I designed and made MalaBeads. They are also known as japamala or jaap maala. They are used in religious purposes but also meditation. Meditation doesn't need to have a religious connection. This Mala is made for a friend of mine. I have used recycled plastic beads for it.
Mala has 108 beads plus "a guru bead". The Malas I made has just 108 beads and the "guru bead" is just one of them, like all of us. A great guru -or a teacher- lives in us for the rest of our lives. We all remember the teachers who have influenced on our lives. This Mala is for another friend of mine.
As the simplest way to meditate with Mala, just inhale and exhale. Every exhale touch one bead. The guru bead is a great marker where did you start. When you have made the full round of Mala it means 108 exhales. In practical, that means for about 10 minutes of meditation in your life. If you do that daily -or at least few times per week- it has good mental and physical health benefits.
This Mala is for myself. Both wooden Malas are made of recycled wooden beads. Let's save the Planet Earth!