If you’re in the market for a new mala and just can’t decide between the rose quartz and the gilted logo of a major brand of yoga clothing, then this is your lucky day. Hear ye, hear ye…you can now purchase your very own Lululemon Practice Patience Mala for $108 which includes such beautiful features as white howlite beads to help you overcome self-criticism and brown rudraksha seeds to increase clarity. PLUS a golden Lululemon pendant will soothe your concerns about straying from your label whore status (this has nothing to do with yoga, anyone can be a loyal and dedicated label whore, and most of us are at some point in our consumerly lives), which is replaced by the silky “menthol” tassel if you’d rather do the work and just tell people you got it from Lululemon along with the rest of your wardrobe.
But none of this is that outstanding or outrageous. The real gold is in the always amazing customer reviews about the mala, and the ‘Mean Girls’ Jezebel post making fun of all of it. “These $108 Lululemon Meditation Beads Seem Worth It” the headline reads sarcastically.
We have news, though.
Yes, Lululemon wants you to pay $108 for a mala, and we’re not saying it’s right or wrong, but it’s not uncommon — look around and you’ll find plenty of handmade malas are around $100+. Lulu didn’t even make the malas themselves, they partnered with Mala Collective who sells malas for, you guessed it, $108. Are supposed to expect lulu to offer discounts now? Sillies.
And yes, people choose particular beads and stones for certain purposes like clarity, strength, and love (this is not unusual and quite frankly it’s no weirder than sports superstitions). And maybe some people do get a little too googley-eyed when it comes to anything and everything Lululemon thrusts into their shop for mass consumption. But crazy as it sounds, the lulus don’t seem to be as offensive as usual…well, besides the egregious gag-inducing logo dangle.
We find it weird to be defending the luluheads on this one, but mala beads really aren’t new and nor are they something you’d usually pick up for 20 bucks. Still, people are not so pleased about the price (ironically, since the clothing is so expensive to begin with…??) and have let their voice be heard via the product reviews. And if you know anything about Lululemon customer reviews, reading through them is often like taking a strange luon-infused trip through yoga-lala-land.
Here’s one review from SADMALA, amazingly titled “Cried”:
I bought the mala beads to help my compassion and my work out spirit. I was so excited. I wore them to the gym, but all of my work out buddies laughed at me.
I don’t feel the spirit. This did not help my life. $100 wasted plus the boxes of tissues I had to buy. The tassle even fell off, which was my favourite part.
And another from LULUFANEDMONTON1973:
Let’s not pass any judgement on LLL or people that prefer to meditate with more of an exquisite collections. Not sure if the parallel is appropriate, but why some people buy diamond encrusted crosses while others are content with wooden ones?
How about the ones that are against this item just don’t buy it and whoever needs to meditate, meditates with whichever works for them.
Yes, no judgement. Also, these mala beads are SO far from diamond-encrusted crosses. You want to get real fancy and all sorts of wrong? Check out this diamond and bone encrusted Buddha mala for $650. Yes, diamonds AND bone.
Another comment from LADYOGA adds the warm and fuzzy one love:
I love them…they are beautiful and I feel very zen when I wear and use them. They calm me down and help me focus on the moment. A tad pricy but love, love them. Not sure why the other reviews are so negative. They must not be using their beads for the intended use. Peace and Love 🙂
Peace and love y’all.
But ZOEYBUTT seemed to sum it up best:
I think if you have an issue with the price point, simply don’t buy it as there are other malas out there for less money, but no need to bring in any negativity around it. It’s like buying the pricey Lulu yoga pants vs. the inexpensive, but still stylish, Target brand. Everyone pays for what they personally find value in.
And Lululemon, of course, would love for you to find enough value in their products to shell out $300 for mala beads, yoga pants and a couple pairs of sweat-wicking underwear. Actually, replace the logo pendant with the tassel and these malas are probably the coolest, least lulu thing they sell. Though if you want our opinion, you might do better finding your own personal mala beads that speak to you elsewhere, no strings attached and likely cheaper.
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Earlier…
It’s fascinating, isn’t it? Some people pay thousands of dollars for a wristwatch that does EXACTLY the same thing as each of my $50-75 Swatches—whatever floats yer boat, but at least timepieces have a real function…. just sayin’.
Do they though? How many people don’t sit in front of a computer all day with time displayed in the corner, and then have a cell phone on hand at any other point in time? Watches are completely superfluous in this day and age. I think saying “at least mala beads have a real function” as the more accurate sentiment…just sayin’
C’mon, “SADMALA” had to be a joke. Right?
Actually mala beads overall are ridiculous. Yogis and yoginis wear them like P Diddy wears gold chains. It’s a “look at me” accessory.
i don’t see the big deal at all. the price point it totally normal or a mala. if you don’t like them, don’t buy them! http://extendyoga.com
I think Lululemon is almost the opposite of the “yogi” lifestyle, however you define that. They should stick to what they are good at and that is offering quality fitness wear and accessories . Making capital on mala beads should be kept to those who know the significance and spirituality that comes with mala beads and not turning them into accessories that hold no significance to them at all except “if i wear these I will look and be more ‘yogi'”, which is what Lululemon is doing here. Mala beads are being over exploited by Lululemon who is now capitalizing on something I believes is out of their league.
They just keep trying and justifying their actions. Is this the new corporate religion? Seems to me that there are many parallels.
Some shops just produce them in asia where the everage selery is really low – so they could definitely be a lot cheaper. But some Mala Shops/Jewelry Designer produce their Malas in the states or europe so the price is a bit more expensive. And I am pretty sure the beads aren’t the expensive part of the Mala. But I’m definitely with you, this is way too pricey. But you can easily craft your own mala or check cheeper shops like http://www.miramalas.com
For real? A sexified fitness apparel line is dabbling in spiritual matters?
Why don’t we run with this. Let’s continue venturing outside our niche into an area that’s so contradicting it would make heads explode.
First, let’s see if we can’t get Playboy to start knitting socks for orphans. Then let’s get atheists to translate the next updated version of the bible (hmmmmm… Not a bad idea…).
I just stumbled upon this post and I know its a bit old, but I simply had to comment on Ash. What is so bad about a big fitness company supporting fair working conditions on a rudraksha farm in Bali? Or why should atheists not help christs to get a better understanding of a religious text? We at https://www.spiritofeden.de also produce Mala necklaces that are very fashion oriented. With the money we receive from fashion-concious yogis, we support fair wages in Germany, sustainably grown recourse like sandalwood and also social projects we care about. Why should only asketic yogis on a mountain or in an ashram in India contribute to this? I think if people like a product and can afford it, and the product itself contributes at least a little bit to a better world, everybody should be allowed to buy or sell it. More love less hate. Even in the comments 😉
Wow! How people like to complain! If the price isn’t right for you, buy elsewhere, or make your own mala! The material to make one mala can easily be $20 (depending on the stones), and that doesn’t include shipping (to receive the beads), the time to shop for the material, the cost of promotion and advertising, etc. Let’s say it can cost $30 to make one mala, altogether. So, perhaps selling it for $100, with $70 margin, can be seen as “too much profit”, but it’s actually the minimum rule to be in business (talking about average).
Thank you 🙂
Although mala beads are traditionally used during seated meditation, they can also enhance an asana practice. Thanks for sharing!
https://theyogamandala.com/mala-beads-meaning-benefits/