philosophy and meditation
Episode 234: The Sutras, Part III – Three Approaches to the Eight Limbs of Yoga
Today, we return to Patanjali's Yoga Sutra and Jason shares three models for applying the eight-limb path to life -- The Step-by-Step Model, The Integrated Model, and The Single Limb Model. Plus, stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear 5th anniversary messages...
read more
Episode 230: The Sutras, Part 2: Defining citta, vrittis, and the gunas
Last week Jason shared the foundational concepts of purusha and prakriti. Go back and listen if you haven't yet! This week, we continue to talk through foundational concepts that Patanjali presents in The Yoga Sutra -- citta, vrittis, and the gunas. Jason defines...
read more
Episode 229: The Sutras, Part I: Unpacking Purusha and Prakriti
Today is the first in a series of episodes where Jason shares the underpinnings of Patanjali. Most yoga students have heard their teachers reference Patanjali and the text that he is known for, The Yoga Sutra. But rarely do teachers have time to unpack this seminal...
read more
Episode 228: Jason talks about the six cores of yoga
Today, Jason shares his approach to the six cores in yoga -- the philosophical core, the traditional hatha yoga core, the respiratory core, the skeletal core, and the two muscular cores. RECOMMENDED AND RELATED LINKS: Jason's Advanced Yoga Teacher Training WRITE A...
read more
Episode 216: Unity in Yoga & Embracing Yoga’s Roots
Today's guest, Susanna Barkataki, is the author of a new book on yoga's history and culture called Embrace Yoga's Roots: Courageous Ways to Deepen Your Yoga Practice. This book is a call for all who study yoga to take a deeper look at how we interact with Indian...
read more
Episode 215: Andrea Jain on her new book, “Peace Love Yoga”
Religious Studies professor Andrea Jain is back on the podcast -- this time to talk to Jason about her new book, "Peace Love Yoga: The Politics of Global Spiritualization." Jain's book explores the connection between global spirituality and neoliberalism. While Jain...
read more Episode 200: The Globalization of Yoga with Andrea Jain
On today's episode, I speak to author and religious studies professor Andrea Jain about her book, Selling Yoga: From Counterculture to Pop Culture. Her book is one of the best I've read in terms of tracing the globalization of yoga without oversimplifying it or...
read more
Episode 160: The Science of Stretching (and Strength!) with Jules Mitchell
For our season two finale episode, we’re talking to Las Vegas-based yoga teacher and author Jules Mitchell. We dive deep into yoga biomechanics in this episode and talk about Jules’ new book, which is a comprehensive look at the science of stretching. It's impossible...
read more
Episode 136: Yoga Philosophy for Beginners
In this second episode of our Begin Again series, we talk about what keeps us motivated to practice when yoga is feeling stagnant and Jason offers useful tips for teachers who are faced with the difficult (but rewarding!) task of teaching yoga to beginners. He also...
read more
Episode 132: The Art of the Yoga Sutras
This week's guest, Melissa Townsend is the author of two beautiful books about the Yoga Sutras. Townsend, a long-time yoga student, artist, Sanskrit enthusiast, and psychic, wasn't always enthusiastic about the sutras. But in the same way that psychic visions come to...
read more
Episode 117: Jason’s Favorite (Non-Asana) Yoga Books
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...
read more Summer Series 2018: Is it possible to balance effort and ease?
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...
read more Episode 103: Jason and Andrea Talk Meditation
Why don't you have a seat and stay awhile? If you think meditation is boring, hard, pointless, or too time consuming, this meditation podcast episode is for you. This week, Jason and I discuss everything meditation. We unpack why it's important for yoga students to...
read more
Episode 72: Change Your Day With a Lovingkindness Meditation
Last week, I talked about the science of self-compassion and how self-compassion practice has more favorable outcomes than boosting self-esteem. On this episode, I offer a way to put self-compassion into practice by sharing a 10-minute guided Lovingkindness...
read more
Episode 13: Claire Missingham – Finding Flow and Having Faith
Hello, Hello -- I am so excited to share this week's podcast with you and I can 100% guarantee that this guest has the most beautiful voice/accent of anyone I will interview. My guest is London-based teacher, Claire Missingham. Claire has over 16 years teaching...
read more
Episode 4: Sally Kempton – Ideas, Insights, & Self-Inquiry Practices for Fear
I have a distinct memory of the very first time I meditated. It wasn't my first attempt, rather it was the first time I felt surrender and contentment that I hadn't yet experienced. It was in a decidedly unglamorous setting -- I was sitting in a folding chair in an...
read more