Knot your own chakra | mala From Muladhara to Sahasraha. 

All DIY courses|| Malas || beading boards | Blog

Chakras are the energy centres in our body. The 7 main chakras are basically known to many, but rarely how much one can strengthen them and bring them back into balance through simple meditation. Japa meditation is a type of meditation in which mantras (mostly Vedic verses) are chanted (recited) repeatedly in a calming rhythm. This does not necessarily have to be done out loud, but can also be practiced quietly in thought in every situation in life. However, the sung form offers the advantage that the vibrations that are automatically generated by the singing act like a little sound therapy. We react to vibrations and our energy centres are demonstrably stimulated and soothed. Each chakra has its own sound which can be sung repeatedly - either specifically for one chakra or consecutively for all chakras.

When reciting mantras, malas are often used in Japa meditation. They are, so to speak, the rosaries of the yogis and serve as a "counting aid". Actually, there is no active conscious counting, but you push the mala chain bead for bead after each repetition and know by the integrated markers (marker-beads or spacer) when you have reached a certain number of repetitions. According to my yoga teacher Peter Clifford , this is because the middle finger represents the element Akasha (ether, sky) and the ring finger the element earth. We as humans, stand for the rainbow bridge between heaven and earth. For this reason, we connect while reciting the Mantran by letting the one mala between these two fingers continue to slide. I find this explanation catchy and beautiful, so I have adopted it. Other traditions use them mala with different fingers - I can respect that and leave it up to each person to decide how to use them.

The fingers feel the mala difference in the size of the fingers during usebeads. Traditionally in Yoga everything is repeated 108 times. The 108 is the holy number of yogis and has many meanings. However, fewer repetitions can be performed as long as they are divisible by nine. Steps 9, 27, and 54 are considered the usual ones. This makes sense not only for particularly long mantras, but also for more strenuous asanas, which a beginner yogi can and should not practice 108 times.

mala-necklaces are not traditionally used when reciting mantras, but are nowadays also worn as special pieces of jewellery. The traditional Rudraksha beads, (which are actually the seeds of a tree) are replaced by different ones made beads of various materials. These can be natural stone beads, wooden beads but also high quality gemstone beads. The number of beads usually beads remains at 108, but of course there is room for maneuver. For example, there are braceletmalas with 27beads, double malas with 216beads, half malas with 54 and so on. Also the traditional tassel, in which actually the string (in modern malas beading silk or nylon yarn), on which the 108 beads are attached with 109 knots and which then ends with a so-called Guru bead led, is often replaced by a pendant. Also tassels that are not wound with 108 threads, but only consist of two ends with three beads each, have a traditional origin.

One mala usually consists of 108 beads and a guru-bead. In Buddhism and Hinduism this number has a special meaning. It is said that a mantra develops its special effect only after 108 repetitions.

This five-hour workshop offers the opportunity to choose from more than 70 different semi-precious stones, natural stones and wooden beads and to create your own personal mala healing stone. This individual yoga painting necklace is then knotted by the participants themselves under guidance and provided with a self-made tassel made of silk or alternative materials.

Afterwards there will be a small common chakra mediation in the adjoining yoga room, during which one's own mala for personal Japa mediation will be initiated.

Example of a Manipura (Solar plexus) Chakra mala. This chakra represents the element fire. If it gets out of balance, it can lead to pent-up aggression and indigestion. In Ayurvedic teachings the Agni represents our digestive fire. This chakra is out of balance for many people today. This is not only often caused by diet, but also by our fast-paced society, in which we hardly take the time to "digest" anything and excessive consumption is the order of the day. The colour of this chakra is yellow and the associated stones that strengthen this chakra are for example citrine, but also amber or the tiger eye. All these stones and many more are available for this workshop as a selection.

The Anahata (heart) chakra is very close to my personal (in the truest sense of the word) heart. I am also an anahata yoga teacher and therefore strive to support my fellow men and students in teaching the art of self-love with an open heart for themselves and all other people. According to my teacher Peter Clifford, this also includes the ability to open the mind and to tame your own "monkey-mind", our "devil" on your shoulder, who is always chatting in between, and to make friends with him and learn to deal with his presence. If you think that after 50 years of yoga Peter has no "monkey" left in his head, I have to disappoint you. According to his statement it is rather a gorilla ;-)

But what Peter has definitely learned is to open his heart and let his fellow man feel this and radiate it. "Shiva's dance of love", a figure from the 5-Elements Yoga form, which he also teaches as an anahata yoga teacher, lets us practice exactly this: to open our heart. first to ourselves and then to our fellow human beings. Because, who never learned to love himself, is not able to give or receive unconditional love.

The color of the heart chakra is green. But pink is also often used, as some of the most important healing stones, to which the theme of self-love and heart healing is assigned, are pink. These include the widely known rose quartz, but also kunzite. In this mala one I have combined both colours and put a beautiful green side to the rose quartz. The green stones are represented here by high-quality ones made beads of peridot, prehnite and green apatite.

For the design of the Malas, sustainable beading boards wood is used, which was especially developed for the presentation and design of longmala necklaces . Instead of the wobbly plasticbeading boards , these sturdy wooden variants offer a beautiful combination with a natural material and make even the laying out of the beads Malas a sensual experience.

