“I’m feeling so stuck in my life right now. What would Ganesha do?”

Enjoy this original parody from our friends over at Big Happy Day, shot on location at Shakti Fest. It’s “so Shanti”, you’ll definitely be “feelin’ the Bhav”, “energetically speaking that is.”  Via BHD.com:

“Swimming in an ocean of devotional hippies, yogis and artists, this video was easy to make- we just captured them in their natural setting at Shaktifest, 2012!”

Is it a coincidence that there are so many famous people in L.A., or could it be the Feng Shui of the city?

Besides the amazing weather that L.A. has to offer, here’s the skinny on why celebs are spotted in droves in the land of dreams, and why so many become famous.

Some homes have special energy charts—based on the facing direction and move-in date—and when they’re activated with a water feature and a real or virtual mountain (landscape boulders, retaining walls, solid fence, etc.) it can bring incredible amounts of money, fame, career luck, successful relationships, and good health.

Every single home based on the direction it faces and when the occupants moved in, has an energy chart, referred to as a Flying Stars Chart in the Classical Feng Shui world. This tells us anything and everything that will happen to the people living there. We’re talking money, relationships, and health. Some homes have an extra special chart that can bring fame, fortune, and great wealth in all it’s forms to the occupants.

L.A. happens to have an abundance of these charts because of the coordinates of the grid that the actual city is built on, as well as the surrounding areas.

For example, in West Hollywood, homes that face East and people that moved in or did major renovations in their homes after 2004 have the fame energy. In Santa Monica, if you moved in or did major renovations after 2004, regardless of what direction your home faces, it has a special chart.

These charts need to be activated to really benefit the people living there, but most of the time they are naturally initiated in the environment. Depending on which chart you have, you may need water in the front or back or a mountain in the front or back.

Roads act as virtual water and buildings can act as virtual mountains. Which means that a lot of people living in these homes that have these special charts are naturally being energized, hence all the famous people in these areas.

I discuss this further on my appearance on HGTV’s, Selling LA in more detail, so stay tuned for air dates. It’s coming out this summer!

Over the years people have asked if yoga is a religion.

Some believe that in order to practice yoga they need to change their denomination. Others are afraid that the practice of yoga will interfere with their personal belief system.

This subject came up again during one of my one of my yoga teacher training weekends, as my students and I discussed the importance of studying the sacred texts and yoga. During this particular weekend we were talking about some of the most important texts that form the base or foundation of yoga as a spiritual practice.

Sacred books like the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras, and the Upanishads talk about loving the Divine, becoming your best, abstaining from harm, etc. These same principles can also be found in the Bible, the Torah and many other spiritual and sacred volumes. As we started to read and discuss each Sutra, written well over 5000 years ago, we could see how easily these foundations are applied today regardless of what your beliefs are.

I am not sure when or how people find themselves having to choose between yoga and religion. Yoga to me has never been about any particular sanctity, nor trying to get people to believe in something they don’t.

As I see it, yoga has brought myself and many others closer to our own personal convictions. Yoga has also given me the opportunity to learn more about myself, to deepen my connection to God, the Divine, the Creator or the Universe (whatever you choose to call it).

One of the many translations for the word yoga is union. Yoga strives to bring all aspects of our beings into wholeness regardless of what or whom we choose to give credence to.

Even though yoga started in India, many practitioners around the world are not Hindus. I have not been to any yoga class where they  have asked me if I was part of any specific religion in order to be able to participate in class.

I have personally taught classes where I had people come from different religions whether they were  Christians, Jews, Buddhist or Hindus—it did not matter. We all came and continue to come to our yoga practice for different reasons, but at the end our mutual goal is to become one with ourselves and the Divine.

Some view yoga as a physical practice or exercise, while others believe and know that yoga is much more than that. Yoga is a system of wellness that helps bring our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual being into union.

Yoga is a spiritual practice that helps us remember to live an honest, loving and respectful life. It encourages us to treat others with kindness and respect. It tells us to remember our true essence.

You may find that in many classes the teachers and other participants chant OM. This word has no religious connotation and you can choose whether or not to participate while it’s being chanted. You will also hear words like “Namaste” and/or “Shanti”. These words mean “I honor the Divine within you” and “peace”. These phrases can be said regardless of any particular religion.

