Many people are intimidated by chanting or they joke about, "uhmmm", you know, when they practice yoga. But actually, chanting can be a nice way to center your energy and also focus in on something besides just your thoughts. There are several things about chanting. It can be loud and that's the emotional energy connection, or can be little quieter which is more introspective and gives you focus on what the chanting means and what it's about to you. Or it can be the intention focus inward, in tune with the vibration. So for example, the sound of "uhmmm", a lot of teachers/instructors choose to use this to open a practice. Normally it's with the eyes close, shoulders drop down in back, everything's stack on top of one another. Hands are usually at the heart center and you can lightly press your fingers, your thumbs, I should say, towards your heart center or at your sternum. Take a nice breath in. Uhmmmm! And notice how that vibration feels as it goes through your chest and throughout your body. There's the calming effects from chanting which usually can come the nerves, center the mind, help you find more focus to begin your yoga practice.