Yoga for Singers and Musicians

Yoga for Singers and Musicians Yoga is a blessing to mankind. Yoga means union or to join. It is the union of the ‘Jeevatma’ with the ‘Paramatma’ i.e. the Individual Consciousness with the Cosmic Consciousness. Though Yogic Practices have been developed basically for spiritual evolution, they are equally beneficial to every individual in every walk of life, be it science or any form of art including theatre and literature. Music is no exception. Like Yoga, the purpose and origin of music seen in all cultures is similar. Music was developed to praise the Lord or for spiritual evolution. In India, music was developed by Yogis i.e sages. The basic principles and effects of Music and Yoga are Universal. Yogis were aware that music soothes the mind. It was developed as a Yogic Practice in particular and also as complimentary to many other Yogic Practices. Yoga is the melody and harmony of the unseen inner self and music the melody and harmony of the seen outer self. So, both can harmonize our inner and outer worlds together. Yogic Practices effectively work on all the levels namely: physical, emotional, mental, intellectual and spiritual, individually and collectively. Yogic Practices also develop the inner good qualities of the character of our being, making us socially healthy and ethical. These ethics are not followed as burdened or compelled actions. They are an overflow of our stress free and contented inner being. Yogic Practices make us contented, successful, ethical, energetic, stress free and healthy individuals, with a charming personality. Yogis have experienced that the Cosmic Life Energy is received through the energy plexuses situated in our etheric and subtle bodies called as Chakras. These Chakras, transmit the received energy, to the physical body, through subtle channels called as Naadis. Among the 7 main Chakras, 3 are directly related to the qualities required for a good musician. They are: 1) The Anaahat i.e. the Heart Chakra. It is responsible for inner harmony, inspiration, regulating rhythm and time sense, smooth movement, and emotional balancing required for music. According to Yogic view sound is first activated in the Heart Chakra, before being expressed through the Throat Chakra. 2) The Vishuddha i.e the Throat Chakra. It is responsible for self expression, communication skills, voice, self confidence and artistic creativity. Any musical expression and musical creativity, be it vocal or instrumental, is regulated by the Throat Chakra. 3) The Anja or the Third Eye Chakra. It is responsible for all brain activities, neuro-muscular coordination, hearing, wisdom, intuitive creativity, imagination, thinking, logic, analyzing, memory, harmony with the supreme and mastering of self activities and thoughts. Regular physical exercises done by a musician, including those taught as part of music lessons and practice do not bear the subtle qualities of activating the Chakras and receiving extra Cosmic energy. Also, the latent potential of our being cannot be activated by them. On the other hand, the Yogic Postures activate the energy plexuses i.e. Chakras, to receive extra energy. This quality of Yoga makes it different from other forms of exercises. It is only because of these subtle qualities of Yoga that the latent potential is stimulated, developing the musical ability of a musician within unbelievably short span of time. Now, we shall see few of the important aspects of Yoga which are directly beneficial to a musician, enhancing his/her musical abilities. We shall see how

omkar, asanas, bandhas, kriya, mudras, and pranayam help. All these practices help to expand the ‘Consciousness’ step by step, from Physical to Spiritual level. Indian Scriptures believe that Omkar or the sacred sound of AUM, is the first manifested form of the Cosmos. AUM consists of 3 ½ syllables. ‘A’ as in moral (A), ‘U’ as in true (}), ‘M’ as in hum (ma). The last half syllable is an extension of the vowel sound of ‘M’. It is sounded by raising the ‘focus’ or the ‘breath pressure’ of ‘M’ from the hard palate to the head region. AUM can be pronounced or chanted in many different ways. We will see one of them. The first syllable sound ‘A’, activates the ‘Root’ and ‘Spleen’ Chakras, responsible for good physique and physical energy. The second syllable sound ‘U’ activates the ‘Sacral’ Chakra responsible for upper abdominal activities and the diaphragm. The sounding of these 2 syllables cleanses the abdominal resonators and energizes a musician. The ‘M’ activates the Heart and Throat Chakra. This improves expression, confidence, creativity, emotional balance, rhythm sense, voice capacity, texture and range, smoothness in register transition, breathing capacity, etc. It also cleanses the thoracic resonators. The last half syllable sound of the prolonged vowel, activates the ‘Third Eye’ Chakra., improving memory, thinking, analyzing, etc. It also cleanses the head sinuses which help in making the voice sweet and melodious. This nasal or head focusing of vowel sound of ‘M’ is important, as it actually stimulates and cleanses all the higher brain centres. It activates the cortex, thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary and pineal glands and the hearing, memory and speech centres by creating intense vibrations. Now we will see how ‘Asanas’ similar to physical postures are helpful to a musician. Unlike other physical exercises, Asanas are practiced in a slow and steady pace with inner awareness of the body and breath. Parvatasan: Though this asana is done in a cross-legged posture called as ‘Padmasan’ or the Lotus Posture, an easier version, the Parvatasan can be done even in simple sitting posture. For a musician, it will give the requisite results. Here, the dead air space and unused air sacs in the upper lobes of the lungs are activated. This helps in a better breathing capacity, a ‘must’ for any musician, as all musical expression is dependent on breathing, directly or indirectly. Another asana which builds up the breathing capacity is the Parivartit Chakrasan. Here we can see that like Parvatasan the air sacs and the dead air space get activated. Also the breathing muscles are developed, increasing the breathing volume and the lung capacity. Sarvangasan: This is an asana with an upside down posture. In all such postures, the brain receives more blood supply. All the brain activities needed for a musician, including hearing memory and creativity, are thus stimulated. Unwanted, extra supply of blood is regulated by the ‘Jalandhar Bandh’ or the Chin Lock. Any asana with this ‘Jalandhar Bandh’ is an advisable posture for betterment of any musical activity and ability, as it energizes the Throat Chakra. ‘Bandh’ is a posture practiced with inner awareness, where the air and blood flow is stopped at a particular ‘Chakra’. Bandhas regulate the Pranic flow, i.e. the Life Force Energy. Consciousness is extended from physical to emotional and mental levels.

