Music, Yoga & Fashion

Whenever I miss a Monday post, I realize how much I must have been slacking the week before at work ;$ After a delicious weekend on the lake, soaking up what felt like the last true summer weekend, I came back to the city all Zen-like with three goals for the week:

Goal #1: Go to bed earlier - wake up earlier for a longer morning Sadhana

Goal #2: Create a Fall Live Music Calender

Goal #3: Fallify my closet

Last night I went to bed too late... this morning I got up extra earlier (so far O days success at Goal #1), yesterday we began our Fall Live Music Calendar and it looks pretty amazing so far (Goal #2 well under way), today I plan on sneaking away early to meet my favourite shopping partner for a little fashion fallification (Goal #3 about to be manifest!).

Today's Breakdown: Goal #1 - explained & a preview of who's playing this Fall.
Friday: Fall Fashion Fallification

What is Sadhana? 

Sadhana or daily spiritual practice is the foundation of all spiritual endeavour. Sadhana is your personal, individual spiritual practise used to work on yourself. Sadhana is whatever you do consistently to clear your own consciousness so you can relate to the infinity within you. Before you face the world each day, do yourself a favour and tune up your nervous system and attune yourself to your highest inner self. My Sadhana consists of most (if not all on good days) of the following: pranayama, meditation & Asana... followed by the finest beans Sam James Coffee bar has to offer. (Did you know yogis in ancient India LOVED coffee and said it helped enlighten their yoga practise - fun little factoid) 

Developing a regular sadhana can move you out of chaos and help you take control of your life and open the doors of experience and opportunity. Commit to meet your higher Self each morning and your decisions and your life become original; your life will bear the signature of your soul; your radiance will express itself in each moment... and every challenge becomes opportunity.

Just before sunrise, the energy you put into your sadhana gets maximum results. Your world is quieter.Your mind is still and your body has just spent the last 6-8 hrs resting, restoring & and rejuvenating. It may be easier to meditate and concentrate before the hustle and bustle of the day begins, but you can adopt a regular sadhana at any time of day.. just work up towards those early hours, nothing compares to a quiet city, makes the vibrant nights so much more fun ;) 

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. 

Don’t go back to sleep.

You must ask for what you really want.

Don’t go back to sleep.

People are going back and forth across the doorsill

Where the two worlds touch.

The door is round and open. 

Don’t go back to sleep.

                                                            ~ Rumi

This weekend I decided to shut out most of the noise that comes from the outside world... including music. This was incredibly hard but proved to help quiet my busy mind so I could actually hear my heart. Needless to say I haven't turned the music off since I got back tot he city. Today it's these two that have been repeated... at least twice... Enjoy!

Live Music we'll be catching this fall (a list in progress...):

Daughter - Drake Underground - Oct 22 $13.50

Ewert and the Two Dragons - Garrision - Oct 22 $11.50

First Aid Kit - Music Hall - Sept 26 $26.50

Father John Misty - Lee's - Oct 27 - $14.50

Fitz and the Tantrums - Mod Club - Sep 5 - $26

Yeasayer - Danforth Music Hall - Nov 9 - $24 

lots of love 

K x

Tuesday Quote

"Vulnerability is the only authentic state. Being vulnerable means being open, for wounding, but also for pleasure. Being open to the wounds of life means also being open to the bounty and beauty. Don’t mask or deny your vulnerability: it is your greatest asset. Be vulnerable: quake and shake in your boots with it. The new goodness that is coming to you, in the form of people, situations, and things can only come to you when you are vulnerable and open."

- Stephen Russell

Also, nest month The XX release their much-anticipation second album COEXIST. So far I've found two sneak peeks and they are earthy, complicated and just as addictive as the London's trio's first album. Enjoy, Kx

Hello Hum

WINTERSLEEP released their newest album HELLO HUM on June 12, 2012, available on iTunes or catch them live on tour with ELLIOTT BROOD (Toronto Show is October 21 at Danforth Music Hall) I was thrilled to stumble across their video with Southern Souls filmed here in Toronto down the street at 3030 Dundas Street West:

I can't imagine not living in a city that hosts such a vibrant arts, culture & music scene. One day I will bring Yoga into it and we'll practice to live local musicians surrounded by photography and paintings done by young local artists. You just wait ;)

Have a great week lovelies.
K x

Quote for Today

“You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. 

Fools stand on their island of opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land; there is no other life but this.”

- Henry David Thoreau

August Monday on rdio

savageOM on rdio! It took me a while to get on board with rdio but now that I’ve committed (committed = credit card number + monthly membership) I am hooked. Music is part of my everyday life. It inspires my world in so many ways and I (personally) believe, music makes everything better. My yoga classes, my ability to get my work done, running, meditation, my nights, my mornings and everything in between. Music can take you deeper into your yoga practice, deeper into the corners of your hearts deepest longings, deeper beyond the fences of your imagination and higher than any drug. Thanks to rdio making playlists just got a lot more fun! Hope you enjoy. Tonight, we’ll be flowing through an “August Monday” inspired Vinyasa . Music & Yoga after a weekend of battery recharging on the lake… makes missing Sunday less painful ;)

Have an amazing week lovelies… K x

When it's over

 Butter's Scotch said it best...

"Yeah, I'm sad... but at the same time I'm really happy something could make me feel this sad. The only way I can feel this sad  is if I felt something really good before. it's like, it makes me feel alive, you know? It makes me feel human. So, I have to take the bad with the good. So, I guess what I'm feeling is like a beautiful sadness." 

That pretty much sums it up. After months of anticipation OSHEAGA 2012 has swiftly come and gone leaving its permanent mark on my heart. There are simply not enough words to describe the weekend. So much love. The Island was like a mini wonderland providing a home for all the peaceful rockers, hippies and punks who managed to get themselves over the bridge. No violence, no ugliness, no tragedies, and no security lurking behind you waiting to confiscate your pot. It felt like we had been transported back a couple of decades, and it felt really good. Free spirits soaking in each others happiness and absolute love of music, talent, arts, culture, fashion, old friends and new friends... it's kind of awesome right!? Here's a couple audio & visual highlights of our weekend, enjoy...

my loves

Scene Vert - Of Monsters And Men
 Possibly the best show to kick it all off. There is nothing better than when a band sounds better live. This is where my weekend began. On the slate steps at La Scene Vert with my Bishop's Crew by my side in the blazing heat of the Montreal Sun. 

heartbreakers

More heartbreakers...These two are a VERY big deal. 

Main Stage for METRIC
Emily Haines probably got about 50 000 marriage proposals over the weekend.  Jimmy Shaw too. I feel in love. LB got attacked by glitter and loved it. They closed with the most romantic, nostalgic, tear inducing acoustic version of Give me Sympathy (below)... it was one of the most memorable moments of OSH.. "you make the night...and we match you. To another Beautiful Night in Montreal"

Help, I'm ALIVE

Yeasayer...best.ever.

Overall? 10 on 10 weekend, 10 on 10 Festival .... see you next year lovelies, mwwwwahhhhh K xo

Did I mention I am happy to be home?
Have a great week...