Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar. He is an internationally recognized specialist with four decades’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy. He leads workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools and training programs in the world. Leslie’s book Yoga Anatomy, (co-authored with Amy Matthews), sold out its first print run of 19,000 within one month of its June 2007 release, and has been a top-selling yoga book on Amazon ever since. The book went into 12 printings before the newly-revised third edition of Yoga Anatomy was released on October 31, 2011, now with well over half a million copies in print and translations into 23 languages. Leslie also helped to organize international yoga conferences while serving as Vice-President of Unity in Yoga, and was part of the ad-hoc committee that established national standards for yoga teacher training. Prior to the formation of The Yoga Alliance, Leslie was a strong voice in the ensuing national debate regarding the application of those certification standards. This dialogue resulted in the creation of e-Sutra, an influential e-mail list and blog that has an active worldwide membership. Leslie is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City based non-profit educational corporation which ran highly respected year-long courses in yoga anatomy from 2003 to 2017. Leslie Kaminoff founded The Breathing Project in 2001 as a non-profit dedicated to the sharing of educational, community-based programming related to yoga, anatomy and health enrichment. From 2003 until mid-2017 the main vehicle for this mission was the physical studio we ran in New York City. The Breathing Project continues its mission of community service by producing and co-sponsoring workshops, immersions, symposia and publications featuring thought leaders from the fields of yoga, anatomy, somatics and other allied fields. The courses Leslie taught at The Breathing Project in New York City have been available online to a worldwide audience at yogaanatomy.net since 2011, with thousands of students worldwide participating in this growing online community. In this episode, Jacob & Leslie discussed: three tiers of yoga education: instructor, teacher, educator (and therapist?) the yoga teaching landscape post-Covid the historical arc of yoga's popularity the psychology of the classroom & student/teacher dynamics studying the anatomy of the mouth through Sanskrit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leslie Kaminoff is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar. He is an internationally recognized specialist with four decades’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy. He leads workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools and training programs in the world. Leslie’s book Yoga Anatomy, (co-authored with Amy Matthews), sold out its first print run of 19,000 within one month of its June 2007 release, and has been a top-selling yoga book on Amazon ever since. The book went into 12 printings before the newly-revised third edition of Yoga Anatomy was released on October 31, 2011, now with well over half a million copies in print and translations into 23 languages. Leslie also helped to organize international yoga conferences while serving as Vice-President of Unity in Yoga, and was part of the ad-hoc committee that established national standards for yoga teacher training. Prior to the formation of The Yoga Alliance, Leslie was a strong voice in the ensuing national debate regarding the application of those certification standards. This dialogue resulted in the creation of e-Sutra, an influential e-mail list and blog that has an active worldwide membership. Leslie is the founder of The Breathing Project, a New York City based non-profit educational corporation which ran highly respected year-long courses in yoga anatomy from 2003 to 2017. Leslie Kaminoff founded The Breathing Project in 2001 as a non-profit dedicated to the sharing of educational, community-based programming related to yoga, anatomy and health enrichment. From 2003 until mid-2017 the main vehicle for this mission was the physical studio we ran in New York City. The Breathing Project continues its mission of community service by producing and co-sponsoring workshops, immersions, symposia and publications featuring thought leaders from the fields of yoga, anatomy, somatics and other allied fields. The courses Leslie taught at The Breathing Project in New York City have been available online to a worldwide audience at yogaanatomy.net since 2011, with thousands of students worldwide participating in this growing online community. In this episode, Jacob & Leslie discussed: three tiers of yoga education: instructor, teacher, educator (and therapist?) the yoga teaching landscape post-Covid the historical arc of yoga's popularity the psychology of the classroom & student/teacher dynamics studying the anatomy of the mouth through Sanskrit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Lucy Crisfield is a speaker at the World Yoga Festival, a plenary speaker at the British Wheel of Yoga Festival, and the founder of ‘Original Wisdom’, through which she shares the inner teachings of mantra and yoga philosophy with sound, meditation, and scholarly precision. Lucy has just finished writing a book with the same title as her signature course, ‘The Sounds of Sanskrit ~ The Language of Yoga’. Taking seven years to write, the book is a direct expression of her own experience in response to the meditative inquiry and realizations that the Sanskrit sounds have brought forth. Lucy studied the violin and piano at the Royal College of Music from the age of eleven, and after receiving a first class honours degree in mathematics and Music, she left London to travel solo through twenty countries over five years in her quest for a deeper understanding of life. As well as immersing herself in yoga and finding herself at the feet of many revered teachers of the tradition, she also studied Arabic and the recitation of the Quran in Damascus, Yemen, and East London, and Hebrew at SOAS in London. Many years later, when back in London, Lucy eventually found the master of sound she had been looking for, Peter Harrison, who initiated her into the Advaita Vedanta tradition. Lucy now lives in the South West of England with her partner and two children, where she offers unique classes which share the teachings and sounds of the yoga tradition to illumine the intellect and connect us to the creative wisdom of the Self.   In this episode, we discuss:  How previous teachers have shaped the understanding of Sanskrit  The difference between academic and vibratory approaches to Sanskrit The metaphysics of sound The difference between music and mantra The philosophy of sound in the modern yoga world The potential effects of mispronounced mantras The role of grammar in receiving Sanskrit’s vibrational potency See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Bihani Sakar is a Calcutta-born, Oxford-educated, scholar of classical Sanskrit literature and pre-modern Indian history and religious traditions. Bihani is a historian of early Indian politics, religions, and literature (poetry and drama) between the 2nd and the 15th centuries CE. She is lecturer in Comparative Non-Western Thought at Lancaster University and formerly a departmental lecturer in Sanskrit at Oriental Institute, University of Oxford. Bihani has researched and taught in universities in the UK and in Europe. Her teaching goal is to enable everyone access to early Indian Sanskrit texts and traditions in the original language, regardless of ability or prior knowledge, and to think about them in critical, modern, and exciting ways. Bihani’s publications span the history of the Śākta (goddess-centric) traditions, their metaphysics, their relationship to power, their role in the growth of the state and kingship and, most recently, on Śākta epigraphy as well as on histories of classical Indian literary genres, aesthetics, and emotions. Her most recent book is Classical Sanskrit Tragedy: The Concept of Suffering and Pathos in Medieval India.   In this episode, we discuss:  Marginalized voices in the study of Sanskrit. Wild women and goddesses in ancient Sanskrit poetry in mythology. Shaktism as a stand-alone tradition. Shakta as a homegrown feminist tradition inspiring and emancipating Indian women. Does one need to be from a culture to understand a culture? The importance of valuing the place where something comes from. Being an accidental academic.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the GuestsHari-kirtana das is a yoga teacher, spiritual mentor, and author. He's been practicing devotional yoga and various other yogic disciplines for the better part of the last 50 years, has lived in yoga ashrams and intentional spiritual communities, and has a talent for making complex ideas about spiritual philosophy easy to understand.  Kenneth Rose, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of philosophy and religion. As a scholar-practitioner, he specializes in comparative religion, comparative mysticism, and spirituality. Trish Tillman is a history professor and yoga teacher in the Washington, DC area. She holds a Ph.D. in History from the Catholic University of America and teaches at the University of Maryland - Global Campus. Trish has been steadily involved in the study and practice of Bhakti yoga, via her teacher, Hari-kirtana das.  Stephanie Corigliano is the editor for Tarka at Embodied Philosophy. She works as a lecturer in the Religious Studies department at Cal Poly, Humboldt. Stephanie holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Theology from Boston College University and an MA in Theology from Loyola Marymount University.   In this episode, we discuss: The concept and role of the guru in present-day spheres of yoga and academia. The overlaps and differences between guru and teacher. What the yogic tradition has to say about the qualifications of a guru and misconceptions about the role. The emergence of scholar-practitioners in academic religious studies and its impact. Why the guru role is still relevant.  The debate over female gurus within the Hare Krishnas in the West as a microcosm of the larger debate over female gurus and spiritual authorities. How the guru role may evolve in our unbounded, modern time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Tracee Stanley is the author of the bestselling book Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity and the founder of Empowered Life Circle, a sacred community and portal of practices, rituals, and Tantric teachings inspired by more than twenty-five years of studentship in SriVidya Tantra and the teachings of the Himalayan Masters. As a post-lineage teacher, Tracee is devoted to sharing the wisdom of yoga nidra, rest, meditation, self-inquiry, nature as a teacher, and ancestor reverence. Tracee is gifted in illuminating the magic and power found in liminal space and weaving devotion and practice into daily life. She lives with her husband and two dogs in northern New Mexico. Chitheads listeners can use receive 30% off the price of Tracee’s new book The Luminous Self when you order from Shambhala.com and use coupon code LUM30. Website: https://www.traceestanley.com/luminous-self Facebook: Tracee Stanley - Empowered Life Instagram: @tracee_stanley   In this episode, we discuss: Our true nature and what gets in the way of accessing that. The extractive nature of the spiritual marketplace. How saṃskāra shapes a life. The kleśas (obstacles) that stand in the way of realizing our true nature.  Spiritual and professional recommendations for yoga teachers in the wake of the pandemic. Creating your own rituals to honor transitions. Sādhana as a source of creativity, clarity, and wisdom.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Jill Miller, C-IAYT, ERYT, YA-CEP is a fascia and movement expert that forges links between the worlds of yoga, massage, athletics, and pain management. Her programs, Yoga Tune Up® and The Roll Model® are found at gyms, yoga studios, hospitals, athletic training facilities and corporations worldwide. She is the former anatomy columnist for Yoga Journal and has been featured in New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Shape, Women’s Health, O, Today Show, and Oprah Winfrey Network. She is the author of The Roll Model: A Step-by-Step Guide to Erase Pain, Improve Mobility, and Live Better in Your Body, and a contributing author on self-myofascial release in Fascia, Function and Medical Applications. She is the creator of dozens of instructional DVDs, with movement luminaries Tom Myers, Katy Bowman, Kelly Starrett DPT and Jen Fraboni DPT. Her newest book is Body by Breath: The Science and Practice of Physical and Emotional Resilience. She lives in LA with her husband, 2 kids and rescue dog.  Website: www.tuneupfitness.com Instagram: @TuneUpFitness, @thejillmiller   In this episode, we discuss: Innovation in the yoga classroom. Being a disrupter in the yoga space. How fascia makes you whole. Breath-induced altered states. Breath as a tool to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Accessing the parasympathetic dominant state for healing, recovery, and growth. An embodied breath approach to yoga therapy.   *UPCOMING MASTERCLASS - September 26, 7:30 pm ETVoyage to Vagus: How to Arouse Physiological Relaxation w/ Jill Miller    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Sally Kempton was a master of meditation, yoga philosophy, and practical tantric philosophy. Her retreats and workshops were known for creating breakthroughs, born of her ability to help people turn sublime truths into lived, and life-shifting, experience. Sally spent 20 years as a swami in a Vedic order and studied and taught spiritual wisdom for more than 40 years. She is the author of Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga and Meditation for the Love of It, a seminal book on basic meditation practice, and wrote the popular Yoga Journal column, Wisdom.  Website: sallykempton.com Instagram: @sallykemptonofficial   In this episode, we discuss: The difference between “presencing reality as feminine” and “presencing as masculine.” The incarnations of Shakti. Deity yoga. A pragmatic approach to spirituality. The essence and spirit of tantra.   Note: This episode was originally published in 2016 and is being republished as a tribute to Sally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Ava Taylor, Founder of YAMA Talent, is a tenacious entrepreneur & avid yogi. Committed to running an ethics-based business, her personal mission is to be a Catalyst for Better Living, bringing the tools of wellness to communities of all kinds. Ava has pioneered the development of the booking, management, & consulting business in the yoga space and is a sought-out media contributor known for having her finger on the pulse of this rapidly expanding industry. She’s the creator of The Catalyst: Online Business School for Yogis and author of the forthcoming Yoga Business with Human Kinetics. Website: https://yamatalent.com/ IG: @yamatalent ,  @avantaylor   In this episode, we discuss: The future of yoga business. The yoga industry climate pre-pandemic and how it’s transforming today.  The link between grief and creativity. Business lessons from COVID. Considerations for yoga teachers from a yoga business perspective.  Reimagining yoga.  Opportunities, innovations, and possibilities for a sustainable future of yoga.   NOTE: This episode was previously recorded as part of the Future of the Yoga Teacher Summit and is being republished for its depth and relevance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Daniel Simpson is the author of The Truth of Yoga, an accessible guide to yoga history and philosophy. His approach combines scholarly knowledge with humor and insight, informed by more than 20 years of practical experience. He holds a master's degree in yoga studies (from SOAS at the University of London) and teaches courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, on yoga teacher trainings and via his website, truthofyoga.com. In a previous career, he was a foreign correspondent, working for Reuters and the New York Times. In this episode, we discuss: The relationship between intellectual knowledge and embodied experience. How the evolution of yoga scholarship has impacted the space of modern yoga. Reconciling ourselves to a more accurate representation of yoga history. The re-enchantment of yoga. Having an authentic relationship on our own terms with yoga here and now, and also with yoga tradition. What does an ideal yoga teacher-to-yoga learner relationship look like today? Faith, fidelity, and authenticity in our yoga practice. NOTE: This episode was previously recorded as part of the Future of the Yoga Teacher Summit and is being republished for its depth and relevance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest An accomplished speaker, teacher, and practitioner, Nikki Myers is an MBA, C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Addictions Recovery Specialist, and Certified Health Coach. Born from her personal struggle with addiction, Nikki is the founder of Y12SR, The Yoga of 12-Step Recovery. Based in its theme, “the issues live in the tissues,” Y12SR is a relapse prevention program that weaves the art & science of yoga with the practical tools of 12-step programs. Y12SR meetings are now available throughout the world and the curriculum is rapidly becoming a feature of addiction recovery treatment centers. Nikki’s work has been featured in the New York Times, Black Enterprise, The Huffington Post, Origin Magazine, and CBSnews.com.  She is honored to be a co-founder of the annual Yoga, Meditation, and Recovery Conferences at Esalen Institute and Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. Nikki has been featured as a keynote speaker at the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) conference and the International Conference on Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She was named a Yoga Journal Game Changer and is an honored recipient of the esteemed NUVO Cultural Visionary Award. For more information visit: www.y12sr.com In this episode, we discuss: Nikki’s journey with addiction, relapse, yoga, and the 12-step program. Y12SR (Yoga of 12-Step Recovery) and how it integrates the wisdom of yoga, the practical tools of 12-step programs, and the latest research on trauma healing and neurobiology. The distinction between healing and curing. Connecting the cognitive and somatic for sustainable addiction recovery. The importance of choice in recovery. The spiritual crisis of opioid addiction. Only by owning our experience as an addict (of alcohol and drugs, yes, but also PHONES, food, clothes, or our projections about how reality is supposed to be), we are able to transcend them and not be defined by them.   NOTE: This episode was previously published as episode #83 and is being republished for its depth and relevance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Chitheads is a talk from Joe Loizzo republished from Embodied Philosophy’s Yoga Seminar.  It's a taste of a deeper dive with Dr. Joe Loizzo in our upcoming 30-hr Certificate Program, “Buddhist Psychology in the Nalanda Tradition,” co-presented with the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science. To learn more or to take advantage of the Early Bird pricing (before May 19), go here. About the Guest Joseph (Joe) Loizzo, MD, Ph.D., is a Harvard-trained psychiatrist and Columbia-trained Buddhist scholar with over forty years of experience studying the beneficial effects of contemplative practices on healing, learning, and development. Joe is the Founder & Academic Director of the Nalanda Institute. He is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry in Integrative Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, where he researches and teaches contemplative self-healing and optimal health. He has taught the philosophy of science and religion, the scientific study of contemplative states, and the Indo-Tibetan mind and health sciences at Columbia University, where he is Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Columbia Center for Buddhist Studies. In this episode, we discuss: The philosophy of science from a Western point of view and practice. The history and context of the mind-body split in Western science. Research on stress and neuroplasticity that shed light on the mind-body connection.  Buddhist and scientific definitions of the mind and consciousness.  The question of where do I find my mind? A multi-disciplinary paradigm of mind-brain integration. Yoga as the science of integrating the human nervous system, mind, and body with awareness.   Select slides from Joe's Talk here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This talk is being republished from the Radial Practice Conference in 2018. If you have a Gītā handy you might want to grab it while you listen. About the Guest Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D. in Indic Languages and Cultures from Columbia University. He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has received numerous awards and fellowships, published eight books, and authored a number of articles on the earliest origins of the Vedic culture, yoga philosophy, and the Krishna tradition. As a personal practitioner of bhakti yoga for over 45 years, a number of them spent in India studying with traditional teachers, where he returns yearly, Edwin strives to combine academic scholarship and rigor with appreciation towards traditional knowledge systems. His teaching method is to allow the ancient texts to speak in their own voice and through their own terms and categories. Website: https://sites.rutgers.edu/edwin-bryant/   In this episode, we discuss: Patañjali’s citta-vṛitti-nirodhaḥ type practice in the Gītā. The difference between karma and karma yoga. A new definition of yoga, skill in action. The 3 definitions of yoga in the Gītā. Ashtanga-type practice in the Gītā in comparison with verses in Patañjali.  The mind of a yogi. Bhakti, the highest expression of yoga. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, author and Embodied Philosophy faculty, Andrew Holecek, is in conversation with Stephanie Corigliano and Jacob Kyle, as they discuss Andrew’s article, “Is the West Ready for Tantra?” an article released in the latest issue of Tarka.  Explore the latest Tarka issue here. About the Guest Andrew Holecek has completed the traditional three-year Buddhist meditation retreat and offers seminars internationally on meditation, dream yoga, and the art of dying. He is the author of Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition; Meditation in the iGeneration: How to Meditate in a World of Speed and Stress; The Power and the Pain: Transforming Spiritual Hardship into Joy; the audio learning course Dream Yoga: The Tibetan Path of Awakening Through Lucid Dreaming, and his latest book Dream Yoga: Illuminating Your Life Through Lucid Dreaming and the Tibetan Yogas of Sleep. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and has authored scientific papers. His work has appeared in Parabola, Lion's Roar, Tricycle, Utne Reader, Buddhadharma Magazine, Light of Consciousness, and many other periodicals. Andrew holds degrees in classical music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery. In this episode, we discuss: What makes practices “Tantric”. Why and when Tantra can be risky. Why it’s important to have a teacher and how much power a teacher should have. The 4 types of guru. Psycho-spirituality & the different vectors of growing up versus waking up. What is reality from the perspective of Tibetan Buddhism? The role of devotion in Tantric practice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of Chitheads is a talk from Sally Kempton republished from Embodied Philosophy’s 2017 Radical Body Conference.  In this episode, Sally talks about Goddess practice as a spiritual technology and provides guided practices experiencing the divine feminine through the breath, through being seen by the divine, and through a formal meditation on the goddess Lalita. About the Guest Sally Kempton is a master of meditation, yoga philosophy, and practical tantric philosophy. Her retreats and workshops are known for creating breakthroughs, born of her ability to help people turn sublime truths into lived, and life-shifting, experience. Sally spent 20 years as a swami in a Vedic order and has been studying and teaching spiritual wisdom for 40 years. She is the author of Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga and Meditation for the Love of It, a seminal book on basic meditation practice, and writes the popular Yoga Journal column, Wisdom. Learn more at sallykempton.com. In this episode, we discuss: Goddess practice as a spiritual technology. Sacred Feminine practice in tantric practice. Experiencing Archetypal Goddess energies. Fast-tracking awakening through the empowerment that Goddess gives us. Three core practices for invoking Goddess. The breath as a vehicle through which Goddess flows into your body. Lalita energy as a model for the feminine, as self-empowered blissfulness, and the force behind genuine creativity.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Costello is an educator with 30 years of teaching and training experience in the Yoga and Wellness industry. She works at the intersection of social justice and Yoga with a focus on facilitating new models of embodied leadership. Nikki is a Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher (Level 3-CIYT) and a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). In 2013-2014, she was a contributing editor at Yoga Journal, writing the magazine’s “Basics Column,” and in 2016, Nikki was named one of the 100 Most Influential Teachers in America. She is the featured Iyengar Yoga teacher on GLO. Nikki holds an MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS, University of London and is a PhD candidate at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Since 2020, she has taught weekly online yoga and meditation classes at Nikki Costello | The Practice. To learn more, visit Nikki's website.In this episode, we discuss: Sources of exclusion in the yoga classroom.  