Mantra Meditation is my favorite meditation practice. It has supported me through decades of challenges in all aspects of my life, and I know I am a stronger person thanks to mantra.
I’ll tell you more about my personal journey with different types of mantra someday. For now, I’ll tell you more about what it is, and what it offers.
Mantra is a soothing practice of repeating a word or phrase, again and again, silently or out loud.
In the repetition, our mind rests. As the mind relaxes, so does our body. When our body relaxes, we shift into our optimal healing state.
What Is Mantra?
We sometimes choose English words or phrases and call them mantras, but those are more like affirmations or mottos for our mind. Our conscious and subconscious mind hear them & understand a positive mental message. These affirmations are useful! They’re just different than what we practice in Mantra Meditation.
Here at An Anchored Life we use Sanskrit mantra. Repetition of Sanskrit sound is an energy experience. Unlike affirmations, which affect our mind because they are words with meaning, Sanskrit mantra affects our energy body. This meditation is a form of energy medicine.
Mantras steady our mind, and therefore, our body. They energetically remove stress and blockages in body, mind, and heart. This positively affects our karma and raises our consciousness or awareness.
Note that I’m teaching MANTRA, not chanting. Most cultures and religions use chanting in some form. You’ll hear them as songs. Here we simply repeat a word or phrase.
Intention Matters
In our Mantra Meditation classes we start by setting an intention. Energy flows where attention goes, and we want as much energy as possible flowing where we need it!
I choose a mantra theme for each class and explain a little about the energy we’re working with. I believe you should have some mental understanding to add to your personal energetic experience.
How It Works
We start by getting centered and breathing as we do in all our meditation classes. I like to offer a mudra (finger or hand gesture) to complement our pranayama (breath work) and our intentions for healing.
We practice repeating a short mantra, usually a seed sound (bija) or a chakra-based seed sound. We state the sound out loud, more quietly, in a whisper and silently. By finding our voice with the mantra we get to know it a little better.
I then lead 108 repetitions* of a slightly longer mantra that includes the seed sound we just got to know. People can chant along or listen. Those who repeat the mantra choose to say it out loud, quietly, in a whisper, or silently.
At the conclusion of our practice, we rest in the stillness. I invite participants to reflect on what they feel or notice, and welcome questions at the end.
*I use a string of mala beads to count the repetitions, just as I do in my personal practice. You won’t need them for our class, though you are welcome to bring them. You can follow along with me or simply relax into the energetic experience.
A Personal Experience
Each person has a different experience with Mantra Meditation. Here’s what clients have reported after class:
“I felt the stress fall out of me.”
“Your voice is very soothing, and the mantra was peaceful.”
“I felt something shifted inside. Feeling calm and grounded.”
“I started very unsettled but very quickly calmed down with the longer mantra.”
“I found it peaceful. I can imagine myself repeating the mantra at 2 am when I need peace.”
Ultimately, we don’t have t
o believe in mantra to receive the benefits. Mantra is an effective way to change how we feel.
Curious about mantra? Contact me for more information and to learn about upcoming classes!