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OCTOBER 24TH, 2009:  This past Saturday we practiced yoga. We also practiced the sound of Om. This is an ancient and sacred sound. It connects us with our inner being, while also connecting us with the universe. It is a sort of hum, so we also practiced Brahmari pranayama (humming bee breath). Patanjali said when we chant the sacred Om, our consciousness becomes “one-pointed: and prepared for meditation.” So, we chant this amazing sound, which may actually lead us to finding our own divinity.

The sound of Om is actually made up of four separate parts. The first two sounds are “ah” and “ooh,” which actually form a contraction into the “oh” sound. The “ah” represents our waking state or subjective consciousness. The “ooh” represents the dream state or consciousness of our inner world: thoughts, dreams, and memories. The “m” represents our dreamless state of sleep and experience of ultimate unity.

The last part of Om is the silence which follows the sound. It is called the anusvara (after-sound). As the vibration slowly dissolves into silence, we are able to transcend our state of consciousness. The Maitri Upanishad described this silence as the crown of the mantra, “tranquil, soundless, fearless, sorrowless, blissfull, satisfied, steadfast, immovable, immortal, unshaken, enduring.”

So, the next time you practice yoga or your just practicing life, consider turning breath into sound. Chant the sound of Om and notice its effects. Don’t forget the silence afterwards. And, see what divinity awaits your discovery.

Playlist for Om Yoga practice:

Om Shanti, Namaste,

Mary Scudella, E-RYT 200

*Information on the sound of Om from a Yoga Journal article written by Richard Rosen.