Today I am going to walk you through a guided beginner-friendly Yoga Nidra practice. For those of you who are exploring Yoga Nidra for the first time, this is a deep guided relaxation practice usually done in the position of Shavasana. Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Connect with us on Instagram

Yoga Nidra is an ancient practice that holds immense potential for our well-being, yet it remains somewhat hidden in the shadows. Today, we’re fortunate to have Sandeep Manur, a seasoned yoga teacher, studio owner, and teacher trainer, back on the podcast to unravel the mysteries of Yoga Nidra. Episode Highlights: What is yoga nidra and how is it different from shavasana?The origin of yoga nidra from the Bihar School of YogaWhat are the benefits of yoga nidraDoes yoga nidra have any...

Spirituality is a term that is frequently used in our yoga communities. However, what does spirituality actually signify when it comes to yoga? To discover the answer to this question, I am thrilled to introduce a new guest, Ram Jain, who will be discussing the fundamental principles of spirituality. Episode Highlights: What spirituality means in the context of yogaHow does one begin their spiritual journey in yogaThe difference in spiritual perception between yogis and modern-day...

It's fascinating to explore the topic of gurus in yoga and the meaning behind the word. In this episode, we delve into the characteristics of a guru, when you might need one, whether it's possible to practice yoga without a teacher, and so much more. Our guest today is Dr. Manasa Rao, who has been on the show before. Episode Highlights: What is the role of a guru in yoga?What traits or characteristics to look for in a guru?The different levels of teachers and the different types of...

In this episode, I’m doing a deep dive into what type of asana will help during perimenopause. I'll share some tips on how to approach your practice, which pranayamas are useful, which restoration techniques will leave you feeling rejuvenated, what will really add value to your practice, and what yoga principles in living yoga are we going to really pull from. Episode Highlights: The difference between perimenopause and menopauseAsana practice in younger yearsThe practice of asana during the...

The topic of women yogis in India is often overlooked and not widely discussed due to its complexity and nuances. It involves many layers of cultural factors. Popular yoga often includes discussions about yogis, but there is a mysterious aspect to it. To shed some light on this topic, I decided to invite Prasad Rangnekar back, one of our favorite guests, to discuss the history of women practitioners, specifically yogis and yoginis in India. Episode Highlights: Was yoga a man's practice?The...

I know that some of you have been requesting an episode about mudras. When it comes to mudras, I couldn't think of a better person to have this conversation with than our favorite guest, Indu Arora. We delve into the concept of namaste as a mudra and explore mudras that extend beyond the hands. Indu defines what mudras are, their origin, and how to practice them. Additionally, she provides advice for those who are new to the idea of mudras and how they can explore it further. Episode...

Today, I have the pleasure of hosting Prashant J, a yoga teacher from India, on my show. He is the proud owner of a yoga school in Rishikesh and is known for his expertise as an international yoga teacher and content creator. Our discussion today will focus on pranayama, where we dive deep into topics like prana, Kundalini Shakti, and Kumbhakas. Episode Highlights: The link between yoga and pranayamaThe definition of prana and pranayamaCan pranayama alone help one move towards higher states...

Fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum are three phases in life that Ayurveda provides a lot of wisdom about. I can't think of anybody specializing in this field other than our past guest, Nidhi Pandya. She uses her generational Ayurvedic wisdom to help us understand it in a simplified and relatable manner where we can find ways to apply Ayurvedic wisdom in our daily lives. Episode Highlights: What Ayurveda says about fertilityHealthy practices one can doAdvice to women who choose to be...

Ayurvedic self-care is taking care of ourselves from within. Indu's book SOMA: 100 Heritage Recipes for Self-Care is filled with recipes, rituals & remedies. Looking after ourselves is especially important these times, so if you’re like me who loves anything DIY and self-care, you'll enjoy this conversation. Episode Highlights: What is SOMA?What is at stake if we don’t talk about ourselves?How important is a self-care routine?Indu’s favorite morning ritualIndu’s nighttime practiceOiling...

In this episode, we're going to do a deep dive to figuring out the answers to these two important questions. I'm going to give you very clear markers to work with. I want this episode to be a reminder that preparing yourself for pranayama is very important. That way, you resonate with it deeply as you explore the practice. Because there is nothing imaginary in pranayama. It is an exact science and a precise system that has been handed over by Yogis for centuries with care and caution. Episode...

On this episode, I invited a very special guest, Dr. Abha Rajbhandari, who's going to dive into the intersection of science and spirituality. We’re going to explore the definition of science and spirituality, where they intersect, the nature of our consciousness, what yoga does to our brains, the goal for emotional regulation, and so much more. Episode Highlights: The definition of spiritualityWhat makes up something to be called spiritualThe definition of scienceScientific parts of yogaWhat...

