Neuroscience data has vindicated many forms of mindfulness meditation, finding that the breathing and focusing techniques are beneficial in a variety of ways, especially for the brain. But another ancient practice is earning validation as it becomes more studied, that of chanting.
Meditative chanting—such as the kind led by Ann Kathleen on Wednesdays at CovenTree in Santa Maria—is a form of repetitive voicing of certain words or phonemes, widely known as mantras across spiritual disciplines. Science has shed some light on the ancient practice, proving the efficacy of vocalized tones for calming the brain, relaxing the body, and clearing the mind.
Every sound creates a neurological image that we use to identify the variety of noises that vibrate down our ear canals and against our eardrums. Our alert, problem-solving brain is more than qualified to suss out the differences between chirping birds, a busy street, or beautiful music. A slow, steady chant, however, can help silence our inner problem solver and bring beneficial calm to the mind.
In a study available on the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine website (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), it was found that chanting the classed “Om” was able to help deactivate the brain’s limbic system, which is largely responsible for emotion, memory, behavior, and adrenaline flow. The vibrating sensation felt while chanting the “Om” was found to stimulate the vagus nerve. Artificial means of vagus nerve stimulation have been used to treat depression and epilepsy, suggesting that chant could help curb depression and other mental disorders in a clinical setting.
Slow, rhythmic chanting also helps regulate breathing patterns, heart rate, and even blood pressure. These benefits are also supplemented when singing or chanting happens in a group setting. In another study found on the National Library of Medicine’s site, older adults in Finland who sang in a choir regularly enjoyed a benefit in psychological and social areas, including fewer symptoms of depression and overall satisfaction.
The meditation and chant groups that meet up at CovenTree also use musical instruments. Ann Kathleen uses a harmonium—a small hand organ—while attendees can use singing bowls. While the instruments act as a tonal guide for chanters, the calm collaboration that takes place promotes social awareness and feelings of connection.
While participants may feel united in a spiritual sense, they actually become connected in a truly physical sense when vocalizing together. Another study found that individuals within a vocal ensemble engaged in performance or practice actually achieved phase synchronization in respiration and hearth rate, falling collectively into harmonizing biological rhythms. These instances of synchronization were higher when the ensemble sang in unison, with everyone on the same tone, which is essentially the goal of a meditative group chant.
Whether you consider yourself a bio hacker or a boundless light being, there is no denying the efficacy of singing or chanting in a group. The long held tradition of group chant might be more than just a spiritual ritual of ages past, but an ancient technology to calm the body and clear the mind.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2015.
