Sythetic Fabrics + Being Compassionate

Synthetic fabrics are cheaper to produce and are sold cheaper at retail stores, but they cause a slew of allergies and do not even offer the protection that clothing should. For instance, I had a men's Forever 21 t-shirt that I altered and added a bit of scrap polyester chiffon. To avoid old clothing going to the landfill, especially synthetics that I had before I started being more sustainable, I often cut out the salvageable parts and use them for DIY projects. Well, the top part of was this dress was cool and comfortable as it is made from organic cotton, but the bottom half which was made from sheer polyester was unbearable. I have sensitive skin, and cannot wear synthetics, so even this softer chiffon itched my skin, and my legs were so sweaty as synthetics do not breathe. Additionally, the hem had a small snag and after one wear, the whole hem had begun to fray. This is a case where sometimes it is best to forgive yourself for your past ills and purchases, make a resolve to buy greener and not waste your time by just letting the item go.

I am not going to pretend that I am so spiritual that I do not like nice things. I appreciate beauty in nature and in all other forms, including man made. However, I have been trying to make an effort to make sure my appreciation of beauty does not impede on the needs of others or the natural world as a whole. I don't think fashion or beauty should harm nature or animals. Years ago, I de-cluttered most of the synthetic items in my wardrobe, and have tried my best not to buy anymore (except for exercise gear) because synthetics don't biodegrade well nor are they renewable. Acrylic, polyester and nylon are made of petroleum/oil, which is not renewable and like plastic bags, they can take decade to bio-degrade. Cotton, silk and rayon, though they have their share of ills, biodegrade much faster.

If you can buy organic cotton and silk, please do. I personally cannot afford much of those items as I am a student and un-employed, but I do purchase them when they are on sale or if I see them at a more affordable store. (Target sometimes has some great organic basic t-shirts for less than $20). So, I don't claim to be a saint and say that all my choices are cruelty free. I am aware of the in-humaneness of silk to silk worms and the environmental effects of producing cotton. However, I am very sensitive skin and can only wear cotton, silk and rayon (bamboo) am not useful to the world if my health is not well, and I also can't afford the other options at this time. I only use wool for outerwear as it irritates my skin. Rayon is part chemically produced, but it biodegrades even faster than cotton. I prefer rayon made from bamboo (tencel) or beech (modal) because it is more renewable and longer lasting, and they can be hand washed. Regular rayon looses its shape easily and requires dry cleaning, which also uses chemicals, weakens fabric and is an unnecessary expense. So, when choosing fabric, I try my best given my circumstances to make choices with the least impact. If there are suggestions of affordable organic clothing (under $30), please do tell.

For those who are on a budget like me, you might be tempted to buy cheaply, but while I don't necessarily look at brands, it is necessary to look at the quality of fabric. A bad quality fabric, such as polyester and acrylic, will not keep you cool in the summer or warm in the winter like silk, wool or pima cotton, and it will also not last as long as these fabrics. It is best to wait when quality items are on sale or to go to a discount store and purchase them there. I prefer not buy used items on eBay because I have often received bad quality items. Instead, I purchase new with tags or new without tags, and seal items from eBay or discount stores until they are washed as I once got bed bugs from a new discount store item.

For those who can buy more expensive items, also pay careful attention to the fabric. I see a lot of high end designers using synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon, and I can't understand why people pay hundreds for them. Just check on Nordstrom or Net-a-Porter and you will see some items for 1000+ made of synthetics. I think that this is because polyester just outlasts cotton, but organic pima cotton can be bought for much less. So, if you can afford designer clothing, you can afford organic pima cotton or organic silk. I often go to these sites as I like the clean/minimalist lines of high end clothing as it looks more elegant and effortless and use them for inspiration for my DIY projects.

One synthetic that I do cheat with is faux leather. I have loved the look of leather since my early teens, but only buy used leather to avoid anymore animals being killed for it. When I do purchase leather items, I purchase synthetic leather because it requires less maintenance and it does not harm animals. However, the downside of this is that, cheap faux leather does not often last, which is why I don't often buy it. I have started buying higher quality faux leather fabric and trimming my items with it, such as the belt in the above dress, to give that edgy vibe to my look. If you like the look of leather and can afford it, a more expensive faux leather can last you decades.

