Before we jump any further into this blog post, we first think that it would be a good idea to talk you through what shanti means – as if you’re already familiar with yoga, then we’re sure that you’ll have heard this term frequently used in class.
Essentially, Shanti is a sanskrit word that basically translates to peace.
Most commonly used in Hindu and Buddhist practices (as well as sometimes Jain practices, too) Shanti is commonly chanted three times in order to represent peace in the body, mind and the spirit.
Besides having a beautiful meaning, it is also worth noting that when chanted, many people remark at how calming and peaceful it sounds, too.
In addition to this, you might also be interested to learn that in Hinduism, the term Om Shanti is also commonly used as a way to greet others, and is often used very similarly to the way that the term Namaste is used.
To help give you a better understanding of this term, the term Om Shanti is loosely translated to the sentence “May peace be with you.” In addition to this, there is also a common chant used in Hinduism along with Shanti, which is Om Shanti.
This chant is one of the most commonly used chants that incorporates this term, and is often used to achieve the following purposes:
- In order to cleanse and purify the body.
- To relieve the mind of stress.
- To touch the soul and help connect the body with the higher self.
The Shanti mantra isn’t used exclusively in Hinduism and Buddhism, as it is also commonly incorporated into yoga practices in order to help increase feelings of wellbeing and relaxation, while also providing the opportunity to tap into mindfulness a little more.
Besides that, you might also be interested to learn more about Yoga Shanti, which is a slight variation from general yoga and places more emphasis on peace. This brings us to our next section:
What Is Yoga Shanti?
Now that we have uncovered what shanti is, we are now going to be taking a closer look at what yoga shanti is.
As we have already mentioned above, shanti is a term that translates to “peace” which means that this specific form of yoga practice focuses heavily on wellbeing, nourishment of the soul and, of course, promoting feelings of peace in all areas of life.
When done correctly, yoga shanti has the ability to encourage individuals to rid their mind and bodies of stress, all the while helping to relieve general feelings of achiness and tireness from everyday life.
Along with this, yoga shanti also focuses on helping the body to relieve a number of different ailments, while also incorporating practices that are able to lower adrenal stress.
Thanks to this, those that practice yoga shanti often remark feelings of relaxation and calmness in all areas of their lives, not just while having a yoga session.
In addition to the above, the main purpose of yoga shanti is to encourage individuals to deal with their emotions in a balanced and productive way.
Many yoga shanti classes incorporate a variety of different guided meditations that have the ability to have a cathartic effect by helping to increase mindfulness, which then allows individuals to tap into their emotions and higher self.
Not just that, but unlike general yoga practices, yoga shanti is unique because it also incorporates a range of different asanas which have the ability to strengthen the body while simultaneously loosening it up and increasing general flexibility.
One of the biggest asana techniques that yoga shanti incorporates is pranayama, which is a form of guided meditation that helps individuals to tap into past or ongoing problems and then release any negative feelings associated with it.
With all of this being said, it is worth keeping in mind that yoga shanti places more emphasis on healing, feelings of peace and a more positive outlook on life as opposed to body strengthening and fitness.
The main purpose for yoga shanti is to encourage the individual to let go of negative thoughts, emotions and stress that may be hindering their quality of life, all the while helping them to live more freely.
Due to this, along with yoga shanti sessions, many individuals that practice this unique form of yoga are often encouraged to participate in a variety of different things that bring them joy in general life – such as going to their favorite dance class, taking the time to do more reading, spending more time with their friends and much, much more.
Anything that has the power to offer a therapeutic experience is encouraged alongside classes.
The Bottom Line
There we have it. To sum up all that we have talked about above, “Shanti” is a popular sanskrit term used with yoga in general.
It means peace, and is often used in all forms of yoga practice to refer to peace of the mind, body and soul.
Along with this, there is also a type of yoga known as Yoga Shanti, which is slightly different from general yoga and places more emphasis on the soul, as well as general wellbeing.
While yoga shanti might not necessarily be the right yoga practice for all, it certainly is a great option to try for those who want to tap into their mindfulness, experience full body relaxation and to promote general feelings of peace.
When done correctly, yoga shanti has the ability to encourage individuals to practice feelings of calmness in all situations, as well as promoting them to engage in activities that make them feel nourished on a soul level.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, we hope that it has been helpful to you.
The positive effect yoga had on me was indescribable. Every aspect of my life improved, from social to mental, physical to emotional.
I want my website to help more people get into the world of yoga and teach them how to be present for themselves - even if that’s just for a few minutes a day.
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