St. Thomas Global Mala and Body, Mind, Spirit Healing Fair
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Global Mala Yoga for Peace and Body, Mind, Spirit Healing Fair
Location: Magen’s Bay, Shed 3
We are combining two awesome events into one beautiful day!
Do Yoga St. John is organizing transportation for any St. Johnians interested in participating in this event. Please call Nancy at 340-775-0533 or email her at nancy@doyogastjohnvi.com for details.
12 -5 p.m.
Body, Mind, Spirit Fair! The purpose of this event is to promote Health, Wellness and Peace in our community. Through this event we will raise awareness as to holistic healing modalities and the community practitioners who offer such these services in the VI. There will also be 30 minute classes throughout the day of yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Zumba, and more. Enjoy delicious, nutritious vegetarian and vegan food and drinks in a beautiful, peaceful, relaxing environment. The proceeds raised will be donated to Ananda Nilayam, Center for Consciousness on St. Thomas.
4 -6 p.m.
Starting with the international event, Global Mala Yoga for Peace, we will have a variety of yoga teachers leading us in 108 Sun Salutations with the intention of dedicating this practice to Peace within ourself, in our relationships, our community and our World.
The Power of 108 by Shiva Rea
108 has long been considered a sacred number in yoga and the world’s spiritual traditions such Buddhism, Jain, Sikh, Muslim, Taoism and Hinduism all have malas of 108 with Christian rosaries being made up of 54. Traditionally, malas, or garlands of prayer beads, come as a string of 108 beads (plus one for the “guru bead,” around which the other 108 beads turn like the planets around the sun). A mala is used for counting as you repeat a mantra—much like the Catholic rosary.
Renowned mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence. This number also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth: The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters. Such phenomena have given rise to many examples of ritual significance.
According to yogic tradition, there are 108 pithas, or sacred sites dedicated as parts of Shakti’s body, throughout India. Sacred texts are structured around this number of unity with 108 Chapters of the Rg Veda, 108 Upanishads 108 Primary Tantras. and 108 marma points, or sacred places of the body. There are There are many pilgrimage places within India that incorporate 108 or the auspicious 1008 as part of the sacred space such as the 108 dance postures or karanas carved within Chidambaram or the 1008 steps leading to the Devi Chamundi Hill in Mysore.
The power of 108 is honored in several different ways: mantra, namaskar, prostrations Offerings that can me made as the full 108 mala or in numbers related to a mala. There is a profound ripple effect of coming together as a mala across backgrounds, traditions and cultures.
A mala is a sacred circle, within one’s one breath, one’s community, all beings on this circular earth, in our circular solar system, spinning through our spiral universe.
Wherever you are – flying solo or within your family, yoga studio, larger gathering, open to experiencing the energetic field of the earth, the global vibration generated through all of the positive practices and actions near the Fall Equinox, UN International Peace Day and Peaceoneday (the global cease fire initiative).
Learn more about the Global Mala Project with National Yoga Month’s support at www.yogamonth.org and www.globalmala.org.
