The words we speak and hear have a profound impact upon us. Whether it’s the daily conversations you have with friends, the songs you hear on the radio, news reports, or the words you speak to yourself on a daily basis, they all move deep into the mind and shape how you feel and who you are. From the moment we’re born, sounds and words have the potential to influence us, guiding every decision we make and invoking a myriad of emotions within us. Whilst the words we hear and speak may go unchecked for most of our lives, once we start to realise the powerful affect they have upon us, we can start to make conscious decisions as to the things we let into our ears and therefore deep into our subconscious minds. Mantras are one of the tools we can use to empower ourselves with this ability, and they’ve been used for thousands of years to do so.

If you’ve been to enough yoga classes, it’s likely that at least one of them you’ve been invited to chant ‘Om’. Whilst this mantra is sometimes the very moment some people in the room may wonder if they’ve stumbled into a cult, for others it embodies the true essence of yoga. Yes, even if today yoga is widely thought of as stretching and sweating, the original practices were far more experimental and esoteric, including mudras, mandalas, meditation techniques and mantras. The word mantra loosely translates as ‘that which transports the mind’, from the root Sanskrit words man or manas, meaning ‘mind’, and tra, meaning ‘vehicle’ or ‘instrument’ (the root tra can be seen in modern day English words like transport and travel too). In this sense, mantras are very much about moving the mind from one state to another, and have historically been paired with elaborate rituals and numerology. Chanting mantras 108 times for example, is thought to be especially auspicious.

Mantras For Mind-Body Medicine

Within ancient healing systems like Ayurveda, a range of modalities are used to treat patients – herbs are often used to remedy the body, whilst mantras are used to heal the mind. Mantras work into the subconscious layers of the mind, harmonising prana or ‘life force energy’, and when combined with actions, yoga postures or herbs, it’s said that the mantra helps carry their benefits deeper into the patient. Other than working to heal or prevent illness though, mantras can be used on a daily basis to optimise wellbeing, leading us towards a life we love, and a clearer, more energised body and mind. Read on to discover which mantras resonates with you, and use it daily to bring your yoga practice off the mat and into your life:

Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha

This mantra invokes the deity Ganesh – you may have seen pictures of this elephant-headed god before, as his mantra is one of the most chanted due to its power. In places like India and Nepal, you’ll see lots of temples dedicated to Ganesh throughout towns and cities, and communities visit them regularly to ask for blessings and boons. Ganesh is the ‘remover of obstacles’, so it’s best to recite his mantra before a big event or journey, or if you’re about to embark on a new project. Ganesh is also linked to writing, so if you’re getting started on that new book or essay, chant to him before you begin.

Om Shanti

This is a wonderful mantra to carry with you at all times. We all know the world needs a little more peace in it right now, and chanting this can help imbue your mind and your surroundings with more peaceful energy. Use this mantra when you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror – greeting yourself and the new day with peace. Alternatively, use it when you’re in a decidedly un-peaceful situation to help bring more serenity to the moment!

Om Surya Namah

The sun has been worshipped for thousands of years, and just as the physical sun brings light to the morning, it also represents dispelling the darkness of ignorance and bringing the light of truth to us too. The sun is thought of as the embodiment of all knowledge, and when chanting the Surya mantra, we send a message to the universe that we’re open to seeing the light and truth in our own lives. If you want to be doubly traditional, try chanting this mantra at sunrise on Sunday mornings, as it’s said that is when this mantra is most powerful.

Om Shraam Shreem Shraum Sah Chandray Namah

This mantra is a very traditional beej mantra dedicated to Chandra, god of the moon. Beej mantras are seed syllables connected to the object of dedication, and by chanting this mantra, ancient texts say the practitioner can absorb the qualities of the moon. The moon in this sense is all about gentle feminine qualities, intuition, calmness, illustriousness, imagination, the mind and emotions, and motherliness. Repeat this mantra as part of your evening routine before heading off to bed to encourage calmness and restful energy.

Om Maha Lakshmiyei Namaha

Lakshmi is the goddess of abundance, and being a female deity, she’s very powerful. Business-owners and those looking for good fortune will recite the Lakshmi mantra, particularly at certain points during the festival of Diwali. When you chant this mantra, hold the image of what you want to bring into your life clearly in your mind – it could be abundance in the form of love, financial security, family, or work opportunities.

“I am exactly where I need to be right now”

For days when you’re feeling wobbly or uncertain and need a quick go-to mantra, choose this. Every life experience we have is there to teach us something, whether we perceive it as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, it all helps shape us into who we become. If you notice your mind is whirling with worries, pause and repeat this to yourself.

“I am open to receiving abundance”

Similar to the Lakshmi mantra, this phrase is all about communicating with the universe that you’re ready and open. Sometimes forcing our will upon the world isn’t the way to go about attracting abundance, so let go and simply be open to receiving what the universe has to gift you.

“Today is going to be a great day”

Many of our thoughts tend to revolve around projecting; we think about what the day will bring, we predict outcomes, and we ruminate over what might happen. If you’ve ever looked into the realm of quantum physics or the law of attraction, you’ll have learned that there are infinite possibilities and outcomes, and the one we focus on the most is the one we’re most likely to experience. Try starting your day expecting things to go well, knowing that you deserve a healthy, happy life, and being open to having a great day.