Why you will never see a picture of me in an asana

I have been doing yoga for years...  and yet, none of you have seen a picture of me in ANY asana.... except one, in this blog where I am in prayer pose (in my early practice) and one on FB where you can see only my feet....  why is that?  Lots of people have asked me to post pictures in asanas and I refuse to do it...

Because yoga is personal... what an asana looks like has nothing to do with your practice.
It has nothing to do with how you experience it.
And I do not want to have a photograph present in my practice.
And I do not want to have to think about what I look like because I know I need to post a picture.

For example, after all those years, I can do balancing pose quite well.. I can do headstand, even in the middle of a room sometimes...  I can do crow also on good days.... And my triangle is fabulous!

Or so this is what they feel like...  and I do not want to get judgemental about my practice, or yours, if an asana doesn't look like I feel it.

There also are a few posture that I still struggle with...  anything that has to do with forward bending...  of hip opening... or arm balances...  and that's OK!  I struggle with those and I know why... and I am working on it... slowly but surely!  And even though I cannot put my forehead on my knees in forward bending, it still feels good to do it!

In my yoga practice I have no set goal in my mind... other then to find inner peace.
I practice it because it brings physical and mental benefits to me... it improve my health and my overall well being...

Yoga is a journey, not a destination...

You have good days and bad days...  and if I was to post pictures, I would choose the "good" one because my ego would talk... and that would not be fair to me and to you...  no one looks exactly alike in an asana and that is the beauty of it....  it is adaptable to anyone and this is why anyone can do yoga!

Yoga is not about touching your toes... but what you learn on the way down! (so they say)

And I have learned plenty.... about me...  good stuff and bad stuff...
And also about life... and others...

One more thing:  I do not wear fancy gears to do my yoga... I am in whatever home lounge wear I wear regularly...   I do not own any fancy Lululemon outfits... and I basically wear leggings and t-shirts (and they don't always match and they are most of the time pretty old!) ... because yoga does not need fancy outfits...  awesome mat... and matching props! You can do yoga in any clothes you want... I even know people who like to do yoga naked! It really doesn't matter what you wear in your practice as long as you are comfortable in it!

I really do hope that all of you will give it a good try...  and I am not saying trying to touch your toes in a forward bend to see if you are better then me or not... but really give it a try... a fair try... this means months of practice before you decide it's not for you!

If there is one thing I wish every one would try in their life...
If there is one thing I sincerely believe can change everyone's life...

It's YOGA!!!!

namaste,
love&peace,
nath
xox
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My view on fast fashion

Hello!

I had set myself up for 1 blog post today... but I could not resist this one... just because it goes well with the previous one AND one of my readers had asked my views on the subject of "fast-fashion".

Reading this today helped me put things back in perspective...

To be honest, I have known about "fast-fashion" for a while... and I thought it was convenient!  Being a shopaholic, I could not afford not doing fast-fashion.  Of course I would have my times of "not buying anything made in China"...  but they would not last very long.... and then I would justify myself with some lame arguments about sweat shops like: "well at least it gives them a job" , "they can feed their family"... etc... but deep down I knew it was wrong... and to be honest, I know that it is not easily avoidable on the kind of money I make now...  but I know people who've been doing without for a while so I must be able to give it a fair try too!

After reading a little more extensively about the subject, 2 things really repel me about fast-fashion: 

1) the workers/slaves conditions

2) damages made to the environment

and not in the same extent, but to some degree, the fact that most people dress the same as everyone else because this is what is presented to us!

1) Workers/Slaves conditions.
You may think slavery has been abolished but it has not!  In fact, the clothing industry is where the most workers are working in really really bad conditions... for very very tiny amount of money and very long extensive hours... and where there is more slaves then ever!  Actually, because of that industry, it is believe that there is more slaves on this planer now then ever before! Can you imagine???

2) Damages made to the environment.
Most clothes are made of cotton or do contain some.  As a result of this, we need to grow more cotton than this planet can handle!  It's a good thing (not) that we have Monsanto because not only are they messing up our food/planet but are also messing up your 10$ cotton t-shirt! GMO cotton is grown practically everywhere and it comes with recommended pesticides my Monsanto to insure proper growth!  Unfortunately, what it does not come with is any precautions that should be use with those pesticides or while harvesting the cotton...  nor does it come with an extensive study of the damages GMO crops may have for our future.
All those pesticides do contaminate water and soil where our food is grown.... because earth, like water, does not stand still...  it moves... with all the pollutants in it!
And I could go on and on about this one...

Because we can now take a trend from the runaway and have it in regular popular stores in well under 2 weeks... for minimum dollars...  because most of the clothes will go from store to land field in 1 year... one year only (if they would last longer then that, there would be no money for those rich people)... because we are being selfish about what we look like...  people, in developing countries, are dying just for us to get this latest trend at the cheapest price possible!  Does that make any sense to you???  it doesn't to me...

