Prepare to be captivated by the incredible journey of Susan Higgins, the brilliant mind behind the Fashionista Yogi brand. In this exclusive Lakelander Magazine feature, we delve into the remarkable story of Susan's ascent in both the fashion design industry and her personal health journey. From her inspiring career in fashion to her transformative path to wellness, Susan's story is nothing short of remarkable. Don't miss the chance to uncover the secrets behind her success and the strength that drives her passion. Click on the link now to read the full article and be inspired by the incredible tale of Susan Higgins, the powerhouse behind Fashionista Yogi.
]]>We recognize the significance of diversity, and it's our privilege to honor and stand with the Hispanic community during this special month. Your unique spirit, traditions, and creativity inspire us every day. We're committed to promoting inclusivity and creating a space where everyone feels welcome and cherished.
Thank you for being a part of our Fashionista Yogi family.🤗
As we pay tribute to Hispanic Heritage Month, please see the above video featuring one of our favorite Latina Fashionista Yogi's Pamela Velez telling us her amazing story about what being UNAPOLOGETIC AF despite conditions means to her!💪🏼
]]>Welcome to Fashionista Yogi's blog, and Happy Mental Health Awareness Month! As we end the month of May, it's essential to prioritize our mental well-being, honor our emotions, and take steps towards nurturing our mind and body. At Fashionista Yogi, we believe in the powerful synergy between fashion and yoga, and this month, we're dedicated to supporting your mental health journey through the transformative practice of yoga.
Anxiety and depression are prevalent challenges faced by many individuals today, and it's crucial to explore holistic approaches that can help alleviate their impact. Yoga, with its mind-body connection and emphasis on breath, movement, and self-care, offers a wonderful avenue for finding balance and inner peace.
In this blog post, we will delve into a collection of yoga poses specifically curated to assist you in managing anxiety and depression. These poses can serve as valuable tools to enhance your mental well-being, promote relaxation, and cultivate a positive mindset.
Remember, this is not a substitute for professional help or treatment, but rather an opportunity to explore self-care practices that can complement your mental health journey. We encourage you to consult with a healthcare professional or yoga instructor if you have any concerns or specific conditions.
So, let's dive in and discover the empowering series of yoga poses designed to ease anxiety, lift your spirits, embrace a renewed sense of vitality, & support you on your path to greater mental well-being. Get ready to harness the power of fashion and yoga to nurture your mind, body, and spirit during Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond. You deserve this moment of self-care and self-empowerment to help design you from the inside out to live UNAPOLOGETIC AF despite conditions!
Standing Forward Fold-(Uttanasana) demo below wearing "Mona" & "Lena"
Standing Forward Fold-(Uttanasana) can be helpful for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety because this pose offers several benefits that contribute to a sense of calm and grounding which are relaxation, stress relief, mind-body connection, blood flow, oxygenation, release of emotions, & gentle stretching.
Here are step-by-step instructions for practicing Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana):
When practicing Standing Forward Fold, remember to approach it with gentleness and respect for your body's limitations. Modify the pose as needed, such as bending the knees or using props (like blocks) to support the hands if reaching the floor is challenging.
Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II) demo below wearing "Showtime" Jumpsuit.
Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II) can be helpful for people with depression because this pose not only strengthens the body but also cultivates a sense of stability, confidence, and inner strength.
Here's how to practice Warrior II:
Warrior II pose helps to open the chest and shoulders, promoting a sense of expansion and openness. It activates and strengthens the legs, which can help increase stability and grounding. The deep grounding of this pose, combined with the expansive posture, can create a sense of empowerment and confidence.
In terms of depression, Warrior II can be beneficial by promoting a feeling of inner strength and resilience. It encourages a sense of stability and supports a more upright posture, which can positively impact mood and self-perception. Regular practice of Warrior II, along with other yoga poses and mindfulness techniques, can contribute to an improved sense of well-being and emotional balance.
Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) demo wearing the "Zina" set Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) can be helpful for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety by offering the following benefits: balance, stability, grounding, connection, focus, mindfulness, confidence, self-esteem, improved posture and alignment.
Here are step-by-step instructions for practicing Tree Pose (Vrikshasana):
Remember, it's important to listen to your body and modify the pose as needed. If you have difficulty balancing or feel strain, try placing your foot on a lower part of your leg or using a wall or a chair for support.
Camel Pose (Ustrasana) demo wearing "Showtime" Jumpsuit.Camel Pose (Ustrasana) can be helpful for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety because this energizing and heart-opening pose offers several benefits such as mood enhancement, emotional release, energetic balance, increased energy and vitality.
Here are step-by-step instructions for practicing Camel Pose:
When practicing Camel Pose, it's important to approach it with caution, particularly if you have any existing neck or back injuries. Take it slowly and modify the pose as needed, ensuring that you listen to your body and do not push beyond your limits. If you experience discomfort or strain, come out of the pose and modify it as needed. Each person's body is unique, so adjust the depth of the backbend to a level that feels comfortable and safe for you.
Child's Pose (Balasana) demo below wearing "Showtime" Jumpsuit.Child's Pose (Balasana) can be helpful for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety because this pose promotes relaxation, grounding, and a sense of safety and comfort.
Here's how to practice Child's Pose:
Child's Pose offers a gentle stretch to the back, hips, and thighs, helping to release physical tension and tightness that can accumulate during times of stress or anxiety. The forward folding position in this pose encourages introspection and a sense of turning inward, creating a feeling of safety and nurturing.
By consciously focusing on the breath and grounding the body, Child's Pose can help calm the mind and provide a sense of relief from anxiety. It can also serve as a resting pose during a yoga practice, allowing for a moment of pause and self-care.
Seated Forward Fold (Uttanasana) demo wearing the "Zina" set Seated Forward Fold (Uttanasana) can be helpful for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety. This pose offers similar benefits to the standing version of Forward Fold with the added advantage of being performed in a seated position. The ways it can be beneficial are relaxation, calming, mind-body connection, soothing the nervous system, stretching, releasing tension, & grounding and centering.
To practice Seated Forward Fold:
Remember to modify the pose as needed, especially if you have any specific concerns or conditions. Use props like blankets or blocks to support your torso or knees if necessary.
Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) demo below wearing Mona" & "Lena"Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) can be beneficial for individuals dealing with depression and anxiety because this pose helps release tension in the body, promotes relaxation, and opens the chest and heart center.
Here's how to practice the Bridge Pose:
Bridge Pose helps to counteract the effects of sitting for prolonged periods, which can contribute to feelings of lethargy and depression. By opening the chest and heart area, it can create a sense of lightness and expansiveness. The pose also stretches the hip flexors, strengthens the back, and stimulates the abdominal organs, promoting overall vitality.
Additionally, Bridge Pose can help alleviate anxiety by activating the parasympathetic nervous system, which induces a relaxation response. The gentle inversion of the pose can have a calming effect on the mind and help reduce stress levels.
Supported Fish Pose (Matsyasana Variation) demo wearing. the "Zina" setSupported Fish Pose (Matsyasana Variation) can be helpful for people with depression because the pose is known for its heart-opening benefits and its ability to promote a sense of calm and emotional release.
Here's how to practice the Supported Fish Pose:
The Supported Fish Pose stretches the chest and shoulders, counteracting the effects of slouching and promoting better posture. It can help release tension and fatigue, while also improving breathing and oxygenation. By opening the chest and heart space, this pose can create a sense of lightness and emotional release, making it beneficial for individuals experiencing symptoms of depression.
Other yoga poses that are beneficial to help with anxiety and depression are: Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani), Corpse Pose (Savasana), Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar), & Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I).
Remember to practice with gentleness and self-compassion. Yoga should be approached as a holistic practice, so it's important to complement your yoga practice with other forms of self-care and seek professional support if needed.
