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I hope with these audio tracks to personally train you, and lead you to independence, in many basic practices and mantras of the Yoga of Sound. The program represents all the four major streams of Sound Yoga — Shabda Yoga, Shakti Yoga, Bhava Yoga, and Nada Yoga; the distinct types of mantras —Vedic, Tantric, and Devotional mantras; and the key elements of Sound Yoga — breath, movement, sound, posture, and consciousness.
For best results do not use headphones when working with these tracks as it will affect the accuracy of your pitch. Please read the section “Harmony and Attunement” on page 143 for more information about headphones and sound systems. Chapter 11, “Preparation and Mantra Shastra,” provides valuable information that can be incorporated into your personal practice of Sound Yoga.
Each experiential track is preceded by a teaching track that verbally introduces you to the understanding, pronunciation, and practice of a particular exercise or mantra. The experiential tracks are all odd numbers, while the verbal, teaching tracks are even numbers. Focusing on the experiential tracks allows you to get deep into your practice without the explanations impinging on your experience. This separation, essentially between left and right brain learning, also allows you to program your MP3 player several different ways: 1) You can loop, or repeat, a particular practice or teaching so that you learn it deeply and thoroughly, 2) You can configure specific practices in sequences and combinations to suit your emphasis on a particular day or week, or 3) You can work with all the audio tracks, from start to finish, as a comprehensive workout in the Yoga of Sound.
For more extended chanting practice in mantras, I recommend my other audio programs with The Relaxation Company. See Programs and Resources on page 273.
1. Invocation to Ganesh, the remover of obstacles. A traditional Vedic mantra chanted in Vedic meter. Join palms at the heart and visualize all obstacles being removed from the flow of energy in your body. See page 78, “The Music of Shabda Yoga.” (From The Yoga of Sound three-CD set, the Relaxation Company, © 2000. Used with permission.) (1:22)
2. Welcome and Introduction. (1:08)
3. Om Namah Shivaaya — exercise track — Here you will practice this Tantric, devotional mantra with music. See Appendix Two, page 254, for more explanation of the mantra. (2:27)
4. The vowel O — teaching track — Here I explain how to use this sound on the breath (upamsu) and how to incorporate movement into the sound. See page 192, “Circle of Power.” (5:32)
5. Vowel O — exercise track — Learn to practice the sound with music. (3:32)
6. The universal mantra Om — teaching track — Explains how to pronounce the mantra externally. See Chapter 14, as well as “The Audible Breath” on page 166. (2:36)
7. The mantra Om — exercise track — Practice the mantra with music in the Tantric method. (2:36)
8. The Tantric bija Hoom — teaching track — Explains how this bija mantra associated with Shiva can be used with the Shiva-Linga mudra and breath work. See Appendix Two, pages 251 and 252. (1:35)
9. The mantra Hoom — exercise track — Practice the mantra with music. (0:59)
10. The Tantric bija Aim — teaching track — Explains how this Saraswati bija mantra can be used in combination with Anjali mudra and pranayama. See Appendix Two, page 251 and 252. (1:33)
11. The mantra Aim — exercise track — Practice the mantra om aim namaha with music. (1:45)
12. Vedic Mantra to Guide Us on the Path to Enlightenment — teaching track — Explains how to pronounce the sounds in this mantra sequence. See Appendix One, page 239 for words, pronunciation guidelines, and musical tones. (1:45)
13. Chanting “Asato ma sadgamaya, tamaso ma jyotirgamaya, mrityorma amritamga-maya . . .” with music. (1:28)
14. The Sacred Gayatri to Illuminate Our Meditations — teaching track — See Appendix One, page 241, for words, pronunciation guidelines, and musical tones. (1:36)
15. The Gayatri mantra — exercise track — Chant the sacred Gayatri with music: Om bhur bhuvas svaha, tat savitur vareynam, bargo devasya dhimahi, dhyoyona prachodayaat. (2:27)
16. AVedic mantra to Heal Our Planet — teaching track — Explains how to pronounce the words in this pithy mantric prayer. (1:03)
17. Chanting “Lokah samasta sukhino bhavanthu” with music. (From The Yoga of Sound three-CD set, the Relaxation Company, © 2000. Used with permission.) (1:53)
18. Nada Yoga vocal technique — teaching track — Explains how musical tones can stimulate, balance, and heal the chakras. See Appendix Four, page 270, to understand this exercise. (3:10)
19. Nada Yoga practice — exercise track — Meditate on the tonal sequence and then sing along. See Chakra Interval Chart on page 272. (3:23)
20. Preparing to dance a mantra with Kali: Shree Ma, Kali Ma, Aadhi Ma, Pahi Ma. (2:49)
21. Dancing with the Dark Mother — A devotional kirtan to Kali, the matrix of creation and primal goddess. See “Simple Kirtans” in Appendix Three, page 262; also see “Blood of the Goddess” on page 82. (Music extracted from The Yoga of Sound three-CD set, the Relaxation Company, © 2000. Used with permission.) (3:00)