On Sunday, September 19, 2010, 60+ local yogis came together at Wychwood Barns in Toronto for Global Mala 2010. An international movement, each community creates a specific intention for their 108 sun salutations. This year, 889 Yonge played host to our sweaty selves in raising money for School Without Borders, a Canadian charity that is building a community centre and garden in Nairobi, Kenya.

Many of the yogis present were in for a ride! The wonderful Marla Meenakshi Joy and Ron Reid set the tone with kirtan music, as sunlight poured into the glass ceiling and we laid our mats like rays around the stage. We were then led by some of the most gracious yogis in Toronto through our 108 sun salutations. Savasana came at a perfect time, and we were treated to the deep sounds of quartz crystal singing bowls. What a surreal treat for us all. Here are some pictures that captured the morning's en masse power!

Life is about taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. I have gotten to a point in
my life (it took me 40 years) to realize that it is not about me. It's about how I can
make a difference. I created Yoga Reaches Out to make a difference by bringing people
together that love yoga, and want to take their passion and use that energy to give
back. For me, what happens on the mat is my inhale. Yoga Reaches Out is my exhale.

I envisioned this event to be a beautiful flow of over 1,000 people who were committed
to bringing their level of yoga to a level of service. I am completely overwhelmed with
the support and enthusiasm of my friends, family and the yoga community.

an extraordinary day of yoga

September 19, 2010 is going to be an extraordinary day. We have created the possibility
of bringing the yoga community together in the name of seva (selfless service). I am all
about being unreasonable. Unreasonable to create a yogathon at Gillette stadium,
unreasonable to want to raise a million dollars to help children in need, unreasonable to
want over 1,000 yogis practicing together. Unreasonable that I am asking the yoga
community to help fill the field. There are many ways to spread the word: yoga studios,
Facebook, friends, family, local community, etc. The unreasonable part involves following
up, making phone calls, empowering others, believing in the cause, knowing that you
really are a crucial member of this team. You make a difference.

join us!

The Yoga Reaches Out Yogathon together with Global Mala Boston is being held from
9-5 PM on Sunday, September 19th at Gillette Stadiumʼs Field House in Foxboro, MA to benefit Childrenʼs Hospital Boston and Yoga for Single Moms. It will be a day to remember, a
day to make a difference. Join over 1,000 yogis to practice with Ana Forrest,
Wade Imre Morissette, New Englandʼs celebrity presenters, and live music by nationally
and locally known artists. For more information and to register, please visit www.yogareachesout.org.

My first Global Mala experience was in September 2007. I had been practicing yoga for just under a year and a friend invited me to a nearby studio to do 108 sun salutations in celebration of peace. One hundred and eight! I had just learned to do one sun salutation without breaking a sweat!

With each other’s support, we grabbed our mats and packed ourselves into the beautiful studio for two hours, one sun salutation after another. The energy in the room was incredible. Just under 60 people in a room meant for 40, we were moving and breathing in harmony with each other. Our four fearless yogi leaders brought their own special piece of inspiration to our practice that day, sharing what gave them peace in their lives and how we could share peace with those around us. As we finished, the final leader explained the significance of this yoga ritual.

Based around sacred tradition, a popular form of Mala is through 108 sun salutations, also known as the dynamic asana sequence Surya Namaskar. The importance of saluting the sun is to pay respects to its power in the universe as a source of energy and life. The number 108 is significant in many cultures including the number of beads in the mala (meditation prayer beads), as well as the diameter of the sun being 108 times the diameter of the earth! In deeper understanding of yoga, we learn that chakras are intersections of energy lines – there are said to be a total of 108 energy lines converging to form the heart chakra. There are even 108 holy temples of Vishnu! With my limited experience in yoga at that point in time, the history learned that day inspired me to continue participating in this movement.

The simple vision of Global Mala is to collectively cause a positive shift in global consciousness through bringing more peace in the world. Through several yoga practices around the world, thousands of people will participate in their local Global Mala on Sunday, September 20, 2009 of this year. Interested in taking part? Visit www.globalmala.org to see what is taking place in your city!