AUM

When summer rolls around, I like to return to the beginning of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a foundational yogic text traditionally dated to around the first few centuries BCE. This year, however, after speaking with some students, I found myself wanting to begin even earlier, with the primordial sound of Aum (Om).

Many yoga classes begin or end with the chanting of Aum. While it can be a beautiful ritual, I believe it's important to understand why we practice it so that we can honor its origins rather than simply borrow from them. Understanding the intention behind the practice also allows us to experience its benefits more fully.

In the yogic tradition, Aum is described as the primary vibration from which all creation emerges and to which everything eventually returns. The Yoga Sutras describe the repetition of Aum as one of the earliest practical methods of meditation. The mantra itself contains three sounds: A, U, and M followed by silence. There are many interpretations of what these sounds represent. One that has always resonated with me is that they symbolize different layers of consciousness and different areas of the brain. 

The sound A represents our waking state of consciousness, when the senses are turned outward toward the world around us. It is associated with speech, creation, and the material world. Some modern teachers also relate this stage to the brainstem, the oldest structures of our nervous system, which regulate automatic functions such as breathing and heart rate. Repeating Aum out loud creates gentle vibrations that some research suggests may stimulate the vagus nerve, helping the body shift toward a calmer, more regulated state.

The sound U represents the dream state, when awareness begins to turn inward. It symbolizes the subtle inner world of imagination, emotion, and self-reflection. Some interpretations associate this with the limbic system, including structures such as the amygdala and hippocampus, which play important roles in values and memory. Studies have found that focusing on the repetition of Aum, whether spoken aloud, listened to, or repeated silently, may reduce activity in brain regions associated with stress and help quiet the nervous system.

The sound M represents deep sleep or meditative consciousness. It symbolizes transformation and the meeting place of the inner and outer worlds. Some teachers associate it with the neocortex, the part of the brain involved in higher reasoning, language, and intellect. Research has also suggested that chanting Aum may increase alpha and theta brain wave activity, patterns commonly associated with relaxation and meditative states.

Spoken together, Aum becomes a practice of integration. The silence that follows represents pure awareness. Consciousness beyond thought, beyond the senses, beyond our usual understanding of ourselves.

Repeated as a mantra, both the sounds and the silence invite the whole person into greater harmony. Over time, this practice may soften our habitual patterns of thinking and help us experience a deeper connection to ourselves and to the world around us.