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I'm not religious and I always feel a bit weird doing the Om at the beginning and end of classes. I don't think I've ever really been told what it means and it does sort of feel religious as most of the time we say it with our hands in a prayer pose. So my question is I guess, if you don't believe in anything should you still do this Om?

No Om is not religious, yoga is not religious. That's part of why I think it's so great. YOu can come with any belief and still do yoga. If you don't want to do the Om then don't do it.

Yoga is not a religion - it came out of India but is not a forum of Hinduism. As Mummayoga says anyone can practice it, Christians, Buddhists, Jews and atheists.

There is certainly a spiritual side to yoga but you don't have to subscribe to any particular belief to benefit from it. Yoga allows us to 'take what we need from the practice and ignore the rest' approach and there are not too many people that can argue with that !

If chanting Om doesn't strike a chord with you, then don't do it (chant something else a loving thought, world peace or don't chant at all). This is one of the beauties of yoga, there are so many practices and ways of changing or modifying them that nearly everyone's needs can be met.

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I've had OM explained to me as the hum of the cosmic motor. The vibrationary essence of the entire universe, and the root of all mantra's.

From a scientific point of view, everything is made up of matter and energy. Matter vibrates at a specific frequency, causing our senses to perceive it as a specific "thing", be it solid, liquid or gas. Sound waves cause matter to vibrate at different frequencies, and can affect the way that different molecules behave.

When OM is chanted at the beginning of a class, it connects with the resonance of the universe, and is very grounding.

I recently took part in what is called an OM healing circle. We were in a group of 12, 8 sat in a circle facing inwards and 4 sat in the centre facing outwards. We chanted OM, in our own rythm, so that the OM's were overlapping, for a period of 45 minutes approx. Every 15 minutes, we rotated who was sat in the centre. It was an interesting experience, it really brought home the vibrationary power of the OM.

This sounds pretty cool Reuben, I'd like to try that. I've never experienced anything like this but can you explain how it made you feel? For example was it tiring?

Not so much tiring, almost a self supporting practice (it could have gone on indefinately, apart from my seated posture became a little uncomfortable). I felt like my voice was lost for a while. There were sounds of flutes & bells. But internal sounds, not external, if that makes sense? There was a definate feeling of connectedness with my fellow yogis, but on a widerscale than just those in the room with me, almost like with everyone that ever chanted Om. (not too cosmic for you guys I hope!)

I really "felt" the vibration, like, Ok, forgive me for referencing dance music, not everyone will get this, but I used to go raving when I was a bit younger, and used to go out to drum & bass music. there were times when, on the dancefloor, a really bassey track would come on and you'd feel it hit your heart & your gut. It was a bit like that, but without the drugs. And the drum & bass. And the sweaty dancefloor

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DaceYoga

Helen this is an interesting discussion you've started . There is much confusion about OM. OM is the mantra of assent. It means yes and affirms and energizes whatever we say after it. That is why all mantras begin with OM.

OM is also the mantra of ascent and causes our energy to rise upward into the infinite. OM is expansive and increases the fire, air and ether elements, particularly ether. It also gives strength, protection and grace. It connects us with the guidance power of the inner Guru.

Chanting it in circles or at the beginning or end of sessions is a powerful experience as you've heard from the guys above. The beautiful thing about Om is that you can take from it what you'd like. The more indepth thinking behind it or just that it sounds beautiful when it's said by one or many.

It just makes me feel good. Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm