Manduka International Site

March 26th, 2012

Yogi Of The Week: Leigh-Mae

Meet Leigh-Mae.

Yoga was her 'gateway drug' to a healthy mind and body. It started by chance, with a yoga class she happened to find on TV. It was love. She dove right in, and hasn’t looked back since.

Yoga has inspired her to find her own purpose, connecting her Southern Baptist upbringing with her own, personal truth. It has pushed Leigh-Mae through her boundaries and into what the universe has in store for her: helping people. Inspiring them. Setting an example for what is possible. And what is possible is the yoga and massage therapy studio she plans to open in the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her path is clear.

We loved learning about Leigh-Mae. And we want to learn more about you, too.

Tell us a little about yourself on the You Series page: Manduka.com/You

Every week, we'll share the story of another real yogi. Maybe soon you'll see yourself here, or see something in yourself here.

Practice On.

--Manduka

March 12th, 2012

Yogi Of The Week: Stephen

Meet Stephen.

He is a devoted father & husband, Krista Cahill groupie, and loves sharing his affection for gravity-defying inversions with the good people of Tampa, Florida. His practice begins the moment that he steps onto his 9-year-old Black Mat PRO.

For Stephen, yoga provides a base for some of the most important relationships in his life. With his wife, their practice bonds them together. With his religion, yoga helps keep him spiritually fulfilled. And with his 2 ½ year old daughter, yoga offers him virtue—providing a little extra patience that dads sometimes need. Hearing her say: “Look daddy, updog!” lands Stephen right on cloud nine.

What started as a healing exercise for some early childhood injuries, yoga has now become a way of life for Stephen. Challenging his body while calming his mind, all at the same time.

We loved learning about Stephen. And we want to learn more about you...

Tell us a little about yourself on the You Series page: Manduka.com/You

Every week, we'll share the story of another real yogi. Maybe soon you'll see yourself here, or see something in yourself here.

Practice On.

--Manduka

March 5th, 2012

Yogi Of The Week: Janine

Meet Janine.

She's a SoCal gal, globe trekker, a dancer lifestyle blogger and aspiring jeweler. And everywhere she goes, with everything she sees, touches and shares, is her yoga practice. And no one knows her best like her Black Mat PRO.

Yoga is Janine's rock. In this crazy, fast-paced, stressful world, yoga provides comfort and a stable foundation from which everything else can carefully balance. It is her peace of mind, her inspiration, her hope. Yoga has taught Janine to see the beauty, which is the inspiration for her blog.

She remembers it like it was yesterday: Singapore. Warm tropical air in the wee hours of the morning. The wooden platform in the gardens of the Mandarin Hotel. An invitation to breathe, really breathe. Alone with her pulse. This is where her yoga practice got real. She found her center, her calling and her bliss.

We loved learning about Janine. And we want to learn more about you...

Tell us a little about yourself on the You Series page: Manduka.com/You
Every week, we'll share the story of another real yogi. Maybe soon you'll see yourself here, or see something in yourself here.

Practice On.

--Manduka

June 1st, 2011

Sri, Sri, Capri...

Sri is defined as radiance or resplendence. The nature of the world is beautiful, and as we brighten our inner fire, we can see this beauty more clearly, even in those moments that don't necessarily feel so divine.

Here's how our amazing community is finding beauty and paradise in their surrounding world:

Laura Mannino-Gabriel
"My yoga paradise is finding that amazing balance between breath and stillness, where absolutely nothing exists, but I feel the entirety of my body heart and mind filled with exhiliration, peace, warmth, and stillness."

Lucy Reynolds
" My yoga paradise at the moment is sharing yoga practice with my nearly-three year old daughter who likes to 'do yoga like mummy' and tells me Downward Dog is her favourite! I'm far from a perfect yogi and our shared practice never lasts that long but fills my heart with immense joy."

Amanda Huff
"My yoga paradise is when the way I feel about myself and others while I'm on my mat follows me off the mat and I know I'm becoming a better person with each practice."

Christine Harless-Fairbourne
"My yoga paradise is when I see my five year old twins, 11 year old or 21 year old, practicing yoga and knowing they are bringing peace and calmness to their spirits and bodies."

