WHY USE A MANTRA?
Hi everyone! Thanks for joining me :) Grab a cup of tea and give yourself a few mins to read.
My topic for this little blogette is all about MANTRA.
Why mantra’s you might ask. Well, personally, I have always found that having a mantra to go to in life is a very useful thing. At times of procrastination, my go to mantra is this “just fucking do it, Isie” and it gets me to pull my finger out and get going on whatever task it is at hand.
But that’s not actually what I’m talking about today.
First of all, let’s have a look at what a mantra actually is. The dictionary definition is as follows:
mantra (noun)
A word or sound, especially in Hinduism & Buddhism, that is believed to have a special spiritual power.
A personal mantra is sometimes repeated as an aid to meditation or prayer.
OR
Mantra is a Sanskrit term, with “man” meaning “mind” and “tra” meaning “release.”
Back to the blog…
I’m talking today more about the spiritual use of the word mantra.
If you have a sadhana (a daily spiritual practice), you might include a mantra. For example; every day, I sing (or chant) a mantra to the Lord Ganesha. Ganesha is a Hindu God, known as the remover of obstacles. The mantra for Ganesh is Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha. This means, “I offer my salutations and bow to you Ganesha, the remover of obstacles.”
I use this chant to help me work through my own obstacles and sometimes use Om Namaha Shivaya in addition to this. Om Namaha Shivaya is a mantra of salutations to Shiva or the Inner self. It’s a great one for getting all transcendental and shizz. Oh! And i use a mala (a necklace of 108 beads) so I do 108 chants. One per bead.
But you might be wondering…”what is the POINT of using a mantra?” (And: “i’m going to look/sound crazy…” )
Here are some of the benefits of using a mantra:
reduced stress
a greater sense of calm
increased self-compassion
a more positive outlook
boost awareness and improve concentration
increased self-awareness
You see?! It’s alot like meditation in terms of benefits. And if you find meditation on its own tricky (you’re not alone - it IS tricky), then chanting is a great way to get going with a daily practice. Also, with those benefits, its totally worth looking/sounding crazy.
And just like meditation, there have been scientific studies to show that chanting a mantra can produce changes to your brain (I mean, who DOESN’T need that??)
“According to a small study from 2012, mantra meditation could help improve brain health.
After 8 weeks of Kriya Kirtan meditation, a type of kundalini meditation that involves mantra, 15 older adults experiencing memory problems showed increases in cerebral blood flow and cognitive function.
These brain changes appeared to lead to:
According to 2017 research, chanting certain mantras may stimulate these changes, since chanting can help synchronize the left and right sides of the brain and promote relaxing (alpha) brain waves. This synchronization may help improve brain function over time and possibly slow cognitive decline. “
BUT HOW DO I DO IT?
OK. So, once you’ve got over yourself and the fact that you are going to make some noises that aren’t usual for you, you can choose a mantra. Now. You could choose a sanskrit mantra (see above) or you could choose something more western. Things like “I am kind and compassionate” , “I surrender to the universe”, “I am operating for the greatest good”, anything positive like that works great. (I actually prefer to use these kind of phrases during sun salutations as affirmations, as the movement helps my body and mind to connect and really get it ingrained.). If you are feeling anxious, grumpy, stressed or any other negative emotion, it’s best not to use a negative mantra (eg. “I’m not anxious/grumpy/stressed”) as its just goign to remind you that you actually ARE those things. Ditch them.
Once you’ve got a mantra in mind, it’s time to start using it.
Get comfortable. Don’t overcomplicate it. Sit cross legged on the floor, with a support behind you, or on a chair, or stand. Just find a quiet place where you can meditate without disruptions.
Use a timer. Or better yet, use a mala. That way you have a physical object to hold onto if your mind is super busy and once the 108 beads are done, you have completed. Feel free to go again if you want to. If you do use an actual timer, consider using a nice alarm noise like soft music rather than a BEEP BEEP BEEP that’s going to totally freak you out.
Start with a few deep breaths. Pay attention to your breathing without doing anything to try and modify it. Just focus on the movement of your breath coming in and going out of your body through your nostrils.
Use your mantra. Continue breathing slowly and steadily through your nose as you begin to chant your mantra. You can say it OR SING IT out loud, or repeat it silently.
Let your breath guide you. As you settle into the meditation, your mantra and breathing will eventually settle into a rhythm. Unless you’re attempting to use a specific breathing technique, following this flow may help your meditation feel more natural.
Remember to gently redirect wandering thoughts. As anyone who has been to class with me will know from savasana, you mind is a tricksy bunny. As you meditate/chant/sing, you’ll probably notice your attention begin to wander. When this happens, don’t get eggy about it, instead, just acknowledge those thoughts, let them go, and then pick the mantra back up.
Close the meditation. When you’re done, or the timer goes off, don’t jump up right away to unload the dishwasher. Instead, take a few moments to sit with your (hopefully) quiet mind. Notice how you feel.
SO. I hope you found this post at the least, interesting and at most amusing and useful!
Please let me know how you get on with any of it and feel free to comment below. I love hearing all your thoughts and comments!
Loads of Love,
Isie xxxx