What is the meaning of OM in Yoga?
We all have heard our yoga teacher chanting OM and found ourself following him without knowing well what was the meaning of OM in Yoga. OM is a very simple sound with a complex meaning.
OM is a sacred sound that is known as the sound of the universe. OM is compassion, the essence of ultimate reality, and unifies everything in the universe. The vibrations that the OM sound creates are thought to energize the chakras throughout the body, especially the third eye and crown chakras, which help us connect with our inner selves.
The OM symbol break down
The Om symbol is a combination of curves, a crescent and a dot. The meaning of the Om symbol, while purely looking at its visual form, comes from the states of consciousness that Aum represents. The letter ‘A’ represents the waking state, ‘U’ represents the dream state and ‘M’ is the unconscious state, or state of deep sleep.
Benefits of chanting OM
When you chant OM, the vibration from that sound correlates to the original vibrations that were sounded in the universe when the world was created. The sound of OM is called Pranava, or that which runs through breath (Prana) and sustains life.
There are many benefits to chanting Om every day. These include reducing stress levels, improving concentration, regulating your sleep cycle, letting go of negativity and feeling more energized and invigorated.
Chanting OM at the beginning of class brings practitioners into the time and space that is about to be spent on the mat. OM at the end of class means that your physical practice has ended.
Chanting with a group of people helps to unify the group. As you feel the vibration of the chant and lose the sound of your own voice among those of your classmates, you feel as one with other people and with the universe.