There is no such thing as the perfect choice. This is something that the perfectionist person that I am has had a hard time coming to terms with. However, coming to terms with it has eased much of the anxiety and pressure I used to place on myself. I have learned that the best choice is the one you are able to make in that moment given your knowledge and circumstances. So, try to be ethical and mindful, but be compassionate not only to nature, but also to yourself.

Namaste.

Effortless De-Cluttering – Will You Miss It?

I have read many organizational articles about de-cluttering that are too convoluted or complicated. Many people who want to de-clutter are already overwhelmed with all the items they have, or they would not be de-cluttering. So, I decided to start making simple rules for myself that I have learned while de-cluttering. Often, we hold on to things because we think we will need it or want it in the future. I have discarded some items that I thought I would need, and it made me realize that is not our fear of need that holds us back, but rather our fear of missing the item. After owning an object, we come to place more value on it due to our attachment to it. Many studies have shown that people value an object more the moment they own it than a few minutes before purchase. So, this ties in to why we hold on to objects. My husband told me that you should be able to make a decision in 30 seconds. That sounds crazy to me because I deliberate on objects for hours (though not continuously) sometimes.

 However, I decided to try to challenge myself and make a decision about every object that I pick up in a minute. Often times, I am unsure, and I create scenarios in my head for whether I would need the object, such as DIY projects I can do with it, etc. From today, I am trying something new and that is to ask myself on these unsure decisions whether I would truly miss the object. In the past, I have not missed these objects, save for ones that I discarded haphazardly in an effort to just de-clutter in lightening speed. (De-cluttering or making decisions without truly thinking them through are not wise, either). So, next time that you de-clutter, before you create scenarios in your head about what you can do with the object, ask yourself if you love the object and will miss it. If not, even if you may need it in the future, chances are, you will find an even better object that you truly enjoy to replace it.

Breaking Habits the Yoga Way - Part I

It is serendipitous how the universe works. I have been having a rough few days as I did not get a job I was recommended for by my old employer, and because I still find myself a bit behind in de-cluttering to reach my goal of how I would like to be. It seems that old habits, while not impossible to break, are difficult in the beginning. It is like chiseling a cement wall. To get that first crack with a simple tool takes a long time, but once you get a deep enough hold in the foundation, the wall will easily come down. This wall for me has been the illusions that I have built around myself and absorbed for spending the last 10 years of my life living in how others want me to be, rather than 100% of where I would like to be. Now, I have maintained enough authenticity to find my way back cyclically, but I am at the point where I do not want to even been in the cycle anymore. That desire to change is strong, but when I look back at all my small and large mistakes and bad turns, I feel static. Sometimes you come to a point where with all of the self blame and inability to run from reality, you need something more than desire and will. What is needed then I was sent serendipitously in a message from the universe via Yoga Journal magazine. Hey, who said that spiritual experiences have to all be "airy fairy", so to speak?

I got the June 2013 issue in the mail, and on the cover, there was a title for an article inside: "How to Find the Courage to Change Your Life". Intrigued, I pulled out the article and took it with me to read at breakfast at my neighborhood bakery. The article spoke about harnessing the energy of courage through the Goddess Durga. Now, I am spiritual, but not a religious person. I light a candle or incense every morning, and before I do my asanas and meditation as a way of just being present in the moment, and I don't eat read meat (though I am working back to being full vegetarian once I figure out the right diet for my slight autoimmune disorder) for health, compassionate and sustainable reasons, but that is the extent of it. However, this article spoke to me because I have the Goddess Durga and the Goddess Saraswati on my desk on my small altar as what they represent (courage, strength, morality and wisdom, the arts and learning, respectively) is a reminder to be of the qualities I would like to cultivate in my life. However, I have always had a disconnect where I could not full immerse myself in what they represent because of my logic and scientific way of thinking makes it hard for me to believe in celestial beings and the myths of the puranas.

