USA, November 5, 2011 (www.care2.com, by Delia Quigley): As yoga has grown and spread throughout the West, chanting the sacred Sanskrit words has spread right along with it. Chanting or singing your prayers has been a vital part of worship in every religion worldwide. It is done to soothe and quiet the mind, awaken spiritual energy and heal the body. While many people seek release from stress in mind-altering substances or activities, the simple act of chanting can calm the nervous system and relieve stress in the body-mind, creating feelings of well-being and oftentimes pure bliss.
Chanting affects your body-mind by the sound vibrations that resonate throughout your body. According to research done by Alfred Tomatis of the French Academy of Science and Medicine, chanting has a therapeutic effect on the individual by activating the body’s natural healing process. He recommends chanting as an aid for overcoming addictions such as smoking, drugs and alcohol.
Research conducted by Dr. Alan Watkins of the Imperial College, London, reveals that chanting slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure. Even just listening to others’ chanting helps to normalize the adrenalin and cholesterol levels in the body.
A simple and effective way to begin your practice is to chant the sound of Om, the primordial vibration from which the universe came into being. According to the Yajur Veda, Om represents all of our past, present and future.