With every purchase we make we have power... power to say no to some things and yes to others...

I understand that not all of us, not even me, can afford 120$ organic sustainable jeans....  I get that!  I am very money conscious now...  but I also know that there is a line we can draw and habits we can take to minimize the damages to the environment AND take better care of those sweat shop workers... Maybe if I buy 1 pair of jeans every 5 years or more, it makes more sense to pay them 120$... who needs to buy 5-6 pairs of jeans a year???

Here's what I am planning to do:

1) Keep the clothes I have as much as I can - mend, fix, modify as need be but not discard them until there are no other options.
2) If I really no longer love something, give it to a friends, bring it to a second hand store.... no longer send my clothes to land field.
3) Budget a tiny amount of money towards further clothes purchase - this way, I can buy sustainable clothes when I really need something
4) Buy as much organic cotton and hemp as I can
5) Find local thrift stores
6) Find on-line store that are in Canada and supply sustainable organic clothes made in Canada where I live (you could do the same for the country you currently live in)

This way, I will feel comfortable with where my dollar goes.... happy in my clothes... and more unique! It will require that I use my creativity...  nothing wrong with that!

I am not saying I will never ever again buy American Eagle outfitters, Garage, Old Navy or H&M... but if I do, I will make sure it will be something I will wear for years...  and because I no longer buy so much clothes, the likely hood of myself buying from there is rather very low...

This is how I slowly want to change my consumerism behavior with clothes...  small step I know... but look at how far small steps with food brought me... probably will do the same with clothes!  It will not be too much destabilizing that I cannot sustain it... It will be right at the edge of my comfort zone and by pushing the comfort zone further and further away I will grow in that direction too.

What do you guys think about that?
Where do you shop?
Which changes do you wish to make?

love&peace,
nath
xox
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My minimalist wardrobe

It has been a while since I made an extended post on my wardrobe...but on this cold Saturday morning, after I decided this week to exclude black for my wardrobe, aside from what I need for work, this is what I fee like... Therefore I went into my wardrobe and this is what I found:

2 pairs of jeans (one skinny / one wide leg)
2 pairs of cords ,both wide leg, one grey, one fuchsia
1 knee lenght, wide navy skirt
1 pair of knee lenght very wide grey cord pants - I like to wear with tights! Or as is spring and fall.
2 dresses - none of the is black!  I have no LBD!!!  And I am alive! wow!
1 flannel shirt - same as for the last 2 years! - inherited by my son who outgrew it!
2 short sleeve shirts - that I also use in all other 3 seasons
2 elbow lenght t-shirts - that I also use 2 other seasons
4 short sleeves t-shirts- used all 4 seasons!
3 long sleeve t-shirts - only used in winter
3 cardigans - I like to layer a lot - one is mustard, one deep blue and the other dark green
2 long cardigans - one beige, one deep grey - use in 2 other seasons also
1 cami - used year round!

All tops are beige/white/navy/burgundy/mustard and fit with at least 4 out of my 6 bottoms if not more...

If you add outdoor stuff... I have 2 winter jackets, 3 hats, 1 pair of mittens and 3 scarves...

All this for a grand total of: 35 items!

Most of them that I do wear more then one season...
All of them easily mix and match...

I honestly find it is still way too much considering that on week days I work, OK, only 20h per week but still, and then when I get back home I put on lounge wear most of the time...  truth is, for winter I could do with one pair of jeans, one skirt, 2-3 tops and a dress and be just fine... but I have more then that and I love all of it... so I refuse to give the extras away because I would have a hard time to pick and choose what stays and what goes and because I think that keeping all of it will save me money in the long run since I will not have to shop for years!!! Wear and tear will not be the same as if I kept only what I really need!

I hope this help you see that it is easy to get away with very little clothes...  I know that my work clothes are not listed here but basically they consist of 1 black skirt, one black harem pants, 2 black polos, one black short sleeve turtle neck and one white shirt...  for winter... And if I would not have such a strict dress code, I would gladly use what I listed above and have way more then enough!

I cannot say it was always that easy to get away with so little clothes...  I used to have tons of them... I could have basically dress 3 women my size for a whole months without any of them wearing the same thing twice! Can you imagine???  My wardrobe was a store in itself!!!  What a waste... of time and money... But I am not looking back, I did it... I had fun... but now these days are over... I am smarter and savvier with my money... as well as with my style! I do not let the fashion industry and/or stores tell me what I should buy and what I should look like!  Because I now better.

Everything I own I really really love and fits me perfectly... and is really my style!  It may not be the latest trends but it transpires who I am and this is what matters to me! I like people to "get" me on the first look... it attracts more like minded people... or people that are attracted to me for who I am.. not who I pretend to be. And this is cool!

