6 Amazing Benefits Of Soham Meditation For Leading A Healthy Life

Hamsa, Hansa, and So Hum are some of the other names for Soham meditationⁱ  A procedure, often spiritual in nature, in which an individual employs a method to concentrate on a single thing or task. . Soham is a Sanskrit term that means “to identify oneself with the existence” or “to align oneself with ultimate reality.” There are many benefits of Soham meditation.

This meditation can be divided into two sections: Sooo is the sound of inhaling, and Hum is the sound of exhalationⁱ  The process of breathing in which air leaves the lungs and travels via the airways and out of the body. . These two factors interact to form a person’s breathing method. This age-old practice still has significance in today’s busy environment, as it not only relieves stress but also helps you develop a strong spiritual bond. In Kriya and Tantric yoga, it is amongst the essential mantras. If the letters S and H are removed, it sounds like ‘OM,’ the major mantra of Hindus. It is recommended that you mentally repeat the mantra while meditating to get the most out of this type of meditation. Soham meditation makes a person feel powerful and joyous from within. Keep reading to learn more!

Quick Tip

Always sit comfortably and in a steady position while doing Soham meditation. Ensure that you are sitting straight and your back is upright.

Benefits Of Soham Meditation:

Soham meditation offers many benefits to the mind as well as to the body. Some of them are:

1. The Spiritual Benefits:

In today’s world of chaotic and stressful living, where one has to scourge for time and peace, meditation has become an important aspect of life for stress relief in order to live a healthy life. Meditation is a process which helps us find the inner peace of mind and soul while learning to control our stress, pain, anger and other calamities of the mind and soul. Many forms of yoga and spiritual growth are available today where meditation is introduced, with yoga classes thriving around the corner of the streets. Soham meditation is one of the most effective among these.

2. Co-Ordination Of The Mind And Body:

While we meditate, our muscles at first tend to contract. To relax the whole body, one must first learn to control the tension of the muscles and the noise of the mind to find inner peace and relaxation. In order to do this, one must form a bridge of self-awareness to wield the gap between the mind and the body, and then our nervous system comes into play. It acts as a bridge, helping the body to communicate with the mind. For perfect meditation, one must first learn to regulate the nervous system, and Soham meditation is capable of teaching us how to form the bridge and regulate the nervous system.

3. Development Of Blood Circulation:

As Soham meditation’s principles focus mainly on deep breathing exercises, it promotes blood circulation in the body. This is because, as we breathe in, we take in oxygen, which is vital for the energy required by our body. It also helps to ease the pain between our muscles and is quite effective for the ones with pain in the back and the knee section. This is because it eases the tension between the muscles.

4. Development Of Focus And Concentration:

Soham meditation requires attention and systematic practices to perform. As we perform this meditation, it helps us focus and train our minds on one-pointedness, increasing our levels of concentration and focus. These are vital to increase mindfulness and help us perform our daily activities and work with ease and success. Practicing Soham with the nostrils aids us in this cause. This is because focusing on the breathing helps us explore the inner energy or prana, improves mental clarity, relieves us of our stress and helps us to focus on deeper meditation.

Beth, a Shaman and Transformational Facilitator and blogger, shares in her blog, “One of the simplest and most beneficial meditation practices I have learned is the Soham mantra meditation. It is often called the universal mantra because the vibration is naturally resonant with the flow of the breath as it enters and leaves the body. It is as if this mantra is always happening naturally as we breathe, but as we turn our attention to it, we are able to connect with our breathing pattern, achieve deeper breathing, and gain greater concentration (i).”

5. Refining Mental Capabilities:

As Soham meditation helps us to focus, we can get a clearer image of our surroundings, and with our increasing levels of concentration, it helps one to remember more, and with greater clarity. It helps one to discover their inner self and create an emotional balance, and in doing so, one can go about their daily chores and practices with vividness.

6. Way To A Healthy Life:

The benefits of Soham meditation are unending. Do not speak the words, but let the silent sound perform the action. Try to find the silent sound from within that will lead towards improved health. Our body plays the tunes from within; one needs to discover them in order to explore one’s true self for increased creativity and enhanced intuition.

The benefits of Soham meditation go beyond mental and physical domains, helping you develop greater awareness and calmness.

Quick Tip

To reap all the benefits of the Soham meditation, practice it for about 20-30 minutes every day. As a beginner, doing it for 10 minutes is fine, but ensure you increase the time gradually as you go forward. Also, maintain consistency and try to do it daily.

Now that you know about the many benefits of Soham meditation, it’s time to find out how to practice this life-changing technique. Scroll down to learn more.

How To Do Soham Meditation

You can practice Soham meditation for 10-15 minutes for a relaxed and peaceful mind. Follow these simple steps to learn how to do it:

1. Find a comfortable sitting posture and sit with an erect spine. Use support under the hips to prevent lower back strain. (Note: As you inhale, imagine the energy entering your body. When you exhale, release any tension or negative energy and align your breath with the chant.)
2. Place your palms on your knees, facing upwards.
3. Close your eyes and start breathing slowly.
4. Say the word “so” in your mind as you inhale.
5. Say “ham” in your mind as you exhale slowly.
6. Keep breathing naturally and concentrate on the “Soham” mantra mentally. Bring your focus back to the mantra if your mind wanders.
7. Release the mantra slowly by stopping the mental chanting. Take a few normal breaths to relax, and open your eyes.

Infographic: 6 Mind-Blowing Benefits Of Soham Meditation

Soham meditation consists of two divisions – Sooo (inhalation sound) and Hum (exhalation sound). It makes a person feel powerful and jovial from within. It would help if you chanted this mantra in your mind when meditating. Check out the infographic below to learn the amazing benefits of Soham meditation.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times is Soham chanted in Sudarshan Kriya?

You have to chant Soham at the end of Sudarshan Kriya rhythmicallyⁱ  In a fashion that has a consistent, repetitive rhythm or movement that is almost musical in manner. 20 times (long chanting), 40 times (medium chanting), and 40 times (fast chanting).

Is Soham the name of Lord Shiva?

Soham means “I myself” or “I am He”. Many believe it is associated with Lord Shiva.

Can practicing Soham meditation help to develop a more positive outlook on life?

Yes, practicing Soham meditation can help develop a more positive outlook on life. This type of meditation can result in greater self-awareness, reduced stress, and a stronger sense of happiness and connection.

Watch this video for a step-by-step guide on how to do this meditation. Get a better insight on when to perform this meditation. Follow along with the soothing voice of the instructor and find your inner peace.

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Sri Yogi AnandE-RYT 500, YACEP

     

Sri Yogi Anand has 24 years of experience in the practical and philosophical aspects of yoga and spirituality. He has been teaching yoga and spirituality through his institution, Adwait Yoga School. He integrates scientific and medical approaches with yoga therapy to help in cases of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and disorders and orthopedic and lifestyle disorders.

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Shirin MehdiHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shirin is a health and wellness writer with three years of experience and specializes in writing articles on yoga and has extensive knowledge about the postures of the asanas. Prior to joining Stylecraze, she interned with an advertising firm as a copywriter and as an editorial intern for a luxury fashion magazine.

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