Lady Kendra shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Lady , really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A normal day for me starts with the sun waking me up naturally in the early morning light. Immediately playing a guided meditation so I do not have to leave my bed, while I start my day with inspiring messages and reprogramming my brain while it is still in a rest state. This sets my day up for positivity and allows me to walk through the day with clarity and confidence. Once my meditation is finished, I get up, make my bed, and walk downstairs to make breakfast and enjoy my delicious cappuccino. I usually have some fruit and maybe an egg. Then, I typically take a walk through a nearby park to immerse myself in nature, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. It is a more of a meditative stroll, appreciating the wind in my face, the colors from the trees, and architecture. It is also a time to be an observant witness of my local community. When I make it back home, I write my intention for the day, and write in my journal until I have gotten everything out from the previous days’ events. Of course, I have already sent and received many messages at this point and checked my email, social media, and my calendar of the day to know how to structure my day as things come up. After writing, I cleanse my house with sage and get on my mat to practice yoga, to align my chakras, and move with the breath. Once I am energized, but fully relaxed, I get into the shower and allow myself to be cleansed and enjoy the water on my body. This concludes my morning routine to balance my mind, body, and soul in preparation for the world at large. I generally make lunch and then head out to work or a meeting, an appointment, or my Italian lesson. I spend the afternoon walking through the city, working online, talking with others, and creating partnerships for all that I do. The day ends with dinner at my house with a friend or in solitude, then a relaxing hot bath to integrate all that learned throughout the day. It seems non stop, like a time outside of time, where hours pass rapidly and inspiring conversations take shape instantly. Each day, I am usually exhausted, so I sleep all through the night with another guided meditation to start reprogramming again.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Ciao! I am Lady Kendra- Author, Designer, Entrepreneur, International Transformative Lifestyle Guide, Healer, Storyteller, and Unconventional Free Spirit who helps people find themselves through clothing, communication, and transformation.
Connecting your style with your soul and focusing on wellness, is at the center of The Art of Style. TAOS is a lifestyle brand for those who wish to think about every aspect of their lives and how to exude peace and presence. Being comfortable in your own skin is priceless. Find yourself. Invest in yourself. Love yourself. Indulge in yourself. Retail therapy among other therapies.
In a world full of waste and distaste, I promise to design clothing that is not only functional, but fashionable, and consciously produced. Also, as a minimalist, I encourage people to think about how, why, and where they invest their time, energy, and money. This is what I hope will become a movement, to revolutionize retail, raise awareness and confidence, and change the world. Part of my philosophy is Zero Waste, meaning everything is made to order and no material gets discarded. We must all start to think differently about our impact on the environment, and how we can all reduce our carbon footprint. The God|dess Collection is designed for gods and goddesses, cause we all are. Transformative clothing that changes with you, and is mostly unisex, embracing the cross fashion culture of the future. Travels well, and are staples in your everyday attire. You are worthy.
The Uniform Collection was designed for a 5 star hotel in Florence, Italy, and is a modern day, updated version for those who require to be in uniform all while expressing personality. Every piece in the collection is reversible, impermeable, and mostly unisex as well. Comfortable, wrinkle, and stain resistant, each piece is two in one, just in case you need to change things up at the last minute. Easy to wear, and made to travel, this is not your average uniform, rather clothing for the revolution. Join now.
Also, with each clothing purchase, a portion of the profit goes to The Substitute Society, my nonprofit focused on the fight against cancer, as my husband died 16 years ago from the disease. I raised over $100,000 throughout the decade that I had my clothing store, The Art of Style aka TAOS, and won the title of The Woman of the Year for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in 2010 in his honor. Then I almost died after 40 after being diagnosed with pneumonia, and I thought I don’t need to smoke anymore, so I developed The Substitute, my cure to cancer, and the ultimate accessory. This beautifully crafted piece is a healthy alternative to smoking, with no tobacco, no toxins, simply air, which means you can use it anywhere- restaurants, bars, planes, trains, school, church, work, wherever. If you smoke, you can smoke less, cause The Substitute is smokeless. But if you are stressed, depressed, anxious, or have any other emotional, mental, or physical problem, The Substitute allows you to just breathe when something arises. It is safe for all ages, races, and sexes. You can also use it as a pointer, thinking stick, orchestrator, hand slapper, ass smacker, key grabber, back scratcher, or fun toucher. Use it to dance, to play, to feel your way. All you have to do is just breathe. Fashionable breathing at its best.
