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Intro To Flow Series

If you are totally new to yoga, have tried some yoga DVDs at home but wanted more personal instruction, or maybe even tried some classes but would like to start with the basics again, this course is for you! The Intro To Flow Series is a 6 week course consisting of one 90 minute class per week that is perfect for anyone looking to begin a flow yoga practice. (It is not a requirement to attend this series before participating in our flow classes!)

During the series we introduce the foundation poses of a flow practice including:

⭐ Sun salutations

⭐ Balancing poses

⭐ Backbends

⭐ Twists

⭐ Standing, seated, and reclining poses

Throughout we focus on alignment, modifications and transitions for a safe practice.

Each week we practice a different breathing (pranayama) technique. Practicing these techniques can help with stress relief and relaxation, or energizing the body and mind.

We will also introduce a meditation technique each week to help find calm among the stress of every day life.

Next Start Date: TBC  

Course Duration: 6 weeks

Price: $100 and includes a FREE YogaRat Pro mat (Retail value $50).

This course is limited to 12 students to ensure a personal teaching experience. 

To be notified of the next course, please sign up for notifications using the following link:

 

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Please note: Flow Yoga requires participants to be comfortable moving up and down, to and from the floor multiple times during class. If for any reason this is not possible for you, you may wish to join our Gentle Yoga classes on Saturdays 8-9am or Chair Yoga classes on Thursdays 10-11am. No reservation or experience required! Please call or message for more information

Mala Care

Malas are a wonderful addition to your yoga and meditation practice and are designed to be both worn and used. As every piece is lovingly handmade, there are some general care guidelines that can help to prolong the life of your mala. 

It is customary not to put your mala on the floor either when practicing yoga, or when sleeping. If you are practicing yoga and your mala distracts you, you can place it at the top of your mat, or in it's carrying pouch. 

Please do not bathe, swim or sleep wearing your mala. 

Please do not use harsh chemicals on your gemstone or wooden beads. 

Semi precious gemstones must be treated with care as they can crack or break under force. Should you wish to clean your mala, they can be gently rubbed with a glass cleaning or microfiber cloth. 

Please note that application of essential oils directly to your stretch mala or bracelets may shorten their lifespans as oils can break down the materials used to string them. 

 

Energetic Cleansing Of Your Mala 

Malas are made of gemstones, nuts or wood, many of which have energetic qualitites to enhance your meditation practice and to help bring those energies into your daily life. Your mala has been made with love and positive energy, and the stones cleansed prior to knotting so it is ready to wear as soon as you receive it.

If used in conjunction with mantras or affirmation practices you may feel the energy of your mala increasing over time, however sometimes the energy can feel 'off'. This can be a result of other peoples energy around you, or your own energy such as having a difficult few days or period of time. You may prefer for others not to touch your mala as their personal energy can also affect your gemstones.

If you wish to 'reset' the energy of your mala there are many ways this can be done depending on your personal preferences such as smudging your mala with sage, laying your mala stones on selenite overnight, or (my favorite) resetting the vibration of your stone using singing bowls or tingsha bells.

 

 

With regular use, over time the elastic or string of your mala may wear and eventually break. If a mala ever breaks, it is a symbol that you have made a breakthrough in your practice and outgrown the intention associated with that particular piece. This is both a good thing, but also can be a sad time losing a piece you love and being without a mala for a few days. I am happy to re-string your mala if you wish; there is a restring fee that will vary depending on if the mala was knotted, if a new tassel needs to be made, and if replacement gemstones are required.

Alternatively this may be a good opportunity to reassess, set new intentions in what you would like to manifest and to move forward with a new mala. 

Custom Malas

Mala necklaces and bracelets are a joy to wear, whether you are choosing one for yourself, or as a gift for a family member of friend, why not choose a custom mala to suit your style?!

Tiger Eye Mala Resized

Matte Tiger Eye coral mala bracelet with brass colored markers
and a matte yellow jade guru bead

When selecting a mala, it's important to find one that speaks to you energetically, but just as importantly you should love how it looks so that you look forward to using and wearing it. 

Custom mala prices vary due to the semi-precious stones and metals used. I'm happy to help guide you throughout the process to create one that is beautiful, speaks to you, and fits within your budget. 

I love to create malas for people, so whether you already know which stone you would like to use, or you need guidance from start to finish, please do not hesitate to contact me on 409-698-6335 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a free design consultation.

Most commonly requested are our 108 bead knotted malas and 108 bead wrist malas (elastic). Knotted malas can be tassel free (guru bead only) or have a tassel or gemstone pendant. 108 bead wrist malas have a gemstone guru bead, and silver, brass or bronze coloured markers.

