Voice Yoga

2026 Voice Yoga Winter Solstice Retreat

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December 19- 22 2026

RE-BALANCE BODY VOICE & MIND 

Three and a half days of intense explorations of voice and movement

for body-mind balance

and creative, vibrant well-being.

 

 

 

Scroll down for the Mandarin version

中文見下方

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Voice Yoga Winter Solstice Retreat 2022. Photo: Jackal Mei

 

 

WHAT IS THIS RETREAT ABOUT?

In Voice Yoga’s dynamic group process, you go beyond your habits and expectations. Something larger than yourself emerges: a flow of hidden creative potential.


Grounded in physical exercise such as yoga and breathwork, we practise all kinds of sounds without meaning. We do not emphasize a beautiful singing voice either. We are looking for pure, direct expressions of physical resonance and vibration through mouth, limbs, hips, feet, skin and inner organs. Voice Yoga is grounded in the idea that many of us are often trapped in body-mind dualities and many other dualities. We look to go beyond these dualities; to dissolve the many lines we draw around everything and make them permeable. To accept that rigidity is often there and has its function, but to strive for more fluidity. In these moments, when things flow without a worry, we can experience great joy, like an innocent child.

 

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PROGRAM OUTLINE

We start Thursday December 19th at 9:30 AM and suggest you arrive the evening before.
We finish after lunch on Sunday 22th, around 2:30 PM.

Day 1

9:30-12:30 introduction to the program. Light exercising, breathing exercises, start moving, toning, improvising, restorative (half-)sleeping/dreaming.
12:30-14:30 lunch & siësta
14:30-16:30 Guided movement and sound practices, walking meditations, improvisations

16:30-17:00 Tea time
17:00-18:00 Guided movement and sound practices, walking meditations, improvisations

18:00-19:30 dinner & rest

Day 2

9:00-12:30 Slow meditative warm-up with breathing, exercising, toning, sounds and noises, lie-down exercises.

12:30-14:30 lunch & siësta
14:30-16:30 Guided movement and sound practices, walking meditations, improvisations

16:30-17:00 Tea time
17:00-18:00 Guided movement and sound practices, walking meditations, improvisations
18:00-19:00 dinner

Day 3

9:00-12:30 Slow meditative warm-up with breathing, exercising, toning, sounds and noises, restorative (half-)sleep/dream.

12:30-14:30 lunch & siësta
14:30-17:00 Guided movement and sound practices, walking meditations, improvisations

17:00-19:00 Early dinner and preparations for the evening
19:00-21:00/22:00 observe and celebrate today’s Winter Solstice. On our last evening we will jointly celebrate the change from darkness to light. Participants can contribute a memory or reflection, a song, a dance, individually, en groupe, as a duo, whatever comes up. Consider to bring an instrument you play, candles to lighten up the atmosphere, a special garment or hat to wear.

Day 4 (half day)

9:00-12:30 Getting back once again to the core practices and adding anything we missed on the way.  Review of what we have done and final voice session.

12:30-14:30 lunch and bye bye

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PLACE

We hold our sessions in Shufang’s Energy Healing, a gorgeous yoga studio with a big garden in Dulan, Taidong. The studio has all utilities we need. We can use the big lawn outside for music and workouts in fresh air (weather permitting), a giant rock to repose, and shady places to rest.

There are several options for your overnight stay nearby, on a walking distance or further away. We are about a 10 minutes walk from downtown Dulan.

Accommodation:  Moonrise Inn is closest to the studio nearby.

nearby hostels that are popular with our students include  Tranquilo Hostel and On My Way Dulan Hostel 

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FOR WHOM?

Despite the name, Voice Yoga is not a harsh or demanding yoga camp, quite the contrary: it lets you grow at your own pace and rest, sleep or observe when you want to. The workshop attracts young, curious artists; established musicians and performers facing creative obstacles or blockades; yoga and other body-mind workers not very familiar with sound; people familiar with sound but needing a fuller understanding and experience of it; people young and old looking for physical and spiritual renewal; practitioners of contemplative traditions like Buddhist meditation looking for wholesome, creative work in line with their existing practice; busy people needing a break from 9-5 work and seeking body-mind restoration in a relaxed atmosphere.


There are no specific requirements to join. Ages range from students in their 20s to retirees in their 70s. Yoga, music or other skills are not required. We strive for a group between 8 and 12 people.

 

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HOW TO PREPARE?

Bring a yoga mat to exercise and lie down. There are sitting cushions and also chairs if you cannot sit on the floor for long. Bring something to cover yourself when we repose or meditate. Bringing an instrument is a good idea (no need to play it well; a percussive instrument is always good).

 

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LANGUAGES

English + Chinese

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YOUR TEACHER

Mark van Tongeren is a Dutch sound explorer with a deep interest in the synergy of arts, sciences and contemplative traditions. Mark has 30 years of experience in theatre, music and dance productions and holds a PhD from Leiden University’s Academy of Creative and Performing Arts. He has practised yoga for over twenty-five years and all kinds of voice/music/performance practices for 35 years. He first learnt Vipassana from S.N. Goenka in 2002. His one-man enterprise Fusica was established in 1998 to explore intersections of sound and the arts (music) on the one hand, and acoustic and other academic research (fusikè, physics) on the other.

 

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MEET THE TEAM & CONTACT

       Jackal, Sunny, Hsi-Yin, Mark in Dulan

This workshop is brought to you by organiser Jackal Mei, translator Sunny Chen and hosted by Shufang Wang.

Administrative assistance by Hsi-Yin Chang.

 

 

For any questions about the contents in English, ask Mark.

mark@fusica.nl

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Paraphony

Phone 0910382749

 

For any questions about the contents, lodging, travel and food details, contact Jackal. For registration and payment issues ask Hsi-Yin.

Hsi Yin: hsiyin724@gmail.com

 

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PRICES

  32.000 NT$

Up to 7 October 2026

Super Early Bird / 25% off NT$ 24.000

Old Students / 30% off NT$ 22.400

9 October till 21 October 2026:

Early Bird / 15% off NT$ 27.200

After 21 October 2026

Full price NT$ 32.000

TOSA members  / 10% off  NT$ 28.800

Bring a friend / 5% off :  – NT$ 1.000

 

 

INCLUDED

– Tuition fee

– All lunches and diners (including Sunday lunch)

– Insurance

NOT INCLUDED

– Transport to Taidong

– Lodging

 

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REGISTRATION

– Please complete your online application form , and transfer application fee. IMPORTANT: please add a note ‘VYR’ in your payment.

