-What is a mala?-

A mala is a decorative necklace with 108 beads or stones that you can use during your meditation practices to count your breaths, find a rhythm for breathing, or manifest something in your life. The word 'mala' comes from Sanskrit and means 'garland

Whether you're a beginner to meditation or an experienced practitioner, a mala can be a useful tool to help you find focus during your practice. For example, it provides you with something tactile to return to when your thoughts begin to wander. Of course, you can also use your mala as a beautiful necklace outside of your meditation session to benefit from the properties and energies of the stones throughout the day

The very first malas originated from India approximately 3000 years ago.

-Meditate with a mala -

Choose the mala that has the stones whose energies you want to use during your meditation session. Find a quiet place where you can lie down or sit comfortably, such as on your yoga mat. You may want to have soothing background music or have a favorite mantra you'd like to repeat silently. Read through the text below and then begin your meditation.

Close your eyes, center yourself, and take a few deep breaths.

Take three deeper breaths - in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Once you've done this, settle into breathing calmly and gently through the nose.

Hold your mala in your hand and start at the bead closest to the pendant.

Hold the bead between your middle and index fingers, then move the bead with your thumb.

Move one bead at a time towards you, over the middle finger.

Each time you move a bead, repeat your mantra or count each bead.

Calmly and quietly, try to have a restful focus on the point between your eyebrows (with closed eyes).

If you like, turn your mala when you reach the last bead at the pendant and do the same thing in the opposite direction until you've finished your meditation.

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