Eagle Eye Mala Resized

Eagle Eye Hand Knotted Tassel-Free Mala
with Black Onyx Guru Bead

What are Mala Beads

Mala beads have many different names depending on the tradition and location of origin. In this section I will share the information taught to me in the yogic tradition. Depending on location of origin different schools of yoga may have different practices and traditions.

Mala Med Resized

Mala beads are a beautiful way to bring focus to your meditation practice. They can also be simply worn as a piece of jewelry infused with the intention you send to it such as courage, confidence, action or love just to name a few. 

For the purpose of my personal practice and yoga studio, I do not attach any religious connotation to the mala beads that I wear or make. I use them for focus in meditation, and for bringing positive, uplifiting energy into my daily life and the lives of the people I make them for. 

Lets begin with the meaning behind the words 'mala' and 'japa mala'.

Mala: Sanskrit word for 'garland'

Japa: Sanskrit word for 'repetition'

Japa Practice: a meditative practice of reciting mantras or affirmations, often using mala beads

Mala Beads: a string of 27, 54, or 108 beads used for meditation or intention setting

Japa Mala: beads used for mantra and prayer practice

 

I personally have several different malas, each made of different gemstones and with a different energetic quality. I like to have the variation as each one reminds me of a different energetic aspect when I wear it (such as confidence, energy, or calm) and each one has a different mantra associated to it for meditation. You won't often see me without my mala but the majority of people don't know what it is, or what it is used for, and assume it's just a pretty piece of jewellery. 

What is the purpose of a mala?

In many Eastern traditions, chanting and prayer is recited in a specific number of repetitions, in this case the mala is used to keep track of the number of repetitions.

For many yogis and modern day meditators, the mala is used during meditation as a tactile reminder of their practice. A word or mantra (in English or Sanskrit) can be repeated while gently drawing the mala through between the finger and thumb, and helps to calm the 'monkey mind'. 

What is a Mantra?

If you wish to use your mala to assist in your meditaiton practice, you will need to choose a mantra (a word or phrase) which you repeat to keep your focus. If you have a teacher they may choose a mantra for you, or you can select one for yourself. Mantra's can be a single word or phrase, and can be in Sanskrit or in English (or any other language you love!). Check out our Mantra page for some inspiration! 

Why are there 108 Beads?

The mala is made up of 108 gemstones, wooden beads or seeds. Wooden beads and seeds are more traditional, but semi-precious gemstones are popular as each one can carry it's own energetic properties to align with your intentions.  

The number 108 has many associations - here are just a few of the reasons that a mala may be made of 108 beads (though there are many more than listed here)

  • When using your mala beads in meditation and repetition of a mantra, you are complete once you have done it 100 times (or multiples of 100!). The 8 extra beads are to account for errors, mispronuciations, or can be extras as an offering to your teacher.
  • It is believed that there there are 108 energy lines connecting to the heart, with one of them believed to be the path to self realization
  • Mathematicians of Vedic culture viewed 108 as a number of the wholeness of existence 1, 0, 8: 1 stands for God or higher Truth, 0 stands for emptiness or completeness in spiritual practice, and 8 stands for infinity or eternity.
  • The number 108 also connects the Sun, Moon, and Earth - The average distance of the Sun and the Moon to Earth is 108 times their respective diameters.
  • It is believed that there are 108 Upanishads (texts of wisdom from the ancient sages)

What are the Marker Beads?

Marker beads can be made of a metal or another bead type, texture or shape. When you reach the marker in your mantra meditation, it will feel different and serve as a reminder to return to the practice if your mind has wandered. I personally prefer markers to be every 27 beads as there are four even sections around the mala that bring me back to the practice and easily allow me to know how far I am in my practice. It is possible to have markers at different points if you prefer though they are usually in multiples of 9 (typically 9, 18, 27, 36 or 54 but also 7, 12 and 21 for specific practices in Tibetan tradition). Some malas have no markers including many listed in our store. There is no right or wrong, just what works for you! Please contact us if you would like to chat about a design that suits you and your practice. 

What is the Meru Bead or Guru Bead for?

The 109th bead is the guru bead or meru bead (meru means 'mountain'). This is traditionally a bead with two entrance holes and a single exit hole leading to a tassel. In many Paradigm Yoga malas, the guru is simply a larger, different gemstone bead. 

This bead represents the awareness and respect that we must have in every aspect of life. Arriving here allows you to take a moment to reflect on the importance of your practice and reflect on your intentions and reason for sitting in meditation. If you have a guru/teacher, this bead is a representation of them.

Out of respect for yourself, or your Guru, we do not cross the Guru bead when we arrive; we simply pause and reflect. If you are finishing your practice you'll close your meditation, if you are continuing into a second or third (or more) round of repetitions, simply turn your mala and continue back to the direction from which you came.