Indu Arora - "Yoga Nidra and the Macrocosmic Body"

Indu Arora - "Yoga Nidra and the Macrocosmic Body"

Indu Arora talks with J about the history and philosophies of yoga. They discuss the traditions she grew up with, being curious about the origins of yoga and respectful of its culture, sun salutations and utilizing sanskrit words to understand root ideas, distinguishing between yoga nidra and meditation, going from 'external thrill to internal still,' duality and oneness, making nature your guru, and the co-creation of knowledge to empower.

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Frey Faust - "Freedom, Pedagogy and The Axis Syllabus"

Frey Faust - "Freedom, Pedagogy and The Axis Syllabus"

Frey Faust, creator of The Axis Syllabus and author of 101 USELESS EXERCISES...and what to do instead, talks with J about increasing awareness through an exploration of physiological or biological principles. They discuss his departure from the NY dance scene, standardization and funding, compiling information about the body that ended up contradicting conventional notions, form, fractals, and checking our own perceptions.

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Daniel Simpson - "How Traditional is Your Yoga?"

Daniel Simpson - "How Traditional is Your Yoga?"

Daniel Simpson, author of The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga’s History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices, talks with J about the origins of physical practice and what connects modern yoga to its ancient roots. They discuss the tendency of historical figures to invent things, influences that led to a modern postural approach, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, tantra, Nivritti and Pravritti, and questioning the how and why more than the what.

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Kathryn Bruni-Young - "Adaptability, Strength and Resilience"

Kathryn Bruni-Young - "Adaptability, Strength and Resilience"

Kathryn Bruni-Young, creator of Mindful Strength, talks with J about her mother's legacy and the adaptability of human bodies. They discuss turning grief into a handstand club, when Kathryn's mom, Diane Bruni, came to J's class, the alarm her mom sounded and the infamous Facebook page, feeling uncomfortable about social media outpourings, and understanding biopsychosocial purpose behind strength training for resilience.

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Steve James - "Fields of Inquiry with Guru Viking"

Steve James - "Fields of Inquiry with Guru Viking"

Steve James, creator of the Movement Koan Method® and founder of the Guru Viking Podcast, joins J for a comparative inquiry into spiritual traditions and philosophical viewpoints. They discuss living on a boat, the value of survival training, some of Steve's influences, working with Michaela Boehm and The Non-Linear Movement Method®, the purpose of long-sitting meditation, and appreciation for a multiplicity of contemplative disciplines.

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Alejandro Chaoul - "Channels and Winds of Tibetan Yoga"

Alejandro Chaoul - "Channels and Winds of Tibetan Yoga"

Alejandro Chaoul. author of Chod Practice in the Bon Tradition, Tibetan Yoga for Health and Wellbeing, and Tibetan Yoga: Magical Movements of Body, Breath & Mind, talks with J about the philosophy and practice in Tibetan Buddhism. They discuss his cultural Jewish upbringing and the moment of realization where Buddhism became his path, meeting UG Krishnamurti, tsa lung trulkhor, and the many paths that lead to deeper awareness.

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Angela Farmer and Victor van Kooten - "Process of Evolving"

Angela Farmer and Victor van Kooten - "Process of Evolving"

Angela Farmer and Victor van Kooten talk with J about exploring our inner worlds and the power of formlessness. They discuss their early experiences with BKS Iyengar, how things changed over time and deciding to go a different way, fear-based teaching vs permission to make your own determinations, playfulness rather than striving, tapping into our "animal insides," receiving natures wisdom, and honoring our elemental selves.

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Doug Keller - "Vedas, Tantra, Hatha Yoga, and Rebirth"

Doug Keller - "Vedas, Tantra, Hatha Yoga, and Rebirth"

Doug Keller talks with J about the history and philosophies of yoga. They discuss why Doug left academia to spend 14 years in Siddha Yoga Ashrams, the process of adaptation that defines yoga's evolution, vedic tradition, capital T tantra, Hatha Pradipika and the democratization of practice, meditation and samadhi, attempting to escape vs embracing the cycle of rebirth, and manifestations and expressions of expanded consciousness.

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Melissa McKay - "Vipassana and Metta Meditation"

Melissa McKay - "Vipassana and Metta Meditation"

Melissa McKay, meditation teacher and old friend of J, talks about the practice and purpose of vipassana and metta meditation. They discuss the center Melissa had in Brooklyn and her son, her teachers from Burma, entry points and deeper teachings, meditation as an intentional habituation of the mind, easing stress and suffering, enlightened beings and heavenly realms, and the enduring power of loving kindness and compassion.

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Cara Suttie - "Assumptions, Attitudes, and Accessibility"

Cara Suttie - "Assumptions, Attitudes, and Accessibility"

Cara Suttie joins the show to talk with J about the impact of the pandemic on the work of making yoga more accessible. They discuss Cara's experience of coming to yoga before the power craze, healing trauma somatically, pros and cons of online classes for people who don't fit preconceived molds, studio culture before the lockdowns, possibilities for change, being present for the journey, and feeling comfortable in your worth as a person.

