There was a time in my life when everything in me was burnt out. Not just tired, but soul weary. I had nothing left to give. My mind was noisy. My body, exhausted. And my spirit... quiet. Too quiet. I had given everything to others and left little for myself. Maybe you know that feeling?
In those tender mornings, I found myself regularly waking before dawn, instinctively craving something I couldn’t quite name. So, I began taking early walks to the beach, my tanpura across my back. The world was still at that hour. The ocean, steady. I would sit at the edge of the water, open my heart, and begin to practise the Meditative Toning practices.
Gentle vowel sounds, drawn out slowly on the breath. The ancient drone of the tanpura anchoring me. My own voice, not to perform, not to achieve, but simply to feel and soothe. This daily ritual became a thread that led me back to myself. And honestly? I believe it saved me.
What is Meditative Toning?
Meditative toning is the art of using your voice as a healing instrument. Rooted in the classical yogic tradition of Nāda Yoga, the yoga of sound, this practice invites you to explore pure, sustained vocal tones (often vowel-based) as a gateway to inner stillness.
It’s not singing. There are no mantras. No need for a “good” voice. Instead, it’s a quiet, personal exploration of sound that arises naturally from breath, awareness, and intention.
With regular practice, it becomes a deeply soothing way to calm the nervous system, settle the mind, and reconnect with your deeper self. It’s particularly helpful for quietening a busy mind and serves beautifully as a standalone meditation.
Many of my students find it a particularly accessible starting point for meditation, especially when traditional methods feel out of reach. If they’re not used to being still, or if meditation has felt elusive, the mind can be… a little rebellious!
Why It Heals
Sound is vibration. When you use your own voice, it stimulates the Vagus Nerve, the key communicator in your rest-and-repair system. This nerve runs through the vocal cords and voice box, so your breath and tone quite literally massage your nervous system.
As sound resonates through your body, it acts like a tuning fork. The vibrations help clear tension and release any blocked energy, making it easier to shift from mental overwhelm into a state of grounded, heart-led presence.
Practised regularly, meditative toning can help to:
Deepen breath and voice control
Ease anxiety and emotional strain
Improve vocal tone and confidence
Build inner awareness
Support emotional release and resilience
Improve sleep
Many people describe a feeling of being held by something ancient, steady, and compassionate. Many people say they feel very grounded after the practice. Often, the practice ends not in silence, but in a felt sense of peace, clarity, or quiet joy.
A Guided Practice Just for You.
Here is a short meditative toning session, sharing four of the eight core sounds. You can try it at home, in your own time.
Find a comfortable seat, let your eyes close, and allow your breath to carry your sound.
Take this as your personal invitation to pause, soften, and return to yourself.
Click here to book a friendly chat with Chetana to know more about the retreats.
My Story, Your Story
I don’t offer this as a method to master, but as a medicine that met me when nothing else could. That quiet ritual by the sea became the foundation of what I now offer on retreat.
Not as an exercise or performance, but as a sacred rhythm that runs gently through our days together.
Every retreat I offer includes this practice because, like me, I’ve also witnessed time and again the deep rest and reconnection it brings.
At my upcoming Sydney Hinterland - Embrace The Stillness Within You Yoga and Sacred Sound Retreat, we’ll explore all the sound-based practices. You’ll have the space to soften, listen, and rediscover your voice and your Self in a natural, nurturing environment.
To learn more or join us: Click here
For now, simply begin. Let this be a doorway. One breath, one sound, and one tender step back toward yourself.
An Invitation
If something in this resonates with you, trust it.
Whether you’re lying on your bed, sitting beside the sea, or pausing quietly at home, allow your voice to guide you. Let sound hold you as it continues to hold me.
And if the time ever feels right to deepen into this journey, I’d love to welcome you in person. There, your sound becomes part of something shared, sacred, and truly healing.
With love,
Chetana