Yogaland Podcast

I've been thinking a lot about ego lately. I've been talking to Jason's teacher trainees about social media strategy and putting yourself out there. And yet, I personally feel like social media brings out the most immature aspects of my ego. I thought it would be a good refresher for all of us to think about what yoga teaches us about the ego.This week, Sally Kempton and I talk about the purpose of the ego, misunderstandings around it (no, you don't ever annihilate your ego -- if you did, you probably wouldn't shower or pay your bills on time), and how to approach it from a yogic perspective. We get into how our ego is potentially affected by social media, and Sally offers helpful, practical self-inquiry techniques to help you relax your ego when it's triggered.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode114SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. I love cooking but even I get tired of the grind day after day. One thing that’s helped me immensely is Sunbasket meal delivery service -- they offer organic produce and

A lot of people come to yoga to help them balance some of the activities they do on a daily basis. After all, yoga is a great antidote to sitting in a chair, looking at a computer or iPhone screen, and other things sedentary people do.But you might not realize that if you're an avid yogi who practices daily, it can be helpful to add other types of movement into your routine to counterbalance the effects of the yoga asanas.That's what today's guest, longtime vinyasa yoga teacher and CrossFit trainer Debbie Steingesser, came to realize after she suffered a hip injury that required physical therapy and strength training to heal.This week, I talk to Debbie about how strength training has changed her practice--and her life!We talk about:*How a hip injury led Debbie to physical therapy and eventually CrossFit and how that experience changed her view on what yoga could do for her*What is CrossFit is and how can it be a complementary practice for yoga students*How the benefits of cross training go beyond the physical

This week on the podcast, we talk to our favorite Ayurvedic expert, Niika Quistgard, all about how to use principles from Ayurveda to bring our bodies back into balance in the heat of summer.She shares:* How to adapt your lifestyle during pitta season--we get into how to approach your yoga practice, meditation, breathing techniques, and which foods to eat (and avoid) during Pitta season* A few specific poses and practices that are calming for Pitta* The one thing that's even more important than you dominant Ayurvedic constitution. (It's all about balance, baby!)* What Niika means when she talks about taking "self-leadership" on your yoga mat and in your life*BONUS: Enjoy the soothing sounds of nature throughout this interview as Niika is talking to us outdoors among some particularly melodious birds.Show notes: http://jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode112SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. I love cooking but even I get tired of the grind day after day. One thing that’s helped me immensely is Sunbasket meal

We've gotten several questions from listeners about how to find the right balance between working hard and surrendering during yoga postures. How to find that elusive balance of two seemingly conflicting ideals, whether on our yoga mats or in our lives, leaves many of us scratching our heads.Like so many things in yoga, the answer is complicated. But in this episode, Jason and I share some of our insights and do our best to tackle the question.Here's what we cover:* What Patanjali wrote about the idea of effort and ease in The Yoga Sutra and how Jason interprets it* What Joel Kramer meant by "playing the edge" in yoga postures and how Jason and I approach the concept* Practical advice for when to work hard and when to back off* How to tell whether physical limitations are in the structure of the joint or the soft tissueShow notes: http://jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode111 SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. I love cooking but even I get tired of the grind day after day. One thing that’s helped me immensely is

In this week's episode, Jason and I are live from Detroit Yoga Lab answering student questions about some of the most common yoga injuries, how to prevent and avoid them. Bonus banter: Find out why Jason has a black eye - unsurprisingly, it's not from yoga or a bar fight. And learn what Jason's three favorite bands are.(Our regular listeners will not be surprised to hear that Salabhasana (Locust Pose) come up a time or two.)Here's what we discuss:* Alternative poses for Warrior I and II for practitioners with SI joint pain* Best poses and modifications for hamstring overstretch issues* Which movements during an asana practice could cause excess shoulder and neck tension and which counter poses or practices can students do to find relief* Have we demonized Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)? Plus, how to transition from Plank to the floor in a way that's less likely to cause injuryShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode110 SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. I love cooking but ev

