About Tracy
  Passion, talent and a love of fashion and jewelry design

  became an inspiration to Tracy Matthews at a young

  age.

  By experimenting early on, combining color with metal, 

  Matthews planted the seed for her future collections.

In her early 20's, Matthews found her second passion, yoga. As an avid yogini and yoga teacher, she has found inspiration in the practice and from her students.

Tracy Matthews Designs, Inc was born in the Spring of 1999 when Matthews launched her first collection.

Although her designs continue to evolve, there is a common collage of elements in each line, including her yoga practice, spirituality, a love of color, nature, travel and vintage jewelry.

www.tracymatthewsdesigns.com
 

Latest Entry

Removing Obstacles
 

Om Gan Ganapataye Namo Nama

A sacred chant offered up the the elephant headed deity, Ganesh or Ganapatai. Chanting this phrase over and over is considered a pathway to removing obstacles and reaching the fullest potential, in spirit, in prosperity and in success.

Most of us have prayed in one form or another to take away the things that are holding us back. Usually these things are within our own heads-self doubt, self destructive behavior, constant worry, critical judgements about ourselves and others, not feeling worthy of what we ultimately desire and want in our lives- and the list goes on.

Ganesha, the elephant headed deity, represents success, prosperity and peace in all of our endeavors. He is know to be the remover of obstacles in our lives. By invoking Ganesh, it is said to remove the physical and mental blocks that prevent us from reaching our full potential for love, success and abundance. In addition, Ganesh is also the life of the party wherever he goes!

I recently purchased this Hip Hip album that is mixed with sacred chants by leading Kirtan singer call Elephant Power, by MC yogi...I love it...and it cracks me up listening to these hip hop beats with samples from artists such as Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal and Krishna Das...cracks me up and makes me want to sing out loud...

Jai Ganesha! Rub your belly, breathe away the obstacles and receive what you desire!
 

Previous Entries

Living Your Truth

Why is it that we digress in life and do the opposite of what we really need to do to take care of ourselves? We all have had times in our lives when we feel as though we are not living according to our values...we say we want one thing but clearly do another. We makes bargains with ourselves in the hopes that next time we will be honest and live our truth. We give into our desires because they make us feel better rather than doing the work to make the changes we need to grow and heal......

The change of season signifies so much more that spring flowers, longer days and warm weather, it is a unique time to make the changes we need to make in order to grow...regardless of how difficult and painful those changes might be, coming out on the other side is fantastic and liberating. Due diligence, hard work and unwavering effort.....Growth and self love are amazing things and on the horizon for all of us!
 

Reinvention

When you find yourself inspired by some great purpose or
some extraordinary project
all your thoughts break their bonds
your mind transcends limitations
you consciousness expands in every direction
and you find yourself to be in a great new wonderful place.

Dormant forces, faculties and talents come alive
and you find yourself to be a greater person by far then you ever dreamed yourself to be.     -Patanjali

I love this passage by Patanjali...it always reminds me that when I am stuck, there is always a possibility for rebirth and renewal. It is so fantastic to get on the other side...we have all been there....Get inspired and get unstuck....the opportunities for reinvention are always around the horizon, but most times, right in front of you.
 

Shoot for the Stars

Goals Goals Goals....we here about it all the time...how are you to ever reach your expectations of you don't have goals, otherwise known as a vision, to focus on. We have all heard about it...envisioning what you want....but how do we create the path to actually get there????? Herein lies the question.

I have spent my life creating goals, often without focus or vision....typical Gemini and creative/ Type A personality. I have known what I want in life since I was younger and I think it is hilarious that even after all this time I still want the same thing, but just in a different way. My paths have wavered and I have often shifted off course....but have found that shooting for the stars has always been the thing that has kept me going.

Shoot for the stars or the moon or your goals....keep it going and things will shift. Create a plan, stay the course and your goals will be achieved! the life of your dreams is just around the corner...now if I could just implement this...

I Know This Much Is True

I have spoken about living your truth before.....and I have always found that sometimes finding your truth and living truthfully to yourself...are 2 different things...

Yesterday, I asked my yoga students to find the truth in their breath...vague..I know...but by breaking down truth to the fundamentals of physiology....breathing, we are able to take a step back and connect what is ultimately our truth and inner self. Deep breathing and pranayama is cleansing and can help anyone focus and remove the fog that is clouding truth.

Recently, I was faced with a situation where I felt disrespected. By continuing on the path that I was traveling, I was not aligning my situation with my truth or my values. It took a moment to step back and realize what had happened, but by fine tuning what is important to me and realizing that this was not my truth or what I wanted, I was able to be honest with myself and move forward. At times, it is easy get lost in the details of a situation without have the ability to see these details as part of a big picture scenario and vice versa....but...by defining your truth and knowing what is important at your ultimate core, it is much easier to live your truth...and breath.
 

Get to know yourself

Knowing others is intelligence;
Knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
Mastering yourself is true power.

If you realize that you have enough,
you are truly rich.
If you stay in the center
and embrace death with your whole heart,
you will endure forever.

Chapter 33, Tao te Ching- translated by Stephen Mitchell

I am on my way to teach this morning and I felt inspired to write beforehand....it is interesting because I have been reading this passage in my classes on and off for the past couple of weeks.

We have all been there, tying to figure out someone we are in some sort of relationship, whether it be a family relationship, a business relationship, a romantic relationship, even a friendship. Over times we feel as though we get to know these people really well. Often times, I find myself in situations where I am trying to figure out the motivation behind what someone is doing.....usually in a situation of conflict. When we are able to step back and take a look at ourselves and our reaction in the situation, often times if offers an opportunity for amazing growth and a deeper exploration of our true selves.

Getting to truly know yourself is a difficult process.....our ego always gets involved and our "monkey mind" often tells us lies. Through self exploration, breath and meditation we may find that we come closer to seeing our truth and who we really are....and what we all are???? Fantastic, brilliant beings, full of love and hope....and when you really connect with who you really are, the rest of the "stuff" seems to lose power and melt away!
 

Feel Good Please!

I'm Baaackkkk.....I took a long hiatus from writing...my bad, but I am back and writing again...hopefully much more frequently than that past few months!

I sometimes wonder why I continually torture myself doing something/ anything that does not make me feel good. We call them necessary evils....paying bills, revolved triangle pose and the necessary dealings with difficult people....OK so I guess we SOMETIMES have to do things that we don't like and that don't make us feel good....


I got a marketing newsletter in my inbox this morning that spoke about how most of our income is generated from 20 percent of our work/ stores/ accounts/ collection, etc. and that the tendency for most of us is to spend most of our time focusing on the 80 percent (see division above) that is NOT going right. Well, I think that a lot of us do that with things that don't make us feel good either....it is almost like self torture....the dwelling on the negative thoughts in our head....the anxiety over paying the bills....my sciatic nerve and tight right hip in revolved triangle pose (it was a tough one this morning! Thanks Adam!)...and the unpleasant customer who is so draining.....


A friend of mine said to me years and years ago when I was going through a divorce...."all any of us want is to be happy anyway, right?" Although this comment is taken slightly out of context...isolated it is what should all be aiming for and practicing. I think about that moment often in different circumstances, especially because so much of my energy at that time....probably MORE than 80 percent, was focused on something that did not make me feel good at all....


Here is the thought for the day.....deal with the difficult stuff (my sister is on my arse everyday about this), but focus on what makes you feel good..... go have fun, makeout, eat ice cream, sing a song....so much fun! I bet you anything you will be happy if you do!

OK, so revolved triangle....I'll give you a try again tomorrow!

- Tracy Matthews