Samurai Yogi

My good friend Wax, of Pop, Bop and Snap decided to capture my yoga look for the day. I thought it would be a good segway to talk about how much I've recently gotten into the ever popular yoga. Now, don't worry, I'm not about to start expelling facts and figures telling you all about the ohms and chanting business. All I will share is that I've found it to be an incredible stress reliever. I've been practicing pretty regularly for the past 9 months. Not only have a lot of back issues, aches and pains subsided; but I've learned counteractive micro-movements that help neutralize the little discomforts I frequently experience carrying my junk all over town. My posture has improved and I've grown maybe an inch because of this! One of the more surprising aspects has been a developing awareness of my body and my breathing. It's difficult to explain but I feel like I have access to a whole part of myself I had no idea about. To reference my Iyengar teacher, you develop synapses in your brain that allow you to begin to understand how to move your body through the various Asanas, or poses.

Now I'll be the first to say how much I dislike sports and physical activity and if you've ever known me, you'd understand how miraculous me doing yoga is. I simply don't do this kind of stuff. I've run in the past and swam a bit but I now go to maybe 4/5 classes a week and often do mini-practices at home. Honestly the best part is that after my very first class (and almost every single subsequent class) I felt great at the end. Unlike say running where you have to build up a practice before you stop feeling like death and start feeling kind of awesome, Yoga almost always feels great. I highly recommend you give it a go.

There is a downside. What the hell to wear?! I'm not talking about in class, but for a busy person like myself I find I'm having to dress part yogi when I want to go to a class, Thus avoiding having to carry too much around. So that I don't look like a total slob, I inevitably layer it just enough to slightly disguise the yogi aspect. I kind of feel like a samurai in these photos, with a top knot (yes I'm growing my hair out, thoughts?), Japanese jacket and a yoga mat sword... Often I have multiple appointments during the day and/or school and work which all take place in air-conditioned rooms with varying dress codes (at least in my head). This look was really trying to find a way to regain a sense of self through layering and accessories whilst still being wholly practical for yoga, school and whatever else throws itself at me that day.

Must admit this is kind of one of my lighter, boring posts, more a nice excuse to showcase the lovely snaps Wax took. More on that Comme des Garcons jacket later... If you did want to start yoga there are multiple free classes around the city to try but often they vary in quality. I highly recommend taking a week trial at a place like Yogaworks (Where I'm a member) and then figuring it out from there. The Times also just posted a cool article about outdoor yoga which I am jonesing (yes I just used that term...) to give a go. My friend Rebecca also teaches an amazing free class ever Sunday night at 6 at The Movement Salon which really is the best free class I've ever taken (Hell it's one of my favourite classes I take on a semi-regular basis)!

[Comme des Garcons deconstructed tuxedo jacket with tulle underlay, Thrifted sheer sweatshirt, Uniqlo  tank top, Osklen eco-wool shorts, Ralph Lauren neckerchief, Jean-Michel Cazabat sandals]

PS: I got my very own pair of Sewell Goggles last week and have been wearing them almost all week (humidity allowing). I have quite the post lined up on the experience of wearing something so far away from the so called "norm".  I'm sure you'll enjoy!