I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
What is the color that helps you sit down and pause?
What is your favorite color? What will make you sit and pause?
A lot of money is spent every year figuring out what will be the popular, trending colors for the year. For example, the color choices for cars, clothing and paint.
Catspaw Studio is a boutique that loves to find unique fabric. Fabric that inspires.
What’s the best color for you? The color that inspires you to sit and pause. If you pick one of your favorite colors for a meditation cushion you may be more inclined to use it. Of course there are no guarantees – you still have to decide to sit and pause 😉
The tradition for meditation cushions, floor pillows, yoga props or a zafu, has been austere, dark, solid colors such as black and purple, or some combination that follows a particular lineage. But you may want to choose a color that is grounding and calming for you. Here is a brief list of the effect various colors. The list is from the home page of Color Psychology, which offers a detailed look at the psychological meaning and impact of color.
(The Psychology and Meaning of Colors)
A list of colors that may encourage you to sit and pause
Yellow stimulates joy and uplifts the mind.
Orange stirs up energy and boosts confidence.
Red excites the passions and helps overcome depression.
Violet calms the emotions and deflects irritability.
Blue soothes the spirit and induces harmony.
Green balances, heals, and relaxes.
Black inspires both introspection and discipline.
Brown encourages security and stability.
One thing to remember is that determining the right color for your cushion, goes beyond matching the colors in your home. Remember, the purpose for a cushion is to support your body and to be able to sit and pause.
There is power in the pause.
(The list above is from the article What Color is your Zafu? by Elizabeth Marglin)
encouraging you on your journey
Encouraging you on your journey. Learning to pause is the the key to sitting with your truth. Create your space with things
that inspire and support. Cushions, original art and a journal to write your thoughts.
I Can See Clearly
Who can’t remember the song I Can See Clearly Now? Written by Johnny Nash in 1972. Recorded by many times including Jimmy Cliff in 1993.
As we continue exploring being clear or getting clarity this song seems to speak to our day challenges. Part of being clear is knowing what and where the obstacles are.
At Catspaw we believe in the power of yoga and meditation to help get the “dark clouds” out of the way so we can see clearly. I would also encourage you to revisit this song and maybe play it when you come to your yoga mat or cushion. Just reading the lyrics will give you pause to move toward clearness even if it is just for a moment.
I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying’ for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying’ for
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
Look all around, there’s nothing’ but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothing’ but blue skiesI can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
Look straight ahead, nothing’ but blue skiesI can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
Johnny Nash 1972
Shopping and Holiday Stress
Shopping and holiday stress?
It seems these days, even before Halloween comes, suggestions of what to buy for the Christmas season are showing up in the marketplace. One can feel a bit of subliminal pressure, like a winding clock. Americans love our traditions, but let’s face it: The decorations. The family. The baking. The shopping!
For #shopsmall we are thrilled to me included in Westword’s Ten Places to Shop. The list helps provide ideas for the hard to shop for.
We gear our shopping for the recipient, which can make it sometimes difficult. We are faced with the proverbial question: “What do I get for the one who has everything?” Often, the answer is right in front of us.Consider products like meditation cushion – zafu pillow. They are decorative enough to adorn a couch, and made right here in the good ol’ USA. They are stuffed with traditional organic buckwheat hulls. Another gift almost anyone can appreciate is our neck wrap. It comes in a variety of colors, and the outside cover is washable. There are 
five individual compartments inside. It can be heated in the microwave or put in the freezer. Best of all, its uses go beyond the neck, and it can be applied to ease any part of the body suffering muscle aches or pains. Holiday shopping and stress seem to go hand in hand, unique gifts could be the answer even for ourselves.
Yoga offers so many ways to soothe ourselves during the holidays. No matter how hectic our work is, no matter how far behind our preparations are, or how crazy our family is, we have a sanctuary. Yoga is the Great Escape, and we can do it anywhere. Take time this season to meditate, practice gratitude, and find the holiday spirit within yourself… And above all, remember to breathe!
Catspaw Studio
Welcome to our updated website, Catspaw Studio
Our Catspaw Cushions store includes our mediation cushions (round and rectangular), as well as neck wraps and eye pillows, both of which can be heated or cooled.
Catspaw Studio continues to teach ongoing yoga classes and private sessions.
Our blog has evolved from Yoga for the other 99 to There is power in pausing.
Yoga for the other 99 was inspired by the voice of a number of students and non-students alike, who have seen a yogi in a pretzel pose and say, “You want me to do what?” Many photos in Yoga magazines portray masterful execution of extremely difficult, advanced poses that lead most of us to think, “That is not me, and could never be me.” And that leads many to dismiss Yoga as simply impossible, as a practical matter. Catspaw Yoga, by contrast, practices Structural Yoga, a tradition created by Mukunda Stiles. It is Yoga that adapts to the individual, regardless of his or her limitations. Its philosophy is that perfection in the pose is never more important than honoring your limits and breathing. Of course, Yoga magazines and similar sources can be very informative and should be a source of inspiration in our practice, but Structural Yoga does not try to make anyone into a “Magazine Yogi.”
In addition, Yoga for the other 99 , we will be sharing what inspires us and things we like – from books to businesses. It’s about what keeps us creative. Thus, we will have a few guest postings. One of our first will be about “I can’t believe my hamstrings are so tight” teenagers who may be active in all kinds of sports, but are simply not learning how open up their bodies (and, we hope, their minds) as they progress in their sports. There are examples of world-class athletes whose spines will remain misshapen for the rest of their lives, because they failed to counter their hours of practice with movements that would have opened their hips, back and chest. Another post will introduce to a school teacher who use yoga before the start regular classwork to get the students focused.
Looking forward to sharing and exchanging ideas!
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