Om Meditation And Its Benefits

Sometimes, your mind can perceive a few things that your eyes cannot see. One of the major benefits of Om meditation is working on this aspect as it provides you with the highest level of knowledge, happiness, and realization if you pursue it. Continue reading to learn more about this type of meditation.

Trivia

“Om” is also referred to as “Praṇava,” “Oṅkāra,” and “Udgītha.”

Significance Of Om

Om is the first sound that emerged from the vibrations of the cosmic energy that created the universe. It is the representation of the creator. Om is self-begotten, i.e., it is on its own and doesn’t need another syllable to make its sound. The sound A-U-M, which comes from chanting Om, represents the holy trinity in Hinduism. This trinity includes Brahma, the creator, Vishnu, the preserver, and Shiva, the destroyer. The sound is also linked to the three energies of nature. The first one is sattva, which refers to balance and harmony. The next is rajas, which refers to action and enthusiasm. And lastly, tamas is the energy representing inertia and darkness. Besides Hinduism, the practice of chanting om is also linked to Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Om exists in everything – the words we speak, the things we use, and in ourselves. The daily chanting of Om will give peace to your mind, body, and soul. In ancient times, the Om mantra was chanted to form a connection to one’s inner energies or the soul. It features in a number of ancient mantras for the transformation of the mind and body and can be chanted by itself for overall mental well-being. It is believed that this sacred syllable is present and active within all of us and will reveal itself most effectively through Om meditation.

To know more, click here: Meaning and Science Behind The Symbol Om

Now, let’s learn how to do Om meditation.

Om Meditation And Its Procedure

Meditation that involves the chanting of ‘Om’ or ‘Aum’ is called Om meditation. In Om meditation, the two great spiritual possessions that belong to us – breath and sound – are combined to form a comprehensive meditation technique. Scroll down to know more about how to chant om.

The Om Meditation Approach

1. Sitting Right
2. Eye Placement
3. Breathing Pattern
4. Om Chanting
5. Combining All
6. Overall Effect

1. Sitting Right

Sit either in the Lotus Pose or Vajrasana. If you cannot sit down, sit on a chair. Make sure your back is erect, and you feel relaxed and comfortable in your sitting position. Keep your hands either on your knees or your thighs. You can also keep them in your lap, with one hand resting on the other. Clear your head and sit peacefully.

2. Eye Placement

Gently close the eyes or glance downward.

3. Breathing Pattern

Close your mouth and breathe naturally. Make sure the air goes in and out only through your nose. Keep your jaw muscles relaxed and your upper and lower teeth slightly parted instead of clenching them together or touching one another. Observe your breath while it goes in and out. Don’t force it or add any frills to it. Let it be.

4. Om Chanting

While you inhale and exhale, chant ‘Om.’ Fit the chant to your breath duration rather than breathing to the chant. Break down the ‘Om’ syllable to ‘A-A-U-U-M’, followed by silence and back again. Say the first two syllables with your mouth opened widely and the next two by pursing your lips together. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth to pronounce the last two syllables. Then, get engrossed in the silence that ensues.

5. Combining All

Continue the Om chanting, keeping it in sync with your breath. Naturally, the cycle of chanting will fall into place and you reach a place of relaxation. You can also chant ‘Om’ mentally. Listen to the internal vibrations created in your body while chanting ‘Om’. Slowly and gradually, your being will sink into its waves.

6. Overall Effect

As you gradually go deeper into the meditation, the Om vibrations become softer and subtle, almost like a whisper. Slowly, it will become silent, and you realize that Om has always been present and active in your body. You will notice that even your breath slows down and becomes light.
In Om meditation, you do not concentrate on any particular part of your body. Your mind does waver around, but make sure it comes back to focus through chanting. Make a note of all the thoughts and sensations that arise while you meditate and deal with them in a calm and detached manner without deviating from your breath and chanting.

Joanne Highland, a certified yoga teacher, says, “People often chant Om 21 times with a belief rooted in numerology where the number 21 symbolizes harmony, health, and nurturer. It is considered powerful and productive in terms of energy, making the meditation more impactful.”

Nithya, a blogger, shared her experience of Om meditation. She explained, “I have personally felt the positive effects of meditating on the Pranavakshara. The internal vibration caused by chanting A_U_M have helped me clear my mind on several occasions. I have felt more energy, less stressed, and more physically able after chanting Om (i).”

