By Damien Rider
The mantra OM (pronounced like “aum”) is said to embody divine energy. This ancient Sanskrit letter is believed to have originated in 1500-1200 BC. It is intended to deepen the connection of the person saying it with all living things and serve as a reminder of our unity with nature.
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali categorized the 8 Limbs of Yoga, the steps to enlightenment. The sixth of these, Dharana, meaning concentration, described various methods of supporting the mind to achieve single-focused attention. Repeating a mantra, and especially this syllable OM, was an important aspect of accomplishing this sixth stage of yoga, or union with the Divine origins.
When you chant the mantra OM, you first take a deep inhale breath, all the way down into your diaphragm. As you chant, you slowly exhale and control each bit of air as it comes out, beginning with your lips together in a hum sound then opening your mouth, staying connected, feeling the vibrations through the roof of your mouth, your face, and your entire being. The single focus on performing the Mantra Om allows other thoughts and surroundings to continue without emotional attachment, helping desensitize fears, worries and pain.
This understanding will allow you to utilize the mantra OM to increase your connection to the senses and bring you further into a self-aware state. As you chant, the vibrations stimulate the nerves in your brain and body, which positively impacts your state of awareness. Performing this 5 times each session gains a stronger connection.
The Benefits of The Mantra OM
Helps Reduce Stress: A study published in the International Journal of Yoga found that Om chanting reduced activity in the limbic system, which is the portion of the brain associated with stress, emotions, learning, and motivation. By monitoring brain activity using a functional MRI machine, researchers found that Om chanting relaxed the brain and could reduce stress. Another study found that it could be used to treat depression.
1) Improves Concentration: One can meditate and chant mantras in order to achieve maximum concentration. Because the mind is focused on the mantra, this means that you’re able to be fully present and cut through any distractions when your mind wants to wander off.
2) Balance Your Emotions: Chanting Om can help you connect to the Self and balance your emotions. You may find that, as you chant, your mind starts to clear. This is because you’re concentrating on one thing: the sound or vibration that Om gives off. Om holds the same frequency as that of everything in nature, allowing you to connect further and look inwards. As you reflect on your state, you can view your emotions and feelings with more objectivity and compassion.
3) Strengthens Spinal Cord: When you pronounce the first part of Om, making the “Aaaa” sound, the vibration is generated in the abdomen which can help support your spinal cord. It’s said that the more often an individual chants Om, the more efficient their spinal cord may become.
4) Sinus Cleanse: The Om chanting produces a vibration and sound which is felt through your vocal cords and sinuses. The vibrations open up the sinuses to clear the airways; this helps with the oxygen / nitric oxide flow.
Other suggested benefits from chanting the Om:
· Chanting of the Om Mantra purifies the environment around you and creates positive vibrations.
· Om chanting gives you better immunity and self-healing power.
· It can place you in a stronger meditational state which gives you deep relaxation.
· The Om benefits the person who is chanting it and the people around them, wherever its vibrations flow.
· The Om Mantra has cardiovascular benefits – by relaxing our mind and body, our blood pressure will decrease, and our heart will beat with regular rhythm.
· Om chanting improves your voice by giving strength to your vocal cords and the muscles around it. This is very helpful during old age.
· When the OM Mantra is chanted in a group, the effects are amplified, and this will produce immense positive vibrations which charge up the entire vicinity.
· The sound uuu is created by vocal cords which benefit the thyroid glands and the throat.
Though there may be initial awkwardness when beginning to practice manta, once you get past it, you’ll see the benefits and feel more connected to yourself. When I ask clients to inhale and exhale slowly the usual breath pace is around 6 seconds for each action. By adding a vibration like a hum or Mantra Om, the exhale can be extended to 45 seconds with the same amount of air. This reprocesses the autonomic nervous system of the subconscious breath of what a slow and calm breath is. Having the humility to try something new can give you new confidence as you progress and take on new challenges in your life.
One Breath Meditation Example:
2 minutes / 8 breaths.
› This time inhale all the way down through your nose, and on the exhale, starting with your lips together, hum the air to begin and slowly open your mouth to create the mantra Om sound.
mmmmmmmmooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmm
› Each exhale of Om, I would like you to increase the volume of sound projected so you can feel the vibrations over your whole physical self.
› You are going to do this five times. mmmmmmmmooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmm
› Increase the intensity of the Om so your whole physical self vibrates.
1 breath.
› Now connect back with one breath. Inhale deeply with intent through your nose to inflate your belly.
› Hold for two beats…
› And release gently through a soft mouth with nothing forced.