I put together this episode after the suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain. The loss of both of these talented, successfully, beloved people in one week was tragic. A few days after it happened, I read two great stories that talked about how important it is to tell our stories about getting through depression. When the news media focuses on a suicide and how it happens, it can lead to contagion. But when people tell their personal stories of getting through depression or suicidal thoughts or attempts, it helps people in the midst of a crisis see that they can survive.In that spirit, I offer up the things I've learned from surviving depression, as well as how I got through it. I hope it helps you or someone you love. I'm posting links to the two articles mentioned on the shownotes page, which you can find here: yogalandpodcast.com/bonusepisode  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you remember the first time you did your favorite pose? Was it true love the first time you took the shape? Or did it take a few tries (or maybe even years!?) to appreciate it?A few weeks ago, I shared on Instagram that when I first started practicing Side Angle Pose, I thought it was a total snooze and now it's one of my favorite poses. I asked if anyone else has had this experience with a pose and got a resounding yes. For me, the process of appreciating Side Angle Pose represents the way the practice fuels growth and contentment: I used to need a big pose to capture my attention, but now the simpler shapes can bring me to a place of focused attention, awareness, and absorption.It also shows the beauty of a long-term, sustainable practice -- you change over time and your practice can change, too. This week, Jason and I unpack all of this -- the poses we once overlooked, as well as the poses we used to long for that don't hold much weight anymore. And I share some of the (awesome) comments you all left on

If you're like a lot of yoga students, you probably feel a bit conflicted when it comes to social media: You want to spend more time in the present moment, but you also love how social media makes you feel connected with the people you love and what's going on in the world. It can be so hard to find a balance that allows you to enjoy the best social media has to offer without feeling like a slave to technology.In this episode of Yogaland, Jason and I share some practical tips on using social media both as consumers and as yoga teachers (who need to use it as a marketing tool and as a way to connect to their students).We talk about:* How to stop comparing yourself to the edited highlight reel you see of others' lives on social media* Creating healthy boundaries around how and when you use social media* What yoga teachers can do to stay authentic on social media and use it to nurture the relationships they have with their studentsPodcast notes: http://jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode108SHOUT-OUT TO OUR S

For this year's summer series, Jason and I are focusing on "Building a Sustainable Yoga Practice." Over the past year we've talked about injuries, fear of injuries, predatory teachers and we thought -- LET'S FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE FOR PETE'S SAKE. Let's empower ourselves to create a yoga practice that serves our needs. For the first episode, Jason and I talk about which poses are taught as beginner or "easy" poses and are actually torturous for us to execute. And the inverse of that -- which poses are thought to be advanced, but have always been pretty accessible to us because of body type. My hope is that this talk will help unravel that sense of competition (either with others or just with ourselves) that we all feel from time to time on the yoga mat. The truth is that certain poses that are easier and more difficult simply because of the body you're born with.That means that those awe-inspiring poses you see on Instagram may not be a reflection of skills and years of study, but rather just something th

Yoga offers us so much more than creating a healthy body and mind--it also helps us to get to know ourselves on a deep, intimate level. That deep knowing can help us make better decisions about every aspect of our lives, which is especially true during the childbirth process, says this week's guest Rachel Yellin.Rachel is a prenatal yoga teacher, childbirth educator, hypnotherapist, and a dear friend of mine. All of her work is centered around the idea of using mindfulness to help people tap into their own wisdom. It's transformational. And it's all yoga.This episode isn't just for pregnant moms (or even parents). It's for anyone who wants to learn to tune out external criticisms, judgments, and expectations so you can be guided by your own authentic, inner voice.Here's are some things we cover:* Finding the balance between the tradition of yoga, where students are guided through every pose by a teacher, and learning to allow your your own body and intuition lead the way* How Rachel's different businesses are