– online application form:  https://forms.gle/SkwTYtrfc4RotfoC8 and transfer the fee within 3 days.

– After receiving your fee, we will send a confirmation email in 5 days, and invite you joining our line group for more event detail.

 

PAYMENT

Bank code: 808
Name of bank: E.SUN Commercial Bank
Beneficiary: Van Tongeren Mark Christiaan
Account number: 0314-979-191796

 

CANCELLATION

We try to keep prices reasonable. We will return 90% of the fee if you cancel 60+ days prior to the workshop.
We will return 80% of the fee if you cancel 45 – 59 days prior to the workshop.
We will return 50% of the fee if you cancel 30 – 44 days prior to the workshop.
We will return 30% of the fee if you cancel 15 – 29 days prior to the workshop.
We will return 10% of the fee if you cancel 1 – 14 days prior to the workshop.
If you find a substitute for your spot, we will only keep 10% of the administration fee.

We reserve the right to cancel the retreat in the case we do not reach the minimum number of participants, between 4 and 2 weeks before starting date; in this case all paid workshop fees will be promptly returned. We are not responsible for expenses for the BnB or transport.

 

DISCLAIMER

By signing up you automatically acknowledge your understanding that this retreat sometimes involves strenuous physical exercise, potentially disrupting body-work and emotionally charged sessions with a deep impact on your well-being. It is understood that you yourself best know of any risks (physical, emotional, psychological) and that there is no pressure or obligation to do each and every exercise. By joining this retreat you accept the consequences and state your intention to complete it till the end. You waive all rights to seek or receive compensation in case of injury, loss or damage.

We reserve the right to cancel the retreat in the case we do not reach the minimum number of participants, between 4 and 2 weeks before starting date; in this case all paid workshop fees will be promptly returned. We are not responsible for expenses for the BnB or transport.

 

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KNOW MORE?

Mark’s Voice Yoga has been running for more than 15 years and brings together decades of creative, vocal expression, yogic discipline and contemplative traditions.


Voice Yoga is neither yoga as you see it all around you, nor music as you hear it every day or learn it in classes and workshops. It is a personal, artistic synthesis of a wide range of musical, resonant, theatrical, contemplative and physical arts. What binds them together is Mark’s unique synthesis and his vision to create a strong sense of flow, no matter what the activity is. Serious workouts smoothly blend with unforgettable, unrepeatable musical creations; deep breath work morphs into contact improv; vocal exercises into theatre; and so on.
This retreat will expand your vision, whether you are a musician, dancer, yoga teacher, actor, or just interested in working on your personal growth through the connections between sound, body and mind.

 

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CURIOUS BUT IN DOUBT?

For a taste of this retreat, come to one of the weekly Voice Yoga classes in Taipei for a 2-hour session. The classes run every Tuesday in Taipei from October to December 2026. Find the Calendar here: https://www.fusica.nl/upcoming-events/ and more info about Voice Yoga here.

 

 

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TESTIMONIALS

“At the end of the course, one thought was very strong: I’m so grateful to myself for choosing this workshop — above all, for not running away halfway through. And then I realized I had never thanked myself before.”

– Shanti

“I’ve always had that strength, with so many things supporting me. Sometimes I need to leave the city and be in an environment like this to remember it. It was this work that reminded me it has always been inside me.”

– Gina

 

“This is an environment where you can receive love and give love.”

– Wan-Chen

“We were a tribe, gathered together like kin, singing and dancing.”

– Varie

 

 

 

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OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

https://www.fusica.nl/upcoming-events/

 

   聲音瑜伽冬至療癒假期

2026年12月19日至22日 

遇見晶瑩剔透的自己

一期一會 人聲與想像力的年終慶典

整整三天半的關於聲音與身體的探索/

連結你的身心平衡，以及充滿創造力、活力的存在。

 

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關於聲音瑜伽 療癒假期

在聲音瑜伽的動態團體過程中，你將超越自己的習慣和期望。看見比自我更廣大的自己開始甦醒: 那些隱藏著的創造力開始顯現，如河水般開始流動。

以瑜伽或呼吸法等身體練習為基礎，我們使用各種沒有意義和也不強調美麗歌聲的聲音。我們尋求透過嘴巴、四肢、臀部、雙腳、皮膚及內臟，來表達純粹、直接的身體共鳴與震動感受。聲音瑜伽的根基在於：我們許多人往往被困在身心二元對立，以及其他諸多二元對立之中。我們致力於超越這些二元對立；消融我們在萬物周圍劃下的種種界線，使其變得更通透。我們接受僵化往往存在且有其功能，但同時追求更大的流動性。在這些時刻，當萬物無憂無慮地流動時，我們便能像天真無邪的孩子般，體驗到無上的喜悅。

 

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工作坊時程表

我們將於12月19日星期六上午9:30開始，建議您前一晚抵達。 

我們將在星期二 22日午餐後結束，大約下午2:30左右。

 

第1天 

9:30-12:30：工作坊簡介。輕鬆的練習，呼吸練習，開始身體活動，吟唱，即興，修復性的（半）睡覺/夢境。

12:30-14:30：午餐和午休 

14:30-16:30：引導的身體活動和聲音練習，行走冥想，即興 

16:30-17:00：茶點時間 

17:00-18:00：引導的身體活動和聲音練習，行走冥想，即興 

18:00-19:30：晚餐和休息 

 

第2天 

9:00-12:30：緩慢冥想式的熱身，身體練習，吟唱與噪音。躺下的練習。

12:30-14:30：午餐和午休 

14:30-16:30：引導的身體活動和聲音練習，行走冥想，即興 

16:30-17:00：茶點時間 

17:00-18:00：引導的身體活動和聲音練習，行走冥想，即興 

18:00-19:00：晚餐和休息 

 

第3天 

9:00-12:30：緩慢冥想式的熱身，身體練習，吟唱與噪音。恢復性的（半）睡眠/夢境。

12:30-14:30：午餐和午休 

14:30-17:00：引導的身體活動和聲音練習，行走冥想，即興 

17:00-19:00：早一點晚餐，以及為晚上的活動做準備

19:00 – 21:00/22:00 ：這是我們的最後一個晚上，在冬至和平安夜之間，我們將一起慶祝從黑暗到光明的轉變。參與者可以貢獻一個記憶或反思，一首歌，一支舞蹈，個人，集體，作為一對，無論發生什麼。你可考慮攜帶一個你會演奏的樂器，蠟燭來燈亮氛圍，一件特別的衣物或帽子來穿著。

