How Does Om Chanting Impact The Nervous System?

Om chanting is an iconic part of yoga, but did you know that this powerful practice can positively impact your nervous system? Earlier this year, Inbaraj et al. released the results of their study into the immediate effects of Om chanting on heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of flexibility in the autonomic nervous system. Higher HRV indicates that the body is able to modulate parasympathetic (calming) and sympathetic (activating) inputs in a healthy, balanced way. The study looked at both regular yoga practitioners and those who have never practised before, and found that long-term practitioners had a higher resting HRV to begin with. However, after just 5 minutes of Om chanting, both sets of participants experienced an increase in HRV, associated with increased activity in the parasympathetic nervous system. Whilst this suggests that Om chanting can promote relaxation even in those who are new to yoga, the augmentation of parasympathetic activity in long-term practitioners was in fact much higher, highlighting the value of regular practice. Here, Heather Mason discusses possible mechanisms behind these findings, and explains why this physiological understanding may be useful when translating the benefits of Om chanting to those who experience resistance to the practice.