On this episode, I speak to Julia Lowrie Henderson, the producer behind ESPN's new 30 for 30 podcast series "Bikram."Bikram Choudhury arrived in the U.S. from Calcutta, India and opened a yoga studio in Beverly Hills in 1973. His intense system of yoga caught on quickly and Bikram became known as the "guru to the stars," with devotees ranging from Shirley MacLaine to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Raquel Welch. Within two decades, Bikram built a "yoga empire" that included national television appearances, a massive following of devoted students, and a multi-million dollar brand. But Bikram's rise to power came at a cost to many of his students and employees. By 2015, six women had filed civil lawsuits against him, with allegations ranging from sexual harassment to assault to rape.For the podcast series, Lowrie Henderson spent more than a year of her life traveling to India, interviewing students from the Bikram community, and speaking Bikram himself so that we can hear the truth of his story.In this interview, L

Ai Kubo received a PhD in cancer epidemiology from Columbia University, and has nearly 40 scientific publications in peer-reviewed medical journals. Years ago, Kubo was told flat out, by one of the most renowned mindfulness researchers, not to try to create (and fund) mindfulness studies. At that time, studying mindfulness and yoga was too fringe, she was told. She heeded this advice and spent a decade studying the effect of nutrition on cancer. But, as a yoga teacher, she felt that something was missing, so she decided to change the focus of her research. These days, Kubo is hard at work creating studies that examine the effect of mindfulness for cancer patients and their families in reducing stress and depression. We had a lively conversation about her current studies, her approach to eating and living in a way that minimizes cancer risk, and the details on her 3-week Mindfulness Cleanse, which focuses on helping the body rest and reset.Shownotes for this episode: www.yogalandpodcast.com/episode105SHOUT-OUT

Why don't you have a seat and stay awhile? If you think meditating is boring, hard, pointless, or too time consuming, this episode is for you!This week, Jason and I discuss everything meditation. We unpack why it's important for yoga students to meditate. Plus, we'll give some practical tips for to start if you're new to the practice (or start again if not very consistent). We promise, you'll be glad you did!PS: Jason just launched a program on yogaglo called, "I Don't Meditate." It's six classes and we think it will convert even the biggest meditation skeptics. You can find it here: http://bit.ly/meditate_with_jasonHighlights from this episode:* The difference between a person's identity and their habits + how to unravel those to make meditating seem more possible* Some of the common fears (and excuses!) that keep people from meditating* Why meditation is an important part of a well-rounded yoga practice and if there's anyone who shouldn't meditate* Jason's approach to teaching seated meditation and how

There's a special place in my heart for Tias Little. I studied with him many years ago and the vivid imagery and metaphor he used had a profound impact on the way I think about the body. He's also got this dry, dry, dry humor that I love. In the years since I studied with Tias, he has started doing dharma talks and one of them inspired this episode.You see, I think most of us are perfectionists. And, as much as I love to put in a hard day's work full of drive and goal-crushing, perfectionism doesn't lead to happiness. It's an illusion of control that (mostly) takes us out of the present moment and into a myth of life being neat, tidy, and complete. It can also bleed into our relationships with those we care about most -- friends, partners, children -- creating conflict and suffering that's unnecessary.In this episode, I ask Tias how we can use yoga and Buddhist psychology to become aware of our perfectionist tendencies and reframe them. Over the past few weeks since our conversation, Tias' words have stayed w

When your body hurts, it can feel like your soul hurts. And when you sustain an injury from yoga, it can be even more rattling. When an injury threatened Laura Burkhart's yoga practice—and her livelihood—she was forced to dig deep, be creative, and step into a new role as a yoga teacher, too. In this episode, she explains how she survived with humility and humor. (PS: Don't forget to read Laura's most recent Yoga Journal blog post!)We talk about:* Laura's experience sustaining a hip injury during her yoga practice, how it was diagnosed (when she didn't have health insurance), and the path she took to begin to heal* How she coped with the fear, shame, and frustration that came up* The process she used that allowed her to shift from a negative mindset to one that help her completely reprioritize her life and work* The biggest insight she learned from the ordeal: Don't get your identity from your physical abilities or your career, but in something deeper and more meaningful* How she approaches her practice and h

