THE YOGA PILLOW

THE YOGA PILLOW

THE YOGA PILLOW

By: iana velez

PROFILES

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
What was the inspiration to create The Yoga Pillow?
The inspiration came from my personal yoga and meditation journey. During my yoga teacher training, I noticed the discomfort that can arise when sitting on yoga blocks for extended periods in meditation or trying to find proper support in poses without pain. A lightbulb moment struck when I saw a fellow student place a yoga bolster on a block. After tons of market research and building the first prototype, I realized there was a need for a hybrid yoga prop that could provide comfort, alignment, and versatility—something that didn’t exist yet. That moment sparked the idea for The Yoga Pillow, a tool designed to make yoga and meditation more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

What is your favorite feedback you’ve received about the pillows?
One of my favorite pieces of feedback came from a customer who tried The Yoga Pillow at an event we were vendors for. Her reactions to using it were priceless. She mentioned how amazing it was and how “it feels like a couch for my pelvis.” Other customers have mentioned “it’s like temper-pedic for your butt” and “this is an amazing gift for my body.” It’s been truly incredible just to see the facial AND body reactions of people that use it for the first time. Hearing and actually seeing how The Yoga Pillow has positively impacted someone’s relationship to yoga is by far the most rewarding part of what I do.

Your pillows look incredibly comfortable, especially for anyone who experiences discomfort sitting for long periods of time or knee pain in certain yoga poses. Who do you find would benefit most from using them?
The Yoga Pillow is ideal for anyone who experiences discomfort during yoga or meditation, especially those with sensitive joints or injuries, limited flexibility, or just have a desire for some coziness and support. It’s perfect for beginners who may feel intimidated by certain poses, as well as experienced yogis looking to deepen their practice with a bit of comfort as they prep for more advanced poses. It’s also a great tool for anyone incorporating restorative or yin yoga into their routine, as it enhances alignment in poses held for longer periods while adding comfort. It is also wonderful to use as a meditation cushion following an invigorating ashtanga style yoga practice. We have even had customers that use it as a wonderful floor cushion to just sit around the coffee table to hangout.

Share your favorite yoga/wellness social media/web accounts that inspire you.
I’m inspired by accounts that focus on mindfulness, mental health, and authentic wellness. A few of my favorites are:

@Yoga_Medicine and @TiffanyCruikshank for the wealth of information around combining modern medical and anatomical knowledge with yoga as well as delving into blended learnings from Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.

@JaniceLiou for her creative imagery and focus on yoga alignment and her authenticity in teaching yoga.

 @BanyanTogether, @TaraBrach and @Jack_Kornfield for their mindfulness-based content and knowledge on Buddhist mindfulness teachings.

These accounts remind me of the transformative power of yoga and the importance of community in this space.

Congratulations on creating a new wellness product and small business; it is a huge accomplishment. What advice would you give anyone looking to start their own small business?
Thank you so much! My biggest advice is to start with a clear vision, start lean then expand and most importantly stay connected to your “why.” Building a business takes resilience and clarity in thinking. Not only has my meditation and yoga practices helped here but also the foresight to keep things as simple as possible. Additionally, having a strong sense of purpose will also keep you motivated during the inevitable ups and downs. Also, surround yourself with people who believe in your mission and bring complementary skills to the table. Finally, listen to your customers and your inner self. Their feedback is invaluable in refining your product and building something truly impactful.

Thank you for partnering with Yoga Love Magazine! We are able to do the work we do because of our amazing community of sponsors and partners. Can you share what inspired you to partner with us?
It’s an honor to partner with Yoga Love Magazine, a platform that uplifts and celebrates the yoga and wellness community in any cultural setting. Your focus on inclusivity and mindful living aligns perfectly with the mission of The Yoga Pillow. I wanted to work with Yoga Love Magazine because of its ability to inspire and connect yogis from all walks of life. Together, we’re encouraging more people to prioritize self-care, deepen their practice, and discover the joy of yoga and mindfulness no matter where they come from.

