Feel the vibes!
Physics has proven that the whole universe is made of vibrations which themselves have frequencies, making it the biggest instrument a musician could dream of. Everything that exists vibrates because atoms, the smallest building blocks of matter, vibrate.
A vibration can be defined as “a rapid oscillation of a particle or elastic solid back and forth across a central position” while a frequency is a rate of vibration.
No, you have not made a mistake, you are indeed reading a yoga blog! Physics only confirmed what yogis already knew for centuries. We, as individuals and like everything that exists, are vibrating at various frequencies and yoga is all about raising the good vibrations to promote our health, well-being, a clear mind and our spiritual life.
To this purpose, yogis experimented with and explored various techniques. The whole system of asanas (or postures), meditation, breathing exercises (or Pranayama), prayers, recitations and chanting mantras are just a few.
The word mantra is made of two Sanskrit words. “Man” means “to think, imagine or believe” and “tra” means “a tool, an instrument”. Therefore a mantra is a thought or intention expressed as a sound.
As Beryl Bender Birch writes in her acclaimed book “Power Yoga”, a mantra can be “a single sound or a string of sounds.” They can be composed of sentences, single words and even single syllables.
She goes on saying that “the sound of “Om” is the oldest and most venerated of all yogic mantras. This sacred monosyllable symbolises divine universal energy in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.”
In an article, Richard Rosen described “om” as the “primordial seed” of the universe. “The whole world is nothing but om.” It is considered the root mantra from which all other mantras emerge and is the seed sound for the sixth energy centre where masculine and feminine energy meet at the centre of the brow.
If you have not already done so, start using mantras in your daily life, whatever resonates with you, beginning with more basic mantras and moving on to more complex ones when you are ready. Remember that what matters is your intent, not some Sanskrit prowess!
Pronunciation is extremely important to reap the full benefits of mantras. If you are unsure of how to pronounce certain words, you can download some albums or reach out to You Tube…!
Enjoy the good vibes. Om shanti!
