Manadala created by Aurelian Floret - The Vishudhi Chakra is the Chakra of communication and relationships

What happens in a Yoga of Sound session

Yoga of Sound uses gentle yet effective physical and mental relaxation techniques, sensitive music improvised by the practitioner during the sessions, and therapeutic conversations to help people integrate their experience of each ‘sounding’ and address their current and core life concerns. Each session is 2 hours long and consists of four elements:

1. Introduction (5 mins)

The facilitator explains the structure of the session

2. Guided Relaxation (Yoga Nidra) and Sounding (Nada Yoga) by the facilitator (30 mins)

a)          Guided relaxation sequence (Yoga Nidra 10-15 mins): The talking section is a systematic method of facilitating physical, mental and emotional relaxation while people lay in shavasana. It also raises awareness of self via the body, which assists in bringing a measure of calm and relaxation to the over-active mind. The language used helps people to experience relaxation of muscular tensions, persistent emotional tensions, and habitual and compulsive thought patterns (in particular, preoccupation with past and on-going events and relationships).

b)          Musical sequence (Nada Yoga 10 mins): What was begun in the talking section is now deepened by the people experiencing another human being (the facilitator) singing softy and gently to them. This unique way of singing, Sounding,  is without words, is improvisational, and has a large component of lullaby within its structure. This way of using the voice was originated during Russell’s MA research in transpersonal Counselling and Psychotherapy, looking into the effects of the voice on the mind-body-spirit.

There has been a broad range of responses during this from clients, such as:

• visualisations of swirls/flows of colour
• waking dreams
• a sense of joy as emotional tensions ease
• a huge sense of freedom and calm as mental activity ceases

2. Time in silence for reflection (5-10 mins)

Clients continue to lay out with eyes closed in a peaceful atmosphere.

3. Group dialogue (80 mins)

People sit up and a therapeutic dialogue is entered into between participants and the facilitator. This dialogue is participant driven, exploring what has just happened within each person, and plays a key role in helping people recognise their session experiences as normal, relevant, and useful for making practical life choices. The dialogue is interspersed with group Sounding, allowing people to experience themselves in a very new, and exciting way.