Today we’d like to introduce you to Yvonne Dao Burkart.
Yvonne Dao, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m the founder of The Mala Babe Jewelry, a mother, spiritual scientist, and certified crystal healer based in San Diego. A scientist by trade, I took up making mala necklaces for meditation to relieve job-related stress. Before I knew it, people were buying them off my neck! What began as part of my meditative practice became a business centered on empowering women, especially the all-female artisans who fight poverty by making jewelry for your spiritual journey.
My first experience with crystal healing came in 2015 after a decade-long struggle with hormone imbalances and debilitating stress and anxiety. I found myself completely drained of energy and could barely function because of terrible brain fog. Desperate to find a solution, I turned to meditation and that’s when I became hooked on mala necklaces and healing crystals. The first mala I ever designed was made with white howlite for patience and calmness and just meditating with it for a few minutes at a time helped to calm my mind and tune out the chatter in my brain. Finally there was a light at the end of the tunnel!
What’s intriguing is that this technically wasn’t my first experience with crystals and malas. Growing up I was always drawn to crystals and collected them from museum gift shops and anywhere else I could get my hands on them. My Grandma used to meditate with a mala every day and it didn’t make sense to me until I needed one of my own. I guess you could say that I discovered what I’m passionate about now as a kid, but didn’t realize it.
Re-discovering crystals and studying their healing properties has opened up so many opportunities in my life and it’s my passion to share it with the world. A lot of people dismiss crystal healing and say that it’s “woo woo” or pseudoscientific and it’s my mission to educate and inform people that there is real science to back it up. As a PhD-level & board-certified toxicologist, I love turning skeptics into not only believers but fanatics because I was once the biggest crystal skeptic in the world.
I spent over 15 years in the research and corporate environments and developed the belief system that only things which are scientifically proven are real – BOY, WAS I WRONG! My scientific training helped me gain a tremendous understanding of the interaction between chemicals and our bodies, yet it led me down a path of extremely rigid thinking. I realized that my health issues were not addressed in modern medicine or all the training I received so why hold onto it? Once I opened my mind to the possibilities and powerful energies of crystals, that’s when I started seeing real improvements. I realized that it’s my responsibility to take charge of my health and no one else’s.
Being an academic scientist was totally different than a corporate scientist. I enjoyed my corporate job at first, but the stress and pressure eventually took their toll on me and I was no longer fulfilled with my job. It was during a meditation with a mala that I realized my true calling in life – to be my own boss and create a company centered on helping others. I loved making malas and witnessing the power of healing crystals firsthand, so it made perfect sense for me to share this knowledge so I went for it!
Today, I’m a full time entrepreneur running a business I absolutely love! Over the years, my business has evolved to include healing crystal jewelry, crystal workshops, and one-on-one chakra balancing & healing sessions. Seeing the joy and transformations that crystals bring to people’s lives makes me feel like I’ve done my job and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There were definitely bumps in the road and challenges along the way, but nothing can shake me once I have my goals in mind. As my business started growing, I was barely able to keep up with the demand, which stressed me out. Making traditional malas is a labor intensive process that includes making tight knots between 108 beads. Sometimes, it took me several hours to complete one mala and I would get blisters on my fingers from pulling so tightly on the thread. I used to have to turn people away because I simply could not make more malas until my fingers healed and it broke my heart. Then, one day, the universe connected me with an all-female artisan collective in a small village in India called Rishikesh. These women are highly skilled at making mala necklaces and have been specializing in this craft for many generations. With their help, I’m able to offer a wide range of malas and bracelets, and they receive steady employment and are able to support their families and local communities with their craft. It’s a win-win situation and makes running my business so extremely fulfilling.
Another big challenge I faced was fear and limiting beliefs. What if I failed? What are people going to think of me? Worst of all, I feared judgment from my biggest critic – myself. So, I hesitated and spent 2 more years working at a place that I dreaded. That was before I realized the power of self-love and trusting my intuition. Making jewelry brought me more excitement than anything else and it really lit me up so why not follow my heart? I realized that we have one shot at life and I couldn’t stand to let another minute pass without pursuing my dream.
If I could offer advice to young women starting their journey, it would be to adopt an optimistic mindset and do what gets you excited to the best of your ability. That doesn’t mean quit your job today and start your dream business without a plan. It means that doing what lights your soul on fire one step at a time is what will lead to your ultimate success. When you start trusting yourself and your intuition things start happening that facilitate your success. The universe wants you to succeed – you just have to listen and trust. Quiet the chatter in your brain with meditation, practice gratitude, ignore naysayers, and listen to the little voice inside that says, “You got this!”
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Mala Babe by Yvonne Dao – what should we know?
I design jewelry infused with the healing energy of crystals and specialize in mala necklaces and bracelets. My designs create a deep connection with a woman’s inner power allowing her to manifest her wildest dreams. I’m known for being the “Spiritual Scientist” which is an oxymoron at first until you realize that energy healing has a scientific basis.
As a brand, I’m most proud of my ethical and socially conscious mission. Being a toxicologist and expert at studying how chemicals in our environment affect our health, it’s extremely important for me to help you “detox your jewelry box” by choosing cleaner options for your jewelry. There are so many ingredients and materials used in commercial products that have a negative effect on our health that I make it my mission to use only natural, untreated, and hypoallergenic crystals and metals in all my designs. No matter what, I won’t compromise quality and safety for cheap cost. What’s more, this ensures that our planet remains healthy and that we’re not dumping toxic chemicals into the environment.
I’m a huge supporter of helping women rise, which is why I’m so honored to work with the women artisans who make my malas and bracelets. The skills and love they pour into each piece are unsurpassed and I’m so happy that they receive steady employment and make a long-term social change. So, every mala and bracelet purchase from The Mala Babe supports dreams! Right now, I’m working on a line of sterling silver jewelry made with healing crystals, inspired by powerful symbols, and infused with the energy of creation.
What really sets my brand apart is that I’m not only providing healing crystals and beautiful jewelry, but I’m also empowering women with mindset tips and teaching the tricks I used to manifest my dream life. The Law of Attraction really works!
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
My #1 favorite app for meditation is Calm. You can choose to have nature sounds or a soothing voice for guided meditations and even set up a challenge for yourself to really kickstart your practice.
I listen to the Flourish and Thrive podcast every week, which gives awesome jewelry and business advice and the Social Media Marketing Talk Show for social media tips and news.
For productivity, I love the Panda Planner which helps me stay organized, keeps all my monthly, weekly, and daily goals outlined and even includes sections for gratitude, exercise goals, and daily reflections.
My all-time favorite books on crystals are by Judy Hall. The Encyclopedia of Crystals changed my life! Right now, I’m reading Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, which is all about chakras and energy.
Pricing:
- Traditional Mala Necklaces $65-135
- Mala Bracelets $23-50
- Sterling Silver & Gold-Filled Necklaces $35-75
- Earrings $20-50
- Rings $30-70
Contact Info:
- Website: www.yvonnedao.com
- Phone: 858-480-5265
- Email: hello@themalababe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themalababe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themalababe/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/themalababe
Image Credit:
Priscilla Lezzi
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