The power of Om

Sitting in yoga class tonight, it occurred to me that the "Oms" we chant at the beginning and end of class are more than they seem. It's sort of like a spiritual barometer and tuning fork, all in one. The first round of "Oms" are so telling. Everyone sounds out of tune. They're shifting around on the mat and getting centered in the room. Their exhaustion, their frustrations, their sucky commutes and bad days are audible. Then we do the class. Flow, breathe, sweat. By the end, when we do a closing round of "Oms," everyone is in tune. The sound is rich and full and balanced. Spiritual perfect pitch.