Mantra

Last night I taught a class that culminated in the "So-Hum" mantra. I'm always a little nervous teaching mantra because I'm never sure how my students will react to it. I really should know better. I have never yet taught a class where nobody has joined in and last night my students chanted loud and clear!

Mantras are sounds that are meant to reflect the energy of the divine within us all. The word "mantra" itself is made up of two sanskrit words; "man" -- to reflect, "tra" -- agent of. An agent of reflection. A practice that helps us to bring our attention inwards, leading us towards self-study.

They can be complicated Sanskrit poems or simple monosyllabic sounds. The "So-Hum" mantra falls into this later category. It simply means "I am that" confirming and affirming our existence in the universe. It is non-religious, non-denominational and feels rather wonderful to chant. Beginning sitting in a comfortable cross legged position with the hands in chin mudra (forefinger and thumb together, backs of the hands resting on the thighs) we listened to our breath. Then, allowing the arms to rise up and lower down with the rhythm of our breath we chanted "So" and then "Hum" on alternate exhalation for about 10 rounds, eventually coming to sitting still again and hearing the mantra internally. The mind will come to stillness as there is nowhere else to go except deeply into the essence of the sound, other thoughts can dissolve into the vibration of the chant.

But what has this to do with scoliosis you ask?! Well simply put mantra helps us to extend the breath. Initially we extend the exhale as we make the sounds longer and longer, which in turn automatically helps us to extend the inhale. By the time we come back to sitting in stillness, the chant an internal vibration, our breath is long, steady and even; so important for those of us with limited thoracic capacity.