Tell Me All About It: Q&A with Amanda Duran

Meet Amanda Duran, a fellow blogger, yogi, artist (photog), and the "Spiritual Gardener" for Grow Soul Beautiful, a yoga, photography, and "soul nourishment" (I love this concept!) blog that's passionate about helping women to embrace their beauty inside and out.  Fabulous, right? 

Amanda and I connected online, as happens with many of my fellow bloggers these days, and I was immediately inspired by her drive, her commitment to spreading the creativity and yoga love, and her ability to do so much (run two blogs, work full-time, workout regularly, practice yoga, and be a wife and mother to two dogs...) while still staying balanced and happy. Whew! 

So, how does she do it all? That's what we're here to find out today. Read below for the inside scoop on all things Amanda...

What's your yoga story? 
Into my early 30's I held all the typical pre-conceived notions about yoga- mostly that it was just some "nice" stretching that would be great.  When I attempted to run 9 marathons in 14 months, I thought yoga would be a good addition to my training to keep me from getting injured.  Toss in a mid-life crises and an awesome, holistic studio, and I was soon learning that yoga was about letting go of my perfectionist tendencies, finding peace with myself and my body, and learning the power of breath and meditation.

Why did you start blogging? Why have you continued to do so?  
I started my personal blog, Click. The Good News, shortly after getting married, when my husband handed me a camera to keep me entertained in the aftermath of wedding planning.  I've been blogging there for 7 years now (blogiversary this week) & it has turned into a very special online place for me to journal my numerous photos and document my ever-changing life.  

The idea to launch Grow Soul Beautiful came to me last year when I realized how passionate I was about sharing the message that physical fitness alone (dieting and exercise) isn't enough to be happy with who you are.  Things like photography & yoga are phenomenal ways to connect the mind+body and to help you see yourself as beautiful.

What's your favorite yoga pose? 
By far, tree is my favorite- I  love the way I feel in the pose & also all the symbolism of this asana, which is why it's part of the Grow Soul Beautiful logo.  Having your feet firmly planted is a reminder to set down strong, deep roots in life.  The core must stay strong like a tree trunk to endure the elements, but the branches must be both flexible and strong at the same time to withstand the strong winds of life.

What's your biggest guilty pleasure?  
I have never been nor claimed to be a big healthy-eating person- I was raised in the South and LOVE me some food.  I work at being more mindful about slowly making progress towards eating a little cleaner each day, but I still enjoy a glass of wine  and rationalize all my running so that I can have dessert.

How do you stay balanced? How do you unwind? 
I still have a full time job and occasionally work ridiculous hours traveling, so maintaining balance is important to me.  I keep a daily checklist to help me stay both accountable and balanced - I may have to skip meditation because I'm busy, but I can quickly see when I've skipped it for too many days in a row or sacrificed the things I value most and have committed to practicing on a daily basis. Even though I may be super-busy, remaining mindful of the joy in the moment, whether it be the wind in my hair as I ride my bike, or being greeted by my happy dogs when I get home, helps to keep me calm and less stressed. 

If you were exiled to a desert island and could only bring 3 things, what would they be? 
This is tough!  The first thing I would want is my journal so that I could document my experience and use it as therapy during the challenge.  I think I'll cheat on the other 2 and say I'd bring my husband and my camera ;)

How do you try to live a mindful life?
I'm fairly new to meditation, but I'm just amazed at how much it has helped me remain more mindful throughout my day (and at least be aware when my brain is running away from the present moment in 26 different directions).  Both learning to access my subconscious thoughts--really getting clear about my core values when I face a tough decision--and practicing gratitude each day have been life changing.

Words of wisdom you live by? 
I can't remember where I heard this advice, but asking if something is simply important or urgent has been a great guide for me lately. We get pulled in so many directions in this fast-paced world, where email on our phone & 24/7 availability is pushing us towards everything being "urgent," when instead, we should take a deeper look to see if something is truly urgent or not, and if not, push it aside. 

Want to learn more about Amanda?  Here are a few quick links:

Grow Soul Beautiful Blog: http://growsoulbeautiful.com/
Personal Blog: http://www.clickthegoodnews.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowSoulBeautiful
Twitter: https://twitter.com/growsoulbeauty/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/growsoulbeautiful
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/growsoulbeauty/

Thanks for taking the time to tell me all about it, Amanda! 

Have any requests for other inspiring people that you'd like me to feature in this series? If so, let me know!