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Sound Yoga

The Past and Future of Meditation

By Stephen "Stefanosis" MoorePublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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Stock photo by Markus Gann

Imagine the country of India a couple thousand years ago. No vehicles, no cellphones and no loud-speakers. Now imagine somebody sitting on the banks of the River Ganges in deep meditation, with only the sounds of the rushing water, native bird calls and an occasional conch shell blown to signal prayer ceremonies at the temple nearby. In this setting - where there are no distractions and the concept of time and space fades to the background - it was very possible to meditate for hours.

To say that times have changed would be an understatement. Aside from modern technology and the multitude of gadgets it offers, we are also bombarded with sounds from vehicles, aircraft and industries. We have become so busy that we now have apps to remind us of tasks and schedules, and most people who do practice meditation consider it an accomplishment to squeeze a 15-minute session into their daily routine. To meditate for one hour would be unfathomable !

By now, most readers may be asking 'what is meditation, anyway ?' According to ancient Sanskrit writings and the singing bowl guru who taught me most of what I know about singing bowls, the simple answer is 'a thoughtless state'. Similar to sleep, although even in that state the mind is still capable of thoughts and dreams. In scientific terms, meditation can be described as the brain entering the Theta state, which is between 4 - 8 hertz of mental activity when measured.

My own journey into yoga and meditation began in 2013 when my wife and I decided to literally dive into a yoga-teacher training. As a musician by hobby, I discovered the sound of singing bowls from a recording and I was amazed. Immediately, I did an online search and discovered a local singing bowl vendor, from whom I bought a set of small, overpriced machine-made singing bowls. I was just happy to make them sing in different notes and tones, but I needed to learn more, so I searched Facebook.

My search led me to master Satya Brat - CEO of the International Academy of Sound Healing (IASH). I inhaled deeply, and began typing a personal message to him, suggesting that he teach a singing-bowl training workshop here in California, since his profile only mentioned India, Canada and New York. His reply was short and cold, basically "perhaps someday soon, let's see..." - Three months later, I would be invited to organize his California workshops and be compensated with large singing bowls in return. Yes please !

It turns out that Satya learned about singing bowls and their therapeutic usage from Tibetan and Nepali masters. He explained that the original singing bowls were crafted in Tibet, only spreading throughout India after China invaded. These large, mostly brass, hand-beaten singing bowls vibrate very strongly. By using the correct bowls in the correct sequence, many mental and physical ailments could be cured from these vibrations alone. It's very plausible, since the science of cymatics demonstrates how sound affects matter.

We had a few successful workshops, but eventually, the crystal bowls became very popular, especially in Los Angeles. Satya was a traditionalist, and rightly so. Crushed quartz singing bowls were a new invention from the modern tech industry, and while being visually appealing, the sound they produced was very limited to sine-waves, a far cry from the polymorphic sounds from traditional, metallic Tibetan bowls. Sign-ups for local workshops started dropping, and we gently parted ways, but I continued my interest in singing bowls and sound yoga.

I discovered that sound yoga had ancient origins, being mentioned in ancient Indian texts such as the Hatha Pradipika from the 15th century. Gongs, mantras and exotic stringed instruments were also a part of sound yoga - also referred to as Naada yoga. The origins of the word 'nāda' are from Sanskrit, and refer to invisible waves of sound or similar energy. Exploring Naada yoga reveals why music and sound are so important in east-Indian culture. But why and how is this relevant today ?

In modern times, we've realized the benefits of white noise. A term from physics - basically white noise consists of many frequencies with equal intensities. Think of a rushing stream or waterfall, or a chorus of crickets during a Summer evening. These sounds do something to the brain, inducing a soothing and relaxing state in a very short amount of time. Sound yoga works in the exact same way ! Since modern lifestyles generally do not accomdate long periods of meditation, sounds are becoming the ultimate meditation tool.

It's no wonder that soundbaths - which derived directly from sound yoga - have become a staple of yoga classes, alternative health events and group meditations. For readers who are wondering, a soundbath is basically conducted to a group who are reclined in a restful state and immersed in sounds produced from gongs, singing bowls and other drone-type instruments. These sessions can result in people who have never practiced meditation finding themselves in deep, Theta or even Delta brainwave states. Some even experience paranormal events, such as astral-projection.

In conclusion, while sound yoga is gaining popularity worldwide, the pandemic is limiting everyone to a virtual, online practice. When we consider the impact of sound waves and vibrations, it becomes painfully obvious that the online environment has its limitations. The multi-tonal, polymorphic attributes of gongs and singing bowls simply cannot be fully experienced through computer speakers, no matter how good they might be. I for one, look forward to a post-pandemic environment, where sound yoga is once again felt in it's full potential, like ocean waves gently washing over you as you're reclined on a shoreline. Some things need to be felt, not just heard.

(For more on this topic, check out the e-book by Stefanosis... https://www.amazon.com/Yinada-Sound-Yoga-Stefanosis-Hansraj-ebook/dp/B07MGZ6C6K )

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About the Creator

Stephen "Stefanosis" Moore

Educator, musician, yoga teacher and singing-bowl enthusiast from the Central Valley area of California.

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