As always, it's recommended to consult with a qualified yoga instructor or healthcare professional if you have any specific concerns or conditions. They can provide personalized guidance and support based on your individual needs.
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So, I've have been obsessing over trying SUP Yoga for so long. For those of you who might not know, SUP= Stand Up Paddleboarding + Yoga. It’s basically a yoga flow while precariously balancing on a stand up paddle board out on the water, hopefully somewhere peaceful and meditative. In my case, it was Lake Lewisville with a group of Yogis organized by City Surf Fitness. I was invited by a friend who is an instructor at their location in the Plano, TX.
It has always looked so cool to me and I’ve always wanted to try it! I jumped at the chance to give it a shot; even though it was nearing the end of the warm weather of summer, it gave me hope that I might have something to look forward to next time the temps rose!
As excited as I was, I hadn’t really put much thought into what it would actually be like until I got on the board for the 1st time. When it got closer to go-time, I started to have doubts, mostly about my own abilities. I didn’t know what to expect… “What would it feel like on the board, and how challenging would it be to me and the issues I face with my Rheumatoid Arthritis?”
The morning of the SUP event, I almost didn't go. I felt like I might be coming down with a cold and almost talked myself out of it. I woke up that day and decided that since this experience had been on my vision board for 3 years, I wasn't going to let a sore throat stop me!
As soon as I arrived at the spot so many fears started swirling through my head again. "What if I fall in the water?” OMG… I could have a hard time getting back on the board and then even started doubting if I could even swim that well anymore. I hadn’t done much swimming since I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and was full of doubts and insecurities. My hand & wrist strength wasn’t that great anymore due to the RA and even considered wearing a life jacket just in case I had issues.
Before everyone got on the boards, some of the other SUP newbies asked the teacher how likely they were to fall off... She said, "If you don't fall off, you are NOT trying hard enough."
Motivated and determined I backed myself up and wore a brace on both wrists to stabilize myself while practicing and decided I would be brave and skip the life jacket. Mustering my confidence, I jumped on my board belly down and paddled out to catch up with the group.
We hooked our surfboards to this floating line, kind of like a pool divider to keep the boards from drifting off into the water while we were busy practicing. To begin, the teacher started off doing basic poses leading us through a very familiar but foreign vinyasa flow class in this new aquatic situation.
I was, of course, being super careful. I was trying my hardest not to move too fast for fear of falling off. I was so nervous when it came time to stand up to do Tatasana, Uttanasana, & Utkatasana but I finally worked my fears out and got more comfortable with my flow on the board.
Oh but then… then she came to a point where she cued standing crescent lunge and then warrior 2. And for some reason, I got all in my own head and started getting really nervous that I would fall in again. I was being extra cautious and slow in my movements to stand up and get into those postures and not end up in the water. Finally, I told myself, "Really, what's the worst thing that could happen here? I fall in the water and then I get right back on the board? It is only water."
This immediately triggered a feeling in me that there were other areas in my life that I am subconsciously fearful of in the same way. Fear of standing all the way up, taking a firm stand or just taking that leap into the unknown.
This moment will always stick with me. Moving ahead in my life when I sense myself acting or even not acting out of fear, I hope this moment rushes back to my memory. I'll will always have this moment of clarity as a reference place. A memory to think back on and ask myself again, “What's the worst that could happen? I fail and I try again? But I will never know if I don't take that leap, right? This was such an unexpected lesson that I will forever cherish and to think I almost didn’t even go... I took the leap and gained so much.
Just in case you were wondering… I did eventually stand up into both standing crescent lunge and warrior 2. Thank you... But I did, almost fall into the water trying tree pose but caught myself on the board when I fell. So crisis averted. I survived the experience in one piece and gained an unexpected new approach on dealing with all the fears in my life.
