Design Duo :: Karmic Mood

I am completely immersed in the study of the yoga tradition which inspired this design and fashion combination. I can't decide whether this colour is pink or purple.

Elle Deco, as seen in Mimi and Meg + Tory Burch Tunic

I LOVE Colours!

Organic cotton pants by Omnitom

All-in-one

I am not at ease with the phrase *yoga fashion* because it can be perceived as an oxymoron. Fashion is, alas, very often associated with appearance, stardom and superficiality, all principles antipodean to the yoga values. But for me style is the exploration of a mood and the playful experimentations of alternative dimensions of life; in other words, a form of art, in the same way the art of yoga is an exploration of our body and mind's potentials as organic beings. 

One of my fashion principles is that clothes should flatter your shapes and  caress your skin, and you should always feel good in them. I therefore swap too tight models and synthetic fibres for organic fabrics and comfy, loose garments. When doing yoga, I like practising in one-piece outfits as they do not show an inch of my belly in upside-down asanas and I just forget I am wearing one.

Shakti Activewear unitards are a great discovery as they keep my curves in place, allow fluidity of movement without getting in the way and look sassy. You can shop  them online or check the retail list here. In London some models are sold at Bikram Centre's shops.

Prancing Leopard is a newly launched yoga clothing company designing funky styles with organic cotton. The company also supports local women's communities around the world and the Snow Leopard Trust. 

 

Their jumpsuit collection is delicious - whimsical and comfy at the same time. Sadly, they only sell for the US market and to date I haven't been able to find a stockist in Europe. 

Finally, this pair of post-yoga pants by Yoga Fashion are great to walk out of my yoga centre in style and freedom. I love the harem style in all its variants. Have you noticed the white body painting on the model's belly? How hippie!

Yoga Holidays :: Wine & Yoga in Provence

I would like to complete my yoga teaching training with a yoga holiday, ideally in India, but more likely in Europe. I am planning to review a few places I have been short-listing for location, style and good value.

My husband and I have been invited to spend a week of yoga and wine tasting in La Madalene, a beautiful mansion in Provence. My friend spent a yoga week there in 2009 and came back refreshed and re-energised. We are seriously considering to join this year, as it sounds to me - a  trainee yogini - and Steve - a would-be wine connoisseur - a good compromise. The delicious cuisine, not exclusively vegetarian, is a plus for my carnivore husband. And, compared to other yoga holidays on offer, the costs are reasonable. It is easily accessible by low-fare airlines, but we wouldn't mind to combine a road trip across France.

La Madalene, a converted priory in the foothill of Mt.Ventoux in Provence, sits on a sandstone outcrop surrounded by mature trees with views over vines, fruit orchards and mountains. The house has been carefully renovated and tastefully decorated with a mix of contemporary classics and antique Provencal furniture. I love the natural colours vivified by touches of magenta.

 Photos (c) Dawn Lintern, courtesy of her Facebook Photo Album

Dawn Lintern, yoga teacher and talented singer, has been practising since 2000 and practising for about 15. She focused on Ashtanga for several years, studying with practitioners such as John Scott, Gingi Lee, Hamish Hendry, Nancy Gilgoff and Danny Paradise. She has done teacher-training with David Swenson, with Narayani in Sivananda yoga and more recently Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers. Dawn teaches Ashtanga at Triyoga and Hatha yoga at Yogahome and the North London Buddhist Centre, where she teaches a more personal, creative style combining the riches of her ongoing exploration into different styles of yoga and teaching. Her aim as a teacher is to give as much individual attention as possible, whilst tuning in to the group dynamic and energy of each class in order to encourage people to discover their potential and blossom.


She will be in Provence in May and August. Check the details here.

Scent of Roses

While 2009 has been a fantastic year, all in all, 2010 has had a slow start and too many nostalgic looks into a long gone past. To lift my spirits, I have booked a few treatments  this month and got myself two rose scented gifts: a candle and a Dr Hauschka body oil. Rose is my comfort zone fragrance: it's delicate and yet penetrating, sweet without being nauseating.

These colourful candles have been designed by yoga teacher Nadia Narain, and they are chemical free and 100% recycled plant wax. The essential oils are so intense that I can smell them without burning my candle. They come in four different scents, each evoking a mood: joy, love, peace and hope, according to your wished feeling. You can choose yours here. I went for LOVE: a wrapping blend of rose and geranium to feel desirable and loved.

I prefer body oils to moisturisers because, when they are of good quality, they are less greasy than creams. If I am lazy, I will just mix them with my shower gel  (which is also rose based) to create an instant softener. You can buy Dr Hauschka's natural body oil directly from their website.

Pants

I could live in yoga pants. Om Girl's are my favourite ever.

A Metaphor of my Lungs

Ahead of my upcoming yoga teaching course, starting this weekend, I have been given some preparatory homework: to read and absorb the first few chapters of Donna Farhi's book on breathing {The Breathing Book}. It is a practical textbook guiding you through breathing exercises, or better *inquires*, with the aim of disclosing what she calls the *essential breath*. In the introductory chapter she invites the reader to visualise his/her current breathing pattern with a metaphorical image.

When I saw this illustration, courtesy of my friend's flatmate Russ Street, I thought it illustrated very well my breath's perception. My lungs feel like lungs of a hummingbird, and my shallow breathing like trapped in a cage. In fact, it is not uncommon to hear me *hmmphing* every now and then to release the accumulated air. I know in yoga you should never wish and always observe and accept and be with it, but I hope one day my lungs will open up as this beautiful daylily/gramophone...