Mantra

Om…Om… 

That’s an example of a common mantra, a word or phrase that is repeated aloud or recited silently to produce a calming, centering effect on the speaker. The term “mantra” comes from Sanskrit, where “man” means “mind”, and “tra” means “release.”¹ The most traditional mantras are Sanskrit sounds such as “Om” or “Aum,” which represent in some traditions the first sound of the universe, and “So Hum,” which simply means “I am.”

However, mantras don’t have to be rooted in an ancient language like Sanskrit. They can also be made up of any repeated words or phrases the speaker chooses, like “I am enough,” or “I choose to be calm and at peace.” In other religious contexts, mantra repetition is sometimes called “holy name repetition.”

Personal mantras can help us raise our self-esteem, feel relaxed, and keep our goals in mind. Mantra meditation — a form of meditation that involves the repetition of a specific mantra — has been practiced for thousands of years in religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, and recent scientific attention has shown the potential of mantras to be powerful therapeutic tools for both physical and mental health.

Some additional potential benefits of mantra meditation include:

• Reduced stress
• Reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety
• Lower blood pressure and heart rate
• Improved memory and cognition

Mindfulness and meditation, in general, have become popular for reducing feelings of anxiety and improving our focus, but mantra meditation has been gaining recognition as its own distinct practice. Some sources suggest that people who have trouble meditating should try mantra meditation as an easy-to-follow, simple process that delivers the same benefits as other forms of meditation.¹