In the beginning, when I started practicing this meditation technique, I was just learning to chant, and the benefits were not so obvious. But then after awhile, I became aware of more and more benefits.
One of these benefits is that when you practice it regularly, you will notice that you feel happier and more relaxed, both mentally and physically.
So here are five benefits that you can get from chanting Om, and why you should start doing it right now.
It Improves Your Concentration
Chanting the mantra helps you focus on what you are saying. It can also help you to focus on the present moment, which is a great thing to do when you want to increase your concentration.
When you focus on the present moment, you are able to see things for what they are, instead of being distracted by what you think that they are. This makes it easier for you to concentrate on what you are doing.
You Feel More Relaxed
By chanting the mantra, you will be able to relax both your body and your mind. When you chant it regularly, you will begin to relax the tension in your muscles and your thoughts.
When you are relaxed, your body will be better able to perform its functions, such as breathing. When you chant the mantra, you will also be able to release any negative energy that you may be feeling.
You Feel More Calm
Chanting the mantra can help you calm your body and your mind. When you do this, you can let go of all the tension and stress that you have been holding onto. This will help you to feel more calm and relaxed.
You Will Become Happier
By chanting the mantra, you will begin to develop a sense of inner peace and tranquility. These positive feelings will allow you to live a happier and more peaceful life.
You Are More Accepting of Yourself and Others
You will become a more accepting person when you chant the mantra regularly. You will start to accept yourself and others because you will have the opportunity to take a step back from your busy day-to-day routine and have a look at the big picture.
As a result, you will be more understanding of others. You will be more accepting of others who are not like you, and you will also be less judgmental of them.
There are many different types of mantras. But if you want to chant Om, this is the one that is best suited for you.
Podcast
What Is Om?
The word OM means “all” and is used in religious ceremonies throughout the world. However, there are many different ways to chant it. If you don’t know the correct pronunciation, it can be quite difficult to understand.
The OM chant is typically performed in a specific style, which includes the use of specific hand gestures. It is usually done during meditation, and some people say that it has healing effects. But not all people agree.
There are a lot of different styles of yoga, and it can be confusing when you see them all together.
Vinyasa Yoga: In this form of yoga, you learn to move fluidly between poses.
Hatha Yoga: This type of yoga focuses on strengthening the body and mind.
OM Chanting has many benefits. Here are a few:
- Increases Oxygen In The Body
- Studies show that chanting increases the oxygen level in the body, which helps with digestion and other physical problems.
- Alleviates Pain
- Chanting reduces pain, which is why it is often recommended for those with arthritis.
- Stress Relief
- Chanting has been shown to reduce stress, and helps to relax the mind.
- Improves Sleep
- Research shows that people who chant before going to bed sleep better than those who don’t.
- Calms The Mind
- Chanting calms the mind, which is helpful when you are feeling anxious or upset.
The Om Vibration As Sacred Sound
And when we close our jaws and teeth to make the sound M, we push the vocal vibration out through our lips and end the sound – the way our life comes to an end. Thus, the sound M references the destructive force of the universe.
Spiritual tradition sees the three sounds that make up the mantra as representing the three forces by which the universe and life is expressed. The sound A is seen as representing the creative force, U the sustaining force, and M the destructive force.
The M sound at the end of Om represents destruction because it is the final sound. Once we close our lips, the sound cannot change anymore. To make a different sound, we have to open our mouth again and start from the beginning.
What Is Om Meditation?
Om meditation involves repeating the sound Om, either out loud or internally. Many people use a mantra that begins with Om, followed by other Sanskrit words. Some people also repeat several Om’s by itself to close their practice.
The repetition of a mantra is called Japa. You can set aside dedicated time to repeat your mantra, or you can simply repeat it anytime, anywhere. One common way to do this is to use a mala, or strings of beads, to guide you through the completion of 108 recitations.
Om Meditation Benefits
I had previously mentioned that when I first heard Om chanting, it had a mesmerizing effect on me. I was in a group setting, and as the voices rose and fell in rhythmic unity, I felt immediately soothed. I had limited knowledge about Om meditation and its benefits at the time.
I was shy and felt uncomfortable using my voice in this foreign way, especially in a group setting. So I joined in quietly and hesitantly at first. But after a few rounds, my throat opened up, and my inhibitions dropped away from me. I felt like I was glowing from the inside-out when I walked away at the end.
I was intrigued by the experience and eventually started working with mantra repetition myself. I often say Om Mani Padme Hum to myself while doing mindless tasks throughout the day.
I also recite it out loud during my daily dedicated practice, concluding with several prolonged Om chants. I’ve been doing this for years and I really appreciate the vocal expression—especially the Om sound at the end of my practice—as an energetically aligning phenomenon unlike any other experience I’ve had.
11 Scientific Backed Benefits of Chanting Om
1. Helps learningand memory by enhancing the theta wave amplitude in the brain.
Theta is the rhythm of the brain that affects cognition and behaviour.