In 2018 I developed mine made mala beading boards of wood especially for the needs of malamachers. They offer enough space for longmala necklaces, have different sized compartments for accessories and two alternative ways to bracelets present and design. The All-in-One board for jewellery design, so to speak.

In the comfortable workshop kitchen in the middle of the green there is enough space for 10 participants and the huge selection of real gemstone beads, natural stone beads and accessories made of real silver, gold vermeil, wood, glass, stainless steel and many other materials.

More than 50 different uncoloured natural stone and gemstone beads are available. beads With a diameter of 8mm, a long, classic mala version and beads with a diameter of 6mm, a shorter version is available.mala

A diverse selection of intermediate beads offers infinite design possibilities for the very personal mala. These markings for steps 27, 54 and 81 help in Japa meditation to keep track of the repetitions already done. Traditionally everything was repeated 108 times, but nowadays it is sometimes difficult to take the time to repeat 27 times. An increase is definitely a gain.

Traditionally, pearl necklaces are knotted on real silk. the material is natural and robust - although not as robust as artificial silk or nylon - and also an animal product, which not everyone wants to use. Since I respect this and eat vegan myself, I offer nylon cord and macramé ribbon for knotting malas in addition to high-quality artificial silk. For the tassels there is also cotton available besides silk.

Only 3 minutes away from Ikea Klagenfurt, in the district of Magdalensberg, in an old elementary school you will find my beautiful yoga room. If you are interested in the 5-Elements Yoga Form according to Peter Clifford, please contact me!

Course management

Claudia Schleyer is an architect, yoga teacher and vegan cook - and lives as half Carinthian in Berlin and Klagenfurt. In "normal" life she advises science centers and museums on interactive exhibits and exhibitions and is involved in the maker scene as well as interactive art.

As half Carinthian I love to go hiking in the mountains. When the weather is like a dream like here on the Ulrichsberg or Dobratsch, I like to do a little yoga. I like best to practice the 5-Elements Form of Peter Clifford, which I also teach. The advantage of this form is that it consists of standing or dancing figures, which can be performed in any clothing, at any place and without a yoga mat. What is more beautiful than being in nature and playing with the elements? If you want to know more about this, please contact me. I also teach the form individually in my yoga studio on the outskirts of Klagenfurt and in nature.

Registration and course fee

The course fee is 60 € including drinks and vegan snacks.

Also included in the basic fee are knotting yarn, intermediate beads of nickel and lead-free alloy and a pretty cotton jewelry bag with a "Flower of Life" pendant.

In addition, there are costs for the individually consumed material. These mala-beads are at 50 cent per piece for almost all beads. Higher beads quality and genuine silver or gold vermeil spacers and smaller charms and pendants are between 1€ and 15€ per piece. High quality pendants are individually priced.

The number of participants is limited to 6 per course. 

For exclusive events (yoga workshop with painting course, birthday or Christmas celebrations, hen party, pearl party or similar, please contact me for a short address to create an individual offer.

Course materials and accessories offered

For mine courses I use only high quality materials and can offer my participants a wide range of them.

Among other things, there is a wide range of products to choose from:

• Knotting yarns made from real high-quality silk
• Vegan knotting yarns from high quality artificial silk
• Vegan knotting yarns from nylon
• Vegan knotting yarns from braided macramé cord
• Tassel yarns made from high quality natural silk, artificial silk or cotton
• gemstone beads with 6 and 8 mm diameter
• semi-precious stone beads with 6 and 8 mm diameter
• wooden and seed beads with 6 and 8 mm diameter
• Marker-beads from 925 sterling silver and gold vermeil
• Marker-beads made of zinc- and lead-free Thai silver (alloy)
• Charm and Pendant from 925 Sterling Silver, Gold Vermeil and Stainless Steel
• Guru beads from natural stones, wood, 925 sterling silver, gold vermeil and stainless steel
• High quality silver set pendants from rare natural stones as an alternative Guru bead for modern Malas
• Unique bronze pendants cast from natural forms by Irene Hiebel
• Unique "Umgarnte Steine" as pendant of Melina Kumer

The venue

They courses take place in the old elementary school of St. Thomas. This is located about 3 minutes behind Ikea Klagenfurt in the direction of Brückl in St. Thomas am Zeiselberg in the blue house directly next to the church at the top of the hill left of the Görtschitztaler Landstraße (if you come from Ikea - otherwise of course right.) By car it takes about 13 minutes from the city centre of Klagenfurt. If necessary, a pick up from the bus stop at Ikea can be arranged. A post bus also leaves the city centre at greater intervals and stops down by the main road - about 5 minutes' walk from the school.

Important Thanks to a change of address by the municipality, navigation systems tend to find the address under the old name: St. Thomas 10 (Am Zeiselberg / Magdalensberg / 9064 Pischeldorf)

The new official address is: St. Thomaser Straße 30, 9064 Magdalensberg

Whoever gets lost will gladly be navigated personally by telephone at: +49.173.6033299

I look forward to the emergence of many new Malas! If you have any questions please call or mail me at mail(at)derblauevogel.com

Love, Claudia & Der Blaue Vogel

All DIY courses || Malas | beading boards | Blog