Kundalini Yoga and Tuning In to Initiate, Support and Soothe

One of the things I look forward to most when I come to the yoga mat for my Kundalini practice is tuning in. 

To tune in we sit in an easy seat, bring our hands together in front of us and rub them vigorously. This movement is meant to stimulate the nerve endings, or nadis (there are 40,000 of them in your hands!). We then bring our hands to touch the palms together at our heart space in prayer pose. With a little bit of pressure, we push the outside of our thumbs slightly into our sternum.

Now, we begin to chant the Adi mantra three times: Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo.

When translated from Sanskrit, this mantra can take on slightly varied meanings, dependent on the lens through which the interpreter is working. Some of which can be:

“I bow to that infinite God or Goddess that resides within.”

“I bow to the Creative Wisdom, I bow to the Divine Teacher within.”

And my personal favorite:

“I bow to universal wisdom, the higher power that exists within myself and all beings.”

This is a mantra of self-initiation. It’s a salutation of self. It also serves as a reminder that we are part of a larger whole. That we know more than we think we do. We just need to trust and follow our own instinctual guidance. You know, that gut feeling?

Mantras are more than uplifting sayings. They were designed to have a physiological impact on the body. In the upper palate of your mouth there are 84 meridian points that are able to be stimulated by the tip of the tongue when we chant. Different mantras create various patterns or combinations of sequential pressure on these meridian points, and these patterns activate the hypothalamus and in turn affect the pituitary. Due to this pressure, an actual change takes place in the chemistry of the brain when we chant. 

Two of the more important points to note when chanting this mantra are:

When chanting ONG, push the tongue up into the center of the upper palate. It should be vibrated at the back of the throat.

When chanting GURU, try to roll your R. This will again have the tongue hit this upper portion of your mouth.

Chanting isn't speaking and it isn’t singing, although we chant many mantras in various tunes. How you physically feel chanting in your body will likely be in the form of a vibration. Feeling the vibrations from chanting, I like to think of myself as a tuning fork, tuning in to my breath and my body.

Tuning in is a moment for us to sit, and connect with our body before starting with our kriya practice. With no movement to distract you, it is possible to notice and sink into the vibration in your body that occurs when you chant - maybe noticed most intensely at the chest (heart chakra) and throat (throat chakra). You can use this time to relax and let the vibration soothe yourself. Take notice of where areas of tension are in your body. By doing this body scan, it can help you direct your focus for the coming practice. During times of high stress, I notice distinct differences each day as to how the energy is being held in my body. Tuning in is an act of indispensable personal care. Give yourself the time and authority to listen to your body. Enable yourself to take an active part in your own healing.

Do you feel apprehensive about chanting out loud?

In the book “Your Body Doesn’t Lie” by John Diamond, M.D., he discussed how orchestra conductors have been shown to live longer lives than average people. It’s thought that their exposure to music and vibration has a part to play in this. The book also discusses tapping your chest to give yourself more energy. Is vibration one of the keys to optimal well-being? I can say from my own experience that attending Dave Matthews Band concerts always leaves me feeling ecstatic and uplifted. I wasn’t very familiar with their music the first time I saw them live and I couldn’t believe how good I felt as we headed home after it ended. I’ve seen it happen to others at their shows, too. Intuitively it’s hard to deny in that environment that there is power in vibration.

In the book “Activate Your Vagus Nerve,” Dr. Navaz Habib discusses how vibration from chanting has an impact on our parasympathetic nervous system. Chanting allows for stimulation of the laryngeal muscles of the throat and vocal chords which allow for stimulation of the motor fibers of the vagus nerve, the largest nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system. Chanting for a long enough period of time and with enough strength can be a method for stimulating other components of the nerve. He shares that this can give us better control of our breath, slow down our thoughts and center ourselves to the point of deep relaxation. It has even been shown to improve digestion and inflammation levels in the body.

With all of these points shedding light on how impactful vibration is for the body, I invite you to shed any shyness you have around using your voice in your yoga practice. Proudly chant your mantras, feel the vibration in your body. Heal yourself and in turn, help to heal those around you.

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