Yogaland Podcast

On our live episode two weeks ago, we answered the question, ‘Is this thing that we’re doing still yoga?’ Jason shared five principles that make even the most modern practices a yoga practice. On this episode, we will walk through how yoga teachers can bring these principles to life in their teaching.Here are some of the ideas we talk through:Reflecting on whether classes still have liberatory qualities, inviting students to grow beyond self-limiting beliefs and identifications.Introducing intentional theming or recommended readings to enhance students' understanding of yoga philosophy and its application.Incorporating abhyasa (effort) and vairagya (letting go) -- balancing striving with non-attachment to outcomes in the practice.Encouraging students to focus on specific skills to enhance the transformational aspect of yoga.Inviting students to cultivate self-awareness by observing their self-talk, patterns of reactivity, and responses to discomfort during practice.For shownotes, visit www.yogalandpodcast.co

As many of yoga know, Sally Kempton was hugely influential to me. She was an expert guide, a loving presence, and a creative inspiration. She passed away on July 10th and has been on my mind constantly since then. I put together this episode to honor and remember her with my friend, the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal, Kaitlin Quistgaard. We had a lot of fun sharing stories and memories of Sally.The second part of this episode features my favorite episode that I did with Sally a few years ago: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly of the Ego.I hope you enjoy it. If you have any stories about Sally that you'd like to share, send me a voice note! You can DM it to me on Instagram (@andreaferretti) or email it to me at support@jasonyoga.com.I put links to other past episodes with Sally and other useful resources from her on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode305 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This discussion was recorded in London at the new Mission studio where Jason led Module I of his hybrid YTT a few weeks ago. Together, Jason and I explored the question -- Is this thing that we're all doing still actually yoga? Our power-hour or our 30-minute glo class or our rolling on foam rollers with some poses sprinkled in -- are those still yoga? Or has yoga in the West evolved into something else altogether?A few tidbits that we discuss in the episode:The fact that the word "yoga" has more than 350 definitions in Sanskrit, revealing its diverse nature.The belief in a singular, authentic yoga tradition is challenged throughout history.Swami Vivekananda's influence on bringing yoga to the United States and his perspective on Hatha Yoga.Different yoga traditions, like Iyengar and Ashtanga, were once considered radical innovations.The long-standing tension between "head up" and "head down" yogas: intellectual vs. physical practices.The importance of focusing on one's practice and impact rather than judging

Today we're talking about five things that Jason wishes he knew earlier in his yoga teaching career. We hope this discussion helps yoga teachers everywhere take some pressure off of themselves to be everything to everyone all the time. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason takes over this week to present a special comprehensive lecture on Patanjali, aka, his Patanjali “Super Lecture.” This episode essentially combines our three existing episodes on Patanjali plus additional content featuring essential philosophical concepts to teach beginners. We wanted to provide a place for all of these conversations to exist together so you have them at your fingertips. The topics we take on include:The Sutras: Unpacking Purusha and Prakriti The Sutras: Defining Chitta, Vritti and the GunasThe Sutras: Three Approaches to the 8 Limbs of Yoga8 Essential Philosophical Concepts to Teach BeginnersJason spends so much time teaching and discussing asana, pranayama and meditation so these conversations were a welcome change of pace for us. We hope you enjoy it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deepen your knowledge of yoga anatomy and the anatomy of twists, in this 20-minute detailed conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm sharing 8 things I've learned in the process of creating this podcast for the past 8 years. Jason joins as my sound board and points out that a lot of these ideas about how to create content -- things like defining your editorial scope, sustaining your passion, and having a thick skin -- apply to teach yoga, too. So -- you get a twofer here: lessons for sharpening your content creation/podcasting skills that can also help boost your confidence, creativity, and effectiveness as a yoga teacher.We'll be doing a Yogaland live episode at Mission in London on July 14th! Come join us for this free event. Find the link on the shownotes page, here: yogalandpodcast.com/episode301It's not too late to join Jason's Online YTT module that focuses on spine and core. The group starts together July 22nd! Go to jasonyoga.com/300 to get all the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the 300th episode of Yogaland -- huzzah! For this momentous occasion, I've decided to reflect on the past 8 years. So much has changed in yoga and in podcasting and I wanted to take a look back together. On the episode I share where and why podcasting started for me (it was a comfort during radiation treatment for breast cancer treatment), what my aim was in starting the podcast, and what the podcasting landscape was like at that time vs. now.I share some personal details of how these past 8 years have helped me to grow and some of the big surprises along the way.Lastly, I read listener responses to a question I posed on my Substack: "What's your why? Why do you teach yoga?" One of the biggest benefits of doing the podcast has been the sense of community and connection that has formed. So, I wanted to share your thoughts, feelings, and motivations to celebrate you, too!Support the podcast by subscribing to Yogaland Substack -- you can read all of the whys from other listeners and get lots more

