Love This! To Haiti With Love...

One of her gorgeous malas!

During the whirlwind that was last week, on Friday I finally got a chance to get-together with my friend and fellow DC-area yoga teacher, Kristin Adair, to catch up over a cup o' chai tea at our local Starbucks (so original, I know!). I was excited to hear about what Kristin has been doing, as we went through teacher training together and shortly thereafter went down similar roads--both of us quit our full-time jobs in order to pursue our passions, including all things yoga and  creativity-related. As busy lives go, we hadn't gotten a chance to catch up for months, and when we did I was completely blown away and inspired by what Kristin has been doing since we last chatted. The girl has been busy! So, this week I wanted to share some information about the amazing organization that she's started up and how you can help out.

What is it? Kristin has partnered with national yoga and activism group, Off the Mat, Into the World, to raise $20,000 for Haitian nonprofits that are working to create jobs and financial stability in the region. She is raising this 20k on her own...!!! Pretty incredible, I know. How is she doing it? She has started a project called To Haiti With Love, and as a part of her fund-raising efforts, Kristin has also started an amazing line of malas called Malas for Haiti.

These hand-knotted mala beads and mala-inspired bracelets are made with creamy natural calcite beads (for healing energy and stress reduction) and intense red garnet beads (for vitality, strength, and courage). Each piece includes a To Haiti With Love bird charm to symbolize peace and promise for this incredible nation. And they. are. gorgeous. Not familiar with Malas? Malas are prayer beads used traditionally in Hindu, Buddhist and yogic meditation practices to count 108 sacred repetitions of a mantra (a spiritual sound, word, or phrase). You've probably seen them for sale at your favorite yoga studio or around the necks or wrists of some of your fellow yogis.

Anyways, not only are Kristin's malas totally beautiful, but also all proceeds from the sale of Malas for Haiti will go directly to support grassroots organizations creating sustainable solutions on the ground in Haiti. Funds raised will provide education and microloans to empower Haitian women to start productive businesses and create better lives. And you know as well as I do that when you empower women, you empower the entire community. It happens time and time again. Kristin's fund-raising efforts will also support the building of a new community center and an eco-friendly children's center, and will support implementing sustainable agricultural and clean water solutions in rural communities severely impacted by the earthquake. So yeah, they're definitely making a difference!

Interested in helping out? Take a look at some of her beautiful mala designs below. You can purchase these items in her etsy shop or on her website. You can also get involved by making a donation or joining her for one of her upcoming fundraising events.

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Simply fabulous, no? Great cause, great person behind the efforts, great gift idea, and a great way to give back. I love it! Oh, and she's also happy to make custom malas if you have requests (silver bird? no problem!).

Can't wait to stock up for my holiday gifts this year!

Namaste,
Mary Catherine