Practice

chanting

Chanting is one of the oldest and most universally resonant practices in the yogic tradition, inviting practitioners to use the power of voice, breath, and vibration to quiet the mind and open the heart. Whether it takes the form of Sanskrit mantras, kirtan call-and-response devotional singing, or the simple sustained hum of a single syllable like "Om," chanting transforms sound into a vehicle for meditation and self-discovery. People are drawn to it for the way it bypasses ordinary mental chatter and moves directly into the body — a kind of sonic massage that leaves participants feeling simultaneously grounded and expanded.

Wikimedia Commons / Mantra

chanting Studios & Teachers

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Agata Wholistic Touch

Amsterdam-Zuid, Noord-Holland

gongMeditationAyurveda

Amrita Shala

Bali

gongMeditationyoga-nidra

Anand Ashram Ubud

Bali

Meditationphilosophyretreat

Australian School of Meditation & Yoga North Adelaide

North Adelaide, South Australia

gentleMeditationyoga-nidra

Australian School of Meditation and Yoga, West End

West End, Queensland

Meditationphilosophyasana

Ayurveda Yoga Barcelona

Eixample, Catalunya

postnatalPrenatalMeditation

BALI KAPHA YOGA SCHOOL

Bali

PrenatalMeditationyoga-nidra

Beacon Yoga Centre

Beaconsfield, Western Australia

gentleMeditationyoga-nidra

Chan Tri Wellness

England

MeditationSound Healinghealing

Heruka Kadampa Meditation Centre

England

Kadampa Buddhism educational retreat and meditation hub, with classes, a bookshop and a garden.

MeditationretreatBeginners

Kadampa Meditation Centre London

England

Meditationphilosophyretreat

Kagyu Samye Dzong London Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Centre

England

Tibetan Buddhist community/meditation centre at colourful facility in a converted Victorian library.

Meditationphilosophyretreat

Upcoming chanting Events

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Fusatsu Ceremony and Precepts Talk by Ryotan Roshi

CLASS

26 Mar 2026

Fusatsu Ceremony and Precepts Talk by Ryotan Roshi

A Thursday evening Zen ceremony with teaching from Ryotan Roshi on Buddhist precepts and practice di...

Manhattan, New York

TRAINING

27 Mar 2026→16 May 2026

Fundamentals of Ashtanga Yoga Training

Deepen your Ashtanga practice with New Vibe Yoga's comprehensive spring training running March throu...

New York, NY

TRAINING

27 Mar 2026→16 May 2026

Fundamentals of Ashtanga Yoga Training & Registration

Deepen your Ashtanga practice this spring with New Vibe Yoga's comprehensive eight-week training (Ma...

New York, New York

COURSE

27 Mar 2026→29 Mar 2026

3天『地藏功德念佛班』

This 3-day intensive Earth Store Bodhisattva Buddha Chanting program at Puti Chan Tang combines sacr...

New York, New York

Sacred Chanting Meditation, Chai and Sweets

CLASS

28 Mar 2026→28 Mar 2026

Sacred Chanting Meditation, Chai and Sweets

Experience the soul-nourishing power of sacred chanting and meditation at Logan East Community Neigh...

Springwood, QLD

CLASS

29 Mar 2026→29 Mar 2026

Chenrezig Puja

Join the centre's weekly Chenrezig Puja on Sunday evenings in the shrine room or via YouTube livestr...

Bermondsey, London

About chanting

The roots of chanting stretch back thousands of years to the Vedic tradition of ancient India, where sacred texts were transmitted orally through precise patterns of sound long before they were ever written down. The Sama Veda, often considered the oldest musical scripture in human history, is composed almost entirely of chants meant to be sung rather than read. In the modern era, teachers like Krishna Das and Jai Uttal helped bring kirtan-style chanting to Western audiences in the late twentieth century, drawing directly from the devotional bhakti tradition and the teachings of figures such as Neem Karoli Baba. Within kundalini yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan, chanting specific mantras is considered a core technology for raising consciousness and clearing energetic pathways throughout the body.

A typical chanting session might begin with grounding breathwork, followed by the slow introduction of a mantra or melody that participants repeat either silently or aloud, individually or collectively. Over time, the repetition creates a meditative rhythm that soothes the nervous system, slows the breath, and encourages the release of tension held in the jaw, throat, and chest. Research has suggested that regular chanting can reduce cortisol levels, lower blood pressure, improve respiratory function, and foster a profound sense of emotional well-being and social connection. The vibrations produced by sustained vocalization are also thought to stimulate the vagus nerve, supporting the body's natural relaxation response. Because no musical training or prior yoga experience is required, chanting is genuinely accessible to anyone — from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners, from those seeking spiritual depth to those simply looking for a creative way to decompress. It is especially meaningful for people navigating grief, anxiety, or a sense of disconnection from themselves or others.

For anyone curious about the transformative potential of sound and breath, chanting offers a doorway unlike any other — ancient in its origins, immediate in its effects, and endlessly generous in what it gives back.

Image: Wikimedia Commons / Mantra

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