Yoga Chanting

Some Yoga practices encourage the use of mantra chanting. A mantra is a sound, or collection of words thought to create transformation. A mantra is usually sang, or repeated several times, in order for the chanter to bring their energy into the vibration of the mantra.

Science shows that all life is energy, and everything that exists is emitting its own individual frequency. This frequency is determined, and transmitted, through our thoughts. When we are happy we emit a happy frequency, which attach to similar frequencies (like attracts like), and color our experience.
On the other hand, when we are sad, we attract experiences that support being sad.

Mantra’s work in the same way, by chanting a mantra, you bring a positive vibration into your energy field, and attract like vibrations to you. Buddhist monks chant mantra’s regularly to keep their energy fields pure, and clear of any negativity.

In Yoga practice, chanting Om is popular. Om; pronounced Aum, is a sacred word of Hindu origins, and is the universal symbol for God. Om chanted at the beginning of a yoga session, helps to bring the student into harmony. It’s also used at the end of a session to give thanks for the teaching, and to send the student off feeling peaceful.

Om is chanted using the breath, and is carried as long as you are able. For example; the chanter will start on the out breath, Auuuuuuuummmmm, take a breath, and repeat the chant. This is may be chanted for as short as a minute, or up to 20 minutes.

A class I attend regularly chants The Gayatri Mantra. This mantra is in Sanskrit, and can take a while to master. It’s said to be the more powerful mantra as it cleanses the spirit, and brings grace to the chanter. I will share it with you here.

The Gayatri Mantra

The words alongside are how the Sanskrit words are pronounced.

Om - aum
Bhuh Bhuvah Svah – boor a boor a swa ha
Tat Savitur Varenyam – tat sav eh tur va en eh e ya
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi – bar go day vasa dee man ee
Dhiyo Yo nah Prachodayat – dee yo yo nah pra cho die a

Word by word, the mantra means:

Om Almighty God
Bhuh embodiment of spiritual energy
bhuvah destroyer of suffering
swah embodiment of happiness
tat that
savituh bright, luminous like the Sun
varenyam best, most exalted
bhargo destroyer of sins
devasya divine
dhimahi may imbibe
dhiyo intellect
yo who
nah our
prachodayat may inspire

The mantra has many translations, though the essence is the same. I like this version:

O God!
You are Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Almighty.
You are all Light.
You are all Knowledge and Bliss.
You are Destroyer of fear
You are Creator of this Universe,
You are the Greatest of all.
We bow and meditate upon Your light.
You guide our intellect in the right direction.

If you’ve never tried chanting before, I strongly recommend it. Chanting mantra's are beneficial for both the listener, and the chanter.

Happy chanting!