Prabha Sinha - "Lehigh Valley Yoga Festival" - Yoga Teacher, Founder and President of Pratyush Sinha Foundation

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Prabha Sinha, founder of the Pratyush Sinha Foundation and Lehigh Valley Yoga Festival, sits down with J to talk about her journey from India to America and the story behind the foundation and festival she has dedicated her life to. They discuss misconceptions about yoga in the west, cultural differences and universal truths, the death of her son and how it led to her yoga, insights after overcoming a brain tumor, and the heart and soul that goes into making it all happen. This episode is brought to you by Yogalifestyle.com and Karmasoft.

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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.

Matthew Remski - "From Somatic Dominance to Trauma Awareness" - Writer, Cult Survivor, Yoga Activist

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Matthew Remski - "From Somatic Dominance to Trauma Awareness" - Writer, Cult Survivor, Yoga Activist

Matthew Remski and J have a long-standing friendship and dialogue which carries into this talk about the rapid paradigm shift taking place in the yoga world around consent and authority. They discuss Matthew’s recent article profiling victims of sexual assault by Pattabhi Jois, the process that transformed WAWADIA into a consideration of somatic dominance, the line between cult-like and cult, and how we navigate unchartered paths.

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Sarai Harvey-Smith - "Mysore and Beyond" - Senior Yoga Teacher and Mentor, KPJAYI Authorized Level 2

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Sarai Harvey-Smith - "Mysore and Beyond" - Senior Yoga Teacher and Mentor, KPJAYI Authorized Level 2

Sarai Harvey-Smith talks with J about becoming part of the Ashtanga Yoga community and how she is navigating her way in light of the revelations surrounding abuse by Pattabhi Jois. They discuss Sarai’s process of getting into yoga and becoming authorized at KPJAYI, her love of the practice and teaching, the reasons for her gradual transition away from the system, and her position statement for the AY community to heal and move forward.

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Scott Johnson - "Stillpoint" - Husband, Dad, Yoga Teacher, Founder/Director of Stillpoint Yoga London

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Scott Johnson - "Stillpoint" - Husband, Dad, Yoga Teacher, Founder/Director of Stillpoint Yoga London

Scott Johnson, founder of Stillpoint Yoga London, joins J for a continuation of the friendship and conversation that started between them when they met in London a few months earlier. They discuss Scott’s former life as an electrician, the importance of family, the motivations for his yoga and center, his relationship to the Astanga Yoga Tradition and feelings about the current crisis the community is facing. They also talk about alternative spaces.

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Kino MacGregor - "Conflicts and Confluences" - International Yoga Teacher, founder of Miami Life Center and OMstars

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Kino MacGregor - "Conflicts and Confluences" - International Yoga Teacher, founder of Miami Life Center and OMstars

J interviews Kino MacGregor, founder of Miami Life Center and OMstars, about a few of the hot button topics at the forefront of yogaland. In this difficult conversation, they discuss the current situation in the Ashtanga Yoga Community regarding revelations of sexual abuse by Patabhi Jois, recent contract disputes resulting from the sale of Cody to Alo, and Kino’s individual perspective on the mainstream yoga industry.

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Tara Stiles - "Yoga Rebel circa 2011" - Teacher, Author, Fashion Designer, Social-Media Maven, founder of Strala Yoga

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Tara Stiles - "Yoga Rebel circa 2011" - Teacher, Author, Fashion Designer, Social-Media Maven, founder of Strala Yoga

Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga, helps J get over some of his personal baggage regarding the Industrial Yoga Complex by giving him insight into her trajectory and teaching. Tara shares the story of her humble beginnings in a small town, the happenstance that led to a modeling career, the process of coming into yoga as a profession, and the trials and tribulations of having a high profile career. They also explore baggage about money.

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Peter Blackaby - "Intelligent Yoga" - Asana Yoga Teacher, author of Intelligent Yoga, dispeller of mereological fallacy

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Peter Blackaby - "Intelligent Yoga" - Asana Yoga Teacher, author of Intelligent Yoga, dispeller of mereological fallacy

Peter Blackaby, author of Intelligent Yoga, talks with J about the newly revised second edition of his book and the implications it has on our ideas about yoga and ways in which we teach it. They discuss the fundamental premise that no living thing exists in isolation, how addressing pain is more about life than muscles, and the importance of developing attentive discernment and fashioning a healthy context for practice.

