Neil Taylor - "Mindfulness of the Ordinary and Profound"

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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, inner bliss and demons, ignorance and true nature, cessation, self and no-self, levels of awareness, distinguishing between mindfulness and meditation, mysticism and the secular, neurological patterning, energy bodies, letting the mystery be, and embodying compassion.

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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.

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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Lora Markova and Katharine Scalora - "Dedicated Aerial Yoga"

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Lora Markova and Katharine Scalora - "Dedicated Aerial Yoga"

Lora Markova and Katharine Scalora, founders of Earth & Aerial Yoga in Hudson MA, talk with J about the advantages of owning an aerial yoga studio. They discuss Lora's previous career in media and Katharine's background, providing immediate gratification, logistical realities, how Covid killed their traditional classes, remaining grounded in yogic principles, injuries, enrollment policies, and charting a new path to evolve aerial yoga.

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Pamela Weber - "Keeping Things Going Against All Odds"

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Pamela Weber - "Keeping Things Going Against All Odds"

Pamela Weber, co-founder of NATA Yoga in Paris, talks with J about the uncertain future that independent centers face and the determination that keeps them going. They discuss her life as an academic and moving to Paris, teacher training before 200hr certification, giving up tenure for yoga, the subversive nature of opening a center, erratic attendance and rising expenses, Swami Kripalu, and holding to a current of surrender and love.

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Kelli Hansel and Shawn Lindsay - "Embracing Studio Ownership"

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Kelli Hansel and Shawn Lindsay - "Embracing Studio Ownership"

Kelli Hansel and Shawn Lindsay, owners of Indigo Yoga in Caldwell NJ, talk to J about taking over a studio and reaching for more than just being OK. They discuss the yoga scene in the rural Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, learning from DVD's and correspondence courses, finding teachers on Instagram, not starting from scratch, business models and teacher-centered policies, small town feels, and prioritizing a shared human connection.

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Josh Thomas and Geoffrey Dugue - "Unburdened Love of Jesus"

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Josh Thomas and Geoffrey Dugue - "Unburdened Love of Jesus"

Josh Thomas and Geoffrey Dugue, hosts of the Love for the Unseen God Podcast, talk with J about opening to transformational grace and a personal relationship with Jesus. They discuss observed experience as a basis for truth, nonduality and a creator, discerning man-made religion, comparing unitarian and trinitarian views, emptiness and being born again, Genesis I and III, Shanti and Shalom, and the peace of choosing to follow Jesus.

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Kevin Flynn - "A Fruitful Wrestling in Christian Faith"

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Kevin Flynn - "A Fruitful Wrestling in Christian Faith"

Kevin Flynn, one of the founders of Christians Practicing Yoga, talks with J about the intersection between Yoga and Christ. They discuss the history of the show and how it has led to this topic, benedictine monks, embodied faith, christian ashrams, Patanjali, communion vs union, liberating Christ from Christianity, ways to follow Jesus, demons, the battle for souls, being saved, fellowship, and benefiting from a personal relationship with God.

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Britta Van Dun - "Acupuncture and Subtle Realms"

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Britta Van Dun - "Acupuncture and Subtle Realms"

Britta Van Dun, founder of Intuitive Health & Healing, is an old friend of J's and they talk about attuning to the subtle and healing with soul through acupuncture. They discuss exploring healing modalities in the early aughts, intersection of Chinese medicine and yoga, links between physical and energy bodies, actuality of needles, movement of meridians, resting in stillness, and being servant to something much greater than ourselves.

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Chara Caruthers - "Holding Space for Psychedelic Healing"

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Chara Caruthers - "Holding Space for Psychedelic Healing"

Chara Caruthers returns to talks with J about the therapeutic value of psychedelics and the questions their use raises. They discuss connections between meditation and psychedelics, transpersonal psychology, abuses in plant medicine, bad trips, ontological shock, intervention vs practice, machine elves, research and legalization, personal/professional ethics, intention, and the capacity to make meaning of our lives.

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Lauri Nemetz - "Visual Rhetoric, Fascia, Insights Into Existence"

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Lauri Nemetz - "Visual Rhetoric, Fascia, Insights Into Existence"

Lauri Nemetz, author of The Myofascial System in Form and Movement, talks with J about interpretations of anatomy and thinking in different ways about the human body. They discuss visual rhetoric and memorization, dance movement therapy, fascial lines and/or systems, dissecting embalmed vs unembalmed tissue, Body Worlds art exhibit, interfacing with doctors, and inquiring into the beauty and wholeness of our material frames.

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Jeff Bailey - "Healing Sensation and Peaceful Presence"

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Jeff Bailey - "Healing Sensation and Peaceful Presence"

Jeff Bailey, author of Mobility for Life: Healthy Joints, Strong Bones, and a Peaceful Mind with AVITA YOGA®, talks with J about interrupting patterns of pain and letting love be a guide. They discuss growing up with a veterinarian father, connections between Rolfing and A Course in Miracles, labral tears and joint compression, hyperextension, body organization, arthritis, hip replacement, and allowing peace and spirit to carry us through.

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Kari Harendorf - "Not the Same Yoga We Were Doing in the 90's"

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Kari Harendorf - "Not the Same Yoga We Were Doing in the 90's"

Kari Harendorf, co-founder of Better Yoga, talks with J about reviving old models with new eyes. They discuss the East Village NYC scene in the early aughts, her dog Charlie, longevity of boutique studios, Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee, Kripalu, the moment when the world fell apart, Ayurveda schooling, productive rest, becoming a better listener, elusive truth, and holding it all with the preciousness life deserves.

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Ruth White - "Teachers, Friends, and the Sweet Use of Adversity"

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Ruth White - "Teachers, Friends, and the Sweet Use of Adversity"

Ruth White, author of Presence: The Truth of Yoga, talks with J about egos, teaching methods, and meeting the needs of students. They discuss BKS Iyengar's penchant for "waking you up," friendships between teachers and students, masters becoming famous, Vanda Sacaraveli, Dona Holloman, merits of teaching Savasana, succession of lineage, attitudes towards pain, standardization and expression, and slowing down to come together.

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