Om/Aum

Om (also written as Aum) is a sacred sound, a syllable, a symbol, and—in the yoga tradition—the vibrational essence of the universe itself. It appears in the earliest Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, and has been chanted for thousands of years as a way of aligning with the fundamental sound of existence.

In yoga classes, Om is often chanted three times at the beginning of practice and again at the end. But it's more than a ritual marker. For those who engage with it deeply, Om becomes a meditation practice in its own right—a way to still the mind, open the heart, and feel connection to something beyond the individual self.

Whether you approach Om as a spiritual practice or simply as a centering sound, it has a way of gathering scattered attention and marking a shift from ordinary consciousness into the space of practice.

While "Om" is often pronounced as a single sound, the Sanskrit spelling Aum reveals its three-part structure—each part carrying symbolic meaning:

Together, these three sounds represent the complete cycle of existence: creation, preservation, and dissolution. When chanting Om, you move through this entire cycle in a single breath.

There's also a fourth element—the silence that follows the sound. This silence, called turiya, represents pure consciousness: the unchanging awareness behind all experience.

1. Step 1 — Find a comfortable seated position
2. Step 2 — Take a full breath in
3. Step 3 — As you exhale, open with "ahhh" (about 40% of the exhale)
4. Step 4 — Transition to "ohhh" (about 40%)
5. Step 5 — Close with "mmmm," lips gently together (about 20%)
6. Step 6 — Rest in the silence that follows
7. Step 7 — Repeat two more times

The visual symbol for Om (ॐ) is one of the most recognizable icons in the world. Each curve represents a state of consciousness:

You'll see this symbol on studio walls, altars, jewelry, and tattoos. It's become somewhat ubiquitous in yoga culture—which makes it worth remembering that for billions of people, it remains a sacred religious symbol deserving thoughtful consideration.

People chant Om for many reasons:

None of these requires belief. Even approached purely as a sound practice, Om has effects on breath, attention, and nervous system that practitioners notice regardless of their spiritual orientation.

Om isn't just for the studio. Practitioners often chant Om:

The sound travels with you. Once you've internalized it, you can return to it anywhere.

Find studios where you can experience the power of chanting and community in your practice.