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Schuyler Grant - "Kula and Wanderlust" - Teacher, Founder of Kula Yoga Project, Co-creator of Wanderlust Festival

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Schuyler Grant - "Kula and Wanderlust" - Teacher, Founder of Kula Yoga Project, Co-creator of Wanderlust Festival

Schuyler Grant, founder of Kula Yoga Project and co-creator of Wanderlust Festival, communes with J on their shared past in the early NY scene and on all that has happened since. Schuyler tells the story of her unusual trajectory into becoming a teacher, the circumstances and motivations behind becoming a center owner, and the inspiration that led to creating a yoga festival that completely changed the game.

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Ana Forrest and Jose Calarco - "Fierce Medicine" - Pioneer in Yoga, Partner and Producer, Spirit of Ceremony

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Ana Forrest and Jose Calarco - "Fierce Medicine" - Pioneer in Yoga, Partner and Producer, Spirit of Ceremony

Ana Forrest, creatrix of Forrest Yoga, and her partner Jose Calarco, join J for a discussion on their current work and some of the roads that brought them there. Jose fills J in on his role and the current incarnation of the ceremonies they are producing. Ana talks about her early jump into death and back into life, and the progression of her renowned practice through yoga's transition to mainstream, the present day, and tracking right into the mystery.

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Gernot Huber - “Disrupting the Stress Response” - Thailand-based Yoga Teacher, Ecologist, Evolutionary Biologist

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Gernot Huber - “Disrupting the Stress Response” - Thailand-based Yoga Teacher, Ecologist, Evolutionary Biologist

Gernot Huber, founder of Yoga Mind Yoga Body, happened to take a few of J’s live stream classes via a mutual friend and had some constructive feedback and criticism. In this talk, they discuss Gernot’s background in silicon valley, his studies in ecology and evolutionary biology, and his ideas on learning to disrupt the stress response. Ultimately, they engage in a spirited and friendly debate on engaging your edge with mindfulness..

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Danny Paradise - "Evolution of Ashtanga" - International Yoga Teacher, Musician/Songwriter, early-adopter circa 1976

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Danny Paradise - "Evolution of Ashtanga" - International Yoga Teacher, Musician/Songwriter, early-adopter circa 1976

Danny Paradise, renowned teacher and writer/co-producer of Love Will Rescue You, joins J to talk about how things have evolved from his first experiences in 1976 until the present day. They discuss the influences that have informed his teaching and how his practices are designed to show the interrelatedness of different cultures and disciplines. They also touch on the commodification of yoga, celebrity clients, and the Pattabhi Jois scandal.

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Theo Wildcroft - "Post-Lineage Yoga" - Yoga Teacher, Doctoral Researcher, advocate for safe, diverse and inclusive yoga

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Theo Wildcroft - "Post-Lineage Yoga" - Yoga Teacher, Doctoral Researcher, advocate for safe, diverse and inclusive yoga

Theo Wildcroft was kind enough to let J stay with her during a recent trip to England. On their last day together, they sat down to have this conversation about different yoga cultures. They discuss how yoga happens in alternative spaces, distinctions in philosophy that shape a persons teaching, and the challenges we face when trying to forge uncharted paths. They also discuss the thesis she is working on regarding ‘Post-Lineage Yoga.'.

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Andrew Tanner - "Standards Review" - Yoga Alliance Chief Advancement Officer, Standards Review Project Survey

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Andrew Tanner - "Standards Review" - Yoga Alliance Chief Advancement Officer, Standards Review Project Survey

Andrew Tanner, chief ambassador for Yoga Alliance, joins J to discuss the Standards Review Project and the recently released survey. The conversation gets a bit heated as J grapples with his YA status and what he sees as fundamental flaws with both the survey and the organization. Andrew does his best to reassure J that the process YA has embarked on will be open and transparent. In the end, the spirit of friendship holds. 

