The meaning of Om/Aum, and why we chant it at the beginning of a yoga practice.
If you've attended a few yoga classes, chances are you've been invited to chant Om (or more accurately, AUM) at the beginning or end of the practice.
For many people, especially in the West, this can feel unfamiliar or even a little uncomfortable. It may seem overly spiritual or "woo-woo," and it's natural to wonder why people are making this sound before moving their bodies.
The truth is that chanting AUM has been part of the yogic tradition for thousands of years. Long before yoga became associated with movement and postures, it was a practice of cultivating awareness. Chanting AUM is one way of marking the transition from the busyness of everyday life into the intentional space of practice.
Before we move the body, we first gather the mind.
What is AUM?
In the yogic tradition, AUM is considered the primordial sound, the sacred syllable from which all creation is said to emerge. It appears throughout many ancient Indian scriptures and while its symbolism differs slightly between Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, it is universally regarded as a sacred and deeply meaningful sound.
One of the oldest and most important texts explaining AUM is the Mandukya Upanishad, a remarkably short text of only twelve verses, entirely devoted to exploring its meaning.
While AUM is often described as representing the beginning, middle and end of all things (which is certainly one valid interpretation) the Mandukya Upanishad offers an even deeper understanding.
It teaches that the three sounds represent three ordinary states of consciousness:
A represents the waking state: our awareness of the external world.
U represents the dreaming state: the inner world of thoughts, memories and imagination.
M represents deep, dreamless sleep: a state of complete rest.
But perhaps the most important part comes after the sound has ended.
The silence that follows is known as Turiya, often translated as "the fourth." It is neither the waking state, the dreaming state, nor deep sleep, but rather the underlying foundation of awareness that observes and supports all three. It is pure awareness. This is why the silence after chanting is just as important as the chant itself.
More than one meaning
Like many ancient symbols, AUM carries layers of meaning, and different traditions emphasise different aspects of it.
You may hear teachers describe the three sounds as representing:
creation, preservation and dissolution;
the past, present and future;
body, speech and mind;
or the individual self, others, and all beings.
These are all interpretations that developed throughout different schools of yoga/Indian philosophy. It is important to realise that AUM is old, and that many traditions, both religious and not, have honoured and incorporated both sound and symbol.
Rather than there being one "correct" meaning, they all point towards the same idea: that AUM represents the wholeness and interconnectedness of existence.
What does chanting actually do?
From a yogic perspective, chanting AUM is a form of meditation. It gives the mind a single point of focus. As the attention rests on the sound and its vibration, mental activity naturally begins to settle. This aligns with Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, where repeating Om with awareness is described as a means of turning the mind inward and removing obstacles to inner clarity.
On a practical level, many practitioners simply notice that chanting helps them arrive to the practice.
The chatter in the mind becomes quieter.
The body begins to soften.
The breath slows.
The practice has begun.
What does modern science say?
While AUM has been chanted for thousands of years, researchers have also begun exploring its physiological effects.
There is now modest but growing research suggesting that chanting Om may:
naturally lengthen the exhalation, encouraging slower, more conscious breathing and calming the nervous system;
stimulate the vagus nerve through the gentle vibration produced in the throat and chest;
activate the parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as our "rest and digest" response;
reduce feelings of stress and anxiety in some individuals;
improve attention and present-moment awareness.
The research is still developing, but it offers an interesting bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science. Whether you view AUM through a spiritual, philosophical or physiological lens, many people experience it as a simple way of becoming more present.
Why do we chant it three times?
You may notice that many teachers invite students to chant AUM three times.
There is no single universal explanation for this, but many traditions see the three repetitions as symbolic. They may represent the three states of consciousness, the three dimensions of time (past, present and future), or ourselves, those around us, and all living beings.
Ultimately, repeating AUM three times simply offers us another opportunity to settle. To become a little quieter, a little more present, and a little more connected before beginning our practice.
Why do we chant "Om Shanti Shanti Shanti" at the end?
At the end of many yoga classes, you will often hear:
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. (Or even ‘Om Om Om Shanti Shanti Shanti’)
The Sanskrit word Shanti means peace.
Traditionally, repeating it three times is a wish for peace from the three kinds of suffering described in ancient Indian philosophy:
suffering that arises within ourselves, such as illness, stress or emotional struggle;
suffering caused by others or our environment;
suffering beyond human control, such as natural events or circumstances we cannot change.
Many modern teachers also explain it more simply as a wish for peace for ourselves, for those around us, and for the wider world.
Whichever interpretation resonates with you, it serves as a reminder that yoga extends beyond our own practice. The peace we cultivate on the mat is something we hope to carry into our relationships, our communities, and the world around us.
Do you have to chant?
A good yoga teacher should never pressure anyone into chanting.
For some people, AUM is a deeply spiritual practice. For others, it is simply a grounding breath, a meditation, or a meaningful ritual that helps signal the beginning and end of class. Many practitioners don't subscribe to any particular religion and still find great value in chanting.
I simply invite you to approach it with curiosity.
After years of teaching, I've noticed that what most often stops people from chanting is plain embarrassment. Embarrassment of doing something out of your comfort zone, in a group setting. We are simply not used to making sustained vocal sounds together in Western culture, and anything unfamiliar can feel awkward at first.
But yoga invites us to become curious about those moments of discomfort rather than immediately turning away from them.
Whether you decide to chant or simply listen, taking a moment to honour a tradition that has been passed down through thousands of years can deepen our appreciation of the practice we have chosen to explore.
And who knows… you might just discover that one long, simple sound has a way of bringing you home to the present moment.