Helping our Communities: Stress Management Classes

We have united with Sita Movement to promote health and wellness throughout underserved communities of color in the Bay Area of California. For every five items that Zelaya Design sells, we take a percentage and help pay for one low-income woman of color to attend a Stress Management class. These classes are culturally relevant and include dance, yoga, and meditation. Sometimes guest speakers are invited to talk about subjects such as nutrition, anatomy, and introductions to different types of healing modalities. Our mission in joining efforts with Sita Movement is to encourage self-awareness and help individuals gain control over their health and that of their communities.

Sita Movement seeks to integrate mindful practices, and services to make them accessible to culturally diverse communities. Stress management and yoga flow classes borrow from several mindful disciplines to form a unique practice that helps develop awareness and inner peace, while gaining balance, flexibility, and strength with grace.

Currently, Sita Movement teaches a class in Fruitvale, Oakland, CA for Clinica de La Raza, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life of diverse communities by providing culturally appropriate, high quality, and accessible health care for all.

If you are in or near the bay area, Sita Movement also offers classes in Berkeley, CA:

Location: 
Niroga Center for Healing 
1808 University Avenue
Classes:
Dance and Yoga Flow en Español: Mondays @ 4:30pm
Yoga Flow en Español: Saturdays @ 8:15am

Color and our Homes

As I have told you before, I have an infatuation with homes, and love peeking into different living rooms, gardens, etc. It is completely fascinating to see how people organize the world around them, what colors and shapes they are drawn to, their priorities, as well their quirks and twists. Bring me some pictures of your home, a cup of tea, and your problems, and I’ll give you my most geniune advice. Looking through the spaces section in the wonderful blog: Design Sponge, I was compelled by the use of color in some of the homes they featured, this is what caught my eye:

The mustard yellow rug adds a good amount of brightness…

The various tones of red in the couch match the painting and rug beautifully…

No color here, I just love the plant that is hanging from that frame  : )

I don’t like big bold pink things usually, but this coach not only fits in, it adds softness and lightness to this room full of sharp lines and edges…

The aquamarine tones in this room add to the magical feel…

Happy Thursday everyone!

New Service: Garment Revival

Inspired by the concept of re-use, I have decided to offer a new service, that of revamping old garments with any of the signature Zelaya appliques, reverse applique, and embroidery designs. Check my online store for more details. Below are some of the featured appliques that can give any of your old garments a new life!

…and happy Lunar New Year Everyone!  Wishing you all good health and that  your dreams become true!

Less is More: Uniform Project

Less has always been more. A few carefully chosen words say more than blabber, one good friend is more valueable than a million aquantances, and a good fitting garment is worth more than ten that fit just ok.

Along the same theme, I stumbled upon an interesting concept, the Uniform Project, developed by Sheena Matheiken. She wanted to help fundraise for the Akanksha Foundation, a non profit that works to bring education to children in slums. Sheena decided to create a challenge where she would wear the same dress for an entire year, making it look different and unique every single day using different vintage, handmade, reused, or donated accessories. This fundrasier caught fire over the media, and is now facilitating many other projects with great causes around the globe. It is always inspiring to see people with beautiful missions make their dreams come true in a creative, sustainable….and stylish way. Voila!

New Year of Opportunities

It is time to let go of all that doesn’t serve us anymore, and make room for the new. We have a whole new year ahead of us, and with it comes new opportunities, intentions, and ways of seeing the world. I am feeling very excited and curious to see how this year unfolds…but for now, all I know is that in the next few months I would love see myself inserted in these photographs…