Moving away from the performative aspect of studentship. Courage, safety, and trust in sadhana. Autonomy and choice in a yoga classroom. The virtual classroom as an opportunity instead of a limitation. Pedagogical practices that support or inhibit access, belonging, and diversity. Rethinking how we learn and how we create community within the framework of a yoga class. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro PH.D. is an award–winning author of over thirty-six books on religion and spirituality. Rami co-directs the One River Foundation (www.oneriverfoundation.org), is a Contributing Editor at Spirituality and Health magazine, and hosts the magazine’s podcast: Spirituality & Health with Rabbi Rami (spiritualityhealth.com).In this episode, we discuss: Interpreting the words of Jesus from the Jewish Mystical perspective.  What does Judaism without tribalism mean? Rethinking traditions in the context of ethics. Living the Golden Rule. Who's a Jew in the context of Judaism without tribalism, or “one foot Judaism”. The purpose of religion and comparing mysticism with religion. Awakening to the divine within as all reality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christi Myers is the Founder and CEO of Flow Integrative, a ketamine psychotherapy practice that helps clients deal with mood disorders and substance abuse. Since its launch in late 2020, Flow Integrative has offered ketamine psychotherapy to over 100 patients and is currently a pilot clinic for the first psychedelic insurance company. Most insurance companies don’t cover ketamine treatments for depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses. She is also a Professor and Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Services Department at Victor Valley College in California. She previously worked as a paramedic at several agencies, including the Department of Defense, San Bernardino County Fire Department, American Medical Response, and the Department of Justice. Christi has an associate’s degree in paramedicine and fire science, a bachelor’s in public safety, and a master’s in leadership.  Website: https://flowintegrativeketamine.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flow-integrative-psychedelic-wellness In this episode, we discuss: What is ketamine, and how is it used and misused? Ketamine use in emergency medicine and psychotherapy. How ketamine therapy differs from psychotherapy. Rumors, myths, and misinformation about ketamine. Challenges and obstacles in using ketamine therapeutically. Changes and transformations witnessed with ketamine use in therapy. Cannabis, psilocybin, and ketamine experience and effectiveness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Vilella started teaching at Kula Yoga Project in New York City in 2005 and opened Kula Williamsburg (alongside Schuyler Grant) in 2010. She has written for Yoga Journal and was named one of America's top 100 Most Influential Yoga Teachers by sonima.com. As a teacher, she strives to include the perfect alchemy of precise physical instruction, intelligence, intention and space into her classes. As a teacher trainer, she wants to unpack the mystery of putting together an inspired vinyasa sequence so that the student can step away from the stress of "following a methodology." WEBSITE: https://kulayoga.com/ In this episode, we discuss: Behind-the-scenes conversations about the Kula Yoga Project and how it's evolved through the pandemic. Contemplating the current state of the yoga asana world, how it has changed, and what its future might look like. The value of brick-and-mortar spaces and in-person yoga as a place for support and to connect. What it is to be a modern yoga teacher and what it is to engage in studentship.  Rethinking the path to becoming a yoga teacher. MeToo, Social Justice, and Inclusivity; how collective awakenings and movements are calling for the transformation of how yoga is taught.  Evolving views on physical adjustments in yoga classes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcy Braverman Goldstein, Ph.D., began teaching Sanskrit and the history and philosophies of yoga in the 1990s. To design her courses, she draws from her academic training and 20 years of yoga practice. At UNC Charlotte she teaches “Yoga Through the Ages.” Since creating Sanskrit Revolution, Marcy has taught at more than three dozen studios, teacher training programs, conferences, and festivals nationally. Her passion is to help people discover the history and fascinating linguistic foundation of yoga. In this episode of the Tarka Journal Podcast republished on the Chitheads Podcast, Stephanie and Jacob speak to colleague and friend, Marcy Braverman Goldstein about an article she wrote for the Scholar-Practitioner Issue of Tarka, titled "Is Academia (Like) a Religion?" GET ARTICLE HERE: https://www.embodiedphilosophy.com/is-academia-like-a-religion/ In this episode, we discuss: Marcy’s view of the scholar-practitioner and how it has informed her approach to research and teaching. Defining emic and the etic and balancing the insider vs. outsider perspectives. The path of the seeker. The study of Sanskrit as a practice. Identifying the dimensions of religion found in academia. Parallels between academia and the religious quest. Challenging the ideological conformity of modern academia and encouraging new spaces of intellectual activity outside the modern university. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jacob shares four trailers from free mini-trainings we've recently released on the Divine Feminine, Buddhist Meditation, the 4 Yogas, and Shamanic Healing Techniques – all of which can be found on Sādhaka, one of our new podcast series. In addition, the episode ends with a guided meditation on Nondual Tonglen with our dear friend Shambhavi Sarasvati. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anya Foxen is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on the intersection of South Asian yogic and tantric traditions and Western esotericism and metaphysical spiritualities. Her current writing examines the transnational evolution and popularization of yoga in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. She is also a yoga teacher and long-time practitioner. In this episode, we discuss: Western roots of modern yoga. Connecting the dots between modern western postural yoga and it’s Indian roots. Defining harmonialism. Key concepts in the Hellenic tradition as precursors to the harmonial ideas that we find in modern postural spiritualities. Theurgy, a powerful parallel to the Indian Traditions. Confronting issues of cultural appropriation. Viewing the fundamental narrative of Western yoga as a historical conversation. Website: https://www.anyafoxen.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/profanyechka/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anyafoxenSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diane Dreher, Ph.D., is a bestselling author, researcher, and positive psychology coach. Her books, The Tao of Inner Peace, The Tao of Personal Leadership, The Tao of Womanhood, Inner Gardening, and Your Personal Renaissance, have been translated into ten languages and her work has been featured in media outlets including USA Today, Entrepreneur, Redbook, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Science of Mind, radio and TV talk shows, and websites on leadership and personal growth.  Dreher has a Ph.D. in Renaissance English literature from UCLA as well as a Master’s Degree in Counseling. She is a HeartMath clinical practitioner and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. Her research on positive psychology and hope has been published online and in academic books and journals. She is currently professor emerita and associate director of the Applied Spirituality Institute at Santa Clara University and a lecturer in the Positive Psychology Guild in the United Kingdom. In this episode, we discuss: The fundamental principles of Taoism. Nature and the wisdom of the Tao within and around us. Watching and waiting, the radical act of Wu Wei. Religious Taoism and Taoism as a philosophy. Spiritual practices of the Tao, cultivating the balance of Tao in daily life. The Tao of now, Taoist Politics and conflict resolution. Reducing stress and anxiety with the Tao. Read an excerpt from THE TAO OF INNER PEACE by Diane Dreher: Beginning the Journey: Tao Te ChingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gavin Flood is the Academic Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Professor of Hindu Studies and Comparative Religion at Oxford University, and Senior Research Fellow at Campion Hall. He is a Fellow of the British Academy. Gavin read Religious Studies and Social Anthropology at Lancaster University and taught at the universities of Wales (Lampeter) and Stirling before coming to Oxford in 2005. His research interests are in medieval Hindu texts (especially from the traditions of Shiva), comparative religion, and phenomenology. Recent books are Religion and the Philosophy of Life (Oxford University Press, 2019); Hindu Monotheism (Cambridge University Press, 2021); and The Truth Within, a History of Inwardness in Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism (Oxford University Press, 2013). He is interested in Tantric Knowledge and is currently working on an edition and translation of a Sanskrit text called the Netra Tantra and a book, A Phenomenology of Holiness. He is general series editor of the Oxford History of Hinduism. In this episode, we discuss: How to approach Hinduism as both a monotheism and polytheism. Unpacking the distinction between monotheism, monism, and emanationism. How one extracts an ethical perspective from Śaivism. Why philology has received a bad reputation and how we might reconsider it. Hinduism as an orthopraxy rather than an orthodoxy. The theological significance of Śaiva-Śākta and the 13 Kālīs. Śaiva-Śākta Meditation as expanded awareness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1993, Theologian and activist Matthew Fox, Ph.D., was expelled from the Dominican Order of the Catholic church after 34 years, by Cardinal Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI). His mistake was reviving Creation Spirituality, which decries original sin (the doctrine that we’re all born sinners) in favor of Everyone Born is a Blessing (seeing all creation as divine). Creation Spirituality blends teachings from the Christian mystics with science, the arts, social justice, environmentalism, and ideas from other spiritual traditions worldwide (including those of indigenous cultures). Wasting no time, Fox became an Episcopal priest the year following his ouster. His upcoming book, Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality will be released on March 23, 2022. In this episode, we discuss: The Four Paths of Creation Spirituality. Reinventing forms of worship. The Cosmic Christ. The distinction between sin and evil. Matthew’s approach to a feminist theology. Applying the 7 capital “sins” to the chakras. Recovery of the sacred to save the planet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacoby Ballard is a social justice educator and yoga teacher who leads workshops and trainings around the country on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a yoga teacher with 20 years of experience, he leads workshops, retreats, teacher trainings, teaches at conferences, and runs the Resonance mentorship program for certified yoga teachers to find their niche and calling. In 2008, Jacoby co-founded Third Root Community Health Center in Brooklyn, to work at the nexus of healing and social justice. Since 2006, Jacoby has taught Queer and Trans Yoga, a space for queer folks to unfurl and cultivate resilience, and received Yoga Journal's Game Changer Award in 2014 and Good Karma Award in 2016. Jacoby has taught in schools, hospitals, non-profit and business offices, a maximum-security prison, a recovery center, a cancer center, LGBT centers, gyms, a veteran’s center, and yoga studios. Jacoby's book A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation offers a distinctly queer lens on yoga and meditation. He lives with his partner, child, and innumerable plant friends on unceded Goshute, Ute, Paiute, and Shoshone land, now known as Salt Lake City, Utah. More at jacobyballard.net. In this episode, we discuss: What “queer dharma” means.  Working at the intersection of anti-oppression work and dharma practice. Skillful attempts at social justice work that include healing and inner work. The role of anger in anti-oppression and social justice work. Differentiating apology versus forgiveness. Discovering common ground by sitting in silence together. What some of the unique needs are for queer and trans people in yoga spaces. Liberatory models of yoga discussed in the episode:  Holistic Life Foundation Yoga for 12 Step Recovery East Bay Meditation Center See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of the Chitheads podcast is actually the first episode of a new podcast we’re releasing as a part of the new Embodied Podcasts Network – the Tarka Journal Podcast. So as some of you know, embodied philosophy publishes a quarterly journal called Tarka in print and digital, and Stephanie, the Editor in Chief of Tarka and I wanted a space where we could have conversations about the the topics we’re exploring in the journal. In this episode we talk about the inspiration behind Tarka and how it got started and where it's going. And if you decide to subscribe to the Tarka Journal Podcast, which you can do now, then in future episodes we’ll be joined by colleagues, fellow faculty of Embodied Philosophy and we’ll discuss the ideas in particular articles from Tarka. We’ll also explore some of the current debates, issues and perspectives in the fields of contemplative studies, dharma studies, as they relate to the experience of the scholar-practitioner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rev. Dr. Michelle Voss Roberts is professor of theology and past principal at Emmanuel College, a multireligious theological school in the Toronto School of Theology and University of Toronto. She is a comparative theologian who works in Christian and Hindu traditions, as well as an ordained minister in relation to the United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ. Her teaching and research invite others to imagine themselves in relation to diverse religious worlds, in which particularities of embodiment—such as gender, gender identity, and sexuality, racialization, dis/ability, and culture—matter. Dr. Voss Roberts’ book-length works in comparative theology include Dualities: A Theology of Difference (Westminster John Knox, 2010), which centers medieval women theologians; and Tastes of the Divine: Hindu and Christian Theologies of Emotion (Fordham University Press, 2014), an exploration of rasa theory and theological aesthetics, which received the Award for Excellence from the American Academy of Religion. More recently, Body Parts: A Theological Anthropology (Fortress Press, 2017) reimagines the Christian teaching that human beings are created in the image of God through the prism of the tattvas in nondual Saiva thought. Voss Roberts is also the editor of a volume that brings interreligious comparison to the introductory study of theology, Comparative Theology: Insights for Systematic Theological Reflection (Fordham University Press, 2016), as well as the Routledge Handbook of Hindu-Christian Relations, which was published last year. In this episode, we discuss: Finding liberation within tradition. What it’s like to be a Christian Theologian. Defining theology - faith seeking understanding. How we seek to understand this orientation towards the world. The concept of the image of God from Christian theology. Using the work of Abhinavagupta and his Śaiva teachings on the 36 tattvas to illuminate and expound upon the notion of the image of God in a more inclusive and expansive way. Broadening the scope of theology and our understanding of the divine. Why does comparative theology matter for our contemporary world? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John J. Thatamanil is Associate Professor of Theology and World Religions at Union Theological Seminary in New York. He is the author of The Immanent Divine: God, Creation, and the Human Predicament. An East-West Conversation and, most recently, Circling the Elephant: A Comparative Theology of Religious Diversity (Fordham, 2020). Presently, he is working on a book entitled, Desiring Truth: The Quest for Interreligious Wisdom. He is a past President of the North American Paul Tillich Society and the current Chair of the AAR’s Theological Education Committee. He teaches a wide variety of courses including, “Hindu Religious Thought and Practice,” “Buddhist-Christian Dialogue,” and “Paul Tillich as Public Theologian,” “Process Theology,” “Double Belonging: On Multiple Religious Participation.” Thatamanil is an Anglican/Episcopalian—a recently ordained Deacon in the Anglican Church of Canada—who also reads and practices in traditions of Hindu and Buddhist nondualism. In this episode, we discuss: The de-religionization of religion. John’s cultural dislocation and how it informed his approach to theology. Truth and desire. What does it mean to have a multi-religious identity? The difference between salad bar spirituality and multi-religious identity.  3 kinds of religious wonder. The multi-religious theologian as the embodiment of the hospitality of receiving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Harvey is an internationally acclaimed writer, poet, translator, and mystical teacher. He is the author of over 40 books, including Son of Man, The Hope, Way of Passion, Turn Me to Gold, and Savage Grace with Carolyn Baker. He has taught all over the world, given over 20 courses for the Shift Network, and is the founder of the Institute for Sacred Activism. In this episode, we discuss: What is sacred activism? Obstacles to cultivating ourselves as sacred activists. The evolutionary global dark night. The fantasy magical thinking of the new age. Radical regeneration: tantra and sacred activism. The three main varieties of mystical practice. What is the tantric vision?   More from Andrew Harvey: Join Andrew Harvey and Ramesh Bjonnes on their 4-Module Course - Radical Regeneration: Tantra and Sacred Activism. Perhaps more than any other wisdom path, Tantra embodies spirituality in action, spirituality as sacred service to the other, to the world. Using Tantric philosophy and practice as inspiration, you will in this course learn the basic concepts of Harvey’s sacred activism fused with the dynamic spirit of Tantra and how you can turn them into practical tools for personal and planetary change.  Learn more and register here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Stephen W. Porges is a distinguished university scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is also a professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland. His more than 350 peer‐reviewed scientific papers, published across several disciplines, have been cited in approximately 40,000 peer-reviewed papers. He holds several patents involved in monitoring and regulating autonomic state and originated the Polyvagal Theory, which emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral, mental, and health problems related to traumatic experiences. He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation, The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe, and Polyvagal Safety, as well as co-editor of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies, and Polyvagal Safety. In this episode, we discuss: What is the vagus nerve and why should we care about it. Symptomatology explained by Polyvagal Theory.  Understanding resilience and adaptive physiological states. Shifting the negativity bias to a positive one. How polyvagal theory is transforming trauma care. Developing models for how polyvagal theory can inform other therapies. The necessity of human interaction in coregulation. More from Stephen Porges : Join Stephen Porges on his 4-Module Course - Polyvagal Theory: Neural Exercises for Safety and Social Connection. This course will elaborate on how Polyvagal Theory provides a neural foundation for a brain-body medicine that would lead to insights into the treatment of trauma and chronic stress-related mental and physical health challenges.   Learn more and register here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Layering traditional kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das” known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD” has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. KD spent the late ’60’s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Given the name Krishna Das, KD began to chant as part of following the path of Bhakti yoga, the yoga of devotion. In this episode, we discuss: Spiritual awakening and the need for a deeper connection. The potency of chanting the divine names. Chanting divine names as a way to wake up. The real meaning of divine names. The role of a teacher in the life of a contemporary seeker. The purpose of the spiritual path. Finding freedom by learning to trust ourselves. More from Krishna Das: Join Krishna Das on a journey with chanting, stories, and discussion in this 4-Module Course. Learn more and register here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this interview with Dr. Cornel West, originally a keynote event from our July 2021 Spiritual Citizenship Online Conference, co-host for the conference, Oneika Mays, explores the relationship between Cornel West’s spiritual and religious commitments and his political activism. By highlighting the example of his many decades of work, through this conversation we arrive at a notion of what it means to be a spiritually-informed citizen. They explore what, from Dr. West’s perspective, are the most important things we can do today to start living our spiritual practices in a politically engaged way. About Cornel West... Dr. Cornel West is Professor of the Practice of Public Philosophy at Harvard University and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. Cornel West graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard in three years and obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy at Princeton. He has written 20 books and has edited 13. He is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. His most recent book, Black Prophetic Fire, offers an unflinching look at nineteenth and twentieth-century African American leaders and their visionary legacies. Dr. West is a frequent guest on the Bill Maher Show, CNN, C-Span and Democracy Now. He has a passion to communicate to a vast variety of publics in order to keep alive the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. – a legacy of telling the truth and bearing witness to love and justice. Dr. West is the co-host of the new podcast Cornel West & Tricia Rose on The Tight Rope along with his esteemed friend and colleague Professor Tricia Rose, the Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Ethnicity in America at Brown University. In this episode, we discuss: Bearing witness and responding to spiritual decay. The necessity of community, of mutuality as part of citizenship. How to intervene with ourselves. Responding to hate with love, cultivating loving-kindness. Learning how to die to allow for growth. Wrestling with suffering. Transfiguring grief, hurt, and pain into joy.  The difference between hope and optimism. Coming to terms with what it means to be human. Finding ways to cultivate hope. Joy in service to others. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Raj Balkaran is a scholar of Sanskrit narrative texts and the author of The Goddess and the King in Indian Myth (Routledge 2018), The Goddess and the Sun in Indian Myth (Routledge 2020), and several academic articles and book chapters since completing his doctorate in 2015. He is also an avid spiritual practitioner, having been initiated into ancient Indian wisdom traditions by multiple masters, and having been engaged in daily practice for two decades. Also a seasoned online educator, he teaches at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies where he also serves on their Course Development Board. He is the Founder of the School of Indian Wisdom where he teaches original online courses combining scholarship, storytelling and spirituality to apply ancient wisdom teachings to modern life. Beyond teaching, research and administration, Dr. Balkaran runs a thriving life coaching practice and hosts the New Books in Indian Religions podcast. As a boon to Chitheads listeners, visit https://courses.rajbalkaran.com/ and use the code 50OFF to get half off anything at the School for Indian Wisdom. In this episode we discuss: The intersection of scholarship and practice. The self-employed scholar and the un-university. Yogic philosophy in Puranic and other Hindu narratives. Making sense of the human experience through narratives and storytelling. Story as the fabric of our culture. Breaking behaviors or patterns by becoming conscious of limiting stories. Dismantling unconscious bias in the mythological strata of Western consciousness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle C. Johnson is an author, yoga teacher, social justice activist, intuitive healer, and Dismantling Racism trainer. She approaches her life and work from a place of empowerment, embodiment, and integration. As a dismantling racism trainer, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups, including the ACLU-WA, Duke University, Google, This American Life, Eno River Unitarian Universalist Church, Lululemon, and many others. Michelle published Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World in 2017; she teaches workshops in yoga studios and community spaces nationwide. Michelle’s new book, Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief, published by Shambhala Publications, comes out on July 13th, 2021. She was a Tedx speaker at Wake Forest University in 2019 and has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores the premise and foundation of Skill in Action, along with creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal. Recently, she created her own podcast, Finding Refuge, which explores collective grief and liberation and serves as a reminder about all the ways we can find refuge during unsettling and uncertain times and of the resilience and joy that comes from allowing ourselves to find refuge. Whether in an anti-oppression training, yoga space, individual or group intuitive healing session, the heart, healing, and wholeness are at the center of how Michelle approaches all of her work in the world. In this episode we discuss: Stewarding grief. Acknowledging brokenheartedness to begin healing. Presence of the heart and finding refuge. Spiritual practices to bring you back home to the body and into the collective body. How oppression takes the breath away. Being in relationship with your ancestors. Collective care and justice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shreena Gandhi is a part of the Religious Studies Department at Michigan State University, where is primarily teaches classes on religion and race in the Americas. She is currently finishing up edits on a manuscript, A Cultural History of Yoga in the United States, which looks at the impacts of race, gender and class on how yoga is practiced and commodified in religious and secular spaces. She is also collaborating with 4 other scholars of South Asian descent on an article titled Feminist Critical Hindu Studies in formation. Dr. Gandhi has presented her work nationally and internationally and is committed to intersectional scholarship and meticulous research grounded in facts. In this episode we discuss: Whiteness, white supremacy, and cultural appropriation. Honoring the roots of yoga. Colonialism, capitalism, and war and their relationship to white supremacy. Understanding orientalism and yoga. Unrooting westernization and white supremacy in the studies of philosophy and religion. Reflecting on privilege. An affirmative vision of the project of the United States. