Design and yoga of a dreamer: Vero Castaño by Namastecita

0. To start, tell us when and why you started designing?

When? Since I was a little girl. I've always been deeply involved with all things creative—drawing, painting, creating games—those were things I could spend hours doing, and I really enjoyed them.
Why? Simply because it's something I enjoy. I feel it connects me in a special way with my dreamy, playful side. Everything involved in the design process captivates me and brings me great enjoyment.

1. Tell us about your journey into art and design. How did it cross paths with the world of yoga?

I read a phrase somewhere that says, "Yoga is the art of living," referring to the fact that it teaches us to live harmoniously, not only helping us train our bodies but also our minds and spirits. The paths of design and yoga intersected in my adult life while I was searching for my own essence, looking inward, trying to find a more balanced way of living, in connection with myself.

2. When looking at the "Viva la Vida" collection, each mat seems to tell a unique story. Could you share how these stories emerge in your creative process?

Viva la vida, the name speaks for itself, a collection that invites you to do just that, to connect with the here and now , to live in the present moment, to enjoy life's journey.

While each design is born from the same starting point: Living life, each one tells a unique story, triggering ideas that are different from each other.

Life in Technicolor is the butterfly that transforms, discovers its power, and evolves. Its wings transform into flowers and expand. With alignment lines, it's ideal for beginners.

Head Full of Dreams , the head represents the mind in introspection, full of ideas and dreams that come out and are shared with the universe.

 
My Universe , on the one hand, represents order, the universe with its planets aligned with each other, and on the other hand, the butterflies flying around, relaxing the scene a little and creating a harmonious mat.

What they all have in common is that these stories connect, because all three follow the theme of the "Viva la Vida" collection. All three begin with a sketch, a triggering main idea that materializes in a drawing, and from there, back and forth, and boom, we arrive at the final idea. Thank you, Nico and Lu, for being part of this creative process.

3. In your collaboration with Namastecita, was there any moment or design that surprised or challenged you in a special way?

I think the main challenge was to create three designs that are aligned with the idea of the collection.
The premise was to find an element that would be consistent across all three mats: The butterfly that appears frequently in Coldplay's Viva la Vida album, a musical album that inspired Nico and Lu to create the collection.
Life in Technicolor was the first, and it meant the reunion with my most creative and playful side. It had its ups and downs. You could say it was the design that evolved the most and was the most challenging.

4. Considering the variety of yoga practices, is there one that particularly resonates with you and that you feel influences your work?

Without a doubt, aerial yoga is something I thoroughly enjoy. It's a limitless practice that invites full attention, the air, the hammock, and myself. Creating is similar to what I do; it's connecting with the present moment, focusing 100% on that.

5. When you think about union, harmony, and the essence of yoga, how do you translate these concepts onto a tangible canvas like a yoga mat?

I think a yoga mat should be just that, the union between practice, the practically, and the present moment, harmony and balance in its design, and that's basically what yoga is: the balance of body and soul.

6. If you had complete freedom to create the yoga mat of your dreams, without limitations, what would it be like? What elements would you include?

It would be a cheerful, fun, and inspiring mat. If you find any similarities to the "Viva la Vida" collection, it's purely a coincidence, haha.
While it's difficult to create a unique design with all the ideas you'd like, these three mats each have a bit of "my dream mat."
I hope that, just as I enjoyed designing them, their future owners will enjoy them and be inspired and motivated in their yoga practices.

Namastecita!