The practice of Ashtanga Yoga traditionally begins and ends with a Sanskrit chant.
The act of “chanting mantras” is considered capable of raising the degree of awareness of the individual who carries it out by bringing him to a higher level, closer to his true Essence. Furthermore, this act is strongly correlated with the breath and produces a calming effect, leaving the practitioner centered and in a state of peace and quiet.
OPENING MANTRA
OM
I bow to the feet of the Guru, which awaken insight
into the happiness of pure Being, which are the complete absorbtion into joy,
the jungle physician, eliminating the delusion caused by the poison of Samsara (conditioned existence) |
I prostrate before the sage Patanjali who has thousands of radiant white heads (in the form of the divine serpent, Ananta)
and a human form up to the shoulders, who holds a conch shell (divine sound), a wheel (a discus of light or time) and a sword (discrimination) | |
OM
CLOSING MANTRA
May all of humankind be happy and well.
May the leaders protect the earth in every way by the path of just virtue.
May there be goodness for those who know the earth to be sacred.
May all the worlds be happy.
OM peace, peace, peace