Bernie Clark - "History, Myth, Energy, and Spirit"

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Bernie Clark, author of PRANA: One breath, many worlds, talks with J about his new book exploring philosophy, physiology, and the energetic axis of the yoga experience. They discuss stories imagining pre-vedic to Vedic tim es, shamans and yogis, evolution of societies, tribal ritual and institutional gods, reincarnation, relationship with the divine, role of prana in tantra, Desikachar and Descartes, Theosophy and Chakras, fascia, clairvoyance and energy healing, and understanding the difference between spirit and soul.

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J. Brown

J. Brown is a yoga teacher, writer, and founder of Abhyasa Yoga Center in Brooklyn, New York. A teacher for 15 years, he is known for his pragmatic approach to teaching personal, breath-centered therapeutic yoga that adapt to individual needs. His writing has been featured in Yoga Therapy Today, the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, Elephant Journal and Yogadork.

Joanne Spence - "Trauma-Informed Care, Straightforward Faith"

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Joanne Spence - "Trauma-Informed Care, Straightforward Faith"

Joanne Spence, author of Trauma-Informed Yoga: A Toolbox for Therapists and founder of Yoga in Schools, talks with J about the origins of trauma-informed care and the relationship between yoga and faith. They discuss exploring different approaches, early paths into yoga therapy, working at a psychiatric hospital, scientific explanations, attending seminary, being part of a church, secular approaches, and keeping things straightforward and kind.

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Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen - "Between Breath and Death"

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Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen - "Between Breath and Death"

Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen, co-authors of SAVASANA - Between Breath and Death, talk with J about the importance of practicing final relaxation. They discuss the shortening of savasana, death doulas and cafe's, the dissolution of self, the moment of death, guided meditation, reincarnation, falling asleep, alignment, using props, rolling to the side, being the witness, embracing things as they are, and recognizing the precious nature of life.

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David Procyshyn - "Line Between Authenticity and Manipulation"

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David Procyshyn - "Line Between Authenticity and Manipulation"

David Procyshyn, founder of doyogawithme.com and author of a Freedom from Anxiety newsletter, talks with J about the current state of the online yoga space and different ways to think about marketing. They discuss the ebb and flow of online sales, loyalty and word of mouth, knowing your audience, paying for advertising, customer segmentation, maximizing user experience, retreats, and questioning assumptions that inhibit playfulness.

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Jim Bennitt - "Camaraderie, Careers, and Jiu-Jitsu"

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Jim Bennitt - "Camaraderie, Careers, and Jiu-Jitsu"

Jim Bennitt, co-founder of Tejas Yoga and founder of Yoga for Grapplers, talks with J about the trajectory and evolution of Gen-x yoga careers. They discuss the yoga wave that started in the early nineties, classroom dynamics, appeal of Jiu-Jitsu, cult aspects, discernment of alignment, opening a center, functional movement, male friendships, post pandemic numbers, people leaving yoga, and the inspirational sparks that keep us motivated.

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Sharon Molloy - "Nonduality, Jesus, and the World of Man"

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Sharon Molloy - "Nonduality, Jesus, and the World of Man"

Sharon Molloy is a close personal friend of J and she joins the show to talk about their shared journey through yoga into faith. They discuss coming together around non-achievement, getting off on esoterica, mystical realms, materialism, making sense of lies and injustice, transhumanism, proof of the soul, evil, biblical prophecy, brokenness and the nature of self, the voice of God, and experiencing the pinnacle of love through saving grace.

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Adam Rumack - "Rights of Passage and Ways of Existing"

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Adam Rumack - "Rights of Passage and Ways of Existing"

Adam Rumack, co-founder of Open Circle, talks with J about subtle changes to the inner life of yoga communities and beyond. They discuss third series Ashtanga, taking over a Mysore room, nature-based rights of passage work, high demand communities, purity myths, underlying reality, hero journeys, perennial wisdom and power vacuums, vulnerability and responsibility, attachment and strategic planning, and getting beyond simple explanations.

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Year End Check In with J - "The Age of Professional Yoga is Over"

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Year End Check In with J - "The Age of Professional Yoga is Over"

Once again, J offers his annual year end reflection on where things stand going into the new year. He discusses the grief of learning that a family member has terminal cancer, the difficult realization that he will likely need to close his yoga center, underlying economics, online algorithms, trade organizations, the dissolution of identity, realms of man vs realms of divinity, and finding an honest and straightforward way of proceeding through life.

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Danny Mintz - "Busting Myths and Questioning Teachers"

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Danny Mintz - "Busting Myths and Questioning Teachers"

Danny Mintz is a listener of the show who reached out to J about the origins of yoga postures and it lead to this conversation about depictions of practice and the inner workings of being a teacher. They discuss whether modern yoga is 5000 years old or 500 years old, different stages of life, studio closures, finding your edge, Anusara, Jivamukti, personal practice, speaking out against abuse, and testament for practice being the person.

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Donna Farhi - "Conscious Pedagogic Models for Change"

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Donna Farhi - "Conscious Pedagogic Models for Change"

Donna Farhi returns to talk with J about conscious pedagogic models that foster independence and moving towards grounded sensitivity. They discuss homesteading, recovering from a fractured pelvis, meaning of pedagogy, horizontal communication, checks and balances, contraction in the industry, being relevant to the times, sticking with the word yoga, fitness and perfected bodies, post-pandemic landscapes, and evolving into the future.

