Malas by Amy Defigueiredo and the Practice of Japa

Grateful for the mantra and japa practice her first yoga teacher gave her, Amy DeFigueiredo began designing malas. "We work hard at asana in order to lay a ground work for a calm mind. We work hard opening and clearing the body's channels in order to allow a peaceful mind to flow. Mantra is a friend that guides and protects. Resting the mind in japa practice is a steadfast and true technique which gives the mind the support it needs to rest. Ultimately, the mind will realize its own nature. I want my work to honor the practitioner's efforts."

Informed by her experience as a jeweler, she strings on silk, hand-knotting between each bead. She uses semi-precious gemstones, pearls, and rudraksha seeds oiled with Australian sandalwood and jasmine. She finishes each mala with sterling silver or a sacred relic. 

If you are interested in her malas, please email her at threeletters.amy@gmail.com

Blue quartz and turquoise

Citrine

Pearl and agate

Rudraksha and pearl

Turquoise

Japa, repetition of a mantra, is a yoga practice and has been recommended by many illustrious teachers.  K. Pattabhi Jois spoke often of this practice, and Sharath Jois recommends 20-30 minutes of japa each evening before sleeping. 

Malas (the word mala means garland) are strands of beads used to keep count of the number of repetitions. Malas traditionally have 108, 54 or 27 beads.  To use a mala for counting, begin on the central bead which is called the guru bead, and pass the beads between the thumb and middle finger, repeating the mantra once for each bead.  The index finger is said to have a somewhat negative energy and is not used for counting the beads. When you arrive back at the guru bead, rotate the mala and go back the other way.  This prevents mantra repetition from becoming mechanical. One can also count on the fingers.  

Malas are often made from Rudraksha beads, seeds of the tropical tree Elaeocarpus ganitrus.  Malas are also made of Tulsi, Sandalwood, Lotus seeds, and precious and semi-precious stones.

Japa and chanting sacred texts are aspects of the practice of svadhyaya, which is one of the Niyamas, the second limb of Eight-Limbed Yoga as described by Patanjali in The Yoga Sutras. Svadhyaya means "self-inquiry". Mantra repetition and chanting are powerful practices that quiet and purify the mind.  

What sounds or words can be used as a mantra?  This is a complicated topic.  To learn more about mantras and the practice of svadhyaya, you are invited to attend Heart of Yoga classes at the Kentucky Street studio, Fridays at 5:30-6:30 pm, in which we discuss the traditional practices and texts of yoga, the path of yoga and our experiences. There is no charge for Heart of Yoga classes. All are welcome.

Please note that Heart of Yoga will be on break from October 2 - December 25, 2015 while Laura is in India. Heart of Yoga will resume January 1, 2016, and the topic of the first class will be New Year's Resolutions - Inspiration for the New Year.