What the heck is this website? Om Shanti is a blog about all things yoga. Newer students and experienced yogis/yoginis may find topics of potential interest here.
Who the heck are you? I’m Eugene, aka Ekachakra, a guy who does yoga in Portland, OR.
Do you teach yoga anywhere? Not right now. I used to teach at Bloomington Power Yoga (now Mukti Yoga) in Bloomington, IN, Yoga Groove in North Hollywood, and Super Soul Yoga in West L.A.
Can I post comments on your blog? Yes! Any and all comments are welcome. You can comment even if you are not a registered user on WordPress.
Can I be a guest blogger? Ok, if you really want to. Send me an email and tell me about yourself. It would be preferable, of course, if you actually did some yoga.
What does Om Shanti mean? “Om” has no literal meaning. Some say it is the sound of the universe, infinity, the divine, or something like that. “Shanti” means simply “peace”.
37 Comments so far
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Quite informative blog.Good luck.
Comment by surjit May 17, 2007 @ 4:07 am“OM” symbol=THE LOWER CURVE IS AWAKENING THE TOP CURVE IS ASLEEP WITHOUT DREAMING THE SIDE CURVE IS DREAMING THE DOT IS BLISS AND THE LINE BETWEEN IS MAYA
Comment by misha May 22, 2007 @ 1:30 amHello
Great book. I just want to say what a fantastic thing you are doing! Good luck!
G’night
Comment by tovorinok July 4, 2007 @ 11:33 pmYou blog says your pursuing a PhD in Philosophy. I was wondering if you have the time, I would very much be interested in getting your opinion on some ancient text and its meanings.
Comment by cat July 9, 2007 @ 12:53 amHi, Cat. Yes, I am pursuing a PhD in philosophy. I don’t study ancient texts per se, but feel free to send me some questions at esp@indiana.edu.
Eugene
Comment by ekachakra July 9, 2007 @ 3:20 pmI don’t actually have a comment this time, because I really do enjoy this blog
Rather I have a question. I’ve just started teaching yoga and a fellow teacher told me her private client said to her “why do i even NEED open hips anyway, it’s not like they hurt me or anything”
I myself have tight hips, and opening them FEELS good (even when they’re screaming at me in Double Pigeon) and i think it’s a metaphor for exploring myself, both as a practitioner and in how i guide my students.
But i’m stumped in what to tell my friend to tell her client
Help?
Comment by Shakira January 26, 2008 @ 3:30 pmYour site is one of the best I have come across. I love the videos and the creative transitions and excellent instruction. Keep it up! Peace!!
Comment by tricia May 29, 2008 @ 2:17 pmwhat do you think about the matrix trilogy does it have a meaning. at the end of the last part they were chanting om shanti om . tell me explain
Comment by kris June 21, 2008 @ 9:45 pmThanks for all your videos found the gorilla jumps useful. Any chance of a video and breakdown of the elusive lift up and jump back . I’m close but still not quite there. Ps. great page design, love the mandalas!
Comment by grimmly July 2, 2008 @ 3:48 amI love your blog! I’m a new teacher (Anusara-trained) and, of course, ongoing student of yoga based in NYC.
Your practice is beautiful and inspiring.
best,
Comment by Davi July 16, 2008 @ 1:08 pmDavi
The meaning of Om Shanti
Comment by sankar November 25, 2008 @ 5:29 amOM- represents the Soul within the body .. called ‘I am a soul’not this perishable body
Shanti – means peace
I am a peaceful soul
i love your blog! you’re so generous to share your time and energy with the world. best of luck to you in all of your pursuits
~ om shanti
Comment by tessa January 4, 2009 @ 4:41 pmEverybody knows what OM means, not that it has to “have” a meaning. It just IS. While it’s not quite the same, I always think of it like Ya Allah, but it’s stronger than Oh Allah, if anybody ever noticed. I knew what Shanti was, but this is the only place I found it pure and simple and not all garbled together with verbage. Thank you for that.
Comment by Stephens et al February 4, 2009 @ 8:09 pmI’m a fellow Bloomingto-nian and recently graduated from a yoga teacher training program. I’m looking to connect with others in the community and was pleasantly surprised to find this blog. Thanks so much for giving your time and sharing all of this wisdom!
Comment by Lisa February 19, 2009 @ 8:22 pmA wonderful delightful site, thankyou!