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Kim Hopkins - "Service, Strategic Planning, Ripple Effects"

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Kim Hopkins - "Service, Strategic Planning, Ripple Effects"

Kim Hopkins, executive director of the Shanthi Project, talks with J about the not-for-profit work of providing yoga and mindfulness education to children and adults. They discuss different phases of the organization and where things were when Kim took over in 2023, revenue structures and fund development plans, substituting the term yoga for mindfulness, importance of data and research, and the long game of creating meaningful change.

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Neil Taylor - "Mindfulness of the Ordinary and Profound"

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Neil Taylor - "Mindfulness of the Ordinary and Profound"

Neil Taylor joins the show to follow up with J on the ongoing conversation about mindfulness education. They discuss Neil's entrance into practice, the importance of solitude, quality of presence, Thich Nhat Hang, the Satipattana Sutta, the end of suffering, self and no-self, levels of awareness, distinguishing between mindfulness and meditation, mysticism and the secular, energy bodies, letting the mystery be, and embodying compassion.

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Karin Lynn Carlson - "Yoga is a Tool, Not an Identity"

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Karin Lynn Carlson - "Yoga is a Tool, Not an Identity"

Karin Lynn Carlson, founder of Return Yoga and author of the substack Gristle and Bone, returns to touch base with J on the reckoning going on in the yoga profession. They discuss starting online platforms, 200hr teacher training and the false promise of a career, living paycheck to paycheck, effects of the pandemic, AI, looking for jobs to pay bills, reconciling the downfall of the American dream, and finding direction from within.

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Cassie McKamey - "Being Guided to Practice and Faith"

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Cassie McKamey - "Being Guided to Practice and Faith"

Cassie McKamey is a listener of the show whose email to J led to this conversation about coming to yoga on the internet through a lens of christian faith. They discuss growing up in a church community in Kansas, youth pastors and questioning authority, following rules vs inquiring within, learning yoga on YouTube, personal relationship to God, guided meditation and divine will, and daring to believe in something greater than yourself.

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Sarah Powers - "An Inner Lens of Listening to Heart-Mind"

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Sarah Powers - "An Inner Lens of Listening to Heart-Mind"

Sarah Powers, co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, talks with J about integrating Yoga, Tao, and Mindfulness. They discuss the progression of yoga into a physical orientation to wellness instead of deeper inquiries, cliche of yoga profession, earlier days at Yogaworks, Paul Griley, different camps within Yin Yoga, differentiating Iyengar method, energy bodies, discipline and empathic support, and learning how to access joyful wisdom.

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Edward Clark & Laurie Greene - "Grappling with Self and Other"

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Edward Clark & Laurie Greene - "Grappling with Self and Other"

Edward Clark and Laurie A, Greene, co-authors of Yoga and the Body: The Future of Modern Yoga in the Studio and Beyond, talk with J about interrogating assumptions from within and without yoga traditions. They discuss the ancient origins of yoga, perspectives in theater arts, distinguishing asana and vinyasa, meaning making, trauma, emotions, intensity of inquiry, and experiencing every day awe-inspiring beauty.

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Adam Keen - "Reappraising Modern Yoga Methodology"

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Adam Keen - "Reappraising Modern Yoga Methodology"

Adam Keen, host of the Keen on Yoga Podcast, returns to the show to revisit a conversation they started years ago about the role of teachers and teachings. They discuss recent scandals in the Ashtanga community, origins of Ashtanga, implications of the "active series," homogenization of Mysore rooms, adjustments, hip replacement surgery, showing fallibility, and holding ourselves to account so we can provide something of meaning and purpose.

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Anna Taylor - "Teaching Presence More Than Poses"

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Anna Taylor - "Teaching Presence More Than Poses"

Anna Taylor, author of Weaving Mindfulness & Compassion into Yoga Teaching, talks with J about the intersection of mindfulness education and yoga. They discuss being curious about why yoga works, noticing the impact of practice, doing and being, attention training, involvement of the heart, failure, feeling taken care of, secular spirituality, strong flows and music, Satvic states, and promoting values that we believe in.

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Chris Cochrane - "Science, Spirit, Horses, and Shakespeare"

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Chris Cochrane - "Science, Spirit, Horses, and Shakespeare"

Chris Cochrane is a listener of the show who joins to talk with J about her unique background and perspective on science and yoga. They discuss working for NASA analyzing semiconductor crystals grown on the space station, scientists and engineers who are into yoga, micro-gravity and crystal structures, distortions in the atomic order, connection between science and spirit, horse wisdom, Patanjali, Shakespeare, and living your dream.

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J. Brown - "10 Years, 500 Episodes, Challenges Ahead"

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J. Brown - "10 Years, 500 Episodes, Challenges Ahead"

On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary and 500th episode of the show, J reflects on the state of the yoga profession and industry. He discusses the progression from blog writing to podcasting and his latest post entitled "What I've Learned About Where We Are," the effects of the pandemic on attendance patterns and the role of teachers, myths about marketing, status of the center J opened, and facing grim outlooks with courage.

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