This study proved that chanting “OM” for 30 minutes has the same cortical arousal effects as relaxation does. This means that chanting “OM” can improve a person’s ability to retain information.
2. OM chanting helps to reduce mind wandering and enhances mindfulness.
A simple practice of repeating “Om” repeatedly helps us to enhance our mindfulness.
Here’s a practice that I use every morning before I begin my day. The benefits of this practice are numerous. Let’s take a look at how to practice it.
I use the following mantra when I practice this exercise. If you don’t know how to chant the words, you can simply repeat the following words. You can also say them softly and slowly, and you can even do them in your head.
Om
Ek Akshara
Moolaha
Praanam
The above words have several meanings and associations. Let’s take a look at each of them.
The word Om has two primary meanings. First, it is used to express the idea that all things are connected to each other. This means that the universe is one, and everything in the universe is connected.
The second meaning of the word Om is related to the idea of meditation. When we use the word Om, we are connecting ourselves to the Divine Energy. In other words, we are connecting ourselves to the source of all creation. This is a very powerful idea, and it makes it easier for us to meditate.
3. Helps to increase emotional empathy
On the brain regions known to be important for meditation. This study used functional neuroimaging to compare the effects of listening to the OM mantra versus a similar sounding but meaningless word, TOM, and a similar sounding word with meaning, AAM (Hindi), on the brain regions known to be important for meditation. OM chanting benefits emotional empathy by activating regions of the brain involved in that area.
4. Chanting Om for treating depression
This study used fMRI in order to examine the effects of the Om Mantra on a group of twelve healthy adults. Researchers found that when the results of this study were compared with those of another study which looked at the effects of the random ‘SSS’ chant, and with the results of a no-chant resting stage, the Om Mantra was shown to have a significantly greater impact.
Chanting Om showed significant deactivation in the limbic system, which helps to fight stress. In fact, the results were similar to those of vagus nerve stimulation therapy, which is used to treat depressive disorders.
A study tested the fMRI scans using a different model to understand the directional connectivity between deactivated regions.
This study found that chanting the Om mantra had a similar effect to the one found in the previous study. After chanting the mantra, there was a reduced output from the brain’s insula, anterior cingulate, and orbitofrontal cortices to the limbic area (amygdala).
This suggests that chanting the Om mantra could have curative effects on people with depressive disorders by destressing the brain-areas that are involved in these disorders.
5. OM Chanting can help against electromagnetic field radiations
The effects that mobile phones have on the brain’s cognition and hemodynamics have been hotly debated. The effects of chanting the Om Mantra have also been debated, although in a positive way.
This study took 20 healthy teenagers and split them into four groups. The first two groups had their mobile phones on while they chanted “Om” and chanted a meaningless “SSS.” The other two groups had their mobile phones off while they chanted “Om” and chanted the random sound “SSS.”
On testing, those who chanted “Om” came out with the best Stroop scores and the least Pre-frontal Cortex activation, both with and without the presence of the mobile phone’s electromagnetic radiations.
6. A combination of pranayama and OM mantra is powerful
The study found that the group that practiced Bhramari pranayama + Om chanting had significantly lower levels of anxiety, depression, and anger than the control group. The study found that practicing Bhramari pranayama + Om chanting for 5 minutes every day for 2 weeks can significantly lower levels of anxiety, depression, and anger.
The study group showed a significant improvement in peak expiratory flow (FEF) 25%, maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), and weight reduction when compared to the control group. These results show the scientific benefits of Om chanting.
7. OM mantra helps to maintin a healthy brain
One study found that autonomic and respiratory variables were significantly more regulated during the meditation with mental Om chants compared to the session with non-targeted thinking.This study found that experienced meditators’ autonomic and respiratory systems were more regulated during a session where they chanted “Om” mentally, compared to a session where they did non-targeted thinking.
The study found that chanting Om significantly reduced heart rate, and increased cutaneous peripheral vascular resistance (a sign of mental alertness) in both the chanting and non-chanting groups.
8. A powerful defense booster for difficult times
This study suggests that chanting the Om mantra with normal inhalation and lengthened exhalation, as well as humming along with the Bhramari pranayama, is an effective way to protect the respiratory system.
9. Supports neuronal brain health
AEPs are a set of records of the amount of time it takes for the auditory system nerves to respond to sound and electrical stimulation. This stimulation leads to the rapid transmission of nerve signals from parts of the ear to the brain and vice-versa.
AEPs help doctors to figure out if there are any problems with the neural pathways leading to the brain, which is important for treating disorders that affect language.
10. Chanting Om supports visual-scanning abilities
The study had 35 experienced meditators complete a six-letter cancellation task in four different sessions. The first session was focused on random thoughts, the second on focusing on a single topic, the third on focusing on the Om symbol, and the fourth on effortlessly dwelling on the essence of Om. The third session, which was focused on the Om symbol, produced the best results.
11. OM chanting support regulating emotional behavior
The study found that chanting “Om” led to better emotional regulation by reducing skin resistance and increasing conductance.
