The Hum Sah Chronicles
I’ve decided to call my blog “The Hum Sah Chronicles” because I love the Sanskrit word “hum-sah”. It has several interesting meanings. “Hum” is the first letter in the Sanskrit alphabet and “sah” is the last letter. So when you put them together, “hum-sah” is like the alpha and omega, the first and last.
“Hum-sah” also has a semantic meaning in Sanskrit which is “swan”, that graceful bird that glides along through life, weathering it’s storms and what not (speaking of storms,Hurricane Irene hit last night). When I was at an ashram in upstate NY several years ago, a Sanskrit scholar was visiting from India who was known to give out Sanskrit names if you asked him. Out of curiosity I asked what mine would be. He asked, “What’s your name?” I said “Heidi”. “Heidi what?” “Heidi Sohng.” He thought for a split second, and answered plainly, “Hum-sah”, as if it was the most apparent thing in the world. I was a tad disappointed I wasn’t named after a Hindu goddess or whatever, but over the years this name seems to fit me.
Another interesting interpretation, “hum-sah” can be transmuted into the “so-hum” breathing meditation. This is how Dr. Vasant Lad explains it in his book, Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing. “Through breathing, you will become aware of the vibration of cosmic sound. This cosmic sound, which is the soundless aum, has two manifestations, one male, the other female. The male energy is hum and the female energy is so. During inhalation, you will feel the vibration of the cosmic sound so. During exhalation, you will feel the sound hum. In so-hum meditation, there is a union of individual consciousness with Cosmic Consciousness. Listen to the so-hum, hum-so sound through the breath. These vibrations are sound-energy which is one with the life-energy of breath. Your breathing will become quiet and spontaneous and you will go beyond thought, beyond time and space, beyond cause and effect. Limitations will vanish; your consciousness will empty itself and in that emptying, consciousness will expand.”
Breathe in “so” and breathe out “hum”. Yoga is a wonderful way to express and live in this life, spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. Simply through the breath, one can embody wholesome and life-sustaining values. As a mom, I need this and can definitely do this. Whenever and wherever I am, just breathe. Like in yoga practice, every breath counts. So in life, not one moment is wasted. Watching my ten-month old daughter grow before my eyes, I know there is no where else to be.
“So ham”, is also a mantra found in the ancient yogic text, the Upanishads, and translates into “I am that”. I am what? Something way bigger and better than my little self, that’s what. It’s very humbling to remind myself of this every morning, as I try to sit in silence and meditate. Whatever “that” means to you, be it, live it. But define what “that” is. My day goes a lot better when I define what “that” is. This morning as my daughter Lucy is napping and my husband is working in the basement, I am grateful for my family. I am love, I am grace, I am a swan gliding on the river of life (and through hurricanes). What does “that” mean for you?
About Heidi:
Heidi discovered yoga as a way to center and ground herself and connect with others when she began teaching young children in NYC in the late 90’s. Her practice started at Jivamukti where she trainined with Sharon Gannon and David Life, her first and most honored teachers, and expanded to include Alan Finger, Shiva Rea, and Molly Kenny. She completed her Jivamukti training in 2009. As a school teacher Heidi loved bringing yoga into her classroom. Now that she’s a mom, she finds herself inspired by her daughter to delve deeper into child development and teaching fun, creative yoga classes for families. She loves the balance of teaching little ones and adults. Her motto is to find the middle path. Heidi credits yoga for keeping her balanced and sane, and loves the journey! Heidi lives in Silver Spring with her daughter Lucy and husband Pasha.
Heidi teaches Gentle Jivamukti Thursdays at 8:00 PM and Lil Omm Movers Tues at 10:30 AM
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