When I first started taking yoga classes from Jason many years ago, I was struck by his voice. He has a voice that draws you in. It's soothing and encouraging. He speaks in a measured, comfortable pace. And he's a clear, succinct communicator. In essence, he's a natural when it comes to verbal communication.This week, I ask Jason to share how he's developed this skill set. And, although this episode is specifically geared toward yoga teachers, the ideas we here apply to everyone. We all have times when clear verbal communication is vital -- in client meetings, with our loved ones, during presentations -- and some of us struggle with it more than others. My hope is that you'll gain confidence and clarity from this episode.We talk about:* Why verbal communication might be the most important skill for yoga teachers* Using each class you teach as a practice for personal growth in the area of verbal communication* The struggles we (Jason and Andrea) have when it comes to speaking in front of a group* How

Jason's back on the podcast answering some of our listeners most common questions. This week, we tackle questions related to Pincha Mayurasana (Forearm Balance).We dive into:* Headless Headstand - An alternative pose that recommends for students who are new to Forearm Balance* Three things the shoulders need to be in order to practice Forearm Balance* A conversation about Jason's biggest pet peeve that he sees students do when they're setting up for Pincha Mayurasana and Headstand (and why Andrea has decided to politely agree to disagree)* How to avoid having an excessive curvature in the low back (a phenomenon often called "banana back") in Pincha Mayurasana* Four helpful variations on Pincha MayurasanaShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode99SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORSCareof is a monthly vitamin subscription service that's tailored to your exact needs. Their recommendations are based on clinical research with input from doctors and nutritionists. Vegan and veg supplement options are available! Fo

On this week's episode, neurophysiologist Dr. Robyn Capobianco returns and we cover a ton of interesting ground. I walked away from the conversation asking myself, ‘Are there absolutely, definitively good movements and bad movements within the framework of yoga poses? And do we know what they are?’Here are the other points we discuss:* The difference between the "anatomy," "biomechanics," and "neuromechanics" and how they apply to yoga* What Robyn's research has shown her about squeezing the glutes in backbends + the surprising thing that happens when you stop squeezing* How to be a more discerning connoisseur of all the research, articles, and blog posts that are out there and why it matters* Why Robyn believes that the constraints around the practice can sometimes do more harm than good* Is it safe to roll up from Uttanasana (Standing Forward Bend) to standing?*BONUS: Robyn's favorite mascara brand, which she promises will change your life.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode98/SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS1.

We decided to give male listeners some TLC this week by answering their questions. While we focus on yoga for men in this episode, it has tons of insights for women who want to relate to the men in their classes and for teachers who want to help their male students.Besides, we've all struggled with feeling like the only person in class who can't do something, right?We talk about:* What it's like to be a male in a majority female yoga class + some good news for men who feel uncomfortable - there are more and more men finding their way into yoga studios* How to handle the awkwardness and frustration associated with being the tightest person in a yoga class (which is something that is not just relevant to men, by the way!)* Modifications for tight shoulders in poses where you interlace the fingers behind the back* How to apply lessons from strength training to yoga practice* Tips for yoga teachers who want to help people who are really struggling with posesSHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. RxBar are protein bars made f

This episode is in response to the overwhelming number of questions we've gotten about Handstand. We explore the logistical side -- what are the best prep poses for Handstand? And the emotional side, i.e., how do I cope with my fear of Handstand? You'll also learn:* The vital triad of forearm, finger, and shoulder strength for Handstand* Helpful prep poses yoga poses to help you build the strength for the pose* The importance of understanding scapular motion when learning Handstand * The muscles and actions that people neglect when they're trying to learn Handstand* How to manage and cope with your fear of Handstand* Alternative poses that offer the same benefits as HandstandShownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode96/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. Mahabis sell incredibly comfortable, Scandinavian-inspired slippers with unique detachable soles. The detachable soles clip on and off easily, so you can even wear your slippers outdoors, or to and from your yoga class! Head to mahabis.com to buy your pair today