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the mid-nineties, Isa Gucciardi began developing Depth Hypnosis as she entered into clinical practice. Her studies, both in academia and in the field of cultural and linguistic anthropology, comparative religion, and transpersonal psychology formed the basis of her approach with clients and students. As the body of work that grew out of her clinical practice became larger, she began teaching others so that more people could benefit from the techniques she had developed. In order to accommodate the number of classes that grew out of this process, she co-founded the Foundation of the Sacred Stream, which is now a school for consciousness studies in Berkeley, California, serving hundreds of students each year. Isa teaches and speaks nationally and internationally, and she has published numerous articles, podcast episodes, videos, and the books Return to the Great Mother and Coming to Peace. She maintains a private practice with institutions and individuals in Depth Hypnosis and Coming to Peace processes. Isa speaks five languages and has lived in eleven countries. She is the mother of two children and lives with her partner in San Francisco. To receive future special offers, exclusive discounts, course announcements, and featured content, subscribe to Sacred Stream’s email list today. New subscribers will receive a free guided meditation download, delivered straight to their inboxes.     RECENTLY RELEASED ON AUDIBLE: The New Return to the Great Mother   In this episode we discuss: The birthing process and how it has changed historically and become a site of socio-political significance. Relating to the Great Mother as a compass and guide. The significance of ceremonies and rituals as initiations that help to support significant moments of change in life. The seven initiations (as Isa outlines them in her book): birth, puberty, menses, sexuality, birth, childbirth, menopause, and death. Preparing for death. Applied shamanic journeying. Taking refuge in the creative power of the earth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After receiving his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Harvard, Richard Katz began a journey beyond the confines of psychology, into a world of experiences nourished by Indigenous knowledge and its emphasis on spirituality.   He traveled in 1968 to the Kalahari Desert to work with the Ju/’hoansi, Indigenous peoples who, as primarily hunter-gathers, offer a view into the fundamental evolutionary roots of our human behavior.  He experienced how their spiritually-infused healing energy expanded and became renewable, so, in a synergistic manner, the healing of one became the healing of all.   Over the past 55 years, Katz has lived and worked with other Indigenous healers, experiencing that same spiritually nourished healing energy pervading daily life.  They asked him to bring their teachings to Western health care so as to make it more appreciative of diversity, more committed to social justice, and more respectful of the importance of community and spirituality in health and healing.   Katz stresses that while Indigenous knowledge is always offered freely – it cannot be sold on a fee-for-service basis – there is a cost.  That knowledge has been nurtured by Indigenous peoples through centuries of colonization and oppression.  To share in that knowledge we must commit ourselves to a path of service, not ego-enhancement or power; and give back to those who have been its guardians. Katz’s latest book, Indigenous Healing Psychology:  Honoring the Wisdom of the First Peoples is a culmination of his work.  Author royalties from that book will be given back to the Indigenous elders and healers whose teachings animate the book. Katz is presently a Professor Emeritus at the First Nations University of Canada, he can be reached at:  rkatz@firstnationsuniversity.ca In this episode we discuss: Contemplative practices, popular approaches to alternative wisdom, psychedelics and indigenous healing. The irreplaceable role of community in spiritual transformation. Comparing western concepts of psychology to healing from indigenous points of view. Notions of cultural appropriation and procedures for the transmission of teachings. Orienting our purpose in passing on teachings and performing ceremonies in a context of service. Principles of allyship. The roles and responsibilities of elders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Françoise Bourzat has been bridging the divide between western psychology and indigenous wisdom for the past 30 years in collaboration with healers in Huautla de Jimenez, Mexico, on the optimal applications of the psilocybin-containing mushrooms for healing and growth . She is the Founder of the Center for Consciousness Medicine and is the co-author of Consciousness Medicine. Françoise was part of the advisory board for Oregon Prop 109 initiative. She is currently collaborating with the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in an FDA approved research study on psilocybin assisted therapy for Covid related grief in Los Angeles. She has a Master of Arts in Somatic Psychology and is Hakomi trained. Françoise has taught at CIIS in San Francisco, is a counselor, and runs online courses and lectures in various institutions. She is a sought-after keynote speaker that has traveled the world sharing her message, along with the Mazatec tradition, to international audiences around the globe. In this episode we discuss: Plant medicine journeying as therapy - incorporating expanded states into our growth process. Psychedelic Psychotherapy Renaissance and the Neo-shamanistic movement. The importance of rooting in lineage, indigenous context, the thread of permission, and respectful sharing. The spiritual dimension of healing and avoiding spiritual bypassing. The relationship between pain and suffering; and the role of meaning in the transmutation of suffering. The role of fear and what it is that we’re afraid of. Françoise's five-part holistic model: body, mind, spirit, community, and environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prentis Hemphill is a movement facilitator, Somatics teacher, and practitioner, and working at the convergence of healing, collective transformation, and political organizing. Prentis has spent the last 15 years bridging wellbeing and power building as a part of movement building organizations, most recently as the Healing Justice Director at Black Lives Matter Global Network. In 2016, Prentis was awarded the Buddhist Peace Fellowship Soma Award for community work inspired by Buddhist thought. At present, Prentis is the co-founder of Resilient Strategies, a project intended to deepen movement practice and understanding of politicized healing. Prentis is also a teacher of Somatics with Generative Somatics and with Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity.  In this episode we discuss: What is healing? How do we heal? How does somatics shift the paradigm of traditional therapy? What is healing justice and how does it differ from other approaches to social justice? Recovering pre-colonial practices in a post-colonial context through the lens of somatics. Healing individual and collective trauma. Critiques of the wellness industry and the structures that deny access to healing for everyone. Queer spiritual purpose, supporting repair and stretching the parameters of belonging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: The roots of pastoral care and chaplaincy  Incorporating the frameworks of Vendantic, yoga philosophy in Hindu chaplaincy Contemplative dimensions of pastoral care, bringing radical compassionate presence in spiritual accompaniment Obstacles to cultivating spiritual health and the epidemic of loneliness in the globalized westernize world  The three elements of Sādhanā: Tapas, Svādhyāya, Īśvarapraṇidhāna Building inner resilience Intimate and personal experience of the Supreme Vineet Chander is the Coordinator for Hindu Life and Hindu Chaplain at Princeton University and a Religious Life Leader at the Lawrenceville School.  He has also served as an adjunct professor, attorney, and communications consultant. His areas of specialty include Bhakti theology, models of pastoral counseling, and the Hindu-American diaspora community. His writing has appeared in a number of publications, and he is co-author of Hindu Chaplaincy (Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, 2017) and co-editor of Hindu Approaches to Spiritual Care: Chaplaincy in Theory and Practice (Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2019). A student of His Holiness Radhanath Swami for more than two decades, he is a sought-after speaker and teacher in his own right— particularly known for his ability to infuse ancient wisdom with humor, relevant examples, and avenues for application. He has spoken at a number of conferences and educational institutions, including the American Academy of Religion, the Global Dharma Conference, the Global Chaplains Conference, Yale University, Cornell University, and the Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University. In addition, he has offered wisdom teachings in a number of temples, ashrams, and yoga studios, including the philosophy portions of YTT courses at Gratitude Yoga (Princeton, NJ), Prana Yoga Shala (Princeton, NJ), and Onyx Yoga (Warren, NJ). He is a regular speaker at, and past board member of, the Bhakti Center (New York City).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: Post-Daoism as a philosophy reinterpreting depth psychology, qigong, and Daoism MogaDao as a practice at the intersection of somatic, queer, and socioerotic inquiry Socially imposed self-images versus deeply personal mythopoetic self-images The democratization of desire in all forms and socio-erotic experiences Spiritual significance of sex, sexuality, and desire as authentic expressions of a soul’s original virtue Consumeristic paradigm of sexuality as another attribute of power  The importance of trans people in society as leaders in and examples of radical authenticity Zhenevere Sophia Dao is a poet, novelist, playwright, and the director of the SACRa Theater Company. She has been a Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and has published fiction with Penguin Books. An independent scholar, she is the founder of the philosophy of Post-Daoism and the practice tradition of MogaDao, which incorporates original “mythosomatic” qigong forms and meditations, and spiritualized asana, in combination with academic studies in mythopoetics, comparative philosophy and religion, Depth Sexology, socioerotic and sociopolitical inquiry, and queer studies. A transgender woman, she is also the founder of The Transgender Necessity, a platform for public discourse which underscores the cultural necessity of transgender individuals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss:1. The philosophy of yoga nidra, the goddess of yoga nidra and the four states of consciousness. 2. Yoga nidra as a state and as a systematic guided relaxation. 3. Obstacles to rest in our culture.4. Working with trauma and the importance of safety in moving toward rest.5. The science of yoga nidra, accessing the place of healing and rejuvenation.6. The relationship between liminal space and creativity.7. How to set up a supportive yoga nidra nest. Tracee Stanley was introduced to the practice of yoga nidra in 2001. She immediately recognized it as a healing salve for the world and began to incorporate it into her life and her yoga teaching. She left her high-stress career as a Hollywood film producer to delve deeper into the study of the practices that were empowering and rejuvenating her, so she could share them with others. With over 20 years of experience practice and teaching in the Himalayan Tradition, Tantra and Sri Vidya, she also understands the demands of life as an entrepreneur, wife, and stepmom. Her effortless way of sharing ancient teachings in accessible ways is her superpower. She travels extensively to offer yoga nidra, meditation, self-inquiry, teacher trainings and workshops. As a gift to all of our listeners, Tracee is offering a 30% discount on her book “Radiant Rest” which is now on pre-order from the publisher’s site with the code RR30 until 3/31/21 at https://www.shambhala.com/radiant-rest.html.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: How yoga communities and the industry have changed during the Covid pandemic. The inspiration for Tia’s new book “The Practice is the Path”. Being comfortable living with uncertainty. Identity and attachment. The significance of dreams and the role of the dream state in breaking the spell of the everyday life.   Emphasizing the “not doing” and shifting the default mode to be one of rest Yoga and the art of seeing - the role of being seen and heard in relationship and healing. About Tias Little: Tias Little’s unique and skillful approach enables students to find greater depth of understanding and awareness in their practice, both on and off the mat. His approach to the practice is inter-disciplinary, passionate, intelligent, innovative and full of insight. Tias synthesizes years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, anatomy, massage and trauma healing. Tias began studying the work of B.K.S Iyengar in 1984 and lived in Mysore, India in 1989 studying Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Pattabhi Jois. Thus his teaching brings together precision of alignment, anatomical detail and a profound meditative experience. Tias is a licensed massage therapist and his somatic studies include in-depth training in cranial-sacral therapy. His practice and teaching are influenced by the work of Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais and Thomas Hanna. Tias is a long-time student of the meditative arts and Buddhist studies beginning with Vipassana and continuing in Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. His teaching style is unique in being able to weave together poetic metaphor with clear instruction filled with compassion and humor. Tias earned a Master’s degree in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College Santa Fe in 1998. Tias is the author of four books, The Thread of Breath, Meditations on a Dewdrop, Yoga of the Subtle Body, and The Practice is the Path.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Growing up Indian in a majority white culture, shame and the impact of disconnection from culture. The value of yoga and mindbody practices in medicine and education. Stress, trauma and burnout, and ways in which embodied practices can help. The impact of the pandemic and isolation on us as social beings and the value of yoga and stress relief in times of Covid. Practicing compassion, stress relief, and strategies to generate compassion for self and others.  Yoga and the importance of taking into consideration who you are and where you’re at; reducing harm with a better understanding of yogic practices. Cultural appropriation of yoga and Indian culture and how to honor lineage and context. Shailla Vaidya, MD MPH CCFP(EM) C-IAYT is a Physician/Yoga Therapist practicing Mind-Body Medicine in Toronto, Ontario. She studied Medicine at Dalhousie University, did her residency in Family and Emergency Medicine at the University of Ottawa, and completed a Master’s in Public Health (Management and Policy) at Harvard University. She has also served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and the University of Toronto.   Dr. Vaidya grew up in a cultural tradition of Yoga and Ayurveda and has been bridging Eastern Wisdom with Western Medicine throughout her 20 years of medical practice. She completed her yoga teacher training and yoga therapy training with the Mohans and the Svastha Yoga Therapy. She is the creator of the Yoga of Stress Resilience Burnout Recovery Program, and the Reconnect Concussion program, both of which combine the path of yoga with the science of human function for healing and recovery. As a “Compassion-it” Change Agent, she is effecting change within the health care system by healing our healers and by bringing a more holistic approach to the management of stress-related illnesses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Understanding the culture of Contemporary medicine and medicine as an industry. The Ayurvedic approach, addressing the physical, energetic and mental realm. Quantum biology and the Siddha texts - healing from the inside out.  Role of intuition as it informs mastery in healing and any field of work. Science of Sound, biological translation to energy and meaning.  The distinction between mantra and aphorism; using mantra and devotion to connect to  your soul’s intention. Alzheimer’s as a mutable disease and alternative practices to support conditions. Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary’s combined expertise in both modern neurology and the ancient science of health known as Ayurveda has uniquely positioned her as an expert able to pull from the broadest possible base to treat her clients. She is passionate about raising awareness for the need of a paradigm shift in contemporary medicine that focuses on patient empowerment and a health-based (rather than disease-based) medical system. Dr. Chaudhary is a regular guest on the Dr. Oz show, where her teachings about Ayurvedic medicine have been applauded by a national audience. Dr. Chaudhary is the author of The Prime and Sound Medicine. She is also a neuroscientist and has participated in over twenty clinical research studies in the areas of multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Her research includes groundbreaking work in stem cell therapies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy and drug development for the treatment of ALS. Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary spends her time doing research in Siddha Medicine in Tamil Nadu, India and seeing patients for Integrative Medicine consultations from San Diego, CA.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Invocation as a tool to invoke the divinity from within us. The celebration of Diwali and the purpose of celebrating festivals. Idols as means to connect to the God within us.  Chanting mantra, contemplating deeper truths, and the main sadhana of Kali Yuga.  The many names of Shiva - infinite expressions of infinite glories. How to understand karma and taking responsibility for your life. Spiritual practices for facing challenging times with strength and clarity. Swami Swatmananda is one of the most dynamic leaders of Chinmaya Mission. An Acharya of Chinmaya Mission-South Mumbai, he completed the Vedanta Course from Powai from 1998-2000. He has been serving in Chinmaya Mission Mumbai since 2000. He expounds the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta through talks on the Bhagavad Geeta, Upanishads and other texts of Vedanta & bhakti through camps, meditation retreats, interactive sessions and discussions for youth & adults. Chinmaya Pradeep is one of its kind outdoor Vedantic Vision Park based on the life and teachings of Swami Chinmayananda at Powai, Mumbai. He has conceptualised and executed it. He is also a playwrite and has written and directed two theatrical performances. “Adrshya – Quest for the Unseen” based on Saraswati Civilization & Developed India was written and directed by him in 2009. 9 shows of Adrshya have been performed by Chinmaya Yuva Kendra Mumbai in Mumbai, Pune, Allahabad and Chennai. “Just Like That”- A play based on the Bhagavad Geeta in the life of Anand-Family and how they discover harmony by applying the principles of Geeta was written and directed by him in 2015. 6 shows of the play have been performed in Mumbai, Pune, Chennai. His simplicity, foresight, peaceful nature and a balanced approach endear him to everyone. Swami Swatmananda can be reached through his social media handle @ChinmayaShivam or “Chinmaya Shivam” on Youtube, Instagram, FB, Twitter, Podomatic, Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, Google podcast & LinkedIn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medical anthropologist Alberto Villoldo has studied the shamanic healing practices of the Amazon and Andes for more than 25 years. He is the founder of the Four Winds Society, which trains modern shamans in the practice of energy medicine. He directs the Center for Energy Medicine in Chile, where he investigates and practices the neuroscience of enlightenment. Over the course of two decades with the shamans in the jungles and high mountains of the Andes, Villoldo discovered a set of sacred technologies that transform the body, heal the soul, and can change the way we live and die.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: Daniel Simpson’s upcoming book, The Truth of Yoga. Daniel shares his intention and inspiration behind this comprehensive overview integrating contemporary history with scholarly history Differentiating yoga history and yoga philosophy as evolutionary systems of ideas Debunking commonly misunderstood concepts and myths of yoga evolution Connection points to tradition within modern practices Postural practice and being definitive about the unknown Reinterpreting yoga traditions, cultural appropriation and exploitation of yoga The nature of ultimate and relative truths in yoga Daniel Simpson teaches yoga philosophy at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, on teacher trainings and online. He earned his Masters degree in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation at SOAS (University of London), the home of the pioneering Hatha Yoga Project. He is the author of The Truth of Yoga, a comprehensive guide to the history of practice, which will be published in January by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. His website is http://danielsimpson.infoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Co-sustaining spiritual practice and effective social action. Tips for carving out time for practice/ finding your core practice. Yogananda’s balanced, spiritual and responsible life. Sacred citizenship vs. the myth of rugged individuality. Practice as a wellspring for creativity. Harnessing imagination in the service of recognizing modes of our own experience. Knowledge of theory as it contributes to experience in practice. Philip Goldberg has been studying the world’s spiritual traditions for more than 45 years. He is the author or co-author of some 25 books published in more than a dozen languages. His book American Veda was named by Huffington Post and Library Journal as one of the Top 10 Religion Books of 2010; it was followed in 2018 by the popular biography The Life of Yogananda. He blogs on Spirituality & Health and cohosts the Spirit Matters podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Chris Walling, PsyD, SEP, C-IAYT has been an active leader in healthcare for nearly two decades. His work integrates the developmental, biological, and somatic aspects of the lifespan. His work in academic medicine has included the administration of multidisciplinary leadership teams in hematology-oncology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and geriatric psychiatry. He is a Clinical Research Fellow in the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at the Kinsey Institute located at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Dr. Walling is the current President of the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy, the hub of somatic psychology. His clinical focus in the behavioral sciences has examined the intersections of neuropsychotherapy, affect regulation, and somatic psychotherapy. Dr. Walling is the former Executive Administrator for the UCLA Longevity Center and Division of Geriatric Psychiatry. He currently serves as the Vice President of Education at the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation where cutting-edge research is conducted in geriatric integrative medicine. Dr. Walling is also a member of the Somatic Experiencing Research Committee at the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Dr. Walling is a clinical associate at the New Center for Psychoanalysis and a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Los Angeles, California.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author of creative non-fiction and contemporary translations of sacred literature. She taught Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos for 20 years and now teaches and speaks internationally on contemplative practice and inter-spiritual dialog. A certified bereavement counselor, Mirabai helps mourners harness the transformational power of loss. Her latest book, Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce & Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics, was named one of the “Best Books of 2019” by Spirituality & Practice. Mirabai is on the 2020 Watkins List of the “100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People of the World.” She lives with her extended family in the mountains of northern New Mexico.