Our favourite Yoga Industry Associations, Organizations & Suppliers
Our favourite Yoga Industry Associations, Organizations & Suppliers
Kripalu
CORE COMMITMENTS: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health “is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to empowering people and communities to realize their full potential through the transformative wisdom and practice of yoga. It is the largest and most established retreat center for yoga, health, and holistic living in North America”.
WHY WE LOVE: Located in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, the picturesque setting is home to the centre that offers weekend, weeklong and month long programs taught by a brilliant faculty of both regular and guest presenters. Students are encouraged to rise and set with the sun, eat breakfast in silence, spend time in nature, and truly nourish the body and mind. Kripalu for me feels like coming home. I graduated from their 200-hour Teacher Training School, which has set the foundation for much of my yoga career. It will always hold such a special place in my heart. Ohhh…and I love their gift shop!!
HOW TO FIND: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health; Instagram
Yoga Journal
CORE COMMITMENTS: Celebrating their 40th Anniversary this year, founded by members of the California Yoga Teachers Association, “Yoga Journal offers all practitioners—from beginners to masters—expert information on how to live a healthier, happier, more fulfilling life both on and off the mat. Always informative and inspiring, the magazine’s welcoming, inclusive point of view puts every reader in front of the world’s best teachers”.
WHY WE LOVE: Yoga Journal is your one-stop for all things yoga. The most comprehensive online resource, receiving over 1-million unique visitors per month, Yoga Journal also publishes 12 international print editions spanning 28 countries – uniting yogis around the globe. The website is so easy to navigate - you can actually search by teacher, search by yoga pose or even anatomical focus. If there is a particular area of the body you are hoping to balance you can easily find many poses, including how-to videos to help support your practice. They have a huge database of industry articles and blog posts that cover so many interesting and of-the-moment topics. It is a great educational resource for teachers and students alike. Yoga Journal also goes live – hosting 5 conference events across the US annually, bringing together many of the industry’s most established and inspiring teachers.
HOW TO FIND:Yoga Journal; Instagram
Lululemon
CORE COMMITMENTS: Creatively represented in a visual piece that is now recognizable in many corners of the globe, The Lululemon manifesto highlights, “We are passionate about sweating every day and we want the world to know it. Breathing deeply, drinking water and getting outside also top the list of things we can’t live without”.
WHY WE LOVE: As a teacher, I could not be more grateful for the tremendous support that Lululemon offers the teaching community. Their ambassador program “supports a community of driven athletes and amazing individuals who harness lululemon’s passion to elevate the world”. The support provided by their retail stores and team members in the community has turned many budding projects into much larger community events for both myself and many of my peers. Over the past few years, Lululemon has been in the spotlight, and not always for favorable reasons. From a community perspective, I will always stand behind their authentic commitments – Lululemon employs some of the most talented, giving and loyal team that truly touch lives in profound and meaningful ways.
Manduka
CORE COMMITMENTS: More than eco-conscious yoga gear, Manduka’s mission is founded on five principles: “love”, “invite & unite”, “nurture our planet”, “joyology” and “celebrate design”. “Manduka is much more than stuff. Our mission is providing you with the planet’s most innovative thoughtfully designed and most consciously made gear for the hour and ½ you spend on your mat. And the best mind, body and soul for the twenty-two and ½ hours that follow”.
WHY WE LOVE: Simply put, Manduka makes the best yoga mats in the industry. They provide the most cushioning and support for your joints by far and away. I love their EkoLite mats as they are great quality yet make it easy to take your mat on the road with you.
Wanderlust
CORE COMMITMENTS: “Wanderlust’s core mission is to create community around mindful living. Mindful living is a conscious, value-based approach to leading a sane & healthy life. At Wanderlust, we focus on a few simple principles: Practice Yoga, Eat Well, Be Green, Practice Purpose, Create Awareness, Showcase Art”.
WHY WE LOVE: Their festivals! The best yoga, food, music, educational workshops and the culmination of a community of like-minded people all gathered together in some of the worlds best destinations!
HOW TO FIND:Wanderlust.com ; Instagram
Off the Mat, Into the World
CORE COMMITMENTS: “OTM uses the tools of yoga to inspire conscious activism and ignite grassroots and global change. We do this by facilitating personal empowerment and social awareness in our leadership trainings, fostering community collaboration, and supporting local and global community engagement projects. We see yogis everywhere taking their yoga Off The Mat, And Into The World”. OTM helps individuals “expand the sphere of change outward to local and global communities. We do this by facilitating personal empowerment through leadership trainings, fostering community collaboration, and initiating local and global service projects. We believe it takes radical self-inquiry, collaboration, and conscious action to transform the world and ourselves”.
WHY WE LOVE: Founded by Seane Corn, Hala Khouri and Suzanne Sterling, undoubtly three of the most engaging women and activists, OTM has positively touched so many communities in need through selfless service. Check out my teacher Seane Corn as she talks a little bit about the organization!
HOW TO FIND:Off the Mat Into the World; Instagram