oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ

experience

Take a deep breath in for 4 and out for 4. Repeat this 4 more times. Think about your breath as a circle. Inhaling up one side and exhaling down the other without pause…

Once you are done, check in to see how your body feels. Allow the tension in your shoulders, forehead, and jaw to release away as you continue reading this post. If you notice the tension start to creep back in, give it permission to release.

introduction

This reflection was inspired by a conversation I had with my mother this week. She asked me what the symbol in the site logo meant on the top of my website and facebook page. This made me realize that a reflection on what this symbol signifies and means to me might be helpful to those who read my page.

As I begin this journey into reflection and what yoga means to me, it makes sense to start here with Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ.

Reflection

When I first began practicing yoga in a studio, I found a lot of teachers ending class with some form of Namaste. They would say:

“The light in me honors the light in you. Namaste.”

This made complete sense to me at the time and I loved bowing my head with namaste to end my practice. It wasn’t until after I started my teacher training that I learned the more common use of the word. My teacher highlighted to me that in India, namaste is used more as a welcoming hello instead of a goodbye.

With this in mind, I wanted to incorporate a different way of ending my classes that more aligned with what the end of class represents: a reflection and recognition of the time spent on the mat. I wanted my students in class to feel as though the end of class feels complete. I want them to walk away from class ready to tackle whatever may be waiting for them outside the studio.

I want them to leave with a sense of lingering peace.

So I shifted and adopted a new, but still commonly practiced, ending to my classes.

Oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ or Oṃ peace peace peace

Chanting can be such a healing addition to a yoga practice. Incorporating it in pieces has helped me understand and comprehend the benefits and what I am even saying. By chanting Oṃ, I am connecting and vibrating with the deepest parts of myself. I encourage the students to do the same. Maybe a future post can relay all the vital sounds that encompass the word Oṃ in Sanskrit, but for now, let’s explore the symbol itself.

This symbol I use is the Sanskrit marking for the word Oṃ.

I wanted to incorporate it into my branding because it is one of the areas of Sanskrit I feel comfortable sharing with others. I am by no means an expert, and I want everything I share to be something I can explain. For this reason, I chose Oṃ to be on everything I post and put out as a yoga teacher. It is sacred to those who study yoga, and it is an easy way to welcome beginner practitioners into the world of Sanskrit.

Expereince

Time to check back in with yourself. How is the tension in your neck, shoulders, jaw? Take 3 deep breaths in and out through your nose. On the exhales, try adding a slight hum.

How does that feel in your body? Maybe it helps bring a sense of awareness to your breath or points of tension, but it could also help bring about a sense of peace. Take this feeling with you as you go throughout your day.