Mala beads help promote mindfulness in yoga and meditation. Their intention is to help you with mantra repetition. A mantra is a word or sound. Om is a traditional one you can use or you can create your own. Japa means 'mutter' in Sanskrit and mala is a type of prayer beads that were traditionally used for centuries by a range of religions. We don't need to have any religious affiliation to use them today. Think of them as a modern day prop for modern day wandering minds with the aid to keep the mind focused during meditation. They are a powerful tool that guide and enhance a mindful practice.
A mala string has 108 beads plus a guru bead and a tassle.
In it's simplest form meditation is about remaining present while the stream of consciousness rolls along. It's about resting your attention on something that's helpful like the sensations of breath and breathing. Or you can rest your awareness on the sensation and movement of your body and feet while out walking. A favourite of mine when I'm walking in nature is to carry my mala beads. Draping them over my wrist, smoothly gliding over each mala bead, counting each one in turn.
I rest my awareness on feeling into and noticing each bead; training my focus to remain on the sound and sensation of each mala bead I roll between my finger and thumb.
One of the aspects of meditation is that it brings us closer to our immediate experience. Meditation connects us to this, present moment. But if our immediate experience is difficult, perhaps due to having exchanged angry words, feeling emotionally charged, or perhaps we've experienced an injustice, stillness and quiet may not serve you best. In that instance drawing closer to our immediate experience can cause us to experience a feeling of overwhelm.
Exhaling softly slows down the heart rate, if you can lengthen your next exhale for just a bit longer, we start to create that pause from being reactive to just being. While situations in the past may not have been ideal and worries about the future can cause us distress, in this moment we have our breath. With one conscious exhale we can begin our pause, our chance to reset our internal landscape - that's where it starts, with the breath in the here and now, fully present, and fully connected to self.
Meditation starts with mindfulness. Using mala beads may help us maintain an inner connection, so that mind, body and breath are working in unison. Concentration makes the mind stronger, just like weight lifting makes the body stronger. By concentrating the mind fully on one object or another flexes a mind muscle making it more patient, more flexible and more aware. Having something to do with our hands reminds us that we are all right now. To be mindful is to be in the present moment. We are ok. There are 108 beads. One complete breath per bead. I wonder if just for now that's where you would benefit from placing your attention.
The repetitive movement of your fingers across the beads grounds you. Touching each bead as you say a mantra helps you keep track of how many times you have repeated it. The medium from which they are made - rosewood are soothing to the touch. Enjoy using this powerful tool that can guide and enhace a mindful practice. Om, Om, Om...
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