"The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself."
- Carl Sagan
Hey lovely,
Last week, while we were running through our sun salutations, someone joked about doing 108 rounds of them, which started us on a discussion about yoga marathons and doing 108 rounds of the beloved sun salutation. Then the question was asked: "Why 108?"
Now that is a VERY big question, so I promised to write a Yoga Note about the mystical 108.
You've probably heard it in class. 108 sun salutations. A mala of 108 beads. The instruction to chant a mantra 108 times. And if you've ever wondered why- why this number, of all numbers, settle in. Because the answer stretches from the mathematics of ancient India and the beads in a Buddhist monastery to the very number of stitches on a baseball. And it is absolutely fascinating.
108 is one of those numbers that keeps turning up everywhere you look: in yoga, in astronomy, in mathematics, in world traditions spanning thousands of years, with a consistency that feels less like coincidence and more like the universe trying to tell us something. Let's see if we can hear it. 🌿
THE MATHEMATICS - WHERE IT BEGINS
(and where I get a little lost and go completely cross-eyed, but for the math-obsessed, enjoy)
From Wikipedia - 108 is an abundant number, a self number, a semiperfect number and a tetranacci number. It is a Harshad number in bases 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16. 108 is a powerful number but not a perfect power, making it an Achilles number. 108 is divisible by the number of divisors it has, 12, making it a refactorable number. 108 is a largely composite number because it has 12 divisors and no smaller number has more than 12 divisors.
108 is the hyperfactorial of 3 since 108 = 1¹ × 2² × 3³
The first three integers, raised to their own powers, multiplied together. A number that contains within itself a kind of mathematical self-reference and completeness.
As mentioned in the wiki reference above,108 is also what mathematicians call a Harshad number, a Sanskrit term meaning "great joy" - which is a number divisible by the sum of its own digits (1 + 0 + 8 = 9, and 108 ÷ 9 = 12). It is an abundant number, and the interior angle of a regular pentagon is exactly 108 degrees. Mathematicians across cultures and centuries keep encountering it. It boggles my mind!
Stay with me, my friend, I promise; the boring part is over 😜
108 IN YOGA - WHERE IT LIVES IN OUR PRACTICE
(and where I am infinitely more comfortable, no more math for me!)
In yogic tradition, 108 is considered one of the most sacred numbers in existence, and its presence throughout the practice is both intentional and profound.
THE MALA
A traditional mala, the string of beads used for counting mantras in japa meditation (japa is derived from the Sanskrit root jap-, meaning "to utter in a low voice, repeat internally, mutter") has 108 beads, plus one guru bead. Each bead represents one repetition of the mantra. Completing a full mala means 108 repetitions, a complete circuit of sound, breath, and intention.
You can use any word or phrase to create your mantra or find a Sanskrit word that resonates with you.
Benefits of Using Mala Beads
- Focus: Counting each bead allows for a structured approach to meditation.
- Mindfulness: The tactile nature of the beads helps ground the practitioner in the present moment.
- Spiritual Connection: Malas can enhance the spiritual experience by providing a physical representation of one's intentions.
SUN SALUTATIONS
Surya Namaskar is Sanskrit for “Sun Salutation” - a flowing sequence of postures traditionally practised facing the rising sun. It’s a fabulous way to welcome in the day and get your energy moving in the right direction.
The 108 rounds are traditionally practised at the solstices and equinoxes, moments of cosmic transition, as a way of honouring the sun and marking the turning of the seasons. It is physically and energetically significant, a moving meditation that takes most people close to an hour to complete.
This practice goes back more than 2,500 years, when it was seen as a reverent greeting to the dawn. The ancient yogis didn’t just see the sun as a ball of light keeping us alive; they saw it as a mirror for the divine self within each of us.
Every posture in the sequence carries its own symbolic meaning, and the whole thing moves in a cycle, echoing the sun’s own journey across the sky. That repetition is the magic part, as it turns the practice into a moving meditation, helping you find stillness right in the middle of motion.