If you have been thinking about trying a yoga class, but you are hesitant because you think you have to change who you are or what you believe in, now you know that the only requisites to try a yoga class is to be yourself and breathe.

Have you ever noticed yourself not doing the things you know you need to do to feel better about yourself, your life or a particular situation?

For example, you feel stressed and know yoga and meditation would be the best thing for you, but instead of doing them you watch a movie, go out for a drink, or just keep pushing yourself to “do more”. Maybe you’re an entrepreneur, you know making that phone call, sending that email, or writing a regular newsletter is the best thing for you and the growth of your business, but you put it off and let your fear get the best of you. You could be trying to get healthy, and instead of changing what you eat, moving your body and exercising (in a fun way), you keep eating the stuff and doing the things that keep you where you don’t want to be.

Why do we sabotage our health, happiness and overall well-being? Why is it so hard to do the things we know will make us feel better?

As someone who has grown a spiritual practice over the last seven years I have come up against that same resistance—putting everything else before me—while learning how to truly be with myself everyday, and look forward to and love every moment. As an entrepreneur who succeeds by being productive and action-oriented, I know what it’s like to sabotage my success by procrastinating or not taking care of my health.

I am also someone who has broken the habits of using alcohol, sugar, food and other ways of numbing myself; effectively preventing myself from knowing me, or feeling my emotions. It’s through these things that I’ve learned to make healthier choices and honor myself.

1. Drop the guilt.

Stop feeling bad about the shit you didn’t do and think you should’ve done. It doesn’t matter. What matters most is what you do right now, and now and now. Every moment you come back to your breath, inhale deeply and exhale fully is a rebirth, a new beginning and an opportunity to make changes.

Quit beating yourself up. Accept where you’re at and what you have or haven’t done. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and be the empowered super human that you came here to be.  You are Infinite Spirit and your awesomeness is way more humungous than all the crap that keeps you small, low-vibing and unhappy. Drop that unneeded guilt and make better choices in this now and all the nows moving forward!

2. Listen to your body’s wisdom.

You have 60 trillion cells of infinite wisdom twinkling inside of you, working together for your highest wholeness! Unfortunately most of us keep ourselves so busy that we forget about going within when we feel stressed, sick, in pain or out of balance. Instead, we go around and we ask for everybody else’s opinion about what’s wrong with us or we just flat out ignore the red flags until we have a downward spiral crash. The first place you should always turn is to yourself.

I teach a practice of turning inwards and listening to the body’s wisdom so you can decipher the hidden messages of your body and spirit by learning to listen. The pain and stress you feel is the body’s way of communicating messages of truth to you. When you feel those red flags it means something needs to change. If you don’t listen, you won’t hear it.

Usually the act of listening is enough to  dissolve the negative energy and create new choices with more ease. If after you’ve done all you can do to listen to your body and still you have no clarity, then go seek help elsewhere.

3. Do what is fun and feels good.

If it’s not fun, you won’t do it…for long. Ever notice how we fall off the wagon so easily with diets, exercise programs and all sorts of other stuff we say we’re committed to? Why is that? Probably because they’re not fun!

Whether it’s your spiritual practice, transforming the way you eat, running a business, working a day-job, exercising or whatever: you have to make it fun. If you don’t, then you won’t do it and you’ll be unhappy.

My intention for all my services, adventures, articles and videos first and foremost, is that they are fun. Fun for me and fun for you. This makes growing and loving life a whole lot easier; as apposed to it being a push, a struggle and a pain in the ass.

Learn to see it all as an adventure and learn to make it all fun. It will take practice, but if you want to be happy every moment of everyday, it’s well worth figuring out, and there’s no time better than now.

4. It’s all about vibes.

It’s all about doing the things that will raise our vibrations to the highest level in all moments! When we increase our frequency our addictions, judgments, thoughts, habits, relationships and every part of ourselves  transform. When making choices—whatever the choice may be—ask your body and self (not your mind): “will this fill me up with energy” or “will this take my energy away.” As soon as you ask, you will instinctually know in your heart.

Choose the things that raise your vibes and your life will be easier, more fun and you will live in the land of love, magic and pure possibility. Breath work is the number one way to raise your vibes, so learn it and do it everyday.

