New Year's Day Half Mala

Please join Nora for a Half Mala Sun Salutation practice!

The word "mala" means garland in Sanskrit. A "full mala" numbers 108, and usually refers to the beads of a prayer garland. However, the significance of that number is rich. Along with 108 mala beads on a prayer string, there are also 108 chapters of the Upansihads, 108 servants of Krishna, 108 names for each Hindu deity, 108 marma points in the subtle body, 54 letters in the Sanskrit alphabet, each one possessing a masculine and feminine, resulting in 108 total. In our Yoga tradition, the number 108 is sacred and powerful. As an homage to a full 108 mala, we will gather to do a half mala of Sun Salutations, finding 54 strong and inspiring repetitions together!

About Nora Brank

Nora has been practicing yoga and meditation since she was a very young child. Her dad was an avid yogi and introduced her to the sun salutations at the tender age of five. These days, Nora starts every day with a sun salute and thanks her yoga practice for her health and well being. She believes that yoga can instill all of its practitioners with a flexibility, resilience and grace that they can use both on and off the mat.

Nora has a MA in philosophy from a program that allowed her to study both Eastern and Western texts. Her love and knowledge of the mystical traditions included in the Vedic texts guides and deepens her yoga practice.