Sound as a Spiritual Practice |
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A spiritual practice is anything that helps us transcend our mind and the myriad of thoughts it is made up of, so that we can settle into the core of our being, understand who we are, and what is our purpose in life. Throughout human history, and across the majority of spiritual traditions, sound has constituted one of the main spiritual practices. Everything in the universe vibrates and produces sound, whether we perceive it or not. On the universal level, there is a “sound code”, that is, a vibratory pattern that holds the intelligence, information, and energy through which all life operates. On an individual level, each one of us has a unique vibratory/sound pattern that sustains us in all that we do and allows our energies to move and grow or stagnate and decline. Sound and its vibration affect us, whether we are generating them or receiving them. Words carry vibration. Speech is the meaningful sound that we humans produce by vibrating our vocal chords, and it is intricately connected with our energy (prana). Our energy is the essence of speech, what fuels it.
Speech gives form to that energy and communicates its intentions and meanings.
Thought itself is a subtle form of speech, and has its own vibration. What we perceive through our senses is processed in the mind with words. It’s a kind of internal conversation, an imagined dialogue based on words. It is in this way that ultimately the power of sound holds our memories, emotions, and ideas of who we are, who we have been, and who we wish to be, and because of that, sound practices, expressed externally or internally, impact our nervous system, our mind and our heart. By modifying sound we can improve our lives and enhance physical and emotional wellbeing. It is understandable then, why in all spiritual traditions, ‘the word' plays a very important role, whether this is in prayer, or the repetition of a mantra. Mantra is a combination of sacred syllables that form a distillation of universal knowledge, rooted in sound, image, number and symbol, reflecting a cosmic thinking beyond the preconceptions and biases of human thought. Mantra merges our individual vibration with that of the universe. Chanted with the right intention, the mantric sounds can calm, focus and harmonize the mind, disengaging us from our daily dramas and the external conditioning that prevent us from moving within. They allow us to remove bad habits, addictions, and inertia from our emotions, and replace them with a peaceful and content mantric flow. They change the flow of energy in the nervous system, and most importantly, mantras draw our consciousness into a state of stillness that is inspirational. They provide focus, strength, plasticity and adaptability to the mind, just as yoga exercises (asanas) do for the body. Much like each asana, each mantra brings about a specific effect upon the mind. In the Vedic tradition, mantra is chanted in Sanskrit, a 6,000 years old language, used by the ancient sages of India. Originally an oral language, its precise pronunciation in the five areas of the mouth and the resulting vibrations, reflect the primal sounds with which the entire universe vibrates and hence render Sanskrit as
“The perfect instrument for bringing about healing on many levels. Physically, its resonating power promotes healing. Mentally, it awakens the natural brightness, agility, and order of the mind. Spiritually, it facilitates an expansion of awareness, tranquillity, and bliss.”
- Vyaas Houston, director: American Sanskrit Institute
Memorising and chanting Sanskrit mantras has been scientifically proved to increase the brain’s grey matter, and improve memory and cognitive function. It has been termed by the neuroscientist, James Hartzell as the “Sanskrit effect”. Chanting mantras and working with voice practices is an intricate part of Yoga Heart. We start the day with chanting mantras to harmonise ourselves as well as the space. Yoga classes sometimes involve sound practices, and we also further explore the healing aspect of sound during the Naked Voice meetings. Sources: Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound by Dr. David Frawley
The Naked Voice by Chloe Goodchild - Yoga Heart |
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New Classes Added to the Schedule |
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Three new classes have been added to the schedule: - Seniors 70+ Hatha Yoga, Tuesday mornings from 12:15 until 13:30 - Hatha Yoga, Wednesday mornings from 09:00 until 10:30. - Tai Chi on Saturday mornings has changed to two classes. 09:00 until 10:00, & 10:00 until 11:00. |
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Shiatsu practitioners course
Information session |
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Monday 23rd March, 19:00 - 21:00 |
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An informational meeting about Shiatsu & Shiatsu education possibilities at Yoga heart. By Ane Grimseth. We will cover: - What is Shiatsu - What does a professional Shiatsu education contain - Practical presentation of Shiatsu - Questions & answers WELCOME! For more information, or to register for the day, please see the event details on our website. |
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Invite your friends to yoga heart to try a class! Pick up a flyer the next time you're at Yoga Heart. |
