Ever wonder about the beautiful necklaces you see your fellow yogis draping over their necks? While malas look like a beautiful piece of jewelry, their primary purpose is as a tool to enhance your meditation practice. Mala beads are traditionally used to count the number of times a mantra is recited, with the magic number being 108.

108 is a powerful number in science and spirituality for many reasons, some of them being:

• The average distance of the sun and the moon to earth is 108 times their respective diameters.
• There are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra.
• There are 54 letters, masculine and feminine, in the Sanskrit alphabet which equals to 108.
• There are said to be 108 Indian goddess names.

Megan Cannon, creator of Moonmalas by Megan, says the most important element is believing in the strength of your mala’s energy to guide you.

Moonmalas by Megan are made with 108 beads and adorned with crystals for an added touch of spiritual connection and energy. She says crystals, like our bodies, have auras of their own. When they interact with us, our energies connect and exchange. They can help attune you to deeper intuition, add focus to meditation, clear emotional blockages, cleanse people and spaces and stimulate creativity and ideas.

Adding crystals to her malas makes this meditation tool unique and special to each user.

There are a multitude of designs on her website in bracelet and necklace form. The necklace malas average around $70 and the bracelets are around $30. Pick the one that speaks to you and on her website she explains the individual mala’s signs and chakras.

On her website, she also explains “to begin using mala beads as a meditation tool, start by sitting in a quiet place with your mala and deciding on a mantra (a word or series of sounds that is repeated to aid in concentration). Your mantra can be as simple as “peace” or as complex as a chant you’re drawn to. Next, drape the mala over the middle finger and then pull one stone at a time with the first finger towards the heart, making your way around the mala back to the “guru bead” (the larger stone down by the tassel). Meditation takes patience and time, so if your mind wanders, simply pull your attention back to the mantra and the grounding weight of your mala beads.”

They’re an investment in your yoga and meditation practice that look as beautiful as they work.

www.moonmalasbymegan.com

Photos courtesy of Megan Cannon.

After experiencing a yoga ashram nestled in the mountains of Colorado, Lexi became enthralled in the practice of yoga and meditation, and earned her yoga teacher training at the sacred space this past year. Originally from Chicago, Lexi loves the holistic lifestyle she found in Colorado, and combining this passion with her writing is what makes her truly happy. As a Journalism and English major at the University of Colorado Boulder, Lexi spends most of her time reading novels and writing for her poetry and reporting classes. Besides this, you can find her hiking or traveling. Follow her on Instagram @lexi_reich.