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As each a musician and a meditation instructor, I’m naturally very thinking about any non secular method involving sound and music. That might be something from sound healing instruments reminiscent of singing bowls, to workout routines just like the one I’ll be discussing as we speak: Nada Yoga.
Many individuals recognise the identify Nada Yoga as a type of meditation method. Nevertheless, it’s extra than simply an train and is in actual fact a philosophical system described intimately within the traditional handbook by Svatmarama, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. I realized this methodology a few years in the past after I was touring England onstage. And what instantly struck me about it’s how successfully it makes us really feel one with the universe.
The central premise of the Nada Yoga philosophy is that every little thing within the universe is created out of vibrations known as Nada, as is detailed in varied vedic texts. Through the use of the vibrations of the self (Anahata) and of sound (ahata) we will heal non secular and psychological situations and we will obtain union between the self and the cosmos.
Once we follow Nada Yoga we start by listening to sound within the standard method, that’s listening to exterior sound audible to the human ear. After which we flip our consideration inward and use the Anahata (Coronary heart Chakra) to take heed to the sound of the self. This, in flip, opens the seven chakras. It’s a follow that’s carefully associated to the tradition of India, the place music is a really non secular factor. Certainly, Hindu Gods every have their very own dance and lots of play devices, reminiscent of Krishna’s flute, Saraswati’s veena, and Ganesha’s drums. And so sound-based workout routines reminiscent of Nada Yoga meditation are completely at residence within the cultures of India.
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What Does Nada Yoga Imply?
Nada is a sanskrit phrase meaning tone or vibration, and yoga means “union”. So, once we discuss Nada Yoga we imply that we’re “Attaining union by way of sound and vibration” .
Within the vedas it’s written that the universe was created by Nada Brahman, the pure vibration that’s the identical as “Om”. We connect with this divine sound by way of meditation.
Once we follow Nada Yoga we tune into our personal “unstuck sound”, which is a sound distinctive to us that nobody else can hear, that’s, the “Anahata” sound. Your personal Anahata sound is exclusive to you and might be something from a loud drumming to the sound of flowing water. It’s a sound that’s each produced and heard inside our central power channel known as sushumna. We come to listen to this sound after a lot disciplined follow of pratyahara (the fifth limb of yoga described by Patanjali) and varied meditations reminiscent of dharana. Nevertheless, there’s additionally a usually agreed upon model of Nada Yoga meditation, which I’ll clarify under.
How To Do Nada Yoga
Once we follow Nada Yoga we progress by way of the 4 several types of sound. They’re:
- Vaikhari: Exterior sounds
- Madhyama: Psychological sound
- Pashyanti: Unconscious sound
- Paranada: A transcendent sound past the senses.
To listen to our “Internal Sound” we should start by listening to the sounds round us. Once we proceed to meditate on the soundscape on this method we progressively change into conscious or our personal internal sound, which might take varied varieties. We are able to then meditate on this internal sound as we’d meditate on every other object reminiscent of in Buddhist Samatha, yogic Dharana, and different single-pointed-focus meditations. This strengthens our samadhi (focus) and helps us to realize union between the self and the cosmos.
Guided Nada Yoga
Script
- Sit comfortably with good posture. Make certain your backbone is straight however relaxed. Shut your eyes.
- Take a number of deep, aware breaths.
- Start to recite the mantra Om. Intention to take action in a relaxed method, not forcing the sound, simply letting it come and go as it is going to, such as you would do in common mantra meditation.
- Focus your thoughts on the sound of “Om”. Some lecturers advocate doing a physique scan meditation when you do that. This isn’t a standard a part of Nada Yoga however may be helpful, so be at liberty to take action if you happen to like.
- After some time, cease making the sound “Om” audibly however do enable your thoughts to proceed to create the sound routinely as if it have been a thought. Concentrate on this psychological sound.
- Now start to change into conscious of the sounds taking place inside your physique, reminiscent of your coronary heart beating and your breath.
- Now change into conscious of the subtler sounds inside. Is there one ever current sound? Permit your thoughts to relaxation on this sound.
The Advantages I Discover from Nada Yoga
As a meditation instructor I’ve discovered that there are some methods wherein Nada Yoga is more practical than different meditations, and a few methods wherein it’s much less efficient.
For starters, it is without doubt one of the most relaxing meditation techniques. The way in which wherein we progressively lead the thoughts from outer sound to internal sound serves as a delicate path to internal peace, one with which even newbies can begin to chill out fairly rapidly. And since it’s so stress-free it’s also fabulous for sleep.
I additionally discover it great for perception. As soon as we change into accustomed to meditating on anahata, we will use it as a display towards which we will understand the fact of different “issues”. Simply as in Vipassana once we use the breath as an anchor to discover the true nature of phenomena, we will do the identical with Nada Yoga, solely changing the breath with the sound. The silent concentrate on Anahata permits us to discover the character of the thoughts, reminiscent of by noticing how the thoughts creates and attaches to the self, the “I”, by way of a course of that the Pali Canon describes as Ahamkara and Mamamkara (“I-Making” and “Mine-Making”). And insights like these are extremely vital within the strategy of awakening.
Additionally it is an exquisite bridge for individuals who have solely ever achieved breathwork and used apps to begin to discover extra non secular meditation strategies.
Nevertheless, I’ll say that for sheer focus and focus, I discover another strategies more practical, most notably Samatha, Zazen, and Dharana.
Abstract
Nada Yoga is a superb sound primarily based meditation appropriate for all comers, no matter their degree of expertise. It is without doubt one of the most stress-free types of meditation and may help to alleviate insomnia. Extremely really helpful for leisure, however for focus and productiveness you may love to do Samatha or Zazen as a substitute.
Additionally learn my information to other yogic meditations.
Paul Harrison BSc is a professional meditation instructor who believes in real, genuine meditation. He has greater than 15 years expertise in educating meditation and mindfulness each to people and to companies and is the author of 4 books on meditation. He has been featured in Psychology As we speak, Breathe Journal, Healthline, Psych Central and Lion’s Roar.
Paul studied meditation in stunning Oxford, UK, and Hamilton Ontario Canada, and earned his diploma at Staffordshire College.
Paul’s largest inspirations embody Thich Nhat Hanh, Jon Kabat Zinn, and Jack Kornfield.
“My aim is to offer essentially the most genuine meditation classes so you may harness the facility of your personal thoughts for private transformation” – Paul Harrison
