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What Is Om?

Om is more than a sound. It is a vibration, a symbol, and a spiritual anchor that has been passed down for thousands of years. In yoga, we often chant Om at the beginning or end of a class, but this sacred syllable has roots far deeper than the yoga studio.

 

Vedic Origins

The earliest references to Om appear in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of India, dating back more than 3,000 years. In the Mandukya Upanishad, a text that forms part of the later Vedic tradition, it is written:

“Om is the imperishable word. Om is the universe, and this is the exposition of Om. The past, the present, and the future, all that was, all that is, all that will be is Om.”

 

Om is said to be the primordial sound, the vibration from which the entire universe emerged. It is considered the sound of creation, preservation, and dissolution, the cycles of life itself.

 

Om in Yoga Practice

In yoga, chanting Om helps bring us into alignment with that universal rhythm. When we chant Om, we are not simply vocalizing we are participating in an ancient practice of resonance and remembrance.

 

The sound of Om is made up of three parts:

A (ah) – the beginning, the waking state

U (oo) – the middle, the dream state

M (mmm) – the end, the deep sleep state

 

Together, these sounds represent the entire spectrum of consciousness, ending in silence, which represents the infinite, the unmanifest, and the Self beyond form.

 

A Moment of Union

To chant Om is to pause and tune into something vast and timeless. It is a way of centering, of returning to the present, and of connecting to the inner stillness that yoga helps us find. While it is not required in any class, it is always available as an invitation to join your voice with those around you and the vibrations that connect us all.