Om (Aum) Defined

What Is Om?

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 connected 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.

The Three Sounds of Aum

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.

Om in Practice

In most yoga classes, you'll encounter Om in one or more of these ways:

• Opening chant — Three Oms to begin class, signaling the transition from daily life into practice space
• Closing chant — Three Oms at the end, often followed by "Shanti, Shanti, Shanti" (peace, peace, peace)
• Within mantras — Om often begins longer chants like "Om Namah Shivaya" or "Om Shanti"
• Meditation focus — Silently repeating Om as a concentration practice

How to Chant Om

If you're new to chanting:

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

Don't worry about "doing it right." The sound will find its natural shape as you practice. What matters is the attention you bring, not the perfection of the tone.

The Om Symbol

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

• Lower curve — The waking state (jagrat)
• Middle curve — The dream state (swapna)
• Upper curve — Deep dreamless sleep (sushupti)
• Crescent — Maya (illusion) that separates ordinary consciousness from the highest state
• Dot — Turiya, the fourth state—pure consciousness beyond the other three

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.

Why Chant Om?

People chant Om for many reasons:

• To mark sacred time — Creating a container that distinguishes practice from ordinary activity
• To focus the mind — The concentration required to chant gathers scattered attention
• To feel vibration — The physical sensation of the sound resonating in the body can be deeply calming
• To connect with community — Chanting together creates a sense of shared practice and belonging
• To honor tradition — Participating in a practice that stretches back thousands of years
• To access stillness — The silence after Om often feels different than ordinary silence

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 Beyond Yoga Class

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

• To begin home practice or meditation
• As a moment of centering during a stressful day
• Silently, as a mental anchor when the mind is racing
• At significant moments—beginnings, endings, transitions

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