Someone once said that fashion goes but style stays!   I am going with that now!

love&peace,
nath
xox
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Why did I change my blog's name?

For a while now, "Minimalist Vegan Nath" has been bothering me.
Why you may ask?

Because I am defenitely minimalist and even more so vegan! According to my own defenitions...

and this is the key in all that...

I have over the last few years made many decisions to change my life around and be free!  And I consider myself free now... BUT, the labels attached to my name were driving my nuts!  Because, as in all things, minimalists and vegans included, there are some extremists!!!  I do not consider myself one and I like to be compassionnate and accept difference between people.  I like to think that people reading this blog are not necessarely minimalist and/or vegan but rather they are looking to improve their life quality....  I do not want any non-minimalist or non-vegan to feel left out here... I actually want to help them and how can you help someone you are pusing away with a label?

This is what I design this blog for in the beginning... to help myself and others improve their quality of life.  For me it turned into becoming vegan and minimalist and I am convince that it can be the key to everyone's happiness...  but I also understand those who want only part of it.... and I want to respect this choice and I want those people to feel welcome and accepted here.

I do not think that I have very much new info to share with already 100% minimalist or 100% vegan people... and this is not really who this blog was intented to.  If you feel like you know everything on those 2 subjects already I may bore you and that is OK...  I think I know a lot.. but not everything and quite frankly, I have been disapointed in a few occasions by 100% minimalists and 100% vegans...  and I do not want to be like those people who pushed me away because I was not good enough!

Therefore, wherever you are in your life now, you are welcome here!  Of course I will talk about minimalism and veganism and yoga because this is what my life revolves around! I am not going to write about things I no nothing about...

I do not care if you are 100% or 0% minimalist or vegan or anywhere in between...  All I care about is that you need my help... my experience and mostly you need to NOT be judge! All shades of grey minimalists and vegans (vegetarian, palnt-based...) are welcome here.

A friend of mine said:   "An ethical choice makes you closer to yourself. An identity separates you from other people." and this is what started this all reflection on myself and triggered the name change....  thanks you for your insight Hugo.

I became minimalist and then vegan to improve MY life.... to bring myself closer to my own identity...  and to overcome a huge health challenge! By doing so, and using the actual words, I met awesome people from which I have learned a lot... but in the end, the same people/groups created a separation between me and others (the very others I wished to help)... a separation in which some thought I felt like I was "better" then them.  And I am NOT better then anyone... I have just found a way of life that works for me and many others in order to be healthy and happy and more free then the vast majority... but you have to be willing to make choices and changes in order to do so...  and it is not easy... and some may know that this would be the good thing to do and read and read about it and not be ready to do it.. and that is OK!  Because by looking into it, you are getting a step closer to start making the changes that will make YOUR life better!

I guess what I am trying to say is that I wish to step away and differenciate myself form extremists and this will in turn help me meet the people I wish to help...  How can I help anyone who's already like me?  I need different people to read me if I wish to help them...

Of course, if you already are minimalist and vegan and just enjoy reading me that is great! I myself follow a few minimalist and vegan blogs because there are always new tips and tricks you can learn... but don't go crazy on me if my views are not the same as yours...

And while I am at it, I will dare cross a line that not too many vegans do cross...  here's the way I live my veganism:

1) I do not eat any animal products or by-products (including honey)
2) I do not wear any wool, leather, silk, feather - although upcycle leather would not really bother me)
3) I enjoy horseback riding - in places where horses are well taken care off - and yes they do exists
4) I never go to circuses that use animals
5) I never go see animal shows (dolphins, whales...)
6) I would never swim with dolphins (unless one, in the wild, offered me a ride!)
7) I believe zoos can treat animals well and they have a role to play in wild life conservation - then again, not all zoos are created equal
8) I am against animal testing because those tests can be done in better ways in today's world, however not all I buy is free of animal testing because sometimes I simply can't afford it


So this is it... I am now, Siply savvy me... hopefully you will enjoy the name change... and the content won't change much, no worries!

If you think this new name might convince a few friends of yours to jump on board, do not hesitate to share...

love&peace,
nath
xox
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My view on: the advantages of having less

Hello dear readers!

I decided to start something new called "my view on...". 
This will be posts that will share my view on subjects that YOU my readers will ask about.... I already have a few for now but if you wish to ask me something or have an idea, do not hesitate, and you can leave it here in the comments or send me a PM through FB.

Someone asked me to share my views on the advantages of having less in order to help other give up their stuff...

Well this is interesting... when I first started being a minimalist, I had no idea what it would bring me or the advantages it would have but I felt like I had to do it... only a few months down the line, listening my inner voice and following the path, have I come across some potential advantages... some turned out to be right and others not so much... at least for me!

