- Grounding:
Inhale, exhale… Grab your mat, blankets, bolster and blocks. Find a comfortable seated position with a straight spine rooting yourself into the mat. Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze allowing yourself to dive inwards. - Choose Your Mantra:
Take a moment to choose your mantra to guide you through your meditative practice. What brought you to your mat today? What intention did you set this morning when you awoke? What emotion does your mala evoke within you? Your intention is personal to you- it can be a thought, a word, a sentence or song. Once you have chosen your mantra chant it aloud or silently. - Japa Meditation:
Hold your Mala Beads in your right hand allowing it to drape between the thumb and middle finger. Starting at the Guru Bead or the sacred stone- gently roll each bead while repeating your mantra. Repeat this 108 times, or until you are back at the sacred stone. - Yoga Practice:
Place your Mala beads at the top of your yoga mat. Allow your mantra and intention to flow through you guiding you through your asanas. If you feel yourself getting lost in the physical practice, use the intention you set with your Mala Beads to bring yourself back to the present. - Savasana:
Finish your yoga practice on your mat with a juicy savasana. You may choose to end with another round of Japa Meditation bringing your practice full circle.
How to use your Mala in a Yoga Practice
What are Mala Beads?
Mala is the Sanskrit word for garland. While simply being in the presence of these Mala Beads or Malas as they are called for short is powerful, these magical beads are commonly used in the spiritual practice of Japa Meditation. Malas have 108 beads to count while reciting, chanting, or repeating a chosen mantra or intention. They are also deeply devotional and can be used in the repetition of sacred names or words like Om, Om Shanti Shanti Shanti, I am Love, I am Peaceful, etc.
When we select a word or series of words to repeat in the form of a mantra, we’re affirming it to ourselves, allowing its meaning to sink below the surface into our subconscious, helping to shift negative vibes into positive ones. Simply the practice of asking the universe for what you want is the first step to making it into fruition.
Malas can and should be worn by anyone and everyone. They’ve beome a beloved and
intentional statement piece, inspiring their wearers to connect deeply with their inner being. They are known for their unique appearance, vibrational healing properties and ability to serve a daily reminder to live a more intention based life.
Our Malas have 108 beads, made out of Rudraksha seeds, Sandalwood or Rosewood, plus one guru stone made out of a beautiful crystal known to have many healing properties.
The 109th guru stone symbolizes gratitude and our connection to the divine. It is a way to say thank-you to all the yoga teachers, friends, family or guides who have helped us on our path to enlightenment (or at least knowing ourselves more). We also use the Gemstone Guru to set specific intentions and goals.
Using Mala Beads for Meditation
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She took a deep breath and let it go…
Belly breathing is easy to do and very relaxing. Try this basic exercise anytime you need to relax or relieve stress.
1. Sit or lie flat in a comfortable position.
2. Put one hand on your belly just below your ribs and the other hand on your chest.
3. Take a deep breath in through your nose, and let your belly push your hand out. Your chest should not move.
4. Breathe out through pursed lips as if you were whistling. Feel the hand on your belly go in, and use it to push all the air out.
5. Do this breathing 3 to 10 times. Take your time with each breath.
6. Notice how you feel at the end of the exercise.
‘When she finally learned how to let go of all the things that didn’t matter, she discovered all the things that really did. Just Breathe’
niyama.
Positive duties. Observances. The 5 Niyamas are internal practices (read: Recommended activities) and habits for daily living, enlightenment and feeling zen
Here are the 5 Niyamas and how to apply them, beautiful:
1. Purity: This is all about living clean – whether its the food we eat, the thoughts we think, the people we surround ourself with, the music and media we consume and our environment. The belief here is that everything we surround ourself affects us. If we surround ourselves with beauty and goodness we will be lighter more gracious beings
2. Contentment (Santosha)
“It’s not having what you want, but loving what you got.” Sheryl Crow said it best! Contentment is all about living in gratitude – not focusing on possessions and the awareness that happiness through materialism is only temporary.
