Wouldn’t it be great if you had a tool you could count on to instantly relax you and lift you up? A mantra is a sound tool that with repetition can shift the charge on your nervous system, and all you need is your own voice and a little guidance.

What you hear has a powerful effect. Think about how the howl of a coyote on a long, dark night can give you the chills, or the sound of a cat purring can relax you.

Sound is a form of vibration. Vibration changes the molecular structure and shape of water. The human body is made of 60% water, so sound has a strong effect on the shape of our inner environment.

Studies show that certain sounds can have a beneficial effect on the inner functioning of humans and plants. Farmers assisted by the China Agricultural University increased crop output by 15 percent by placing loudspeakers in the fields and playing repetitive Buddhist mantras. And experiments by Maseru Emoto, Japanese author and pseudoscientist, showed that water exposed to negative sounds or thoughts created chaotic formations when frozen, whereas water exposed to mantras, prayers, or positive thoughts formed beautiful, organized, and striking images.

The word mantra can be broken down into two parts: “man,” meaning mind, and “tra,” meaning transport. A mantra is a sound tool to transport your mind and relieve your stress. Most mantras are made up of seed sounds from the ancient language of Sanskrit. They’ve been used since ancient times to relieve stress and heighten present moment awareness.

Mantras create a single, powerful vibration. With repetition, the vibration of a mantra will override any disorganized smaller vibrations. These smaller vibrations are absorbed by the single vibration of the mantra. When the vibration of the mantra fills your body and mind, your mood is relaxed and elevated.

The mantra that is most familiar here in the West is OM. According to Vedanta Buddhism, OM is the sound of the vibrating Universe. It is a frequency of energy that connects and joins all things in a field of unlimited potential. It is not short and sharp; it lingers and is flowing. It is constant.

OM is pronounced A-U-M when chanted. When done properly, the sound reverberates from the pelvic floor to the crown of the head, filling the body with the pulsating energy of peace. To begin, sound the first two syllables A-U. Open the mouth for the long A sound and then form an O shaped mouth for the U sound. Now vibrate the lips together for the M sound. Return to silence at the end of your OM before inhaling for another round. A round of 4 or 5 OMs will shift your mood immediately.

For a live demonstration of how to OM as I demonstrated on NBC Palm Springs morning show with anchors Joe Smith and Thalia Hayden Farrell, visit Youtube.

OM is the sound of the vibration of the Universe. When you chant it, you are bringing the vibration of unlimited potential right through you.

Laya Raznick is a certified holistic health coach guiding clients to release limiting stress patterns so they can relax and live with more inspiration, joy and ease. She can be reached at (760) 512.3399 or visit www.layaraznick.com.