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Danylchuk is a licensed psychotherapist and yoga teacher trainer whose specialty is bringing yoga into trauma treatment. A graduate of UCLA and Harvard University, Lisa is the founder of the Center for Yoga and Trauma Recovery and creator of the Yoga for Trauma Online Training Program. She has authored three books, serves on the UN Task Force for the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, and is also a contributing editor for Best Practices for Yoga for Veterans, published by the Yoga Service Council.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey J. Kripal is the Associate Dean of the Faculty and Graduate Programs in the School of the Humanities and the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University. He is also the Associate Director of the Center for Theory and Research and the Chair of the Board at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. Jeff is the author of eight books, including, most recently, The Flip: Who You Really Are and Why It Matters (Penguin, 2020), where he envisions the future centrality and urgency of the humanities in conversation with the history of science, the philosophy of mind, and our shared ethical, political, and ecological challenges. He is presently working on a three-volume study of paranormal currents in the sciences, modern esoteric literature, and the hidden history of science fiction for the University of Chicago Press collectively entitled The Super Story: Science (Fiction) and Some Emergent Mythologies. There he intuits and writes out a new emerging spectrum of superhumanities (in both senses of that expression). His full body of work can be seen at http://jeffreyjkripal.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Auder, recently hailed by the NYTimes as “Yoga’s Instagram Provocateur” (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/style/yoga-instagram-alex-auder.html) is a native New Yorker, who grew up in the Chelsea Hotel, where she lived with her mother, the Warhol Superstar Viva, and her sister, the actress Gaby Hoffmann. Besides for being hailed as one of America’s “most influential” yoga teachers, Alex is an actress (you can find her as a recurring character in HBO’s High Maintenance) and writer (currently working on a memoir about growing up in The Chelsea with Viva). She and her husband/co-collaborator have a podcast called “15minutes with Alex.”Teaching for over 20 years, she has developed a keen eye and a genuinely authentic, irreverent, and original voice. Her classes are known for the graceful integration of clear and precise alignment cues, intelligent sequencing based on stability and functional movement, somatics, and vedantic philosophy.Alex has been interviewed and quoted in The New Yorker for the article about guru predators called: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/yoga-reconsiders-the-role-of-the-guru-in-the-age-of-metoo .When the pandemic landed, she closed down her brick and mortar studio on Philadelphia and now teaches two weekly live classes and has an extensive On Demand library of classes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: The utility of righteous anger in activism. Spiritual practice as an expression of disrupting violence in the world. Discomfort as the place where realization and freedom arises from. Orienting to the collective - holding my needs and the needs of the collective together.  The necessity of a commitment to practice for to create change. Dharma as a path to freedom, liberation, complete.  Becoming yourself to free yourself. Lama Rod Owens is a Buddhist minister, author, activist, yoga instructor and authorized Lama, or Buddhist teacher, in the Kagyu School of Tibetan Buddhism and is considered one of the leaders of his generation of Buddhist teachers. He holds a Master of Divinity degree in Buddhist Studies from Harvard Divinity School and is a co-author of Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation. Owens is the co-founder of Bhumisparsha, a Buddhist tantric practice and study community. Has been published in Buddhadharma, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle and The Harvard Divinity Bulletin, and offers talks, retreats and workshops in more than seven countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: Trauma as the root of most of our suffering  Common misperceptions about trauma and stress  6 principles of a trauma-informed approach Incorporating neuroscience and a return to ancient practices What is resilience?  Embodied activism - an everyday activism Making space for healing Nkem Ndefo is the founder and president of Lumos Transforms and creator of The Resilience Toolkit, a model that promotes embodied self-awareness and self-regulation in an ecologically sensitive framework and social justice context. Licensed as a nurse midwife, Nkem also has extensive post-graduate training in complementary health modalities and emotional therapies. She brings an abundance of experience as a clinician, educator, consultant, and community strategist to innovative programs that address stress and trauma and build resilience for individuals, organizations, and communities across sectors, both in her home country (USA) and internationally. Nkem is particularly interested in working alongside people most impacted by violence and marginalization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greta Gaard began practicing Vipassana meditation in 1995 at Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis, MN. An early proponent of ecofeminism, Gaard has written extensively to illuminate the linkages of race, gender, sexuality, species and environmental justice, publishing six books and over 90 articles on ecofeminism, including several that articulate a mindful ecofeminism: "Beyond Gary Snyder: Buddhism's Influence on U.S. Environmental Literature." (2013), “Mindful New Materialisms” (2014), “Mindful Ecocriticism” (2020), and “(Un)Storied Air, Breath, Embodiment” (2021). Her presentation on “Humans, Animals, and Non-Harming,” is available on the Dharma Voices for Animals website, and her most recent book is Critical Ecofeminism (2017). As a Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, Gaard uses both mindfulness pedagogy and happiness practices in all her writing classes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss:  Contemplating death, existence looking at non-existence Trauma, dissociation, suffering and spiritual emergency The mysteries of perceptions through mind, heart, and body Taking emotional responsibility through spiritual healing Nondual Therapy, the psychology of awakening, in contrast to traditional therapy  Ways of responding to fear and anger from the lens of non-dual therapy  Passion and finding sense of purpose within suffering  Georgi Y. Johnson graduated from Oxford University with a determination to explore the mysteries of perception through mind, heart and body. Together with her partner Bart ten Berge she has an international teaching and healing practice in Nondual Therapy and Spiritual Psychology. Georgi is author of several books, including I AM HERE – Opening the Windows of Life & Beauty (a study of the nature of consciousness), and Nondual Therapy – The Psychology of Awakening. She is presently completing a new book: Nondual Medicine –The Physiology of the Soul. All Georgi’s teachings arise out of the realization of the primacy of resonant experience in the movement toward wellbeing, health and happiness. In this, her approach is radically holistic, working with the vibratory field of the felt sense as prior to physical, psychological can mental manifestations. Implicit in this is the liberation of consciousness from the inherited conditioning of beliefs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: Unreasonable happiness as a way to engage in this time of crisis  Todd’s personal experience of spiritual awakening  The fall from grace of two beloved gurus Betrayal, resentment, grief, healing and forgiveness with boundaries as an act of self-love A new student-teacher relationship and the foundation of Ashaya Yoga Seeing everything in life as a path of awakening Non-duality, integration of all of it - this is the spiritual practice ​Todd Norian, E-RYT 500, seeks to awaken others to their inherent potential for healing and joy by integrating the body, mind, and heart through yoga and meditation. Believing that yoga is a gateway for self-discovery and spiritual growth, Todd founded Ashaya Yoga in 2012 to guide his students through an alignment-based, heart-opening practice that builds strength and flexibility while giving them access to the universe of power within. A student of yoga since 1980, Todd brings advanced biomechanical knowledge, Shaiva Tantra philosophical teachings, and an unapologetic sense of humor to his international workshops and trainings. As a classically trained Jazz musician, Todd created several music albums for yoga and relaxation, including Bija: Soothing Music and Mantras for Yoga and Meditation. Learn more by reading Todd’s book, Memoir of a Jewish Yogi. For a listing of Ashaya Yoga Certified Teachers near you and a schedule of Todd’s upcoming teacher trainings, workshops, and retreats, visit ashayayoga.com. Practice with Todd online at www.yogainternational.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: The spirit of Bhakti Breath as a supreme principle, relating to the Divine through breath - a delivery system of love The power of mantra Bhakti as the fuel for practice and the importance of digging in one spot to reach a depth Cultivating a relationship to deity  The relationship between Bhakti and Tarka and the process of falling in love with awareness Your own signature Bhakti Mary Reilly Nichols is the Director of Nalanda Institute’s Yoga, Mind & Spirit and has been teaching yoga for over 30 years. She offers teachings through the lens of non-duality in the Upanishads, Advaita Vedanta, as well as in the Tantric methods of Kashmiri Shaivism and Kundalini Yoga. She holds a BA in anthropology from Harvard University, and completed five years of residency in the ashrams of Swami Muktananda both in India and in the US. In addition to workshops, weekly classes, corporate and teacher-trainings, Nichols teaches stress management in psychiatric settings and is involved in ongoing research on the mind/body benefits of yoga and meditation. Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan is a Cardiologist and Professor of Medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, MI. She is an initiate in the Tāntrik lineages of Śrī Vidyā and Non-dual Śaiva Tantra (also known as Kashmir Śaivisim) and has studied Advaita Vedānta, Ayurveda, and Yoga with teachers across the globe. Her workshops, courses and writings on meditation, Yoga, Tantra, Ayurveda and non-duality strive to bring these time-honored traditions to modern living in practical ways. She is the author of The Heart of Wellness (Llewellyn Publications, January 2018), Shakti Rising (New Harbinger Publications, October 2017), which won the Nautilus Gold Award for Best Books of 2017 and Glorious Alchemy: Living the Lalitā Sahasranāma (New Sarum Press, UK, January 2020).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: The nature of reality as wisdom and compassion even in the face of obstacles Spiritual challenges we are facing in the Covid19 pandemic Staying in our spiritual practice even in the face of existential threats  Leaning into fear and finding refuge in God and nature Building the Ojas, immunity and the bridge between the ordinary love and universal love The teaching of Ananda, holding the absolute and relative reality at the same time Reconciling the teaching of the naturalness of death with the commitment to stay engaged and to help others Accessing the heart as a gateway to unconditional wisdom Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism (a.k.a. Kashmir Shaivism or Shaiva Tantra) and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. She has also studied meditation with teachers in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. Her root Guru is Anandamayi Ma.Shambhavi is known for making complex teachings about the nature of the self and reality understandable, practical, and always relatable to everyday experience. Her teachings are grounded in her more than thirty-five years of daily personal practice and personal retreats.In addition to offering teachings in spiritual practice and view, Shambhavi conducts festival day pujas, yajñas, and also weddings and other rites. She is a trained jyotishi and diviner.At one time, Shambhavi taught at Northwestern University. She left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing and teaching in her spiritual tradition. SHAMBHAVI’S BOOKSShambhavi is the author of The Reality Sutras: Seeking the Heart of Trika Shaivism (2018), Nine Poisons, Nine Medicines, Nine Fruits (2017), The Play of Awakening: Adventures in Direct Realization Tantra (2012), Pilgrims to Opennness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life (2009), Returning  (2015), and No Retreat: Poems on the Way to Waking Up (2016). In addition, she published an academic book, Avatar Bodies: a Tantra for Posthumanism. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. is a Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University, where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium within the Kinsey Institute.  He holds the position of Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina and Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland.  He served as president of both the Society for Psychophysiological Research and the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences and is a former recipient of a National Institute of Mental Health Research Scientist Development Award.  He has published more than 300 peer reviewed scientific papers across several disciplines including anesthesiology, biomedical engineering, critical care medicine, ergonomics, exercise physiology, gerontology, neurology, neuroscience, obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, psychology, psychometrics, space medicine, and substance abuse. In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behavior and emphasizes the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioral problems and psychiatric disorders. The theory is leading to innovative treatments based on insights into the mechanisms mediating symptoms observed in several behavioral, psychiatric, and physical disorders. He is the author of The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-regulation (Norton, 2011), The Pocket Guide to the Polyvagal Theory: The Transformative Power of Feeling Safe, (Norton, 2017) and co-editor of Clinical Applications of the Polyvagal Theory: The Emergence of Polyvagal-Informed Therapies (Norton, 2018). He is the creator of a patented music-based intervention, the Safe and Sound Protocol™, which currently is used by more than 1200 therapists to improve spontaneous social engagement, to reduce hearing sensitivities, and to improve language processing, state regulation, and spontaneous social engagement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacob Kyle speaks with Miles Neale and Isa Gucciardi about the corona virus, how we can skillfully respond to the situation, and why contemplative practice is so important at this time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Neil’s documentary film, Gurukulam, which explores a living Advaita Vedanta lineage through sensory ethnography What brought Neil to his path Triple process of study for knowledge - listening, logical reflection, contemplative understanding Experienced hunting, the need for a teacher and reflections on the current state of "Gurus" The Western concept of Karma yoga vs. the way it is traditionally defined Cultural appropriation, academia, yoga practitioners, the market of yoga and how we are manifesting these issues Neil Dalal is Associate Professor of South Asian Philosophy and Religious Thought at the University of Alberta, where he teaches in both the Philosophy Department and Religious Studies Program. He received his PhD in Asian Cultures and Languages from the University of Texas at Austin where he specialized in Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, and an MA in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Dalal’s interests explore philosophy of mind, contemplative psychologies, and meditation practices found in classical South Asian Yoga systems. He grounds this research in classical Sanskrit texts and commentaries as well as their living traditions. Dalal’s current research focuses on the intersections of contemplative practices, textual study, and embodiment in Advaita Vedānta. He is the co-director of Gurukulam (The Orchard/Sony Pictures), a sensory-ethnographic study of a contemporary Advaita Vedānta community, co-editor of Asian Perspectives on Animal Ethics (Routledge Press), and has published articles in venues such as the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Journal of Indian Philosophy, and Journal of Hindu Studies. Dalal is also a teacher within the traditional lineage of Śaṅkarācārya’s Advaita Vedānta. He spent several years living a monastic lifestyle in India while studying under the direct guidance of the renowned Advaita Vedāntin, Swami Dayananda Saraswati, who gave him permission to teach in 2002.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: How can we make interactions with VR meaningful VR as a support for contemplative practice The parallel between VR and Hinduism as an understanding of the world as dharma Using VR to define reality – Who are we with all these possibilities?  What would we like to experience? Wouldn’t we prefer to have surprises in life? Therapy facilitated by VR to expand healing possibilities The potential for both positive and negative effects of VR and how we will have to make personal and existential choices about how to use this technology Joakim Vindenes is a PhD Candidate at the University of Bergen, Norway,where he is researching VR technologies. At his spare time, he runsMatrise — a blog focused on the intersections of VR, Consciousness,Science & Philosophy. Matrise has lately increased in popularity anddiscusses VR technology in relation to topics such as psychedelics,Hinduism, Existentialism, Meditation and Non-dual states.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: Dreams from the perspective of Eastern tradition What is the non-dreaming state Spiritual benefits of lucid dreaming, including the development of psychic power Physical and psychological therapeutic benefits of lucid dreaming Tools to navigate nightmares Principles and strategies to begin a practice of lucid dreaming (intention and meditation as foundational practices) Preparation for a lucid dreaming practice by developing good sleep hygiene and establishing a more honored and treasured relationship to the dreaming state Andrew Holecek has completed the traditional three-year Buddhist meditation retreat and offers seminars internationally on meditation, dream yoga, and the art of dying. He is the author of Preparing to Die: Practical Advice and Spiritual Wisdom from the Tibetan Buddhist Tradition; Meditation in the iGeneration: How to Meditate in a World of Speed and Stress; The Power and the Pain: Transforming Spiritual Hardship into Joy; the audio learning course Dream Yoga: The Tibetan Path of Awakening Through Lucid Dreaming, and his latest book Dream Yoga: Illuminating Your Life Through Lucid Dreaming and the Tibetan Yogas of Sleep. Dr. Holecek is a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and has authored scientific papers. His work has appeared in Parabola, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, Utne Reader, Buddhadharma Magazine, Light of Consciousness, and many other periodicals. Andrew holds degrees in classical music, biology, and a doctorate in dental surgery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss: Christine Caldwell's new book, Bodyfulness: Somatic Practices for Presence, Empowerment, & Waking Up in This Life Bodyfulness happens when you look at embodiment as physical, psychological, and contemplative 8 principles of Bodyfulness and the 4 aspects in the practice of Bodyfulness Difference between the stories that the body would tell and the verbal narrative we have laid on top of it Bodyfulness is activism at its most basic level and how it can shift forms of activism Obstacles to Bodyfulness include the oppression of the body by many societies, making our bodies and other bodies "wrong", and Bodylessness, in which the body is seen as a project An enlightened body and body wakefulness - being "awake" is a bodily experience not just in the mind Dr. Christine Caldwell, Ph.D., BC-DMT, LPC, NCC, ACS, is the founder of and professor emeritus in the Somatic Counseling Program at Naropa University in Boulder, CO, USA, where she taught coursework in somatic counseling theory and skills, clinical neuroscience, research, and diversity issues. Her work began forty years ago with studies in anthropology, dance therapy, bodywork and Gestalt therapy, and has developed into innovations in the field of body-centered psychotherapy. She calls her work the Moving Cycle. This system goes beyond the limitations of therapy and emphasizes lifelong personal and social evolution through trusting and following body states. The Moving Cycle spotlights natural play, early physical imprinting, bodily authority, and the transformational effect of fully sequenced movement processes. She has taught at the University of Maryland, George Washington University, Concordia, Seoul Women’s University, Southwestern College, Pacifica, and Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, and trains, teaches and lectures internationally. She has published over 30 articles and chapters, and her books include Getting Our Bodies Back, Getting In Touch, The Body and Oppression, and Bodyfulness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we discuss:  How religious fundamentalism is problematic Many gods and choosing one god to workshop The key to finding heaven here and now is the recognition of an omniscient God that is available to everyone at all times and in all spaces Distortion of the Hindu way of life by colonialism and the spread of a more open-minded approach to the divine Yoga of constant union    Defining features of the Vedic way of life Being in an age of darkness and transition Vanamali Mataji resides in Vanamali Ashram, Rishikesh. Vanamali is one of the names of Lord Krishna and she is an ardent Krishna Bhakta. Mataji always dresses in lavender as that is the colour of Krishna in transcendence. She has published many books on the Hindu gods - The Complete Life of Krishna, The Complete Life of Rama, Shiva - stories and teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana, Hanuman - Devotion and Power of the Monkey God, The Science of the Rishis, In the lost city of Krishna, Nitya Yoga - (Essays on the Bhagavad Gita) etc. Mataji regularly conducts classes on the Vedic Way of Life and the Sreemad Bhagavad Gita both in the Ashram and abroad. The Ashram is run by her brother - Mohanji who is an exemplary Karma Yogi. The Ashram does a lot of charitable work in both Rishikesh and in a small Himalayan village called Gaja. About a hundred widows are being given rations and many have also been adopted by various philanthropists all over the world. They also help in running a small village school in Gaja and a tribal school in the Wyanad district of Kerala.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Quantum physics is an astounding entry into consciousness and puts trans-personal psychology on the map. Why spiritual teachers talk so much about quantum physics. Key features and principles of Quantum Physics and the role of the observer, quantum collapse, quantum entanglement, and downward causation. How we actually live according to the quantum worldview and manifest our reality. How archetypes are our internal stimuli, the divine waiting for us to act, and the lifestyle of living around a certain archetype.  