Courtesy Photo Thrive Yoga owner Susan Bowen leads a class through one of six movements that make up a sun salutation.

In more than 100 cities across the world, yoga studios focused their collective energy on raising their own consciousness, raising funds for humanitarian issues and raising understanding of cultures. The Global Mala Project, held Sept. 21, coincided with the United Nations International Peace Day. This is the second year for the Global Mala Project, which is spearheaded by yoga experts Shiva Rea, Sean Corne and Michael Franti.

Thrive Yoga, located in Rockville, hosted dozens of yogis who raised about $350 to donate to a project that will help train yoga instructors who will teach the art in underserved communities locally. Susan Bowen, owner of Thrive Yoga, said the event had a "powerful effect."

During the Global Mala event, yogis gather to practice 108 sun salutations. The number 108 has significance in a variety of religions, including in the Hindu faith where there are 108 mala beads on a string used to recite a mantra. A mala is a set of beads commonly used by Hindus and Buddhists, usually made from 108 beads, though other numbers, usually divisible by nine, are also used. Malas are used for keeping count while reciting, chanting or mentally repeating a mantra.

The sun salutations are a series of six to eight yoga positions done in a fluid motion with deep breathing keeping the pace. The repetition allows the participants to free their mind of left brain critical thinking and move to a more calming and more centered right brain consciousness, according to Bowen.

"People came here for the experience of a community event toward peace. We put people's energy together toward one common goal and then drew on that intention," Bowen said.

During the nearly two-hour event at Thrive, yogis took turns leading the sun salutations in several languages, including German, Spanish and Italian. Inside the studio, yogis stretched out their mats under a ceiling adorned with tree branches and leaves, giving the appearance of being outdoors. The path leading to the studio, called Shanti, or "bringing light," is usually cobblestone. On the wall yogis are watched over by a hand-painted depiction of the Hindu/Buddhist goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and music.

Industry legend and yoga pioneer Beryl Bender Birth, author of "Power Yoga," led the event at Thrive.

"The methodology of classic yoga is designed to bring people in on the physical level, wake people up and make them capable of seeing beyond their own comfort zone to expand the circle of compassion to everyone and all living beings regardless of religion, or political party," Birch said.

Margarita Reyes, a yoga student at Thrive, said she was amazed she was able to complete nearly all of the 108 sun salutations.

"I was hot and sweaty but I felt so good when it was over, and I still had a lot of energy," she said.--"I felt very empowered that I was able to do this.--It was an extremely positive thing to do and I felt really good about it."

While many start practicing yoga to help stretch, lengthen or heal the body, those who continue it find it heals the soul too.

"Few come to answer the question 'Who am I?' or develop a spiritual practice. It is impossible to describe how it happens, but the practice trains you to pay attention to your inner self; and this transformation and greater level of awareness of community happens," Birch said.

For Juliet Glassroth of Rockville, the Global Mala event helped draw attention to the positive effect yogis can have on the community.

"There's a lot going on in our world and in our country that is distressing.--For the yoga community to take time out to help address that by collectively--creating positive energy, is amazing.--I am always really proud of my fellow yogis and what we are capable of doing together. This was like the ultimate international--example of that," Glassroth said.

Reyes said she believes the peace developed within those who participated will emanate to others.

"It is so invigorating to know that people all over were doing the same thing at the same time. I believe this positive and peaceful energy will make a difference in this world, and I was really proud to be a part of it," she said.

A larger scale Global Mala event took place this year at the THEARC in southeast Washington, D.C. Last year that same event raised more than $12,000 for Trees for the Future and included about 500 participants.