HOW TO START PRACTICING YOGA FROM A YOGI: HEALING, KNOWLEDGE & FASHION

Q: Can you tell me about your yoga journey? Why you started, what you've gained, and why you've started teaching?

A: I started practicing yoga about 3 years ago because a friend of mine who was also a Pilates instructor taught yoga as well and encouraged me to try her classes. I was pretty much immediately hooked because it made my body feel so good. As a former ballet dancer, I was used to moving my body in unnatural ways that left me with damaged ligaments and tendons years later. Moving with purpose and attention with the asanas (physical yoga postures) just felt right. I felt like I was healing a lot of the damage I had inflicted on my body from nearly two decades of rigorous ballet training. I also just felt better mentally. Being a type A personality and naturally anxious person, the feeling that I got at the end of a yoga practice was something I couldn't explain, but I knew I wanted more of it. My stress levels dropped significantly and by learning to breathe through tough postures, I learned how to breathe through challenges in my life as well. I decided to become a teacher last year because the changes that I went through in my life were astounding and I thought that if I could share that with people, what a gift it would be. I completed my 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher Training at Vibe Yoga in Bloomington, Indiana this winter and have been teaching as much as I possibly can!

Q: What separates a good yoga teacher from a bad one?

A: I have yet to come across a "bad" yoga teacher. I think that--assuming the instructor is properly qualified--there really is no good or bad, just what you as a student need or want. I have many friends who are yoga instructors that I love dearly as people but I choose not to practice with them because what they offer is not what I need. And vice versa! Plenty of yoga instructors at my studio are regulars in my classes and some aren't. And that's ok! I'm not offended if someone doesn't feel me as an instructor. We all bring different experiences and teaching styles to the studio so finding the instructors you feel comfortable with is important. Sometimes challenging yourself to take a class you may not typically enjoy is exactly what you need too! Honoring what you need day to day is important. Some days you may need a teacher with a loud speaking voice and tons of energy and other days your body or your mind might need a more relaxing, quiet class. Becoming aware of your needs is important and seeking out different instructors and styles of yoga is a great thing to do.

Q: Any tips for beginners?

A: My advice for beginners is to just try it! Don't worry if you're not flexible. We all start that way! So what if you can't touch your toes, you know? Remember that yoga is a practice and not a performance, and know that each day is a learning experience. Sometimes those days that are bad for your ego (where you fall on your face or can't balance, etc) are actually great for your soul. We don't start out our yoga practice being able to do perfect handstands and crazy looking back bends, but by putting in the work you eventually get there. There's no fun in being the best at something you have just started because there's no challenge, nothing to look forward to, nothing to achieve. So be okay with being a beginner, embrace each part of the journey and know that no one in a yoga studio will judge you for anything.

Q: Are there any groups people who you'd caution against practicing yoga or is it beneficial for all?

A: I wouldn't caution anyone against yoga. There is a type of yoga for literally everyone. There is chair yoga for the elderly or handicapped, prenatal, even prison yoga for those who are incarcerated! If you have any issues, I would certainly do some research and seek out a type of yoga that is appropriate for you, or at least let your instructor know what's going on so he or she can guide you through class safely. At my studio we have a blind woman who practices some pretty intense vinyasa classes several times per week. As long as someone guides her into the studio she is good to go! It's really remarkable and I am in awe of her. So yes, yoga is for all.

Q: I tend to avoid yoga because every time I've done it I'm incredibly sore the next day. What can one do to avoid soreness and injury?

A: Soreness is a natural bodily response and as long as its not debilitating, it's not harmful. Drinking lots of water to help flush the lactic acid out of your system will definitely help quell the soreness and by continuing to practice, you will be less and less sore. Sometimes some gentle stretching or a leisurely walk can help out with soreness as well. A lot of the injuries that I see in the studio are completely and totally avoidable. Knowing your body and what it is and is not ready for is important. Maybe you really want to get up into a headstand but your shoulders are not quite strong enough. This is a great example of when you should back off and not let your ego get in the way. Build your strength, then play. Most yoga postures are very safe but there are a few that can be dangerous, the headstand being one of them. Listen to your instructor, but most importantly listen to your body and practice patience when something doesn't feel right. If an instructor tries to force you into a pose or adjusts your body in a way that doesn't feel good, it's your right to let them know and/or take a child's pose and skip something that isn't working for you. Remember it's your practice, your body and you are always in control.

Q: Any yoga tips for women with lower back or neck pain? What about those with ankle or knee pain?

