Shantha, a Buddhist yogi and healing music artist, combines sounds that resonate with the subtle energy centers of the body and mind. On the CD you’ll hear sounds from bells, the blowing of a conch or flute, gongs, or resonating bowls. And sometimes I swear I hear the sounds reverberating through my brain, as if they are originating from inside me inside of from the speakers.
The track that I find myself going back to again and again is called The Sea Buoy. I’ve always been partial to the sound of the ocean—nothing gets me more relaxed than hearing waves lapping (or even crashing) against the shore. On this track, Shantha has used the rhythm of waves to guide long, slow breaths. He describes this track as perfect for pranayama (breathing) exercise. With 55 beats per minute, the music is suited for a 4 beat inhalation, 4 beat retention, 4 beat exhalation, and 4 beat retention.
That works, but I’ve also found that using this music for savasana automatically attunes the breath to the slow, rhythmic breathing without any conscious effort on the part of the practitioner. You just let your body go and the sounds carry your breath. There’s nothing to do, only to be while the waves of sound wash through you.