 

第4天

9:00-12:30：再次回歸核心練習，並補充過程中遺漏的內容。回顧我們已完成的內容，並進行最後的發聲練習

12:30-14:30：午餐&好好道別！

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地點 

光之屋，距離都蘭主街步行20分鐘上山，背靠都蘭山、眺望太平洋

遠離塵囂、綠意昂然，是擁有大片草原和原生種植物的私人僻靜山莊

工作坊空間專門設計作為聲響體驗、音樂製作、人聲演唱

寬廣舒適、共鳴充滿、能量和諧，一個淨化身心的獨特場域

用心迎接聲音瑜伽士們的滿血回歸，還有什麼比光之屋更好的呢？

 

https://www.facebook.com/shufang.energyhealing/

 

住宿推薦：

月昇都蘭距離光之屋最近。

深受我們學生歡迎的青年旅舍包括：晃輕鬆 或 途中都蘭

 

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參加對象

儘管「聲音瑜珈」名稱聽起來嚴苛，但這並非一個要求嚴苛的瑜珈營，恰恰相反：它讓你能以自己的步調成長，並隨心所欲的休息、睡覺或安靜觀察。

這個工作坊吸引了年輕、充滿好奇心的藝術家；已經在創作中遇到困境或障礙的專業音樂家和表演者；對聲音不太熟悉的瑜伽和其他身心工作者；熟悉聲音但需要更深入了解和體驗的人；年輕和年長的人，尋求身體和精神的更新；佛教及其他靜觀傳統（如佛教禪修）的修行者，正在尋找符合其現有需求——即需要更深入的呼吸與誦經修習——的、有益且富有創造性的練習；忙碌的人們需要從朝九晚五的工作中抽身休息，並在輕鬆的氛圍中恢復身心。

參加工作坊無需特定要求。年齡從20多歲的學生到約75歲退休者不等。不需要瑜伽、音樂或其他技能。我們希望參加的人數在8到12人之間。

 

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如何準備？ 

請攜帶瑜伽墊用於運動和躺下。如果您不能長時間坐在地板上，我們提供坐墊和椅子。當我們休息或冥想時，請攜帶東西蓋住自己。攜帶樂器是個好主意（不需要演奏得很好；打擊樂器總是不錯的選擇）

 

 

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語言 

英語 + 中文即席翻譯

[將會是一句句有節奏的翻譯，容易理解]

 

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帶領者

Mark van Tongeren 是一位荷蘭聲音探索家，對藝術、科學和冥想傳統的交互作用深感興趣。Mark 在戲劇、音樂和舞蹈製作方面擁有 30 年的經驗，並獲得萊頓大學創意表演藝術學院的博士學位。他練習瑜伽有超過25年的經驗，並在聲音、音樂、表演等各種實踐領域已有 35 年的經驗。 他於2002年首次跟隨S.N. Goenka學習內觀（Vipassana）。他的個人品牌 Fusica 成立於 1998 年，旨在探索聲音和藝術（音樂）以及科學和學術（fusikè，物理學）之間的交集。

認識更多馬克老師  www.fusica.nl。

 

我們的團隊

帶領者: Mark Van Tongeren
翻譯: Sunny Chen
活動規劃兼攝影: Jackal Mei

行政助理：張惜音
場地主人: 王曙芳

 

 

 

  • For any questions about the contents in English, ask Mark: 

mark@fusica.nl

Phone/LINE:  0910382749

FB: https://www.facebook.com/Paraphony

 

 

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責任歸屬


報名此工作坊代表你了解: 

1) 工作坊可能會有劇烈肢體運動，引起身體跟心理的衝擊。

2) 工作坊中的每項活動都不是強制性的，你必須衡量自身狀況(身體/心理/情緒)來決定要不要參與。

3) 你會對自己的身體及心理狀態負責，主辦方不承擔任何相關的傷害、損失及賠償責任。

 

 

 

報名費用

全額費用：32.000 NT$

 

到10月7日 （週三）

超早鳥優惠 / 75折：24.000 NT$

舊生優惠 / 7折：22.400 NT$

 

到10月21日 （週三）

早鳥優惠 / 85折：27.200 NT$

 

10月22日之後

原價 /32.000 NT$

TOSA會員 9折：28.800 NT$

雙人報名 / 95折：額外每人1000NT$折扣

 

 

費用包含:

＊學費

＊7餐的台東地方蛋奶舒食餐食[午餐＋晚餐]

＊保險

不包含:

＊ 交通

＊ 住宿

 

【匯款通知手續】

1.請先完成線上登記手續: https://forms.gle/SkwTYtrfc4RotfoC8，並於3天內匯款完畢。重要：付款時，請附註「VYR」

2.經確認款項後，將在五天內發出報名確認信件，並邀請您進入專屬Line群組，以便活動行前聯絡相關事宜

 

【匯款帳號】

銀行代碼：808

銀行名稱：玉山銀行

分行名稱：敦南分行

受款人：van Tongeren Mark Christiaan

帳號：0314-979-191796

 

【取消政策】

我們努力保持合理的價格。如果您在工作坊開始前60天以上取消，我們將退還90%的費用。 如果您在工作坊開始前45-59天取消，我們將退還80%的費用。 如果您在工作坊開始前30-44天取消，我們將退還50%的費用。 如果您在工作坊開始前15-29天取消，我們將退還30%的費用。 如果您在工作坊開始前1-14天取消,我們將退還10%的費用。 如果您為自己的位置找到替代者，我們只會保留10%的行政費用。

 

如果在開始日期之前4到2週內我們未能達到最低參加人數，我們保留取消療癒假期的權利；在這種情況下，所有已支付的工作坊費用將迅速退還。我們不對住宿或交通費用負責。

 

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想了解更多？

馬克的聲音瑜伽已實踐快超過15年，這個方法匯集了數十年的創造性、聲音表達、瑜伽修行和冥想傳統。

聲音瑜伽既不是你在四周看到的瑜伽，也不是你每天都聽到的音樂，或在其他工作坊與課程中學習到的。它是一種個人的、藝術性的綜合，融合了廣泛的音樂、共鳴、戲劇、冥想和身體藝術。它們的共同點是馬克的獨特綜合和他的願景，創造出一種強烈的流動感，無論活動是什麼。嚴肅的練習融入令人難以忘懷（無法重複！）的音樂創作中，深層呼吸法演變為接觸即興，聲音練習則變成劇場。

這個療癒假期將擴展你的視野，無論您是音樂家、舞者、瑜伽老師、演員，還是只是對通過聲音、身體和心靈之間的聯繫來工作於個人成長感興趣。

 