3. Tapas (persistent meditation, perseverance)
The niyama of tapas is all about self-discipline and will power! Doing something we don’t want to do but that we know will have a very positive effect on our life : going to the gym when we’re tired, making that healthy salad when its easier to just get takeout, saving the money instead of spending it on the new dress – you get the point. The tapas or fire energy that is built up during disciplined actions is strong spiritual energy that is believe to burn up karma and impurities.
4. Self reflection (self study)
You are a divine being. When you dive into getting to know yourself on a deep level you start to see your truth self revealed : light, love and deep with wisdom: spend time alone, journal, take a few minutes to look at yourself in the mirror and deep into your eyes. You are divine
5. Devotion (Contemplation/surrender)
The last niyama is all about surrender to the divine. A higher power – the universe – whatever you want to call it. This niyama is all about being selfless and devoted to something outside of yourself.
You can practice this niyama by: dedicating you yoga practice to someone else, letting go of a “desired result”, and letting situations unfold instead of forcing direction.
Lots of love and light from tinydevotions.com xx
Namaste.
Namaste. You’ve heard it before. Maybe as a greeting when you enter a yoga class in Bali with hands at heart in prayer or at the end of the a yoga class in response to your teacher saying it to you…
So what’s it mean???!!!
Namaste. May the beauty, the gorgeousness, the light, the strength, the power, the source, the gratitude, the wisdom, the love in me acknowledge that in you.
It’s a greeting, its a farewell, it’s a way to enter, a way to close.
Namaste – we bow to you wink emoticon
Namaste from tinydevotions.com xx
Yoga Retreat Essentials with Kathryn Budig
Headed to a yoga retreat this fall?
Our fave yogini, Kathryn Budig shares her top 10 must-haves for your next adventure:
1. RMS Beauty + Ilia lip gloss, Vapour Beauty Aura Multi-Use Blush. Gorgeous organic, cruelty-free make-up.
2. Peppermint + Lavender essential oils (I love Doterra). Great for a pick-me-up or calm-me-down.
3. Quay Sunglasses from Australia… they’re so chic even when I’m a sweaty mess.
4. Digest Gold digestive enzymes from Enzymedica. Especially helpful when I’m on the road.
5. Oblas inhaler. Helps my allergies and feels great.
6. See Concept reading glasses. Stylish and flexible.
7. My iPhone 6+. I’d be lost without it.
8. A book. Currently reading Misty Copeland’s memoir.
9. My Tiny Devotions Aim True Mala. A reminder to not only keep your aim true, but to stay true throughout it all.
10. Aim True, my new book about loving your body, nourishing your spirit, and discovering true balance.
xo – Kathryn
Whats In Her Boho Bag with MB LaRue
She’s a yoga teacher + life coach, as well as a lover of avocados, French press coffee, hip hop, Mala Beads and dogs – especially her lovable English bulldog Rosy. Mary Beth Larue is the co-founder of Rock Your Bliss a yoga + goals movement inspiring and empowering others to live their yoga both on and off their yoga mats.
We caught up with MB to find out whats in her bag!
Stinky Yogi’s Pranayama Blend: I am obsessed with this blend of essential oil by my girl Stacey. The blend is peppermint, eucalyptus, rosemary and lemon.
my Rock Your Bliss mala: I love the mala Jacki and I designed with Tiny Devotions. My favorite stone is the Howlite guru stone which influences you to release stress and let go of negativity so you can create space in your heart and mind for love, creativity + bliss. The stone inspires us to receive wisdom and attunement from the Higher Self and the Divine. And the mala is GORGEOUS. (ya… we totally agree MB! :))
my red, tattered, so-loved Moleskine notebook: Oh man, this notebook has been loved up. It’s full of class sequences, musings, to-do lists, etc. I love looking through it. And the back pocket is stuffed with notes, things ripped out of magazines, etc.
my headphones: I adore my noise cancellation headphones for solo coffee shop dates. It says “I’m focused, no chit chat.”

my Moo business cards: You know how some people get offended by the question, “So what do you do?” I find this the juiciest question ever and am absolutely never offended. I love hearing what people are passionate about and what lights them up. And I’m always into building community. (Except in a coffee shop with my head phones on.

