Blog
10 Years of Heart of Sound: Raising the Bar for Sound Yoga Therapy Worldwide
This year marks a milestone: 10 years since the first cohort of Heart of Sound teacher trainees gathered to immerse themselves in the transformative practice of nāda yoga and mantra-based healing in Rishikesh, India!
Since then, hundreds of graduates have carried the essence of this lineage-rooted, heart-centered training into the world—into yoga studios, trauma recovery centers, refugee camps, hospitals, cancer wards, classrooms, and homes.
And in this tenth year, we want to give a shoutout to the diversity and ingenuity of our trainees! It's inspiring and humbling ...
AUM Chanting Personality Type Quiz: What kind of OM chanter are you?
What Happens When a Group OM is Being Led?
Whether you're attending a yoga class, joining a kīrtan chant session, or receiving sound healing, there's often that beautiful, shared moment when a group OM is chanted together. For some, it’s a moment of blissful resonance. For others, it can be surprisingly awkward or uncomfortable — even if you love the idea of chanting.
As someone who has spent decades immersed in the practice and teaching of sacred sound, I’ve witnessed all kinds of responses to this one simple syllable. Here’s a little breakdown I put together — see ...
Benefits of Daily Mantra Meditation (Self-Care through Sound Healing Yoga)
Evidence-Based Benefits of Mantra Chanting
In our fast-paced, high-stress world, ancient practices are making a profound comeback—and for good reason. One such practice, mantra chanting, is emerging as a powerful tool for wellness, backed not only by thousands of years of tradition but also by cutting-edge neuroscience.
Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or just beginning to explore the power of sound, mantra meditation offers a unique, holistic approach to healing and transformation. Here’s a closer look at the evidence-based benefits of chanting:
1. Reduces Anxiety & ...
Shakti Mantra FAQ: What is Iccha Shakti? Are Goddess mantras only for women?
What are Shakti Mantras?
- Śakti Mantras are Sanskrit mantra sound vibrations that stimulate an inner experience of energy
- Shakti mantras tend to have a predominant I sound (sounds like eeee in the word glee, the English word for very very happy!)
- That vowel sound is considered the primal shakti mantra, because when we make that sound in our bodies, we naturally feel what is called "icchā śakti"
What is Iccha Shakti?
- Icchā Śakti is a term that describes the power to create.
- It's a trembling sensation, full of lively vibration that is the impulse to act, to ma...
My Story of Assimilation: What it taught me about Nāda Yoga, Mantra Shakti, Tantra, and Patriarchy
A bit of my story...
After almost assimilating to be a “good Indian girl” studying these traditions since I was 19, I woke up *just in time* to realize that there are 5,000+ years of baked in patriarchal systems of oppression in nearly every aspect of yoga culture. (Not to mention my own American culture!)
I had been baking inside the whole assimilation enchilada for 2 decades:
- wearing full saree every day for years, as comfortable as putting on sweats.
- Studying Hindustanī classical vocal music in New Delhi with my beloved music Guruji.
- Speaking Hindi and servin ...
Vocal Empowerment for All! Transform Your Life through the Power of Sound with Chloe Goodchild
Chloe Goodchild is the founder of The Naked Voice, a pioneering vocal training program founded in 1990 that explores voice as a spiritual practice, sustained by conscious core practices, devotional music, and audiobooks that empower you to embody and express your authentic voice. The Naked Voice Charitable Foundation was established in 2004 to restore ethical, healthy, happy, and harmonious relationships—personal, global, and universal.
Chloe’s seminal book, The Naked Voice – Transform Your Life through the Power of Sound (North Atlantic Books, 2015), provides a compr...
Is there a Right or Wrong way to Chant OM? (The Most Frequently Asked Questions Mantra Teachers Get)
All About Aum...
This blog post is adapted from a mini masterclass all about Aum. that I taught recently,
Known as the mantra of all mantras, Aum carries immense therapeutic benefits and is a cornerstone of mantra practice, a sound healing practice, most yoga classes, and definitely kīrtans!
This post compiles some of the most frequently asked questions I've received about Aum in my 10 years of teaching teachers (and nearly 30 years of being a mantra nerd!), along with some of my practical insights on chanting.
What Is Aum?
Aum is an audible echo of an inaudible ...
Mantra for Natural Disasters, Fire, Flood, Earthquake, Hurricane
Have you ever wished for a mantra to help you get through a natural calamity, like a forest fire, sudden flood, earthquake, tsunami, hurricane, etc.?
Mantra during a Natural disaster
While it's happening it's SO intense, it's hard to think. I was in Japan during the 2011 earthquakes, tsunami & Fukushima disaster. I lived through forest fires in Montana. I know how overwhelming it can be. And I'm SO grateful that I have a mantra habit to lean in on during natural disasters.
Mantra after a Natural disaster
The aftermath and all of the emotional processing, the traum...
OM Chanting Fail: Top 3 Mistakes Chant Leaders & Yoga Teachers Make When Leading AUM
How to Lead a Sensational OM as a Chant Leader
When you’re leading a chant, particularly one involving Aum, your primary role is to create a safe and resonant space. This post highlights essential practices for chant leaders to help participants feel confident and connected.
Three Keys to Leading Aum Chanting
- Provide a Clear Tone
Establishing a clear, stable tone is essential. Use a harmonium, tuning fork, or your own voice to set a sonic floor. Choose a pitch that’s comfortable for both you and the group. This step ensures everyone feels anchored and secure in the...
Sheela Bringi: A Lifetime of Evolving the Indian Traditions of Mantra, Music & Bhakti
A Heartfelt Exchange on the Power of Sound and Tradition
In this episode of Mantras for Peace: A Widsom Gathering, Anandra joyfully welcomes Sheela Bringi, a musician, teacher, and “lineage keeper” of sacred sound traditions from India. Over the years, Sheela has dedicated herself to preserving the wisdom of these traditions while breathing new life into them in America.
Sheela Bringi, MFA, is a sacred music artist and educator. She is faculty at Naropa University in Boulder, CO, where she teaches courses in Indian Devotional and Rāga Singing. She is a vocalist and ...
