OM SHANTI – A Sound, A Vibration, A Call to Peace

Let’s begin with the sound that starts and ends so much of our practice.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

We chant this daily, often automatically, but what does it really mean, and why do we do it?

“You need to get down to get up!” That’s what Sharon and David always said. At first, it sounds like just a catchy phrase, but like all good teachings, it reveals layers of truth the deeper we go. The wisdom of this simple statement echoes through our yoga practice, our relationships, and even the way we move through the world.

It is not what you perceive that binds you, but rather your clinging to it that creates attachment, tension, and suffering. Cutting through this clinging is a path to freedom. This teaching is often understood in relation to the sense of self—the identity we construct and hold onto, believing it to be permanent, unchanging, and enduring. But let’s take a step back and look at this idea from a more conventional perspective.

If you ask most people what yoga is, they’ll probably say something about stretching, fancy poses, or trying to look serene while balancing on one foot. And sure, the physical practice is part of it—but if that’s all yoga was, it would’ve died out thousands of years ago. Yoga is way bigger than just moving your body.