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好奇但有疑問嗎？

每週聲音瑜珈 

想要嘗試一下這個療癒之旅的滋味嗎？

歡迎來參加台北每週一次的聲音瑜珈課程， 每堂課為2小時。

馬克老師將於10月中回台後，帶領聲音瑜伽課程。

課程詳情以及近期活動請點此：https://www.fusica.nl/upcoming-events/。

 

 

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更多關於我們的活動

Autumn Program 2026

 

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【學員分享】

「在那個舒服的狀態，我不再很認真地想到底要給予什麼，那些東西就自己從我的裡面跑出來，很自然地流動。」——Gina

「先聽見自己身體裡面想說的話、想發出的聲音，再用自己的聲音把它發出來。這是我們都忘記了的一種表達方式。」——varie

 「不假掩飾、透明的感覺，不需要裝，每個人都很真實地在那個當下。比舒服還要厲害。」——Lova

「課程結束的時候，有一個念頭好強：我好感謝我自己。感謝我選擇這個工作坊，而且中間沒有逃掉。我這才發現，我從來沒有感謝過自己。」——Shanti

 

Learn Overtone Singing @ Home

(ethno)musicology, Artistic Research, News, Overtone Singing, Sound Journeys, Throat Singing, Workshops, 中文, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Mongols, the Tuvans and Tibetans practise it since times immemorial.

Composers Lamonte Young and Karlheinz Stockhausen introduced it to a select audience in the West.

Singers David Hykes, with his Harmonic Choir, and Michael Vetter developed a whole new way of doing it.

Your own voice resonates multiple sounds when you sing, and even when you speak.

[you are reading the transcription of the text spoken in the video]

In recent decades, more and more people discover this unusual way of vocalising, making it somewhat more …. usual.

I am talking about the technique called overtone singing. A singing practise that allows one to produce a low note and a melody of higher tones on top of it, using only the human voice.
Overtone singing is not mystical, secret or esoteric by itself, though it’s easy to understand the association.

Anyone can learn the basics of producing two tones at the same time, using only his or her voice. And this course teaches that in a few dozen clear and infectious videos. Each video zooms in to one specific way to develop a more resonant voice, making your overtones more and more audible.

Join me, Mark van Tongeren, author of the definitive sourcebook on the subject, on a path I am travelling for over 30 years.

I taught myself the basics of overtone singing around 1990. And then went on to study, record and interview many important people in the field around the world, starting with Rollin Rachele, author of the first-ever study guide for overtone singers. Soon after I set out to study with the famous throat singers from Tuva, Siberia, like Kaygal-ool Khovalyg of Huun-Huur-Tuu.

I wanted to understand how they look at their vocal art, music and sound and the connections to body, mind, spirit and religion.

This course is my condensation of decades of singing, teaching, listening and learning.
Full of tips and tricks and all the basic tools you need to jump-start your own journey to new dimensions of your resonant body, mind and voice.

Set apart one to two months for this fascinating journey, to change the way you listen and the way you make sound with your voice.

Enjoy access for the rest of your life.
Join my course Overtone Singing – Basics now.

Go to https://voice-resonance.com/online-course-basics

Autumn Program 2026

concerts, Overtone Singing, Sound Journeys, Workshops, 中文, , , , , , , , , , ,

Concerts, workshops and other upcoming events.

Details below

2026年 8月14-16日/August 14-16, 2026

Kaohsiung 高雄
8月14日音樂會
8月15日半天工作坊
8月16日 TOSA day 會員日歌唱圈第二回@ 高雄瀧月堂
Weekly Voice Yoga classes in Taipei – every Tuesday.
每週二聲音瑜伽課在台北
Dates for the coming months – always check the day before if it happens!

October : 10/20, 10/27

For November: 11/3, 11/10, 11/17

For December: 12/1, 12/8, 12/14, 12/29

January 2027:  1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26

February 2027: 2/2

Saturday 2026年 9月5日/September 5, 2026
Taidong workshop with Mark.
https://taitungsoundart.tw/en/
Evening: concert
台東，工作坊
細節待定
Sunday: workshop + concert, Chishan

Friday October 9

14:30 CEST

Online Premiere of full performance Incognito Ergo Sum by the Superstringtrio.

Live with Mark van Tongeren and Rollin Rachele

More info here.
Link to register here.

Autumn time

Launch of new series of online classes:

Vocal Resonance on

www.voice-resonance.com

 

Sunday December 13, 2026

10 AM – 5 PM.

Taipei, place tbc

Member Day, Taiwan Overtone Singing Association.

More about the association here.

More about some of our activities here.

R E S O N A N C E 2026-27 is launched!

Go to R E S O N A N C E   XI (11) – 2026-2027

December 19-22, 2026.

Voice Yoga Winter Solstice Retreat 2026

All information is here.

Not found what you are looking for?

Tell us so we can help you.

How to hear your own overtones?

How to hear your own overtones?

About sound, Artistic Research, Audio/Video, Overtone Singing, Workshops, , , , , , , , ,

In exactly two weeks I will host a free introduction event to my online course Overtone Singing – Basics. This course is now running non-stop: students can join anytime and get life-long access. This event will be on June 13 at 2 PM Central European Time, and hosted by Hsi-Yin. Register here if you want to be part of it. Please share it with anyone who would be interested.

Here is a video in which I explain some of the things that are essential for those who start on the path of learning to sing overtones. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First Voice Yoga Retreat (full report)

People, Sound Journeys, Weekly Voice Yoga Class, Workshops, 中文, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

At the end of 2019, in fact around the Winter Solstice on December 21, we did the first Voice Yoga Retreat here in Taiwan. A wonderful recollection of the best stuff I have done during my 7 seven years of weekly Voice Yoga classes. It was beyond expectation: fantastic weather, great location, wonderful students, and a great three-person-strong core team (Sunny Chen, Jackal Mei, me) to take care of everything.

 

 

Most of all, we all experienced a nice flow between yogic and other exercises, sound and body improvisations, eating cakes and drinking Jackal’s homebrewn coffee, meditating, listening, chanting, learning about my methods and ‘vision.’ People came from all over the place and all walks of life, and most were new to Voice Yoga.

One student, Guang Guang, wrote an excellent report in Chinese about everything we did, in Chinese. I reproduce it here, with an autotranslation at the bottom of this page. Jackal Mei made some great photos, and there’s a couple of myself too. Many thanks to Guang Guang and Jackal for the words and images, and to Sunny !