LATINX SPOTLIGHT: JAZMIN TEJADA

LATINX SPOTLIGHT: JAZMIN TEJADA

LATINX SPOTLIGHT: JAZMIN TEJADA

By Frances Hunt

Photo By @oscar_rosardia

PROFILES

Welcome to our series celebrating the Latinx healers, creators and wellness advocates making an impact in our communities. Wellness is multi-dimensional, as it consists beyond the physical, but also mental, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social aspects of our lives.

It is important to share the stories of Latinx individuals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, as it inspires others to create their own narratives. This series consists of real stories of inspirational Latinx individuals creating safe spaces for connection, community, and self-care through the power of wellness. This week we celebrate Jazmin Tejada.

Jazmin Tejada

  • where you/your family are originally from: I was born and raised in East Harlem, my parents immigrated here from the Dominican Republic
  • currently live: East Harlem all day, I still live here. Don’t know that I see myself leaving anytime soon. 
  • @jazmintejada_yoga @ofrendayogastudio
  • www.ofrendayoga.com
What is unique about being Latina in the wellness space? 

What’s unique about being Latina in the wellness space is that it’s often presented as if we’re not in the wellness space but we’re out here doing the work and building community. 

What inspired you to start your own studio? 
I wanted to continue to expand on the community that I’ve been working so hard to build in Harlem for the last 10 years so it was naturally the next step to take. I’ll be completely honest with you, I’m not someone that has always wanted their own studio so when it spoke to me, I ran with it. 

What is the best advice someone gave you when you started your business? 
The best piece of advice someone gave me was to focus on the next step.  Starting a business can be extremely overwhelming and confusing so focusing on the next thing made it easier to complete tasks

What is the best advice you would give another person who wanted to start their own small business? 
Focus on the next step, don’t worry about the next 10 steps because it gets overwhelming very quickly.  Surround yourself with people that can see the vision without you having to sell them on it.  Also surround yourself with people that can help you do things that you’re not necessarily good at or knowledgeable in, this will save you a lot of headaches. Lastly, keep showing up for yourself. 

How do you maintain personal yoga/meditation practice while opening your studio? 
Over the years my personal practice has shifted from being very physical to a more presence-based practice.  So I’m pretty much practicing all the time in reminding myself to be fully present in everything I do. This has helped a lot throughout this journey because I’m not jumping into the future wondering what will happen next, instead I’m in the present which allows me to flow with whatever shows up. 

Share your favorite yoga/wellness social media/web accounts that inspire you? 
@reimagine.our.wellness I love this non-profit because they are helping to create more diversity in the wellness community by giving people that are underrepresented a platform where they could not only teach/guide different wellness modalities and rituals but they also help people get funding for training in the wellness space.

@susannabarkataki is a fav because she debunks all these marketing myths that are used to represent yoga that are actually forms of whitewashing the practice and decentralizing black and brown people that have been practicing yoga for hundreds of years. 

@jah_holla is the owner of @harlemkettlebellclub in East Harlem and he focuses on making people but mostly women of color strong and more confident in their abilities.  He laughs at me all the time because I tell him that he’s not in fitness, that’s just the instrument he uses to help people become more confident. 

Yoga access and classes has changed a lot since the pandemic. What does the future of yoga in NYC look like? 
I think that it’s super dope that we have different forms of access to practice yoga but I think that the future of yoga looks more like community and connection to each other. That’s kind of what we’re doing at Ofrenda Yoga, yes, we have group classes but it’s more than that.  We get to know each other and guide each other through our journeys because healing happens in community.  

The theme of our current issue is JOY, how do you inspire joy in your life and those around you?
Joy in my life looks like doing things that I did when I was a kid, such as painting, drawing, creating little things, etc. I may not be as good at it now, but I do it because it feels good to create without the pressure if it needing to be good or sellable or anything like that. I don’t know that it inspires joy to anyone around me but I’m definitely more pleasant to be around lol. 

2024 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

2024 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

2024 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

By iana velez

LIFESTYLE

Welcome to our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide!

We are so excited to share with everyone some of our amazing sponsors, and favorite holiday gift ideas from the Yoga Love Team.

