Yogaland Podcast

I'm so excited to share this interview with Dr. Will Cole! Dr. Cole is a functional medicine doc whose new book, Ketotarian, offers a mostly plant-based approach to the ketogenic diet that's much healthier than the traditional bacon and bunless burgers regimen.I've been on the ketogenic diet for a few years and I value Dr. Cole's approach -- it's compassionate, research-driven,and balanced. Plus, it was a real treat for me to bounce all of my keto questions off of someone! I got to ask Dr. Cole -- Is the ketogenic diet really suitable for everyone? What's the science and history behind it? What's his advice for balancing the strict aspects of keto without going overboard into orthorexia? If you're in overall good health, how can keto be beneficial to you? We also talk about soy, lechtins, fancy cows, and the importance of self-compassion when approaching any eating plan.Shownotes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode123SHOUT-OUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. I love cooking but even I get tired of the grind day after

There are so many interpretations of the seminal yoga text, Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. This week, I talk to two women who've written one that is refreshingly different. Kelly DiNardo and Amy Pearce-Hayden join me to talk about their book new book, Living the Sutras: A Guide to Yoga Wisdom Beyond the Mat. Their book is not a formal, scholarly translation of the Yoga Sutra. Instead, DiNardo and Pearce-Hayden have created a guide that can help you take the sutras, reflect on them, and then apply them to your life. Their approach is lively, relevant, modern and also informed by years of practice and study.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode122SHOUT-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 clean ingredients and many different types of meal plans. Their food is so delicious and I LOVE how creative they are! Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off yo

I got a great question from a listener recently in response to episode 119, so I decided to start this episode with Jason's response. The listener, Neil, asks, "If we're creating a practice that's sustainable, does it really makes sense to repeat the same sequence over and over again?" And what's the best way to handle pressure from studio and gym owners to "freshen things up?"We also answer a couple of other questions that come in often, in many different forms, essentially:* What's the best way to cope with pre-class nerves?* How do I feel more confident about self-promotion?Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode121SHOUT-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 clean ingredients and many different types of meal plans. Their food is so delicious and I LOVE how creative they are! Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.2. LOLA

Today's guest, Nikki Myers, a yoga therapist and the founder of Y12SR (Yoga of 12-Step Recovery), shares how yoga has helped with her personal struggles with addiction and helped thousands of people through Y12SR.Even if you've never been touched personally by addiction, her insights and advice apply to anyone who's had to overcome a challenge in life. We talk about:* Nikki's personal road to recovery, what she learned along the way, and how yoga helped her heal* Why an important part of practicing yoga is embracing ALL sides of yourself, and why it's important not to deny or hide the things you're less proud of* How the 12-step program is similar to yoga and why yoga is such a great complement to the 12 steps* Nikki and Andrea share their thoughts on the opioid crisis and how, as bad as things are, the good that has come from it. It's forcing government officials and the healthcare establishment to take a look at the emotional side behind the disease of addiction* What co-dependency really is and h

Jason is back this week to answer a few questions that came up about our Summer Series. The questions came from students in Jason's advanced yoga teacher training class, but they are applicable to any serious practitioners. We address:* His sequencing philosophy + the one biggest mistake he thinks yoga teachers make when they're planning their yoga class sequences.* How to help students find a slow, steady breath during vinyasa classes -- including how to breathe for backbends like Urdhva Dhanurasana (Wheel Pose), Dhanurasana (Bow Pose), and dropping back into Urdhva Dhanurasana.* Why consistency is such an important element for teaching and practicing yoga.* Jason's thoughts on finding an appropriate pace for vinyasa yoga classes.Shownotes: http://www,jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode119SHOUT-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 clean ingredients and many

J. Brown is a yoga teacher, former yoga center owner, blogger, and the host of the popular podcast J. Brown Yoga Talks. On this episode, I ask J. about his yoga origin story as well as the current iteration of his yoga life -- both online and off. J. also shares how the powerful words he said to his mother toward the end of her life have had a lasting impact on who he is today and helped lead him to yoga. J.'s mother died before he graduated from high school, and what he once saw as a wound he now sees as an event that has filled him with purpose and, ultimately, gratitude. PS: J. had me on his show a few months ago, the link is on the shownotes page if you want to check it out.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode118SHOUT-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 clean ingredients and many different types of meal plans. Their food is so deli

When I have Jason on the show, we talk a lot about postures and technique, so I thought it would be interesting to talk yoga philosophy on the podcast this week. I asked Jason to share his favorite yoga books (that are not focused on the physical practice). These are just a few of his favorites, spanning yoga philosophy, Buddhist philosophy, and neuroscience.You can find links to all of the books mentioned in the episode on the show notes page: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode117SHOUT-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 clean ingredients and many different types of meal plans. Their food is so delicious and I LOVE how creative they are! Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.2. LOLA is a female-founded company offering 100organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For every purchase, LOLA donates feminine care pro

Claire Missingham is back on the podcast this week, and we're talking about how she's been using yoga and other natural healing modalities to manage a recent diagnosis of an autoimmune disease.She tells us:*How the grief of losing a yoga teacher in her community to suicide led her to start running, learn to swim (as an adult), and compete in marathons and triathalons*How she became diagnosed with Lupus, and how she manages it through food, adaptogenic herbs, and other natural methods of healing*Why she takes a freezing cold shower every morning before her yoga practice and wears a bikini in the snow!*What herbs she found to be most helpful in her healing, travel, and daily life and why she says they're worth every penny (Plus, she offers a fewtips for stretching your dollar when buying and using herbs)*How her diagnosis has impacted her asana practice and her thoughts on how yoga is always changing to meet her where she isShow notes (and Claire's smoothie recipe) at: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/epis

On this episode, I'm joined by yoga teacher and holistic health coach Rosie Acosta. Rosie shares her personal story of growing up in East L.A. in the 90s where chaos and violence surrounded her daily. By the time she was a teen, she'd been arrested, she was physically unhealthy, and she didn't see much of a future for herself. And yet, here she is now, living a bright, fulfilled life. Her story is inspiring and speaks to the power of the human spirit and the power of a dedicated yoga practice. ✨ "The minute I walked into that [yoga] room, I felt like I was home." ✨Rosie shares:- How one of the biggest mistakes of her life as a teen was actually a catalyst for positive change- The internal conflict of wanting to create a better life for herself while knowing that he family feared losing her if she "got out"- How growing up with instability created a deep internal craving for stability- How she juggled several jobs and explored different paths before finding the right fit with yoga- Her advice for finding

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