Yoga...Opening and Closing Chants

Opening Mantras

This is the yoga's opening chant. Starting with 3 times AUM with deep inhale and exhale slowly. Then continue with chanting this mantra before start practice the yogasana. The meaning as follows.

 

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Om Sahana Vavatu Sahanau Bhunaktu
Sahaveeryam Karavavahai
Tejas Vinavati Tamastuma vidhwishavahai
Om Shanti Shanti Shantihi

Sanskrit to English Word Meaning:Saha- both; nau-us; avatu- may he protect; bhunaktu-may he nourish; viryam karavavahai-may we acquire the capacity; tejasvi-be brilliant; nau-for us; adhitam- what is studied; astu-let it be; ma vidvisavahai-may we not argue with each other.

Translation:May He protect both of us. May He nourish both of us. May we both acquire the capacity (to study and understand the scriptures). May our study be brilliant. May we not argue with each other. Om peace, peace, peace.

Brief explanation:
At the beginning of a class, the teacher and students generally recite this peace invocation together. Both seek the Lord’s blessings for study that is free of obstacles, such as poor memory, or the inability to concentrate or poor health. They also seek blessings for a conducive relationship, without which communication of any subject matter is difficult. Therefore, this prayer is important for both the teacher and the student.

Closing Mantras

Again starting with 3 times AUM with deep inhale and exhale slowly. Then chant this mantra as an ending prayer.

yogena cittasya, padena vācām, 

malam śarīrasya ca vaidyakena
yo'pākarotam pravara munīnām 

patañjalim prāñjalir ānato'smi

Translation: I bow with my hands together to the eminent sage Patañjali, who removed the impurities of the mind through yoga, of speech through grammar, and of the body through medicine. 

p/s: Of course this explanation was not exactly derived by me or either by my teacher. So lets thanked to the  http://yoga4wellbeing.blogspot.com and wikipedia for giving an awesome explanation.