A few years ago I participated in a group yoga mala, a yogic tradition of performing 108 sun salutations, to welcome a new year. I found the group experience rewarding, exhausting, and a bit frustrating as I tried to synchronize my breathing and movement with the group leaders.

A yoga mala is usually done in conjunction with a change in seasons and is an auspicious way to take stock in your life and set new goals with the changing of the season. What is so special about the number 108? 108 is a sacred number in many traditions. There are 108 mala beads (an eastern rosary used for meditation). It is said that if you meditate so deeply that you only have 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come. in Ayurveda there are 108 pressure points. There are said to be 108 earthly desires, 108 lies that humans tell, and 108, human delusions.

Generally, a yoga mala is broken down into series, 4 groups of 27. Each group is labeled individually as one of the four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. It is recommended that before beginning each segment that you write down an intention related to the element that it represents. In this way you infuse your yoga mala with personal meaning. I use 9 small natural objects (stones or nuts) to count. 3 bowls sit at the top of my mat and with every sun salutation I move them to the right. When all 9 objects have returned to their original bowl, I've completed 27 sun salutations.

2020 was not an easy year for any of us. Pandemic, untimely deaths, forced quarantines, vicious political squabbles, and racial tensions and injustice rocked our world. I am ready for a re-set in 2021. A yoga mala seems appropriate.

I invited several of my yogi friends to join me, informally and from their own homes, in celebrating this tradition. Tara, Mary Ann, Jennifer, and I set our time to begin between 10 and 11 am on New Years' Day so that our practices would coincide but we each celebrated the tradition at our own pace. We messaged each other during rest breaks between our series.

Series 1: "Love to you all and to the earth," I messaged, feeling very grounded.

Series 2: "Be water, my friends. Flow."

Series 3: "May you feed your inner fire with breath and movement to warm your heart and your soul and burn away anything that doesn't serve you as you enter a new year:

Series 4: "Namaste, friends. May your spirit be as light as the air that you breathe."

Mary Ann designed this diagram to explain how she experienced the yoga mala.

Tara commented, "I feel so light, and present and fluid, like a sea creature! I'm all wibbly wobbly in the most incredible way."

And I feel a most satisfying looseness in my body and soul to take me into 2021. The tensions of the old year have been released. Lessons learned will not be forgotten. I hope to celebrate this tradition at the beginning of every new year, together with friends, but breathing and moving at my own special pace.

A Yoga Mala is an ancient yogic tradition of doing 108 sun salutations. It is usually done in connection with a change in season. A Yoga Mala is an auspicious day to take stock in your life and set new goals in conjunction with the changing season. What is so special about the number 108? 108 is a sacred number in many traditions. There are 108 Mala Beads (an eastern rosary used for meditation). It is said that if you meditate so deeply that you only have 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come. In Ayurveda there are 108 pressure points. There are said to be 108 earthly desires, 108 lies humans tell, and 108 human delusions. Generally, a Yoga Mala is broken down into series, 4 groups of 27. Each group is labeled individually as one of the 4 elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Before commencing each set, take the opportunity to write an intention associated with the upcoming element. This is a great way to infuse your Yoga Mala with personal meaning. In numerology 108 equals the number 9 which symbolizes universal love, awakening and eternity.A Yoga Mala is an ancient yogic tradition of doing 108 sun salutations. It is usually done in connection with a change in season. A Yoga Mala is an auspicious day to take stock in your life and set new goals in conjunction with the changing season. What is so special about the number 108? 108 is a sacred number in many traditions. There are 108 Mala Beads (an eastern rosary used for meditation). It is said that if you meditate so deeply that you only have 108 breaths in a day, enlightenment will come. In Ayurveda there are 108 pressure points. There are said to be 108 earthly desires, 108 lies humans tell, and 108 human delusions. Generally, a Yoga Mala is broken down into series, 4 groups of 27. Each group is labeled individually as one of the 4 elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Before commencing each set, take the opportunity to write an intention associated with the upcoming element. This is a great way to infuse your Yoga Mala with personal meaning. In numerology 108 equals the number 9 which symbolizes universal love, awakening and eternity.