The Yoga of Sound: Yoga Chants
77
Chanting mantras is the yoga of sound. Chanting has been used for centuries as an aid to humans who seek to communicate with the divine spirit within themselves and the universe. Chanting has the effect of raising the level of vibration of the individual practicing the chant, and it can help the practitioner to be filled with peace, and feel calm and centered.
There have been medical studies that have shown that performing yoga chants can have positive benefits for the body. These studies have shown that when a person chants it can stabilize their heart rate, lower blood pressure, produce beneficial endorphins in the body and boost metabolic processes. Chanting causes the body and mind to relax which helps us both physically, mentally and emotionally in countless ways.
An opening chant can be used at the start of a yoga class, or the beginning of a meditation session. Using an opening chant is an effective way to help participants lower their stress and set the proper spiritual tone for the yoga class. Chanting can be practiced at any time of the day. You can chant quietly to yourself, chant out loud, or listen to recorded chants on CD or on a portable .mp3 player as you go about your day. Listening to chants can help to soothe your spirit and energize you as you face the challenges of the day.
Closing chants are used to bring a meditation session or a yoga class to a peaceful end. A chant can be the thread that ties the positive benefits of the work done on the yoga mat, or the meditation session to the rest of the practitioner’s life.
This is an example of a closing chant taken from the ancient Sanskrit text, the Yoga Sutras:
Om Om Om
Asatho Maa Sath Gamaya Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya Mruthyor Maa Amrutham Gamaya.
Om Shanthi. Shanthi. Shanthi.
Now stay in complete silence for a minute.
Lokaa Samastaa Shukino Bhavanthu.
Jai Shree Sat Guru Maharaj Ki!
OM TAT SAT
The English translation is:
Om Om Om
Lead me from unreal to Real Lead me from darkness to Light Lead me from death to Immortality.
Om Shanthi. Shanthi. Shanthi. (Peace, peace, peace be to all.)
(This may be followed by a minute of silence.)
May the entire world be happy.
Jai Shree Sat Guru Maharaj Ki!
OM TAT SAT
You can buy recorded Yoga chants online, and there are many web sites where you can download sample yoga chants to listen before you buy.
Because of Yoga's ancient Sanskrit roots, chants are usually written and performed in Sanskrit, however their meaning is said to be universal, as Sanskrit is the language of the heart.
Chanting or listening to chants while performing yoga poses can help to bring a sense of calm to your mind and it can open your heart which will enhance your enjoyment of your yoga poses. Chanting is invigorating and energizing to the mind, body and spirit, and it reminds us of our deep and abiding connection to the divine and to our fellow human beings when it’s done in unison.
CommentsLoading...
om can also be chanted continuously, where each person chants 8 oms consecutively without regard to where the others are beginning or ending. it creates the effect of a sea of om. also, om can be chanted by breaking the mantra down into its three components A-U-M. most people do not know the origin of om from the upansihads so this method enlightens. also, most people do not stress all the sounds of om equally, and the "m" often gets cheated.
Nice article. I love chanting in Yoga Class. Makes me feel great!!!
Nice Hub. Many people need to hear about chanting ... that it is not just a religious things for Hindus ... thanks
Chanting is the best part! Very nice hub.
ahh, the healing sound of om, a-o-m....
This is a great contribution. Thanks for posting the hub. I have a page that discusses mantra from my own perspective with additional chants such as the Gayatri mantra, if you're interested. I even sing to you! You can check it out at http://www.squidoo.com/sacredchants.
Mantra is such a beautiful form of yoga. I love finding articles like this one!
I love the physical benefits of yoga, but when it comes time to close I feel pressured to participate in the chant. To participate would be to not be true to myself. It's not what is said, your examples above are beautiful and are akin to my personal prayer life. Something about the empty space makes me feel as if they are prayers to an unknown god and I wrestle silently in prayer to acknowledge a living God. Would it be an offense to pray aloud what is on my heart using words?
Great to hear about the sound aspect in yoga. Thanks for posting this article. Namaste
Mantra chanting is such a fabulous practice. Its also great to have playing in the background during an asana class. Thanks for your article.
The Yoga Sutras in Sanskrit are an important part of yoga and are coming to the attention of more regular yoga practitioners due to the awareness level increasing by articles like this.
Thanks for the lovely article. As a yoga instructor myself, I often find myself explaining to students of other faiths that yoga is not a religion, and when we chant, we chant not for an unfamiliar unknown God, but the one God, the same God. God won't change because you call God by another name. God did not create religion, man did.
Having said that, there is aboslutely nothing wrong with chanting in a language more familiar to you, and one that keeps you in your comfort zone, but Sanskrit chants were in fact created with a basis in the science of sound...so they work with our vibrations to actually elevate us from an ordinary state of mind to a higher state of mind. Any positive thoughts and sounds can do that, some sounds just do it better. Some other thoughts: http://www.yogawithmilan.com/om/2008/12/aummmm
thank you for helping me in chanting yoga mantras...visit mine may be u like it ...
The vibrations in the words of the matras that are chanted are what does it. It taps into the Divine which is creative and leads the practitioner to the qualities of the mantra that is being chanted.
Namaste! Nice stuff about yoga chants. Very informative, especially for yoga enthusiasts.
The information about chanting that you gave were really beneficial. I didn't realize that by chanting, it can lower down by blood pressure. Not only that, it helps relax both mind, body and spirit.
Very Nice Article Yoga Chants..its very helpful for relax and stress.and great fill...keep it up..
 | Amazon Price: $10.88 List Price: $17.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $13.45 List Price: $19.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $6.56 List Price: $14.95 |
helene 4 years ago
can you give me various ways of chanting om in a yoga class.besides 3 oms at beginning or end of class.