Jet with us to New York and meet Neeti Narula, yoga & meditation guide:

“If a decade ago you had asked me what inspires me to practice yoga, I don’t know if I could’ve told you much more than “it makes me feel a little bit better.”

I was in my early 20’s, grieving the loss of my 27 year old brother, and trying my best to continue along on the ambitious finance career path I’d set out on after graduating from college.

Looking back now, after thousands of hours of teacher training and yoga study, what inspires my practice is much more apparent to me – I’m
practicing for life.”

Stay with us in New York and meet MODO YOGA NYC, hot yoga studio:

“Modo Yoga NYC seeks to inspire positive change; one breath, one practice, and one person at a time. We are a socially and environmentally conscious hot yoga studio that offers safe, progressive, accessible classes so you can feel at ease to explore. We are a community of growers, thinkers and change-makers with industry-leading teachers who see you and your practice as a whole being. We guide, support and commit to your unique practice journey so you can lead an inspired life.”

You know that teacher who has a special place in your heart, who’s deeply impacted your life by the way they’ve guided you through your practice?

If you know, you know.

For us, that’s Anne Spinner — a teacher to us at Manduka for many years.

Her story is the next in our ongoing series featuring those who Inspire the Practice.

It’s one close to home, one close to our hearts.

“In late 2021 I fell ill. I was about to embark on the greatest lesson in life. After endless tests it was discovered I was sick with Endo-carditis, a bacterial infection that affects your heart. The news was devastating. On March 31st, 2022, I underwent open heart surgery to replace my Aortic Valve.

My hours in the hospital were filled with quiet

It was really a time to meditate, back to the beginning of my journey. I had the support of my loved ones around me, which I am forever grateful for. But without all the countless hours of my yoga training and studies,practices, and teachings I may not have made it through

We’re traveling to Santa Barbara, California, to celebrate Linda Baffa, who continues to inspire the practice through transforming space into a shared environment of growth, connection, and beauty.

Linda Baffa (E-RYT) is a mama of two humans, a yoga + meditation guide, a retreat expert, an astrologist, and an enthusiastic life-lover. She currently resides in Santa Barbara, CA where she works with private clients and teaches public offerings at both Yoga Soup and
CSD studio in Carpinteria. 

Her sharing stems from over 20 years of embodying a variety of yoga and meditation styles, and her classes are known to feel
empowering, soulful, spacious and full of breath.  She is known for nurturing her students with accessible options and a "come as you are" approach, and her thoughtful, inspiring playlists will get you out of your head and into your heart. 

Linda is also the co-founder of The Inspired Being, an online wellness platform that seeks to dive deeper with individuals through immersive one-on-one mentoring, soulful workshops, and destination retreats.

At the heart of this campaign is the magic of community. Meet Eddie Ellner, founder of Yoga Soup, a yoga studio in Santa Barbara, California.

“Yoga Soup is a fluid, organic idea that is constantly reshaping itself. As it grows it will no doubt assume different forms but it’s hard to imagine its intention much changing: to provide a safe, vibrant, serious and light-hearted space for self-observation and transformation to occur.”

From a yoga class to a warm bowl of soup, Yoga Soup is a space for practice, connection, and community.