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Swami Saradananda - "The Goal of Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā"

Swami Saradananda - "The Goal of Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā"

Swami Saradananda, author of Sitting Comfortably: Preparing the Mind and Body for Peaceful Meditation, talks with J about the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā. They discuss Swami Saradananda's departure from the Sivananda organization, getting a masters degree in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation, origins of the sun salutation, the difference between full-body mudra and asana, meditation vs relaxation, and the experience of samadhi.

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Lucas Rockwood - "Are Yoga Centers Coming Back?"

Lucas Rockwood - "Are Yoga Centers Coming Back?"

Lucas Rockwood, founder of YOGABODY and host of The Lucas Rockwood Show, returns to talk with J about what is happening in the yoga industry in a post-pandemic world. They discuss the arc of the yoga center model and the impact of lockdowns, closing three centers and making the bankruptcy call quickly, advantages to teaching online, manufacturing yoga-toe separators, saying "no" to polarization, and surviving this period of change.

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Taran Rosenthal - "Healing Interventions of Energy and Matter"

Taran Rosenthal - "Healing Interventions of Energy and Matter"

Taran Rosenthal, founder of Flying Needle Acupuncture, reunites with J after 28 years to talk about Chinese medicine and relational healing practices. They discuss the self-discovery through dance they shared in NYC, Taran's move west and subsequent foray into Brazilian spirituality, his realization to change his career and transition to Chinese medicine, spectrum of hands-on to hands-off, nonverbal space and exchanges that ease suffering.

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Cory Nakasue - "Cosmos and Consciousness"

Cory Nakasue - "Cosmos and Consciousness"

Cory Nakasue is an old friend of J's who joins the show to talk about Astrology and alternative ways of understanding. They discuss the heyday and gentrification of Williamsburg Brooklyn, Cory's choice to let go of pursuing credentials in favor of co-creating new stories, how the stars reflect rather than determine, our magical world, the "interregnum,” and how we can better understand ourselves, each other, and create meaning.

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Julia Frodahl - "Taoism, Psychology, Dreams and Compassion"

Julia Frodahl - "Taoism, Psychology, Dreams and Compassion"

Julia Frodahl, founder of A Million Compassionate People and an old friend of J's, joins the show to talk about the existence of spirit and creating the space needed for change. They discuss the crossing of their paths in Brooklyn 20 years ago, the ordeal that destroyed and redefined her, sources of wisdom and healing, Taosim, dream tending, intuition and imagination, and the essential importance of learning skills of compassion.

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Dan Vekhter - "Neurology, Spirit, and Finger Smoothies"

Dan Vekhter - "Neurology, Spirit, and Finger Smoothies"

Dan Vekhter talks with J about his work as a neurologist, the nature of consciousness and recognizing spirit. They discuss Dan's blog writing during medical school, the demands of being a doctor, the role he plays in peoples lives, the limitations of existing protocols, what spirit is in the healing process, materialistic viewpoints that squelch reverence, his poem entitled: "finger smoothies," and an uncomplicated path towards deeper humanity.

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Michael Meade - "Initiation, Imagination, and Living Myth"

Michael Meade - "Initiation, Imagination, and Living Myth"

Michael Meade, author of Awakening the Soul, The Genius Myth, and The Water of Life: Initiation and the Tempering of the Soul; and creator of the Living Myth Podcast, talks with J about initiation into the holy waters of our collective story. They discuss stages of initiation, the activation of myths, pronounced rationality and exaggerated objectivity leading to a broken cosmology, and healing through the natural yoga of our own inner genius.

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Tori Lunden - "How Not To Teach Yoga"

Tori Lunden - "How Not To Teach Yoga"

Tori Lunden, author of How Not To Teach Yoga: Lessons on Boundaries, Accountability, and Vulnerability - Learnt the Hard Way, talks with J about the need for yoga teachers to take an honest look at themselves and have the courage to evolve. They discuss Tori's progression from social work into yoga, being a wannabe guru, the pros and cons of charisma, boundaries, authenticity, humility, inclusion, and challenging ourselves to grow.

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Sadia Bruce - "Fields of Intimacy and Disruption"

Sadia Bruce - "Fields of Intimacy and Disruption"

Sadia Bruce returns to the show to explain how she went from questioning the profession of yoga to becoming more entrenched in it then ever before. They discuss their talk from five years ago, private teaching and being simultaneously both the help and authority, getting a gig at Kripalu, online teacher trainings, breaking from dysfunctional conventions, and tapping into the innate rhythms that connect us to the forces of life and love.

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Annabelle Brown - "Magical Worlds and Healing Wishes"

Annabelle Brown - "Magical Worlds and Healing Wishes"

Annabelle Brown, J's youngest daughter who just turned 7, joins the show to document a moment of time and share the wisdom of an unvarnished mind. They discuss the creation of imaginary worlds, life directions and passions, Annabelle's relationship with her sister, whether being able to fly is better than invisibility, how the podcast is part of J's yoga, and the expressions of love and family that make being human special.

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