Cobble Mountain Hammock Chairs

This holiday season, give the gift of serenity with Cobble Mountain Hammock Chairs. Designed in New England and handcrafted in the USA, our hammock chairs are more than just a seat—they’re a sanctuary. Perfect for those who seek a mindful escape, each chair offers unparalleled comfort, eco-friendly craftsmanship, and a timeless design that complements any space, indoors or out.

Made from sustainably sourced materials and built with care by skilled artisans, our chairs are a thoughtful gift for loved ones—or a well-deserved treat for yourself. Whether you’re curling up with a good book or simply finding your center, a Cobble Mountain chair is where relaxation begins. Reconnect with nature, your loved ones, and yourself this holiday season.

Exclusive for Yoga Love readers: Enjoy 15% off your holiday purchase with code YOGALOVE15 at checkout.

The Yoga Pillow:

This thoughtfully designed prop combines the support of a yoga block with the softness of a yoga bolster, offering a unique blend of comfort, portability, and versatility. Made from high-quality cotton canvas with a supportive foam core, it’s perfect for restorative yoga, seated meditation, and challenging postures that require additional support.

The Yoga Pillow is a one-of-a-kind prop invented by Lochana Panapitiya, is revolutionizing the way yoga and meditation enthusiasts approach their practice. Lochana’s vision for The Yoga Pillow was to create an accessible and adaptable tool that meets the needs of both beginners and experienced yogis alike. Available in calming colors like Sea Glass Teal, Blue Lagoon and White Coral, it adds an aesthetic touch to any practice space while providing the ideal balance of firmness and comfort. 

The Yoga Pillow’s innovative design allows it to attach to standard yoga blocks, transforming them into mini yoga bolsters for heightened support and deeper relaxation. Compact and travel-friendly, it’s easy to bring along to the studio or on the go. With its emphasis on flexibility and functionality, The Yoga Pillow is quickly becoming a must-have for anyone looking to deepen their practice. Discover more about this transformative prop at  theyogapillow.com.

From our Beauty and Wellness Editor LouLou:

Better Not Younger 
Second Chance Hair, Face, and Body Nourishing Oil.

“I love a multiple use product and this oil is like one stop shopping. With Abyssinian oil and Squalene to help restore the moisture barrier and nourish and protect skin and hair. Better Not Younger makes products specifically for women in their 40’s and above. and they are Vegan, Cruelty-free, Paraben-free,and Sulfate-free.”

From our Feature Editor Stephanie

Short Story Box 

“I have been loving Short Story Box because at 5 ft. tall and petite but not skinny, it’s extremely difficult to shop for certain items. Here, you provide your measurements and preferences, and a stylist makes selections for you. You purchase what you’d like, and send back what doesn’t work. You can choose your shipment frequency, which is super convenient.” 

Handcrafted Quartz Collection Yoga Bolsters

Introducing Stone Wave’s Quartz Collection: Handcrafted, Antimicrobial Yoga Bolsters for a Cleaner, Healthier Practice.

We’re thrilled to announce the debut of Stone Wave’s Quartz Collection with its very first product: handcrafted, antimicrobial yoga bolsters designed to enhance your yoga practice and wellness space. These bolsters combine therapeutic support with premium style, providing a cleaner, healthier alternative to traditional yoga equipment.

A clean, serene yoga space is vital to physical and mental well-being, yet many traditional yoga bolsters, made from absorbent materials, can trap dust, dirt, and moisture—creating an environment where bacteria and mold can thrive. 

Stone Wave’s bolsters are crafted from luxury-grade vegan vinyl, a durable and highly impermeable material that resists germs, ensuring your bolster stays hygienic and easy to clean after each session. Give your practice a fresh start with Stone Wave’s Quartz Collection bolsters, and experience wellness and peace of mind like never before!

Contact
[email protected]

From our team member Tashya

Give the Gift of Yoga

This is a weekly hour long virtual gentle flow class on Saturday mornings designed to wake up your body with gentle movement so you feel relaxed and refreshed for the day. This class is created to be accessible to everyone at all ages and levels. Come as you are and build a practice that works for you.

Learn more about Tashya here.

