Global Mala Spreads Peace in Newark

Sunday marked the fourth annual Global Mala event in Newark at Newark Public School, Central High School.

Well-known yogini Shiva Rea created the idea as a way to fundraise and draw attention to issues at large and to bring peace into the communities. Proceeds of the event go to various charities such as International Rescue Committee and Stand With Haiti.

The hundreds of participants at the event performed 72 sun salutations and 36 asanas, aka, poses. The number 108 is auspicious in yoga. One meaning behind the number is that the diameter of the sun is 108 times larger than diameter of the earth.

More than 40 New Jersey yoga studios showed their support for the event. West Orange Resident Amy Witmyer, owner of Sacred Space Yoga and Wellness, was one of the supporters of the event.

Elisabeth Halfpapp, a New Jersey native, now runs Exhale Mind Body Spa in New York and is co-creator of Core Fusion, guided participants through some intense poses.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker gave an inspirational talk to attendees.

"Everyone of us is connected," he said. He also shared something his father used to tell him as a child: "My dad would say that life can be a thermostat or a thermometer."

Booker laughed as he revealed "sometimes I fail. I allow the external to affect me."

Participants spent more than two hours in various yoga poses, while the teachers encouraged them to follow their breaths and "be here, be now." The practice was accompanied by music and drumming. Children also practiced in their own private space.

Participants were treated to a dance performance and had the opportunity to receive complimentary chair and Thai massages.