We’ll do another Voice Yoga Retreat later this year on the beautiful, relaxed East Coast of Taiwan, where the pace is slow, weather seems to be nearly always good, birds sing loudly and the ocean is never far away. Get on the maillinglist for updates.

 

 

/聲音瑜伽

因為身旁總是很多優秀的朋友，然後串成一條路徑，一開始是葉子跟我分享聲音，讓我在心裡種下了種子…
於是最近去體驗了一場聲音瑜伽，
授課的老師是教授泛音的馬克
我很喜歡他無私有愛的分享
且關照及感受著每一個我們
當第一堂課說
在這所發出的聲音都是當下要發生的
沒有好壞對錯，每個音都是對的…
讓沒有音感的我感到自在安心
第一個晚上
馬克很自然的就將大家的聲音一起融合在空間裡，讓彼此陌生的夥伴，很快的流動起來，只是短短的兩小時，我全身的細胞都在跳舞

/呼吸練習
在這個練習裡有很多要去感覺的東西，
我也在這個練習去練習感覺
呼吸的快慢，流向哪裡，擴張或收縮…
從沒思考這麼自然發生的事，
但最近這兩次的課程都在提醒著這件事，也就是當下

 

/母音三角形
很喜歡玩母音三角形
但在這裡面會發現自己的氣很短，
也會想配合其他人
在完美與協調之間理出自己的節奏
呼~吸~
烏~啊~一

/聲音的海洋
隨著模仿到自然而然的發聲，
讓自己的聲音丟進海洋裡
腦海會一直出現森林，池塘，水窪，沼澤，穹蒼，萬物，大地之聲
喜歡靜容分享的，她感覺身體自己發亮的地方想出聲，於是就讓那個聲音自己出來…
好有覺察的身體，我還在練習的路上

 

/深度聆聽
在戶外一起發聲，
聆聽空間裡擁有的音，跟隨
聆聽沒有的音，創造
在一來一往之間
做成了一首當代音樂
很喜歡這樣融合的旋律

/驚喜
圍一個圈，跟著馬克發出幾個音，
高高低低，閉上眼睛
幾個音沒有規則的發聲練習
然後由慢漸快，
馬克將桑尼推進圈內
在人圈中閉上眼享受旋律
馬克這時唱的越來越快
越來越具體
開始發現事有蹊蹺
打開眼睛望向馬克
他對我笑著示意
宛珍也早領略到了
沒錯，真的是我想的那樣
學員一個接一個笑開
桑尼終於意識到這一趴的別出心裁
流著淚接受大家獻唱
這一刻好感動
好美~好美~

 

/冬至熄燈
圍著蠟燭一起度過寧靜的夜，閉上眼四週充滿星星的感覺，那些包圍我們的自然之聲，好像墜落在草叢中發亮的星體，發亮的全是萬物的聲音

/薩滿儀式
同學藍師那一夜為大家進行薩滿旅程
第一次體驗儀式，薩滿鼓震出我全身電流，在守護靈的守護之下去感覺這個過程，叢林，速度，黑暗的旋轉，之後竄出來的蛇，最後讓自己慢慢抽離，見到一頭鹿而停止
宛珍被薩滿鼓招喚，以奔跑來流動
阿駱也隨之起舞，整個場域或坐或動
各有各的世界，奇幻世界~

 

/母音九宮格
深度覺察自己的聲音所在
共振的身體裡，聲音去到了哪裡？
馬克說
身體跟聲音會有共振的地方
但
意念也可以讓聲音去你想要他要去的地方
最後每個人的聲音震動，
都有不同的發現
這讓我覺得聲音太好玩了
每個人的身體感受都如此獨特

/呼吸節奏
呼吸長短的差異，
也能是一首悠揚的曲子
這個章節我也很享受
每個樂器的總和
就是一篇生命的樂章

/泛音獨唱
某個下午，馬克為大家唱歌
坐著，躺著自由
本來是陰天的午後
在一段泛音的旋律不斷繚繞時
我聽見的都是天使的聲音
此時
窗外金色陽光透進粉色的窗簾裡
天使光溫柔的灑在馬克身上發亮
那一個畫面我來不及拍照
但映在我腦海
我全身細胞都在舞蹈

/八部合音
每個人的聲音都好獨特好聽
曙芳的聲音裡有老靈魂的歌唱
想起她的守護靈老奶奶還有愛
輪到發踢卡時
是花神在唱歌吧！！！
清晰亮麗好感動
輪到我的時候，腦袋原本想運作
後來告訴自己算了
讓聲音是什麼就是什麼
雖然知道我聲音都沒到要去的地方
我的聲音之神都在幫我找音階
去了好幾個半音
後來才去到該去的地方
我也是可以說
那是我精準的控制我的半音啦（撥瀏海~

 

經過三天的玩耍
很鬆很慢也很奇妙的身體各種痠
沒意料只是出聲音而已
身體就有各種拉扯
但記得馨勻說的很好
（可我忘記她具體說什麼了XD）
但她說完我就一陣恍然
拉拉也分享了馬克在機械噪音裡
找出它規律的節奏
讓噪音不只是噪音

 

三天收穫很多，
也許我是還在餘震之中再慢慢感受
唯一最明白自己的部份
大概就是我還沒那麼放鬆自己吧
畢竟聲音對我來說太陌生
但經過這些過程
更能丟掉小時候對聲音的既定印象
聲音的顏色如此寬廣無限
告訴自己，就是玩，去玩吧！

聲音瑜伽，是瑜伽也是即興
祂不止是聲音，
是能讓心、靈與身體的合一

謝謝Yu Chih Lin帶我池上玩
謝謝Xiaoying Ye聲音的連結
謝謝Jackal Mei意志的邀約XD
謝謝Mark Van Tongeren
帶領著經驗自己的不可思議
讓我在這場聲音之旅中如此盡興…

#課後筆記
#聲音瑜伽
#樂吉昇天
#已被圈粉
#很好玩還要再玩

 

Autotranslation of the Chinese text.

 

/ sound yoga

Because there are always many good friends around me, then put into a path. at the beginning, the leaves share the voice with me, and let me plant seeds in my heart…
So recently, I went to experience a sound yoga,
The teacher who taught is the mark of the pan-Yin.
I love his selfless and loving sharing
And take care and feel every one of us
When the first class said
The voices made here are all about the moment.
There is no bad right or wrong, every voice is right…
Let me feel free to feel at ease
First night
Mark is very natural to mix everyone’s voices together in space, let each other’s strange partner, quickly flowing, just two hours, my whole body is dancing.

