A selection of useful resources to kick-start (or supplement) your yoga practice. You will find videos, articles, how-to guides, and more. Enjoy!

Mala beads for autumn yoga and meditation

Tiger eye mala beads

by guest author Jacqueline Medalye of Salt Spring Malas and Yoga Jewelry Autumn is a transition time of year. As daylight becomes shorter, days become colder, and we feel like it is time to retreat from the world, our yoga and meditation practice can become a source of strength, vitality, and enthusiasm. Yoga during autumn is critical for maintaining a healthy immune system, keeping the body warm, and helping us maintain an active lifestyle and positive attitude. Meditation is important … [Read more...]

Yogawoman Soundtrack: Great yoga music, great yoga artists

Artist Snatam Kaur

by Kara-Leah Grant I've been putting off writing this review because I've got some critical things to say, and I didn't want to be critical of the wonderful folk behind Yogawoman. They've done a stellar job of telling an important story and bringing awareness of yoga to the masses. Now they've released an album to go with the movie. Who am I to nitpick? But here at The Yoga Lunchbox, honesty rules. Self-aware, compassionate and mindful honesty that is. I must have listened to this album … [Read more...]

A review of Yogawoman: Inspirational and empowering

Yogawoman NZ premiere April 2012

by guest author Cathryn Monro If you are looking for inspiration to get on your mat, sign up for a class or give yoga a go, then Yogawoman is the movie for you. Yogawoman has a “You can do it” message and presents yoga as simultaneously appealing and accessible, something to aspire to without being too lofty a goal that we give up before we start. Yogawoman attempts to address as wide an audience as possible, from those who have a mat and a practice, to those who might just need a … [Read more...]

Sharing Sadhana: Why yoga teachers’ home yoga practices can inspire

Sharing Sadhana by Victoria Bailey

by Kara-Leah Grant Know what I love about this book? It delivers exactly what it promises. The tagline, on the top of the cover, proclaims: "Insights and inspiration for a personal yoga practice." And since reading Sharing Sadhana, my home yoga practice has been inspired, I've had several 'a-ha' moments of insight, and I've even been inspired to write a book on how to create a home yoga practice and stick to it. Not bad eh? And yet when I started reading it... I was doubtful. … [Read more...]

Yoga Explorations #4: The Imperfect Self

Am I doing this perfectly?

by Kara-Leah Grant I'm starting to dig this video making process. Finding my groove, opening up, getting comfortable... all of which makes me feel better about being on video, which makes me better on video. It's kinda like starting yoga. When we first start, or even think about starting, we're uncomfortable, we're closed off and shut down, we're tight, we're afraid, and often these feelings are so strong, we don't start so we don't have to face them. But the only way to learn … [Read more...]

Yoga Explorations # 3: Music can move us into our practice

Music can move us into our yoga practice

by Kara-Leah Grant Joy's been on my mind this week. Mostly because I was noticing a lack. Understandable - my life has been intense, on many levels, over the last few weeks. Seems just when I think I've got one area or aspect mastered, the stakes are upped again. That's cool. I can deal. But if I don't watch it, I can also get way too serious. Fortunately, I also have a magic tonic. Anytime I start getting too somber, too depressing, too serious, too stressed out, too hung up on life's ups … [Read more...]