Chanting, whether in English, French, or Sanskrit, takes a certain amount of focus. It is difficult to be saying one thing while your mind is going off on a tanjent about what groceries you need to pick up at the store. Especially if you don't know the language nearly as well as your native tongue. While English is a well developed conceptual language, we already have applied labels and a fixed understanding to English words. According to HinduWisdom.info, Sanskrit has "65 words to describe various forms of earth, 67 words for water, and over 250 words to describe rainfall." By using Sanskrit we are able to conect to a different understanding than we are used to. When translated the English words invoke a new meaning and have the opportunity to speak to us on a deeper level. The focus it takes to say the words in Sanskrit leave little room for mind babbeling. Yoga links the mind, body and breath right? Well, chanting in Sanskrit has the opportunity to link mind, breath, and mouth. This allows us to not only connect to the words we use, but also to reach a different plane of understanding, a fresh perspective on the world around us, and is a powerful way to quiet the mind. Scientifically speaking, sound of course is vibration and the cavieties in our skull allow the vibrations to penetrate are brain and different sounds or vibrations access different parts of the brain. It's practically direct access to the mind!
The word mantra has two roots; man, Sanskrit root for mind, and tra, the Sanskrit word for instrument. Using mantras, even in English, can be a tool for the mind. You can try this by repeating peace outloud several times. Notice the more you repeat peace it begins to change and may begin to feel abstract, you can continue to repeat peace to yourself and enter a deep mediation. The effect is greater when using the Sanskrit word for peace, Shanti शान्ति, not only because of it's Ancient connections but also because of the vibrations it creates.
I will share with you over the next few weeks some of my favorite mantras but for now you can simply try using Shantihi, pronouncing it shawn-tee-hee. Or you can use this phrase, Om Shanti Namaha which is a way of saying that you connect to or invoke and respect peace. Not feeling comfortable with using Sanskrit yet? English is always on option, remember yoga is a practice and we are all on different paths of that practice and practice makes progress.
If you are in a class where the teacher encourages you to use sanskrit, listen carefully and then repeat what you heard to the best of your ability. The teacher does not expect you to be fluent in Sanskrit. It may sound and feel weird but with time you'll begin to feel more comfortable. And of course, you are always welcome to talk to the teacher after class if you would like her to repeat it for you or even write it down. Happy Chanting!