108: YOGA'S SACRED NUMBER

It was astronomer, mathematician and physicist Galileo Galilei who said the universe is written “in mathematical language”. That the mysteries of creation itself could be unravelled through numbers and equations. For the mystics, such numbers offered more than a scientific explanation, they offered a code for awakening, a code to our own nature. For yogis that code is 108.

ON THE  1TH OF  JULY IT HAS BEEN 108 DAYS  (since March 16) THAT WE CAN OPEN OUR DOORS AGAIN AND WELCOME YOU BACK AGAIN FOR YOGA.

In yoga, the number 108 refers to spiritual completion. This is why japa malas are composed of 108 beads, why pranayama is often completed in cycles of 108 and why sun salutations are often performed in nine rounds of the 12 postures (totalling 108). By practicing chanting, breath work, or asana in rounds of this sacred number, the ancient yogis believed we could align ourselves with the rhythm of the creation and ultimately bring an end to our cycle of reincarnation.

So, good news? In any case, we can work together to strengthen our physical, mental and spiritual condition after we have done this 108 days online, via life stream but also at our rooftop shala.

We don’t know exactly how yogis arrived at 108, but it seems to be a number that connects us to our place in the cosmic order. The distance between the earth and sun is 108 times the diameter of the sun. Is it possible that our ancient ancestors knew this? Around the time the ancient Vedic texts were being collected, far away Stonehenge was built, the Sarsen Circle is 108 feet in diameter. In Belize, during the era of the Mayans, the High Temple of Lamanai was erected at 108 feet tall, the same height as the funerary Tikal temple in Guatemala. In Cambodia is the Angkor Wat temple, which contains a picture of a snake drawn by 108 gods and demons. The 54 gods move in one direction, the 54 demons move in the other.
These temples, built to worship and to house the souls of great leaders upon their death, perhaps used this number to connect humans not just to our sun as a giver of life, but also to the Creator.

Like the mantra Aum, 108 seems to have an essence that connects us to the whole. Be it used to guide sun salutations, to tally up the number of chants to the Divine, to count the steps leading up to a temple, or to measure the structures built for the heavens, it serves as a reminder of the wonder and interconnectedness of the universe.

Anyway, we are SUPER happy that we can use The Yoga Studio again from July 1.

We too have been busy with numbers and codes so that there is a matting plan and we can welcome you safely and responsibly again at a distance of 1.5 meters, with sufficient ventilation and time between classes!

And to celebrate we have several nice workshops, trainings in the future to look forward to.