About Mandala Yoga

"Each person's life is like a mandala – a vast, limitless circle. We stand in the centre of our own circle and everything we see, hear and think forms the mandala of our life."

— Pema Chödrön

What is a Mandala?

Pronounced MAHN-Dahl-Ah, the word Mandala means “healing or sacred circle” in Sanskrit (मण्डल). Mandalas are circular, geometric designs that represent “wholeness” and “completeness”. The pattern of the mandala circle is balanced and in harmony. The sacred space within the circle is said to be a harbour for an inner truth.

The word ‘mandala’ entered the English language in the second half of the 1800s and had the meaning of ‘magic’ circle. It is an ancient representation of the great cosmos… as the yogis like to say ‘The Universe’.

Mandalas appear in many forms and in many aspects of our daily life.

The Circle

The circle is one of humanity’s oldest symbols. We are surrounded by circular celestial bodies such as the sun, the moon, and the earth. In nature, we watch flowers unfold their petals enclosing their centre. The iris of our eyes are physical circles through which we experience the visual world.

We also speak of conceptual circles – circles of friends, family, and community. The circle represents unity, wholeness, and the eternal cycle of life.

Mandalas in Culture, History & Religion

Mandalas occur in all peoples and all cultures. From Buddhism to Hinduism, Aboriginal to Mayan art, mandalas are an art form found throughout human history.

Universal Symbol

Found across cultures from Buddhism to Hinduism, Aboriginals to Mayans. In Hindu and Buddhist thought, the mandala is the symbol of the universe and how we are all connected.

Cultural Expressions

Circular Aztec calendar, Taoist yin yang symbol, Celtic spiral – mandalas appear in countless cultural and religious traditions.

Architecture

Cosmati pavements at Westminster Abbey, the 9th-century Indonesian Buddhist temple Borobudur, and the rose stained glass of Chartres cathedral all follow mandala patterns.

Making of Mandalas

As Mandalas symbolise unity and harmony, their form often exhibits radial balance. Most designs offer balancing visual elements starting with a central dot that moves outward. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point. Each gate is in the general shape of a T.

Often they feature brightly coloured geometric designs. Even though a mandala may be dominated by squares or triangles, the mandala has a concentric structure. The meanings of individual mandalas is usually different and unique to each mandala.

Mandalas & Meditation

In various spiritual traditions, mandalas are used as an important meditation tool – a means to focusing the attention of practitioners. Used as a spiritual guidance tool, mandalas help establish a sacred space.

Focus

The symmetrical shape directs attention to the centre, absorbing the mind

Stillness

Chattering thoughts may cease as you contemplate the design

Balance

Lets the creative hemisphere run freely while the analytical mind rests

Healing

Provides therapeutic benefits including stress relief and relaxation

Steps to Meditating with a Mandala

Choose a Mandala that appeals to you or its meaning resonates with you
Set an intention before focusing on it
Once you have set your intention, begin to focus on the mandala
Let your eyes take in the beauty of the designs, allowing your mind to wander as it will
Get inside the mandala. Let it absorb all of your attention
As you fall into the mandala, you will begin to feel lighter, and intuitive thoughts may arise

Because of its symmetrical shape, our attention is immediately directed to the centre. The design of the mandala absorbs the mind in such a way that chattering thoughts may cease. The mandala acts as a support for the meditating person – something to be repeatedly contemplated to the point of saturation.

The Mandala, Psychotherapy & Carl Jung

We owe the re-introduction of mandalas into modern Western thought to Carl Jung, the Swiss analytical psychologist who employed the mandala in his work with clients.

The Circle in Psychology

The circle as a container or ‘organisation vehicle’ is well known in psychotherapy. The circle as an organising principle is a natural occurrence in the child’s learning process – a young child will progress early from scribbling to drawing circles.

It is through the experience of drawing mandalas that we apply an order to our personal psychology. The mandala allows us to find our own centre, to process old and new information and connect with our personal identity as we continue around the cycle of personal growth.

Therapeutic Benefits

The mandala is proven to provide additional therapeutic benefits, including stress relief and relaxation. We are surrounded by circular celestial bodies such as the sun, the moon, the earth which radiate circular rays of light.

In nature we watch flowers unfold their petals enclosing their centre. The iris of our eyes are physical circles through which we experience the visual world. Then we have the conceptual circles that we talk about – such as circles of friends, family, community.

Carl Jung's Work with Mandalas

In his pioneering exploration of the unconscious through his own art making, Jung observed the motif of the circle spontaneously appearing. The circle drawings reflected his inner state at that moment.

Jung was familiar with the philosophical writings of India (the term mandala appears in the Rigveda and Vedic rituals use Mandalas such as Navagraha mandala right up today). This prompted him to adopt the word “mandala” to describe these circle drawings that he and his patients made.

Jung’s research was built upon his belief that if an individual was able to understand their own psychology of self, they would be able to create ‘order’ within their inner world. With this order in place, they would be prevented from becoming lost in their own mind or overwhelmed by modern life.

“I sketched every morning in a notebook a small circular drawing, … which seemed to correspond to my inner situation at the time. … Only gradually did I discover what the mandala really is: … the Self, the wholeness of the personality, which if all goes well is harmonious”

— Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

Jung recognised that the urge to make mandalas emerges during moments of intense personal growth. Their appearance indicates that a profound re-balancing process is underway in the psyche. The result of the process is a more complex and better integrated personality.

“The mandala is an archetypal image whose occurrence is attested throughout the ages. It signifies the wholeness of the Self”

— Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

Our Teaching Team

Mandala Yoga is very much a community of committed teachers. Everyone on our teaching team is fully certified with many years of practicing and teaching yoga. We take utmost care to ensure our teachers share our philosophy and love of teaching.