Hum

Do you know why humming is so good for you?

Simple humming, which is related to the yogic practice of Bhramari Pranayama, or Bee-buzzing breath, can positively impact your heart, soothe your nervous system, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress levels.

These benefits stem from the calming effects of activating the parasympathetic nervous system and the release of endorphins in your brain. Just a few minutes of humming a day can improve your health and overall mood.  

But the benefits of humming go beyond these physiological effects. There’s a deeper, more profound significance to it.

Seismologists have discovered that the Earth itself emits low-frequency sound waves that constantly reverberate through its crust. These subtle vibrations are believed to be generated by giant, slow-moving ocean waves colliding with the sea floor.

In essence, the Earth hums.

This isn’t news to yogis. The sacred Sanskrit syllable Aum, or Om, originated in Vedic times as the sound vibration of absolute consciousness, a sonic representation of the divine.

Known as pranava, which means the “primordial, life-giving syllable”, and aksara, meaning “imperishable”, Om is recognized as the vibration that holds within it the creative power of the cosmos. It is said that the entire universe arises from, and dissolves back into, Om.

Amazing, isn’t it? That a humble act of humming, when practiced with awareness, can connect you to the source power alive within the Earth and within you. Through sound, we can enliven and embody our intrinsic connection to the living, humming body of Earth.

So, go ahead and hum, feeling the vibration resonate through your body. Recognize that in doing so, you’re doing more than blowing off some steam. You’re also tapping into the eternal, ever-present song of creation moving through you as you, and all the possibility that holds.