Benefits Of Om Meditation

• Om meditation will give you inner peace, calm, tranquility, and serenity
• It brings you closer to your true nature and increases your self-awareness.
• It will make you open-minded and treat others without any prejudice
• Om meditation is healing and will keep you healthy
• It increases your creativity and ingenuity and promotes emotional wellbeing.
• Your spinal cord improves
• It detoxifies your body by getting rid of the toxins, keeping you young and fresh
• Chanting Om purifies your ambiance and makes it a positive space
• It improves your concentration
• The Om vibrations open up your sinus and clear it
  
• Om meditation will keep your heart healthy and improve cardiovascular health 
• You will have better control over your feelings and emotions and look at various scenarios in a more clear and understanding manner.
• Om meditation stimulates your metabolism, leading to weight loss
• It cleanses your face and imparts a glow to it
• Om meditation improves your mind and balances hormonal secretions

Joanne says, “The practice also supports stress relief and anxiety management. The sound Om in meditation is believed to mimic the natural hum of the universe, thereby syncing the individual’s energy with the cosmos. This experience of unity and balance tends to lower stress hormones, relax the nervous system, and enhance emotional well-being.”

Did You Know?

One can become a physiological alert by chanting “Om” in mind and boost sensitivity to sensory transmission (1).

Om meditation may also help improve your sleep quality. It can help calm the mind and reduce stress, making it easier to fall as well as stay asleep (2). Joanne adds, “Om meditation, practiced before bedtime, can significantly improve sleep quality and quantity. Mindful chanting of Om creates a soothing rhythmic sound and vibration that helps induce a calm state of mind. It reduces arousal in the brain, promoting sleep onset and continuity.”

It is a natural remedy that does not involve medication or any complicated routine. Regular meditation can help regulate sleep patterns, ensuring you get the rest your body needs. Research has shown that regular meditation can help lower incidences of sleep disturbances (3), (4).

Over time, it can lead to deeper and more restorative sleep cycles. In a world where many struggle with sleep issues, meditation offers a straightforward and easily accessible solution for better sleep and overall well-being.

Now, let’s look at some common queries regarding Om meditation.

Infographic: Top 6 Benefits Of Om Meditation

Meditation is an essential practice for a healthy mind. In this hustle and bustle of life, it is vital to take out some time to reconnect with yourself. Meditation and mindfulness help with stress relief, the prime cause of many health ailments. In addition, you can clear up your mind, achieve the power to control impulses and irrational thoughts and bring mental clarity. To find out other health benefits of Om meditation, check out the infographic below.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Om religious?

Om is not religious, but it appears as a traditional symbol and holy sound in some religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Do we have to be vegetarian to practice Om meditation?

The yoga philosophy follows the ahimsa principle, but it is entirely the choice of the practitioner whether to have animal products or not.

How often can we do Om meditation?

Every day, if possible, and in the morning, preferably. Start off with 2-3 times a week, and slowly extend it to all days of the week.

What do I need to do Om meditation?

All you need is yourself and a mat. With a clear and calm mind, you are good to do Om meditation.

What do I wear while doing Om meditation?

Wear comfortable clothing that will not distract you from meditation.

Does chanting Om stimulate the vagus nerve?

Yes. Chanting Om may lead to limbic deactivation. Similar findings have been obtained with vagus nerve stimulation used to treat depression and epilepsy (1).

Can chanting Om improve your voice?

Possibly. Anecdotal evidence suggests that chanting Om may assist vocal cord muscles to get stronger, particularly in elderly people.

Illustration: Om Meditation - Easy To Do And Its Positive Benefits

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Reviewer Expert Author Editor Fact Checker

Lumalia Emmy ArmstrongCertified Yoga & Meditation Instructor

   

Lumalia is a 200-hour Registered Yoga Teacher with continuing certifications in Yoga Nidra and Kindrêd Meditation. Whether it is a personal journey or one in partnership, she uses her training to create unique experiences for people of all scopes of life to more openly dive deeper into the joy of a life lead by self-discovery.

Read full bio of Lumalia Emmy Armstrong

• 
  Joanne HighlandCertified Yoga & Barre Fitness Teacher Joanne Highland is a 500+ hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT) and MultiBarre Fitness Instructor. With a decade of experience, she specializes in working individually with neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ASD and Rett Syndrome. Her expertise includes AAC, CBT, behavior modification, and mindfulness techniques. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Highland is dedicated to fostering connections, creativity, and compassion through mindful movement practices.
  
  Joanne Highland is a 500+ hour Certified Yoga Teacher (CYT) and MultiBarre Fitness Instructor. With a decade of experience, she specializes in working individually with neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ASD and Rett Syndrome. Her expertise includes AAC, CBT, behavior modification, and mindfulness techniques. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Highland is dedicated to fostering connections, creativity, and compassion through mindful movement practices.

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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Ravi Teja Tadimalla is a Co-Editor-in-Chief and a published author. He has been in the digital media field for over a decade. He graduated from SRM University, Chennai, and has a Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition & Research from Wageningen University.

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