I was truly inspired by my friend who was with me the whole way. She was next to me doing head and handstands on her board with such grace and energy. Granted, she works for City Surf Fitness as an instructor and is a total bad-ass Fashionista Yogi but it totally motivated me to want to start taking their surf yoga classes. I have to get myself prepared for next summer and my new yoga addiction. I’m feeling inspired to get more comfortable doing yoga on a surfboard so that by Summer 18’ I’ll be all ready to go for the next season of SUP.
The story and the start of the crazy yoga knuckles began in a very major way during Christmas & the New Year of 2015 into 2016. I was travelling to see my family in New York State for the holidays and my right wrist had begun to bother me before I even left Dallas. I had been working too many hours between my 9-5 & my side-hustle trying to wrap up things so that I could actually enjoy the holidays that year. When my wrist & hand started to bother me I just wrote it off as overuse and just kept on. The pain ended up turning me into a complete hot-mess throughout the entire holiday. So I planned to see a doctor as soon I returned to Dallas. I had to get these wrists checked out.
Finally, when I told the doctor my symptoms, he insisted on a blood check for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Obviously I was deeply upset by this. My cousin struggled with RA for many years and I saw her cope through so much suffering and pain. That was all I could imagine for myself at that point.
That night, my shoulder completely locked-up on me. When I woke up in the morning, I couldn't even lift my arm over my head to do my own hair in the shower and had to stay home sick from work. One of my dear close friends sent her boyfriend over, to my house that day to try and unlock my shoulder. Tre Bradley, a Corrective Exercise Therapist (https://www.facebook.com/Wehealthglobal/) was at my house for close to 3 hours massaging out knots and having me do stretching exercises to unlock my shoulder. While a huge help, I found no lasting relief. My shoulders proceeded to lock up at least once a week for the rest of that month. Needless to say, I didn't practice yoga, let alone teach at all in January.
I finally decided to go back to my yoga practice in February 2016 after my chiropractor told me that exercise was the best medicine for the disease. He stressed that movement was important to lubricate the joints and help the blood flow. I just had so much arthritis in my wrists that it made doing very basic yoga postures that were once so fundamental and simple incredibly difficult.
I started off doing poses on my forearms, like dolphin, that required me to be off my hands to avoid putting any pressure on my wrists. I wore braces all the time to support my wrists in practice. Then, at some point in my struggle, a yoga teacher told me that many people with issues like mine do poses on their knuckles to take the pressure off of their wrists. From that point forward, for the rest of 2016, I was doing many of my poses on my fists. Here comes the down dog knuckles… By the end of the year I made myself a promise that I would slowly start retraining by body to do down-dog on my hands again. I was really concerned about losing the muscle memory from doing it on my fists for so long.
This transition from teacher and back to student again, and from normal and pain-free to being a prisoner in my own body was by far, the most humbling experience that I have struggled with in my life to date. I went from practicing everyday and leading others, to suddenly not being able to do fundamental movements like down-dog on my hands or a proper chaturanga push-up. That struggle was only compounded by the fact that it virtually came out of nowhere. It was very difficult for me mentally but I was deeply grateful that it wasn't any worse, because it definitely could have been. I really wasn't having trouble with any of the joints on my lower body like many of the other RA sufferers I talk to, for that, I was super thankful even though I was still in a lot of constant pain.
Because of this journey and for this journey, I am relaunching The Fashionista Yogi website as a place where I will be documenting my stories. I will be sharing any and all healing remedies that have helped me, and providing inspirational information through interviews with others sharing their truths, struggles, failures, and successes. There will also be a “Forums” section where you too may feel inclined to and are so welcomed to share your truth or seek knowledge from others.
I was inspired to do all of this at the end of 2016. As I looked back at the year, I realized what a difference the second half was from the first six months of the year. I have learned so much in my experience with pain and my struggles with RA that I felt it was important to share this knowledge with others who may be suffering and feel like they have no place to look for guidance and understanding. The relaunched site will also have Fashionista Yogi apparel & accessories so that you too can show the world that you are indeed a Fashionista Yogi! Namaste.
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