PSA: Just a few spots left at our Costa Rica retreat! Also, we're getting ready to plan summer and fall retreats if you want to chime in. But if online is more your jam, we now have video bundles available for all levels. Don't forget that you'll get a free gift when you screenshot your review of our app to Lauren. And lastly, our book, Namaslay, is available for preorder.

The YBC Mantra Box, in case you’re new here, is our quarterly discovery box program. Those interested in receiving one simply preorder one of the 150 before they sell out, and wait for the surprise to show up on their doorstep. No one ever knows what the products will be ahead of time - they’re a total surprise - but you can choose from a Paleo, vegan/vegetarian option, and an “I eat all the foods” option. The items in the box will be products from the health and wellness industries. When you purchase a YBC Mantra Box, you’re supporting small businesses and discovering products not found at big box stores. Check out what we put in the spring box below, and if you’re ready to jump on board for the summer box, which will ship out at the end of June, you can pre-order yours here. Thank you so much for your continued support!

Small Businesses in the Spring YBC Mantra Box

Michele Tsucalas, founder of Michele's Granola

Michele's Granola founder, Michele Tsucalas

Why the company was started: Many years ago, Michele fell in love with homemade granola bars from a local bakery and began experimenting to create her own homemade granola cereal. She spent countless hours blending and baking with natural and organic ingredients until she discovered the perfectly crunchy, crispy bite, and her business Michele’s Granola was born in 2006. She started her operation as a one-woman farmers’ market show, doing all of the baking, marketing and selling herself. As the demand for her product has grown, she’s grown her team to 25, but she is committed to maintaining a small batch artisan process, baking with fresh quality ingredients, and giving extra special care to every crunchy bit of granola that comes out of her kitchen.

What does the company do to give back? Michele's Granola is committed to treading lightly on the earth and giving back to our local community as part of our triple bottom line approach to business that honors Profit, People and Planet. Michele created "Give 1% for Good Food," through which 1% of all sales are donated to Baltimore-based non-profits that improve nutrition and food security by providing access to fresh, local food. The bakery facility is powered with 100% wind power, minimum 40% of our waste is recycled and another 40% is compostable materials given to a local composting facility that churns out rich, fertile soil for Baltimore’s urban farming projects.

Product included in box: Toasted Muesli

Retail value: $6.99/1 lb bag

Coupon Code: 'YBC' for 10% off any product in the Michele's Granola online store
Valid March 18 - April 30, 2016

Founder of Clever Yoga Ellie Teng

Personal Mantra: Everything will be fine.

Why the company was started: As a very active yogi, I know yoga practice can benefit everyone who is open minded and willing to improve their lives. It can be a challenge to pick up the right yoga props and accessories with quality and affordability. We combine meticulous market research with strict quality control and testing to create high quality products at affordable prices. I want to provide all level yogis the best products and services. The products should be environmental friendly on the way too.

What does the company do to give back? Very actively involved with Annie Okerlin's Exalted Warrior Foundation by donating our new product launch proceeds to the foundation monthly. The Exalted Warrior Foundation facilitates an adaptive yoga instruction program that is designed for wounded warriors in the active military, veteran hospital facilities, and veterans within communities around the country. We recently also involved with Garrison Elementary School Fundraiser project and are happy to help. We will continuously help our community in our capability.

Product included in box: Hand Grip Strengthener

Retail Value: $49.99 (on sale for $16.99!)

Coupon Code: 'YBC15OFF' for 15% off

Modern Oats founders, Richard Principale and Peter Scialdone

Why the company was started: Innovative Beverage Concepts Inc., creators of MOCAFE™, MOCAFE ORGANICS™, TEAOLOGY® TEA, and MODERN OATS™, has been a leader in developing over 100 high quality, award winning, innovative café products that are used by professionals worldwide since 1996.

Product included in box: Premium Oatmeal

Retail value: $3.50/cup

Coupon Code: 'mantra25' for 25% off cart, expires December 31, 2016

ASUTRA co-founder, Barbara Johnson

Personal Mantra: Balance is Beautiful

Why the company was started: Our story is simple. We saw a need for all natural and organic products dedicated to the practice of yoga, meditation, and relaxation. Yogis spend countless hours on their mat or in deep meditation. Our products are designed specifically for YOU - before, during and after your practice. So we decided to make the best all natural, organic products to help elevate your practice.

What does the company do to give back? We make all our products here in the USA. Every year, we donate hundreds of bottles of our ASUTRA organic yoga mat cleaners to various yoga studios and at various yoga festivals to help spread the importance of practicing safe, clean, germ free yoga.

Product included in box: ASUTRA Yoga Mat Cleaner with FREE microfiber towel

Retail value: $15.95 (on sale for $10.95)

Coupon Code: ‘CANDACE10’ for 10% OFF *no expiration date

nyl Founder, Carol Sondesky

Personal Mantra: Keep it simple!