Sondra Bloxam
"My yoga paradise is at my local hot yoga studio, in child's pose leaving my stresses at the corners of my mat, breathing deeply, and living in the moment, ready to take the first vinyasa :D"

Jennifer Aiksnoras
"My yoga paradise is always and everywhere within me."

Tonya Fox
"My yoga paradise is Savasana with my precious little dog lying beside me doing her own Savasana....pure bliss........."

Mary Beth Bender
" Practicing yoga in peru near macchu picchu."

Jessica Sloan
"I recently found my place in the world to practice while in Kenya on a study abroad trip. There is nothing more rewarding then teaching yoga to children who experience little joy in their lives."

Jeff Dawson
"As long as I am with my mat it is always yoga paradise. I am taking my mat to tahoe for wanderlust."

Y is for Yogini
"Paradise is laughter and the ability to find my path, practice, and the humor in anything. ;)"

Ashley Watrous Yost
"At our cottage in Ludington, MI on the beach facing the sand dunes ♥"

Jennifer Cayouette
" My yoga paradise is in my mind. I see pictures of yogis and I'm impressed and intimidated by all those head stands and Pretzel-like poses, and then I swear to myself I will do it one day, but for all the reasons in the world, never got to it. maybe the first of that "one day" is this Friday morning at the community centre's yoga class..."

Britney Call Mellen
"My yoga paradise is my living room floor, first thing in the morning every morning. Even with all the kids' toys scattered around and dust bunnies under the couch, my mat is always a little piece of heaven! (And would be even more heavenly with this gorgeous new mat)!!"

Angel Marie
"Love being surrounded by woods. I hike through Old Stone Fort..do a bit of yoga near the waterfalls..its so peaceful out there. It doesnt get better than that :) The birds, sound of water, even those annoying little cicadas make it enjoyable. The world truly is a beautiful place."

Hayley Bustos
"I practice yoga on the back of my horse. Theres no better feeling than a back bend on the back of your best friend! :)"

Mellissa Lyle
"My yoga paradise would be on a patio overlooking the ocean, somewhere near the equator. Palm trees, waves crashing, Capri-colored water, white sands, and my Manduka mat there to greet me =)"

Ken Wilkens
"My yoga paradise is any time I choose yoga "practice" over "perfection."

Chris Di An
"There is no paradise but yoga."

May 17th, 2011

#Practice Clarity

I recently took a break from my Manduka. It didn't do anything wrong. It didn't treat me badly, or not take me to expensive dinners. I was feeling burnt out, and found it very hard to be on my mat or in a yoga studio.

I remember being in relationships where my partner suggested we take a break. I would kick and scream, hearing that cliche "the break comes before the breakup" resonating in my ear.

Reluctantly, I took a couple of days off of my asana practice(the longest I had been off my mat in years.) I ate pizza, watched movies, and spent time with my loved ones. What I realized was that in several ways I was hiding from myself and my life off my black mat. I was resting in what had always felt comfortable for me, doing what was easy, not taking a risks. But just like in an asana, growth comes from stepping out of our comfort zone and moving towards our edge.

I am happily now back on my Manduka. We didn't break up, we just needed some space. Our time apart enabled me to embrace my life and practice with newfound passion and vision. I am more present in my life, and my practice is deeper than it was before. Taking a break isn't necessarily the end, but can be a new beginning. In the space, in those pauses in between, we can see more clearly and move forward powerfully.

My Manduka helps me #practice clarity. What does your Manduka help you #practice?

Here's how some others are powerfully #practicing:

Teamstretchyoga
"I #practice perseverance. I #practice moment to moment. I #practice service. I #practice Love. I #practice on my Manduka!"

Eunice_cu
"@MandukaYoga helps me practice stillness........"

Pinmoneygirl
"I make it a point to #practice poses that scare me."

Lisa Boise
"I laugh on it. I cry on it. I sweat on it. (Boy! Do I sweat on it!) I find peace on it. I work through anger and frustrations on it. On occasions I ignore it. I stretch on it. I pray on it. I jump on it. I use it and abuse it. And every time I step on it, I feel a welcoming energy from it. My soul can be free on my mat."

Stela Balaban
"The space created each time I unfold my Manduka becomes a safe place, a quiet place, a peaceful place, where there's no judgement and no expectations. And then the fun can begin."

EmilySaurette
"Dear Soul Mat, thank you for being so steady when I felt like breaking -you are my bestfriend."