Hummmmmmm . . . hummmmmmmm . . . hummmmmmmmmmmmm . . .
This is today’s practice. Humming. Now, I’ve grown up with music. Whether it’s playing various instruments, singing, or just listening to it, music is part of me. It calms me. It excites my senses. It can even stir strong emotions and I’ve been known to break into tears on occasion. Interestingly enough, however, I’ve never actually used it in my meditation practice. I honestly hadn’t thought of it. I know there are some who chant (think, Om) but it didn’t really appeal to me. Then when I started using Insight Timer and found the “Enchanted” sound I realized that, at low volume, the vibration lulled me into a nice state of being and I was able to really relax.
It’s that feeling that Ada and Nathan talk about in today’s session. Ada says that, when we hum, the vibration settles into our faces, throats, and chests sending signals to the vagus nerve. It then interprets those vibrations as signs that it’s’ safe therefore allowing our bodies to rest, regulate, and recharge. Nathan starts us out by asking us to take a deep breath and notice how our bodies are cradled by wherever we are. We take another breath in, then let it out slowly. Finally, we breathe in and, on the exhale, we’re invited to “find a hum”. It could be low, mid-range, or high. We don’t even need to stay on the same note. We can glide up and down and even hum a tune if we choose. I tried it for a bit and then found myself matching their tones and harmonizing with them throughout the rest of the session.
At the end of our lesson Nathan encourages us to notice how we feel. Ada asks if we feel differently. If we don’t notice anything, that’s ok. But she reminds us that the little steps we take now will lead to bigger changes for us moving forward. She says, “. . . every time we take a moment to reset we create an opening that interrupts the patterns of compounding stress.” What a cool way to think about it!
So whether we hum, touch, move, or breathe – it doesn’t matter. What matters is that we take the time to soothe and reset regularly. Two minutes or ten. Whatever time we carve out for calm is good. Did you try humming today? Have you ever used it in your practice? How did you feel? Did you notice any kind of shift?
By the way, I ended up following Wakes (Ada and Nathan) on Insight Timer and went back and previewed a few of their tracks. Some of them are actual songs and others have a kind of ethereal tone which was beautiful. Very talented people!
I hope you tried this exercise today, even if humming isn’t your thing. Sometimes we need to step outside of our comfort zones. Who knows, we might be pleasantly surprised.
Namaste.
#nervoussystemresetchallenge
#hum
#wakes
#adaandnathan
#insightimer
The information provided on this website is intended for educational purposes only and is, in no way, a substitute for professional medical advice. The events, practices, and opinions discussed here are those of the author and should be treated as such. ALWAYS talk with your doctor about conditions, medications, and concerns you have about your health and work together to determine the best course of action for you.
Wholeness Health and YOU! 