108 Sun Salutations

The number 108 has been a highly revered number for thousands of years, coveted by many spiritual traditions and ascribed special significance in meditation and prayer.  Considered to be the most auspicious number of all, 108 also happens to be the number of stitches on a baseball!

In yoga, the number 108 refers to spiritual completion. That’s the reason why malas used for japa (silent repetition of a mantra) are composed of 108 beads – with an additional “meru” bead, which when reached, prompts the practitioner to count the mala beads in reverse order. Pranayama cycles are often repeated in 108 cycles and even sun salutations are often completed in nine rounds of the 12 postures, which when multiplied, adds up to 108. Ancient yogis believed that we can attune ourselves to the rhythms of creation by completing practices in rounds of this sacred number.