Chanting Om (pronounced A-U-M) is said to liberate the conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind.  In a world filled with scattered energies and disturbing vibrations, only a mind at equilibrium can take in information and process it clearly.  By chanting the sound ‘Om’, you create a mind that’s fully charged yet peacefully calm.  It is said that the enlightened were enriched by the power of self-reflection.  All the legends, seers and sages meditated in the forests and mastered this state of mind by chanting Om and its associated mantras.

We looked into the spiritual and scientific reasons behind chanting the mantra OM.

IT PRODUCES POSITIVE VIBRATIONS AND PURIFIES THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE PRACTITIONER

The mantra OM is designed to cleanse your surroundings and keep negative energies away.  Some people say it cleanses your aura.  It can be used in conjunction with other mantras to cleanse and prepare for the practice of Yoga and meditation.  This can help to clear energy blockages and remove any obstacles before practising.

IT BRINGS YOU INTO YOUR BODY

When you chant the A-U-M sound, the vibrations reverberate through your chest and into your throat and skull.  In terms of the chakras, this corresponds to the heart, throat and crown chakras – the chakras related to higher consciousness – these are exactly the states you would hope to connect with in your Yoga practice.  This provides you with an immediate sensory awareness of the energy of your physical body and can help you feel more in tune with yourself.

IT ACTIVATES YOUR VAGUS NERVE

The vagus nerve is the information superhighway carrying information to and from the body to the brain.  In the brain the vagus helps control depression and anxiety, and in the gut it increases stomach acidity, digestive juice secretion and peristalsis. The vagus nerve is connected to the muscles at the back of your throat, including your vocal cords.  Om chanting can activate these muscles and stimulate the function of your vagus nerve.

IT CAN HELP IMPROVE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM AND SELF-HEALING POWER

It’s said that chanting Om can give you relief from sinus problems as the vibration sound felt through your vocal cords can clear and open the sinuses.  This coupled with the way it reduces stress and relaxes your body can help to give you a good, strong immune system.

IT DETOXIFIES YOUR BODY

Yoga and meditation help in reducing stress, anxiety and worrying issues and chanting Om before practising further helps in detoxifying the body and mind.  Due to the disconnection with the world and its various worries, your heartbeat and respiration process normalises.  The continuous deep breathing process along with the vibrations of the sound help in the removal of stress and toxins.  Thereby, many people believe that chanting Om maintains a sense of youthfulness both internally and externally.