The Power Of Om

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

You have probably seen people chanting Om at some point in your life. This could have been during meditation or yoga, or even on the tv, but do you know about the power of Om?

It is believed that Om was the first sound of the universe. Making it one of the most important to say and hear. When you chant Om, you connect yourself to the universe and everything around you.

Om is composed of three syllables, A-U-M. There are varying beliefs as to what the three syllables actually stand for. For example, some believe it means mind, body, and spirit or speech, mind, and breath. While others believe it means earth, atmosphere, and heaven. 

Om is one of the most sacred Hindu symbols, found in many Hindu texts, prayers, and ceremonies. It has also become part of the Buddhist faith, meaning love and compassion, and can be found in many of their temples.

What are the benefits of Om?

Chanting Om has many benefits for the mind and body, such as:

• When chanted out loud, it creates positive vibrations throughout the body
• This, in turn, relaxes the body and creates a meditative state
• Relaxation can help to improve the quality of sleep
• It can also help lower blood pressure and encourage the heart to beat regularly
• The vibrations can strengthen the muscles around the spinal cord
• Relaxation can help to improve concentration and memory
• As well as alleviate some stomach issues
• It also improves lung health when you use deep breaths followed by an emptying of the lungs

So as you can see, chanting Om doesn’t just benefit your mind, it benefits your whole body from head to toe. By making Om a part of your daily routine, you will begin to see the benefits and the changes it creates. 

How can I incorporate it into my daily routine?

One of the easiest ways to incorporate Om into your daily routine is by using it as a chant during meditation. There are varying ways of doing this, below you will find our two favourites:

1. Meditation with a mala necklace

• To begin with, gently hold a mala necklace in your hands
• Ensure you are sitting comfortably either on the floor or on a chair. Centre your body trying to keep your spine aligned.
• Lightly rest your hands on your knees, still holding the mala necklace, with your fingers next to the guru bead (the one that protrudes out and usually has a tassel attached).
• Close your eyes gently and regulate your breathing.
• Take a little lift through the crown of the head and allow the shoulders to fall away from the ears.
• Settle into your seated position and feel a connection with the root of your being.
• Become aware of the gravity grounding you with the earth and take a few deep breaths.
• When you are ready, you can begin chanting Om; slowly move your fingers along one bead at a time of the mala necklace with each chant.
• By the time you have worked your way around the necklace, back to the guru bead. You will have recited the mantra 108 times.
• Sit and hold the calmness within you for a few minutes, again regulate your breathing.
• Take one more full inhale and release exhale, and slowly open your eyes.
• Begin to move your body slowly. Feeling the sense of ease and the quality of connection between your mind and body.

2. Meditation with palm stones

This meditation begins and ends in the same way as the one listed above. Only this time, you will not hold a mala necklace to count your chants. Instead, you have the option of either holding one palm stone nestled gently between your two hands or using two palm stones and holding one of these in each hand. In both instances, you can gently rest your hands upon your legs; if you are holding a palm stone in both hands, we recommend having your palms facing upwards. So let’s begin:

• Holding your palm stone(s), ensure you sit comfortably on the floor or a chair. Centre your body trying to keep your spine aligned.
• Lightly rest your hands on your knees, as described above.
• Close your eyes gently and regulate your breathing.
• Take a little lift through the crown of the head and allow the shoulders to fall away from the ears.
• Settle into your seated position and feel a connection with the root of your being.
• Become aware of the gravity grounding you with the earth and take a few deep breaths.
• When you are ready, you can begin chanting Om and feel the power within the mantra and the palm stones you hold.
• You can recite the mantra as many time as feels right for you. This can be as long or as short a meditation as you require.
• Sit and hold the calmness within you for a few minutes, again regulate your breathing.
• Take one more full inhale and releasing exhale, before slowly, opening your eyes.
• Begin to move your body slowly. Feeling the sense of ease and the quality of connection you have between your mind and body.

Quick note about palm stones

When choosing your palm stones, remember there is a huge variety of crystals out there. Each one of them harnesses its own power and intentions. So when you are deciding which to use, try and take into account what intentions you want to set. Here are some examples:

• Flourite – to find peace and happiness.
• Green aventurine – to encourage abundance.
• Selenite – to cleanse and uplitft

So hopefully, now you know a little more about the power of Om, you can begin to incorporate it into your life. From taking a couple of minutes to chant the word Om to a full-blown deep-dive mediation, you are sure to feel its positive effect. And let’s face it, a little peace and relaxation is always a great outcome.

For more information on meditation practice tips for beginners, click here. And as always, please remember to tag us on Instagram @surrender_to_happiness, if you try out any of the techniques listed in this blog.

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