Kriya is another Yogic Practice. ‘Kriyas’ are the cleansing agents. They help us to get rid of impurities, toxins and blocks in the physical, emotional and mental bodies. Trataka

is a simple but powerful ‘Kriya’

First we gaze at an object with open eyes and then try to visualize the picture with closed eyes in the eyebrow centre. The Third Eye Chakra is stimulated. This develops the cortex activities of reasoning, thinking, invention, planning, memory and intelligence. This leads to better musical perception and musical rendering. Kapalabhati is another

important kriya.

It helps a musician in many ways. It cleanses the abdominal, thoracic and head resonators from toxins, making the voice texture rich and sweet. A soft air massage is given to the cranial nerves leaving the brain, the carotid artery which supplies blood to the brain and medulla oblongata situated near the nasal air passage. Our hearing capacity is improved. The speech, memory and creative centres are also developed as the Heart, Throat and Third Eye Chakra are cleansed. Now the are The

we shall see ‘Mudras’. They are postures directly improving the functions of endocrine glands. Mudras regulate the electro-magnetic flow of the body. They associated with the emotional and mental bodies. ‘Simha Mudra’- the ‘Lion Posture’.

Here we see that the larynx, pharynx, face muscles and tissues, tongue, cheeks, soft palate and hard palate all are activated. As all these organs become soft, flexible and strong, improved musical phonation and articulation becomes possible. This also activates the Throat Chakra, improving the expression, confidence and creative power of any musician. Next we shall see a Mudra called as ‘Brahma Mudra’. In this Mudra, the neck is rotated in the 4 main directions. So, all the neck muscles, nerves, blood vessels, bones, etc. become strong and healthy. The cranial nerves, the carotid artery which supplies blood to the brain, the cerebellum, the medulla oblongata are stimulated and activated. This improves the blood circulation, breathing capacity, hearing capacity, memory, thinking, balancing, etc. Speech centres in the brain are also activated. Apart from this, the Throat Chakra gets activated enhancing our expression, creativity, speaking and musical potential. Many voice defects are removed, giving the voice a rich texture. Also, a sense of balance is achieved between the right and left brain. Pranayam is similar to breathing exercises. But, unlike breathing exercises, where importance is given to breathing alone, in Pranayam, awareness plays an important role. Consciousness is extended to the mental level. Balancing and regulating the emotional and mental activities becomes easy. Breath is related to all the rhythmic activities of music. All musicians therefore benefit from Pranayam. We shall see the Pranayam called as ‘Bhasrika’. Bhasrika is performed with heavy inhalations and exhalations. In Bhasrika, the most important breathing muscle, the diaphragm becomes strong and steady. The thoracic resonator starts functioning to its maximum capacity. The breathing capacity is enhanced in total.

Another Pranayam every musician should practice is the Ujjayi. It is so simple that one may not realize its importance. But, its simplicity is its virtue. This Pranayam activates and strengthens all necessary organs for a musical activity, from the thorax to the brain. It stimulates the Throat Chakra. Bhramari is another very popular and appreciated Pranayam which develops the musical ability of a person. It brings sweetness to the voice. A steady, controlled and regulated exhalation is a boon to a musician. This can be easily gained by practicing Bhramari. Other important Yogic Practices are Prayer and Sankalpa. We always start and end Yogic Practices with a ‘Prayer’ and ‘Sankalpa’ i.e. a high level positive thinking or Resolution. The Prayer at the start is for accepting the superiority of the Supreme Cosmic Energy. In the ‘Resolution’ we invoke this energy for a smooth and fast travel towards our selected goal. Our energy-receiving centres are cleansed and opened. The resolution at the end, confirms the channelized use of the invoked energy, for the set goal. Then we end with a thanksgiving prayer to the Almighty. In a nutshell we can say that Yogic Practices should be included in daily Music Practice. This will help a musician in developing the latent musical potentials and enhancing musical ability. Like all other art forms, music can be a stepping stone in the Expansion of Consciousness. Every musician has a potential to seek higher levels of Consciousness. Yoga, is the path as well as the Goal of the Divine Supreme Consciousness i.e. ‘Shuddha Chaitanya’. Music and Yoga together can multiply the acceleration of progress for seekers on the path of both, Music and Divine Consciousness, as they tend to be synonyms. Education is a learning process in which along with acquiring knowledge, we learn to discover our hidden potentials and learn to explore and experience the inner wisdom. Music Education is a lot more than mere performance and teaching. So, unless we explore our hidden musical potentials, the process of music education will not be complete. As we saw earlier, Yoga can become the path which explores the musical depths of our being. If Yoga is taught to and practiced by all musicians, this world is sure to be in harmony with the Universal, Divine Consciousness. Remember Yoga has to be learnt from a Guru or a Teacher. God Bless You All. Hari Om Tat Sat.