I hope some of these Grounded Perspectives will serve you well in making choices that fill you up to higher levels of love and divine appreciation for this beautiful life we’ve been given. If you have any questions, leave a comment below and I’ll be happy to offer any further insights. If you have any insights on how you’ve moved through the resistance of doing what you know you should do, please comment below and let everyone know!

About the Author:

World adventurer, spiritual comedian, social entrepreneur, meditation guide and lover of life,   Brad Morris is on a mission to raise the love vibe globally through his inner-vative approach to making meditation fun and easy. He helps people get into the zone by de-bunking the meditation myths that complicate the simplicity of an awesome practice. He also stirs the pot of laughter within with his Conscious Comedy Video Productions and unique, playful outlook on life.  BradiDude takes his passion for growth, adventure and travel and leads groups on wild and transformational spiritual adventures around the world and is a regular author with FinerMinds Blog! He has impacted oodles of lives world-wide on the big stage as a speaker, as well as through leading hundreds of meditation groups and workshops. Learn to Meditate … Take the 40 Day Journey with Brad Morris by clicking this link! This dude is ‘being the change’ by simply living his Cowabunga Life and passionately inviting others to do the same for themselves. You can check out more cool stuff about Cowabunga Life & BradiDude at  www.CowabungaLife.com

I’m a yoga teacher, a full-timer.

Teaching yoga is an easy gig. It’s a pleasure for both instructor and pupil because we all find nourishment in time we spend on our mats no matter how different we are. Asana is a powerful equalizer. I love the physical practice and the comforting rituals like weird chanting, vinyasa and tying my hair up in a samurai ponytail like I’m going into battle.

It fulfills me and inspires me to see my students become stronger and happier, flow by flow. Teaching yoga is manual labor and for me, it’s a labor of love. I’m from a working class family and this feels like a working class profession, like farming, nursing or baking. We are growing. We are healing. We are providing.

I cannot stop myself from practicing seven days a week. I feel an irresistible pull to learn from my teachers. Their words ring in my ears long after I roll up my stanky ‘Duka and go home. Some of these words and new ideas are fresh and vibrant. Others are stale.

Let’s strike a deal, fellow yoga instructors. I’ll never ask you to ‘stretch’ or ‘let go’ if you’ll kindly archive some of your own golden oldies:

1. Sits bones or sitz bones or sit bones.

Ischial tuberosities sounds way cooler. When I get to class, I’m ready to receive. I’m eager to study what you have to offer. You don’t need to dumb it down. Give me the anatomical terms, sugar. I know you’ve studied them. Your knowledge is a turn on.

2. Fog up the mirror.

I cringe at myself for saying it. The mouth-full is so heavy. Darth Vader called, he wants his breath back, CYT / RYT. The force is not witchu’. Remember Gmork, the big black wolf character from The NeverEnding Story? He gets a gold star for fogging up the mirror.

You should see my uddiyana bandha.

3. The lovely so-and-so will be subbing my class.

When a yoga teacher calls the sub lovely, beautiful or delightful (puke), it means they may, subconsciously or not, want the stand in to sound fluffy, not skilled and well, sub-par. Women in particular, do this to each other.

Have you taken your sub’s class lately? You should. That way, you might have something specific and solid to say about his or her teaching. If you leave your students with a sub who you think is inadequate or merely ‘lovely’ you are doing them a disservice. Don’t sell out, pretty pony.

If I’m subbing for your class, please call me dangerous, creepy or say I’m a close-talker who gives inappropriately familiar assists. Trust me, yer’ numbers will go up. In turn, when you sub for me I will call you the captain of crunch, the supreme queen of grilled cheese and confess that you are indeed harder, better, faster, stronger than Ms. Pac-Man. If that isn’t enough I will let the world know that you are a unicorn. The uterus in me bows to the uterus in you. I think we’ve reached an understanding.

4. Breathe

Let’s not belabor ‘the breath.’ It’s implied that I am using my lungs. Yoga teacher, if you tell me to ‘just breathe’ as if it will solve the world’s problems I will eat you in your sleep.

5. Hot room

This phrase is one tired, broke ass hooker. Put ‘er to bed. It was clever at first. I felt like I belonged to an exclusive club. ‘See you in the hot room.’ No, I’ll see you in hell before I ever say that shit again.

