Yoga does not refer to physical postures, but to a complete path of spiritual unity that includes breathing, meditation and lifestyle. Mainstream yoga refers to the use of physical postures to promote emotional growth, release, and physical and mental relaxation and well-being.
One of the main difficulties with yoga is mindfulness, so some people may find the discomfort associated with yoga poses overwhelming. Yoga does relax the mind naturally. As the muscles are stretched and worked and the breath is activated, heat is generated and tension is released, resulting in the body feeling more relaxed and generally happier.It can be difficult to let go of thoughts about external realities if they are influenced by our intentions and emotions, thus taking the focus away from the yoga poses and making them more difficult. These may be judgments about ourselves, others, life situations or even memories of the past.
Sound benefits yoga by bypassing thought through vibration and affecting our brains on an emotional level. Sound Healing can be defined as the intentional use of sound to create a vibrational environment that becomes a catalyst for healing our physical, mental, emotional or spiritual aspects. When attention is focused on sound, it is easy to allow one's attention to be surrounded by vibration and the sensation of vibration, which opens up space for greater focus. In creating an intentionally vibrational environment, sound can help participants focus more fully on synchronizing their breathing with the yoga poses, checking in with their bodies, checking in with their thoughts, and becoming observers of their reality. With sound as the backdrop to the experience, yoga practitioners will experience greater ease, greater focus, relaxation, release, and a sense of physical well-being.