by Kara-Leah Grant For the last four decades, Ana Forrest has been bringing her particular brand of fierce medicine to the yoga world. She's long woven Native American ceremony into her classes and workshops, calling on the forces that helped her heal from an abusive and challenging childhood. So it's no surprise that when she met and fall in love with the man who would go on to become a co-director of Forrest Yoga that he too would have a long history with shamanism and healing - just in a … [Read more...]
Leslie Kaminoff on Why Asanas Don’t Exist
by Lucinda Staniland Meet Leslie Kaminoff, a Yoga educator with forty years experience in the study of Yoga and the breath. Leslie studied with T.K.V Desikachar, a teacher renowned for his emphasis on the therapeutic aspects of yoga, and he is the co-author of the bestselling book Yoga Anatomy. In Leslie's conversation with Kara-Leah Grant, I was struck by his particular brand of what I would call respectful realism. This is a man with a deep belief in the power of the work that he … [Read more...]
Sarsha & Sandi of Nadi 200 Hour Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training on the Incredible Intelligence of the Body
by Lucinda Staniland Sandi Murphy and Sarsha Hood are two passionate, intelligent and, most of all embodied women. These are characteristics that serve them well as co-leaders of the Nadi 200 Hour Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training, an immersive month-long training for dedicated yoga students. Watching their interview with Kara-Leah Grant, I was greatly struck by the incredible synergy and resonance between them. Sarsha and Sandi are the epitome of the saying 'on the same wave length'— … [Read more...]
Amy Ippoliti on Why 60-Minute Yoga Classes Might Be Watering Down Yoga
by Lucinda Staniland Meet Amy Ippoliti—yoga teacher, author, earth activist and founder of 90 Monkeys, an online professional development school for yoga teachers. One of the first things I noticed when I watched this video interview with Amy was her irrepressible enthusiasm for the practice of yoga. Yes, there's no doubt in my mind that this woman loves yoga, and loves sharing it with the world. And yet, while Amy is incredibly open hearted and enthusiastic, she also cultivates a sharp … [Read more...]
The Inside Story on Jayayoga Teacher Training
by Lucinda Staniland I already knew that Jennifer Allen, and the Jayayoga Teacher Training she leads, were awesome. But I didn't quite realise how awesome. The Yoga Lunchbox has interviewed Jennifer before, so I was aware that she is an unusually perceptive and gutsy teacher, with a teaching methodology that offers a different perspective on yoga from much of the contemporary yoga scene. Yes, Jennifer teaches straight from the heart with a focus on alignment and safety. It's not flashy … [Read more...]
The Community Speaks: What’s The Greatest Challenge Facing The Yoga Community Right Now?
by Lucinda Staniland We want to generate more meaningful and constructive dialogue in the yoga community, especially around the hard questions we face, and to create a space for the community to share their stories and perspectives. So here it is: The Yoga Lunchbox's first edition of our Influencer Roundup, The Community Speaks. This week we asked a handful of influential people in the yoga community to respond to the following question: What's the greatest challenge facing the yoga … [Read more...]
Jase Te Patu on Embracing Vulnerability & Power Living’s 200Hr Yoga Teacher Training
by Kara-Leah Grant I adore Jase Te Patu - he's a man with so much heart, and so in love with New Zealand and his Māori culture. Plus he's passionate about yoga - both the practice and the teaching of it. When he and I sat down to have a chat about Power Living's Yoga Teacher Training here in New Zealand, it was immediately apparent how Jase has grown since we last spoke two years ago. The passionate boyishness has matured into grounded strength, tempered with an open vulnerability. And, … [Read more...]
Chaitanya Deva on the Deep Foundations of Studio Evolve’s 200Hr Yoga Teacher Training
by Kara-Leah Grant Prior to this video interview, all I knew about Chaitanya Deva was that he and his wife Bex owned Studio Evolve in Nelson, and that they ran Evolve Festival. And that they were preparing to launch their first teacher trainings this April. Then Chai sent me an email giving some background information for this interview. Not only had he spent time with B. Prior, a 'world teacher utterly devoted to awakening', done the India thing, had his time as a punk rocker and a … [Read more...]
Cathryn Monro on Motherhood as a Spiritual Path
By Kara-Leah Grant Meet Cathryn Monro, artist, facilitator, mother of two, and author of Spilt Milk Yoga, a companion guide for mothers that applies the lessons of yoga to the everyday experience of motherhood. Cathryn is passionate about honouring mothers, and about sharing her hard-won wisdom that motherhood is a spiritual path. Join us as we discuss the complexities and beauty of motherhood, and the transformative power of a regular yoga practice. On the relationship between … [Read more...]
The Best Up-and-Coming Yoga Teachers • New Zealand & Australia
by Kara-Leah Grant & Lucinda Staniland Phew! What a job! We had 243 nominations for 93 teachers for New Zealand & Australia's Best Up-and-Coming Yoga Teachers. Based on the written testimonials from students, and some research of our own, we whittled the 93 down to 22 teachers. Those last 22 teachers we asked three questions: What does teaching yoga mean to you? How do you live your yoga? What's your home yoga practice like? These are the results, in alphabetical … [Read more...]