Freedom Becomes You With Julian Walker

In Part Two of my fascinating interview with Matthew, we discuss older vs more contemporary ways of understanding mind-body psychology as experienced in yoga practice. Matthew shares about being a younger yogi who valued the altered state of being on the mat as somehow “more real” and valid than the unglamorous struggles and anxieties of everyday life. He tells us about idealizing his teacher who could do full front-splits walking in out of the Chicago wintry cold at the beginning of class, as an exemplar of complete open-ness and ease in life, as contrasted with his own discomfort in the world of adult responsibilities. In response I talk about seeking escape in yoga from my own sense of helplessness as a kid from Apartheid South Africa. We finish up talking about Matthew’s fascinating book Threads of Yoga, a “remix” of Patanjali —critical reactions, and our own nerdy fascination with how to understand and keep evolving yoga philosophy. Theme music used by permission of http://www.jesseblakemusic.com/ In