Yoga Clothes with a Connection

The yoga instructor and previous teacher of inner youth, Tanya Boulton, took a leap of faith when she decided to launch her own yoga clothing line, tanya-b. But she wasn’t alone in her quest for a yoga line with “heart”, as textile goddess Karin Ulmander, makes up the other half of the dynamic yoga/fashion design duo. It was a match made in heaven, the beginning of an adventure to create a company that not only delivers but inspires. Vivienne Tang speaks to Tanya Boulton about the sensuality of yoga gear, giving back and self-discovery.

You’ve been a yoga teacher for a long time, and you’ve also studied with Ana Forrest. How has that shaped your work?

I’ve been doing yoga for 14 year, and Ana Forrest just got me hooked. She taught me that yoga can be a spiritual healing practice. It’s about self-discovery. I get my students to close their eyes during the practice, because when you close your eyes and look inside, that is the most fascinating thing you’ll see!

Tell me about your new line tanya-b. How is it different from conventional yoga brands?

It’s a brand with a “connection”. It’s not just a product where a teacher has stamped his name on it. We’ve both done yoga for a long time, so we developed a product that we love.

When and how did you find the inspiration for it?

I realized that all my female students were wearing black tops and black pants, and I couldn’t recognize them anymore. That’s why I wanted to create colourful yoga clothes. I didn’t feel that women looked feminine in yoga gear. Why should we cover a woman’s shoulder blades and collarbone? We wanted to create something that felt good, something versatile, an urban lifestyle collection.

So girls can also wear the items to other workout classes?

You can use them for Pilates, Hip Hop classes, pole dancing… The tops have shelved bras in it, so you can easily combine them with the rest of your wardrobe. Some girls wear our gear to class, then to lunch, they run errands in them and go for dinner in the evening, all in the same outfit.

Are there plans for other lines?

We are working on a men’s line. In the future there will be hoodies, sweatshirts, etc.

Where is tanya-b available?

Currently it’s available online and in our showroom in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. We’re also planning on selling it in the US.

Do you still teach, now that you have your own yoga line to keep you busy?

I still teach two Wednesdays and two Saturdays per month. It’s different when you can teach for two hours. You create a space for people to experience a healing practice. We use the breath to calm our mind and relax into intense postures. I do a lot of core exercises, which includes opening up the second and third chakras. Many of our emotions sit there. All our movements come from that area where our core connection lies. It will change the way you come in and out of postures.

Your brand also features a Yoga for Youth section. What is that about?

Giving back is a big part of our concept. We support various charities. We’re also working on developing our own charity.

tanya-b, Suite 17, 9/F Yee Hing Building,
13-15 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 6448 7310 (Please make an appointment to visit the showroom)

www.tanya-b.com