Let’s call it the free cheeseburger machine, the bad place (like where your underwear go after spending too much time in rabbit pose),  or how about your mom’s hot room?

6. Yummy

I’m sorry that you’re vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, and lager-free. Meatballs and cake are yummy, GD locust pose ain’t. Describing a challenging posture as yummy will not make it sound more accessible to me.

Could you tell me how it makes you feel? That will entice me to try it. Yoga is a sensual practice. I see it, I feel it, I hear it, I sure as shootin’ smell it, but I don’t know if I want to taste it. Savor it, maybe. Why is it always the scrawniest teachers who want you to believe yoga is yummy?

7. Low boat

Because I hate that it’s really hard. If you’re going to make me suffer through this rosy posy, could you at least tell me I’m on a mothafu%$in’ boat, please? Since we’re out at sea, I’ll gently make my next point:

8. Ocean Breath

Smells like fish poo and oil spill. Makes me think of the Titanic, and then Celine Dion. It’s a cry for help. Don’t say it. When ‘Ocean Breath’ comes out of my mouth to describe how to explore a fuller lung capacity, it makes my teeth itch. There’s got to be a better way. Tornado breath? Breath of eruption?  S.O.S.

9. Walk the dog

Bring one of those blue poopie bags with you too. No, merci.

Can we call it rabid dog? And get all freaky with it? Please? I know our American culture is very dog happy and that’s charming, but I don’t want to actually feel like I am a dog taking myself for a walk. Woof.

10. Back issues, neck issues, knee issues, sphincter issues.

If you think I have back issues, let’s talk about your daddy issues, pal. Just offer up the modifications, ok? I don’t wanna cry (again) in savasana and I don’t need anyone to remind me of my issues, yogster.  Issues don’t sound sexy. And why am I here if not to feel sexy and issue-free?

11. Workout

I just like wearing leg warmers. Don’t be fooled. I’m not here to work out like it’s 1986, goofball. Workout is the cheapest word we could use to describe yoga. I put too much value on my practice to label it a workout.

The body I have, the unconventionally rockin’ and healthfully rounded body I will live in the rest of my life, is reliable and strong. It allows me to engage in a vigorous yoga practice every day and rarely does it tire or fail. There’s nothing to work out.

I’m taking your class to see what light and possibility I might work up or work in, thank you.  If you tell me you’re going to work me out, I’ll show you pics of how I worked your sister out.

12. Problem area

Just think of me as Christopher Walken, meet your new guru. Would you offer to help Christopher Walken sculpt his problem areas? Bitch, please. Christopher Walken would cut you. Lock the knee!

I will just sniffle and awkwardly pull my pungent tank top down over my muffin pudge, or as you so succinctly put it, my problem area.  Pictured left is Mr. Walken, age 22, and that is what my core looks like under my 35 year old mother of two problem area.

13. Kick asana

As in ‘come to my kick asana acro vin yin cheesy poof workshop to have your chakras imploded.’ You don’t have to market your class to me with little gems like that. I already like your class.

You are a good and capable teacher. You kinda’ remind me of my little brother. Maybe you could come over and eat Captain Crunch with me. We could watch Thundercats. You don’t need a yoga fad or a gimmick to attract me to your teaching. I paid the drop-in fee. You are enough.

When I come to you, I want to experience your teaching. You don’t have to use the same ol’ verbiage you’ve heard repeatedly in the yoga teacher canon to get me to believe you. Tell me exactly why you’re teaching me a pose, what it strengthens or opens, and how I might practice it off the mat.

You don’t have to sell me yoga with promises that it will detoxify me, get me in a bikini or change me. I don’t want to feel like I’m in the grocery store checkout line. Give me warmth, comfort, and your take on the ancient practice of yoga that you know and love. That’s plenty.

About the Author:

Hally Marlino is a blue collar mama from Madison, WI. She’s a former U.S. Army trained combat medic, a former actor with a BA in Theatre Performance from UW-La Crosse and a former yoga skeptic. When she’s not teaching freestyle vinyasa around the isthmus, you’ll find her bike-riding and beer-appreciating with her family. Hally is exactly half ballerina and half wrestler, but her yoga classes are totally legit. She promises. Find her at yoga-beast.com.