Although I have been told that I am logical, I am also somewhat introverted/sensitive to situations, moods and stimuli. Due to this, sometimes I avoid risks and changes and am not bold enough to do things I really want to do or show the world who I really am. So although I am very friendly, I sometimes avoid risks because of the fear of anxiety or being overwhelmed. Ironically, the root of my name in Sanskrit, Valin (the male version of Valini) means courage.

So, this article, my name, and a few other events in my life have made me always aware that I wish I had more courage. However, today, what is different, is that this article made me realize that I already have that courage within me and at my disposal of the universe. I just have to tap into it. It also made me realize that I need to let go of some of my logic that makes me trust only in myself and what I can scientifically see, breathe, let go of my doubts about celestial beings and just take in the energy from the universe in whatever form it may come.

To change requires that we first let go of the dross of the past and current samsaras and karmas, which are just habits of the way we act and live our lives and recurrent ways of thinking. However, letting go is not enough. To let go, and then not take the next step of action will cause inertia and feeling down or discouraged. This is where I have been the last few weeks. The second step, is gathering courage from the universe and from within, and then acting. Remember you have all you need waiting for you within and without. You just need to align yourself with the energy for courage and change.

I could not find the article on Yoga Journal online to link it, so I scanned and attached it below, so that others on the verge of change or in need of courage can benefit as well. I claim absolutely no right to this article, and am just using it to share this wisdom.

Santosha (Contentment) and Challenging What You Need

If you have five shirts, give one away. – Swami Sivananada

I read the above quote many years ago when I started yoga. At the time, I understood that the reasoning for it was to be content and live with less. After a visit to a third world country for a funeral in 2010, I came back and edited my possessions drastically a second time. However, the focus was wrong because it was a for a desire to clear away. Looking back, it was healing for me to do that as the death was a very painful one. The deceased was someone I loved dearly and had not seen for years, and had been distant with not on purpose, but due to being busy. I felt immense guilt that my activities and possessions had taken me away from showing care to her. Yet, the possessions crept up again.

Lately, I have looked around my possessions, and rather than think about how many to keep or what I would use them for, I wonder to myself do I need this or want this? It has led to the deeper question of what do we really need. The answer is that we need very little. In that third world country, people needed very little, but they wanted much. They scavenged the house of the deceased for old wood and even empty cans. Yet, these were people who were in poverty and had very little to begin with. It was not so negative that they wanted more. Their discontent could be understood. In fact, their resourcefulness of using old items made me have difficulty discarding my own possessions because I thought of the waste when they had little and because I have always enjoyed creative ways of up-cycling old items. Yet, there comes to a point where we have to examine what we really need even if our intentions are good. I presently have more up-cycle projects than actual clothing and linens. I don’t have the time to complete all these projects, and even if I did, I really don’t need all of that clothing, linens or curtains.

Once I let things go, I feel a sense of freedom. While I have them and am deciding what to do with them and worrying about the waste or environmental detriment, it actually weighs me down. Worry and guilt is not something we need either. So, from now on, as I look at my items and ask my self how much do I really need, the decision to let go becomes easier. The truth of the matter is that we have laundromats at our disposal, and jobs more bountiful even in a bad economy than in other countries, so we really do not need so many clothing, kitchen gadgets, etc.I have come to drastically confuse our needs with wants. In turn, I have bound myself by thinking that I  need so much to be happy and successful. The reality is that you feel more free when you challenge yourself to want and need less. That feeling resounds when you let each item go. The space that is cleared where that item once was is a reminder to me of a space of freedom within that I have just gained.

Equanimity in Emotions and Yoga Practice

Equanimity is finding balance between the pair of opposites, much like the concept of following the golden mean. It is often associated with not being affected by the elements and physical circumstances, such as cold and heat, happiness and sadness, etc. Today, I realized that equanimity also goes even deeper than controlling yourself in these physical situations. It also is important in your internal processes, mainly in balancing and regulating your emotions and thoughts and in  turn, your reactions to events. For instance, it is important in keeping a balance where we are not too prideful, but also not too self-sacrificing. When we are prideful or engrossed in our false ego, we do not allow ourselves the openness to improve and grow. When we are too self-sacrificing, we give away all of our power to others, when we could be using some of that power not only to improve ourselves, but also to assist others as well.

