The Somatic Singing Program is a 10-session program designed by Justine Lucas that uses a combination of yoga breathwork, vocal warmups, guided meditations, chakra listening, and spirit singing. These four things work together to harmonize your chakras, release fear blocks, unlock your personal power and unleash your natural singing voice.
We'll be working through the 7 main chakras in both Eastern and Western healing modalities, as well as the 8th chakra, known as the Soul Star chakra. The Soul Star chakra is the first out-of-body chakra in Eastern healing modalities regarding the spirit. It is through working in all 7 chakras that we find our voice in our body, and it is through working with the 8th chakra that we experience out-of-body singing and total vocal freedom. This new skill lends itself to full expression in singing with any genre, fluid improvisation and melody composition.
We know singing to be a form of self-expression, but it is also a powerful healing tool. By exploring our voice, we can directly tap into our nervous system, our circulatory system, and our emotional body, which is the deepest most difficult-to-reach access point for systemic healing. By aligning, balancing, or channeling the energy of each chakra through singing, you can unleash your true voice and experience a transformative journey of self-discovery.
In this article, we’ll explore how singing from your chakras can help improve your voice, aid you in your inner work, heal other elements of your life, and nurture your spirit.
Understanding the Chakras:
Chakras are often described as spinning wheels of energy, located along the central channel of the body. The word chakra literally means “wheel” or “circle” in Sanskrit. Chakras play a significant role in influencing our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. There are seven main chakras within the body and five chakras outside of the body, each with its unique qualities and characteristics.
🔴 Root Chakra - Strengthening Your Foundation:
The Root Chakra, situated at the base of the spine, represents stability, grounding, and physical presence. Singing from this chakra helps strengthen your vocal foundation, providing a solid support system for your voice. By connecting with the Root Chakra, you develop a sense of security and confidence, allowing you to project your voice with strength and conviction, and even stand up for your needs more easily in your personal life.
🟠 Sacral Chakra - Embracing Emotions:
The Sacral Chakra, located in the lower abdomen, governs creativity, passion, and emotional expression. Singing from this chakra encourages you to embrace and express your emotions through your voice. Singing from the Sacral Chakra enables you to fully express your emotions and create a lasting emotional impact with your songs. In working with this chakra, you are able to move through emotions faster, releasing their energy from your body and finding your strength again.
🟡 Solar Plexus Chakra - Finding Your Power:
The Solar Plexus Chakra, positioned in the upper abdomen, is associated with confidence, self-esteem, and personal power. When singing from this chakra, you radiate self-assurance on stage and in your own life, allowing your true essence to shine through. This is a great way to overcome stage fright and work through fear blocks. Singing from your Sacral Chakra harnesses your personal power and helps you direct your creative drive towards any desired goal, in music or in life.
🟢 Heart Chakra - Connecting and Healing:
The Heart Chakra, situated at the center of the chest, governs love, compassion, and empathy. Singing from this chakra fosters a genuine connection with your audience and your own inner landscape, as you learn to express musically from a place of love and emotional depth. By tapping into the Heart Chakra, your voice becomes a conduit for compassion, touching the hearts of those who listen and offering comfort and solace in the loving vibrational power of your song.
🔵 Throat Chakra - Authentic Communication:
The Throat Chakra, located in the throat area, represents communication, self-expression, and creativity. In working with this chakra, your voice becomes a clear and authentic expression of your Self. This chakra also helps you gain stronger vocal awareness, which can be used to develop your ear, refine your tone, and expand your melodic range. In working with this chakra, you will not only find it easier to express freely, but also speak your truths and set boundaries easier in life.
🟣Third Eye Chakra - Connecting with Intuition:
The Third Eye Chakra, positioned between the eyebrows, governs intuition, insight, and imagination. Singing from this chakra allows you to tap into your creative instincts and interpret music in a unique and soulful way. By connecting with your Third Eye Chakra, you gain a deeper understanding of the essence of the music, creating performances that are insightful and spiritually uplifting. In opening this chakra, you are more open to other points of view, and can learn much more in life.
👑 Crown Chakra - Transcending Your Voice:
The Crown Chakra, located at the top of the head, represents mental clarity, spiritual connection and transcendence. Singing from this chakra enables you to channel a higher energy while singing and combine that channel with your own intellectual prowess. By aligning with your Crown Chakra, you experience a sense of oneness with the music and the universe, creating an ethereal and transformative experience for yourself and your audience.
✨ Soul Star Chakra - Finding Your Purpose:
The Soul Star chakra, located about a foot above the head, is associated with pure spirit energy. Singing from this chakra can give you an out-of-body experience, allowing your own personal life problems to completely melt away. When you sing from your soul star chakra, you are, in essence, pure flowing energy. Connecting to this chakra can also create more opportunity, abundance, and manifestation in your life, as it provides clarity and helps you direct your energy towards your own true values.
Singing from your chakras is a powerful and transformative practice that enhances both your voice and spirit. By aligning and channeling the energy of each chakra, you create a harmonious connection between your physical and spiritual self, unlocking the true potential of your voice and embracing your authentic expression. As you embark on this journey of self-discovery through singing, you'll find your voice becoming more resonant, expressive, and soulful. This practice also leads to a deeper sense of inner peace, fulfillment, and spiritual growth.
A LIFE IN HEALING & MUSIC
Singer & Vocal Coach Justine Lucas
Justine Lucas (also known as "Madame Z") is a Bay Area singer, composer, and performer. She has toured the US and Canada several times and played great local venues including The Great American Music Hall, Slim's, Yoshi's, The Haight-Ashbury Music Festival, and Herbst Theatre. In addition to studying vocal training techniques in opera, jazz, and country music, Justine has also been exploring the connection between the chakras and singing voice for years. Many of her songs are written from what she called a “deep-listening” place and are a part of her greater life’s inner work.
Justine was first introduced to chakras and alternative healing methods at a young age by her grandmother, Judith Winston, who is a Polarity Therapist, a Level 2 Reiki Healer, and the founder of Health Touch NC LLC, an alternative healing center based in North Carolina.
“I remember my grandma gave me a binder of information about the chakras when I was about 14 years old. I had been playing guitar for 3 years, singing and acting for 8 years, and had just finished recording my first album. I didn’t know it then, but somatic healing and chakra connection would become a huge force in my music career, enhancing my ability to articulate my feelings and experiences as a songwriter, performer, and help others find their voice as a vocal coach.” ~Justine Lucas, 2023
In summer of 2022, Justine became the pioneer for meditation and chakra based musical education. She was the first to offer a comprehensive program that gives singers holistic healing tools to not only enhance their musical expression, but also use music as a part of their greater healing journey.