/ breathing practice
A lot of things to feel in this practice,
I am also practicing to practice the feeling
Where to breathe, where to go, expand or shrink…
Never thought about what happened so naturally,
But these two recent courses are reminding this thing, that is the moment.

/ vowel triangle
Love to play with the vowel triangle
But I will find myself very short in this,
Will also want to work with other people
Make your own rhythm between perfection and coordination
Oh ~ suck ~
Oh ~ Ah ~ one

/ the ocean of sound
With the imitation of a natural voice,
Let your voice be thrown into the ocean
The Forest, the pond, the water, the swamp, the swamp, the sky, everything, the sound of the earth.
Who likes to share quietly, she feels like she’s shiny, so let the voice come out on her own…
So conscious body, I’m still on my way to practice

/ deep listening
Voice together in the outdoors,
Listen to the sound of the space and follow
Listen to the sound of not, create
In the way.
Made a contemporary music
I love this fusion melody.

/ surprise
Surround a circle and make a few voices with Mark,
Close your eyes and close your eyes
A few sounds without rules
Then slowly,
Mark puts the nissan into the circle
Close your eyes in the circle and enjoy the melody
Mark is singing faster and faster
Getting more and more specific
Starting to find something wrong
Open your eyes and look at mark
He smiled at me
She has already learned it early.
Yes, it’s really what I thought
The students laugh at one after one.
Mulberry finally realized the chú le of this party
I am in tears to accept everyone’s singing
This moment is so touching
So beautiful ~ so beautiful ~

/ Winter Solstice Lights out
Surround the candles with a peaceful night, close your eyes with the feeling of stars, the sound of nature that surround us, like the stars that have fallen in the grass, the sound of everything.

/ sana ceremony
Classmate Blues on the night for you all the night
First experience ceremony, the sana drum burst out my whole body current, under the protection of the guardian spirit, I felt the process, the jungle, the speed, the dark spin, then the snake that came out, finally let myself slowly pull away, see one Deer stop
Lithuania was called by the drum of the drum to run
It also dance, the whole field, sitting or moving.
Every world, fantasy world ~

/ vowel
I am deeply aware of my voice.
Where did the sound go in the resonance body?
Mark said
Where the body and the sound will be resonance
But but
Ideas can also let the voice go where you want him to go
At the end everyone’s voice shakes,
All have different discoveries
This makes me think the voice is so funny
Everyone’s body feels so unique

/ breathing rhythm
The difference in the length of breathing,
Can also be a beautiful song
I’m enjoying this chapter too
The sum of each instrument
It’s a movement of life.

/ Pan-voice solo
One afternoon mark singing for everyone
Sitting and lying free
It was a cloudy afternoon.
While a pan-Tone Melody keeps on the these
All I hear is the voice of an angel
Right now
The Golden sunshine outside the window goes through the pink curtains
Angel Light gentle on mark
I didn’t have time to take pictures of that one
But in my mind
My whole body is dancing

/ eight sound
Everyone’s voice is so unique and nice
There is the singing of the old soul in the voice of the old soul
Thinking of her guardian spirit grandma and love
It’s my turn to kick the card.
Is the flower God singing!!!
Clear and beautiful, so touching
When it was my turn, my head wanted to work
Later I told myself to forget it
What makes the voice is what is
Even though I know my voice is not even where I’m going
My Voice God is helping me find the level
Went for a couple of semitone
I just went to the place where I should go.
I can say too
That’s my precision in control of my semitone (allocated ~

After three days of playing
Very Loose, slow and amazing body all kinds of sour
I didn’t expect it. It was just a voice.
The body has all kinds of pull
But remember that Xin Xin said very well
(but I forgot what she said XD)
But after she said, I just had a moment.
Lala also shared mark in mechanical noise
Find out the rhythm of its regular rhythm
Make noise not just noise

Harvest a lot in three days,
Maybe I’m still in the aftershocks and feel slowly
The only part that knows what I know most
Probably I’m not that relaxing myself yet
The voice is too strange to me after all
But after these process
It’s better to lose the established impression of the voice in my childhood
The Color of the voice is so wide and infinite
Tell yourself, it’s just to play, go play!

Sound Yoga is yoga and impromptu
He is more than a voice,
Is the one that makes the heart, spirit and body

Thank you Yu Chih Lin for taking me on the pool
Thank you Xiaoying Ye for the link
Thank you Jackal Mei for the invitation XD
Thanks Mark Van Tongeren
Leading the experience of my experience
Had me so much fun on this sound tour…

 

 

2019 in pix, videos and some stories

(ethno)musicology, About sound, News, People, Projects, Sound Journeys, Workshops, Writings, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

NEW WORKSHOP: RHYTHMS & CYCLES

 

Video impresssion: Colours Rhythms & Cycles

 

NEW CLASS: SHRUTI NIGHTS

I began a new class: Shruti Nights, and ran No. I-VIII throughout the year, each with a different theme.

Listen to a nice duet I did with Sunny, translator, co-producer of many of my events, and talented singing student.

 

 

 

RADIOGARDEN BROADCAST

MUSHIMARU’s PHYSICAL POETS

I joined a Butoh workshop and performance by the huge family of Butoh dancer Mushimaru Fujieda and his regular students and collaborators, twenty in total. They came flying in to Taiwan from Japan, Hong Kong and other places, paying from their own pockets. Very dedicated and truly inspiring!

With Hiroyuki Matsuhisa (moham-veena), Shree Katsura (voice and suwarmandar), Mikio Kawasaki (photographer); Sogyu Fukumura, a very famous monk who quit Buddhism decades ago and became activist; Himeko Narumi, whom I visited in her bar in Kyoto a few weeks later; Vinci Mok from Hong Kong, not to mention lots of interesting old and new friends from Taiwan. Our performance UNDER THE TREE OF LIFE  is on Youtube, beginning here with the entry of Mushimaru himself.

Recently many Taiwanese repaid the visit to Japan to collaborate with the same people, and one commented that the same performance turned into a rather hard-edged, noisy, radical performance, completely different from the soft version here in Taiwan. More true to the Butoh spirit, for sure, but I was still impressed with Mushimaru and all the kids who joined the event in Taiwan as very narural, innocent performers.

