How to Use Malas for Meditation

A mala necklace is a string of 108 connected beads or a strand with any multiple of nine (i.e., 27, 54). It is used to cut through the dissonance and quiet the mind.

For our purposes, let’s discuss how you might use a mala necklace. Consider finding a sacred mala necklace or bracelet from a Fair-Trade designer. We partner with Shamans Market for our ethically-made malas.

Using a Mala

First, find a comfortable meditative position, like half or full lotus asana, or with the use of an aid, like a zafu, bamboo bench, or chair. Arrange your body and scan it for modern-day’s traits of poor posture, starting with the spine. Try to elongate and straighten it. Tuck in your pelvis to align with your shoulders to avoid rolling forward which places strain on your lower back.

(Know that sitting for prolonged periods takes surprising stamina to sit ergonomically correct instead of slouching, bending, and leaning. Try our Yoga Poses for Good Posture to encourage comfort during seated meditation.)

Next, place the mala necklace loosely in between your fingers on your lap. Find the guru bead as the starting point. The necklace’s “center” is a guru bead and tassel to mark the beginning and ending of a meditative cycle.

Shop Mukha’s mala collection.