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Singing - singing is an activity that brings people together. we sing at church, at funerals, and weddings, and social gatherings. we sometimes sing at yoga classes, and even have special singing gatherings in yoga that we call kirtan where we chant the names of God. The true essence of signing is inspiring that divine connection. Whether you sing in the car alone or with a group, you are sharing your inner bliss, joy, sorrow or triumph and connecting to the well of feelings within you and releasing it into the world.
Some people feel funny singing out loud in front of other people. It is often the case that it takes several months for a new yoga student to chant "OM" when they start attending classes. Over time and once we are comfortable with the meaning and vibrational sound the individual voices opens up and becomes more resonant. And when more people open up, the sound created together is intoxicating.
Singing activates the 5th Chakra located in the neck and throat. It is associated with the color light blue and is the energy of communication and truth. Lying blocks this chakra, and living a lie and feeling unable to speak your truth (for whatever reason), certainly takes a toll on this chakra's ability to open. So what's the best thing to do to work on opening this chakra? You got it: sing!
You can sing off key or badly. In fact, one of the ways to start working to activate this chakra is called "toning," and that does't always sound perfect. You choose a note - let's say we choose the first letter in our alphabet, which is also the first letter of the mantra "OM" (pronounced and sometimes spelled "AUM"). Now open your mouth and begin with the sound "AAA." Whatever note comes up start to take it up in pitch slowly until you cannot go any higher, then begin to take it down as low in pitch as you can go. Then the fun begins - just simply move the sound up and down at random, feeling out the energy of the note and connecting with the sound. It doesn't have to make any sense and it can be quite liberating. After the A sound you can move on to another sound, or just keep working with that one. After all, this is your practice!
The other aspect of the 5th Chakra is creativity. Being able to live creatively and express ourselves as creative beings is an important right to acknowledge. In the business of our lives, many of us forget to live creatively or have a creative outlet. Whether you enjoy writing, drawing, painting, playing music or any other paths of being creative, it is important to keep this energy in your life. When you feel stagnant or stuck, try to create. When you feel blocked in creating, sing or chant and work to open the 5th Chakra.
One of our favorite kirtan artists who inspired many others is Krishna Das. This relatable, self proposed "Jew from New York," has brought his method of chanting to the yoga masses for decades now. And as luck would have it, he will be in Philadelphia on March 17th for "Kirtan on the Square." We highly recommend attending and you can get tickets and more information on his website and "Eventbrite." Kirtan on the Steps
So for March let's sing! Sing alone and sing together and express ourselves and open our creative center. Let's see where it takes us as we move into the energies of rebirth for Spring!
In Love & Light,
OYC Founder, Tracey L. Ulshafer & your OYC Teaching Staff
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Since I had an accident on December 1st and have been recovering from a concussion, my asana practice has been almost nonexistent, except for some Restorative yoga and when I model in class. I knew I wanted to do something to activate and go deeper into my yoga practice for this year and since it couldn't be on a physical level, I decided this year to plan to chant every day. I wasn't sure how to get started, although I figured I would start chanting to Lord Ganesha, the "Remover of Obstacles," who is invoked at the beginning of new ventures. And since it was a new year and a new idea, I was sure that he would encourage my first set of chants. I spent a few days thinking about how I would go about the rest of it: how long would I chant to each god or goddess, and who would come next and why, when I received a free copy of Girish's new book, "Music and Mantas." Talk about divine timing! This interactive book helps you begin a chanting practice and even suggests which deities to chant to, and at what length. It was exactly what I had been contemplating. So, with book in hand, I set out a schedule for 2017 of chants. I was ready and on New Year's Day I created an alter to Ganesha and began chanting to him every day - and my plan was to chant until Feb. 28th, 59 days total.
The experience has been humbling. I began with the mantras that I know, but then found some deeper mantras to connect to. In total, I played with several of his mantras but memorized two other mantras to Ganesha, including his Gayatri Mantra, which is soulful and melodic, and the version combining the energies of Lakshmi which is fun and whimsical.
Through the process of dealing with my own health issues the past two months I have been chanting to Ganesha. There were days when I could only light the candle and chant 3 times. There were nights I did 108 and more. Sometimes I really wanted to sit there and other times it felt like a chore. All the while I reminded myself I was chanting to remove my obstacle...and my obstacles are quite stubborn. But the good news is that I am seeing some old patterns begin to clear and new energies emerging as I lift the veil, uncover and work on releasing things that I have been holding onto for far too long.
I decided to cut my chanting to Ganesha short by 2 days, on Sunday Feb. 26th, the night of the New Moon. It just felt right to create my new alter and start my new chanting to Lakshmi. So, for March, my energy moves from removing obstacles to the goddess of wealth, success, and prosperity. I'm excited to see where it takes me on this next phase of chanting. Wherever it does, I am sure it will be deep and humbling. OM SHANTI.
In Love & Light.
Tracey L. Ulshafer,
Founder/Director, One Yoga Center
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