How often do we realise we’re wrong in the moment? It can take time and perspective to gain a well-rounded picture of any issue we’re confronted with no matter how sure we feel in the moment. Yet, despite this, communication is a skill so many of us are in constant battle with. In this episode, mediator and coach Mia Forbes shares her communication wisdom shining light on self esteem, trauma and ego. It’s factors like these that create this dysfunction where everyone is talking but no one is...

Holding space for those in pursuit of spiritual or psychological growth is not a path free from compassion fatigue yet we must look at how absorbing the pressure of the ‘pedestal’ is one of the catalysts for burnout. But what if our teachers aren't really the ones leading the way? After all, personal epiphanies could not occur without the self, nor could they be delivered without spirit. No matter what position you hold in society, you are always a student. Whether that humility is embraced...

Swami Chidananda once lived a life of expensive cars and partying–exactly what you might expect of a young investment banker.  But his life took a dramatic turn after realising that rising to the top still meant he was a cog in the capitalist machine. He had a call to follow his purpose even if that meant taking a leap of faith all the way to India. After years of devotion in ashrams, Swami Chidananda is able to now shine some perspective on wisdom seeking and asana practice in the west.  ...

If you were blindfolded and asked to describe what’s in front of you, you might say ‘thin and ropey’. At least, that’s what you’d say if an elephant’s tail was in front of you. This description of your experience is true, but it’s not the whole elephant.  When it comes to understanding this life, the same thing applies: not one person can comprehend the whole.  We’re each searching for meaning through different lenses. For many, the lens is yoga and with commitment, profound insights are...

Tim takes inspiration from David Bowie’s song ‘Heroes’ (and his own guru experience) to unravel the everpresent draw towards figures of leadership. Yet, on a spiritual path, we face the choice to turn to our yoga teacher or an acclaimed guru. But really, what’s the difference? Tim explores how the idea of ‘teacher’ is multifaceted. The person leading your class could be brand new to the space or have a lifetime of practice behind them. Regardless, they’re devoted to serving. Equally, a...

As yoga evolves, there's a risk of over-complication and self-centredness. In this episode, Ashtanga Yoga Teacher, David Swenson, takes us on an exploration of yoga observations from almost 50 years of dedication.  To him, what’s changed the most over the decades is the way people show up to yoga. For some there’s a drive to ‘complete it’ while others can be overly fixated on anatomy. Too much of this and we can be distracted from the basic yet powerful benefits of the practice. But there’s...

We know that when we practice yoga, it has a positive ripple effect on the world around us. But in moments of injustice, we cannot rely on this as a way to change the world.  Azadeh sees both worlds as an Iranian woman and owner of yoga studios. She expresses how it’s now more important than ever to ensure we speak of this oppression so that the world can awaken to the truth of Iran’s reality. We may turn to yoga for peace but Azadeh reminds us, anger is okay too. It’s within our practice...

Samin compares Iranian women to birds - they have wings yet they don’t know how to fly. Samin herself was born and raised in Iran but once she left the country, she embarked on a yoga journey.  While her purpose is to share peace, her story is far from peaceful. Because like the birds she compares herself to, no journey is smooth for an Iranian woman. Even one that has left the country. Her personal yoga practice began when she was 19 and ever since then, her path led her to build an online...

Consider how freely you practise yoga, ride your bicycle in the sunshine, or smash a workout for an endorphin hit. What happens when all of these activities are taken away from you? The sad reality is that this is happening in our world. Kino talks with Maryam, an Iranian who emigrated from her home country in 2018, about the quality of life in Iran. More specifically, the country’s unrest regarding women’s rights - a backlash to the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.  Myram discusses how she...

The call that brought us to our yoga mat is the same call that leads many of us toward the path of teaching. The mental, physical and spiritual healing that can be found within a dedicated yoga practice is life changing. It’s only natural that the desire to spread this wisdom with the world comes knocking. But is that passion enough to be a good teacher? Your teacher training may have provided an immersion into yoga but the truth is, the deeper we dip our toe into the stream of truth, the...

After an hour-long group meditation, all areas of the practice are covered. Why do we struggle to keep up a daily practice? Why do our thoughts spiral? Where is the subconscious mind located? This exploration provides consolation to the thinking mind’s questions about meditation. Whether it’s five minutes or a one-hour sit, mediation is a practice that requires daily attention yet so many of us feel like we fail at it. The question is rarely whether we’re capable though. Rather, we must...

Pranidhi Varshney is the founder of Yoga Shala West which is based in Los Angele and has been practising yoga for 15 years. She believes that learning is cyclical where the student learns from the teacher and the teacher learns from the student unlike a top-down relationship.  Previously, within the yoga community, there was a tendency to overlook the origins and lineage of yoga. Pranidhi feels it’s important for this conversation and voices around yoga to include people of South Asian...