In this last of our "essentials" series, Jason shares 5 essential ideas for finding ease and stability in your shoulders during yoga practice. On this episode, you will learn:Why it's particularly crucial to build shoulder stability if you practice vinyasa yoga -- and which joint (of the four) in the shoulder is the most unstableA common misconception about what to do with your shoulders when your arms move overheadThe cue that you can give when arms move overhead that will prevent neck and shoulder tension (without leaving the shoulders vulnerable to injury)Why different backbends benefit from different shoulder openersHow to experiment with different rotations of the shoulders in Downward-Facing DogHow a simple change in your hand placement can create more freedom in your shouldersTo try a shoulder sequence from Jason at home, go to our shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode299 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Jason clarifies what we mean when we talk about the core in yoga. Once you're finished listening, the core will no longer be a vague two-dimensional region that you aspire to pummel into submission. Instead, you'll understand:The difference between the abdominals and the coreThe functions of the core -- it contains! connects! supports! It's like a Swiss Army Knife!The part of the core that is typically the tightest; the part of the core that is typically weakestHow to counteract our tendency to be "up & tight"What you need to binge on Netflix right now if you haven't already (no this has nothing to do with the core, but you'll thank us later)Go to the shownotes for links to past episodes -- 5 Essential Ideas for Healthy Hips & 5 Essential Ideas for a Healthy Spine: yogalandpodcast.com/episode298 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I speak to yoga teacher, writer, and mama Sarah Ezrin about her new book, The Yoga of Parenting: 10 Yoga Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself. As Sarah points out right at the beginning of the episode, there are far more than just 10 practices in this book. There are 34 to be exact, but more importantly it's just brimming with both creative and science-backed ideas to help you grow as a parent, increase those oh-so-essential self-regulation skills, and foster connection with your kids.Tune in to hear how Sarah has applied these practices in her own life, how she balances being a content creator with social media boundaries, how yoga helped her recover from her own tumultuous childhood.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode297 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason joins me this week to share 5 essential ideas for a healthy spine in yoga.How to distribute your physical and mental attention for optimal spinal health while practicingOne of the riskiest moves for the spineHow shielding ourselves from back pain can lead to a weak backWhether the spine twists from bottom to top or from top to bottomWhen it's beneficial to round the spine (and how we often forget to do this!)

Libby Hinsley is a yoga therapist and a Doctor of Physical Therapy living with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Suffice it to say, she is the expert on yoga for hypermobility. Her new book, Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility. This book is so needed in the yoga community and in the medical community, where a dearth of clarity and education abound.We cover a lot ground in this episode, including:The difference between being flexible and having joint hypermobilityWhat yoga teachers can do if they suspect that a student is hypermobileLibby's experience of getting diagnosed and how challenging it was to find healthcare providers who understood the systemic affects of hypermobilityHow hypermobility affects proprioception, body mapping, and strengthThe connection between hypermobility and neurodiversityWhether or not stretching is beneficial for bendy peopleAs you'll hear in this episode, hypermobility is complex and you can't absorb it all in one podcast. That's wh

Learn the best way to practice, teach and troubleshoot one of Yoga's most important hip openers: Pigeon Pose. In this episode, Jason breaks down the Yoga Anatomy of this essential hip-opener and shows you reliable ways to troubleshoot the knee discomfort that some students experience in this pose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason joins me this week to share 5 essential ideas for healthy hips in yoga.Also: Jason's Essential Guide to Yoga Anatomy is open for enrollment!

My guest this week is Dara Kennedy, the founder of Ayla Beauty. Having spent more than 10 years in the retail beauty space, Dara started Ayla because she wanted to combine her expertise as a product developer and curator with her passion for yoga and wellness.I've known Dara (as her customer!) for years and the mindfulness she brings to her business is notable. Her friend and the founder of Twelve Beauty, Pedro Catala, has said that she treats her customers like her best friends -- and it's true, she does! It's part of the intention that she brings to Ayla.On this episode, I got to ask Dara my burning questions and move fluidly from the meta to the micro topics about beauty, including:How yoga and meditation have influenced Dara's life and the way that she runs her business"Hurts so good" beauty and the ways that beauty varies from culture to cultureIs the skin barrier really as important as social media would have you believe?We also talk about navigating beauty during adolescence and menopause -- two e

We know that change is a part of life -- it's also a part of the constantly evolving practice of yoga.As religious studies scholar Andrea Jain says in her book, Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture, “I emphasize premodern yoga’s context-sensitivity, heterogeneity, and malleability, rather than any central quality or essence presumed by some to be present across all systems.”In other words, yoga has always been malleable and responsive to the context in which it exists.On this episode, Jason and I talk about how we have experienced change in yoga practice over the past 25 years. We air some of our gripes (changes in Savasana, the abundance of heat-blasted classrooms) and point out some hugely positive changes as well (think: consent, less claim-making, more integration with everyday life).Would love to know some of your experiences of how yoga has changed, too! If you'd like to share them, subscribe to my Substack where I will start a thread. For shownotes, go to:

These are the five most essential sequencing concepts for teaching yoga classes for beginners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason recently did a webinar on how to structure your classes for beginners and there were tons of requests from folks who wanted to be able to re-watch it even after the replay period. So, ta-dah! we are making it available to everyone as a two-part series! Part I focuses on the 5-part class structure that I’ve been using with my beginners for over a decade. Part II will be coming next week!You can also watch this on our Youtube channel, which you can find at: youtube.com @jasoncrandellyogaLastly: If you'd like to join Jason's beginner's course, you can do so here: jasonyoga.com/beginnersAnd if you are interested in becoming a 500-hour RYT, you can find out more info here: jasonyoga.com/500 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've noticed the pendulum swinging toward strength in recent years (not a bad thing), and we wanted to offer context for the counterpoint: Stretching. (BTW, This is a great companion to episode 288, 'How much strength does yoga really build?')We take a big, contextual step back and look at:What is stretching?What are the types of stretching?What are some of the contraindicationsAre there still benefits and if so, what are the most effective protocols for increasing flexibility?At the tail end of this episode, Andrea also interviews Genny Wilkinson, who is on the cusp of opening a brand new yoga and movement studio in the heart of London. Jason will be offering his hybrid 300-hour Advanced YTT there in 2023 so we were excited to learn all about Genny's vision for what promises to be a gorgeous, authentic community space.Shownotes for this episode -- including links to the previous strength episode and to the London studio, Mission -- can be found at yogalandpodcast.com/episode291 Hosted on Acast. See acast.co