Element Tree Essentials: Rose Beauty Body Oil

The Yoga Love team was at the Love Shine Yoga Festival in Asheville just weeks before Hurricane Helene devastated the area. Thankfully some businesses have since been able to reopen like this beautiful shop selling the most amazing products like the Rose Beauty Body Oil I can’t get enough of! If you can support any small business impacted by the terrible hurricanes that happened in the last few months, please do.

The Sobriety Deck

Filled with practical tools and inspirational prompts, The Sobriety Deck is your ultimate guide to conquering the challenges and embracing the joys of a booze-free life. In this deck you’ll find fifty cards that contain countless tips and tricks for getting through early sobriety, finding your sober community, navigating triggering environments, dating, and making space to celebrate all the exciting milestones you reach along your journey. There are many ways to use this deck—pull a card as a daily practice, consult one before a night out with friends, respond to the prompts in your journal, or keep the deck handy for support on the go.

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: NY STATE YOGA FEST

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: NY STATE YOGA FEST

SPOTLIGHT FESTIVAL: NY STATE YOGA FEST

FESTIVALS

BEN CLARK INTERVIEW

♥ Yoga Love Magazine readers can use the promo code

fallfest

for $10 off your ticket! ♥

Looking for something to do this Sept? We are thrilled yoga festivals are back and can’t wait to check out all the amazing events taking place around the world. This week we had a chance to connect with Nicole Kazimer the founder of NY State Yoga Fest who we are thrilled to partner with! You will be able to get complimentary copies of our magazine at this festival! 

What makes this year’s festival unique?
This year’s festival is truly special with a lineup that’s designed to captivate and inspire. We are thrilled to host Kevin Paris, who will be performing live all the way from Hawaii, adding a unique vibe to the event. We’re introducing a new class, EDM Yoga, for those who want to experience yoga with an electrifying twist. Our sound immersion session will beautifully close the day, offering a serene and meditative experience. Attendees can enjoy hiking throughout the day and participate in various nature workshops. This festival perfectly embraces nature and community, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

Share with us what you love about your festival location.
The festival’s location at Letchworth State Park is simply unparalleled. Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East,” it provides a breathtaking backdrop for this special day. Our Hikyoga classes will lead participants right to the gorge, offering stunning views of the water. We have dedicated areas for families, and we’re excited to introduce a portable sauna to enhance the experience. It’s a place where nature’s beauty meets community spirit, making it an ideal setting for our festival.

The theme of our issue this year is JOY. How do yoga festivals inspire joy?
Joy is at the heart of what we do, and yoga festivals are a perfect embodiment of that. The attendees, teachers, staff, and vendors all radiate joy throughout the day. Over the past seven years of leading the NYS Yoga Festival, we’ve consistently heard from participants that it was their “happiest day of the year.” We are so grateful to create a space filled with love, happiness, and connection for the community. This festival is a place where joy is not just experienced but also shared, leaving a lasting impact on everyone involved.

NATURE ALWAYS INSPIRES

NATURE ALWAYS INSPIRES

NATURE ALWAYS INSPIRES

By: Ingrid Baquero

FESTIVALS

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
Nature is a gift connecting us to the divine, and divine it was at Kula Yoga Fest in North Conway, NH the weekend of Sept 6-8.  Kula Yoga Fest was a sweet, sensorial experience filled with mindful movement, thought-provoking, soul-enriching moments, and deep connection with nature.

Each yoga festival the Yoga Love Magazine team attends has its own magic. At Kula Yoga Fest, the standout gem is how nature always inspires. Some standout moments from our weekend in the mountains of New Hampshire:

GANESHA 🐘

Ananda Das led a Ganesha-inspired Sattva Yoga journey celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi, the birth of the deity Ganesha, remover of all obstacles. Ananda’s creative flow honored Ganesha through visualization and movement, conveying the powerful messages of Karma and Kriya. We were inspired to practice letting go of what no longer serves us, moving out of the hamster wheel of routine to evolutionary action, creating space for meaningful, positive change.

