We are what we eat just as much as we are what we wear. Clothing is similar to the make up we put on our faces and the colours we paint on our nails. With so many options out there we can disguise ourselves as whomever we want on a daily basis. But my questions to you are, are you comfortable in your own skin? Does the cut, design, colour and style of your outfit authentically express who you are beneath the layers of pretense and wannabe? And what makes you susceptible to following fashion trends and alike?

Perhaps if you grew up in a low income household you were given a lot of second hand clothing handed down by your siblings or neighbours. Therefore there was not so much choice in regards to what you chose to wear. Following fashion can be an incredibly unconscious experience but unconscious or not the decision comes down to us once we look in the mirror and make the judgement of yes this is me today or no I don’t like the way my “whatever” looks in this.

Like any profession when teaching yoga we have our “work” outfits, which can cost the same price as a romantic dinner with your loved one. There is so much emphasis on brand names, quality, organic or non-organic materials and what is on the front page of the latest yoga magazine it is easy to forget what we actually feel comfortable in. Back in the day, before Yoga Journal, before Manduka Mats, before Yoga Alliance and before yoga found itself to the west, what we wore to practice was nothing other then what we woke up in, this is just my speculation and thought process so lets see where this is going!

Just because we wear a certain brand of clothing it wont make us a better teacher or give us the power to recite ancient Vedic scriptures while standing on your head. Wearing the latest brands may make you feel like you have this super power but unfortunately this type of knowledge comes from years of dedicated study and time, regardless of what outfit you are wearing.

Some people love shoes or hats or even scarves. For me I love clothes, always have and always will. I shy away from most mainstream fashions but when it comes to good quality material, feminine shape, design and ethics, I am hooked from the beginning! Oh and of course if it is the right length for my long legs and torso then 99.9% of the time I am walking away with some new gear.

During my late teens and early 20’s I actually designed and made my own clothes, I would spend hours in the material shops, carefully choosing what colours my latest creation would be and getting inspiration from the rolls and rolls of material piled on top of each other. Apparently my grandmother was a very talented seamstress and maybe this has been passed onto me although I am yet to start my own clothing label.

We are constantly given the opportunity to practice non-attachment (Vairagya) but in today’s society it is challenging to not get sucked into the “latest look” and just like eating a nutritious meal sometimes a little retail therapy is also good for the soul. I have been given the opportunity to be an ambassador for some great clothing brands, the latest one being Asquith London. They are fashioned from the softest certified organic cotton and bamboo, making their clothes kind to animals and the environment, as well as your skin. So if you are looking for another disguise or mask to hang in your closet check them out! To receive a 15% discount use the code DELAMAY15

So whatever you decide to dress yourself in, remember it is not always the biggest brands which produce the best quality clothing. Ultimately it is up to you to jump on the bandwagon of clothing brands but whatever you decide I sincerely hope it expresses and supports what is resonating deep inside of you.