YogaVoice

Vocal Vinyasa

This Vocal Vinyasa is designed to train your awareness of breathing and sound in each of the 7
major chakras. By eliciting the quality of the element associated with each chakra, and by
bringing that energy into the way the breath is used to make a vocal sound, we develop the
qualities of a free, communicative voice (resonance, inflection, volume, clarity, spaciousness,
listening, etc). Practiced mindfully, each of the exercises trains an aspect of healthy and
balanced voice mechanics, as well as a psycho-spiritual aspect of vocal communication.

To get the most from this practice, cultivate the skill of listening first for a sense of the space and
vibration in each chakra as you coordinate the breath gesture with the authentic vocal sound.
Use the BIJA mantras (activating words) and Vibrational Phonemes (healing sounds)
interchangeably, based upon your intention. Try not to judge your own voice or the resulting
sound in any exercise. Simply listen, observe, and feel the connection to your authentic vocal
gesture.

In each of the exercises, pay close attention to the relationship of the breath to vocal tone. The
two phases of the breath gesture are important to consider. The in-breath gathers your
intention and invites the sound you are about to make (this is a listening, preparatory gesture).
The out-breath creates the onset of the vocal tone, which expresses your intention. The release
of the tone (end of the out-breath) is coordinated with the beginning of the new in-breath. The
vocal gesture is a natural manifestation of the breath cycle.

Each of the following tone/voice exercises can be practiced either in a simple seated or standing
posture or in an asana of your choosing. I have suggested an asana or two with each exercise.
There is a natural progression of the movement from one exercise to the other and when
practiced in the following sequence, you will begin to understand its flow as a vocal vinyasa
(vinyasa means ordered sequence).

Repeat each exercise until you feel a sense of satisfaction and completion with the energy it
awakens. Then move immediately to the next.

Chakra
Element
BIJA/Phoneme/Word
Sound/Voice Technique

1

Earth
LUM / [u] / soothe
Onset and release of tone








Vocal Stability/Rhythm

In the root chakra, generate short, deep blocks of tone on LUM and/or oo, with a
breath between each. Explore tempo (speed) and rhythm of these sound blocks,
concentrating on the quality of Earth in your vocal tone. Coordinate your breathing with
the onset of the tone and the release of the tone, as described above. Explore further by
toning the word soothe and engaging mula bandha to deepen your awareness of the
grounding in your first chakra. Asana suggestions: Equal Standing or Simple Seated pose,
Warrior 1 or 2

2014 Mark Moliterno (revised 2016) www.theyogavoice.com

Chakra
Element
BIJA/Phoneme/Word
Sound/Voice Technique

2

Water
VUM / [o] / flow

Flow/Registration









Voice Inflection

In the sacral chakra, listen first for the fluidity of your creative impulse on your inbreath. With the out-breath, center a deep, resonant VUM and/or oh sound in the
sacrum and/or pelvic bowl. Let the low, deep sound rise and move around through the
different registers of your voice, like flowing water (moving high and low through your
voice range), as you imagine an undulating river of sound emanating from your second
chakra. Repeat, using the word flow and allow yourself to embody the meaning of the
word. Asana suggestions: Warrior 1, Goddess, Pigeon, Fish


3

Fire
RUM / [a] / prana

Agility/Articulation
Vocal Identity

In the solar plexus (epigastric region between your navel and sternum), center a
buoyant and light bouncing articulation of your breath as you tone RUM and/or ah to
resemble laughter. Think of the warm, bright, and alert quality of fire as you embody the
brightness of your own vocal personality. Have fun with this one. Repeat, toning the
word prana. Asana suggestion: Seated Twist, Boat, Side Angle


4

Air

YUM / [e] / awake

Sustaining/Dynamics
Expressiveness

Place your hand directly over your sternum. Breathe deeply and quietly, listening
for/sensing the openness in the heart chakra that will become the unstruck source of
your vocal tone. Concentrate on the element of air and with the out-breath center a
sustained YUM and/or eh tone here so that you can feel the vibration of the vocal
sound, on your sternum, under your hand. Begin the tone quietly, allow it to grow in
intensity and expressive volume, and then gradually bring it back to the original quiet
volume in one smooth vocal gesture. Try to have no change in the open quality of the
heart chakra during the exercise. Notice how your breath works (from the lower
chakras) to accomplish this dynamic contrast. Repeat several times, connecting an
expressive intention to the growth and return of the tone. Interchange the words
awake and/or play with the eh sound, and express the intention of the word as
you practice the exercise. Asana suggestions: Triangle, Sphinx, Warrior 2

2014 Mark Moliterno (revised 2016) www.theyogavoice.com

Chakra
Element
BIJA/Phoneme/Word
Sound/Voice Technique

5
Ether/Space HUM / [i] / free Resonance/Articulation/








Listening

Place your hand on the back of your neck. On a deep, full in-breath, connect a line of
energy from your sacral chakra to the throat chakra and feel the inner ear open with
your awareness as your soft palate (top-back of your throat) lifts toward the crown of
your head. This is similar to the sensation of yawning. On your out-breath, tone HUM so
that you feel the vibration of your voice under your hand. Maintain the yawn sensation
as you cultivate the element of space around your voice. Sustain the tone by keeping
the fluidity of your breath stream moving from the sacral chakra to your palate. Tone
the ee sound as well and the word free and contemplate freedom and truth in your
vocal expression. Cultivate listening by becoming aware of the sound and sensation of a
steady and free voice. Asana suggestions: Eagle, Downward-facing Dog, Seated Forward
Fold, Fish

6

All/Light
AUM / [m] / mmm!
Prephonatory Tuning








Intentional Awareness

Bringing your awareness to the center of your forehead (in-between your eyebrows),
contemplate the third eye, the 6th chakra. With a slow, deep in-breath, gather your
intention and listen for the sound of AUM. On the out-breath, lightly begin to tone the
mantra in three even parts (AH-OO-MM) and become aware of the vibration in the
forehead when you close the lips for the mm, a gathering, unifying sound. Hold the
mm for as long as your breath will allow, being sensitive to the evenness of vibration
in the chakra through the entire out-breath. On the next slow in-breath, release the
tone and begin immediately to listen for the silence that follows the sound. Just before
your in-breath is complete, begin to perceive the tone again and how you will voice it.
This is called audiating: listening for the sound before you make it. Repeat until your
thoughts and intention are balanced and your awareness of the breath and tone are
united. Asana suggestions: Tree, Dancer, Childs Pose

7

Thought
Silence / [] / sing
Inspiration/Imagination

With the attention at the crown of your head, take a slow, deep in-breath and gather
the intention of the words, I sing. On the out-breath, tone the words, connecting your
intention into the crown of your head with a full, vibrant breath gesture. Close to the
ng in sing and let that sound vibrate in the crown chakra. You can also intentionally
connect the 3rd, 5th and 7th chakras in this exercise with your breath and tone as you
glide through the words. Allow the joy of singing to participate in the meaning of the
words you are toning. When you feel finished, sit and listen to the silence. Asana
suggestion: Seated meditation posture

2014 Mark Moliterno (revised 2016) www.theyogavoice.com