A: I could literally write a book on lower back pain. I think this is the number one complaint I get. A lot of lower back pain, especially in men, is due to tight hamstrings so yoga is perfect for that. There are definitely tons of other reasons but by moving the spine in all directions like we do in every yoga class, it will help to keep the spine supple yet strong which helps alleviate low back pain as well. You should be careful with neck pain you should be careful with. Always get the "okay" from your doctor when dealing with neck issues. That said, just being careful with shoulder stand, headstand, or any other poses with lots of flexion (forward bending) or weight bearing on the neck is important. Modifications are available for all poses and qualified instructors will know how to cue those modifications in class for any type of injury. Just make sure to let the instructor know! Remember also that blocks, straps, bolsters, blankets and straps are your friends.

Q: We all want to look like the svelte, sexy yogi advertised in brand ads (or better yet, you!) and so we invest in classes, mats and clothing. Many women are familiar with lulu lemon, but which other yoga clothing brands have you come to appreciate and why?

A: Lululemon is definitely a favorite among yogis because of the quality of the product, attention to detail, fun colors and great fit of the clothing. There are some other fantastic brands out there as well. My favorite yoga pants are from a brand named Teeki and they have the most fun prints! The pants are made from recycled plastic bottles too which I think is so cool. They are incredibly comfortable and fit really well. Hardtail has a really cute yoga line as well. Some other brands I really like include Onezie clothing, Lucy Activewear, and Zobha; Shakti Activewear makes the most adorable tops and bras! Lately I've been scouring Etsy for homemade yoga clothing and have found some really great, unique pieces. On a budget, Target has been coming out with some pretty awesome stuff lately and TJMAXX always has a great selection as well. I love the coziness of Alternative Apparel's hoodies and sweatpants for post practice.

Q: What kinds of considerations should one take into account when shopping for yoga clothing? Any tips for avoiding the dreaded camel toe?

A: I tend to avoid wearing shorts because I mainly practice heated vinyasa classes and with all the sweat it makes it nearly impossible to do arm balances on slippery, sweaty legs! I really like the Wunder Under Crops from lululemon because they're not as heavy and hot as full length pants but the material is long enough so there's traction to balance. Unfortunately, I am not endowed with big awesome boobs, but I hear lululemon makes an awesome sports bra (The Tata Tamer) for big busted women. For the most part, my Teeki and lululemon pants hide the camel toe. Looking for a diamond or triangle shaped gusset in the crotch of the pants will help alleviate camel toe. Additionally, I like to wear tops that are not super skin tight just as a personal preference, but I don't like tops so baggy that when I'm upside down, they're in my face. I'm a big fan of the no limits tank from lululemon, as well as the basic tri-blend racer back tanks from American Apparel or Alternative Earth.

Q: Where can we find you?

A: I teach hot power vinyasa classes at Vibe Yoga and Pilates Studio, vinyasa flow at Hoosier CrossFit, and private and group equipment classes at Lotus Pilates all in Bloomington, Indiana. Ellie has 600 hr. Comprehensive Pilates Certification, as well as, the 200 RYT mentioned above.

Follow Ellie's pages on facebook and instagram (@eatwithellie).

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StW INTERVIEWS: SARAH DIOUF

Out of tragedy was borne Ghubar Magazine, brainchild of media mogul in the making, Sarah Diouf. In summer 2008, Sarah suffered a car accident that left her temporarily immobile and derailed her marketing and communications studies at INSEEC business school in Paris. Bedridden with time on her hands, Sarah continued to explore the world beyond her bedroom through a laptop her mother gifted her after the accident.

Sarah grew up traveling the globe--tasting and experiencing its many cultures. She had an interest in fashion that was sometimes indulged by her attendance of shows at Paris Fashion Week courtesy of invitations from one of her mother's dear friends. Diouf noticed the homogeneity of models walking designer runways and pictured in fashion magazines, not to mention the lack of diverse cultural content. Spurred by her desire to see a reflection of herself, her cultural inspirations and those of men and women of different sizes and backgrounds--who also play audience and consumers to high fashion brands and magazines that peddle their wares--in fashion media, Sarah set out to change the make up of high quality fashion content with her own publication, Ghubar Magazine. I sat down with Sarah to discuss the making of Ghubar, her challenges, triumphs and aspirations for the magazine and her media company, Ifren Media Group.

