If you’ve practiced yoga or meditation, you’ve probably come across the number 108 — in malas, in mantras, or during Sun Salutations. It’s a number that shows up again and again in yogic tradition, but why?
The number108 is considered sacred across many spiritual paths, not just in the yoga tradition. It’s a a number that symbolizes wholeness, rhythm, and connection. Here are a few reasons why it’s so meaningful:
- In yoga and meditation: A traditional mala has 108 beads, used to count breaths or mantras — a simple but powerful tool to stay focused and present.
- In Ayurveda: There are 108 marma points, or energy intersections, in the body.
- In Hinduism and Buddhism: There are 108 Upanishads and 108 worldly desires or delusions to transcend on the path to liberation.
- In astronomy: The Earth’s distance from the Sun and the Moon is roughly 108 times the diameter of each, connecting this number to the cosmos.
- In numerology: 1 symbolizes unity, 0 is wholeness or potential, and 8 represents infinity — the full cycle of life.
- In movement practice: Yogis often do 108 Sun Salutations during seasonal transitions — a moving meditation, a ritual of devotion.
- Fun fact: A baseball has 108 double stitches — a quirky, modern echo of this ancient number.
My favourite explanation about why 108 is special is in the symbolism of the numbers: One represents the divine or the God (of our understanding), zero is connection and the circle of life, and the eight is infinity.
I also have a deeply personal connection to this number. In 2010, I committed to 108 days of 108 Sun Salutations — a practice that changed my life and led to a Guinness World Record. That journey also inspired the tattoo on my right forearm and the name of my wellness studio in Old Montreal: Loft108. For me, 108 represents dedication, transformation, and the quiet power of showing up.
When we commit to a 108-day practice, we’re not just creating a habit. We’re stepping into rhythm — with ourselves, with nature, and with something greater.
If this resonates with you, I invite you to join me for the 108 Days of Practice.
Choose something meaningful — a simple breath practice, a walk, a moment of stillness — and return to it daily. You’ll be supported along the way with reflections, encouragement, and community energy.
Let this sacred number guide your practice. Let it become a pathway — steady, soulful, and yours.
