I have felt a desire to grow personally, experience spirituality and express creativity for a very long time. Because of the desire to express my creativity, I enrolled in design studies and graduated as a designer. But despite the fulfilment of this wish, I still felt the need for personal growth and spirituality. When I found myself in a difficult period in my life, I started to look for a deeper connection with my inner self and I found this in yoga. I tried a lot of different things to find this connection, but yoga soon became the most anchored in my heart. I started attending general yoga classes, but soon wanted to deepen my knowledge of yoga since with practising yoga I felt inner peace and deeper connection with myself. Therefore I enrolled in a school for yoga teachers, acquired a 500-hour international certificate and then also started to teach yoga. Still, the wish to express my creativity remained. I started to look for something that could express both yoga and my own creativity and so after a while the idea of making malas was born. I immersed myself in the exploration of semi-precious gemstones, their properties, materials and the story that I write about and create today began to develop. For me, the process of creating malas is a meditation in itself. When making and creating each mala I feel inner peace and connection with myself just as I feel this during my yoga practice. WHAT IS A MALA AND WHAT IS A MANTRA? Mala, which is Sanskrit word for garland, is a string of typically 108 beads and additional guru bead, which are used as a meditation tool while chanting or silently repeating a mantra. This practice is known in Sanskrit as japa. They can also have a tassel attached at the end, which in traditional Buddhist culture is a symbol of lotus blossoms that represent an enlightenment. When mala is not used for meditation, it can help wearers attain a sense of peace, mindfulness and focus throughout the day. Mantra is Sanskrit word for sound, syllable, word or group of words. When repeating a personal mantra, the mind calms down and we reach a deeper level of relaxation and awareness. Your chosen mala or mala that was given to you was meant to be yours. Let it support and remind you that the power of the mala and its stones already resides within you. You may use it as a powerful tool in meditation or a fashion accessory that allows you to be aware of your inner power.
