Living Light: A Yogic Take on Capsule Wardrobes, Cozy Yoga Life Ep 18

After a much-needed pause, the Cozy Yoga Life podcast is back—and cozier than ever. In this episode, I’m sharing why I stepped away, what’s evolving with Cozy Yoga Life, and how a recent business trip to Salt Lake City sparked the perfect moment to embrace a longtime dream: weaving lifestyle into my yoga content.

We’ll dive into the concept of a capsule wardrobe—what it is, why it matters, and how it aligns with yogic principles like simplicity, awareness, and intentionality. You’ll hear about what I wore each day, how it supported my energy, and how clearing closet clutter can help clear mental clutter, too.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Yoga of Decluttering
• Classy Yet Trendy

Connect with me:

• Subscribe to my YouTube channel
• Send me a DM on Instagram
• Visit Cozy Yoga Life
• Join the Insiders Circle

Transcript

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I'm Shannon Caldwell, and this is Cozy Yoga Life. I've spent the last 25 years living and teaching yoga, and I'm here to help you bring that wisdom into your daily life with clarity, comfort, and always a dash of coziness. Let's start with the obvious. It's been a hot minute. This podcast has been quiet for a while, and honestly, so have I. It wasn't an intentional break, but it was a necessary one. My full-time work needed more of me. Behind the scenes, I was pouring energy into big education and operations projects. But it gave me some time and stillness without new content to plan or post to write. And that allowed me space to reflect. And something really interesting happened. I started to feel inspired again. That spark to share yoga. To talk through the lens of a yogic life came back, but it looked a little different than it had before. So this episode, this is me officially saying I'm back, but I'm not the same version of me that left. First, I let go of the pressure to record these episodes on video. I love connecting with you, but the whole lights, camera, makeup routine was honestly stalling me out. It felt like one more thing I had to manage. So now I'm snuggled in bed, feeling cozy, no ring light or lipstick, just me in the mic. And you know what? It feels... perfect. Second, Cozy Yoga Life is no longer just a podcast. It's evolving into a more expansive space, reflecting how I live and want to share yoga.. You will start to see more content centered around subjects like your home as a sanctuary, nourishment, energy rhythms, and daily rituals, midlife transitions and wellness. And by God, I'm embracing that Gen X menopausal, no shits to give energy too. You'll see more blog posts, YouTube videos. Product picks, even capsule wardrobes, because if it helps me feel more aligned, grounded, and well... cozy, I wanna share it with you. It's about living with awareness, kindness, and intention through every part of your day. That's the yoga I'm here to share. If it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no. If it feels like a hustle, I'm out. If it feels like cozy home, count me in. The truth is I've thought about adding lifestyle content for years, but kept getting stuck on self-doubt, logistics, what I should be doing or what I've always done. I made excuses. I stayed in my lane, but I know by now if I'm not excited about what I'm creating. It doesn't work. I can't force alignment. So when inspiration finally hit and I brainstormed where to start, my recent business trip to Salt Lake City felt like the perfect first step. And it let me ease into lifestyle with something I've been doing for decades-- using a capsule wardrobe. Back in the early 2000s. Okay, maybe more like 1998-99, I was a corporate trainer traveling the U.S. I had to haul around a heavy laptop, a heavier projector, and sometimes even a box of manuals. I didn't want to also lug around three suitcases full of outfit options or drag it all to the rental car company. So I learned quickly how to pack light, plan ahead, and create mix and match outfits that worked from early morning setups to late night dinners. I had one checked bag and everything had to fit. Fast forward to today. I don't carry projectors anymore, but I still travel for work and I still want to look professional without sacrificing comfort, because let me be honest, after wearing yoga pants full- time for 15 years, reentering the"real clothes" world, took some effort. My body changed, my style had shifted, and I felt...rusty. Plus, I never planned to give up my yoga pants completely. That brings us to the capsule wardrobe. A a capsule wardrobe is a small curated collection of clothing that mixes and matches easily. Fewer items, more versatility, way less stress. Interestingly, I learned that the term capsule wardrobe was actually coined in the 1970s by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called Wardrobe. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is"a collection of a few essential items of clothing that don't go out of fashion, like shirts, pants, and skirts that can then be worn with seasonal pieces." Translation? Timeless basics plus a few trendier accents equals a closet that always works. And it's not about having less for the sake of minimalism. It's about having the right pieces, the ones that work for your lifestyle, your body, and the flow of your day. There's also a certain freedom that comes with a capsule ward rope. Freedom from overpacking, overspending, and overthinking. If you're curious about starting your own capsule wardrobe, here are a few tips to get you going without the overwhelm. Tip#1: choose a palette, not a plan. You don't need to map out your entire wardrobe. Just start with a base color, an anchor like navy, black or gray. Then you add in coordinating neutrals like white, beige, or a soft blue. Finally, include a few accent colors or patterns that you love. You wanna make sure you've got tops, bottoms, dresses and outerwear, and at least two to three versatile pairs of shoes. This simplifies decisions and ensures everything works together. It's important to prioritize