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Jonathan Sattin - "triyoga" - Lawyer, Meditator/Practitioner, founder of triyoga London

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Jonathan Sattin - "triyoga" - Lawyer, Meditator/Practitioner, founder of triyoga London

Jonathan Sattin, founder of triyoga, sits down with J at the head offices in London to talk about how he went from holding yoga classes in his living room to creating one of the premier destinations for yoga in the UK. They discuss what it takes to build an operational structure that can survive and grow for eighteen years, amassing five locations, 200+ teachers, and the inherent challenges that come when you get that big.

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Roseanne Harvey - "its all yoga, baby" - Writer, co-editor 21st Century Yoga: Culture, Politics and Practice

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Roseanne Harvey - "its all yoga, baby" - Writer, co-editor 21st Century Yoga: Culture, Politics and Practice

Roseanne Harvey, founder of its all yoga, baby and co-editor of 21st Century Yoga: Culture, Politics and Practice, is an old friend of J’s from the blogosphere days who has been away from the yoga world for a time but has recently emerged once again. In this conversation, they talk about the heyday of the internet, that time Roseanne slept in J’s bed, and what is behind her sort-of departure and semi-return to yogaland. They also tackle debt and money.

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Richard Freeman - "Still Looking" - Legendary Yoga Teacher, synthesizer of contemplative traditions

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Richard Freeman - "Still Looking" - Legendary Yoga Teacher, synthesizer of contemplative traditions

Richard Freeman was the person J most wanted to speak with when starting the podcast and his dream is finally realized in this conversation celebrating the 100th episode. They discuss what yoga was like in the late 60’s, how Richard came to study with BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, universal threads that run through contemplative traditions, trends that have emerged, and the importance of remaining curious about the nature of reality.

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Amina Naru - "Yoga in the Criminal Justice System" - Teacher, owner Posh Yoga, project manager Yoga Service Council

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Amina Naru - "Yoga in the Criminal Justice System" - Teacher, owner Posh Yoga, project manager Yoga Service Council

Amina Naru, board member and project manager at the Yoga Service Council, owner of Posh Yoga, talks with J about her work bringing yoga into juvenile detention centers and prisons, and the new Best Practices for Yoga in the Criminal Justice System. They discuss her spiritual name, some of the trials and tribulations that have shaped her journey into yoga, creating community, and the profound gift of shared acceptance and purpose. 

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Tiffany Cruikshank - "Yoga Medicine" - Yoga Teacher, Wellness Expert, Author, founder of Yoga Medicine

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Tiffany Cruikshank - "Yoga Medicine" - Yoga Teacher, Wellness Expert, Author, founder of Yoga Medicine

Tiffany Cruikshank, founder of Yoga Medicine, joins J for a discussion about her early challenges and roots into yoga and holistic healing modalities, and the process of developing her work. Their conversation includes a consideration of changing paradigms, how she incorporates or separates her yoga with her work in sports medicine and orthopedics, her experience of navigating the yoga industry, and fusing eastern and western medicine.

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Maria Kirsten - "Yoga for Grown Ups" - Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, Occupational Therapist

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Maria Kirsten - "Yoga for Grown Ups" - Yoga Teacher, Yoga Therapist, Occupational Therapist

J met Maria Kirsten, founder of Yoga for Grown Ups, through mutual contacts in Japan and they kind of hit it off after discovering they share many common experiences and viewpoints in yoga. In this conversation, they compare notes on teaching and discuss a range of topics including the importance of self-directed mentorship, fostering gradual progressions and relationships over time, and asking the big questions on where it’s all going.

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Rexx Anthony - "Rogue Ashtanga" - Teacher, former center-owner, evolutionary approach to Ashtanga Mysore Instruction

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Rexx Anthony - "Rogue Ashtanga" - Teacher, former center-owner, evolutionary approach to Ashtanga Mysore Instruction

Rexx Anthony, founder of Rogue Ashtanga, wrote a blog post entitled "A Cautionary Tale on Operating Yoga Studios" that caught J’s attention and spurred this conversation. They talk about Rexx’s early adoption of Ashtanga Yoga and how the system has changed over the years. They also discuss the trends and tribulations of managing a yoga center and the personal and professional factors that make up a life in the grassroots yoga world.

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