In case you weren’t already excited enough about this incredible event, check out this article by Ashley Herzberger below – enjoy!

If you want to make the world a better place…give yourself a break!

We hear the word a lot: SEVA. Selfless service. It’s the ultimate way of life for the die-hard yogi. Based on the universal concept, “the more you give, the more you receive,” we must also find the reverse to be true to have the greatest impact in the world. The more you receive, the more you give. It sounds selfish at first, but hear me out.

Giving is great. Receiving is awesome too. Don’t forget about you! What are you giving to yourself to help keep you in tip-top shape to save the world? This ain’t easy work sistas and brothas.

The more you take care of yourself – rest, rejuvenate, restore – the more fuel you’ll store to burn that endless giving engine of yours. Finding that balance of giving to others and giving to yourself will keep you on an even keel. You won’t feel angry, jealous, overwhelmed, depressed, harried or burnt out; rather, you’ll feel energized, elated, focused and motivated to give everything you have to someone in need. You’ll transfer positive energy into your work, and your work will become much more effective, efficient and meaningful.

We know, it doesn’t make sense. We live in a task-oriented world, where the more we “get done” in a day, the more productive we are. Since when did “getting a massage” not count as getting something done? Since when did your work become more important than your health and well-being? You can’t show up for others and do good work if you aren’t healthy and strong. When you look at it this way, it’s worth it to get a one-hour massage once a week, take some time to read a book or just relax without a computer, phone or TV by your side.

Thing is, it’s not selfish to take care of yourself! Don’t feel guilty for booking a rejuvenating, inspiring weekend to restore. You deserve it and your work as a SEVA yogi will be better for it. The world will be better for it.

Hanuman Festival offers yoga classes in a multitude of styles, musical experiences for all types, a free Vendor Village with a stellar, playful, stress-free vibe, Hanumission talks for those looking to feel inspired and the playground that is Boulder, CO, for those who just want to get away. If you want rejuvenation, you’ll find it here – on your own or with friends. You’ll feel supported, rested, and motivated to devote your life to self-care and you’ll be better equipped to save the world!

If this message resonates with you, consider one of Hala Khouri’s classes or the Off The Mat, Into the World workshop with Kerri Kelly and Suzanne Sterling at Hanuman Festival 2012. Join us on Facebook for the latest updates and sign up for our newsletter list to keep informed.

Here’s to dedicating our lives to a better tomorrow and staying healthy and strong along the way!

About the Author

Ashley Herzberger started practicing yoga in college to balance out her hyper-Type A personality. Each day, she faces the challenge of not making a big deal out of something small. A lifelong student, Ashley aims to learn from those around her, from books and from herself. She is passionate about helping small businesses share their unique stories through social media channels. Ashley moved to Boulder, CO, in 2006 from suburban Cleveland, OH—needless to say, she suffered mild culture shock. It didn’t take long for her to drink the kool-aid, start working out and eat healthy foods. Then she started practicing yoga. Then she started receiving acupuncture, taking enzymes and burning incense every now and then. Today, Ashley owns The Social Shoppe, a social media consulting and management company, and manages Hanuman Festival’s social media presence. Her German last name loosely translates to “heart in the mountains.”

Click here to visit the Hanuman Festival website today!

October 10, 2003 my cousin Regina was involved in a car accident that would alter the course of her life indefinitely.

The car she was a passenger in blew a rear tire on the highway. The car flipped and rolled three times.

Gina was ejected from the car through the rear window.

With a fractured pelvis, broken back and shattered neck, she was airlifted from the site of the accident in Nebraska to the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.

Regina was paralyzed from the waist down…she was 17 years old.

After three long months in two different hospitals, she had to start life over. Friendships changed, relationships changed, family dynamics changed, everything changed.

The stress of a traumatic accident and the knowledge of knowing she could no longer walk were immense burdens—unfathomable to a teenager, but it didn’t slow her down. Regina quickly understood and harnessed the power behind intention.

“I was still out and about living life like I wasn’t in the chair. Therapy and friends.”

At seventeen years old, you aren’t thinking much about motherhood, which for Gina may have been a blessing in disguise. Years later though, when she was blessed with a pregnancy, she would have to relearn how to live life again, but in a much different sort of way.