Next time, try doing your sun salutes with your eyes closed; it's quite special 😊
THE UPANISHADS
There are 108 Upanishads: the ancient philosophical texts that form the very foundation of yogic and Vedantic thought. Think of them as the original wisdom drops, passed down through centuries of contemplation, questioning, and quiet revelation.
The word "Upanishad" itself is often translated as "sitting down near", as in sitting close to a teacher, ready to receive knowledge. These texts explore the big questions: Who am I? What is the nature of reality? How does the individual self relate to the universal one? Heavy stuff, but somehow they manage to make it feel less like a lecture and more like an invitation.
And here's the poetic part: each of these 108 texts is often described as a river of wisdom, flowing from the same eternal source. Different paths, different voices, different eras even, but all winding their way back to the same truth. So when you sit with the number 108, you're not just sitting with a number. You're sitting with 108 different rivers, each one carrying its own reflection of the same vast, shimmering ocean of understanding.
MARMA POINTS
Ayurveda identifies 108 sacred marma points on the body, vital energy points where flesh, bone, nerves, and vessels meet, similar in concept to acupuncture points. These are the body's most sensitive and significant junctions.
THE SANSKRIT ALPHABET
The Sanskrit alphabet has 54 letters, each with a masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti) quality. 54 × 2 = 108. The entire language of yoga encoded within this number.
108 ACROSS TRADITIONS
BUDDHISM
Buddhist malas also carry 108 beads, representing the 108 human desires or temptations that must be overcome to attain enlightenment. In Japan, temple bells are rung 108 times on New Year's Eve - one ring for each earthly temptation - to purify the new year before it begins.
HINDUISM
There are 108 names for Shiva, 108 names for Vishnu, and 108 names for the Divine Mother. The Nataraja, Shiva as the cosmic dancer, performs 108 dance poses. There are said to be 108 sacred pilgrimage sites across India, though this number may vary depending on who's telling the story.
For the Vedic sages, 108 was the number that connected the microcosm to the macrocosm - the human body to the celestial bodies, the individual to the cosmos. When you chant a mantra 108 times, or complete 108 sun salutations, or move your fingers along 108 mala beads, you are, in the understanding of this tradition, aligning yourself with the fundamental proportions of the universe. You are, quite literally, tuning yourself to the cosmos.
In Vedic astrology, the sky is divided into 27 lunar constellations called nakshatras. Each one splits into 4 smaller parts, called padas. 27 nakshatras × 4 padas = 108.
That number isn't random; it's tied to the exact position of the planets at the moment you were born.
Put all 27 nakshatras together, and you get what's often called the cosmic wheel of time, a symbol for the never-ending cycle of life itself.
108 AND THE BODY
- 108 marma points - the vital energy junctions of the body where life force concentrates
- The heart chakra is said to have 108 nadis (energy channels) radiating from it, the very centre of the energetic body. Some traditions describe as many as 72,000 of these energetic pathways running through each of us, with 108 singled out as the most significant. Among them, the Sushumna, Ida, and Pingala nadis are considered the most essential, running along the spine and governing the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of our being.
- In some yogic traditions, the average person takes approximately 21,600 breaths per day, exactly 200 × 108
WHY WE COUNT 108 SUN SALUTATIONS
With all of this context, the tradition of 108 sun salutations at the solstices and equinoxes takes on a completely different quality. It's not an arbitrary number chosen for its difficulty. It is a deliberate alignment of the body in motion, of breath, of attention, with the number that the Vedic tradition understood to be the ratio between the human and the cosmic.
Each Surya Namaskar is a complete cycle of breath and movement, an offering to the sun. 108 of them, at the moment of seasonal turning, is understood as a way of consciously participating in the great cycle of placing the human body in relationship with the celestial body that sustains all life on earth. It's prayer expressed through physical practice. It is yoga in the most complete sense of the word: union.
And even if none of the cosmology lands for you, even if you're more interested in the physics than the philosophy, there is something undeniably powerful about 108 complete breath cycles with presence and intention. The body knows something has happened. It always does.
