• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Blog
    • Brand & Web Design
    • Yoga
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Partnerships
      • Indianapolis
  • Press
  • Connect
  • Freebie

Mind Body Colleen

How Living Out of a Backpack for 3 Months Improved My Personal Style

colgrady| Blog+ Lifestyle

It may sound strange that living out of a 65L backpack can actually make your outfits trendier. Typically carrying everything you own in backpack for 3 months sounds like it would be a definite fashion violation  I have to say that living on less improved my personal style immensely. This is  something I would not have imagined before. Here’s why…

Creativity

When you have such a small amount of space to pack, it forces you to be creative with your options. I wore rompers with skirts over it to look like a bodysuit. I made shorter dresses into shirts by tying them up hip length. Having less forced me to try new combinations from fear of wearing the same outfit in every instagram. When you know every single article of clothing you have you are not overloaded with options. It is easier to think out new outfits when you are familiar with all your pieces.  

Accessories

Accessories are great for traveling when you want to change up an outfit. You can have a couple different sets of accessories because they are so small to pack. A plain white tee shirt has a totally different vibe with a small neck scarf. A tank top and jean skirt can look more dressy with statement earrings and your hair in a top knot.   

Hair Styling

Before I did not think of hair as part of my look. I had about 3 hairstyles which were wild ponytail, straight, or loose curls. I did not have the time or energy to fix my hair with an iron when traveling. There are so many cute looks you can do with your hair without using tools. Some hairstyles you can do with your natural hair that take about 5 minutes include french braid, dutch braid, double braids, 2 low / high buns, half up – half down pony or braid, high / low pigtails, scarf tied in bun, etc. There’s over 10 styles right here that can can completely change the outfit vibe and the way you feel within 5 minutes.   

Budget

 If someone told me that having less money made me more stylish, I would have thought they were crazy. Too many times in my life had I purchased an article of clothing and it didn’t pair with anything else I owned. Backpack living did not allow for these statement pieces that rare got worn. Each thing I purchased had to fit with my collection.  Another trap to avoid is purchasing clothes that “sort of” fit. Those items that you like decently but maybe don’t do you any favors. When traveling and making use of every thing you have, “sort of” doesn’t make the cut, I did not have space or money to spend on something that sometimes fit or fit mediocre.    

Passion

In relation to my budget and not having much money to spend on clothes, I would only buy something new if it was absolutely shaking the earth for me. I have to love it. This is an attribute I still follow today. It is so easy to buy something because it’s a decent price and will add a little variation to your looks. Why are we dressing in things that are mediocre just because because they are cheap?! I used to be so guilty of this. I feel so much more confident and happy with my clothes because they feel like me! Our clothes should feel like us. An outfit choice is one of the most impressionable ways we express ourselves to the world. Therefore when I was traveling I only packed and purchased clothes that felt like me.  

Even if you are not going on a backpacking adventure giving some thought to these different attributes can help you improve your style. All of these things have helped me becoming the trendy bohemian goddess, I like to tell myself I am. 😉

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sean says

    May 31, 2018 at 5:26 pm

    Nice blog Colleen.

