OM is a simple, resonant, droning sound that goes far back in tradition as representing the very sound of creation, the energy that vibrates the universe into being.
Chanting OM is often used in yoga classes and in meditation. But, perhaps because of its association with some religious traditions or mystical spirituality, some practitioners avoid it altogether.
In my own practice, I find it to be a very effective tool for calming my body and mind. I have observed three immediate and beneficial effects.
OM tells me immediately about tension in my body. Tension prevents resonance and free vibration. If my body is calm and relaxed, the vibration resonates strongly and seems to pervade my entire body. Tension blocks the vibration, and I can identify the location of the tension by where the resonance of OM stops.
OM also has a powerful effect on my breath. A common practice is to chant OM three times, starting with a deep breath. After the first OM, the in-breath is noticeably smoother and deeper, and becomes even more so after the second OM. After the third, natural breathing immediately settles in, relaxed and calm.
The mental effect of OM is powerful as well. After chanting OM even just three times, my mind is often as relaxed and quiet as the breath. Whatever jumbled thoughts have been racing around in my head are swept up, replaced with a sense of calm and spaciousness. I think of chanting OM as my meditative equivalent of shaking an Etch-a-Sketch. No matter how jumbled the lines on the Etch-a-Sketch screen, the vibration returns it to a state of fresh possibility, and OM does that for my mind.
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