You carry an instrument with you everywhere. Your voice creates vibration you can feel in your chest, throat and head, and gentle sound-making is one of the quickest ways to settle the nervous system. Sound runs through the Embodiment pillar of the Elemental Alchemy Framework, and these four practices need nothing but a few quiet minutes.
- Hum. Close your lips and hum on a comfortable note for a few breaths. Notice where you feel the vibration.
- Vowel toning. Sing a long “ah”, then “oh”, then “oo”, one breath each. Each vowel resonates in a slightly different part of the body.
- Sigh. Breathe in deeply and let the breath out with an audible sigh. Repeat three times and let your shoulders drop.
- Listen. Afterwards, sit in silence for a minute and listen to the stillness you’ve created.
Toning, chanting, singing bowls and drums take this further, in the sessions and at Sound is Medicine events.