You can’t be the light of the world if you can’t pay your electricity bill. ⁣⁣⚡️
⁣⁣
How many yoga teachers out there feel this? I definitely did when I was a yoga teacher… but when I became a yoga entrepreneur things started to change… my finances, my confidence, my organization, etc, etc.  ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Just think of the energetics of when someone introduces you, “oh she is a yoga teacher” or “oh she is a yoga entrepreneur”. When you hear an entrepreneur the spine straightens up a little more and you may breathe deeper into your belly.  ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Here are 4 things that must dramatically shift when you are going from a yoga teacher to a yoga entrepreneur - ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Mindset: When you see yourself as a professional business owner The way you carry yourself changes. The way you communicate and behave changes. How you chose opportunities will change. For example as an entrepreneur, you are not going to say yes to every opportunity that arises you are going to say yes to the ones that benefit and grow your business.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Owning Your Value: It’s time to start deeply believing in the value of what you offer and start confidently asking for it. If you don’t truly believe that your gifts and services are worthy of your asking rate then why would anyone want to pay you for them?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
A Personal Brand: It’s time to create a name for yourself in the wellness industry with the platforms and socials to back you up. It has built my credibility, visibility, and reputation in the wellness world. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
A Business Plan: There needs to be some clarity and strategy behind all the choices you make and the opportunities you take. Without it, you are just throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what sticks. Have you heard that phrase before?⁣⁣ 
⁣⁣
If your ready to level up and you need some help laying the groundwork for your business plan - I’ve got you covered. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
I just created a Wellness Entrepreneur Workbook with everything to finally get your business off the ground. #linkinbio for your complimentary copy. 👼🏼🌸😚
Self care is health care...⁣ ⁣ I am a FIRM bel Self care is health care...⁣
⁣
I am a FIRM believer that we need to actively nourish yourselves, honor your boundaries and needs, AND take time to depressurize and rest. ⁣
⁣
Because when you neglect doing these things - they start to add up. And the body doesn't forget... anything. ⁣
⁣
Your mind may be able to skip over it but lack of care will start to manifest as chronic pain, disease, headaches, fatigue, disorder, etc.⁣
⁣
So take care of yourself this weekend & do something that makes you feel FULL.⁣
⁣
I love nourishing myself with this all-natural facemask from @leoranatural. The acne facemask lessened the redness of my breakouts & left my skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated.🌈👼🏼🌸
Do you feel like you spend your days using your gi Do you feel like you spend your days using your gifts?⁣
⁣
This question stopped me in my tracks. It is what made my yoga career pivot into becoming a creative. ⁣
⁣
Actually, the first time I knew I need to do something in the creative industry was when I was in India 2 years ago. In a short time, there were a number of things that happened that really gave me this insight.⁣
⁣
⁣
* My teacher gifted me the spiritual name Shakti Devi - Goddess of Creativity. Hence: why my biz is called Studio Shakti. ⁣
⁣
* My roommate in my ashram told me how much of an artist I was and I cried because I was so deeply touched.⁣
⁣
* Someone else asked me what I studied in university and when I said health edu they said really...? I would have guessed something like advertising or interior design.⁣
⁣
I was getting the feedback that everyone was seeing me & praising me for my gifts of creativity. The only person not honoring that in myself was me...⁣
⁣
It wasn't until a year later did I get serious about starting my creative business. And in the beginning stages, I fought a lot of internal battles allowing me to see myself as a PROFESSIONAL CREATIVE.⁣
⁣
But creativity is it is one of my biggest gifts along with intuition, my skills of observation, listening, problem-solving, making people feel seen.⁣
⁣
It makes me feel really fulfilled running a branding and web design business that uses all of them while still working in the yoga and wellness industry.⁣
⁣
Also the book The Great Work of Your Life by Stephen Cope is profound read to help uncover your gifts. It was a key resource along my journey. 🌈🌸📿
This last week has been up there for one of the mo This last week has been up there for one of the most stressful and overwhelming weeks of the year for me. So I have not had the headspace to really process, seal the chapter, and vision cast for the new year. But I have been thinking of 5 things I want for myself in the new year. 🤍⁣⁣
⁣⁣
1. Practice each morning before checking my phone. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
2. Confidently charge my rates and value in my business. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
3. Stop picking at my skin. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
4. Find more ways to be generous.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
5. Fearlessly show up and speak up as my true self. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
NOTE: These AREN’T my proper goals & visions. 🙈 These are way TOO rough…. They’re not actionable, desire led, or measurable. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
IF your goals sound kinda like this let me help you sharpen them, making them more clear, manageable, heartfelt, and pointed toward a real result. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
TOMORROW is my Visionary’s Blueprint Workshop! We are going to be creating VISION BOARDS & ACTIONABLE GOALS & finding our CORE DESIRES for ourselves next year. ⁣📝☁️⁣
⁣⁣
Let's step into the year with a clear vision & structured blueprint of how to get there. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Limited spaces are available. Link in bio to join 🌈🦋🕊⁣
8 days later I came out of my Kundalini cocoon. I 8 days later I came out of my Kundalini cocoon. I am 2/3 modules complete in doing a 200hr kundalini yoga teacher training.⁣ 🕊🌿
⁣
I am sorry guys I can't ever shut up about kundalini but it's such a powerful and potent practice that has given me rapid results of personal transformation. And I love it so much I tear up when I really get talking about it from how grateful and deeply moved I am by this practice.⁣
⁣
Here are some unique things I especially love about it:⁣
⁣
• You chose the same meditations, pranayama, kriyas, and mantra and commitment to this set for 40 days. After 40 days you can add in something new or adjust. This is so you build a relationship and depth to your practice. — excuse me where was this in any other yoga formats. ⁣
⁣
• You're working with your energy systems and the subconscious mind to wipe your slate clean and unhook all the negative patterns that hold you back from being and living in your true self. ⁣
⁣
• It's a philosophy where healing is just a straight charge forward. If you want things to change and traumas to heal just keep your focus on your practice. It is not a place to wallow in your own shit, you don't need to make it bigger by constantly sending more energy and focus to all the bad things that have ever happened to you.⁣
⁣
• It a high-speed practice. Results come your way fast and in ways you probably did not imagine.⁣
⁣
• It brings a ton of clarity and creativity to your life. Your nervous system and energetic bodies are constantly being expanded and repatterned in Kundalini yoga. This allows you to make new neural pathways and open up parts of yourself and new sensitivities that previously were turned off. ⁣
⁣
🤯🤯🤯 it’s the fitness of the future ya’ll. ⁣🧘🏼‍♀️🦋🌈
You probably already know this but if you don't... You probably already know this but if you don't....⁣
⁣
My next Visionary's Blueprint workshop is Jan 2nd! & here's how it will go 👇🏼⁣
⁣
In this workshop, we wrap up 2020. Together we will reflect on our pivotal moments, highlights, and growth. We will admire how far we have come and then finally sign off once and for all.⁣
⁣
Next, we will start digging a little deeper to ask ourselves what we really want to experience, feel, grow, and achieve with the fresh slate of 2021. Through this process, we will create the aim for the new year and new you.⁣
⁣
Once we have a clear direction and goals we will create the vision board to remind us of the person we are going to become this year. I will teach you how to create a vision board for your computer desktop and mobile home screen. Your visions will be plastered on the place you look most, so you will not forget how you are going to show up this year.⁣
⁣
Saturday January, 2nd 2021⁣
CST 5:30 PM⁣
PST 3:30 PM⁣
EST 6:30 PM⁣
Bali 7:30 AM (Sunday 3rd)⁣
⁣
LINK IN BIO TO REGISTER 🦋🌿🌈

Footer

Brand & Website Design

I create brands & websites for yoga teachers ready to build a magnetic online presence.

Learn More

JOIN THE ADVENTURE

Search

Copyright © 2021 · Florence Theme by Code + Coconut