, retreats, workshops or festivals, I can customise a program to suit your timeframe, audience and requirements. Contact me