This little island of ours keeps amazing talent in bulk, some we can proudly call our friends. Halla Hákonardóttir is one of them, an incredibly tasteful fashion designer and yoga teacher which aesthetics and philosophy has inspired us for years. She has a very special aura around her, that makes you instantly relaxed in her presence, which is probably connected to her devotion to meditation and self practice. Halla does not compromise her beliefs in design and runs a beautiful massage and wellness studio SUKHA RITUAL. We asked her to share some magic from her routine:

Enjoy!

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STARSIGN: Capricorn
RISING SIGN: Taurus
HUMAN DESIGN: Generator

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A OR B TYPE: 100 % A type. My whole body goes on automatic resting mode around 10 pm. I do like to stay up at night and love the calmness that late evenings bring. I for example meditate in the evenings. Take long baths or relax at the pool.

MORNING RITUAL: Morning rituals are important to me. My perfect day is when I have some peaceful quality time in the morning. The first thing I do when I wake up is to become aware of my thoughts. I keep my phone on airplane mode during night and try not to turn it off until after I leave the bed. In that way I feel like I can stay longer in a parasympathetic state. I brush my teeth and my tongue. I drink one cup of water with half a lemon, a pinch of curcumin and pepper . Then I make matcha latte. These days I make it with matcha/maca powder and warm oat milk and add some cinnamon on top. While I drink my matcha I take out my mat and do a short meditation followed by a short breath work. Then do few asanas to stretch my body after the sleep. This is my perfect start. Usually I only have time for brushing my teeth and the lemon water.

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I have a Masters degree in Fashion design used to work together with my best friend Helga Kjerúlf. We founded USEE STUDIO which was a radical sustainable design studio. We produced clothing from leftover (deadstock) materials, posters from recycled polyester etc. I am also a yoga teacher (kundalini yoga, vinyasa yoga and yoga nidra) I have been teaching yoga and float therapy for the past years and the combination of wellness and creative work suits me very well. I find it is a good balance. I am also a massage therapist specialising Buccal Face massage that has totally over and is my main profession at the moment under the name SUKAH RITUAL. 

WHAT LED YOU TO KUNDALINI YOGA?

I had my worst burnout when I just finished my Master degree and was at the stage of not being able to sleep more than 4 hours a night, having major digestive problems, horrible skin problems, numbness in my limbs and depression. I discovered Kundalini yoga through an instagram account. I had been practicing yoga for many years and had already been planning my teacher training but Kundalini yoga is different. I looked it up and found out that Iceland has a big community of Kundalini yoga. So I signed up for the next beginner training and in the first class something just changed inside me. I applied for the teacher training and that teacher training totally changed my life forever.

WHAT HAS KUNDALINI DONE FOR YOU?
Kundalini yoga is like a way of living. It has given me all the tools I need to live to my fullest. I am so much better in handling life situation whatever it is because I feel conscious. I have all the tools to manifest my life, happiness etc. Kundalini yoga has given me so much freedom.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AESTHETICS?

I would it is say very organic, I love the Japanese movement of Wabi Sabi. Finding the beauty in imperfection. Simple forms, as little details as possible and light colours is something that attracts me aswell.

HOW DOES BUSINESS GO TOGETHER WITH SUSTAINABILITY, IS IT HARD TO BE A VISIONARY AND MAKE MONEY?
The simple answer to the question is YES it is super hard but worth it.

HOW DOES YOUR KUNDALINI PRACTICE LOOK LIKE NOW?

For the past month my Kundalini yoga practice has been more off the mat practice. But I never skip meditations. My off the mat practice is f.ex. Morning routines; dry brushing, cold showers and scraping the tongue.

WHAT IS NEXT?

My life took a sudden U – turn 2 months ago when I found out I was pregnant (insert from rvk ritual: jeyyy! a kundalini baby), so I guess enjoying pregnancy and preparing for the next episode in my life is my main focus these days. Which I am enjoying a lot. I teach yoga 5 – 6 times a week. I just finished Level 1 and 2 in Float therapy training and am going to learn Thai yoga bodywork this month. I am getting more and more into bodywork and healing through physical touch, I find it so powerful

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A FEW QUICK QUESTIONS:

HOW DO YOU RELAX:

The place where I feel like I get to a point 0 is in nature. I try to go as often as I can. I love going on hiking trips where there is no phone connection and sleeping in a tent. I go almost everyday to the pool to relax.

BEST BEAUTY TIPS YOU KNOW OF: Sleep! But also Manuka honey and Aloe vera for your skin

FAVOURITE SPOT IN REYKJAVIK: My home, The Swimming pool; Sundlaug Vesturbæjar and Kramhúsið, yoga and dance studio

HEALTH PHILISOPHY: Balance! Don’t stress about things. I am a very healthy person but I do have sugar, red wine, cheese, coffee when I want. I think health stress is the worst. It just creates anxiety.

FAVOURITE PLACE IN NATURE: Water, all kinds of water: the sea, the swimming pools, rivers, lakes and hot springs. Being in or close to water in nature is so healing for me. Other favourite place is the highlands, no phone connection = so good.

WHEN ARE YOU CREATIVELY FULFILLED:

When I stay true to my manifestation and I create something that is both aesthetically beautiful and has a minimum impact on nature.

ONE TIP FOR SUSTAINABLE ENTREPRENEURS:

Don’t give up and go the easy way. Find a way that can both sustain your ideals and your business.