Salutations! This week I'd like to teach you how to give your New Year's Resolutions lasting power! It's called Mala Meditation and it is a powerful practice for manifesting your desires.
Mala Bead Necklace
Mala Necklaces traditionally have 108 beads usually made out of a natural substance such as bone. The necklace pictured here has beads made out of Rudraksha seeds (my personal favourite) which are found in India and Indonesia. There is always a tassel or "Guru Bead" which represents the beginning and end of your mantra practice.
Once you've found a male necklace that resonates with you (I like the simplicity of the malas created by Okanagan based company Ahimsa Om), pick a mantra that represents what you are working on. Historically, mantras are powerful Sanskrit phrases invoking an ancient deity however there are no rules that state you can not pick an English affirmation or word of your choice if it holds meaning for you.
“Om Sri Rama Jai Rama Jaya Jaya Rama”
Some sample Sanskrit mantras that hold power:
“Om Namah Shivaya”
Mantra to Combat Negativity
“Sat Nam”
Mantra to help during times of change- removes all that is no longer useful.
“Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu”
Truth is my identity.
“Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha”
May the whole world attain peace and harmony. And finally, the mantra I am currently using in my own mala practice:
Mantra to remove obstacles and bestow wisdom.
On my last yoga retreat to Bali, we bought all the supplies to make and personalize mala necklaces for every yogi! It was an afternoon of Arts and Crafts Yoga Style!
Now that you've found the mantra that is most appropriate for your current situation, find a comfortable seated position, take a couple of deep breaths to clear the energy, and place the guru bead of your mala necklace over the middle finger of your right hand. Place your thumb on the bead, chant your mantra, then push the bead away with your thumb to find the following bead. Continue in this manner through all 108 beads until your thumb comes back to your guru bead, Repeat this process every day for 40 days. Once complete, your mantra will have manifested. Please keep in mind that if you accidentally miss a day, you must start again on day 1! Also ensure that you are wearing your necklace for the greater part of your day during your 40 day practice.
Good luck yogis! And don't hesitate to contact me if you need any advice or help!!
rock on,
l.e. martini
Source: Everything I have learned about mala and mantra practice comes from my travels in Bali, my yoga training with Sonya Thomlinson from Trinity Yoga Center, and my SOYA yoga training with Kamala Wilkie from Purple Lotus Yoga.