The Power of Prayer Beads

In this day of constant stimulation - TV, Smartphones, Laptops, Netflix, Email, Media - finding inner quiet through meditation is harder than ever. I know I certainly have a hard time just sitting alone with my own thoughts sometimes.. but it wasn't until I deepened my yoga practice that I started to become aware of the power of meditation.

Nearly every major religion - monotheistic or not - utilizes prayer beads to aid in meditation and worship. Raised in the Catholic church, I had prayed using the Rosary many times before, but I had never really thought of the use of prayer beads in other religions (like the Hindu mala and the Islamic Misbaha). But after coming across this informative post on Lululemon's blog, I started researching malas and their healing and spiritual properties... and I was immediately struck by their similarity to the Christian Rosary of my upbringing. They have this much in common:

1. Both are strings of "prayer beads", used to aid in prayer and meditation
2. Each bead represents a repetition of certain words; the mala can be used with any mantra, whereas the Rosary focuses on a specific prayer (the Hail Mary)
3. The anatomy of the mala and the Rosary are nearly identical, in that they contain a circle of beads with a "parent" bead representing a different part of the meditation / prayer.

While there are clear differences between the two types of prayer beads, the central concept is the same - both are used to facilitate a spiritual practice.

Some may argue that meditation on your own is sufficient, and that you shouldn't need "props" to meditate, but sometimes we need a motivator or a nudge to get us there. For anyone looking for inner peace - or even a quiet moment of spirituality - I would highly recommend trying out mala beads. You don't need a specific prayer or special mantra. All you need is an intention - just like your yoga practice - and your own mantra to repeat as you meditate with the mala, repeating it at every bead. The mantra can be something as simple as "Everything is going to be okay", or "I am where I need to be", or even just a simple "Om".

Unfortunately, malas can get kind of expensive (depending where you buy them and what materials they use), but I found a great store on Etsy that offers many options for very reasonable prices. Here are my top ten picks:

The Sunshine Yogi's 

Top Ten Favorite Malas

from Malas and More on Etsy

1. Rainbow Moonstone Mala

2. Amazonite Rudraksha Mala

3. White Jade Sandalwood Mala

4. Royal Blue Banded Agate Rudraksha Mala 

5. Chalcedony Sandalwood Mala

6. Rose Quartz Rudraksha Mala

7. White Jade Sandalwood Serenity Mala

8. Labradorite Rudraksha Mala

9.  Green Goldstone Sandalwood Mala

11. Lapis Lazuli Sandalwood Mala

What's more, you can get these amazing malas with 20% off, now through December 31st! Check out Malas and More on Etsy to see my Top Ten picks and more!