Namaste' Sandy Carmellini
A Bit About Chanting
Chanting is an ancient form of dialogue
with the Divine
Yoga stems from Hinduism, but Chanting
isn’t just for Hindu’s, you’ll find this form in Judaism,
Christianity, Native American Indians.
In Yoga all the practices—asana,
meditation, pranayama, etc. all lead us closer to merging
with the Divine. Chanting is no different.
When we Chant, the mind quiets. The
word MANTRA actually breaks down to MAN, which means “mind,”
TRA, which means “free from.” “To free the mind”
Chanting is also a form of Bhakti
(devotional) yoga—another way to get closer to the Universal
Supreme Spirit.
Vocalizing frees our voices (fifth
chakra). Opens our hearts, and revitalizes our life force or
“Prana.”
It works on an energetic level. Sounds
produce physical vibrations and this is powerful when paired
with intention. Imagine, these sounds, this positive energy
have been repeated and put out into the universe for
thousands of years—they have accumulated, and you add to
them each time you chant. The chants become more unique and
beautiful with time
Chanting can be as simple as “OM”—the
sacred sound of the universe, Om Mani Padme Hum (Tibetan
chant), Om Namaya Shivaya (honoring Shiva), to more advanced
chants like the Gayatri Mantra (one of the most powerful and
oldest mantras) or the Yoga Sutras (185 Terse Aphorisms by
Patanjali).
Don’t worry about staying in tune or
getting the words exactly right. Self-consciousness has no
place in chanting. Don’t be afraid to close your eyes and
sway to the rhythm. The point is to lose yourself in the
words and the rhythm as you reach another level of
awareness. When in a room with others you’ll feel the
energy rise with the sounds. Free your voice, free your
mind and find yet another way to transformation!
Let’s Chant!!!