Comment by jina March 5, 2009 @ 6:36 amA teacher shared many years ago that “om shanti”
could also be interpreted as “ocean of peace…”
I love the instantaneous calming effect of that single phrase. namaste
om shanti means i am a peaceful soul according to god shiva the supreme soul at Brahmakumaris, they teach true n original raj yoga
Comment by kishore May 8, 2009 @ 7:55 pmI also love om shanti and connect very much with that phrase. Om means, I am a soul and shanti means peace. It is the sweetest phrase in the universe and gives so much peace and contentment that nothing more is needed but om shanti.
Comment by Carol May 18, 2009 @ 9:28 pmI found this site, by googling OM SHANTI to see what it means. I just laid some concrete over some pipes, across a path, and it forms like an entrance to the house. I felt creative and wanted to write something appropriate in the concrete before it set. And the relative permanence of concrete appeals to me (as an artist). So I wrote OM SHANTI in pebbles in the conrete, and now, all who come to the house will step over it! I’m glad it means: I am a peaceful soul. I sensed it meant: Only hippies welcome here!
Comment by Isabelle October 22, 2009 @ 3:23 pmBack in my hippie days, my wife and I developed the habit of honking our horn to each other and to friends when we passed them or their house. We would give a long(om) and two shorts(shanti) as we would pass. We do this to this day, and our friends say this uplifts their spirits and makes them feel good… connected and at peace with the universe! Perhaps you might want to try this as well! Enjoy and om shanti
Comment by Frank Emert MD February 8, 2010 @ 8:12 amHonking the horn – Frank what a wonderful idea. Love it.
Comment by sarah February 26, 2010 @ 10:19 pmI love om shanti and i am peace full soul
Comment by Rama March 19, 2010 @ 1:54 ami am a peaceful soul
Comment by kishore March 19, 2010 @ 9:47 ammy peace has been robbed by satan=ravan=maya=collective negative force generated by ego,lust,greed anger attachment jealousy laziness and carelessness
god shiva shows us the way to freedom from these negative traits thru raj yoga at brahmakumaris
hello.i m also highly inspired by ur attempt,i like om shanti.as my opinion om shanti means i m peaceul soul and u are also a peaceful soul.all soul are peace before they comes to the world.just memorise this.
Comment by surendra July 16, 2010 @ 6:29 pmI have recently been introduced to the words & the teachings of Om Shanti & found it a very powerful & spritual experience that has helped me to change my life for the better in many ways
Comment by jungle 70 July 28, 2010 @ 7:35 pmI love yoga
Comment by Ashwani chauhan October 14, 2010 @ 7:49 amDo any of the Yoga positions and or exercises have any spiritual connections?
Comment by Scott January 24, 2011 @ 1:27 pmdear or mam,
Comment by ramesh January 29, 2011 @ 11:11 pmplease i want to know about om shanti
kia ora
Comment by Justine February 17, 2011 @ 6:46 ami’ve always thought of, and liked, the concept of ‘om’ as ‘i am’
therefore, om shanti – i am peace (or bliss)
namaste x
Yoga is amazing, one day i am going to teach my own class how to do it. If everyone did yoga then i think the world would be more at peace.
Comment by Great yoga trousers February 24, 2011 @ 10:21 amOm Shanti Dancing <3
Comment by Marc Patsula March 6, 2011 @ 8:15 pmLove the blog…keep up the great work..
Om Shanti Om
Comment by newcleo June 13, 2011 @ 1:04 pmI am about halfway through my first term of yoga ever and love the way I feel following class. The relaxation at the end is the bomb!
Comment by yoga therapy June 25, 2011 @ 12:30 pmI took up yoga in January, it was the logical step after taking up meditation. Its terrific, and not just the yoga. I’m the only guy among 15 lovely ladies!
Comment by Benefits of Meditation October 4, 2011 @ 8:04 amLike your blog, very informative, thanks for sharing,
Jessica
Comment by Yoga January 22, 2012 @ 11:25 amNo
Comment by Bart E. Andrews VanderPuy January 23, 2012 @ 7:55 pmom shanti means – I am a peaceful soul
Comment by kishore January 24, 2012 @ 5:29 amthis body I am not
I come from soul world – which is nirvandham
I tske up this body-costume n play a part which is fixed
i am situated in my forehead near the pituitary gland
n i am in-charge of my body n life through generating karmic accounts my karma depends upon my thoughts n intentions
ultimately my intentions give me good or bad results of my karma
body positions have no significance related to spiritual growth
Comment by kishore January 24, 2012 @ 5:38 ami the soul must contemplate about my nature n supreme Souls nature in solitude to grow spiritually, for that i need guidance from a guru- which is provided by brahmakumaris all over the world- om shanti