It’s not hard to think of the problems having and raising a baby Gina could and would run into, and quite frankly it’s not for the faint of heart. But her inspirational outlook—to live life like there was no chair—meant there was no choice. She would be the best mother she could be, and leave no stone unturned to get there.

On her 21st birthday, a milestone most people celebrate like rock stars, Regina gave birth to her son Trae. The strength to overcome her accident and her will to walk again is largely due to her son.

Pause for a moment and think about how much work it would take for a paraplegic, single mom just to get an infant into a car seat and then into car for the first time—and so began her journey.

Adaptation is an understatement here. On nearly every level she had to figure out different ways to do the things her son depended on her for from her chair, on her own.

Physical therapy every week over the last ten years has granted her sensation to her knees and she is even able to move two of her toes. Having an active soon-to-be-Kindergartener is a huge push to do everything imaginable to walk. Trae and Regina are a team, he helps his mom and is her biggest fan.

This year Regina is planning to teach at Craig hospital and mentor other women with spinal cord injuries who are either pregnant or considering a family. She has amazing insights and will be a true asset to the women who do not have a strong resource to lean on.

Trae has a single mom, who has a super powered wheels. Her legs are in a chair. When he draws her, he never draws her in a chair, because when he looks at her he doesn’t see a disability. He only sees his mom.

There are so many different kinds of mothers out there, and the lengths to which they go to caring for their children know no end. They should be honored every day, but especially on Mother’s Day. It’s their tender loving care, determination, and commitment that has made us who we are and who we have yet to be.

Happy Mother’s Day!

We’ve all got that list of things we can remember our mothers saying on more than one, or thirty occasions—Momisms. Maybe yours looks something like this:

1. “Don’t touch that, you don’t know where it’s been.”

2. “Always treat others how you want to be treated.” or “If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.”

3. “Don’t forget what I told you.” (which you probably replied ok to, yet had no idea what she meant.)

4. “Call me when you get there please, so I know you’re ok.”

5. “Because I said so.”

6. “What if everyone jumped off a cliff, would you do that too?”

7. “I’ll treat you like an adult when you start acting like one.”

8. “Now come back downstairs and go back up without stomping your feet.”

9. “When you have your own house then you can make your own rules.”

10. “You will always be my baby.”

Surely all of our lists are a bit different, but one thing that is on all of them is “I love you.” No one knows you like your mother does because no one loves you like your mother does.

So in honor of mothers everywhere we’ve started this list, but we want everyone else to help finish it. Please leave your comment below and tell us some of your Momisms, and then think about how many times you’ve now said some of those same things (and if you haven’t yet, wait until you have kids)!

So it’s the eleventh hour and you still need a gift for your mom or wife before tomorrow morning.

What do you do? Sure you can run to the mall and spend a bunch of money but…not all moms are materialistic.

If you’ve watched any television in the last few weeks you may stand to think that unless you break the bank with a brand new smart phone, a diamond tennis bracelet, or an exotic getaway, you aren’t honoring that special woman in your life—because these things are “just what she’s always wanted” or “the best way to say thank you”.

In a recent survey, done by a pizza company no less, 96% of mothers would be happy with a homemade gift from the heart:

1. A coupon booklet. Include things like breakfast in bed, a day of helping out with household chores (if you’re a husband though, you may want to save that one for the kids), a great big hug, these can be for anything she may need a hand with or want a day off from, etc. A great way to include the whole family in this one is to have your children draw and decorate the coupons and for dad to give an “approval” signature.

2. A one of a kind flowerpot. This can be done in many ways. If you want to buy a clay pot, your kids can decorate it with some paint and their hand prints. You can also recycle a glass jar or plastic water bottle and embellish it with items from the scrap book isle at your local craft store (and vice-versa). Either plant a flower in it’s homemade container or attach a seed packet with some fun ribbon.

3. A decorated journal. You can pick up a blank journal or notebook from just about anywhere (recycled paper is the best). Again, some paint, a hot glue gun, and embellishments you would use for scrapbooking will be perfect to adorn both the front and back with.

Here are a few more wonderful ideas we found on various sites that give step by step directions for some really beautiful, personalized gifts (and you can make them just in the knick of time too).