SANGPUY live IN TAIPEI

LUGANG and its AUTOMATED SONIC SURPRISES

Trip to Lugang, where we were deeply impressed by the Longshan Temple. It is not as famous as some other old temples in Lugang, which are more centra. But by far our favorite. Major reasons: little modernization, no entertainment, quite silent (no tourgroups with amplified guides). However, in both temples I encountered automated percussion devices. There was a procession leading to the very noisy and central Mazu Temple or Tian Hou Temple. I had to get away at some point because of the incredibly loud firecrackers, which I found unbearable, and our dog really got shocked from it.

There was no smoke anywhere, and it turned out the noise was produced by a firecracker machine, which you see at the end of this video.

A little later, in Lungshan Temple, I noticed a drum was playing all the time but I saw no one beating it. It turned out to be another automatic device producing percussive sounds, just like the firecracking machine.

 

PULI, CENTRAL TAIWAN: WORKSHOP

In April I was off to Puli, central Taiwan, for a workshop and another one with Canjune, exploring herbs and plants in the forests. From the roof of a cinnamon producer, a panorama of Puli’s iconic Chung Tai Chan (= Zen) Temple.

 

 

 

After the workshop, re-connect with a nun I got to know in 2004, with a fantastic voice: Guanzu Shi. For all these years she is studying the performance of a specific song in the Huayen Buddhist tradition, for which the way to pronounce many syllables is not exactly known.

SAINKHO and KAZHUHISA ICHIHASHI in JAPAN

First trip to Japan. Too many impression so share, but here’s a few. Basically a family tour but, lucky me, I ran into Sainkho one or two days before she launched her new CD with Kazuhisa Uchihashi in Beijing. Great show together!

 

 

SANGPUY TURNING the NATIONAL THEATRE UPSIDE DOWN

https://tifa.npac-ntch.org/2019/en/music/sangpuy-in-concert/

What a lovely guy, and what a great show he pulled off. The most astounding thing was that after the ‘normal’ stage show, which already featured lots of people from his village Jrben, some girls began singing and dancing in the lobby. The men joined and sure enough hundreds of people began to join the line after a while. The whole thing lasted at least another 45 minutes, with the last part (not in this video) some very high-energy indigenous male dancers/singers promoting their upcoming hot dance show.

 

TAIWAN EASTCOAST TOUR

To Mud Studio in Yilan, Zhishan for workshop in Poco a Poco, my first houseconcert in Taiwan, near Hualien, and another concert in Hualien. See my special blogpost.

WATERPERFORMANCE WITH YEH MING-HWA

Or: how not to breath.

DUTCH CANJUNE STORE IN AMSTERDAM

VISIT to BERNARD KLEIKAMP of PAN RECORDS

Bernard produced a dozen or so throat singing CDS and many other interesting titles from around the world. All from this modest office.

EXCHANGE OF NEW TIBTEAN MUSIC PUBLICATIONS

I bring Pan Records’ new CD Phursang Kelak Lama to Ricardo Canzio on behalf of Bernard Kleikamp. Ricardo gave me his precious new book Sakya Pandita’s Treatise on Music.

WITH TRAN QUANG and BACH YEN in PARIS

See the blogpost.

IN ROME FOR THE CAVE OPERA

WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL TAIPEI

AROMAJOINT PERFUMANCE

 

 

 

 

VOICE YOGA WINTER SOLSTICE RETREAT

 

THANKS TO THE TEAM!

 

Stem/Voice Workshop in Amsterdam

Overtone Singing, Workshops, , , , , ,

(for English see below)

Het is al weer jaren geleden dat Mark van Tongeren in Nederland een workshop heeft gegeven. In juli is er weer een kans om 1 of 2 dagen aan je stem te werken en zelf te ervaren hoe je boventonen in je stem hoorbaar kunt maken.

 

Workshop Stemyoga & boventonen
Zaterdag 8 juli (beginners), zondag 9 juli (gevorderden)
10:00 – 20:00 (met 2 pauzes)
Dokzaal, Plantage Doklaan 10-12, Amsterdam (nabij Artis)

 

In deze workshop maak je kennis met de methode die Mark ontwikkeld heeft om op een natuurlijk manier de mogelijkheden van je stem te verkennen.

Je begint met de adem, meditatie en opwarmoefeningen, waardoor je ‘in je lichaam’ komt. Vandaaruit laat je de klank van je stem in allerlei vormen tevoorschijn komen. We richten ons vervolgens vooral op resonantie/boventonen en op improviseren, en leren hoe die twee beide al gegeven zijn in hoe we dagelijks geluid maken.

De workshop wordt deels gehouden in de geweldige akoestiek van de Dokzaal, een lust voor oog en oor.

Ben je beginner, kom dan dag 1 en ga door met dag 2 als je dat wilt. Als je al ruime ervaring hebt met de stem en boventonen kan je eventueel alleen de tweede dag komen.

We houden twee korte en twee langere pauzes. In de Dokzaal, waar we overdag ook al eens gaan zingen, sluiten we na het avondeten af met een slotsessie. Geheel opgeladen weer naar huis!

Kosten: 1 dag €75, 2 dagen €130. Je krijgt € 5 euro per-dag korting (€70 1 dag, €120 twee dagen) als je je deze week aanmeldt (uiterlijk vrijdag).

Schrijf naar info@fusica.nl om je aan te melden of voor vragen.

Je kan het bedrag overmaken naar NL89INGB0006301187, t.n.v. M.C. van Tongeren, in Bennebroek.
In principe is de workshop in het Nederlands, mochten er veel niet-nederlandstalige aanmeldingen zijn en wordt het engels, dan hoor je dat.

 

Workshop Voice Yoga & Overtones
Saturday July 8 juli (beginners), Sunday 9 juli (advanced)
10:00 – 20:00 (met 2 pauzes)
Dokzaal, Plantage Doklaan 10-12, Amsterdam (nabij Artis)

In this workshop you get to know Mark van Tongeren’s method to explore the possibilities of your voice in a natural way. You start with breathing, meditation and warming-up exercises, bringing you ‘into your body’.From there you allow the sounds of your voice to appear in many different forms. We continue to focus on resonance/overtones and om improvising and learn how these two are already there in the way in which we make sound in our daily life. The workshop is partly conducted in the amazing acoustics of the Dokzaal. Are you a beginner, join for day 1 and go on to day 2 if you like. If you have ample experience with the voice and overtone singing you could come only on day 2, though following the 2 days is better.
Price: one day €75, 2 days €130. There is a 5 euro per-day euro discount (€65 one day, €120 two days) for early-bird registrars (no later than Friday June 23).

In principle the workshop is in Dutch, but let me know if Dutch is a problem, I’ll let you know if it can be in English. Write an email to info@fusica.nl to register or ask questions.

