Losening the neck muscles to chant

Today I prepared for Breathing practice by losening the neck knots of my patient/student.  The mantra that we listened to can be downloaded at the following site.  http://archive.org/details/DalaiLamasHealingMantra.

Softening the neck muscles is a good way of preparing for chanting.  So today instead of breathing out, we chanted Ohm.  Even if you are unable to instantly release the inner muscles of your throat, by practicing you begin to notice this subtle tension.  Noticing solves half of the problem.  In Japanese we say " the lower half is full and the upper half is empty".  This means the lower half of the body is filled with energy from the earth.  It is holding down the Kundalini or the first chakra.  You can do this in a very physical way.  The upper body is empty of all tensions, thoughts.  When you chant you first notice the tension in your throat.  The upper body becomes mu.  Then you can be aware of the heavenly energy that is already there.  If you are not tense, the creative energy of the heavens seems to fill you.  You feel bright.