Creativity, the power of intention and what comes next. What is a quantum activist and how do we become one. Theoretical Quantum Physicist Dr. Amit Goswami is a retired full professor from the University of Oregon’s Department of Physics where he served from 1968 to 1997. He is a pioneer of the new paradigm of science called “science within consciousness,” an idea he explicated in his seminal book, The Self-Aware Universe, where he also solved the quantum measurement problem elucidating the famous observer effect. Goswami has written several other popular books: The Visionary Window, Physics of the Soul, The Quantum Doctor, Creative Evolution, God is Not Dead, HowQuantum Activism Can Save Civilization, Quantum Creativity: Think Quantum, Be Creative, Quantum Economics: Unleashing the Power of an Economics of Consciousness. In his most recent book, The Everything Answer Book (April 2017), Goswami's basic premise is that quantum physics is not only the future of science, but it is also the key to understanding consciousness, death, God, psychology, and the meaning of life. In short, quantum physics offers a theory of everything. In his private life, Goswami is a practitioner of spirituality and transformation. He calls himself a quantum activist. He appeared in the film What the Bleep Do We Know!? and its sequel Down the Rabbit Hole as well as the documentaries Dalai Lama Renaissance and the award-winning The Quantum Activist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Yoga’s evolution in New York City immediately following 9/11 and how Susanna found a yoga practice rooted in an intelligent spiritual worldview Does everything happen for a reason? How Karma and Lila (divine play) interact in our lives. Yoga of cancer as a deep inner conversation with the body rather than the language of battle. What is pilgrimage? Can we engage in pilgrimage even if we can’t travel to spiritual sites? Susanna’s pilgrimage with Kali, the Mother Goddess who represents all possibility. Choosing who to walk through your (inner) life with. Susanna Harwood Rubin is the author of Yoga 365: Daily Wisdom for Life On and Off the Mat. She is a yoga teacher, writer, and artist whose work is rooted in South Indian Philosophy. Based in NYC, Susanna teaches internationally and speaks on yoga, meditation, and Hindu myth. Her spiritual home is in Chidambaram, at the great Nataraja and Tillai Kali Temples. She teaches  Devi Soul Yoga, combining yoga asana with mantra, myth, and mudra, and is the creator of 30 Things and Writing Your Practice workshops and online courses that apply yoga philosophy and myth to the practice of writing. Susanna writes for numerous publications and has been featured on HuffPostLive, MSNBC Today, SHE Summit, Yoga Journal, Mantra Wellness, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: What is a deity and the spectrum of deities Different ways to approach deities (as a person with whom you have a personal relationship or an impersonal supreme that is beyond names and forms) The role of sacred art in nourishing our spiritual nature How to discern which type of sacred art to use Eka's recent work on altars and having a place of divinity in your home What a simple deity altar would include Main misrepresentations and appropriations and why this matters as a practitio Ekabhumi Charles Ellik is an award-winning poet, author, illustrator, yoga instructor and arts educator with 18 years of international teaching experience. Through a ritualized and meditative creative method, he makes artworks for ceremonial and educational use that help people deepen their spiritual practice, recognize the divinity of common experiences, and find meaning in the beauty of our world. His artworks may be found in yoga studios, private homes, and on altars around the world. He is currently part of the core faculty of livingsanskrit.com. His name was given by his first guru during a formal initiation ceremony into a tantric yoga lineage in 2005. Since that time, he has studied with many spiritual teachers and traditional artists both in India and the States. His art teachers include eminent western figurative painters like Domenic Cretara, as well as Newar artist Dinesh Charan Shrestha, Bikanir-style miniature painter Mahaveer Swami, Thangka painter Andy Weber, and yantra painter Mavis Gewant.Ekabhumi’s writing and artwork has been published widely, appearing in anthologies and journals like The Poetry of Yoga, Berkeley Fiction Review, and Pearl, as well as books like Shiva’s Trident by Swami Khecharanatha, Tantra Illuminated by Christopher Hareesh Wallis and Awakening Shakti by Sally Kempton. His instructional Shakti Coloring Book and the uplifting Bhakti Coloring Book are now available world-wide from Sounds True Press.Though his first love is the arts, he has a wide range of interests that are reflected in his many past occupations: event producer, stock options broker, handyman, journalist, ski boot fitter, competitive surfer and champion sailor. He toured internationally as a performance poet, and the poets he coached won numerous regional and national titles. He facilitated writer’s groups, hosted poetry readings, and organized spoken-word festivals for nearly 20 years, culminating in the acclaimed 2009 Individual World Poetry Slam.Ekabhumi is an inspiring, playful yet methodical teacher who helps students cultivate deeper intuitive states. For nearly two decades, he variously taught yoga, painting, public speaking, and creative writing to students ranging from kindergarten to post-graduate level. Much of his time is now spent creating educational material about interpreting, making, and utilizing sacred art of the dharma traditions. On weekends, he can be found in his garden practicing silence and learning directly from Nature.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode of the CHITHEADS podcast is from a previous panel discussion hosted by Embodied Philosophy on the intersection of somatics and spirituality. Featuring esteemed teachers Sally Kempton, Judith Blackstone, Rae Johnson, Scott Lyons and Tara Judelle. DR. SCOTT LYONS Dr. Scott Lyons is dedicated to teaching embodiment as a way of exploring human development, healing and transformation. Scott is the co-creator of Embodied Flow™, a Clinical Psychologist, and Mind-Body Medicine practitioner. Additionally, Scott is a Certified Body-Mind Centering® Teacher, Cranio-Sacral Therapist, Visceral Manipulation Therapist, Infant Developmental Movement Educator, Movement Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mindfulness-based Executive Coach, and Focusing Practitioner. TARA JUDELLE Tara Judelle is a world renowned yoga facilitator moved by bringing humans into their innate sense of freedom and purpose. After 30 years experimenting in all forms of movement, Tara co-created the School of Embodied Flow™ in 2014 to bring her current passions into a modern movement of Yoga. From a background in literature, film writing, directing and dance, Tara brings students on a journey of discovery of their numinous self through laughter, meditation, embodiment, movement & inquiry. DR. RAE JOHNSON Rae Johnson, PhD, RSMT is a scholar, activist and registered somatic movement therapist who currently chairs the Somatic Studies specialization in the Department of Psychology doctoral program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. The author of several books – including Elemental Movement, Knowing in our Bones, and Embodied Social Justice – Rae teaches and trains internationally on embodied micro-aggressions, somatic research methods, and the poetic body. DR. JUDITH BLACKSTONE Judith Blackstone, PhD, is an innovative spiritual teacher and a licensed psychotherapist in New York with forty years of clinical experience. She developed the Realization Process, a method of embodied psychological and relational healing and nondual spiritual awakening. She is the author of Belonging Here, The Enlightenment Process, The Intimate Life, The Empathic Ground and Trauma and the Unbound Body. An audio series of the Realization Process is available from Sounds True. SALLY KEMPTON Sally Kempton is a widely respected teacher of meditation and spiritual wisdom known to help students work with meditative experience as a framework for practical life-change. A former swami in a Vedic tradition, she has spent over four decades delving deeply into meditation and self-inquiry. Spirituality and Healthmagazine call her work “the meditation books your heart wants you to read.” She is on the faculty at Esalen and Kripalu, teaches meditation on Yogaglo & leads international retreats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: How the world and yoga are open sourced. Vocabulary and framework of Daoist vs Indian yoga. The yoga technique doesn’t matter. What matters is that it is well done, that you have the skills and get it all into integrity (mind, body, breath). Useful metaphors and maps to define, understand and explore the territory of our bodies. Mystical practices, such as yoga, are practical and pragmatic. Participate in the awe. Speak the language of the spirit, play with math; the universal language that transcends the cultural. Music is math. Yoga is music. Visit  https://www.katonahyoga.com/about for the resources referenced in this podcast. Nevine Michaan, Founder and creator of Katonah Yoga possesses a gift for teaching the physical and esoteric aspects of yoga. Many consider her a philosopher, a poet; a seer. Her teaching methods are articulated intelligently with meaning and metaphor. Nevine's practical approach entwines the body, the breath and the imagination. Her unique dialogue and insight are matched by her extraordinary ability to convey and communicate her keen acumen. Michaan, born in Egypt in 1954, moved to New York at the age of three. In her early 20’s while studying history and comparative religion at Vassar College she discovered meditation. Nevine understood that there is a function(s), a formality and a fit to the universe and that yoga is a tool, a technique–a practice with repetition which gives us the opportunity to participate in life intelligently and joyfully. Nevine started a daily practice in NYC with renowned yoga instructor Allan Bateman, in the 1970s. She became fully immersed in what would become her life’s work(s). She began teaching Yoga in 1980 and founded the Katonah Yoga Center in Katonah, New York in 1986. Nevine continues to teach in her studio in Bedford Hills, NY and to inspire those both near and far, of all ages and backgrounds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: How David found yoga, his evolution as a teacher, and the teachers who have influenced him. His current view on his 2012 interview in New York magazine: David Regelin's Unorthodox Style of Yoga Yoga skepticism  Yoga as a human science A few principles from his Geometry of Yoga The 200-hour yoga teacher training model David Regelin is a traveling yoga teacher based in New York City. Sought after for his workshops and teacher's intensives, his unique talent for simple yet precise articulation of form and technique, echo in the bodies and minds of his students. As a young teacher, David was at the forefront of what became a popular trend of choreographed vinyasa classes to the sound of live music. He created the "Multi-Intenso" experience, a class that garnered a cult following in New York City. "Multi-Intenso" is a technique based, athletic and dynamic style of yoga centered around handstands. Over time, David's reflective nature and incessant personal investigation into the potential transformative powers that a yoga practice can give, has led him to a more comprehensive approach to how physical form relates to psychological and emotional states. Inclined toward the mystical and timeless, greatly influenced by intensive study with Nevine Michaan, David's practice and teaching have evolved into a more refined adaptation of how an asana (postural) practice can instigate profound mind-body awareness.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Yoga as activism in the context of freedom and agency How her contemplative practices have shifted her relationship to racism and how anger isn’t the only way to create change The many tracks of activism and how can we work together What a practice looks like in the context of a correctional facility or rehab facility Impact of meditation and yoga and how they can address the unique challenges that folks who are incarcerated experience Privilege and reparations around race, indigenous peoples, homophobia, sexism and poverty Our relationship with social media – are you “meditating” on Facebook? People referenced in the podcast are: Erika Hart, Rachel Cargle, Adrienne Maree Brown and Susan Barataki Oneika Mays (LMT, E-RYT) transitioned to yoga and meditation from a career in corporate retail over 10 years ago. Oneika used that experience to support social justice non-profits and teach meditation and yoga inside jails. As Training Director at Liberation Prison Yoga she co-facilitated trainings with teachers and practitioners interested in serving incarcerated populations. As Director of Operations onf Transformation Yoga Project she supported a team that has served over 10k people and leads yoga teacher trainings inside prisons. Today, Oneika is the Mindfulness Coach at Rikers Island and facilitates workshops around cultivating resilience and compassion through meditation and other mindfulness practices. At Rikers she works one-on-one with incarcerated folks. She believes that meditation and mindfulness practices can forge a path to freedom and build resilience. Oneika is passionate about supporting teachers and leaders who bring peace and healing to QBIPOC and folks impacted by the incarceration and its aftermath.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Symbol of spirals and the journey of the soul  How forms come into being  Morphic resonance and how working with sound relates to Rupert Sheldrake's theory  Western culture's loss of relationship to sound and the effects of externalizing sound as entertainment  The human body as a wind instrument  Reclaiming our voices through the use of the voice as a meditative tool Hear a sample of Jill’s overtone chanting - a magical, meditative technique Untangling the web of ancestral fields to heal families and ancestors Jill Purce is recognized internationally as the pioneer of both the sound & the ancestral healing movements. In the1970’s she introduced the teaching of overtone chanting throughout the world & the spiritual potential of the voice for healing & meditation. In the early ‘70’s she lived & worked with German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen exploring the spiritual dimension of music. She learned overtone chanting in the Himalayas with the chant master of the Gyutö Tibetan Monastery. Jill practiced Dzogchen since 1978 with, Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. In the last 40 years she pioneered her workshops, Healing Voice & Healing the Family and Ancestors, the latter a unique combination of Family constellations, chant & ceremony. Author of The Mystic Spiral: Journey of the Soul. Her recordings include Overtone Chanting Meditations and The Healing Voice. She lives in London with her husband, Rupert Sheldrake and their two sons, musician Cosmo and ecologist Merlin. www.healingvoice.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Whole body / whole brain approaches to addressing trauma through the body, mind, intellect, imagination and spiritual practice Trauma that happens to us when essential needs are not being met (what we don’t receive, what doesn’t happen to us) Inter-generational trauma from gene expression, between mother and father, birthing process and developmental stages The role of anger and rage in the process of healing Spiritual practices and addressing trauma Her book The Body Awareness Workbook for Trauma, coming August 2019. Julie Brown Yau, PhD, has a 30-year background in psychological, somatic and spiritual traditions providing her with a unique depth of knowledge and direct experience. Julie’s unified approach for addressing developmental and complex trauma, includes the latest neuroscientific & psychosomatic findings, depth psychology, & Eastern wisdom. Julie is an author, speaker, and has a private practice in Laguna Beach CA. She has a passion for resolving trauma, reducing stress and suffering while cultivating compassion. Julie supports those on a spiritual path to embody realizations and assists those going through spiritual emergence to create a fully embodied and rich emotional life. Julie assists individuals and groups gain healing from ongoing repercussions of trauma and adversity, while enhancing psychospiritual growth and the expansion of consciousness. More info at http://juliebrownyau.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Obstacles to the science of spiritual practice - limitations of a materialist view Engagement with the Indian tradition and how it helped him return to Christianity Intention of a pilgrimage and how it differs from being a tourist The interplay of form and energy and the common ground with a Trinitarian view Human genome project - what we know and don't know (e.g. shape, form, instincts) The brain as a mediator and not the cause His book Science and Spiritual Practicesand how science helps validate seven practices on which all religions are built and spiritual practices in a secular world Rupert Sheldrake, PhD, is a biologist and author of more than eighty-five technical papers and eight books, including Science and Spiritual Prcatices, and the co-author of six books. He was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge University, a Research Fellow of the Royal Society, and a Frank Know Fellow at Harvard. He worked in India as Principal Plant Physiologist at the International Crops Research Institute ICRISAT, and also lived for two years in the Benedictine ashram of Fr Bede Griffiths in Tamil Nadu. From 2005-2010, he was Director of the Perrott-Warrick Project for the study of unexplained human and animal abilities, funded from Trinity College, Cambridge. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Noetic Sciences and of Schumacher College in Devon, England. He lives in London and is married to Jill Purce, with whom he has two sons. His web site is www.sheldrake.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Role of his travels and his perennial philosophy Using metaphors to make sense of non-duality (e.g. “hole in the cheese”) Position of the status of education in this country from the perspective of his perennial position (occupational oriented vs. wholeness as a person, process of individuation as children) Exile and Return Verifiability Wonder and the extraordinary beauty of life John Greer has spent nearly twenty years inquiring deeply into sacred texts and teachings of the world's traditions, spurred by his own spiritual search. He is a dedicated practitioner of meditation and has taught insight meditation for over a decade. John Greer holds a Ph.D. in education from Pennsylvania State University, and in three decades as a professor at the University of Memphis published numerous articles, co-authored several books on education and special education and was a recipient of the university's highest award for distinguished teaching. He also served for two years in Nepal with the Peace Corps and has traveled extensively on six continents. He lives with his wife in Memphis. To learn more about John Greer and his work, visit www.SeeingKnowingBeing.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: His continual journey of awakening 7 stages of consciousness Awakening inside and outside of a tradition Chasing experience “Feeling value” and its role in the process of awakening Personal and impersonal - changing focus Ethics and awakening - three folds of the ego Rising of the consciousness in our modern world David Buckland is a former IT consultant who lives on Vancouver Island in the temperate rain forest of SW Canada. He began his spiritual journey in the mid-70's. On a long retreat soon after, he began witnessing full time and refined perception clicked on with a bang. He has now been meditating and exploring consciousness for more than 40 years. Soon after awakening in 2007, he began writing online under the nickname "Davidya." The name and related blog (Davidya.ca) soon took on a life of its own. In 2011, he earned an MA in Vedic Science, studying Vedic literature, Sanskrit, and world religions. He has observed and spoken with many people having shifts in consciousness and has been working to synthesize historical understanding with modern experience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Embodied nonduality – Judith’s definition of embodiment and nonduality Fundamental features of the Realization Process and the 2 main exercises (inhabiting the whole body and tuning into the subtle vertical channel) Her new book Trauma and the Unbound Body Realization Process techniques that contribute to trauma work Importance of inhabiting the body and the space of consciousness before releasing trauma Judith Blackstone, PhD, developed the Realization Process, a method of embodied psychological and relational healing and nondual spiritual awakening. She is the author of Trauma and the Unbound Body, Belonging Here, The Enlightenment Process, The Intimate Life, and The Empathic Ground. An audio series of the Realization Process is available from Sounds True. For information on Judith's teaching schedule, visit www.realizationprocess.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Commonality between mystical experiences Expressing difference vs. unity and our ability to communicate with each other; difference doesn’t exist without sameness New essentialism - what are the general ideas that allow us to speak from our various silos and communicate with each other Practitioner hat and the scholar hat (fetishization of the particular) Mysticism and neuroscience Spiritual basis of life expresses itself in multiple registers - physical, psychological, and metaphysical levels Meditation as the fundamental tool to discover these realms and experience Kenneth Rose, Ph.D., is Senior Research Fellow at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, and emeritus professor of philosophy and religion at Christopher Newport University in Virginia. He teaches and publishes in the areas of comparative religion, comparative mysticism, religious pluralism, and the philosophy of meditation. He developed and lead the online course “Wisdom from World Religions,” which is supported by a Templeton World Charity Foundation grant (archived at https://radianceofawareness.com/course/). His degrees include an M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School and an M.A. and Ph.D. in the Study of Religion from Harvard University. At Harvard, he was a Fellow at the Center for the Study of World Religions. His books include Yoga, Meditation, and Mysticism: Contemplative Universals and Meditative Landmarks and Pluralism: The Future of Religion. Influenced as much by the Bhagavad Gītā as by Thomas Merton and the Buddha, Prof. Rose has engaged in a lifelong quest to understand and practice spirituality in light of the sublime mystical texts and practices in the world’s wisdom traditions. More information is available at amazon.com/author/kennethroseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Unless we transform the wounds of oppression in our own bodies and then by extension into our own embodied relationships with others...no amount of macro-sociological institutional legislative change will last because we keep producing the inequities at the grass roots levels.” In this episode, we discuss: Personal experience always emerges out of socio-economic context Importance of joining the personal with the professional Moving past oppressors vs. oppressed and finding a common ground about our pain Somatic literacy and illiteracy, cultivating somatic intelligence Not all yoga is somatic – feeling yourself from the inside out Rae Johnson, PhD, RSMT is a scholar/activist and registered somatic movement therapist who chairs the Somatic Studies in Depth Psychology doctoral program at Pacifica Graduate Institute. The author of several books – including Elemental Movement, Knowing in our Bones, and Embodied Social Justice – Rae teaches and trains internationally on embodied activism, somatic research methods, and the poetic body.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we discuss: Ecodharma Being grounded through a spiritual practice as an activist 5 types of non-duality Interpreting history from a place of “lack” Placeholders we use in our culture to represent the sacred Importance of internal and external practices to manifest sustainable social change David R. Loy is a professor of Buddhist and comparative philosophy, and a teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Buddhism. His books include Nonduality: a study in comparative philosophy [originally published by Yale University Press]; Lack and Transcendence: the problem of death and life in psychotherapy, existentialism and buddhism [a second edition just released by Wisdom Publications] and Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis (forthcoming in January 2019). He is especially concerned about social and ecological issues. In addition to offering academic lectures, workshops and meditation retreats, he is one of the founders of the new Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center, near Boulder, Colorado. In June 2014, David received an honorary degree from Carleton College, his alma mater, during its 2014 Commencement. In April 2016 David returned his honorary degree, to protest the decision of the Board of Trustees not to divest from fossil fuel investments. To learn more about David’s books, his teachings, and his ecodharma retreat center, visit www.davidloy.org and rockymountainecodharmaretreatcenter.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An accomplished speaker, teacher and practitioner, Nikki Myers is an MBA,C-IAYT Yoga Therapist, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, AddictionsRecovery Specialist, and Certified Health Coach. Born from her personalstruggle with addiction, Nikki is the founder of Y12SR, The Yoga of 12-StepRecovery. Based in its theme ‘the issues live in the tissues’, Y12SR is arelapse prevention program that weaves the art & science of yoga with thepractical tools of 12-step programs. Y12SR meetings are now availablethroughout the world and the curriculum is rapidly becoming a feature ofaddiction recovery treatment centers. Nikki’s work has been featured in theNew York Times, Black Enterprise, The Huffington Post, Origin Magazine, andCBSnews.com. She is honored to be a co-founder of the annual Yoga,Meditation and Recovery Conferences at Esalen Institute and Kripalu Center.Nikki was named as a Yoga Journal Game Changer in 2015 and honored as arecipient of the esteemed NUVO Cultural Visionary Award in 2014.web: www.y12sr.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Bullard, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, has been practicing individual psychotherapy and couples therapy in San Francisco for over 30 years. He is Clinical Professor of Medicine and Clinical Professor of Medical Psychology (Psychiatry) at the University of California, San Francisco, where he was affiliated with the Human Sexuality Program and the Behavioral Medicine Unit, hosted international symposia on sexuality and medical conditions, and taught courses to medical students, nurses, interns, residents, faculty, therapists and other health care providers. He currently consults with the Symptom Management Service (which provides outpatient palliative care) at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, and is a member of the Professional Advisory Group, Spiritual Care Services, Clinical Pastoral Education Program at UCSF. David is a guest teacher at San Francisco Zen Center's City Center and Green Gulch. David’s practice and teaching have been supported and deepened by exploring Bhutan with Dr. Robert Thurman; by advanced training in the trauma therapy, Somatic Experiencing®, in Brazil with Dr. Peter Levine; and by enjoying time in the west of Ireland with David Whyte and others in celebration of the poetry of the human soul.