quality over quantity. These should be pieces you'll reach for again and again. If you're not sure where to start, I highly recommend checking out Classy Yet Trendy. That's where I began rediscovering my style. After so many years in yoga outfits, her guides helped me create a core closet that actually works for real life, not just Pinterest boards. Tip#2: start with a clean slate. You'll want to clear out your closet because seriously, you need to know what you're working with before you can decide what to add. This is something I walk through in my book, the Yoga of Decluttering. In fact, there's an entire week devoted to clearing out your closet, taking it one step or section at a time. Not only will clearing your closet get you ready for creating your capsule wardrobe, and look aesthetically pleasing, it will feel grounding. You may even feel more clear-headed. That's what happens when you align your outer space with your inner space. This is a good place to point out how a capsule wardrobe connects in with yoga philosophy. The fourth niyama in the Yoga Sutras is self-study. I think the way we get dressed is a form of that. Clothes shouldn't define us, but they can express us. A well put together wardrobe isn't about impressing others, it's about feeling aligned with yourself. When I wear something that's comfortable and pulled together, I carry myself differently. I have more confidence. I engage more fully. I take up space with more ease. That's yoga too. That brings us to our final tip. Tip#3: As you're cleaning out your closet and deciding what to keep or discard, ask the three outfit question. This is one of my favorite tips from Classy Yet Trendy. For every piece you consider keeping, ask yourself, can I wear this in at least three different outfits? If the answer is no, it may not be versatile enough for your core wardrobe. Now that I'm traveling for work again, I've upgraded my capsule wardrobe to work with early mornings, long days, fluctuating temperatures, and zero time to consider what to wear. For my recent Salt Lake City work trip, I built my travel wardrobe around the base color of Navy. It's one of my company's brand colors and feels like a softer, more spring appropriate anchor than my usual black. White was my coordinating neutral color and I chose pink for my accent. I selected light layers. Stretchy waistbands. Comfy shoes, like navy tennis shoes for walking, unpacking and conference setup. Navy loafers for stylish function and tan slides for some pretty pizazz. Everything mixed and matched because I'm a mood dresser. What I plan in my head at home didn't always translate to my mood for the day. When my alarm goes off at 5:45 AM for a 6:30 staff meeting, I want to get dressed without the debate. Let's highlight a few outfit wins from the week. On Tuesday, I wore navy linen pants, a white tank and a white cardigan I bought in Salt Lake City. Plus a scarf as a headband, which got lots of compliments. Wednesday's striped- shirt with scallop edge stole the show. People stopped me to ask about it. At Thursday night's post-conference fun, I repeated an outfit from earlier in the week. Stretchy navy pants, soft white tee, and a lightweight topper, perfect for karaoke, dancing, and watching colleagues ride the mechanical bull. I was comfortable and still looked pulled together, and not one person remembered. I wore the same outfit twice. If you wanna see the full breakdown with photos and packing tips, head to the blog. It's all there. You'll be seeing more capsule wardrobe content like this from me in the future because it's one more way I bring yoga into my everyday life. Think: simplicity, doing more with less. Awareness: understanding what you need and honoring it. Intentionality: choosing on purpose, not out of panic or impulse. Creating a capsule wardrobe has practical benefits too. You eliminate decision fatigue because at dark 30 in the morning, having fewer, better options is a gift. Your closet remains neat and clutter-free. No more piles of meh clothes that you never wear. You save money by skipping impulse buys and focusing on high quality, versatile pieces, you feel more put together with less effort. And at this stage, comfort and confidence are non-negotiables. Obviously, I think capsule wardrobes are worth exploring even if you're not hopping on a plane anytime soon. So that's the story of my Salt Lake City capsule wardrobe. But really it's the beginning of slowing down, tuning in, and letting my yoga evolve with me. The past few months, even the last year, has been an incredible reminder of how much I love yoga and truly live it every single day. And just because you don't step on your mat and practice postures every day, doesn't mean you're not doing yoga. Sometimes yoga is in the way you pack a bag. The way you simplify your morning. Or the way you redefine what really matters in life. I'm finally feeling creative and inspired again, and honestly excited about this new expanded direction. Moving forward, Cozy Yoga Life will still include yoga philosophy and mindset, but you'll also see more lifestyle content. The blog is where it all begins. So if you haven't read the Salt Lake City Wardrobe Post yet, that's your first peek into this cozy new direction. I'll link it in the show notes. I'll still be helping new yoga teachers with tools, planners, and smarter sequencing resources because I know how overwhelming those early years can feel. And you don't have to do it alone. As always, in my spare time, you'll find me on the laptop writing, writing, writing. If you're not already on the Cozy Crew VIP list, that's where I share updates, personal reflections, and what's coming next. Sign up through the blog or in the show notes. Thank you for being here, for listening and sticking around, for giving me the grace to pause and come back when it felt aligned. Until the next time, Cozy Crew. That wraps another episode of Cozy Yoga Life. Until next time, may you move with intention, rest with purpose, and live in alignment. Remember, it's all yoga. Be sure to check out the latest blog. Come say hi on Instagram.