Sarah Diouf, an MBA candidate interested fashion without prior industry experience, jumped into fashion media head first in 2008. She shared her goals with an acquaintance who told her it was too hard so she would never be successful. Never say never. After the release of Ghubar Magazine's first issue in January 2009, fashion enthusiasts and creatives were so enthralled with the concept of her magazine that they sought her out to contribute. Sarah has defied her peer's forecast of failure and managed to build a magazine, blog and brand read and followed globally on her own principles; not to be reduced to inputs of her Klout score, but Ghubar's facebook page boasts 7,000+ followers and her twitter following numbers to 1,400+. Certainly these numbers speak to the quality and relevance of her work. She herself writes, designs layouts, styles, and manages on and offline communications for the publication while successfully juggling a full-time communications role. When I asked how she manages to do this so well and why she bears so much of the work burden she answered: "I don't sleep," and "because I want young, black women to know that they can do this too. And that the content is real. It's coming from me. No matter what I want to maintain Ghubar's authenticity."

Authenticity is what urged me to contact Sarah. In this fashion era where the fourth estate has lost its way, Diouf's voice does not falter. She is open about the fact that, "People are afraid to work with black people in the fashion world." Sarah has contacted many high-end brands to pursue collaborations with Ghubar, but just one has been truly receptive, Prada. You'll notice ads for Prada in Ghubar's Spring 2013 issue. We're eagerly awaiting her fall issue not only for its content, but also to hopefully peel back digital pages that reveal more Prada ads that speak to a burgeoning relationship between her magazine and the brand, and trust in her audience. Hopefully, for the sake of black boys, girls, men and women everywhere, more luxury brands will jettison the idea that: "She is black. So her work has be to black oriented," and acknowledge what we feel they don't, which is that black people globally are interested and can afford their goods. Just ask Oprah.

The look and feel of Ghubar magazine is polished, rich, and clean. It's clear that Sarah and her team of contributors work well collectively to produce a high quality work product. When asked how she went about assembling her team, she simply replied: "I go off feelings. I work with people who embrace the Ghubar spirit. I'm always open for collaboration," and mentioned that her eyes are always on the alert for new talent, which she is quick to pursue for future projects. I could hear the the squeal of excitement in Sarah's voice a propos these chance discoveries as we spoke. My personal experience tells me that such discoveries represent opportunities to push one's work and creativity to new bounds and or to showcase new, different or rare talent outside of your own. In creative pursuits, who doesn't want that? In the words of George Orwell: "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." Ghubar successfully presents fresh, well curated content to its followers and that's what sets it apart. Its watchful steward prescribes that aspiring magazine founders have "a strong motive" behind starting their publications. 

The internet democratized fashion and as Sarah points out "a lot of people launch magazines just to launch them," but access to millions of readers does not a strong magazine make. To compete with established print magazines that are racing to dominate the digital landscape, as well as, indie magazines that have found their niche followings, one must have a strong idea to guide it or "drown in the sea of magazines." Beyond vision, Sarah advises: "If you really think that's what you need to do just go for it." Hear, hear!

Sarah isn't stopping at Ghubar; it is only 10% of what she wants to accomplish. She founded Ifren Media Group in Africa in 2012. Can we show her a rousing round of applause? No, seriously. Stand and applaud. Now. Thanks to her work on Ghubar, Sarah has concrete samples of tried and tested visuals that prove her ability to generate high quality advertising materials. Ifren uses these assets in pitches for advertising assignments from companies globally, some unrelated to fashion. Ifren also houses a consulting company that offers brand consulting and visual image creation for emerging designers targeting new markets around the world. And in the works is the launch of Sarah's new pan-African magazine, the one she would have started if she didn't think the fashion industry would reject its black faces. As she explained to me, she had to broaden the audience Ghubar touches to get industry buy in for her work. However, this new publication will cater primarily to black women around the world. It will cover beauty, lifestyle and fashion. Be on the look out for it in coming years.

Through the pages of Ghubar and her blog posts, where you can find self styled images of Sarah, we have come to embrace Sarah's style and admire her taste. I thought it fitting to end our chat with her top boutiques in Paris that are perhaps less well known than Lafayette and what's on her wishlist to strut her stuff in soon. We'll leave one big reveal to her during Paris Fashion Week. Check her blog for it then.

Sarah's fave Parisian boutiques: N15 Paris, Episode; and wishlist item: this pink jacket from Chloe Resort 2014.

Click to read Ghubar Magazine and Blog

HOW TO: TAKE 7 BODY MEASUREMENTS WOMEN SHOULD KNOW

We all wear clothing like jackets, bras, blouses, dresses, skirts, and pants. There are dozens of measurements one may take to find a precise fit for any of the garments mentioned above whether shopping for them online, in stores or having them custom made. However, the seven below are most critical. They will help you find suitable fitting garments for you. I encourage you to check your measurements and know them well, ladies, especially before you shop for spring clothing and or transition garments while you work towards your beach body.