Today, I confess that for a few minutes, I lost my bearings and reacted too strongly when someone said something to me that questioned my abilities. I felt as if myself worth was affected, and I reacted in defensive words. I realized my error afterwards, and apologize for my overly intense reaction 15 to 30 minutes later. However, I continued to be upset at myself for slipping. I then got to the point where I realized that being caught up in emotions and not being aware of my reactions was detrimental, but so was beating my head on the wall for my mistakes. I then decided to make this a learning experience - one in which I acknowledge that I had come far to realize my error and take responsibility so quickly, but also where I realized that I need to work more mindfully in regulating my emotions in reaction to the words of others.


We can also take this equanimity onto our mats and control pain as well as pleasure in our practice. We want to seek a balance in our reactions in our practice as we don't want to  get too puffed up and proud when we are succeeding at certain poses nor do we want to be discouraged when we are not achieving strength or flexibility in other poses.

Minimalism Through Yoga

I have decided to change the focus of my blog to yoga principles as yoga encompasses minimalism and so much more for the growth of a person.

Yesterday, after I wrote my post on Santosha (Contentment), I kept that principle with me throughout the day. This morning when I woke up, I realized that the reason I was not able to stay a minimalist in the past is because as humans, we can only take limits for a certain amount of time until me retaliate from them. Now, I am not saying that minimalism is limiting in itself, but it is limiting if there is not a deeper purpose for it. I wanted to have less things, so that I may be free -unattached from them,  from taking care of them, housing them and being distracted from them, so that I could pursue my goals. However, where minimalism failed for me is that I became anxious and would obsess over minimizing the items.

What it did not make me realize and what yoga makes me realize is that I am already free. I am like a bird in a cage with the door open. These things that surround me get in my way, but material possessions in excess of the necessities do not bound me. Embracing that freedom already within me gives me courage and boldness to let things go - to not worry about the future and needing them or not having money.

I have always needed some structure and discipline to achieve anything in life - whether it is maintaining a regular yoga practice, or achieving something academically or on the job. Freedom and boldness does not mean irresponsibility or lack of discipline. They mean a willingness to challenge yourself of your limitations, so that you may become an even better person. In the most successful moments of my adult life, yoga has helped me achieve that freedom and boldness through it's discipline and self-expanding principles. So, I am re-committing to yoga. The rest will follow. That thought in itself makes me feel free as there are no deadlines or lists to cause me anxiety, but just a clear goal of inner freedom. Minimalism and self growth through yoga is a more achievable goal.

Santosha (Contentment)

One of the virtues to live by in yogic living is Santosha (Contentment). It falls very much in line with a simple or minimalist lifestyle. There are times when our desires get the best of us - when they call to us when we see an item in a store or in a magazine that we like. Sometimes, that desires stays with us until we obtain the item or leaves us unsatisfied if we don't. Santosha also applies to the desire for people. We pine over people or want them to be ours, when in fact, no one belongs to another person. The people in our lives and the time that they give us are gifts. We must appreciate not only what we have, but also what people give in terms of themselves and their time, and not demand more.

I think that we, myself, at least, become discontented and crave things and people because we see something innately wrong with ourselves. We feel we need others or things to validate our self worth. However, it is quite a myth. My father, who achieved a lot in his mere 32 years, such as meeting the president of my country and being the youngest school principal in the country, told my mother something that she relayed to us later. He said, "someone can take away all your possessions, but they cannot take away your education or knowledge." He did not mean education in an egotistical matter, but meant that we should try to develop our inner qualities. He liked nice things and had his clothing custom made, but easily gave away his shirts and shoes to the poor, and even walked home barefoot and shirtless at times. I never got a chance to meet my father as I was only one when he passed away, but his wisdom relayed in my mother's words about treasuring the truly invaluable things came back to me recently.
We can leave this world at anytime.

Perhaps, we should spend a little more time appreciating the blessings of each day and not desiring material things beyond what we need. In reality, there is little that we actually need. If cavemen propelled our civilization with just the few things that they had, so can we. We have all that we need within us and are not lacking or incomplete in worth. We just need to remember to focus on building our inner virtues and Santosha becomes easier.

This is something I am mediatating on today as I do my de-cluttering.