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bo Forbes is a clinical psychologist, embodiment guide, urban contemplative, and research collaborator in the science of well-being. Her paradigm-bending work explores the body as an essential part of transformation and the inextricable links between individual and collective well-being. Bo’s work is interdisciplinary, and integrates emerging research in science, psychology, somatics, and contemplative practice with decades of experience on the front lines of somatic education. Since the 1990’s, her experience in the field of trauma and social epigenetics has included inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings, private practice, organizational consulting, somatic therapy, and scholarship. She has a unique perspective on embodiment: she works intimately with the body in relation to trauma, and has also experienced, written about, and spoken publicly about sexual assault and harassment. Her mother was a prisoner of war in World War II who between the ages of 7 and 12 was forced to march through Kenya, Uganda, and Siberia. And until the age of two, she lived with her parents on a Seneca reservation in New York before its destruction by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; her master’s thesis focused on the bodily rituals of indigenous cultures. Bo co-teaches a course at Tufts University with colleague Kris Manjapra that focuses on colonialism, social justice, and the body. She is the founder of Embodied Awareness, an online education company, and teaches workshops and trainings internationally. She recently presented her work on interoception, connective tissue, and emotional health at the Fascia Research Congress in Berlin. She has written scholarly and lay articles for numerous leading magazines, and is the author of Yoga for Emotional Balance: Simple Practices to Help Relieve Anxiety and Depression and Her newest book on the science and practice of embodiment, is slated for publication in early 2020.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Philipp and Jacob discuss his research on classical Indian literature and the historiography of yoga.  You will learn about: The role of British colonization and yoga history The Patanjali Yoga Shastra (Yoga Sutra) authorship and its connection to other texts The attempts to translate the text The difference between the original authorial intention and our contemporary relationship to it The relationship of the modern asana practice and the Yoga Shas Philipp André Maas is currently a research associate at the Institute for Indology and Central Asian Studies, University of Leipzig and was previously an assistant professor at the Department of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna, Austria. He received his M.A. (1997) and Dr. phil. (2004) degrees from the University of Bonn, Germany, where he studied Indology, Comparative Religious Studies, Tibetology and Philosophy. His first book (originally his PhD thesis) is the first critical edition of the first chapter (Samādhipāda) of the Pātañjala Yogaśāstra, i.e. the Yoga Sūtra of Patañjalitogether with the commentary called Yoga Bhāṣya. He published, inter alia, on classical Yoga philosophy and meditation as well as on the textual tradition of the Pātañjala Yogaśāstra. For the last couple of years, he worked in several research projects directed by Prof. Karin Preisendanz (at the Austrian Academy of Sciences and at the University of Vienna, Austria) that aim at a critical edition of the third book (entitled Vimānasthāna) of the oldest classical text corpus of Āyurveda, the Carakasaṃhitā. Since 2009 he is a member of the “Historical Sourcebooks on Classical Indian Thought” project, convened by Prof. Sheldon Pollock, to which he contributes with a monograph on the development of Yoga-related ideas in pre-modern South Asian intellectual history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Pranada and Jacob discuss Bhakti philosophy and theology.  You will learn: The connection of Vedanta teachings with Bhakti teachings. What is Wise Love (Bhakti Vedanta) and the difference between the love with others? The relationships with others as a vehicle to fully express highest love with each other and as a practice for our individual relationship with the Supreme. The acknowledgment of the small self and the creation of a dynamic, magical, spiritual, irrevocable and strong connection with source. How the yoga system provides tools to control the mind and go beyond the mind to transcend the platform of self. The difference between faith and belief. The important distinction between the divine feminine and the feminine divine. Pranada’s work on gender inequality and education, the absence of gender in the concept of soul, and everyone’s equal access to the full spiritual realm, practices, and services regardless of gender. The harmonization and oneness of the head and the heart and how to transcend and become our full potential as spiritual beings. Pranada Comtois is a devoted pilgrim, teacher, and award-winning author of Wise-Love: Bhakti and the Search for the Soul of Consciousness. Her writing sheds light on bhakti’s wisdom school of heartfulness with a focus on how to culture wise-love in our lives and relationships so we can experience the inherent, unbounded joy of the self. “Mindfulness and meditation alone can never satisfy the self. Joy comes from an awakened heart, not from a controlled or stilled mind.” At sixteen she met her teacher A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami and began her lifelong study and practice of bhakti. The wisdom of her teaching grows from living for twenty years as a contemplative in bhakti ashrams, and another twenty years raising a family and running two multi-million dollar businesses. Pranada is an activist in women’s spiritual empowerment. She has always been deeply affected when witnessing the de-humanizing of women. She was the first to speak up for gender harmony in the modern bhakti tradition and successfully organized global steps against gender injustice. Her writing has appeared in Integral Yoga, Rebelle Society, Elephant Journal, Tattooed Buddha, Urban Howl, and the books Journey of the Heart, Bhakti Blossoms, and GODDESS: When She Rules. She is a featured speaker in the film Women of Bhakti.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amy Matthews, CMA, IDME, BMC Teacher, RSMT/RSME has been teaching movement since 1994. She is a Certified Laban Movement Analyst, a Body-Mind Centering® Teacher, an Infant Developmental Movement Educator, and a movement therapist and yoga teacher. Amy leads the Embodied Developmental Movement and Yoga and the Embodied Anatomy and Yoga BMC℠ programs in the United States. She co-taught with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen in Berkeley, CA for five years and was on the faculty of the Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies for ten years. She has taught embodied anatomy and movement workshops for programs in New York, Philadelphia, Berkeley, and Nebraska, and internationally in Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, England, Israel, Slovakia and Japan. Amy co-authored with Leslie Kaminoff the best-selling book Yoga Anatomy, and together Amy and Leslie teach The Breathing Project's Advanced Studies courses. Amy also works privately as a movement therapist and yoga teacher, integrating Laban Movement Analysis, Bartenieff Fundamentals, yoga, Body-Mind Centering® and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF). Amy is certified as a yoga teacher by Yoga Union and Heart of Yoga, and as a Motherhand Shiatsu practitioner. She is registered with ISMETA as a Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator, with IAYT (International Association of Yoga Therapists) and with Yoga Alliance as an E-500 RYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher). Amy has studied with a range of inspiring teachers: dissection workshops with Gil Hedley, neuro-muscular reeducation with Irene Dowd, Body-Mind Centering with Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, full-contact karate with Michelle Gay, and yoga with Alison West, Mark Whitwell, Genny Kapular and Kevin Gardiner.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mauro Zappaterra graduated from Harvard Medical School with an MD and PhD and now specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with a particular focus on regenerative medicine, neuro-rehabilitation, neuroplasticity, musculoskeletal medicine, and pain. He completed his PhD doing work with neuronal stem cells and the effects of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in brain development and in the adult. He is published in numerous scientific articles on the CSF and his work was chosen as the cover image for the prestigious Neuron Journal. He is also featured in the New England Journal of Medicine in teaching medical students about living with life threatening diseases and in Psychology Today on an article titled “Joy: The art of loving life.” Dr. Zappaterra was nominated by his peers and staff to be Chief Resident at the UCLA / VA Greater Los Angeles Residency Program in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and won the Outstanding Senior Resident Award. He will be working as Director of Regenerative Medicine and Clinical Research, incorporating prolotherapy, platelet rich plasma (PRP), and stem cell therapy into patient care for a multitude of musculoskeletal ailments to help create an optimum healing and regenerative environment. He combines his training in rehabilitation medicine, research, nutrition, and various complementary and alternative medicine modalities such as polarity therapy, Reiki and Craniosacral therapy to work holistically with individuals to optimize their potential and improve their quality of life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Hine is an independent researcher and occult practitioner of over 40 years. Initiated into both Western and Indian Spiritual traditions, he has practiced a hybridised form of Tantra for over twenty-five years. His writing has appeared in a wide number of Journals and anthologies, including Abraxas, Chaos International, and Pagan News. He has three books in print - Condensed Chaos, Prime Chaos, and The Pseudonomicon and has just released three chapbooks in a series exploring the history of the Chakras. He lives in London with his partner Maria. His current writings can be found at http://enfolding.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lama Tsultrim Allione is founder and resident lama of Tara Mandala, located  in Colorado.  She traveled to India in her late teens and at the age of twenty-two, was the first western woman to be ordained as a Buddhist nun. After living in the Himalayan region for several years she returned her vows and became the mother of three, while continuing to study and practice Buddhism. She has been awarded the international “Outstanding Woman in Buddhism” by a panel of distinguished scholars and practitioners in Bangkok, Thailand. She is author of Women of Wisdom and Feeding Your Demons and her new book Wisdom Rising: A Journey into the Mandala of the Empowered Feminine.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swami is an atypical monk. He trained as a monk in Himalayas for 20 years then came to USA and studied physiology & health then went on to medical school and is currently a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying business with focus on entrepreneurship, healthcare management and organizational leadership. Drawing upon his diverse Background and unique set of experiences Swami designed Deep Mindfulness Training for high performance and work life harmony. Swami takes a very hands on no-fluff, engaging and fun approach to help his clients develop high performing cognitive abilities, emotional and social intelligence, deep motivation and resilience. Swami believes that all individuals, teams and groups of people are unique and have unique needs and learning aptitudes. Therefore he creates customized DMT programs with hand selected training tools, frameworks and strategies to maximize clients performance and satisfaction. Deep Mindfulness Training is a custom mix of mindfulness practices and Emotional Quotient (EQ) training tools, strategies, frameworks and lifestyle recommendations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kavitha M. Chinnaiyan, MD, is the author of Shakti Rising: Embracing Shadow and Light on the Goddess Path to Wholeness. She became drawn to the Direct Path through the teachings of Greg Goode and Sri Atmananda Krishna Menon. She has studied yoga, Sri Vidya Sadhana, Vedanta, and tantra through Chinmaya Mission and the teachings of Sri Premananda, Sally Kempton, and Paul Muller-Ortega. Chinnaiyan blends her expertise in cardiology with her knowledge of Ayurveda, yoga, Vedanta, tantra, and the Direct Path in her program for patients to discover bliss amid chronic illness. She is an integrative cardiologist at Beaumont Health System, and associate professor of medicine at Oakland University Beaumont School of Medicine in Rochester, MI.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William K. Mahony is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Religion and Chairman of the Religion Department at Davidson College, where he teaches courses on the religions of India. He also teaches workshops, trainings and retreats on yoga philosophy across the US and abroad. His books include The Artful Universe: An Introduction to the Vedic Religious Imagination (1997) and Exquisite Love: Heart-Centered Reflections on the Narada Bhakti Sutra (2014).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrea R. Jain, Ph.D. is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, editor of the Journal of American Academy of Religion, and author of Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture (Oxford University Press, 2014). She received her doctorate degree in religious studies from Rice University in 2010. Her areas of research include religion in late capitalist society; South Asian religions; the history of modern yoga; the intersections of gender, sexuality, and religion; and methods and theories in the study of religion. She is a regular contributor to Religion Dispatches on topics related to yoga in contemporary culture and co-chair of the Yoga in Theory and Practice Group of the American Academy of Religion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Whicher is a Professor and Head of the Department of Religion at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. He specializes in Hinduism and the Yoga tradition and is the author of scholarly books and numerous articles including, The Integrity of the Yoga Darśana (SUNY Press), and coeditor of Yoga: The Indian Tradition (Routledge Curzon). Dr. Whicher has a new book coming out soon, titled Essays on the Yoga Sutra: Engaging the World in Freedom and is currently writing a book on The Yoga of Intelligence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swami Umesh Yogi is a personal disciple of Shri Baba Ji Maharaj and Maharashi Mahesh Yogi. He was born in a Brahman family in Central India. He began his pursuit from a young age and started his Sadhana with his Sat-Guru Shri Baba Ji Maharaj. 100,000 students have come through his doors to study Yogic concepts in Rishikesh. Swami Ji has taught across India and Europe, sharing the teachings passed to him from his masters through classes, workshops, meditation, Satsang and social work. (to read more about Swami Umesh Yogi Ji's lineage and work, go to: www.swamiumeshyogi.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rev. Deborah L. Johnson is the founding minister and president of Inner Light Ministries, an Omnifaith outreach ministry dedicated to teaching the practical application of Universal Spiritual Principles to all of life’s circumstances.  She is also the founder and president of The Motivational Institute, an organizational development consulting firm specializing in cultural diversity serving the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Her clients range from Fortune 500 companies to community based organizations. She is a dynamic public speaker, known for her ability to bring clarity to complex and emotionally charged issues. A life-long social justice activist, Rev. Deborah is the successful co-litigant in two landmark cases in California – one set precedent for the inclusion of sexual orientation in the state’s Civil Rights Bill, the other defeated the challenge to legalizing domestic partnerships.  A voice for compassion, equality, and reconciliation, her primary focus has been on coalition building, conflict resolution, public policy development, and cultural sensitivity awareness. She holds a vision of Oneness, beyond creed and doctrine, and feels particularly called to heal the sense of separation between those adhering to conservative and progressive ideologies. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in numerous books, magazines, radio, and television programs including Conversations with Neale (Neale Donald Walsch) radio show, Shambhala Sun magazine, Showtime TV’s Black Filmmaker Showcase production Jumpin’ the Broom, the film God and Gays: Bridging the Gap, and ABC Nightline. Rev. Deborah is the author of the The Sacred Yes and Your Deepest Intent of the Letters from the Infinite series, as well as Living the Sacred Yes: Affirmations for Action.  She is co-writer of several songs on Singing the Sacred Yes by Valerie Joi. Wherever she goes, her message is always one of possibility, inclusion, empowerment and transformation. Rev. Deborah is an inductee into the Board of Preachers of the Martin Luther King Jr. Chapel at Morehouse College which honors clergy for their lifetime work in social justice. She is a leadership development trainer for the Network of Spiritual Progressives, founded by Rabbi Michael Lerner and the Tikkun Community, Cornel West, and Sister Joan Chittister. Rev. Deborah is a member of the Advisory Council of the Association for Global New Thought. She is also an original vision core member of the Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles founded by her spiritual mentor, Michael Beckwith. As an advocate for continual and lifelong learning, Rev. Deborah is a faculty member at several institutes of higher learning: UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Business Executive Leadership Diversity Training Institute; Pacific School of Religion; Holmes Institute of Consciousness Studies; and the Agape University of Transformational Studies and Leadership. She is also an Advisory Council member in the Women’s Studies Department at Brandeis University. She holds a BA in economics from USC, an MBA from UCLA, and a ministerial degree from the Holmes Institute.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tias’s unique and skillful approach enables students to find greater depth of understanding and awareness in their practice, both on and off the mat. His approach to the practice is inter-disciplinary, passionate, intelligent, innovative and full of insight. Tias synthesizes years of study in classical yoga, Sanskrit, Buddhist studies, anatomy, massage and trauma healing. Tias began studyingthe work of B.K.S Iyengar in 1984 and lived in Mysore, India in 1989 studying Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Pattabhi Jois. Thus his teaching brings together precision of alignment, anatomical detail and a profound meditative experience.Tias is a licensed massage therapist and his somatic studies include in-depth training in cranial-sacral therapy. His practice and teaching is influenced by the work of Ida Rolf, Moshe Feldenkrais and Thomas Hanna. Tias is a long time student of the meditative arts and Buddhist studies beginning with Vipassana and continuing in Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. His teaching style is unique in beingable to weave together poetic metaphor with clear instruction filled with compassion and humor. Tias earned a Master’s degree in Eastern Philosophy from St. John’s College Santa Fe in 1998. Tias is the author of three books, The Thread of Breath, Meditations on a Dewdrop and Yoga of the Subtle Body.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Singleton gained his Ph.D in Divinity from the University of Cambridge. He has published extensively on the history of yoga, including the books Yoga in the Modern World, Contemporary Perspectives (ed., 2008); Yoga Body, the Origins of Modern Posture Practice (2010); and Gurus of Modern Yoga (ed., 2014), as well as many book chapters and articles. Most recent is the book Roots of Yoga (2017, with James Mallinson), a unique compendium of yoga practice texts translated from Sanskrit and several other languages. He taught for six years at St John’s College (Santa Fe, New Mexico), and was a Senior Long-Term Research Scholar at the American Institute of Indian Studies, based in Jodhpur (Rajasthan, India). He was a consultant and catalogue author for the Smithsonian exhibition ‘Yoga the Art of Transformation’ in 2013. He is currently Senior Research Fellow at SOAS, University of London, where he works on the European Research Council-funded Hatha Yoga Project (hyp.soas.ac.uk), which seeks to map the history of haṭha yoga from its origins to modern times. He is also a practitioner of yoga and holds several teaching qualifications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Harvey is an internationally renowned religious scholar, writer, and teacher, and the author of over 30 books, including the critically acclaimed Way of Passion: A Celebration of Rumi, as well as Journey to Ladakh, The Return of the Mother, Son of Man, and The Direct Path: Creating a Journey to the Divine Using the World’s Mystical Traditions. He is also coauthor of the best-selling The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. His work has been honored with the Benjamin Franklin Award and the Mind Body Spirit Award (both for Mary’s Vineyard: Daily Readings, Meditations, and Revelations, with photographs by Eryk Hanut), and the Christmas Humphries Award for A Journey in Ladakh. And recently, he co-authored “Savage Grace: Living Resiliently in the Dark Night of the Globe”. Born in south India in 1952, Harvey studied at Oxford University and became a Fellow of All Soul’s College in 1973. He is Founding Director of the Institute for Sacred Activism, which will be offering its first programs in 2008.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riccardo Manzotti has a PhD in Robotics and degrees in The Philosophy of Mind and Computer Science. He teaches Psychology of Perception at IULM University, Milan (Italy), and has been a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at MIT. He has specialized in AI, artificial vision, perception, and, most of all, the issue of consciousness. After working in the field of artificial vision, he focused his research on the nature of phenomenal experience, how it emerges from physical processes and how it is related to objected perceived. His book The Spread Mind has just been published.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Jude Currivan is a cosmologist, planetary healer, futurist, author and previously one of the most senior business women in the UK. Having grown up as the daughter of a coal miner in the north of England, she has since journeyed to nearly seventy countries around the world and for the last nearly twenty years has lived in the sacred landscape of Avebury. She has experienced multidimensional realities since early childhood and worked with the wisdom keepers both incarnate and discarnate of many traditions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacob Kyle sat down with Bob Thurman and Isa Gucciardi at the 2017 Science and Nonduality Conference in San Jose, California, after attending their workshop, "Shamans and Siddhas". Scroll down to listen to their wide-ranging conversation on peace and the Dalai Lama.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founder, Executive Director and President of the Board of Directors Integrative Restoration Institute Richard Miller, PhD is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar and spiritual teacher. For over 40 years, Richard Miller has devoted his life and work to integrating the nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism and Buddhism with Western psychology. Among his mentors were Jean Klein, T.K.V. Desikachar and Stephen Chang. Richard is the founding president and CEO of the Integrative Restoration Institute, co-founder of The International Association of Yoga Therapy and founding editor of the professional Journal of IAYT. He is also a founding member and past president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology and a senior advisor for the Baumann Foundation for the study of Awareness and its impact on well-being. Author of Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga, Richard serves as a research consultant studying the iRest Yoga Nidra protocol that he has developed (Integrative Restoration ~ iRest, a modern adaptation of the ancient nondual meditation practice of Yoga Nidra) researching its efficacy on health, healing and well-being with diverse populations including active-duty soldiers, veterans, college students, children, seniors, the homeless, the incarcerated, and people experiencing issues such as sleep disorders, PTSD, chemical dependency, chronic pain, and related disorders. In addition to his research and writing projects, Richard lectures and leads trainings and retreats internationally.