1. SHOULDERS- I have broad shoulders. It's difficult to find jackets that fit me correctly, but knowing my shoulder width allows me to make decisions that fit. Measure from edge of shoulder bone to base of neck and over to other shoulder bone edge (should be arched, as pictured). TIP: Check for lack of free range of motion in the arms, and puckering along the back center seam. If either exist while you're trying on a jacket move on because the shoulders are cut too small for you.

2. SLEEVE LENGTH- Long sleeves should stop at your wrist bone. So if you hold a top up matching the center of the collar to the center of your neck, the armhole seam should align with the dot at the edge of the shoulder bone above. Placing your arms at 90 degrees, the end of the sleeve should stop at your wrist bone. Otherwise, the sleeves are too short. Though, shirts that stretch may not fit this standard. Follow the same path with tape measure.

3. BUST- Being well dressed starts with the basics. Ever notice a woman in a beautiful top with rolls of flesh peaking out above and below her brassiere? It's because her bra is too small! 75-85% of women wear the wrong bra size. Don't be a statistic. To measure your bust find the fullest part of your chest. Wrap the tape measure around your body at this point, wrapping the tape underneath your underarms and ending at your starting point; be sure the tape measure is level all the way around. Use a mirror or friend to help! Watch these two videos on how to find your bra size and learn about proper fit: 1 and 2.

4. WAIST- Avoid appearing like encased sausage. Measure your waist then get clothing that flatters and defines it. This is important for tops and dresses, especially those made from materials or sewn so that they don't stretch. To measure your waist stand up straight, bend slightly to your side, and place the measuring tape at the natural crease that forms. Measure your circumference from that point.

5. HIPS- Know this measurement so your pencil skirt glides gracefully over your thighs allowing you to strut your stuff like Sophia Vergara starring in your own Pepsi commercial. Reason enough to put down those Spanx and pick up a tape measure, no? Wrap the tape measure from the widest part of your hip around your buttocks, front and back to your starting point. Be sure the tape measure is level around your body.

6. THIGHS- No one wants their circulation cut off by their pants! Measure the circumference of your thighs at their fullest part.

7. INSEAM- To find the perfect length for your spring/summer pant suit measure your inseam from the upper most part of your thigh to your ankle. TIP: If you plan to wear heels with your suit and your pants are not tapered to stop at the ankle ALWAYS take into account heel height!

Moreover, taking your measurements allows you to determine your body type and from there, to wear the clothing best suited for you, which can only show you in your best light.

For a consultation where I personally take your measurements and prescribe the best silhouettes and colors for you, contact Styled to Wear or shop our services at www.styledtowear.com.

HOW TO: LOSE WEIGHT & LOOK GOOD DOING IT

"Lose Weight" and "Get Fit" are two of the most popular New Year's resolutions. Have you kept yours? If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, and you've kept your resolution to date, then you've likely lost 10+ pounds since January 1st. 10 pounds usually translates to the difference of one clothing size. Brava! As you continue to lose weight it's important that you wear clothing that fits you for two reasons.

photo of Beyonce courtesy of: Giselle

1) Replacing your old, baggy clothing with better fitting clothing eliminates the lingering thought that it may be okay to go back to the size you were. Moreover, well-fitting clothing enables you to see the progress you are making toward a healthier you, and thus serves as motivation. It's true that if you look good, you feel good. 

2) First impressions count and so do seconds, thirds and dozens. It's important to present your best self each time you leave your home whether you're running errands or heading to work, the gym, or spa.

During your weight loss phase get new clothing every 10 to 15 pounds you shed. Purchase basics that are within your means. I highly recommend that even if you have money to spare, you purchase clothing on the cheaper end. Look for knits and items with stretch. Here are a few items I would recommend purchasing during your journey: A-line and tulip skirts, loose dolman sleeve blouses, wide leg trousers (especially with elastic waistband), knit wrap dresses. If you purchase patterns, the smaller you become the smaller the pattern should become. TIP: add belts to dresses and skirts that hang looser  as you drop the pounds, in order to better define your waist in the garment. Hover over images below and use arrows that become visible to view all items available for the new and changing you. Click on the item you like for enlarged view and direct purchase.

Donate clothing as you discard them to help the needy and benefit from the tax break. Alternatively, consign them and/or donate proceeds to charities like The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

For personal counsel on how to transition your look and wardrobe successfully please visit styledtowear.com to view and purchase available services or contact us at info@styledtowear.com or 646.543.3526.