17 Nov What does Om mean?
Yoga Q&A
with Gabriela Beatson Yoga Teacher
We can say that OM is a feeling good vibration.
Om is a mantra, or vibration, that is traditionally chanted at the beginning and end of yoga sessions. It is said to be the sound of the universe. What does that mean?
Somehow the ancient yogis knew what scientists today are telling us—that the entire universe is moving. Nothing is ever solid or still. Everything that exists pulsates, creating a rhythmic vibration that the ancient yogis acknowledged with the sound of Om. We may not always be aware of this sound in our daily lives, but we can hear it in the rustling of the autumn leaves, the waves on the shore, the inside of a seashell.
Chanting Om allows us to recognize our experience as a reflection of how the whole universe moves—the setting sun, the rising moon, the ebb and flow of the tides, the beating of our hearts. As we chant Om, it takes us for a ride on this universal movement, through our breath, our awareness, and our physical energy, and we begin to sense a bigger connection that is both uplifting and soothing.
Inhale deeply and pronounce the sound as you exhale all the air, controlling to breathing capacity to pronounce the “o” as long as the “m”.. If we pay attention to our chest, we can feel the vibration.
Send your questions about yoga or meditation to gabrielaw@hotmail.com