And this is why this chronic is called "my view on..." because I will give you a few advantages of having/owning less, decluttering, being a minimalist but these are advantages to me... and they may not work for you! What is in it for me may not be what is in it for you... but if there is at least one thing that I mention that is attractive to you, give it a try... and you may discover more advantages...

So here it is, my list of advantages of having less with a short explanation with each one of them.

1) Less cleaning up - I use to take 3h every Saturday to dust and clean all my home and belongings...  that is without vacuuming which my husband was doing!  We lived in a 2000 sq ft home... I now take about 20 minutes including cleaning the bathroom and he takes 30 minutes to vacuum... all in all, we are still more then 2h short of what we needed to do!  This allows us to do something else on Saturday then clean the house!

2) I can really appreciate what I own - I use to have so much stuff that I didn't even have time to look/use all of it on a regular basis! I am talking here about decorations on walls and shelves, books, CDs, DVDs, games, clothes, toys, kitchen stuff, tools, hobby materials...  and I am pretty sure I am forgetting something! Most of it was put away and I couldn't even see it! I had decorations for specific time of the year and I had to take time to rotate all of that... Now, everything I own is displayed. Period.  Except for a few Christmas ornaments that are displayed only in November and December. But there are so few of it that they fit in a small box (and that it litterally takes 15 minutes to put up and 15 minutes to take down). When you come into my house, what you see is what you get! There is nothing else... and THAT feels amazing!  I would say, that clothes included (according to season of course), I use 90% of my stuff 90% of the time! This is great... especially when you know that, for clothes for example, people wear 20% of their clothes 80% of the time... what the h*** do they do with the rest of it?

3) I have more time in the morning - my mornings use to be filled with organizing a few things and figuring out what to wear...  now I have nothing to organize and what to wear is so limited that I don't even have to think twice about it! Therefore, I can either, depending on the day, sleep in, discuss life with my son or do yoga/meditation.  It's a much better start to my day then running around for no reasons!

4) Everything I own is my favorite things - I use to feel guilty for certain items/decorations/clothes that I would not use as often... I would feel like it was useless to own them but not use them, but yet, I could not part with them.  Once I have decided to become minimalist, I decided to keep only my favorite items/decoration/clothes. Therefore I no longer feel guilty for abandoned stuff and all I use/wear are ALWAYS my favorite!!!  Isn't that amazing???

5) You can sell whatever you no longer want/use and take the money towards debt or another objective - Of course, you'll never get back all you invested... and probably not even close!  But I did it and so do many other minimalist... you sell stuff and then the money you get is used towards paying off debt, travelling, moving abroad...  or whatever your dream is!

6) You can live in a much smaller space and save $ - decluttering has allows my husband, son and I to move from a 2000sq ft home into a 700 sq.ft home and still have room to breathe and lots of empty floor space!

7) You are no longer afraid of being robbed or loosing everything to a fire - because you know stuff is just stuff.  This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned in that process.  No matter where it comes from, how expensive it was, if it was inherited or not... it is JUST stuff and no matter how much you THINK it is attached to your memories, it is NOT! No object you give away or loose will take away your memory of the person who gave it to you... this is yours forever! The object doesn't have to be.

8) You can pack up and go easily - stuff ties us down...  attach us to a home, a city, a country...  or wherever it is we live...  it is hard to move when you have days of packing and unpacking ahead of you - it makes you change your mind about the whole thing!  When everything is packed in a day and unpacked in the same amount to time (and a day is a lot -probably more llike half a day for us if we all work on it!), you are more inclined to try new experiences, discover new places to live...

9) last but not least...  YOU ARE FREE.  The feeling of freedom that comes from owning less is hard to explain... but as you get rid of stuff, you feel lighter... less responsibilities...  less attachment...  more openness...  more options... and that is simply AMAZING!  Before I became a minimalist, my whole life was planned out, almost to the day I die, according to my stuff... without me realising it, I had planned my whole life around owning stuff, and them more stuff...  Never had I realise that this stuff would not follow me after the day I die and dragging something all my life in order to have to part with it sometimes anyway was kind of silly...  why bother (and don'T tell me you are keeping it for your kids cause how do you know they even want it or care for it?)??? I'd rather spent time with people, doing things, staring at the stars and gazing at the clouds then buy/use/store stuff and repeat... what defines my lise no longer is the stuff but rather the moments in life... and in order to create those moments I needed to part with the stuff...  and I am so glad I did!  Nothing is tying me down!  Sky is the limit now!

I hope this helped...

And if it did not, this Zen proverb summarize very well what I am trying to say here:

"Let go or be dragged"

on that note,
love&peace,
nath
xox
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