Dannion Brinkley had faced unimaginable odds, having several near-death experiences and even crossing over and coming back. He discovered that we are spiritual beings. Death, as we are taught, is only an illusion. Dannion works with those close to passing to accept that we never die.  The biggest mistake we all make is forgetting we are spiritual beings. And to be able to live now is a gift, no matter what may be going wrong in your life. As you release more love and gratitude, you enter...

A misunderstanding about meditation is that it calms your mind. But even after 20 years of practicing, a calm mind will still have days of chaos. The purpose of meditation is not to become calm but to create equanimity.  Though the words calm and equanimous are often used synonymously, there is a slight difference. Calmness can be compared to still waters, while equanimity is more like the sky. It’s a container that holds all things.  The equanimous mind remains the same, no matter what...

Yoga is an existing flow, like a stream. It has flowed before you, you interact with it when you step in, but it keeps flowing when you step out. Lineage requires us to have a multidimensional outlook. To be able to look back, look forward, and be aware of our current standings.   It’s not the type of lineage that involves genetics or bloodlines. To enter into the Yoga lineage, you must practice conscious choice and intentionality. It’s Setting the intention to practice, making the conscious...

Dr. Shyam is a scholar-practitioner and professor of the department of philosophy at the York Centre For Asian Research at York University in Toronto, Canada, and the founder of yogaphilosophy.com.  Dr. Shyam translated the Yoga Sutra as a project as an undergrad taking South Asian Studies. This is what sparked his interest in yoga. Through studying the ancient sources of yoga, he recognized how time and colonialism had changed the yoga practice. Then, he began to understand the true...

I am not an expert in constitutional law, but as a woman, I felt a duty to create a dialogue around the recent overturning of Roe vs. Wade and the rights that have been stripped from women in many states across the US.  Not all of us will agree on this topic. It’s a very personal question that really only you can answer yourself.  But, that doesn’t make it any less important to speak on.  The definition of life is the idea of when the soul was created. To many religious groups, life begins...

The yoga practice is a wonderful tool for self-reflection and healing. Satya or truthfulness is an important part of the journey to personal wellness. You must be honest with yourself and share from your heart. We all have something of value, something to offer. And by showing up and sharing, we can help others and to a stronger sense of community wellness. The feeling of acceptance in the yoga community can create a great sense of safety and self-security. You can be vulnerable, be...

Observing is the basis of mediation practice, which is a very vital part of the yoga practice. No matter how many times your mind wanders or where it wanders, the most important thing is to observe that your mind has wandered and then return your focus to your breath.  From your meditation and yoga practice, carry whatever peace and harmony that is in your heart into your life. Kindness is how we make the spiritual message of yoga real. By embodying who we are and expanding the circle of...

I’ve been practicing yoga since college, but does that alone make me a successful yogi? Do the cool poses you can do make your yoga practice successful? Also, no. Success in the yoga practice is not judged by external metrics like aesthetic performance.   Practice is different than performance. A performance entertains; a practice is done for you and you alone. Your yoga practice is meant to help you become a better human being. You’d be surprised at the changes you’ll see in yourself...

Yoga is a spiritual practice, an internal journey that can’t be reflected in anyone the same way it is inside yourself. The fundamental idea is that the seeds of awakening, peace, and Samadhi are within every single one of us.  Your experience is best evaluated personally and individually. Not by the standards of others or external factors. “If only” will only toxify your yoga practice, ruining it for you and others. Only you can evaluate your own yoga journey.  The poison of our...

Many of us, even myself, came into this beautiful world of yoga through Asana or physical practice. Then after some time, it becomes necessary to learn more about the Sadhana or spiritual side of and more subtle limbs of your practice.  This is a very personal journey that will be different for everyone in terms of when you will find the spiritual spark. But, the general rule is by the time you’re getting to advanced Asanas, you should be exploring Sadhana. Otherwise, the physical side of...

Sunaina Madhav Dasi (they/them) is a multidimensional human that holds many identities. They immigrated from Bangalore, India in 1996 and are currently settled on the ancestral lands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations. Sunaina is a mixed-race person (Indo-Aryan and Dravidian) and speaks Tamil as their mother tongue. Their yoga practice is deeply rooted in Hinduism, Bhakti, and social justice. They follow the lineage and teachings of their ancestors and Sri Paramahamsa Vishwananda as...

After years of practicing, I realized getting my meditation practice perfect wasn’t going to happen. But, this impossibility doesn’t have to be a problem. Understand the imperfect nature of all things, even yourself, your life, and what you bring to meditation practice. A wandering mind is not a failed meditation. It’s all a part of the practice. And, that’s what it is: a practice. Imperfection and failure are a part of learning, a part of reality. No one is without imperfection.    We must...

Join me in a guided meditation practice to bring awareness to your full body through breath and sensations. Learn to retrain your brain to become mindful and neutral to all of your thoughts and sensations.  This practice fits well with our previous episode about the Value of Equanimity because it brings you closer to reaching true mental calmness through being aware of your sensations and learning to remain neutral.   The truth you discover from equanimity, that all things are...