In Sanskrit, "So" means "That" and "Ham" means "I". Together, it translates to or "I am part of the Divine Creation." It is considered the natural vibration of the breath. When you inhale, the sound is "So." When you exhale, the sound is "Ham."
Breath-based meditation techniques have migrated from oral guru–shishya traditions to mass-market digital formats. Sudarshan Kriya involves specific breath cycles (ujjayi, bhastrika, and “aa” – “oo” – “mm” chanting), while Soham is a spontaneous or practiced mantra aligned with inhalation (“So”) and exhalation (“Ham”).