Chants and Breathing
The following is taken from yogainsight:
Sacred sounds known as the “yoga of sound”
"Yoga chants, also known as the 'yoga of sound,' are considered sacred sounds that originated along with the traditional Hindu traditional branches of Hatha yoga and Tantra yoga. Yoga chants are made up of repetitive mantras. In North India yoga chants are referred to as Kirtan; while in South India they’re called Bhajan."
Recently, as yoga gained popularity among Westerners as a system of physical and mental healing, yoga chants were also adopted and continue to be used as a method to achieve health and well being.
Although yoga chants are usually performed and written in Sanskrit, their meaning is believed to be universal – Sanskrit is the language of the heart. People believe the ancient chants contain powerful healing and transformational energies. Playing chants before or after performing yoga postures has many health benefits – lowering blood pressure, slowing down the heart rate, encouraging the body to produce natural painkillers and much more.
The om is an original and powerful mantra. This sample from the Jivamukti Yoga Center is beautiful. The following excerpt is taken from Yoga Sanctuary about mantras:
Mantras - What is a Mantra?
A Mantra is a formula or a word with spiritual significance. Stripped of any Hindu background it is just a meaningless word or syllable that can help you relax very deeply. Mantra meditation is a very easy to learn and effective relaxation technique. Just thinking a mantra helps you focus your attention on the inside and eventually reach a state of very deep rest. Regular practice of meditation reduces ones irritability and thus the feeling of being stressed. It also reduces the time of recovery after distressing situations. During the first weeks of practicing mantra meditation some people tend to become more sensitive...
Stated simply, a mantra is a sound vibration. The word "mantra" is a Sanskrit word consisting of two syllables: "man" (mind) and "tra" (deliverance). In the strictest sense, a mantra is a pure sound vibration that delivers the mind from its material inclinations and illusion. Chanting is the process of repeating a mantra. This act of chanting mantras is Mantra Meditation. But not all mantras are "mantras" and not all "mantras" are mantras... which is to say that not all transcendental vibrations are actually called mantras and not just any sound vibration will bring success.
The Yoga Sanctuary offers several free MP3 samples of additional chants.
Yoga Breathing
Breathing, a vital activity of life, is usually taken for granted but can be improved upon. Wind instrument muscians have learned that they must alter their own breathing style in order to achieve proper sound output. Yoga practitioners have also learned that proper breathing can influence general health. Health & Yoga offers this perspective:
Learn breathing… the yoga way
With the ever-increasing incidence of lifestyle diseases like cardio-vascular and nervous system disorders, the time has come for us to address this ourselves, fair and square WITHOUT external dependence. Did you know that reprogramming your natural breathing technique would not only help in preventing these problems but also help in the “reversal” of several such harmful conditions? Yes, it’s not only possible but proven too. In fact leading cardiac experts are advocating the benefits of “correct” breathing to their patients. Surprising as it is, almost none of us use the full capacity of our respiratory organs. This is aggravated by our sedentary lifestyles and leads to several complications popularly called - lifestyle disorders.
Sarah can help you achieve optimal breathing techniques. The best way to learn about Yoga breathing is in a class.
The Internet is a valuable source of additional information. Yoga to Health has a section about breathing in addition to many pages devoted to Yoga in general. About:Holistic Healing contains many links. Here is another example from ABC-of-Yoga. Kundalini Yoga offers suggestions for long deep breathing and others.