Why we are chanting mantras before starting class and at end of class?
- In many yoga traditions, chanting mantras is an important part of the practice. Mantras are sacred words or phrases that are repeated either silently or aloud as a form of meditation and spiritual practice. The use of mantras in yoga can serve a variety of purposes, including setting intentions, focusing the mind, and creating a sense of connection to something greater than oneself.
- Chanting mantras before starting a yoga class can help to create a sacred space and set the tone for the practice. It can also help to bring the mind into a state of focus and concentration, which is important for a successful yoga practice. Chanting mantras at the beginning of class can also serve as a way of acknowledging and honoring the tradition and lineage of yoga, as well as the teacher and the community of practitioners.
- Similarly, chanting mantras at the end of a yoga class can serve as a way of bringing closure to the practice and creating a sense of gratitude and reverence. It can also help to ground the mind and body after the practice and prepare individuals to re-enter the world with greater clarity and presence.
- Some common mantras that are chanted at the beginning and end of yoga classes include “Om,” which is considered to be the primordial sound of the universe, “Om Shanti Shanti Shanti,” which means “peace, peace, peace,” and “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu,” which means “may all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”
- Ultimately, the practice of chanting mantras before and after yoga classes can serve as a powerful tool for cultivating greater mindfulness, focus, and connection in both individual and collective practice.