Let's give it up to surviving bringing in the New Year during a retrograde! I don't know about you, but it definitely made my New Year progress a little bit more complicated. Even so, i've been connecting with some great individuals & companies that I think someone out there could find useful. Which brings me to my first "Le Bon Mélange" feature of 2016 with mystical mama, yogi, & creative - Shakara aka @Zuluisms
Shortly after I stumbled upon her page, she was featured on Huffington Post for the "13 Inspirational Instagram Accounts That Prove That Black Yogis Rule" by Taryn Finley, alongside some other great people I follow, including @Alex_Elle, @DeandreYoga, & @WasiaWasia. (Click the links to read the article and/or check out their pages)
In the article you mentioned "Black women tend to have a lot of outward confidence, though internally we may allow our ego to beat us up spiritually." I really love this statement because it provoked an immediate reaction from me. Over the last couple of years I have incorporated Yoga into my spiritual journey and as much as I hate to say it, I've gotten the most side-eye or sly comments about it from other black people. It's like traveling, one of those silent stigmas "black people don't do".
Could you tell me a bit about what Yoga means to you & how it's contributed to the beautiful being we see today?
Well
first off kudos to you for jumping in! Welcome to one of the most personally
revealing journeys of your life! It can definitely be a game of fake it until
you make it as far as confidence goes in the beginning. I completely feel what
you’ve said. I love platforms like Instagram for constantly allowing a space,
which promotes exposure to lifestyles, and healing techniques which many people
wouldn’t have easy access to otherwise. It’s crazy that our own people feel
this way toward the yogi way of life because yoga originated from US. Yoga has
its roots in ancient Kemet (as in Egypt, as in chocolately midnight, glorious
and divine BLACK PEOPLE!)
Yoga
has become such a dominant part of my life. I even want to say it’s my whole
life because; truly my life is one big yoga practice. All sorts of things that
I do throughout the day align with the principles of yoga. Many people see the
postures and think that’s what yoga is about, but the asanas (postures) are
merely physical representations of what yoga is. Yoga is a lifestyle. My
favorite way to describe yoga is in the Bhagavad Gita: “Yoga is the journey of the self,
through the self, to the self.” It’s such a spot on definition. It is totally
and completely about the individual journey. It forces each practitioner to
confront things about themselves that may not have been so acquainted with
prior to.
It
reminds us to look at things from different angles (literally lol), breathe
evenly, constantly seek balance, trust ourselves, have faith that breakthroughs
are coming, let go of expectations, just flow through the tough spots, because
it will all get easier.
I love the platform you seem to be setting up for your daughter. What groundwork are you laying down, not only to grow as a mother but as an individual in this beautifully complicated world?
Hmm,
I have to think on this one a bit. Beautifully complicated is correct! Much of
what I am teaching my daughter has to do with what I’ve discovered about self
as I’ve journeyed thus far. My main objective for myself and my daughter is for
us to stay true to who we are. I continuously seek to honor my inner voice and
trust that I know what is best for me. If I’m truly following my spirit I know what
will suit my highest good. No one else can know this for me. So it leaves
little room to be swayed by the opinions of others. I spend a lot of time
checking in with my Self and my Source each day to make sure they are working
in synergy. I am aware of my thoughts and feelings in any given moment. I’ve
come to understand more and more in life how much our purpose is wrapped up in
our individuality and having the courage to truly be ourselves, and follow our
own interests and skill sets. My job as a mother is to help my children learn
how to find out who they are and listen to their inner voice as well. That’s how we get life to unfold in our
favor, by being courageous enough to trust our spirits and act on our dreams.
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Now lets talk about your awesome online shops, one for the mystics (Nirvana Wild) & one for the cultured (Heart Lab Gift Shop).
What made you want to create such great diverse pieces?