Surya Namaskar, also known as sun salutations, is such a simple yet daunting topic for a lot of yoga teachers and we as modern practitioners only know it from the lens of it being very physical. So on the show today, I invited Pradeep Sattwamaya to help us trace the origins of Surya Namaskar and its uses in our modern-day yoga. Episode Highlights: How old is the practice of Surya Namaskar?The importance of Hatha yogaWhat is Chandra Namaskar?Breath practicesSupplemental elements in yogaThe...

In this episode, I'm giving you a teaser of my Pranayama class by talking about the different groups of Pranayama practices. You'll be amazed to know how each type impacts our body and spirit. And did you know that there is such a thing called Pranayama Sequencing? I can't wait to get into all that and more in our upcoming training and immersion. Episode Highlights: The three main groups of Pranayama practicesWhy is Vitalizing Pranayama also called Energizing Pranayama?Tranquilizing...

Have you ever heard about Bhoga? The word Bhoga is a Sanskrit word that means to enjoy or to consume. And since we are heading into a celebratory season across the globe, I thought that this would be a very timely conversation for us to have. Episode Highlights: What is BhogaBhoga is not necessarily a bad thingFour stages of lifeYoga versus BhogaThe problems that come from overindulging in BhogaThe six types of indulgences that we have to watch forDealing with Bhogas through the four Margas...

I know many of you have been waiting for my annual Pranayama Yoga Teacher Training and I'm very excited to share that the wait is finally over. As you're listening to this episode, all the details are live and the waitlist is open. To get a first-hand experience of what it's like inside this course, I looked at one of our older Pranayama podcast episodes that I wanted to share with you. I want to allow you to practice a little Pranayama with me via this podcast. So what I’m sharing with you...

It's a real challenge to teach a person who is just starting their yoga experience. What is the best approach in teaching yoga to beginners? How do we prepare ourselves as teachers? Take advantage of this level when they are most susceptible to knowledge and build a strong foundation. After all, mentors play a big part in their students' yoga. Listen and discover more in today's episode. Episode Highlights: How to teach yoga to a beginnerTeach the beginner what they can relate to firstSee...

In today's episode I share 3 things I wish I knew a decade ago when it came to teaching a beginner (or any student). You know I think every beginner student is extremely important because there are a lot of yoga teacher training programs that do not get this covered because most of them focus on teaching a student who already has some basic yoga knowledge. Because teaching a beginner requires a nuanced approach and can be challenging. But also very rewarding. It comes down to the caliber of...

As the owner of Aham Yoga Studio for 10 years, I have honestly been testing, trying, and failing many times and coming up with a blueprint that now we put on repeat that helps us to move the students in a way where they relate to yoga, they feel successful, and they come back to continue investing in themselves and in their journey with yoga. So I have taken these 10 years of my work and have condensed and packed it into a 30-hour online Teaching Yoga To Beginners Course that is built...

In my studio at Aham Yoga, I have students who have some knowledge of Ayurveda and I would often get so many questions about what the role of food is. How should we really eat? How frequently should we eat and in what quantity? This is honestly a topic that I am no expert with and so I decided to invite back a past guest who is the real expert in Ayurveda, Nidhi Pandya. Join us as we explore the role of food in our lives, the various effects different foods bring to us, and some practical...

Nowadays, there are people who start yoga through asana practice but, at its core, keep saying that yoga is for the mind. The question is how is the mind actually connected to yoga? In this episode, I will be joined by a new guest, Sandipani Manur, who will help us look into managing the mind through yoga and the different layers of the mind. Sandipani has been teaching for a very long time. He has 25 years of learning and teaching yoga and he aims to keep yoga very simple and...

In the previous episode, Vikram and I started a masterclass on the yamas and niyamas where we dove deep into the five yamas, their layers, and how someone moves through the yamas. And as part two of this masterclass, Vikram and I are putting the spotlight on the niyamas in this episode. Join us as we identify the differences between the yamas and niyamas and the reasons why they differ in application. We also go over each of the five niyamas, their definitions, and applications for...

If there is a one conversation about the Yamas you need to listen to as someone who does or even teaches yoga - let it be this one.  Vikram Jeet Singh is back on the podcast with another power packed conversation. This time diving deep into the yamas. If you want to do more than poses and curious about living yoga but don’t know where to start. Listen to this conversation. It will be insightful and enriching no matter what stage of yoga you are in.  This is part 1 of a 2 part series. Part 2...

Now that our summer break is over, we are back with more episodes.  Kickstarting with a solo episode, Arundhati talks about 10 truths of studying yoga in the modern day that often gets over looked.  Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Connect with us on Instagram