Shunyata, the Silence of Integration

Article by Sonya Harnett published in Yoga Therapy Ireland May 2022

How to access your creativity through Yoga and Sound Healing

As a yoga and meditation teacher, Sound Healing Therapy has also taught me the value of holding space as one of the most precious gifts we can offer our students and clients.
I began my journey as a yoga teacher in 2012 through Yoga Therapy Ireland and was so excited about setting up classes in my local community. That Summer, I recall browsing in a gift shop with lots of beautiful gems to support any spiritual practice and there was a bright
and shiny Himalayan singing bowl inviting me over to pick it up! I had no idea what Sound Healing Therapy was! I asked the shop assistant about it she held it, took a breath and struck it very gently a few times. She asked me to listen but listen with my body. That lingering sound went on forever. It was the silence afterwards that was profound for me too. This is known as the Shunyata, the silence of integration. That was it! My curiosity was ignited and a
deep journey into Sound Healing began!

How does Sound Healing work?
Students are invited to lie out or any position that is supportive and warm and comfortable for them. Sound Healing works through healing the body through vibration.  As we are about 70 percent water and a mass of energy vibrations, the body is very resonant to these vibrations as
they move straight to our cells soaking through the energetic layers of our being. We don’t even have to believe in it to work! Different instruments such as the Shamanic drums, gongs, crystal bowls and many others may be used and are made and set to certain frequencies or tones. You can also use your voice through vocal toning that is amazing! Sound healing stimulates healing shifting from imbalance or “dis-ease” to being “in ease”. You may
experience sensations of tingling or other sensations as the body is directly responding to these vibrations and a sense of equilibrium and wellbeing.
In my classes, I began with the Himalayan bowls and they became part of my teaching as the
effect these gentle sounds were having a deep and profound relaxing experience for my students. I explored different ways of using Sound Healing as part of my classes especially with passive practices such as restorative yoga, meditation and yoga nidra guided relaxation.
Through teaching, we learn to get creative and I believe through this creative spark is where our authenticity blossoms and teach from our own self-awakening and heart. Sound healing has widened my own lens of perception with the importance of creating subtle pauses
throughout a yoga class to allow integration, I call them “mini standing shavasanas”
Sound Healing is a very sacred and powerful healing modality and of course has an inventory of cautions. Therefore, I would highly recommend my amazing teacher Carmel Diviney from Celtic School of Sound Healing where she offers excellent accredited training in Sound
Healing Therapy to delve deeper.
I am grateful for my first Himalayan bowl and where it has brought me. Sound Healing has really opened my creativity and feeds my love of teaching while offering my students a
profound state of rest, healing and ultimate self- awakening. So keep it simple, use what you are drawn to! It’s powerful, beautiful and pure bliss. You and your students will absolutely love it!

Sonya Harnett
Advanced Sound Healing Therapist, Yoga Teacher, Certified Masters of Wisdom MeditationTeacher, Reiki Master Practitioner.
Yoga Essence, Celbridge, Kildare
http://www.yogaessence.ie