Duygu Özay: An Inner Journey Through Music and Yoga

Sometimes the sounds of life grow so loud that we miss the melody within us. At such times, we need voices that remind us to slow down, listen, and reconnect with our true selves. Duygu Özay is one of those voices… Her music and yoga practice, like the calm yet steady flow of a river, invite us on a journey inward.

This interview emerged as a natural result of our paths crossing at Inspera. We wanted to share this encounter—which evolved into a heartfelt conversation as we found common ground on the same artistic and spiritual plane—with you. Because the space Duygu creates goes beyond a mere physical practice; through her voice, breath, and words, she speaks to us in a language we’ve forgotten.

Music and Yoga: At the Intersection of Life

Yoga entered Duygu Özay’s life through someone she met in London in 2010. After six years of studio practice, Özay completed her first teacher training and has been teaching classes and continuing her education for the past nine years.

Music, however, comes from her roots. Her childhood was spent listening to the folk songs and ballads her mother played at home. She began writing in 2008, again in London; perhaps due to loneliness and the intensity of her emotions. Over time, her prose turned into poetry, and her poetry into songs.

The year 2016 marked a turning point where her music and yoga practices intersected in her life:

• Her first album, “Susan Hanım,” was released
• She completed her first teacher training and began teaching classes
• Music and yoga began to progress in harmony

Breath, Sound, and Body: The Triad of Life

At the core of music and yoga lies breath. Breath is like the heartbeat of life; the body is a bridge between matter and spirit. Where there is breath, there is sound; where there is sound, there is life—and every moment has its own music.

The body is a magnificent instrument; every gesture, facial expression, utterance, every inward thought, every intention, composes its own music. From this, we understand that there is no separation in life; everything is fundamentally interconnected. We are a lifelong act of remembrance.

The Practice of Slowing Down: A Door to Transformation

In yoga practice, slowness does not function as a state of stillness, but rather as a form of transformation. Silence is authentic, refined, and full of wisdom; slowing down has opened this door.

As we slow down, attention—and consequently awareness—increases; a sense of inner expansion emerges. Duygu Özay, who has participated in meditation retreats for many years, has spent days without speaking or making eye contact; these retreats have greatly contributed to strengthening the bond she has formed with silence.

Özay, who places importance on creating space for silence in her classes, says:

"We are living in times when we drift away from simplicity out of a desire to be liked, believing we must always do more. Yet, if we could express ourselves without the fear of not being accepted, we could reclaim our authentic selves."

The Union of Art and Yoga at Inspera

The silence of the studio where her classes are held creates a profound impact. As the practice unfolds, that silence envelops us all; those moments become priceless.

Inspera, with every detail within it, was once the vision of its esteemed founders. Now, sharing the yoga practice within it is a great privilege. This silence is the result of years of patience, hard work, and dedication.

Source of Inspiration: The Mirror of Nature

What guides Duygu Özay in her creative process is the belief that every form of life is unique in the school of the world. There is an endless amount we can learn from one another.

Believing that the cycles of nature reveal much about human self-discovery, Özay views nature as a mirror of existence. In her latest song, “Leaf,” she tells the life story of a leaf; through metaphors, she touches upon the human journey of life.

The Yoga Journey: An Invitation to Remembrance

Yoga, literally meaning “unity,” aligns with the Sufi concept of “wahdat al-wujud” (the unity of being). Human beings are both forgetful and remembering; they are both finite and infinite.

Humanity is on a journey of remembrance—and yoga is one of the countless paths on this journey. Yoga can lead to silence; silence, in turn, leads to remembrance.

On this journey from the question “Who am I?” to the realization “I am That,” every breath, every posture, and every moment of awareness transforms us.

For Beginners: What Is Yoga?

Yoga is a practice that leads to stillness, one that holds silence and transformation within the act of stopping and turning inward. In Sufi terms: “The path is one, the journeys a thousand.” As one of the thousand paths of humanity, yoga is a door opening to the boldest journey we can undertake—a journey inward.

Conclusion: Walking with the Voice of Silence

At the heart of this conversation lies an invitation to journey inward. In Duygu Özay’s music, her words, and the serene yet profound space she creates, there is a mirror for each of us.

In that mirror, we realize once again that it is possible to see ourselves in our purest form, to remember, and ultimately to “be.” The path is one, the journeys a thousand… And we continue to walk this path with the voice of silence.

Interview: Rümeysa Ertem