Aum (pronounced Om)
“Om is the one eternal syllable of which all that exists is but the development. The past, the present, and the future are all included in this one sound, and all that exists beyond the three forms of timeis also implied in it.” – Mandukya Upanishad
Om/Aum is made of 4 sounds, A U M and the silence afterwards. Together these sounds invoke a sense of wholeness and cycles.
When we sing OM, we touch each part of our mouths palate, from the front behind the teeth to the top peak, the inside of our mouth, to the throat.
The sound moves in a wave, with a beginning, middle and end, and then the after effect: a feeling of shifted energy in the room and in our bodies. A vibration in the core of our being.
Om/Aum is a sacred sound that represents a very specific yet indescribable conception of the absolute, of ALL. In the east, many prayers and mantras start with OM. Here in the west, OM is often found at the beginning and the end of a yoga class, opening the practice and sealing the energy in at the end.
Said to be the sound of the universe, OM reminds us of interconnection. We are connected to the universe, and it is expressing itself through us. We are connected to each other in the room and beyond the room.
When we chant OM, we consciously join our intentions and expand our thoughts universally. The vibration flows strongly through the body and penetrates the centre, resonating deep within us the feeling of yoga, union with all.
PRACTICE-
Breath into the space behind your chest, heart open & back strong. Empty all of your air and take a deep breath. Sing AUM long and slow, sounding each syllable. Sing from your stomach, your heart, your throat. Sing from your spirit and your body. Sit for a moment in quiet, be the fourth part of the mantra, the full silence. Feel the shift you have created with your own voice. The arch and the circle, the ringing the reminder, the calling toward home.
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