Why the company was started: We make completely all natural handmade skincare that is people and environmentally friendly. Vegan & cruelty-free, gluten-free, non-toxic, made with organic ingredients and free of synthetics.

What does the company do to give back?: At the current time, we work with the elderly who do a lot of our production.

Product included in box: Velvet Transformative Serum

Retail value: $78.00 for a 1 ounce bottle (previously sold at $60 for .5 oz bottle)

Coupon Code: YBC15 value: 15% off full size expires: 4/30/16

Lauri Spragins, founder of The Paleo Nut

The Paleo Nut founder, Lauri Spragins along with her very talented photographer/artist and yoga enthusiast daughter, Carly Taylor.

Personal Mantra: You are what you eat. We prefer fruits and nuts.

Why the company was started: We wanted to create a variety of Paleo snacks for the "on-the-go crowd" - in essence, everyone who can't spend hours in the kitchen everyday. We started with the granolas and the fruit nut bites, and recently added our cookies. All of our products are certified by The Paleo Foundation as quality assurance to our customers.

Product included in box: Paleo Granola

Retail value: $12.00/bag

Coupon Code: 'YBC15' for 15% off a minimum $25.00 purchase and good through April 30, 2016

Bill and Hayley Staley, founders of Primal Palate

Primal Palate founders, Bill and Hayley Staley

Brand Mission: The highest quality spices available.

Why the company was started: We started Primal Palate to provide people with great, easy Paleo recipes. If we could cook that way, so could anyone! It grew into a book (and then 4 books), and an interactive website, and then we launched our line or organic spices. But the core mission is always helping people cook great, healthy meals.

What does the company do to give back? 95% of everything we do is free. Our website is free to use (including our interactive meal planner). We also regularly feature up and coming bloggers to give them exposure. That was how we got our start in 2010, and love being able to do that for others.

Product included in box: Primal Palate Organic Spices

Retail value: starts at $24.95 for a full size three pack.

Manitoba Harvest founder, Mike Fata

Personal Mantra: We ♥ Hemp foods, promoting health & wellness and fostering positive change for the community & environment!

Why the company was started: Mike Fata, CEO & Co-Founder Information on his before/after story can be found here.

What does the company do to give back? We are a BCorp certified company, we give many donations to local food banks, we send millions of samples to events all across North America. We've donated to the United Way, the Canadian Red Cross Foundation and other natural disaster events.

Product included in box: Hemp Heart Bars, Vanilla, Chocolate & Apple Cinnamon

Retail value: $31.99/box

Coupon Code: YBC16 and it’s for 20% off all our products. It expires on June 30.

Erbaviva founder, Robin Brown

Personal Mantra: Do your best in all endeavors. I’m a perfectionist at heart and that has made me uncompromising when it comes to developing Erbaviva’s products in a business arena where it is easy to cut corners. It is important to me that our products are the healthiest and purest possible and that our standards never waver. - Robin Brown

Why the company was started: Erbaviva was born to bring the world a luxurious collection of the purest organic skincare products available. The exclusive, handmade collection is Certified USDA Organic, distinctively pure, and authentically nurturing.

What does the company do to give back?: Erbaviva is a proud financial supporter of The Blink Now Foundation and its invaluable work to sustain and care for the lives of impoverished children in Nepal. Since the founding of the company, Erbaviva has also been an integral part of an artisan project fund that provides direct financial benefit to the Pwo Karen hill tribe of Northern Thailand and Burma, called Sop Moei Arts. All of Erbaviva’s products are compassionately made by hand at the company’s own renewable energy powered facility in Southern California. A Certified B Corporation, Erbaviva consistently implements and supports sustainable and environmentally responsible principles with every practice and partnership as possible.

Product included in box: Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Retail value: $13.00

Jordan S. Rubin, founder of Garden of Life

Garden of Life founder, Jordan S. Rubin

Personal Mantra: Empowering Extraordinary Health

Why the company was started: Garden of Life’s commitment to health goes beyond offering some of the most effective nutritional products in the world. We are interested in building relationships with people to help them transform their lives to attain extraordinary health. By combining the best of nature and science, the Garden of Life brand offers a path to healthy living with premium products that are supported by education and innovation.

What does the company do to give back? Garden of Life pays it forward by working with Vitamin Angels, SOS Children's Villages, WomenHeart, the National Parkinsons Foundation and the Whole Planet Foundation to help those in need around the world.

Product included in box: Vitamin C Spray

Retail value: $12.95

Golden Chai co-founder and CEO, Glenn McElfresh (pictured) Kat Koh and Adam Braus

Personal Mantra: Better everyday.

Why the company was started: We were introduced to Golden Milk by an old Ayurvedic practitioner and decided we had to make an easier way to enjoy Golden Chai.

What does the company do to give back? We're currently working on ways to make that happen. We're really small :)

Product included in box: Turmeric Chai

Retail value: $24.99 for 10 days

Coupon Code: 'GOLDENYBC' for 15% off all orders. *Doesn't expire