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Is there a Right or Wrong way to Chant OM? (The Most Frequently Asked Questions Mantra Teachers Get)
All About Aum...
This blog post is adapted from aĀ mini masterclass all about Aum. that I taught recently,
Known as the mantra of all mantras, Aum carries immense therapeutic benefits and is a cornerstone of mantra practice, a sound healing practice, most yoga classes, and definitely kīrtans!
This post compiles some of the most frequently asked questions I've received about Aum in my 10 years of teaching teachers (and nearly 30 years of being a mantra nerd!), along with some of my practical insights on chanting.
What Is Aum?
Aum is an audible echo of an inaudible ...
Why Are Mantras Chanted 108 Times?
Have you ever wondered why mantras are traditionally repeated 108 times?Ā In all of my years of teaching Sanskrit mantra meditation to beginners and at workshops & festivals all over the world, this is one of my most common frequently asked questions. Normally, I just say that "it's traditional" because to delve into all of the reasons why mantras are changed 108 times is kinda nerdy, and to some people, kinda woo-woo! (And I like to keep things fact-based, evidence-based, and rational when I'm working with the therapeutic power of sound and mantra.)
However, to satisf...
Chanting for Peace in the Middle East: Can Sound Healing Help?
I attended a memorial for the victims of the October 7 Hamas attack last night, and it was REALLY good to be with community and feel the ripples of pain and prayers and hope for peace.
Itās easy to become numb and overwhelmed by the staggering numbers and each human beingās story is soā¦ human. Shutting down is an evolutionary efficiency mechanism to enable us to survive, and I forgive myself that luxury sometimes.*
Right now I have friends, students, and friends of friends who died at Nova, who have fled Gaza, Northern Israel, and Lebanon, who are hopefully not getti...
The Science Behind Om Chanting with Dr. Hemant Bhargav, Chief Scientist at NIMHANS
Ever wonder happens in your brain when you're chanting OM?
Watch the video below! Chief Scientist for India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience, Dr. Hemant Bhargav, explores the fascinating intersection of ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience in his research on the effects of chanting Aum.
āWhat we observed was that when the subjects chanted Aum, there was a deactivation of the limbic system of the brain, particularly in the amygdala. We know that the amygdala is the primal area of the brain, which is associated with emotions like fear and the ...
What is Mantra Yoga?
Mantra yoga, a simple definition for ordinary people:
I was on the phone once with tech supportĀ for my web hosting service. The guy (who soundedĀ like a nice Southern California surfer) was looking at my website, and asked, āWhat's aĀ mantra?"
IĀ said, āItās a collection of sounds or words thatĀ you repeat over and over to yourself as a form ofĀ meditation, either out loud or silently inĀ your mind.āĀ
And he said, āSo kind a like āthink happy thoughts?' "
Laughing, I replied, āSort of. If you repeat oneĀ happy thought over and over again, it would beĀ a form of mantra medi...
Top 10 Unpopular Insights into Sound Yoga Therapy, Mantra, Kirtan & Sound Healing
Yep, you read that right! Here's a collection of some of my slightly shocking, radically empowering views on the current state of all things sound and mantra, kÄ«rtan and nÄda yoga, vibrational sound healing therapy etc.
1. Radical analogy about Sanskrit anatomy (and why you don't want to miss out!)
2. Why I don't play the guru card?
3. Is kīrtan a cringy word for you?
4. My mantra "OH S*^T!" moment that changed my life
5. I am not the Sanskrit police but I DO want YOU to FEEL the SOUND
6. 50 years of chanting and a Sanskrit PhD but never had a mystical connection experienc...
Is it OK to mix mantras? Do we risk cultural appropriation or misuse of mantra?
For chant leaders and mantra recording artists, the question of mixing mantras for chanting is one that has intrigued many, prompting inquiries about the permissibility of blending deities and languages in spiritual practice. For some, the idea of combining "oį¹ namaįø„ ÅivÄya" with "wahe guru" in a single chant may feel intuitively right, but is it ethically sound? Let's delve into this complex topic, which I also cover in depth in my sound and mantra teacher training course.
Q. (From a graduate of our 500hr Sound & Mantra Training course who teaches mantra workshops ...
10 Educational Standards to Look For in Sound Healing & Mantra Trainings
Are you seeking sound healing training to enhance your practice or professional repertoire? Yay! There are hundreds of sound healing courses available, but not all are created equal!
(If you cringe when someone attends a weekend workshop and then calls themselves a certified sound healer, then the following month they have their own training certification course... this article is for you!)
Here are 10 things to look for in a sound and mantra training!
We've been to LOTS of them, and have addressed some of the common pitfalls and icks that sound healers and mantra l...
Is it OM or AUM? Which is correct?
In my Sanskrit mantra workshops and sound healing yoga training coursesĀ around the world, one of the most common questions I hear is about the timeless mantra OM. It can be written in different ways, and there is a lot confusion about it, because different teachers like to share what has worked well for them, but they might not know the experience of others.
Especially with a mantra like OM, itās important to understand different perspectives and open ourselves up to the direct magical experience of the sound, rather than get limited by dogmatic ideas.
Therefore, Iā...
Panchakarma in India: The Best Packing List for Ayurvedic Treatments
Iāve done pancha karma in India several times over the past 15 years.
Some of the most common questions I get from people who want to learn nada yoga and mantra with me -- and from friends/family who know I've been visiting India for 25 years and have gotten several panchakarma Ayurveda treatments in India and countless Ayurvedic massages -- are:Ā
"Where should I go for panchakarma?"
"What is panchakarma in India like"
"How do I prepare? What should I bring for panchakarma in India"
Yes, people ask me about where to study mantra and nÄda yoga in India, too, but surpr...