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laura Amazzone is a teacher, writer, intuitive healer, yogini and initiated priestess in the Shakta Tantra and Kaula Sri Vidya traditions of India and Nepal. She is the author of the award-winning book, “Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power.” She has published numerous articles within the fields of Hinduism, Tantra and Women’s Spirituality in many different encyclopedias, anthologies, journals and also online publications. Laura teaches in the Yoga Philosophy Program at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She offers a diverse array of authentic and undiluted lineage-based rituals and spiritual practices as well as pilgrimages to Nepal that promote spiritual empowerment and divine embodiment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dean Radin, PhD, is Chief Scientist at the INSTITUTE OF NOETIC SCIENCES (IONS) and Associated Distinguished Professor of Integral and Transpersonal Psychology at the CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES(CIIS). He occasionally gives lectures in the Department of Psychology at Sonoma State University and has served on doctoral dissertation committees at Saybrook University and CIIS. His original career track as a concert violinist shifted into science after earning a BSEE degree in electrical engineering, magna cum laude with honors in physics, from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and then an MS in electrical engineering and a PhD in psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. For a decade he worked on advanced telecommunications R&D at AT&T Bell Laboratories and GTE Laboratories. For three decades he has been engaged in frontiers research on the nature of consciousness. Before joining the research staff at IONS in 2001, he held appointments at Princeton University, University of Edinburgh, University of Nevada, Interval Research Corporation, and SRI International.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Constantina Rhodes is an acclaimed scholar of Sanskrit and the spiritual traditions of India, as well as a Certified Intuitive Consultant and Certified Instructor of Intuitive Development. Constantina holds a doctorate in South Asian Languages and Religions from Columbia University. She was a full professor with tenure at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida before moving back to New York City, where she teaches in the Program in Religion at Hunter College of the City University of New York. She has served on the steering committee of the Society for Tantric Studies; was an inaugural member of the Tantric Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion; and has held prestigious elected office as President of the American Academy of Religion. Constantina has practiced yoga and meditation for most of her life. She spent two years living and studying in India, and over the course of several decades she has received mantra initiation in the lineages of Transcendental Meditation, Integral Yoga, and Siddha Yoga. She is a Level II Usui Reiki practitioner and draws upon healing energy within her sessions. As a Certified Intuitive Consultant, Constantina engages in an ancient art that both enhances and is enhanced by her longtime meditation practice.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Christopher Key Chapple is the Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology and Director of the Master of Arts in Yoga Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. His research interests focus on the renouncer religious traditions of India: Yoga, Jainism, and Buddhism. He has published several books on these topics with SUNY Press, including Karma and Creativity (1986), Nonviolence to Animals, Earth, and Self in Asian Traditions (1993), Reconciling Yogas (2003), and Yoga and the Luminous: Patanjali’s Spiritual Path to Freedom (2008). He has also edited and co-authored several books on religion and ecology, including Ecological Prospects: Religious, Scientific, and Aesthetic Perspectives, Hinduism and Ecology, Jainism and Ecology, Yoga and Ecology, and In Praise of Mother Earth: The Prthivi Sukta of the Atharva Veda. His most recent books are Poet of Eternal Return and Sacred Thread. Chris serves as academic advisor for the International Summer School of Jain Studies and on the advisory boards for the Forum on Religion and Ecology (Yale), the Ahimsa Center (Pomona), and the Jaina Studies Centre (SOAS, University of London). In 2002 he established the first of several certificate programs in the study of Yoga at LMU’s Center for Religion and Spirituality and founded LMU’s Master of Arts in Yoga Studies in the fall of 2013.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Dickstein is a PhD student in Religious Studies at the University of CaliforniaSanta Barbara. He researches South Asian religions, Animals and Religion, and Comparative Ethics. He earned a MA in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Jonathan is currently working on two projects. The first is a comprehensive study of the figure of Īśvara in the Pātañjalayogaśāstra, and the second looks at violence and the moral standing of nonhuman animals in Indian Philosophy. Jonathan is an Intermediate level Iyengar Yoga instructor who offers classes and workshops on philosophy and ethics in addition to āsana and prāṇāyāma.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 22 books on spirituality and science, and translations in more than 25 countries, Ken Wilber is now the most translated writer on consciousness studies in the United States. He is seen as an important representative of transpersonal psychology, which emerged in the sixties from humanistic psychology, and which concerns itself explicitly with spirituality. For the fundamental and pioneering nature of his insights, he has been called "the Einstein of consciousness research”. His debut The Spectrum of Consciousness (1977) established his reputation as an original thinker, who seeks to integrate Western and Eastern psychology. No Boundary (1979), which summarizes this work, is one of his most popular books. His core works The Atman Project (1980) and Up from Eden (1981) cover the territories of developmental psychology and cultural history respectively. In his recent work, especially the voluminous Sex, Ecology, Spirituality (1995), he has criticized not only Western culture, but also counter-cultural movements such as the New Age. In his opinion, none of these approach the depth and detailed nature of the "perennial philosophy", the conception of reality that lies at the heart of all major religions, and which forms the background of all his writings. This fundamental work has been summarized too, in A Brief History of Everything (1996). In 2000 he founded the Integral Institute, a think-tank for studying issues of science and society in an integral way. He lives in Denver, Colorado.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Edelmann is an Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Florida and an Affiliated Faculty member at the Center for the Study of Hindu Traditions. He received a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of California – Santa Barbara, an M.A. in Science and Religion from Oxford University, and Ph.D. (D.Phil.) from Oxford University in Religious Studies and Theology. While at Oxford he was affiliated with Harris Manchester College and the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Mallinson is Senior Lecturer in Sanskrit and Classical and Indian Studies at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He took his BA in Sanskrit and Old Iranian at the University of Oxford, followed by an MA in Area Studies (South Asia), with Ethnography as his main subject, at SOAS. His doctoral thesis, submitted to the University of Oxford, was a critical edition and annotated translation of the Khecarīvidyā, an early text of haṭhayoga. Dr Mallinson has published eight books, all of which are editions and translations of Sanskrit yoga texts, epic tales and poetry. His recent w ork has used philological study of Sanskrit texts, ethnography and art history to explore the history of yoga and yogis. His most recent book, written in collaboration with Dr Mark Singleton, is Roots of Yoga, which was published by Penguin Classics in 2017. From 2015 to 2020 Dr Mallinson will be leading a European Research Council - funded research project on the history of hatha yoga which will result in ten critical editions and translations ofSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JP Sears is an emotional healing coach, YouTuber, author, international teacher, speaker at events, world traveler, and curious student of life.  His work empowers people to live more meaningful lives.  JP is the author of “How To Be Ultra Spiritual,” which was published by Sounds True in 2017.  He is very active with his online videos where he encourages healing and growth through his humorous and entertainingly informative videos, including his hit Ultra Spiritual comedy series, which has accumulated over 100 million views.  You can learn more about JP and his work at AwakenWithJP.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isa Gucciardi is the Founding Director and lead teacher of the Foundation of the Sacred Stream. The workshops and training programs of the Foundation are part of her larger vision for helping people who are interested in stepping into greater consciousness and leading happier lives. Her primary focus is on teaching, writing, and curriculum development. Isa is also the creator of the groundbreaking therapeutic model, Depth Hypnosis, which is born from her studies in transpersonal psychology, cultural and linguistic anthropology, comparative religion, hypnotherapy, and transformational healing. Isa has lived in eleven countries and she speaks five languages. The mother of two children, she is a potter and gardener, a stained glass artist, a piano enthusiast, and an herbalist. In addition to her busy teaching schedule, she has an active Depth Hypnosis counseling and consulting practice in San Francisco.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marianne Garneau lives in New York City, where she is a graduate student in philosophy at the New School for Social Research. She is a "stay-at-home" mom, who devotes most of her time to labor organizing for industrial workers of the world, and part of her time to writing articles about politics. She also works as an editor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swami Sarvapriyananda was appointed as Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York, and assumed his duties there on January 5, 2017. He served as assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California for 13 months, beginning on December 3, 2015. Swami joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994 and received Sannyas in 2004. As assistant minister, Swami Sarvapriyananda gave regular evening classes in the Hollywood Temple, assisted Swami Sarvadevananda with major pujas, delivered Sunday spiritual talks at each of the Southern California centers, and led monthly retreats at Vivekananda House. He also gave retreats here and at centers throughout the U.S. Before being posted to the VSSC’s Hollywood Temple, Swami served as an acharya, instructor, of the monastic probationers’ training center at Belur Math. He has served the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in various capacities including being the Vice Principal of the Deoghar Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Principal of the Shikshana Mandira Teacher’s Training College at Belur Math, and the first registrar of the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University at Belur Math. Swami holds a degree in Business Management from the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vera de Chalambert, MTS,  is a spiritual storyteller and Harvard educated scholar of comparative religion. She speaks and writes about spiritual culture, mindfulness in the modern world and the Divine Feminine and has been a speaker at the Science and Nonduality Conference in the US and Europe, Sister Giant in Washington DC and other gatherings around the world. Vera holds a Master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School where she studied comparative mysticism and a Bachelors degree from the University of Florida in Religion and Literature. Her work explores the meeting place of creativity, psychology and spirituality and is informed by insights from both Eastern and Western philosophies. Vera is a graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing and has been a student of Jason Shulman's Nondual Healing work. She is deeply influenced by Buddhist and Kabbalistic lineages and is a lover of the world’s great wisdom traditions. Vera's recent work has been on the topic of Holy Darkness and exploration of the Dark Goddesses associated with transformation and initiation found in the world's spiritual lineages, the most well known of whom is the Hindu Goddess Kali. Vera is a mother and a devotee of the Great Mother in all her forms. She is working on her first book on the Dark Feminine.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Vago is Research Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is an associate professor in the department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences. He also maintains an appointment as a research associate in the Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (FNL), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), Harvard Medical School. He has completed post-doctoral fellowships in the department of Psychiatry at BWH, the Utah Center for Mind-Body Interactions within the University of Utah Medical School, and the Stuart T. Hauser Research Training Program in Biological & Social Psychiatry. David has previously held the position of Senior Research Coordinator for the Mind & Life Institute and is currently a Mind and Life Fellow, supporting the Mind and Life mission by advising on strategy and programs. He received his Bachelors Degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences in 1997 from the University of Rochester. In 2005, David received his Ph.D. in Cognitive and Neural Sciences with a specialization in learning and memory from the department of Psychology, University of Utah.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey S. Lidke earned his M.A. (1996) and Ph.D. (2000) in South Asia Religion and Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado (1990). He was a Fulbright Dissertation Fellow to Nepal in the 1996-97 academic year. During his graduate years, Lidke devoted himself to Sanskritic languages, both classical and vernacular, with training from several teachers, including Gerald Larson, Nandini Iyer and Sthaneshwar Timalsinsa. Currently, he is chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Berry  College where he has taught since 2003. After two years as editor for the Southeast Review of Asian Studies (SERAS), Lidke is now attending to the publication of his recent research on the neuroscience of contemplative practice as well as three book projects: the long overdue The Goddess Beyond and Within the Three Cities: Śākta Tantra and the Paradox of Power in Nepāla-Maṇḍala a textbook for Cognella Academic Publishing on the world's religions titled World Religions: A 21st Century Primer and a reissue of his first book,Viśvarūpa Maṇḍir: A Study of Chaṅgu Nārāyaṇa, Nepal's Most Ancient Pagoda (to appear in a newly titled, revised and updated edition,  with proceeds going toward the rebuilding of Changu Narayan, one of several Nepalese UNESCO heritage sites severely damaged by the 2015 earthquake). Dr. Lidke's publications and current projects can be found here: https://berry.academia.edu/JeffreyLidke  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With her extensive background in health sciences, including studies in nutrition and dietetics at McGill university, degree in Psychology and extensive and ongoing training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Angela pulls from a diverse background to offer the wisdom of traditional medicines combined with the most up-to-date, relevant and impactful options available for her patients and students. Angela has additional training in applied mindfulness based mediation, and runs a weekly mindful meditation group out of her clinic in Toronto.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In over two decades of practice, Dr. Loren Fishman has gained an international reputation as a back-pain specialist, a diagnostician and a pioneer in the treatment of many disorders, including piriformis syndrome, scoliosis, osteoporosis and rotator cuff tear. He has authored more than 90 academic journal articles and 10 books. A past president of the New York Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Fishman is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor at Columbia Medical School. He has recently published an innovative book about electrodiagnostic testing, published by Springer, and the book on yoga cures Healing Yoga.  His books on osteoarthritis and osteoporosis guide the workshops he teaches nationally and internationally. Dr. Fishman studied yoga in India with BKS Iyengar, uses it in his rehabilitation practice and has written extensively about yoga as an adjunct to medical treatment.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nina Rao learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world and when she settled in New York her working life began in the banking world, switched to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India, and now for many years, is Krishna Das' business manager and assistant. Nina tours with Krishna Das, playing cymbals and singing with him, and was honored in 2013 to accompany him at the Grammy Awards webcast performance. In 2007, she recorded the track 'Nina Chalisa' on Krishna Das' CD "Flow of Grace - Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa". In January 2013, she released her debut album, "Antarayaami - Knower of All Hearts". The double CD includes devotional kirtan, bhajan, and a variety of Hanuman Chalisa melodies including a duet with Krishna Das. Nina regularly leads kirtan, chanting of the Hanuman Chalisa, and sings for yoga classes in her hometown of Brooklyn, NY and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Grosso is a public speaker, writer, director of education at Toivo by Advocacy Unlimited and author of Indie Spiritualist: A No Bullshit Exploration of Spirituality (Beyond Words/Simon & Schuster), Everything Mind: What I’ve Learned About Hard Knocks, Spiritual Awakening and the Mind-Blowing Truth of it All (Sounds True) and Dead Set On Living (Simon & Schuster/New World Library-Spring 2018). He writes for ORIGIN Magazine, Huffington Post, and Mantra Yoga + Health Magazine, and has spoken and performed at Wanderlust Festival, Celebrate Your Life, Yoga Journal Conference, Sedona World Wisdom Days, Kripalu, Sun Valley Wellness Festival, and more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Livia is a pioneer in the intersection of yoga and psychology with a dedication to embodiment. She is known for weaving together yogic teachings, disciplined asana and somatic psychology in clear and meaningful ways inspiring teachers and students alike towards greater safety, trust and the discovery of their own truth. She is known for her wit, humor and fierce-love as well as her ability to actually “teach” yoga so you make it your own. A scholar-practioner, her passion for learning and irreverent reverence is infectious. Her methods of teaching straddle old school lectures and new school unconventional experiential models.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An artist, Advaita Tantra master and founder of the Flowing Wakefulness community, for over a decade Igor Kufayev has been serving as a conduit of transmission for awakening towards the new era of heart-centered consciousness. Speaking from direct realization of Oneness, he inspires all seekers of truth to recognize the fullest potential present in human birth. Many have been touched by Grace and awakened in his presence, as he continues working towards building a global community to serve as a container for exploring possibilities for alternative, consciousness-based culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hari-kirtana das: A lifelong student of yoga, meditation, and Eastern spiritual philosophies, Hari-kirtana das lived full-time in devotional yoga ashrams and intentional spiritual communities from 1977 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 1998. He was formally initiated into the Gaudiya Vaisnava lineage of Bhakti Yoga in 1978. Hari-kirtana is an E-RYT 500 registered yoga teacher and received an 800-hour training certification from the Jivamukti Yoga School. He began teaching contemporary yoga classes in 2009 and has since gone on to develop Yoga Teacher Training courses and is a sought-after guest teacher for numerous Yoga Teacher Training programs. He leads yoga workshops, offers presentations for personal and professional development, and regularly takes students on yoga adventures to India. He currently lives and teaches in Washington, D.C. You can learn more about Hari-kirtana by visiting his website: hari-kirtana.com.  You can also find his new book on CreateSpace.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelly Brogan, M.D. is a Manhattan-based holistic women’s health psychiatrist, author of the book, A Mind of Your Own and co-editor of the landmark textbook, Integrative Therapies for Depression. She completed her psychiatric training and fellowship at NYU Medical Center after graduating from Cornell University Medical College, and has a B.S. from MIT in Systems Neuroscience. She is board certified in psychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and integrative holistic medicine, and is specialized in a root-cause resolution approach to psychiatric syndromes and symptoms. She is on the board of GreenMedInfo, Functional Medicine University, Pathways to Family Wellness, NYS Perinatal Association, Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation, Mindd Foundation, the peer-reviewed, indexed journal Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, and the Nicholas Gonzalez Foundation. She is Medical Director for Fearless Parent and a founding member of Health Freedom Action. She is a mother of two.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steve Peterson started Taoist Alchemy and Chi Kung on the recommendation of his family doctor.  The practices both had a dramatic effect on his health and set him on a new spiritual path.  He now teaches it to anyone and everyone who wants to learn.  In his day job, he manages software projects.  He lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with his wife and family.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Smoley has over thirty-five years’ experience studying and practicing mystical spirituality and philosophy. His latest book is The Deal: A Guide to Radical and Complete Forgiveness. Other works of his are Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition; The Dice Game of Shiva: How Consciousness Creates the Universe; Conscious Love: Insights from Mystical Christianity; Forbidden Faith: The Secret History of Gnosticism; The Essential Nostradamus; and Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions (with Jay Kinney). Richard is the former editor of Gnosis: A Journal of the Western Inner Traditions. Currently he is editor of Quest: Journal of the Theosophical Society in America. His Web site is innerchristianity.com. Richard’s latest book, How God Became God: What Scholars Are Really Saying about God and the Bible, was published in June 2016.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spring Washam is a well known meditation and dharma teacher based in Oakland, California. She has studied numerous meditation practices and Buddhist philosophy since 1997. She is a founding member and core teacher at the East Bay Meditation Center located in downtown Oakland. She has practiced and studied under some of the most preeminent meditation masters in both the Theravada and Tibetan schools of Buddhism. She has completed a 6 year teacher training program under the guidance of Jack Kornfield and is now on the teacher’s council at Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California. Spring is considered a pioneer in bringing mindfulness based healing practices to diverse communities and is committed to creating opportunities for disenfranchised people everywhere. She is also the founder of Lotus Vine Journeys, a Retreat company that connects Ancient Medicine to Buddhist wisdom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eddie Stern is the co-founder of Ashtanga Yoga New York, the Brooklyn Yoga Club and the Broome Street Ganesha Temple. He studied Ashtanga Yoga under Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, of Mysore, South India, for 18 years. Eddie has published several books on Pattabhi Jois and Astanga Yoga, including a translation of Pattabhi Jois’s 1960 treatise, Yoga Mala. He co-founded the Urban Yogi program along with Deepak Chopra and Erica Ford, which introduces inner-city youth to yoga and meditation, teaching them powerful transformative tools that they can bring back into their communities, with some of the youth becoming teachers themselves. Eddie also leads a team that writes health and wellness curriculums, based on yoga and mindfulness, for under-served public school districts, which has been implemented in over 100 schools. His school wellness protocols have been studied by the University of San Diego, Long Island University and Stanford University, showing increases in GPA, attendance and physical fitness.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffery D. Long is Professor of Religion and Asian Studies at Elizabethtown College, in Pennsylvania. He is associated with the Vedanta Society, DĀNAM (the Dharma Academy of North America) and the Hindu American Foundation. A major theme of Long's work is religious pluralism, a topic he approaches from a perspective informed by the process philosophy of Alfred North Whitehead and which he refers to as a "Hindu process theology." Dr. Long has authored three books, A Vision for Hinduism: Beyond Hindu Nationalism, Jainism: An Introduction, and The Historical Dictionary of Hinduism. He has published and presented a number of articles and papers in various forums including the Association for Asian Studies, the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy, and the American Academy of Religion. He is currently working on three manuscripts: Indian Philosophy: An Introduction, a book on Hinduism in America, and another on Swami Vivekenanda and his teachings.