What is Toning?
Toning is the creation of extended vocal sounds on a single vowel in order to experience the sound and its effects on parts of the body.

No melody, no words, no rhythm, and no harmony - just the sound of the vibrating breath. It is a simple yet powerful technique, accessible to everyone regardless of vocal ability or training. Through toning you can immediately experience the effects of sound on your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

By literally massaging your body and mind from the inside out, meditative toning can help you focus and relax; release energies; reduce stress; and improve stamina and concentration.

Toning synchronizes the brainwaves and helps relieve tension within a few minutes. Toning is also a wonderful technique for developing your voice-ear connection and enhancing your power of listening to everything around you.

Most of all, toning restores balance and harmony to the mind and body. It can help you awaken and deepen your sense of self, and align you to the deepest vibrations of soul and spirit. On the path of toning, you move toward the source of your own inner balance, creativity, well-being, and freedom

Format
The group is normally sitting in circle in a comfortable position. Some people either sit on the floor on a cushion or bolster, or on a chair. It is a meditative practice, so stillness is invited with little movement.

Meditative toning is not expressive vocalisation
This is a meditative practice so intoning does not involve melody, rhythm or words. Expressive vocalisation creates a different field of energy and is held in a different class (See Healing Voices)
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Healing and bodily responses
Where appropriate, participants can sit in the middle of the circle to receive the sounds and tones. Some people may experience bodily sensations during the practice e.g. tingling, heat, coolness, tiredness, yawning, feeling energised

​Release & detoxification
Some people experience a release during or after the sessions which is the body's systems way of detoxing and restoring balance. People have experienced this as physical detoxification, tears, tiredness, yawning, heightened sensitivity. This information is for awareness so you can seek out the appropriate tools and support if this process occurs.

​Intention
An intention is set before the practice
Suitable for:
Open to anyone who wants to learn how to use voice to vibrationally activate, heal and harmonize your entire being and the planet. Each session we will set an intention or theme of focus for the circle e.g. healing, harmony, ease etc.

​No experience or singing talent required

What to bring?
You and your voice! and a bottle of water to stay hydrated

What can it sound like?
When intoning with a group of people the effects are amplified as the multiple harmonics that is created within the group are combined. Below is a sample of what it may sound like when many voices are intoning different vowels sounds together.
Example vowel sounds: 
EEE - OOO - ERR - AH - EH - UUU - AYE - AIR 
Also included is humming or OM or AUM

Can I do this by myself at home?
Yes you certainly can! If you would also like some supportive tracks to intone with, you can check out my meditative tracks on Insight Timer ​

Benefits

Benefits of self-created sounds (e.g. singing, toning, chanting, humming)
  • Increased oxygen in the cells 
  • Lowered blood pressure and heart rate 
  • Increased lymphatic circulation - network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. 
  • Increased levels of melatonin – the ‘sleep’ hormone 
  • Reduced levels of stress related hormones 
  • Release of endorphins – self created opiates that work as natural pain
    relievers 
  • Release of oxytocin, the ‘trust’ or ‘love’ hormone 
  • Increased mental stillness and clarity
  • Ability to massage your own body with sound
  • Extension of the vocal range
  • Enhance learning and stimulate cognitive function activating almost all brain regions and networks, where it can help to keep a myriad of brain pathways and networks strong
  • Increased stability of the voice with consequent improvement of expression and self-confidence
  • Expanded awareness of one’s own posture and alignment
  • Increased production of Nitric Oxide (up to 15 times) in the sinuses , which helps to prevent inflammation in the respiratory tract and the production of melatonin in the pineal gland, responsible for many repair functions in the body.
  • Improved problem solving, improved sleep, motivation and restored energy.
  • Tangible calming effects by virtue of its auditory stimulation of the vagus nerve, which in turn causes limbic deactivation
Sources:
The Humming Effect - Jonathan and Andi Goldman
The Healing Power of Your Voice - Simone Vitale
Sound Therapy and the Vagus Nerve - Simone Vitale
Eddie Weitzberg and Jon O. N. Lundberg – Humming Greatly Increases Nasal Nitric Oxide
Dr. Rajie Singh – Self Healing, Powerful techniques