Om: The Sound of the Universe
Meditation Lab – YTT
Om is more than just a sound—it is one of the most essential and transformative practices you will experience in a traditional Yoga Teacher Training. In our Meditation Lab at SKY Yoga & Meditation in Bali, Om chanting becomes a direct pathway to understanding the mind, energy, and deeper states of awareness.
This guide explores the meaning, history, and practice of Om (AUM), exactly as it is taught within our authentic YTT setting.
HISTORY, DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY
Om is the basic tool for meditation in various Yogic tradition leading to liberation and overall it is one of the oldest forms of meditation (if not the oldest)
• It is found at the beginning and end of each chapters in the Vedas, Upanishads and it actually described as the goal of all the Vedas (also found in Bhagavad Gita, and PYS)
• Pantajali dedicates three sutras to Om, first stating that the word expressing Ishvara is pranava/Om (PYS I:27) then discussing the practice of chanting this sound while contemplating its meaning (PYS I:28) and finally explaining the benefits of continuous chanting such as the mind going inward and the removal of obstacles (antaryas)
• Om is a symbol as well as a sound, from which the universe manifested
• The sound represents the primordial vibration of the universe, the start of Everything
• It represents the essence of the supreme consciousness, the cosmic energy, the Absolute Reality, the Higher Self, Higher consciousness, the supreme being, Ishwara in PYS (particular form of purusa), Atman in Hatha Yoga and Brahman in hinduism
• The symbol is purely there as a visual representation of the Om sound
• In Devanagari it is a combination of अ (a) with उ (u), which becomes ओ (o), with the addition of the chandrabindu (◌ँ, ṃ) to represent the M.
• The crescent is known to represent maya (illusion) separating matter & consciousness
• Bindu (dot) represent the infinite/absolute Self, hidden from the individual by maya
• The Om symbol is commonly written on top of each scriptures pages as a sign of respect and to invoke a spiritual connection and protection
OM CHANTING
• Om is commonly chanted at the beginning and end of all mantras, prayers, spiritual classes to focus the mind and connect it with the divine/spiritual forces
• Om chanting is often called Pranava Japa or Om Japa, as we are simply repeating the mantra over and over (japa means repeating and pranava means Om)
• Omkar is also a term often used, with the subtle difference between the two being that Om is the sacred syllable and primordial sound, while “Omkar” is a term that refers to the sound or syllable Om itself, or a name for what has the form of Om
• Om chanting is one of the most profound and powerful meditation methods
• In Om chanting, the ‘object’ of meditation is the sound Om itself (the meaning is in it)
HOW TO CHANT OM
• Make sure you relax your whole body for Om, including your jaws, lips, and tongue
• Even when chanting Om with A U merged, feel that it starts in your stomach (A), then moves to your chest (U), and finally to your throat (O).
• Make the Om travel throughout your upper body and feel the movement of the sound
• The O sound is made with the mouth shaped like an O, slowly closing to make M
• The most common mistake is chanting O for a long time with a short M at the end
• There are 3 variants in the ratio of Om (1 longer or both equal), there is no correct way, but usually we chant A longer for energetic work and M longer for meditation
• To extend the M, make sure to release all the air from your body, tucking in the navel
• There are 4 parts of Om chanting:
- Breath in
- Chant O
- Chant M
- A few seconds of holding breath unintentionally
HOW TO CHANT AUM
• OM is often spelt AUM (both are acceptable), although because of Sanskrit grammar, A and U cannot be written next to each other, they merge automatically to form O
• AUM should be chanted with 3 distinct sounds
- A being a deep sound coming from the stomach but filling your entire mouth
- U comes from the inside of the chest (U),
- O is chanted with mouth closed, with vibration coming from the throat
• When chanted this way, the vibrations of the A & U sometimes feel stronger than O
• AUM can also be chanted with hands on the stomach and chest to really feel the sound traveling, it is a good way to practice before chanting Om as it increases the idea that O is made of two sounds that moves from stomach to chest
• A great way to chant AUM is laying down on the mat and focusing on the travel of the sound throughout the body
DIFFERENT WAYS TO CHANT
• You can practice the chant of Om (or any biji mantra) in three ways:
- Chant loudly – this is the common way done in a class or group setting
- Chant softly – very subtle sound is coming out, only you can hear it
- Chant in your head – this is the most powerful one, but harder for beginners
• It is said that a soft chant is 100 times more powerful than a loud chant and a silent chant is 100 times more powerful than a soft one
• When chanting in silence, one can still move the lips as if we are actually chanting
• During Om chanting meditation, we tend to go silent automatically within 10mins
Explore This Practice in Yoga Teacher Training
If you’re ready to go beyond theory and experience the true depth of practices like Om chanting, meditation, and yoga philosophy, you can explore our immersive Yoga Teacher Training programs in Bali at SKY Yoga & Meditation.
This is where knowledge becomes direct experience.