For those who wish to go underneath the surface, I offer personalized wellness and spiritual guidance to each individual, giving you permission to connect to your true authentic self along this journey called life. Schedule a Soul Session or a 1, 3, or 7 day Transformative Experience of the mind, body, and soul with me to discover more. I do energy work like breathwork, meditation, and yoga individually and with groups of people, guiding them to explore themselves deeply. Inner child work and shadow work, along with ancestral and generational trauma are at the core of doing ‘the work’ and I help people understand their patterns and how to break them. I guide people to wake up and how to live a conscious life instead of going through the motions. For those who dare to do what most people are not willing to do, I invite you to work with me as your High Priestess and allow the transformation of awareness to begin. I have recently released a 13 week course to dive deep into these categories to get you started on your path to enlightenment, encouraging open minds and hearts as we work together as a collective to heal this planet and escape the matrix. Short or long term packages are available, but information lasts a lifetime…
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The first time I meditated. I did not really know what to expect or what to do. But my friend, who I had know for about 20 years, guided me through a visualization and breathing exercise, where I first paid attention to the blood running through my veins, feeling my muscles, bones and body parts. We were in a park, sitting on a bench, with our eyes closed. He had me imagine my energy as a ball of light, in between my hands, them growing expansively as I continued to inhale and exhale. My ball of energy got so big I could barely contain it, then I pushed all my energy out to the universe and everyone in it. Then I felt that energy compound and come back to me with such a force, flooding into my nervous system, and reenergizing my spirit. When I finally opened my eyes, I noticed the leaves on the trees were a little more green, the sky was extra blue. My body felt tingly all over and I had so much power moving through my system. I was shocked and amazed, like I was seeing things for the first time, like a newborn child. He told me ‘Kendra, none of this has changed. The only thing that has changed, is you. You have now become more aware.’ And that was the day that changed how I saw the world. How I showed up in the world. My practice has deepened since then, and the more I know, the less I know, if you know what I mean. Each day is a gift and can be experienced fully in the present moment, something I aim to do daily. This moment sent me on a journey of self discovery, asking thought provoking questions about existence, who I am, and where I came from, why I believed what I believed to be true, and what was true? And from that moment on, I questioned everything… and still do.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
After my store, The Art of Style was destroyed in the riots in 2020, I went on a sabbatical for three months to Croatia and Italy. I had time to figure out what I wanted versus what everyone else wanted me to do with my life. Careful consideration was taken into account- covid, my clients and community, my employees and my family, the economy, the political atmosphere, but most importantly, my personal wellbeing. I realized I did not want to do this anymore. So I gave up my life as I knew it and moved to Italy, something that for 20 years I said I wanted. I have been living in Italy full time for three years now, and after becoming a Master Certified Life Coach, fashion kept calling me. The Universe will always tell you who you are, in case you don’t know. And so, I got back in, but did things differently. I wanted a simple, luxurious life. I wanted to create my own schedule, and not be tied to a store, so I labeled it a showroom instead. I realized after a year of being back in the game, I no longer wanted to represent other artists, as my place also doubled as an art gallery, with rotating exhibits every month. I realized how much of my precious time I was giving away to others, and even though I wanted to be here to serve the community, I no longer wanted to spend my time hosting parties, or cleaning up afterwards. So I made the change in August. It has brought me more time and energy, which i am desiring more of, to enjoy life. Now, in September, I am walking away from my creation, realizing that it is not what I want anymore. I also realized that as much as I want to help people, I can no longer be that accessible to outside forces. My energy is the most important asset I have, and I now know how much I have to protect it instead of giving it away. Who knows what is to come, but jumping into the unknown is something I have always been keen on doing. So here’s to the next chapter…
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
My project that I am so passionate about, is The Substitute. I am committed to sharing the message of conscious breathing. I know it sounds so simple, as we all do it throughout the day without even thinking about it, however, when we focus on the breath, we realize how much potential we actually have within our bodies to not only regulate and control our nervous system, but also calm our minds as well. My main mission right now is to help people understand that we really are all gods and goddesses, and that when we focus on our breath, to connect it with the mind and body, we can naturally create peace and calm, and magnificent power. We are energetic beings, and by using The Substitute throughout the day, when the going gets tough, or heightened emotions arise, by simply using The Substitute, you can control your reactions before they explode out of you. This, coupled with meditation and yoga, healing your inner child wounds, and practicing shadow work to break negative patterns or self sabotaging behaviors, is a large part of what I am here to help the planet with. Ultimately, I want to help people build a lifestyle they love, along with a wardrobe that matches their personality’s highest self, and allow people to stand in their own light and shine bright for the world to see. And when you know that your highest self also requires clothing that translates your peace of mind into presence, you stand taller, knowing that you, too, are on a mission to save the world, one person at a time, by shining your own light and allowing others to participate in your dream.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am in nature, specifically near water. The sound of rushing waves hitting the sand, or flowing water down a river or even a waterfall, gives me a sacred feeling of calm. I love listening to it, touching it, being immersed in it. I love it when it rains and I can hear it hitting the roof, or being caught in a light storm. Anything that has the sound and motion of fluidity. I find it visually stimulating and the sounds are reassuring to me. I like the constant change, even though the scenery is seemingly unmoved. I like feeling the wind on my face, sand beneath my feet, and the warmth of the sun shining down upon me. I also feel at peace talking a meditative stroll through the bustling city, admiring the beautiful sites. After a long day, I find my home to my sanctuary and my bathtub my cocoon, to rest and regenerate in in the safety of my own home. I feel at peace when my house is clean and in order, when I am surrounded by beauty, and when I am in the company of a select few. I feel peaceful having a walk in the park before, during, or after a busy day. I feel at peace when all my people are safe and sound and relaxed and laying around. Cooking in the kitchen also serves many peaceful moments besides just eating good meals with friends or family. Long, hot showers give me peaceful moments, and sometimes cool ones on a hot day are just what is needed to relax and calm the body before entering the real world. Those, in addition to writing in my journal, meditating, and practicing yoga, are the moments I discover peace in the present, everyday moments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.taosrevolution.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taos_theartofstyle/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-leonard/
- Twitter: n|a
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theartofstyle/
- Yelp: n|a
- Youtube: n|a
- Soundcloud: n|a
- Other: www.ladykendra.com
https://www.instagram.com/kendraleonard/
www.usethesubstitute.com
https://www.instagram.com/thesubstitutesociety/
Image Credits
Photographer Britney Rego
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