Toning for Health by Michêle Averard

Natural toning starts at an early age. Even as you are developing inside your mother's womb, you are receiving the vibrations of her voice. As a baby you start gurgling and chuckling when you feel content, and learn quicvkly that yelling your head off receives immediate attention, and helps toward releasing frustration and discomfort. Little children are constantly experimenting with their new-found sounds. I remember humming as a comforting sound that would make me feel secure, and I could hum for hours until my lips tickled, or I was told to be quiet.
We are frequently annoyed by other people's sounds, and we are programmed with a long list of "socially unacceptable" sounds. Children are not supported to express themselves vocally, and may turn into sonically repressed adults, fearful that their sounds are offensive. Toning can be a great relief for people who have never had the opportunity to express themselves emotionally through sound. It can also help people to access and then understand their emotions.

Toning can bring instant relief from mental stress by bringing the brainwave frequencies into a state of 'alpha'. Within a couple of minutes one can feel totally calm and relaxed.

Toning with intention can be used as a vehicle to direct vibration toward the chakras and aura which are the energy centres and the electromagnetic fields which interpenetrate and surround the body.

Similarly, toning can be directed at any part of the physical body, which includes organs, tissues, blood, bones and nervous system, in order to tune up and restore physical harmony through sympathetic resonance.

Toning can be done anywhere, whenever there is a need: working in the garden, sitting in the office, driving a car, or even in the midst of a crowd. You don't have to tone loudly. The best position for toning is standing comfortably, with your feet slightly apart. It is important to feel connected to the earth beneath your feet, so you don't feel light-headed or experience a floating sensation. This can happen when taking long, extended breaths. So stay focused.
Take a few deep breaths and allow a sound to come from within. Any sound, don't judge it, let it be present on your breath. Vowel sounds are the easiest. You could choose A, E, U ,O or I. Extend it until it becomes a continuous sound on each breath. Then when you feel more comfortable with it, start to direct it to wherever it needs to go. The most important thing is to have fun. Trust in your sound, even if it's a small or sad sound - it's coming from you, for you, so enjoy your toning.