Yogaland Podcast

Did you know that your shoulder complex has four joints on each side? This dynamic engineering allows us to do all of the things we do with our arms and hands. But it can leave the shoulder joints vulnerable if we don't balance them with strength. In vinyasa yoga we ask the shoulders to do a lot early on in the practice (because Chaturanga). So, on this episode Jason talks ideas for offsetting this, the best ways to create balanced shoulder strength, plus proper alignment while lifting your arms overhead. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode55/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We love, love, love to stretch our hips in yoga. Pigeon Pose -- oh yeah. Lizard -- yep. Thread the Needle -- mmmhmmm. But sometimes we focus on how good opening the outer hips feels to the exclusion of creating strength and stability in the support muscles. Similarly, we focus on the part of our hips that screams the loudest (outer hips) while neglecting another tight area that's quieter (hip flexors). On this episode, Jason maps out three ways to create balance in the complex network of the hips. After recording this episode, I realized that it's a metaphor for life: We want to stay open and flexible. And this requires time and attention. But we also need to focus on stability, strength, and grounding. When we find the right subtle balance, we feel happier and more free. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode54/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Summer can actually make it harder to practice -- schedules change, kids are home, we spend more time doing outdoor sports -- so Jason and I thought we'd offer 10 ideas for staying inspired to do yoga this summer! Plus, Andrea shares a tip from Susan Cain about how solitude inspires creativity. For a full blog post of this episode, check out the shownotes: jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode53/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gina Caputo has so much to offer to Yogaland: In addition to practicing and teaching yoga for nearly two decades, she's been on the ground floor of opening and managing three different yoga schools -- Sacred Movement in Venice, California, Kansas Siddhi Yoga Studio, and and The Colorado School of Yoga in Boulder, Colorado. Gina also has a FANTASTIC sense of humor. One of my favorite things she says in this interview is, "Be sincere, not serious." On this episode, I asked Gina to share her thoughts and stories about self-awareness practice, specifically her recent experience of doing a 10-day silent meditation course. Spoiler alert: She made it through 10 days of silence! But not without some support from a banana or two. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode52/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Susan Cain is the reason the word "introvert" came back into everyday conversation. Her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" spent more than four years on The New York Times Best Seller List, her Ted Talk on the topic has been viewed more than 16 million times, and she's the co-founder of the organization Quiet Revolution. She also loves yoga! We talk about why yoga is so appealing for introverts, the reasons introverts make great leaders, and ideas for when to push yourself out of your comfort zone and act more extroverted for a spell. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode51/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode Jason answers listener Kat's question, "How do I make sure I'm not leaving anyone out as I teach my mixed level classes?" The solutions include acknowledging that the reality for modern yogis is that we all learn together regardless of our level, using humor to diffuse tension in the class, and encouraging students to engage in the learning process even if they can't do the final shape of the pose. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode50  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this little bonus episode, I offer my own story of the panic attacks and depression that plagued me in my twenties and the subsequent shame I felt about being a yogi and making the choice to take anti-depressants. If you're suffering, I created this podcast to let you know that you're not alone. And if you're feeling guilty about taking the meds, I want to help you clear that guilt, to help you NOT put another layer of pain on top of the suffering.  Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode49/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Richard Rosen returns to the podcast and answers some common questions about hatha yoga, including who the "original yogis" were, the meaning of the word "hatha," plus he opens up about Parkinson's Disease and shares his love for pranayama (breathing practice).  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world-champion and yoga teacher Sebastian Brosche joins Jason on the podcast this week. AS a competitor in his twenties, Sebastian was in a cycle of chronic injury that was so uncomfortable, he couldn't put on his socks. He had no intention of trying yoga until he saw a beautiful woman teaching class -- who is now his wife. Hear him tell the story of how yoga healed his body and how he founded an online training program that helps other BJJ practitioners stay healthy and as Sebastian puts it, able to keep rolling and grappling for the rest of their lives.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jessamyn Stanley is a world-traveling yoga teacher and self-proclaimed body positive advocate with a new book, Every Body Yoga. Several years ago she decided to document her yoga practice on a brand new app called Instagram, having no idea that she would garner nearly 300,000 followers, many of whom begged her to become a yoga teacher. We talk about the evolution of her yoga practice from her early days as a Bikram yogi to a vinyasa teacher, how yoga studios can make efforts toward being more inclusive of different body types and capabilities, and her quest to stay grounded as she spreads her message that, indeed, yoga is for everyone. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode46/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A hike in the Ajanta Caves in India several years ago sparked a massive creative project for artist and yoga teacher Amanda Giacomini: To put 10,000 Buddhas out into the world. Her work has appeared on murals, canvases, and prayer wheels in cities from Washington DC to Los Angeles to Panama. Amanda tells the story of what inspired the project, her creative process, and how it feeds her own life and yoga practice. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode45/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tiffany is a renowned yoga teacher and the founder of Yoga Medicine. She's also a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and ran an acupuncture clinic at Nike headquarters for years. Tiffany offers her unique perspective on how to modify our diet, asana, breathwork, and meditation for spring. She also (very patiently) answers my questions about the ways that Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine overlap. This is a great ep for all the complementary medicine geeks in the crowd (like myself). Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode44/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jason comes back to Yogaland to answer your questions, specifically: - Is the cue 'flatten your tailbone' correct or outdated? - Why do yoga teachers tell us to flex the foot in Pigeon Pose? How does it protect the knee? - Why is sacroiliac pain such a pain in the a$$? Thank you to all of you who have sent in questions! We have a sequence on the blog for low back pain. Link on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode43/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Maty Ezraty is a genuine pioneer of yoga in the U.S. One of the original co-founders of YogaWorks, Maty is a true teacher's teacher. On this episode, Maty shares stories from her early days as well as how her practice has changed with age. She also shares her approach to mentoring teachers and students, which is an alchemy of communication, love, and meeting people where they are. Shownotes for this episode: yogalandpodcast.com/episode42/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this age of insta-celebrity and everyone chasing their 15 minutes of fame, it's refreshing to talk to a long-term, successful yoga teacher. Deborah Burkman is one of these people. She's been teaching for 17 years, in many settings, and loves her job. She's not famous and, at this point in her life and career, she's grateful for that. Her message to all of us: Find your purpose and come back to that. And know that who you are is enough. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode41/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Alexandria Crow grew up in a fundamentalist Christian family and her grandfather was a traveling preacher. These days she travels the country teaching yoga -- and it recently dawned on her that there are parallels between the two. Because of this, she's careful about not cultivating a guru persona -- her hope is to teach her students to use the tools that she presents to investigate on their own and think for themselves. We talk about this idea of being "transparent" as a teacher, the role of charisma in teaching yoga, and the vulnerable place that students can unconsciously find themselves in if they have a teacher who isn't clear about their role and their boundaries. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode40/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Richard Rosen is a yoga scholar and teacher who has authored five yoga books that are well worth reading. I talked to him about his most recent, "Yoga FAQ, Almost Everything You Need to Know about Yoga -- from Asanas to Yamas." This book is rich with tons of historical info and yet, Richard is refreshingly honest about how traditions change and evolve. We focus mostly on his Patanjali's Yoga Sutra -- who was Patanjali? Who was Vyasa? And why is this text a seminal part of modern Western yoga? Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode39/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, I talk to Nikki Estrada about the first two ethical guidelines in the Yoga Sutra: ahimsa (nonharming) and satya (truth). Nikki has more than 20 years teaching experience and has been leading 200 and 300-hour teaching trainings for more than 12 years. She was Director of Trainer Development for YogaWorks for more than 7 years where she supported and mentored teacher trainers. She leads intensives, immersions and workshop series in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. She contributes to Yoga International where you can find her articles and videos. Nikki is an Athleta Ambassador for embodying the Power of She, is sponsored by Zobha, has presented at Yoga Journal conferences and was voted best yoga teacher by Marin Magazine 2016. You can find shownotes for this episode at: yogalandpodcast.com/episode38/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jason takes on questions that surround yoga teaching this week including: - To use Sanskrit while teaching or not? - How to care for yourself during an injury? - How do you help individuals find their unique pose in the midst of a group class? You can find shownotes for this episode, with lots of blog posts from Jason about teaching at yogalandpodcast.com/episode38/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Q&As with Jason are back! On this episode we talk about hopping back to Plank Pose, what happens when your wrists won't cooperate in arm balances, and tips for Triangle Pose. The BIG TAKEAWAY is this: Not all poses work for all bodies. Take that in. Let it bum you out. Then listen to the episode and let that truth set you free. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode36/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.