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Tai Chi Healing Practices |
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With Aliki Lessi Saturday, 14th March at 11:00 |
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As a continuation of last months gathering, Aliki will be going through the practices taught by Tew Bunnag at the beginning of the year. Through practices taken from the arts of Qi Qong and Tai Chi, we connect with our three energy centres; body, heart and mind, and allow them to breathe, creating space and releasing accumulated tension. Through movement and the vibration of sound, we visualise and connect the energy of the elements (wood, fire, earth, air and water), to our physical organs in our body, to emotions, and to specific intentions, and we learn practices that we can use on a daily basis to cleanse, and to heal. These practices are incorporated at Yoga Heart on a regular basis in our weekly classes, as they have proved to be extremely beneficial in this day and age. These practices will be taught in focus once a month If you would like to participate, please let us know at contact@yogaheart.gr |
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Yoga Heart Family Weekend at Candili |
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Offering yoga, meditation, nature walks, good food, good company, and relaxation. |
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Yoga Heart is organising a weekend for its friends in the beautiful estate of Candili on the island of Evia. We will be pratcising yoga, meditation, going for nature walks, & enjoying delicious food. All activities will be optional. Please e-mail contact@yogaheart.gr for prices & availability. |
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NEW! Monthly Naked Voice Classes |
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Starting Saturday, March 21st at 18:00 until 19:30. |
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Last November we had the good fortune to have Chloe Goodchild conduct a Naked Voice weekend workshop for Yoga Heart at the Candili Estate in Evia. Chloe’s work is about discovering one’s true sound, free of fear, free of self consciousness and effort. It is not about singing as a performance, or developing the perfect voice. It is about allowing sound to take us into the heart of ourselves, observing oneself and each other without judging, expressing one’s truth through our authentic sound that does not come from the rational mind. It’s about exploring the realms of sound and silence, of our naked voice showing us who we are, where we are strong, and where we are weak. In these monthly classes we will be going through the Naked Voice practices so they become fluent and can be used in our daily lives. In every meeting we will be building on them, preparing for Chloe’s next seminar which will develop and expand the work. To reserve your place in the class, please email contact@yogaheart.gr The June workshop with Chloe Goodchild has been postponed to a later date. Please refer to the December Newsletter for more information on the Naked Voice. |
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Επιστημονικά τεκμηριωμένο (5.000 έρευνες) και παγκοσμίως καταξιωμένο ομαδικό πρόγραμμα μείωσης άγχουςμε βάση το mindfulnessτης Ιατρικής Σχολής του Πανεπιστημίου της Μασαχουσέτης. Στοχεύει στην καλλιέργεια μεγαλύτερης επίγνωσης, αναπτύσσοντας δεξιότητες που μας επιτρέπουν να διατηρούμε την ψυχική μας ισορροπία ακόμη και όταν αντιμετωπίζουμε δυσκολίες,προσεγγίζοντας έτσι τις προκλήσεις της ζωής με μεγαλύτερη ηρεμίακαι αποτελεσματικότητα. Ενδείκνυται και συστήνεται από γιατρούς και θεραπευτές για: - άγχος, ψυχολογικές διαταραχές (κρίσεις πανικού, κατάθλιψη, αγχώδη διαταραχή)
- ιατρικές παθήσεις και πρόληψη(κόπωση, υπέρταση, καρδιακές παθήσεις, καρκίνος, αναπνευστικά, αυτοάνοσα)
- αλλά και για όσους θέλουν να φροντίζουν τον εαυτό τους και να ζούν καλύτερα.
Απευθύνεται επίσης σε ιατρούς, θεραπευτές, συμβούλους ψυχικής υγείας, στελέχη επιχειρήσεων. Περιλαμβάνει:8 εβδομαδιαίες συναντήσεις 2.5 ωρών & μια συνάντηση 8 ωρών, συστηματική εξάσκηση σε τεχνικές διαλογισμού, ομαδική διεργασία, έντυπο & ακουστικό υποστηρικτικό υλικό για εξάσκηση στο σπίτι, υποστήριξη από πιστοποιημένη εκπαιδεύτρια. ΕΝΑΡΞΗ ΝΕΟΥ ΚΥΚΛΟΥ:11 MΑΡΤΙΟΥ 2020 Προθεσμία εγγραφής 9 Μαρτίου Κάθε Τετάρτη 11:00-13:30 ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΙΕΣ: info@onebreath.eu ● (211) 4155.111 ● www.onebreath.eu/mbsr |
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The Tomatis Method at Yoga Heart |
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The Tomatis® Method is a natural approach to neurosensory stimulation. The “Electronic Ear” or “hearing simulator” used in the method, is a special device designed and created by Dr. Alfred Tomatis ® which stimulates and energizes the body and the brain for their wellbeing. The energizing action of the Tomatis® Method is complemented by a relaxing effect on the physical-bodily level and thus on the regulation of anxiety and stress among many other benefits. |
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Areas of Application: Attention, Learning, Memory, Emotional Regulation, Personal Development, Autism Spectrum Disorders For more info please contact: Mrs. Christina Varvia + 30 697 481 9416 Mrs. Zoe Charokopou + 30 694 874 9482 |
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