*I’m a big fan of Divine Goddess yoga wear. Besides their cute lotus flower logo, the natural eco-friendly fibres feel super soft against the skin, plus they’re so versatile. As you can see from the above photo, you can easily switch from the studio to the street. So, one minute you’re doing the scorpion pose (ahem!) and the next you’re out and about with friends. Well you get the idea – naturally, you might want to take a shower in between! What I love about this brand (which hails from Australia) is that it’s made with passion – the founder’s mantra is ‘every woman is a divine goddess’. And even better, the prices are pretty reasonable. While you can order some pieces online in some countries, in the UAE, Divine Goddess is stocked at a boutique yoga store called Yapparel in Jumeirah Centre on Beach Road. It’s definitely worth a visit.
*I’ve just finished a light-hearted book called The Reluctant Yogi. The author wrote it after she separated from her husband and it traces her journey: “In traditional India you feel a fool not to have a guru in the true sense of a spiritual teacher,” she writes. “In the West, however, if you go around telling people that you have a guru, you will be pigeonholed as the type of person who hands out colourful leaflets in supermarket car parks proclaiming the end of the world!” While the author dismisses a few dubious gurus, she gives credit to the likes of the late, inspirational BKS Iyengar and writes that some of his students joked that his initials should stand for Bang, Kick, Slap (as he makes asana adjustments). Apparently, the yoga legend laughed this off in an interview: “The intensity of my approach makes the person who is dull become more sharper…it’s a disciplined subject. A casual attempt only gains casual results.”
*At the weekend, I popped into TriYoga café (behind Carnaby Street in London) to catch up with a friend. What a cute, cosy hangout with delicious, nourishing and conscious food. And a really fun ambiance. Lots of big yoga names teach courses here and it’s a great place for meeting like-minded people. Anyway, I recommend the Bring on Savasana Superfood Smoothie with pineapple, avocado, apple, flaxseed oil & lime. For more info go to www.triyoga.co.uk
*I love dancing and recently tried Biodanza (in ancient Greek bio means life and danza is the Spanish word for dance) which translates as the dance of life. Based on anthropological studies of dance and life-celebrating rituals, Biodanza is a freestyle form of movement that stimulates a sense of unity and community. As renowned choreographer Martha Graham once said, dance is the hidden language of the soul. This dance teaches you that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain!
Love,