Next time you pick up a mala, or next time we do sun salutations together in class, you'll know the number you're counting isn't random. It's the interior angle of a pentagon. It's the number of Upanishads, of marma points, of sacred names. It's 1¹ × 2² × 3³. It's the number the ancient world kept arriving at when it tried to describe the relationship between the human and the whole.
It is, in a word, everything and nothing all at once.
A little treat for me and a little treat for you 😜
On Tuesday, I was lucky enough to have the most wonderful facial experience at Goddess Rituals. It was a wonderfully generous gift from a friend (thank you, Steph) and a long overdue bit of pampering for my face and soul.
The lovely Morgane treated me to the most relaxing and magical experience I've had in a long time; I wish I could do it every week! I left feeling super relaxed and energised at the same time.
I've had a professional facial before, but this one was truly something special and most definitely something I would treat myself to again.
AND so you too can enjoy the pampering at Morgane's magical fingertips, she's generously offered 15% off the Holistic Facial Ritual (which is what I had). Just mention my name, "Tash", when you book, and you will automatically get 15% off, no code needed.
So if you or someone you love needs a bit of TLC, do this!
Here's a little bit about Morgane and Goddess Rituals:
"Goddess Rituals is where presence meets craft. Morgane trained in France before building her practice in Auckland, around a single idea: a treatment should never be rushed.
The Holistic Facial Ritual takes its time. Seventy-five minutes, a full facial, slow from start to finish, with skincare Morgane hand-formulates herself. Nothing rushed, nothing interrupted. It's built as a ritual, not a service."
You can book here
She also offers other services like waxing and brow tinting and shaping. Check out her website for all the details
What's Happening In The Pantry 🧘♀️
We have 1 last Monday night Beginner Yoga series for this year!
If you know someone who's looking to get into yoga and doesn't know how or where to start, then now is the perfect time to start your campaign to get them into our awesome beginner courses. Our beginner Yoga course has been running for 12 years and is the best and most well-rounded beginner yoga course around (if I do say so myself). With a good mix of philosophy, breathwork, and, of course, physical postures, but what really sets us apart is the emphasis on finding ways to let the poses fit you rather than the other way around. Plus, all the wonderful folks who make up our amazing community.
It's also a great course to brush up on your basics and get back into the swing of things if you've been away from your yoga practice for a while...😉😊
For more information and to secure a coveted spot in this fantastic course, check out our website and BOOK NOW!!!!!!!
Melt, Release, Restore Workshop - 2 hours to a new you!
September 27
5 pm -7 pm
There are only 2 spaces left in this workshop, where we are going to explore releasing tension and stress through the MELT method of using a tennis ball to access trigger points in the body and coax the body to let go of deeply held tightness and tension; then we will follow that up with an hour of restorative yoga to soothe and soften any lingering tensions. You will achieve jellyfish/sloth status!
AND you'll also get a special tennis ball to take home for your continued home practice, yay!
Check out all the details and grab those last two spots before they disappear!
Head here to book all your regular yoga classes and maybe even try some new ones!
Remember, you can join us online from anywhere in the world, live or at a time that suits you, with our instant 14-day on-demand Zoom recording!
Don't forget you can also join us for a FREE meditation session every Saturday morning, and even if you can't, you can book in via Zoom and do the meditation later in the day, or every day, until the next session :)
Your YouTube Class Of The Week...
Episode 3 in my little coaching adventure with my fellow coach and friend Pania has just dropped! This one is all about coaching yourself :) Plus, if you head to the description, you'll get access to a couple of downloads to help you remember the two very awesome coaching tools we used.
Tune in and let me know your thoughts ❤️ and what you might like us to tackle in our next episode.
Feel free to share these vids far and wide because sharing is caring, and it helps me with the algorithm :D
With so much love and exactly 108 reasons to be grateful for this practice 🌿
Tash & The Yoga Pantry Team
See you on the mat 😻
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You can also catch up on previous Yogi Notes right HERE
P.P.S Don’t forget to share your Yoga insights on social media with the hashtag #TheYogaPantryLife #Yogaislife #theyogapantrywithtash
Let’s spread the yoga love far and wide!
I see you, and I appreciate you. You are awesome...and don't you forget it ;) x