You can make your payment to NL89INGB0006301187, M.C. van Tongeren, in Bennebroek.

5/24: Free R E S O N A N C E Introduction Class

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Sunday May 24 at Canjune’s Training Center in the Daan area, Taipei, from 10-12: an introduction to next year’s RESONANCE course. With information about the course, some exercises and a small concert by Mark to round it up.

Canjune Training Centre, 4th Floor, number 3 , Lane 151, Fuxing South Road, Section 2, (this is about 20 meters from the corner of FuXing South Road, go up the stairs to the hairdresser and take the elevator to 4F; if you’re early the streetdoor may be closed). Nearest MRT: Technology Building (10 min. walk). Phone 09 – 10 38 27 49.

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About Voice Yoga

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VoiceYoga3What is Voice Yoga?

Voice Yoga consists of a series of exercises that gives pride of place to the voice as a central, creative force in our lifes. Our existence depends in important ways on our speaking, listening, sounding and singing abilities. The class promotes awareness of the many roles of the voice in our daily lives. It expands our creative vocabulary, without necessarily talking about music, the singing voice or any musical style. The point is not so much to learn any specific new technique: we play with the voice in a lot of different ways and listen with fresh ears to the hidden potential of our voices.

In Voice Yoga, sound, silence and resonance become a mirror for the self. The sounds produced by ourselves,  allows us to ‘see’ ourselves more clearly, to hear what’s living deep inside us. In ever-growing cycles of creating and perceiving we learn about music and sound, about ourselves and about the environment.

Structure of the classes

We usually start with silence, breath and body movements to turn away from our busy mind into the body and to the sensations we actually experience. We let the voice come out of a natural breath flow. We listen to and follow its natural resonances. We do not try to sing in an artful way, but to experience how body-mind-voice are intimately connected, and how voice and resonance can serve as a bridge to overcome the dualistic notion of body <> mind. From then on, all kinds of styles and genres of vocalising and musicking may happen, some structured, some wild, some giving insight in your voice, some therapeutic. Exercises are based on yoga, musical and theatrical techniques, vipassana meditation and our innate love to play like children.

The idea behind Voice Yoga is comparable to yoga and tai-chi: the effect of the exercises is gradual. We believe that only with repeated classes you can really learn to connect the energies of voice & sound with the whole of your body and mind. You slowly become more and more familiar with your voice and its powers; you will begin to hear and feel things you did not hear and feel before. That’s why we suggest you to sign up for four classes a time after your trial class.

The teacher

Voice Yoga is designed and taught by Mark van Tongeren, who brings with him 25 years of experience in working with sound, music and theatre and many different cultures.

9a973-dscf6809253dmark2bphotoIn my Voice Yoga Review of 2014 you can read about some recent experiences:
https://fusica.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/voice-yoga-2014-re-view/

For whom
For those seeking to enrich their voices, let off steam and unlock their hidden creative potential. For singers and those who are afraid to sing. For actors, musicians and other artists and professionals who work with sound. Perhaps more than anyone else, people who want to experience and learn about the therapeutical effects of sound seem to benefit from Voice Yoga. The human voice is a tool that assists human beings to produce a mirror-like reflection of the world around them in their minds. By gaining a deeper understanding and experience of the mechanisms of making sounds, words and music, and of listening, we gradually deepen the connections within ourselves (our body-minds) and with others and the world around us.

Dates and time
please look here for current dates and times (voice yoga dates 2015).

Prices
Every class lasts two hours. The price is 400 NT$ for a single class, and 1500 NT$ for four classes (375 NT$ per class). You do not have to attend four classes in a row; we’ll just tick off your presence four times and then you can sign up again for four times. Students and others with limited financial resources can get a reduced price: just send a message.

How to register
Feel free to join the Voice Yoga class any time. It is best to send a message every time you want to come, then we prepare a place for you. Write to mark at fusica dot nl or send a text-message to 09 10 48 27 49.

Place
Canjune Training Centre, 4th Floor, number 3 , Lane 151, Fuxing South Road, Section 2, (this is about 20 meters from the corner of FuXing South Road, go up the stairs to the hairdresser and take the elevator to 4F; if you’re early the streetdoor may be closed). Nearest MRT: Technology Building (10 min. walk). Telephone training centre: 02 – 27 00 72 91.

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Voice Yoga 2014 Re-view

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2014 was a great year for the Voice Yoga class. Some old students came back, and many new enthusiastic students joined for a first time, some of them also coming back.

The outline of the formula was the same: start with silence, breath and ‘body-work’ (which is always also mind-work). Then a first  exploration of our unused potential to make sound, with simple, and sometimes primitive, raw sounds and movements. Then a structured part with more warming-up of ‘body-speech-mind’ (to use the Buddhist three-fold scheme of the human being), the ‘vowel triad‘ and the ‘ocean exercise’. Depending on the particular dynamic of the day (and the duration of the preceding parts), I add two or three of a large pool of rotating exercises that let us listen, feel and (re)sound in different ways. In the end, I often sing with the sruti-box, and students lie down on the mats in the Canjune Training Center.

Some of the new students of this year got really hooked on our weekly session, saying they missed it a lot when I was travelling, for example. Every student’s input changes the way things turn out, and the recent sessions have become true adventures of body, mind and sound. One time, right after a particularly powerful session of vocal noises, chants, screams, rhythms, I asked each student what (s)he had just experienced. I had decided not to interrupt the sound-making, and it had lasted longer than ever, about 45 minutes without a break. It was amazing to hear their deeply personal, moving accounts. Every student had gone  through powerful experiences. One re-lived her pain from the past by letting the sounds follow the beating of her foot, which felt like a great relief. Another mainly listened, which worried me a little; but she was extremely grateful to what she heard and was crying at some point. A therapist told us she used her lessons from Voice Yoga to help others relief their pain, by adding sounds to the massage treatment and inviting her client to make sounds too. Another could hardly find the words to describe her feelings, but said she felt completely enveloped by the other voices and also merged them, while singing or just listening. One student’s first response, after we had just stopped our sound-making, was: ‘Ahh, this is better than sex!’

I usually try to limit my own talking and do not ask students to talk about their experience either. So I was amazed to learn about their feelings and impressions, and felt encouraged to develop this path further. I thank all those who have attended the Voice Yoga class in the last two years, whether it is one or ten or twenty times, for their courage, their input, their creativity. This class is so interesting because of you all! And I thank Canjune for the wonderful and inspiring space, which was renovated early 2014.

Want to join? The dates for 2015 you can find here.