July 28th, 2010

Featured Ambassador: Jill Miller

Jill Miller is a serious yogi, caring teacher, and a charismatic spirit. Her passion for yoga is infectious, and this comes across in every breath. Jill possesses intensive knowledge of yoga philosophy, sequencing and human anatomy. Her clear teaching style makes yoga accessible to the beginner as well as the advanced student. Jill is devoted to yoga, and Manduka is devoted to her. She exemplifies the definition of Ambassador, and Manduka is happy to share her with you…

Learn more about Jill here.

July 17th, 2010

#Practice Community Classes

From peace, to joy, to silence, to vibrance – yoga #practice enables us to be mindful of how we take our #practice off of the mat and into our lives. Being flexible on the mat reminds us to #practice flexibility when life gets complicated. It allows us to be aware of the boundaries we break through in the workplace, and not just in our arm balances. It provides us the serenity in silence that once seemed uncomfortable. As part of our 2010 #Practice Campaign, Manduka brought the local yoga community together to create inspiration for their yoga #practice, and to shine a light on how our #practice extends into daily life.

Manduka’s #Practice Community classes brought together world renowned yoga teachers and our nations most inspiring musical artists, with Manduka and the Los Angeles yoga community – all under one roof, on the mats we #practice on everyday. These series of free yoga classes – each with a different purpose, invited everyone to take their inspiration beyond the edges of their mats and #practice community with Manduka! Manduka Ambassador Hala Khouri helped LA yogis #practice purpose during her mixed level flow at Yoga Glo. Ambassador Ashley Turner taught a #practice inner power Vinyasa Flow to the tunes of DJ Drez at Exhale Spa, and Kia Miller & Tommy Rosen combined Hatha and Kundalini while inspiring us to #practice connection at Yoga Co. Each class brought in curious Los Angelenos for an event to remember, and each class was dedicated to aiding a charity in need. As you #practice on your mat, we hope that you remember to take your inspiration off the mat, out of the studio, and into your everyday actions.

July 6th, 2010

If The Shoe Fits

By Eka Ekong

I was having one of the days, I often dream about. I was able to practice, teach, and spend time with good friends. I felt light, I felt happy and peaceful. There was a little spring in my step, and an enduring smile on my face. I had some free time in the evening, so I decided to stop in for a meditation with my beloved teacher. She had been chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra every Monday night. I went to the chant, and when I left, I felt energized and a wave of peace washed over me. I said good night to the front desk staff, and I walked to the shoe rack to put on my shoes. “ Hmm.. I’m pretty sure I left them here.. Maybe they are behind another pair. No, wait. Okay…I think my shoes are gone.” I was a bit stunned that those words even entered my mind, but there I was Birkenstock-less and confused.

I left my information with the front desk staff, and began my walk back to my car, au naturel. So many feelings overwhelmed me-anger, fear, sadness, disbelief. After arriving home, I promptly washed my feet, and I was surprised at how upset I was about what happened. I mean they’re just shoes. I realized I had an attachment to my shoes, beyond their price tag. They represented my taking care of myself, my holding space for my health and wellbeing. It took a minute, but I remembered that at the end of the day, they are just shoes. I am still the same yogini with or without them.

This experience was an opportunity for me to practice presence to each moment, and vairagya, detachment to temporal objects. I mean how often do we leave yoga class, and we talk about how present we are, but we walk the same walk? This experience reminded me to be present to my actions in this life, but non-attached to the fruits of these actions. I will walk mindfully on my journey, whether barefoot or in my favorite shoes, and remember that each breath creates a new opportunity to be here now.