Demystifying yoga, sanskrit, and other terms
“The strength behind communication is in its quality, not in its quantity. Your talk should be that of quality, not of quantity. You should use small sentences which say a lot. Or you should say a lot in small sentences.”
Nadi - What does Nadi mean?
Nadi is Sanskrit word that can be translated as “tube,” “channel” or “flow.” It refers to the network of channels through which energy travels through the body. The number of nadis that the body is believed to contain varies depending on the tradition, but there are three principal nadis that weave through the spinal cord and the intense energy centers known as chakras.
In yoga, asanas, breathing exercises (pranayama) and chanting are among the tools used to help circulate the prana (life energy) through the nadis.
Chakra - What does Chakra mean?
Chakra comes from the Sanskrit cakra, which means "wheel." According to yoga traditions, a chakra is one of seven points in the human body, each responsible for a specific "spoke" of physiological function and emotional experience. Yoga and meditation are a means of keeping all of the body’s chakras unrestricted and open to the circulation of spiritual energy essential for health and emotional well-being.
Chakras make up the subtle elements of the body, the untouchable aspects that, when working in harmony, circulate divine energy and regulate physical and emotional health.
The seven chakras, and the human qualities they represent, are:
Muladhara (Root Chakra) - Basic trust
Svadisthana (Pelvic or Sacral Chakra) - Sexuality and creativity
Manipura (Navel or Solar Plexus Chakra) - Power
Anahata (Heart Chakra) - Healing and love
Visuddha (Throat Chakra) - Expression
Ajna (Third Eye Chakra) - Inspiration, awareness and intuition
Sahasrara (Crown Chakra) - Spirituality and enlightenment
Types of sound healing sessions
There are many different types of sound therapy treatments available today. These can either be group experiences or individual sessions.
Sound baths are the most common type of sound therapy that is lead by one or more musicians playing gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, temple bells, and other percussive instruments. A sound bath is a meditative experience where you lie down and allow your body and mind to be filled with soothing sounds. A sound bath allows us to enter into a state of meditation, where we focus on the instruments and vibrations around us rather than our thoughts. It allows us to focus inwardly while still being aware of what is happening around us. When we listen carefully to these resonate sounds, we can hear the subtle differences in pitch, tone, volume, and rhythm. These variations create a sense of calmness and relaxation.
Guided sound meditations are a popular type of sound therapy where, an experienced musician plays specific instruments and guides you through a visualization or meditation. The musician will play the same note over and over again until you reach a state of deep relaxation. You may notice that the notes seem familiar but they have been arranged differently. Guided Sound Meditations emphasize meditation facilitated mainly by imagery & instruction, rather than sound alone. Sound is present and aides the journey, but only serves as a backdrop to enhance feelings of calm & ease. The sound can take many forms, from nature sounds, to gentle music, or simple droning of crystal singing bowls.
Chanting and kirtan are a group led practice of people singing and chanting mantras. Kirtan is a powerful tool for cultivating mindfulness, concentration, and compassion. In addition to being a wonderful meditative experience, kirtan is also a great way to connect with a spiritual community and the divine.
Vibroacoustic therapy uses low frequency sound waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing response. A bed, chair, or mat with embedded speakers is used to listen to and physically feel the programed healing vibrations.
Acutonics involves placing one or two tuning forks on various parts of the body to stimulate acupuncture points, trigger points, and/or areas of discomfort. These points are connected to meridians and chakras throughout the body, which means they affect the entire system. By stimulating these points with high-frequency sound waves, the practitioner aims to release blockages and restore harmony within the body.
Binaural beats are recorded music that spaces pure tones slightly apart from each other. They are designed to induce certain brainwaves by creating a frequency mismatch between them. When played back through headphones, the brain will make up the difference in oscillation and become entrained into a different brainwave state, such as alpha, theta, or deep delta. This allows us to enter a trancelike state where we can access altered states of consciousness.