Finding An Authentic Voice: Suzanne Sterling
Suzanne Sterling
Singing is one of the most intimate outer expressions of our essence. Whether it’s chanting the sacred names of the divine, singing along with the radio or joining our voices in happy birthday, we can feel that singing is more than just making a musical sound; it’s the manifestation of our inner world. Suzanne Sterling’s work as a singer, teacher and activist can best be looked at through the metaphoric lens of what it means to know and express your unique voice.
Suzanne’s entire life has been a path of pursuing freedom through the expression of her voice, “not just musically, but as a unique individual,” Suzanne says. On her own since she was fifteen, her process began by “removing the voices of conditioning that live inside me. All those negative mantras we tell ourselves. The ways we are supposed to be. The ways that we are supposed to fit into boxes that are conforming. Finding my voice has been about removing the voices of conditioning allowing my inner authentic voice to be heard and come out.”
Both Suzanne’s musical voice and her voice as a facilitator of social change are a unique blend of strength, truth, vulnerability and overtones of ethereal delicateness. When asked about her process of expressing her truth through her voice, Suzanne offered, “All of us are divine instruments of grace. Every single person has some piece of themselves that needs to be shared. We are made to express our reaction to what impacts us. When we don’t, our life-force (prana) gets stuck. Through the vibration of sound we can go into those stuck parts and move that energy. When we move that energy, the body becomes more available for full expression.”
That full expression has healing power, according to Suzanne, “Singing is very healing. It heals us physically and gives us permission to express the full extent of our emotions.”
Even knowing that singing is healing, it can still be intimidating. According to Suzanne, “Most people expect when they open their mouths they should sound beautiful.” But just like any type of Yoga, it takes practice; as Suzanne says, “The voice is an instrument and for most people it takes practice and work. When learning your voice, you don’t have to concentrate on being in tune, you have to concentrate on getting out of the way of your own voice to let spirit sing through us.” Even with that work, there’s more to voice than hitting the notes. As she says, “It’s not about the technique, it’s about being authentic. When that authentic voice comes out it’s immediately recognizable and undeniable.” And in any way in our lives that we find our own expression, we have to learn to practice compassion with ourselves. “Singing is a meditation and teaches me to not have judgment on my own voice. It’s been a constant meditation to accept my voice as it as, and move into the territories I’m afraid of.”
In addition to being an accomplished musician, Suzanne has decades of experience with spiritual practice and consensus building. Her work with the nonprofit Off the Mat, Into the World® is a vehicle to help people develop their ability and utilize their unique voice and expression to create social change. “I’m dedicated to not just helping people sing, but examining those deep-seeded fears and voices of conditioning that keep us from expressing our true self. A big part of what we do with Off the Mat® is inspiring and giving people tools so that they can become effective karma yogis. This means they have to perhaps tell a truth that’s not popular or perhaps tell a truth in the face of conflict and to learn how to skilfully communicate those truths.”
Communication isn’t always hard work. After all, singing is joyful and Suzanne believes in what she calls expressive joy, the pure utter delight of expression experienced when people move their bodies and voices together. As she says, “The impetus is to help create a community that is unafraid to speak their truth and to reach places of joy together. In Off the Mat® we say, let’s magnetize change. When we tap in so deeply to our inner joy, what we want to do and what we are passionate about, we then ‘know our voice.’ Once we find that [our voice], all we have to do is take the first step.” This first step would be to both literally and metaphorically open your mouth and make your sound. It’s a step Suzanne knows well and one she does again and again, inspiring others to do the same.
Join Suzanne Sterling and the crew of Off the Mat Into the World (including Seane Corn and Hala Khouri) for a kirtronica concert, Solstice ritual, guest performances, Yoga play lounge, food, drink and prayer to launch the Off the Mat 2010 initiatives and celebrate the release of Suzanne’s new album, Blue Fire Soul. Off the Mat’s 2010 initiatives include the Seva Challenge South Africa and Seva Challenge Los Angeles (so people can think and act globally and locally) as well as the Seva Challenge Documentary Film. Saturday, December 19, 7:30 – 11:00 P.M. $15.00. Yogaglo, 1800 Berkeley St, Santa Monica, CA. For more information, visit: offthematintotheworld.org or:yogalgo.com.
Suzanne Sterling teaches Yoga and Singing workshops nationally: suzannesterling.com.
Josh Brill is a yogi musician, Nada Yoga instructor, and healing artist devoted to using music to facilitate inner peace. His new CD, Earth Heart: Music for Yoga Vol. 1 and info about Yoga of Guitar lessons are available at: joshbrill.com.
By Josh Brill