Labeled bathroom jars from The Idea Room

Family Tree by Homemade by Jill

Salt pouches for the shower or bath from The Mother Huddle

DIY mousepad from Better Homes and Gardens

Count Your Blessings Board by Lil Luna

Personalized Quote Board for Mom by Lil Luna

There’s something to be said for dressing the part, for honoring the occasion.

I learned this lesson early on from my chameleonic grandmother who wore everything from opera gloves to mud boots, as circumstances dictated. Needless to say, I was surprised to hear it echoed in the biography of Master Patanjali, author of the Yoga Sutras!

Master Patanjali, as it turns out, was not only a highly realized yogi, but also an accomplished ayurvedic physician, great philosopher, expert Sanskrit grammarian and pioneer in the field of traditional Indian dance. The costumes and movements of ancient Indian dancing were designed so that the dancer would not just perform, but actually take on the identity of the deity they were praising in the dance.

I loved this idea, that clothes themselves could elevate a practice—and a practitioner—from the mundane to the magical.

In some sense, this is why I came to work for Hyde. I had been away on a yoga and meditation retreat and wore Hyde literally every single day. I had packed other pants, but each morning when I got dressed, all I wanted to wear was the Divine Drawstring. Because they are unfailingly comfortable and remarkably unobtrusive—not at all bulky or bunchy—I almost forgot I was wearing pants at all.

Something about the freeing outer experience of the clothes gave rise to a freeing inner experience: I was able to let go of how I ordinarily conceive myself and step into a new perception. I felt beautiful, graceful and, dare I say, perhaps even a bit divine.

My love affair with the pants (the Divine Drawstring in particular, but also the Twisted Seam Legging—so flattering!) led me to explore the wide array of Hyde tops. I had never paid too much attention to tops before. Foolishly ignoring my grandmother’s example, I figured my cast-off tanks and tees would work fine for yoga. But when I tried an “official” yoga top (my favorite is the Kitkat, followed closely by the Vira), a strange thing started to happen: not only did I notice a discernible difference in the ease of my asanas (no longer were misplaced seams irritating me in chatturanga and too-baggy tee’s falling in my face in headstand), but also a new-found joy and confidence overtook me in the poses themselves.

Something shifted, silly as it sounds, when I was wearing these beautiful, comfortable clothes. I felt like I was elevated to another level of practice, simply because I was dressing the part.

Perhaps like Master Patanjali’s ancient dancers, I was I was able to experience myself as a yogi—happier, kinder, less judgmental of myself and others—just by taking on a yogi’s outer appearance. Any remaining doubts that I was somehow still an imposter, doing someone else’s practice, fell away. The experience of being beautifully and appropriately dressed for class has led to a deeper connection with the—my!—practice.

And while my teacher continually reminds us to keep our gaze focused in one spot, my eyes admittedly wander around the room. I see what other people are wearing. No one looks as chic, happy and unburdened as the yogis in Hyde. In addition to how the outer look enhances the inner feeling, my personal theory (and I suspect Master Patanjali would back me up on this) is that Hyde yogis breathe more easily in class—and thus enjoy yoga more—because the organic cotton actually breathes! Hyde does not make anything resembling a corset or girdle, nor do we use materials which to me feel more appropriate for a scuba suit.

My understanding of yoga is that its goal is to bring us to place entirely free of all our self-perceived limitations. So we may as well practice in clothes that are similarly liberated. Hence my love of Hyde.

About Hyde Yoga:

Hyde is a Brooklyn-based, yogini-owned and operated line of organic yoga apparel. Born in 2005, Hyde continues to make comfortable and beautiful yoga apparel that moves and breathes with your practice.

About the Author:

Brook Cosby is a New York City-based teacher of meditation and yoga philosophy, freelance copywriter and director of special projects at Hyde Yoga. Known for her clear and compassionate elucidation of ancient techniques for reaching stillness and opening the heart, she teaches meditation at Kula Yoga Project and is on faculty with the acclaimed Conquering Lion Yoga Teacher Training Program. She began her yoga practice after graduating from Dartmouth College in 2000 and has since completed over 1000 hours of training, including Conquering Lion  and Jivamukti.