SUP YOGA 💦 

Yoga teaches us that we are all connected. I had the pleasure of floating along with Erika and Domenic, founders of  Rooted Rose Recreation , who led us through SUP Yoga, a paddleboard yoga experience in the pond. The practice emphasized gratitude to the land, the trees, the sky, and the sounds of Earth around us. Mindfulness on water provides a sense of tranquility and a strong connection to this element. We are 80% water—let it flow.

MINDFUL WALKS 🌲

 
Have you ever walked quietly into a forest and just listened, observed, and activated your senses? This was the experience with Nature & Mindfulness Wellness Walk led by Kaitlin from Taking Root Education. It was a moment to practice being present, savoring every droplet on the leaves, the colors of mushrooms on the moist ground, and the soft earth that cushioned each step. From the light shower sounds to the peeking sun rays and the curious thoughts about our surroundings, nature has a way of embracing and replenishing us. This was a reset for my nervous system.

UNIVERSAL SOUNDS 🎶 

Travel to the sweet space between conscious and subconscious—that’s the beauty of vibrational sound. Ashera took us on a healing journey. At the beginning of the session, I had a vision of falling off a cliff but quickly returned to my body. What is my subconscious trying to tell me? Sound baths offer an opportunity to surrender and allow the mind to drift to a deeper space, connecting us to our inner truth.

BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
BIG BEAR YOGA FESTIVAL
LATINX SPOTLIGHT: JASMINE R. CASTILLO

LATINX SPOTLIGHT: JASMINE R. CASTILLO

LATINX SPOTLIGHT: JASMINE R. CASTILLO

By iana velez and ingrid baquero

PROFILES

Welcome to our series celebrating the Latinx healers, creators and wellness advocates making an impact in our communities. Wellness is multi-dimensional, as it consists beyond the physical, but also mental, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social aspects of our lives. 

It is important to share the stories of Latinx individuals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, as it inspires others to create their own narratives. This series consists of real stories of inspirational Latinx individuals creating safe spaces for connection, community, and self-care through the power of wellness. This week we celebrate Jasmin Castillo founder.

Jasmine R. Castillo

What is unique about being Latina
A fusion of cultural richness, resilience, and a deep sense of community. Being part of a vibrant heritage shaped by diverse influences: Indigenous, African, European, and many paths around the world, each contributing to traditions, language, customs. Family plays a central role, often prioritizing close-knit bonds, respect for elders through a bendicion, and strong values around unity and support.

There’s also a unique strength in navigating multi-cultural identities, balancing pride in one’s roots while adapting to other cultural environments. Latina women, in particular, often carry a strong sense of empowerment, balancing tradition with a modern drive for independence and leadership, all while honoring the healing, creativity, and stories passed down through the matriarchs. From applying vapor rub (vaparoo) to saying sana sana to our youth, it fosters deep connections. I have generations of warriors who utilized our culture to inspire, feed, connect and heal, from many paths around the world.

What is the best advice someone gave you when you started your business?
To serve with purpose, but not to forget the “why am I doing this?” Running a business can be exhausting, lonely, and financially sucking, so I continue to remind myself of the “why” to guide me as I give myself some sana sana of course. If I’m burnt out, then how will I be of service? So, I pace, I make peace, and I give myself breaks. The point of a business isn’t to soul suck, but to give life.

What is the best advice you would give another person who wanted to start their own small business?
Build a team who knows more than you, but who will also respect what you offer. You shouldn’t be the smartest in the room, as you want to hold space for self-growth. Having a team has not only been supportive in the marketing, event set ups, brainstorm sessions, but also provides a team to learn and build together.

What does the future of wellness look like?
It looks diversified! I love seeing POC reclaim elements of our culture that have long been used as financial gains through appropriation and price gouging, moving away from the very essence of the purpose: to provide healing to all! Seeing people create healing spaces that are accessible, relatable, a reconnection to our roots, allows for deep healing.

The theme of our current issue is JOY, how do you inspire joy in your life and those around you?
By embracing the little moments every day—celebrating life, sharing meals, being fully present. Whether it’s catching a sunset or a group trip to the tropics, every experience, big or small, enriches this beautiful journey we call life. Especially the small.