The benefits of the "OM" sound
What does Om mean?
Om is in Hinduism the primordial mantra, the vital vibration from which the universe would have been structured. Containing in it the vibration of the universe, by repeating Om you put yourself in harmony with the universal consciousness. On a simpler level, singing Om at the beginning and end of a yoga session puts you in harmony with the yogis you practice with, but also with the yogis who have preceded you over the centuries and who have sung this same syllable with the same intention.
Om - pronounce aa-uu-mm – contains 4 beats; each one includes many metaphysical meanings. Thus, the A represents the waking state, the subjective consciousness of the outside world. O (or uu) represents the dream, or consciousness of the inner world. M represents deep sleep, the experience of unity. The 4th beat is the silence that follows the sound, the “cherry” on the mantra.
How can we explain, at the physiological level, the soothing and energizing effects of this powerful Om?
Several studies have been conducted on the subject, and the results are somewhat surprising. Here are 4 benefits produced by a single Om.
1. Chanting Om inhibits the limbic system
In a 2011 study, Neurohemodynamic correlates of ‘OM’ chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study (1) significant deactivation was observed bilaterally during ‘OM’ chanting in comparison to the resting brain state in bilateral orbitofrontal, anterior cingulate, parahippocampal gyri, thalami and hippocampi. The right amygdala too demonstrated significant deactivation. No significant activation was observed during ‘OM’ chanting. In contrast, neither activation nor deactivation occurred in these brain regions during the comparative task – namely the ‘ssss’ pronunciation condition.
In short, reciting aloud Om lasting 15 seconds (10 seconds for the AU, 5 for the M) caused the volunteers to inhibit certain areas of the brain, while singing "Sss" (control experiment) was of no consequence. These areas of the brain inhibited by the Om correspond to the limbic system, sometimes nicknamed "emotional brain". The neurohemodynamic correlation of ‘OM’ chanting indicated limbic deactivation, similarly observed and recorded with vagus nerve stimulation treatment used in depression and epilepsy. So, the next time your emotions threaten to take over, why not try and sing Om (or simply hum your favorite song, without uttering a word).
2. Chanting Om activates the parasympathetic system
By increasing the duration of the exhalation relative to the inhalation, Om has been shown to activates the parasympathetic nervous system. The latter is responsible for relaxing and slowing down the functions of the body with the aim of conserving energy. Singing Om slows down the heart rate... but also stimulates alertness. In this study, Autonomic changes during "OM" meditation (2) the practice of chanting OM showed that the subject who meditated with a period of mental chanting of "OM" statistically had a significant reduction in heart rate during meditation compared to the control subjects who used a period of non-targeted thinking. During both types of sessions there was a comparable increase in the cutaneous peripheral vascular resistance. Keeping in mind similar results of other authors, this was interpreted as a sign of increased mental alertness, even while being physiologically relaxed (as shown by the reduced heart rate).
An alert mind in a serene body, what could be better ?
3. Chanting Om improves lung function
Two weeks were enough for the 41 people of this study, Effect of Bhramari pranayama and OM chanting on pulmonary function in healthy individuals: A prospective randomized control trial (3), who practiced 10 minutes daily of Om and Bhramari Pranayama (a yogic breathing practice where one inhales deeply and exhale fully producing the sound of the bee buzzing starting from the back of the throat, with mouth closed, loose jaws etc.). They significantly improved their lung capacity due to the voluntary lengthening of the exhalation during the chanting, which stretches the respiratory muscles, allowing the respiratory system to function to its maximum capacities.
4. Chanting Om helps unclog the sinuses
Other studies (4) suggest that the vibrations produced in the head when uttering low sounds such as Om help keep the sinuses open. Singing Om, just like humming your favourite song with your lips closed, produces vibrations that promote air movements between the sinus membranes and the nasal passages. This movement of air opens the ostias, those small openings or orifices that connect the sinuses to the nasal cavities.
So, one “OM” a day, may keep the doctor away !
But don’t take my words for it, you should experiment yourself.
Kalyani BG, Venkatasubramanian G, Arasappa R, et al. Neurohemodynamic correlates of 'OM' chanting: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Int J Yoga. 2011;4(1):3-6. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.78171
Telles S, Nagarathna R, Nagendra HR. Autonomic changes during "OM" meditation. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1995 Oct;39(4):418-20. PMID: 8582759.
Mooventhan A, Khode V. Effect of Bhramari pranayama and OM chanting on pulmonary function in healthy individuals: A prospective randomized control trial. Int J Yoga. 2014;7(2):104-110. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.133875
If you enjoyed reading this blog … you might want to read others in same category!