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sally Kempton is a master of meditation, yoga philosophy, and practical tantric philosophy. Her retreats and workshops are known for creating breakthroughs, born of her ability to help people turn sublime truths into lived, and life-shifting, experience. Sally spent 20 years as a swami in a Vedic order, and has been studying and teaching spiritual wisdom for 40 years. She is the author of Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga and Meditation for the Love of It, a seminal book on basic meditation practice, and writes the popular Yoga Journal column, Wisdom. Learn more at sallykempton.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rod Stryker (also known as Yogarupa) is widely considered one of the West's leading authorities on yoga, tantra and meditation. He has taught for more than thirty-five years, is the founder of ParaYoga® and author of The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom. Rod has contributed to countless wellness publications and recently launched one of the most comprehensive online yoga teacher trainings in the world. At the forefront of integrating ancient yogic wisdom into a broad array of modern-day applications, he is a thought leader and mentor to thousands of ParaYoga practitioners and hundreds of teachers throughout the world. Rod lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shambhavi is the spiritual director of Jaya Kula. Her principle training is in the View and practices of Trika Shaivism, the classical Tantrik tradition of Kashmir, and the Dzogchen tradition of Tibet. She has been fortunate to have trained with several great teachers in these and other nondual traditions. Shambhavi is a householder sannyasini and a devotee of Anandamayi Ma. She hopes to bring more people to an understanding of the breadth and depth of Ma’s teachings. Read more about Anandamayi Ma. Shambhavi has studied Ayurveda for self-care for the past 15 years. She is also a Vedic astrologer and expert diviner. She is the author of Tantra: the Play of Awakening (2012), Pilgrims to Opennness: Direct Realization Tantra in Everyday Life (2009), Returning  (2015), and No Retreat: Poems on the Way to Waking Up (2016). In addition, she published an academic book, Avatar Bodies: a Tantra for Posthumanism. She holds an MFA in Fiction from Mills College and a Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University. Shambhavi left academia in 2004 in order to devote herself to practice, writing and teaching in her spiritual tradition.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary Reilly Nichols holds a B.A. in Anthropology from Harvard University and completed five years of residency in meditation ashrams in India and the US.  A devoted student of Muktananda, she has taught yoga and meditation in New York City for over thirty years. Her teaching combines Iyengar, Integral and Anusara styles of Hatha Yoga with the Upanishadic tradition of the wisdom and experience of non-duality. She offers frequent workshops on classical yoga philosophy and psychology, including Advaita Non-Dualism and the Tantric methods of Kashmiri Shaivism. Currently, Ms. Nichols teaches stress management in psychiatric settings and is involved in ongoing research on the mind/body benefits of yoga and meditation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay L. Garfield directs the Smith's Logic and Buddhist Studies programs and the Five College Tibetan Studies in India program. He is also visiting professor of Buddhist Philosophy at Harvard Divinity School, professor of philosophy at Melbourne University and adjunct professor of philosophy at the Central University of Tibetan Studies. Garfield’s research addresses topics in the foundations of cognitive science and the philosophy of mind; the history of Indian philosophy during the colonial period; topics in ethics, epistemology and the philosophy of logic; methodology in cross-cultural interpretation; and topics in Buddhist philosophy, particularly Indo-Tibetan Madhyamaka and Yogācāra. Garfield’s most recent books are Minds Without Fear: Philosophy in the Indian Renaissance (with Nalini Bhushan, 2017), Dignāga’s Investigation of the Percept: A Philosophical Legacy in India and Tibet (with Douglas Duckworth, David Eckel, John Powers, Yeshes Thabkhas and Sonam Thakchöe, 2016) Engaging Buddhism: Why it Matters to Philosophy (2015), Moonpaths: Ethics and Emptiness (with the Cowherds, 2015) and (edited, with Jan Westerhoff), Madhyamaka and Yogācāra: Allies or Rivals? (2015). He is currently working on a book with Yasuo Deguchi, Graham Priest and Robert Sharf, What Can’t Be Said: Paradox and Contradiction in East Asian Philosophy; a book on Hume’s Treatise, The Concealed Operations of Custom: Hume’s Treatise from the Inside Out; a large collaborative project on Geluk-Sakya epistemological debates in 15th- to 18th-century Tibet following on Taktshang Lotsawa’s 18 Great Contradictions in the Thought of Tsongkhapa and empirical research with another team on the impact of religious ideology on attitudes toward death.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Remski has been practicing meditation since 1996 and asana since 2000. He’s taught yoga, yoga philosophy, and Ayurveda in Toronto and beyond since 2005. He maintains an active Ayurveda consultation practice from his home, which he shares with his partner Alix, and their son Jacob. He’s authored several books on yoga and related subjects, and is working towards completing What Are We Actually Doing in Asana? — an examination of pain, injury, and healing in modern yoga. His blog hosts an average of 20K readers per month: http://matthewremski.com/wordpress/.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Loizzo, M.D., Ph.D. is a contemplative psychotherapist, clinical researcher, and Buddhist scholar-teacher who integrates ancient contemplative science and technology with current breakthroughs in neuroscience and optimal health. After training in psychiatry at Harvard and completing a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies at Columbia, he founded Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science, a non-profit that helps people build sustainable happiness, compassion, and leadership through integrating science-based contemplative skills into their daily lives.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Born in New York City in 1952, Sharon Salzberg experienced a childhood involving considerable loss and turmoil. An early realization of the power of meditation to overcome personal suffering determined her life direction. Her teaching and writing now communicates that power to a worldwide audience of practitioners. She offers non-sectarian retreat and study opportunities for participants from widely diverse backgrounds.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest in this episode is Leslie Kaminoff. Leslie is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar. He is an internationally recognized specialist with thirty seven years’ experience in the fields of yoga and breath anatomy. He leads anatomy and yoga methodology workshops for many of the leading yoga associations, schools and training programs in the world. Leslie’s book Yoga Anatomy, (co-authored with Amy Matthews), has been printed more than 12 times and has sold over 500,000 copies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anneke Lucas founded Liberation Prison Yoga in 2014. Aside from her duties as executive director , Anneke trains new volunteer instructors on site. She also teaches regularly at several of the eight facilities where LPY has weekly programs. She conducts trainings and workshops for yoga instructors, mental health professionals and NYC DOC and DOP employees,  to bring yoga and mindfulness into work with traumatized populations. Anneke is regularly invited to speak at conferences and universities about the subject of trauma, incarceration, and sex-trafficking. In 2013, Anneke started two groups  at the Woman’s Jail at Rikers Island for survivors of sex-trafficking.  Anneke herself experienced and witnessed some of the worst atrocities known to humankind – before she reached the age of 12. Her background, the obstacles she overcame, and the insights she received into the nature of the human psyche on her journey to health are an inspiration to students inside and outside of prisons, and audiences around the world. The continued healing she receives from her work reminds her that human connection is the agent for change, in teacher and student, provider and client.  In 2008, Anneke created a 500 Hour Yoga Alliance RYT program for a New York City based yoga studio. From 2011 to 2014 Anneke was director of Prison Yoga Project New York. She graduated from the Screenwrting program at AFI in 1993, published a novel in her home country, Belgium, and wrote many articles about yoga and trauma. She has been working on a book about her childhood, previewed in an article about her work in the prisons.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dana Slamp is the Founder of Prema Yoga Therapeutics, an IAYT member school and the leading training facility for yoga therapists in NYC. She leads advanced teacher trainings at Pure Yoga in uptown New York, Yoga Vida in downtown New York, Three Sisters Yoga in Portland, OR, and the upcoming Ayurvedic Yoga Training at Pure Yoga July 13 - 31. Dana's presented at Columbia Medical University, the Telluride Yoga Festival, and several times at the Yoga Journal Conference. Dana's unique upbringing in a family of ministers and teachers led to a lifelong pursuit of spiritual truth, first in the arts through classical acting and writing, through her legal writing as paralegal, and through the teachings of yoga over the past two decades. Prema Yoga Therapeutics' training for yoga teachers and medical health care professionals can be found at prema-yoga.org. For a list of local classes as well as national courses and international retreats, please check our her personal teaching site at danaslamp.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ramesh Bjonnes is a writer, yogi and workshop leader. Currently residing in the United States, he lived in India and Nepal in the 1980s learning directly from an enigmatic master of Tantra. He has practiced yoga and meditation for over 30 years and lectured on Tantra, yoga and meditation in many countries. The co-founder of the Prama Institute, a holistic retreat center, he is also the Director of the Prama Wellness Center, where yoga therapy, meditation, juice fasting and Ayurveda is used to rejuvenate people’s health and wellbeing. He lives and practices in an eco-village in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, USA. His is the author of two books on Tantra, Sacred Body, Sacred Spirit (Innerworld, 2013) and Tantra: The Yoga of Love and Awakening (Hay House India, 2014).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miles Neale is a Buddhist psychotherapist in private practice, Assistant Director of the Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science, Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College, and contributing expert on mindfulness meditation for the BBC World Service. Miles earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and has spent twenty years studying Buddhism under American Buddhist scholars Joe Loizzo and Robert Thurman as well as Tibetan masters Gelek Rimpoche and Lama Zopa. Dr. Neale’s approach to personal healing and transformation isinformed by contemplative neuroscience, an eclectic hybrid of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist psychology and meditative arts, depth psychotherapy, and the current neuroscience of trauma resilience.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiki is a renowned Ashtanga Yoga teacher, wellness consultant, and personal coach. With 34-years experience, she has pioneered a career at the strategic intersection of Wellness, Natural Lifestyle, Yoga, Inspired Living, and Organic Beauty. Kiki is a spokesperson and community builder with a dedicated YouTube and Blogging audience. Kiki facilitates and implements transformational programs for individuals and organizations. Her clients include Hollywood and Fortune 500 leaders as well as adults and children with therapeutic needs. She develops and executes Yoga and Wellness Programs for Spinal Cord Injury at The Axis Project as well as Independence Care Systems, providing Yoga for communities with disability. Based in New York City, Kiki also consults remotely with clients around the world. A Yoga educator, she teaches workshops locally and worldwide. Kiki Graduated with Honors from NYU with a BFA in Drama, and it is here she was introduced to Yoga. As an actress, she starred and co-starred in Hollywood, New York, and Independent projects in film, television, and theater. Kiki continued her Yoga studies traveling to India more than a dozen times studying closely with Ashtanga Yoga with founder Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois in Yoga Therapeutics, Wellness Traditions, Sanskrit and Philosophy. In 1996, Kiki opened her first yoga school in Los Angeles, where she taught for 10 years. Here she was honored to host her teacher Pattabhi Jois as well as celebrated Kirtan singer Krishna Das in his first California appearances. She also worked as a Yoga Consultant in film and television, notably on The Next Best Thing, starring Madonna.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip Goldberg is the author and co-author of various books, including and most notably, American Veda. CHITHEADS and Jacob Kyle sat down with Philip to talk about his journey as a public speaker, spiritual counselor, workshop leader, and transcendental meditation teacher from his beginnings in the counterculture movement of the sixties and seventies. Philip lives in Los Angeles and writes often for Huffington Post. Considering himself a pragmatic mystic, he also leads Vedic tours in India, exploring the origin of the main gurus that visited the West, and is the co-host of the podcast, "Spirit Masters". Currently, Philip is working on a biography on Yogananda, set for release in 2018.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blending body work, yoga and anatomy, Zachery Dacuk coined the practice of Conscious Embodiment. Chitheads and Jacob Kyle had the opportunity to sit down with Zach to talk with him about his 15-year journey into holistic healing where he developed an experiential practice that integrated postural analysis and fascia movement. Based in New York City, Zach provides an anatomy curriculum to students and renowned teachers all over the United States. Zach is a registered yoga teacher, licensed massage therapist, and since 2002 has built a successful and innovation bodywork practice that applies the teachings of yoga, Shiatsu, fascial manipulation and Kinesis Myofascial Integration.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matthew Thomas Lombardo is a popular yoga teacher and teacher of teachers in New York City and Brooklyn.  Besides his well attended public classes, he has a wide range of experience teaching asana and meditation to celebrities, senior citizens, kids, and is trained to teach yoga in prison. He has also worked with reinvigorating men who are returning to the workplace at Career Gear.  He has been interviewed by the New York Times and Haute Living. In the Spring of 2016, he will be on a teaching tour through Prague, Bratislava, Munich and other European cities.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher, also known as Hareesh, was introduced to Indian spirituality at the age of seven and initiated into the practice of yogic meditation at sixteen. His degrees include a B.A. in Religion and Classics from the University of Rochester, an M.A. in Sanskrit from U.C. Berkeley, an M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions from Oxford, and a Ph.D. on the traditions of Śaiva Tantra from Berkeley. He received traditional education at yoga āshrams in upstate New York and India in meditation, kīrtan, mantra-science, āsana, karma-yoga, and more. He currently teaches meditation, yoga darśana (philosophy), Tantrik philosophy, Sanskrit, mantra-science, and offers spiritual counseling.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Doto is the owner and director of Church Avenue Yoga and Bodywork Center in Brooklyn, New York City. He is a yoga instructor and massage therapist, who has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga under the guidance of Eddie Stern. Bob is a prolific writer on body-centered spirituality. He is a founding member of The Babarazzi; was the Managing Editor of internationally acclaimed journal of religious studies, Parabola; and was a founding member of the elusive post-art-punk band SPRCSS. Bob received his MFA in Writing & Poetics from Naropa University’s “Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics” in 2002, and is a graduate of the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Costello is a Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT) and a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). For 24 years, her teaching has been influenced by annual trips to India including six visits to RIMYI (Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune), the study of philosophical and scriptural texts and a daily practice of meditation. In 2013, Nikki was a contributing editor at Yoga Journal, writing the magazine’s “Basics Column”  and in 2016 she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Yoga Teachers in America. Nikki is recognized as a thought leader in the global yoga community and shares her wisdom and expertise in yoga and meditation retreats around the world. When at home in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, she teaches public classes at Kula Yoga and Yoga Shanti and maintains a well-established private practice in New York City guiding individuals on all levels of their health and well-being.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edwin Bryant received his Ph.D in Indic languages and Cultures from Columbia University. He taught Hinduism at Harvard University for three years, and is presently the professor of Hinduism at Rutgers University where he teaches courses on Hindu philosophy and religion. He has received numerous awards and fellowships, published six books and authored a number of articles on Vedic history, yoga, and the Krishna tradition. In addition to his academic work for the scholarly community, Edwin's Penguin World Classics translation of the Srimad Bhagavata Purana, the traditional source for the story of Krishna's incarnation, is both for Indology specialists as well as students and those interested in Hinduism from the general reading public and the yoga community.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manorama D'Alvia is one of the leading teachers in Sanskrit and Yoga Philosophy. She is the founder of both the Sanskrit Studies Method™ and the Luminous Soul Method™. Manorama evokes healing through the universal arts of language and conscious living. “Happiness,” she often says, “is the free flow of energy, and communication is energy. When we use our voices authentically and confidently, we create harmony between ourselves and others.” A renowned, highly respected teacher, Manorama offers Sanskrit Studies Method programs for yoga teacher trainings, as well as Luminous Soul Method trainings and retreats. She tours the globe, training students in the Sanskrit Studies Method and the Luminous Soul Method.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Tompkins is a Yoga practitioner and Sanskrit scholar specializing in the tradition of Tantric Shaivism.  His research focuses in particular on the ritualized practices of ‘Hatha’ Yoga as originally presented in the earliest surviving (un-translated) Tantras, which pre-date the later ‘Hatha Yoga’ manuals by centuries.  He holds advanced degrees in Religion and Sanskrit and presents internationally on the history, practice, and philosophy of Yoga. In 2012, he founded the ‘Kashmir Shaivism Preservation Project,’ which seeks to preserve and to freely share the literary legacy of Kashmir Shaivism. To date, he has acquired over 24,000 pages of manuscripts, most of which have never been seen in the West, which span the vast subject range of Philosophy, Ritual, and Yoga representing the medieval Tantric tradition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Auder, director of Magu Yoga, was recently included on a list of America's 100 most influential yoga teachers (she was in the top 25!): sonima.com.  Alex is a native New Yorker who grew-up in the Chelsea Hotel with her mother, Viva (an Andy Warhol Superstar), and her sister, the actress, Gaby Hoffmann.  She is very excited to bring her 20 years of teaching experience (almost half of her life!) to Philadelphia. Known as one of NYC’s preeminent teachers, she has developed a keen eye and a genuinely authentic and original voice.  She began her teaching career in 1996 at Jivamukti Yoga Center and at her own studio in Rhinebeck, NY (now Satya Yoga). During her years in Upstate NY, she studied closely with her Vedanta teacher, Shubraji, who continues to deeply influence her teaching and her practice. Over the last 10 years Alex had been teaching out of her own studio in the WestVillageYoga (critics pick in NY Magazine) and as a senior teacher at Kula Yoga Project until she recently moved to Mt Airy. Informed by 20 years of studying various movement modalities including ballet, Iyengar Yoga, Kula Yoga, the work of Nevine Michaan (among others), Body-Mind Centering, & Somatics, Alex has developed a keen eye and a genuinely authentic, irreverent, and original voice.  Her classes are known for the graceful integration of clear and precise alignment cues, intelligent sequencing based on stability and functional movement, Somatics, vedantic philosophy, and generous hands-on assists.  Alex co-leads a summer retreat at Kripalu, teaches a monthly "Masters Class" at Kula Yoga Project, leads the sections of Kula 200 hour TT called: "Relevant Dharma Talk" & "The Art of Adjustments," and leads her own 75 hour advanced Teacher Training at Magu Yoga called “The Eye of the Teacher".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Stone (1974–2017) was a prominent and innovative Buddhist teacher, yogi, psychotherapist, and author. He was the founder and director of the Centre of Gravity Sangha, a community of yoga and Buddhist practitioners based in Toronto, and he taught widely and had a large international following. He is the author of The Inner Tradition of Yoga, Yoga for a World Out of Balance, Freeing the Body Freeing the Mind, and Awake in the World. For more information visit michaelstoneteaching.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anodea Judith, Ph.D. is the author of eight best-selling books on psychology, spirituality, and social change. She is best known for her pioneering work with the chakra system, through the classics Wheels of Life  and Eastern Body, Western Mind.  She holds a doctorate in Human Health, a Master’s in Psychology, is a 500 E-RYT yoga teacher, and has engaged in lifelong studies in psychology, yoga, mythology, sociology, history, systems theory, evolution, and comparative religion. Her most recent book is Anodea Judith’s Chakra Yoga. She teaches worldwide.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jillian Turecki is a New York based yoga teacher and certified coach who for over 15 years, has been studying the art and science of fulfillment. Through the practice and teaching of yoga, Jillian has explored in depth the radical impact changing one’s physiology has on a person’s psychology. More recently, she has taken her work beyond the physiology to include studying the way we think, the emotions we consistently experience, and the meanings we attribute to any given circumstance as massive clues to how we lead and experience our lives. Committed to understanding her own emotional patterns and how they have both helped and crippled her at times have been at the core of how she helps others. Under the masterful guidance of Anthony Robbins, Cloe Madanes, Magali and Mark Peysha, Jillian is certified by the Robbins Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention/Coaching, known for employing innovative strategic solutions to the most pervasive difficult problems. Jillian is expertly trained in working with the individual, couples, and families.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest in this episode is Ralph De La Rosa. Ralph is a psychotherapist and meditation teacher living in Brooklyn, New York. He is the creator of The Mindfulness Sessions, a series of meditation classes held in Brooklyn. I got a chance to sit down with Ralph at his home in the charming Greenpoint neighborhood. We spoke about his thoughts on buddhism and his incredible life story extending from his years of drug abuse to the practices that healed him. We also discussed neuroplasticity and the exciting ways in which brain studies are making the benefits of meditation more known in the West.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest in this episode is Gabriel Halpern, who is an Iyengar yoga teacher based out of Chicago.  I first met Gabriel a few years ago, when I took his workshops at Kula Yoga Project in Williamsburg, NYC. Gabriel's therapeutic approach to asana was intelligent and illuminating, but what I found most inspiring were his elegant and thoughtful dharma talks, which drew heavily from mythology and philosophy. I immediately admired Gabriel as the kind of teacher that I myself would like to be someday.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Rima Rabbath was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, but eventually traveled to Paris to pursue an undergraduate education in economics and later finished graduate school at NYU. In 2001, while pursuing a fast-paced career in brand management, Rima Rabbath took her first yoga class at the Jivamukti Yoga School in New York City, which changed the course of her life. In May 2005, Rabbath entered the Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training. Since then, she has been teaching five days a week at the Jivamukti Yoga School, leading Jivamukti Immersions, and is very active in the apprenticeship program.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.