Thanks
so much! I created Heart Lab Gift Shop, to honor my love of diverse cultures
and their various approaches to beauty and adornment. The shop is a 100%
fundraiser for an organization I am slowly creating called Heart Lab. Heart Lab
works for youth leadership and community development through media and the
arts. Everything from the shop is imported from various areas of the world. A
one stop cultural celebration shop. I hope to have things going again with it
soon.
Nirvana
Wild is one of my creative outlets and a way to share my gift with people who
connect to my vision. I truly create from my spirit. I am inspired by so much
and leave myself open to be guided by Source so what you see if a culmination
of so many things that I love.
I like to ask everyone I feature, what would you say keeps you centered? If you had to list 5 things or less that keeps your life in balance, what would they include?
Ooo,
I have plenty! In no particular order of importance…
1. First there is
yoga. And as I mentioned before yoga expands to many areas of my life. It
forces us to be completely in the moment and with ourselves. What you did in
the past only matters in that it’s taught you what to do now. And the future
hasn’t occurred so worrying about it doesn’t really help anything. Yoga also creates
confidence. Confidence is certainly centering because you know that no matter
what life is about to throw at you you’re able to handle it gracefully. You
trust yourself to stay on point. It’s an endless fight to stay balanced. Not to
mention the endless benefits for your body, mind, and spirit. The art of being
still. And of Flow, that’s important.
2. I also like to be
in nature and travel often. I feel like both being in nature and new environments
are when I hear my Source best. I get clear answers to questions I have or
solutions to things agitating my spirit (making me uncomfortable). My intuition
is at its peak when in nature. Which also speaks to disconnecting from the
endless distractions that tend to be so common in our society. Which leads me
to number…
3. Disconnecting at
least for a few moments each day from computers, phones, commercials, everything.
And sometimes even people. It all does things to our subconscious that we need
to cleanse every now and then. It creates chatter that can take us way off our
game and from really hearing ourselves. Meditation is really good for this.
4. Meditation. It’s
a different kind of getaway. A regular mediation practice allows us to learn
how to truly be still. In the mind. That’s important to really hear the voice
of whatever higher power you connect with. Showing gratitude falls in here too.
It’s a form of prayer for me. I keep a gratitude journal, and say thank you
often throughout the day. I believe gratitude is a gateway to manifesting your
dreams because it creates space for more things to be grateful for. Attracts
it. Working on being still and in tune with life helps you understand how to
manifest the things you want.
5. Number five is a
wild card because there are things that I don’t do as often as the above but
come up every now and then. Reading, writing, I’m a dancer at heart so
definitely dancing. Being with loved ones. Anything that seems to do a good job
of feeding the soul and all the good places in me. That keeps me centered and
wanting to show others how to have more goodness in their lives. That’s my
purpose I think. Awakening magic everywhere :)
Lastly, what great things can we look forward to seeing from you, or what's your next endeavor?
Well,
I’m always learning and seeking. I am putting work into my personal brand so
expect to see more from me outside of Nirvana Wild soon. I’ve really been wanting
to be back working with youth soon so Heart Lab will be picking up this year. I’m
ACHING to perform again, so who knows what that could mean this year. I always ask the Universe to be use me to my
full potential so there are no limits to what you may see from me in the
future. Just keeping up the grind and cranking out awesome content is the move
this year. Allowing myself to be lead me to some great things.
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Isn't she lovely?
I really hope you enjoyed this one-on-one as much as I did. Not only am I grateful for her touching on topics that other deem too taboo, I appreciate her for the light she brings to this universe as well as her great gifts she shares with the rest of us.
I really hope you enjoyed this one-on-one as much as I did. Not only am I grateful for her touching on topics that other deem too taboo, I appreciate her for the light she brings to this universe as well as her great gifts she shares with the rest of us.
If you haven't yet checked out her online stores (Nirvana Wild) & (Heart Lab Gift Shop) please do! She offers so many beautifully unique pieces from both shops at amazing prices.Also, be sure to follow her on Instagram.@Zuluisms@Nirvana.Wild
Until next time...-Twanie
