Vocal as a Path of Yoga

Namaste. My name is Arun Dubey. I am from India, from the city of Gwalior, which is famous for its ancient musical traditions. Since childhood, I have viewed knowledge as universal and interconnected. No matter what I studied, I have been searching for this deep meaning.

I feel a spiritual connection between Russia and India. It is not just similarities between the Russian and Sanskrit languages, it is more than that. I am deeply inspired by the profound nature of Russian people, their pursuit of deep knowledge, their endless love for learning, and their passion for reading. That is why I would like to share something profound here.

I came to Russia as an Indian classical vocal coach. For me music is not just an art form or a way to express emotions, it is a true spiritual journey, a path of yoga, the classical eight-limes yoga (A;;;;ga Yoga) described by Pata;jali in the Yoga S;tras. An Indian classical music student goes through all the same stages as a practitioner of classical yoga. The word yoga means “union”, the union of three aspects of a person: body, mind, and soul.

We begin by cultivating the habits and qualities required for learning and constant development throughout our lives (the Yama and Niyama stages of yoga). Physical form and posture (;sana) impact significantly your singing skills, as you must know how to breathe properly in practice.

For vocalists, this happens naturally due to daily practice of breath control (Pr;;;y;ma). Working with notes helps to develop control of the mind and withdrawal of the senses (Praty;h;ra). This way, a practitioner, having mastered the physical level, shifts to the mental level.


This is where true music and true yoga emerge, because when we cross the boundaries of the mind, only then we find our true Selves - the level of the soul, through intellect (Buddhi) and intuition. In music, we work extensively on mental concentration (Dh;ra;;), where all focus is towards one object. When this object and the sense of body, time, and space dissolve during the practice, a person is fully absorbed in a meditative state (Dhy;na).

Through meditation a person connects with the soul, through meditation a person experiences unconditional happiness, eternity, and an understanding of the essence of everything without reasoning, just because these are the qualities of our soul (Sat-Chit-Ananda: which means Absolute truth, Consciousness and Bliss). Through music, true meditation emerges easily and naturally.

 When I participate in music therapy conferences, I share knowledge about the Indian classical music system with scientists and clinicians. This highly developed tradition differs from the Western musical tradition, and, at the same time, the relatively young science of music therapy has its roots in it.

Indian classical music offers many therapeutic avenues: we can work with healing note frequencies, and the system of r;gas (musical frameworks) is grounded in Ayurvedic principles. When performed correctly, Indian r;gas can produce effects akin to Ayurvedic medicine, balancing the body’s doshas (Kapha, Pitta, V;ta).

Learning Indian vocal music is itself a form of music therapy. First, the student learns to balance and tune the inner self using the unique instrument nature has given us—our voice. Then, by understanding how r;gas work, concentrating on a particular r;ga, and entering a meditative state of consciousness, the student learns to heal others through music.

This is crucial: if a musician remains at the level of the discursive mind while performing—thinking of other things—the listener is unlikely to enter a deep meditative state while listening.

Originally, r;gas were performed in temples, and the union of r;ga and mantra has a truly profound effect. A mantra is a sonic code linked to a specific energy that represents divine qualities. Through mantra practice, we can move beyond the boundaries of the mind and gradually “put on” these energies and qualities.

Mantras consist of Sanskrit sounds—often described as 52 natural phonemes—said to stimulate 52 areas of the human brain. Even in longer mantras, these seed sounds (b;ja mantras) are active; therefore, precise pronunciation and correct tongue placement are essential for the intended effect. Mantra yoga truly begins when we involve the whole body in the process.

The union of music and yoga is a fascinating path—a journey into the depths of your inner world, to the very source of your power. I invite you to join this journey: find your voice, learn to tune yourself like a musical instrument, and live in harmony and happiness!


Dr. Arun Dubey
• Hereditary Temple Vocalist
• Master of Indian Classical Vocal (Gwalior Gharana)
• Teacher of Music and N;da Yoga (The Yoga of Sound)
• Music & Mantra Therapist
• Doctor of Philosophy
• Received the Gandharva Music & Mantra Therapist Award at the House of Commons (2014) and the Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award, Delhi (2016)

Translation Editor and Proofreading:
Karine Manukyan: Linguist, Interpreter-Translator, University Professor, Moscow Pedagogical State University.