Mantras

Music and rhythm go hand in hand with our practice of attuning our consciousness with our bodies. During classes and workshops with me, you'll often hear mantras in English, Sanksrit, and other languages, and sometimes be encouraged to chant along. Here are the words and meanings of some of chants you may encounter.

Om is known as the primordial sound that created all sounds. Chanting this sound, feeling the vibration in your chest and on your lips, recognize that everything in existence is in movement, ever changing, and always vibrating. Chanting this sacred syllable aligns you with the energy of creation.

Gayatri

Om bhur bhuvah svaha
tat-savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhimahi
dhiyo yonah pracodayat

We meditate on that most adored Supreme Being, the creator, whose effulgence (divine light) illumines all realms (physical, mental and spiritual). May this divine light illumine our intellect.

Lokah samastah 

Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu

May all beings be happy and free.

Ganesha

Om gam ganapataye namaha/ Om Gam Ganesha

Mantra Honoring the elephant headed God named Ganesha, known as the remover of obstacles. Often chanted at the beginning of new projects or journeys. Gam is the sound of his bija, or seed, mantra.

Hey or Jai Durga Ma/ Om Dum Durgayai/ Jai Kali Ma

Mantra Honoring the Goddess Durga, known as a fierce protector of all earth's children. She is a manifestation of the powerful feminine energy known as Shakti. Another manifestation of Durga is named Kali, a warrior Goddess who aids you in slaying the illusion of ego. Dum is the sound of Durga's bija, or seed, mantra..

Om asatoma sat gamaya From ignorance, lead me to truth;

tamasoma jyotir gamaya From darkness, lead me to light;

mrityor ma amritam gamaya From death, lead me to immortality

Namah literally means to bow.

Shiva is the God of destruction or transformation, but more importantly, Shiva is a name for the supreme consciousness, the inner self.

Om Namah Shivaya: I bow to Shiva, the supreme reality, the inner self.