Mel Russo, native New Yorker and old friend, reminisces with J about the early days and shares an inside take on the closing of Yoga Works and the future of the studio model. They discuss moving west, living in the east-village back when the rents were low, managing and owning a center, having to close shop and take a gig at Yoga Works, why it all fell apart there and what was happening when the pandemic hit, and the choices teachers face.

Nyk Danu, Therapeutic Yoga Teacher and Yin Yoga Teacher Trainer, has been corresponding with J for years and they finally connect to touch base on what’s happening at the grassroots. They discuss Nyk’s history and appetite for learning, hosting your own classes vs teaching at centers, the hardcore nature of simple practice, how different centers are handling the stay-at-home orders, and keeping it together when the world is falling apart,

Derek Sivers, musician, producer, circus performer, entrepreneur, TED speaker, and best known as the founder of CD Baby, talks with J about shifting viewpoints, solving problems, and self expansion. They discuss means for utilizing inspiration, thinking smart instead of strategically, taking control and choosing how we engage technology, creative process as problem solving, expanding ourselves with fun, and intrinsic fascination.

Joe Simek and Alexis Ridge-Simek, co-owners of Dragonfly Yoga, talk with J about their community coming together to get through the shut down. Originally intended to be recorded at a live event to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of their yoga center which had to be postponed, they discuss how things were going before the pandemic, steps they took to get ahead of the stay home orders, and the heart and soul that is holding it all together.

Justine Wiltshire Cohen and Michael Ponte, owner and manager at Down Under Yoga School of Yoga in Boston, talk with J about what how things have been going since Justine was last on the show three years ago and what they are doing to meat the challenge of the pandemic crisis. They discuss Down Under’s transition to making teachers employees, efforts they are making to survive the shut down, and core principles that guide their choices.

Ryan Cunningham, co-host of Unrolled Podcast, returns to touch base on what has happened since their last visit and schools J on gender and identity. They discuss what happened after Ryan went from being a yoga center manager to owner, getting licensed as a massage therapist, being more public about expressing their non-binary viewpoint, and why choosing pronouns has deeper implications for justice and human consciousness.

Cecily Milne, founder of Yoga Detour, talks with J about the changing paradigm of yoga practice in the west and the ways in which she has grown and evolved alongside the changing conversation. They discuss her departure from Ashtanga Yoga and exploration of other movement modalities, the influences that have shaped her perspective, classifications and meeting expectations, and moving through the discomfort.

Diane Paylor, author of Yin Yoga: Essential Poses and Sequences for Balanced Energy, participated in J’s Weekly Teachers Class last year and they re-connect in this intimate conversation about struggles and strengths. They discuss Diane’s mom’s struggle with cancer, her former life as a writer for Sassy magazine, finding yourself through yoga, focusing on strengths instead of struggles, and delving into truth with courage.

Rob Walker, author of the The New Yoga: From Cults and Dogma to Science and Sanity, talks with J about taking a hard look at critical questions and proposing common-sense yoga for the future. They discuss how yoga classes have recently changed, the movement to make yoga classes safer and more inclusive by debunking myths and telling a more accurate history, drawing upon movement science, and six principles that add clarity.

Michael Hayes, founder of Buddha Body Yoga and an early pioneer in bringing yoga to larger bodies, talks with J about his early NY roots and the evolving conversation around how to make yoga more inclusive. They discuss Michael’s early studies in Gurdjieff and massage therapy, the process of discovering yoga that worked for him, some of the tools he uses, and the passion that fuels and sustains a lifelong inquiry into yoga.

Kaya Mindlin, founder of Supreme Release Yoga, was referred to J as someone who would speak candidly with him about difficult topics and she did not disappoint. They discuss the meaning of Parampara, misinformed mindsets that modern approaches to yoga propagate, Vedic astrology and Ayurveda, guidance on how to choose teachers, and the truth that we lack nothing and Yoga can not give you anything,

Nischala Joy Devi, author of Meditation in the Yoga Tradition and The Secret Power of Yoga, returns to offer J a yogic perspective on meditation and a practical application of Patañjali’s Yogasūtras. She discusses the concept of “dynamic stillness,” the difference between consciousness and mind, residing in the heart instead of controlling mind, defining Dharana-Dhyana-Samadhi, and nurturing a sustained steady rhythm and a dedicated heart.

Ranju Roy and Dave Charlton, coauthors of Embodying the Yoga Sutra: Support, Direction, Space, join J to discuss a snapshot of their current understanding of yoga through a consideration of Patañjali’s Yogasūtras and the teachings of TKV Desikachar. They talk about how they decided on eighteen sutras, yoga as relationship, the organizing principles of support-direction-space, and practical applications to facilitate positive change.

Haley Laughter, founder of Hozho Total Wellness, talks with J about the difficulties which affect Native Americans experiencing historical trauma, and incorporating indigenous teachings into yoga practice. They discuss the “assimilation” of Haley’s parents and the effects on her early life, giving up the “american dream” to move closer to her Navajo roots, connections between yoga, indigenous philosophy, and our existence on the planet.

Colleen Boyd, owner of downtown desert yoga in Las Cruces NM, answered J’s call for alternative event spaces and it led to this conversation about the evolution of modern yoga practice and industry. They discuss the early yoga scene in Las Cruces, life turns that shape our directions, becoming a teacher and center owner, incorporating new information, and the role we play in shaping yoga for future generations by becoming part of the conversation.

Greg Peterson, creator of The Urban Farm and host of The Urban Farm Podcast, joins J to talk about creating a more sustainable future by becoming more aware of where your food comes from and learning how to grow your own. Greg’s wife is a yoga teacher who listens to the show and J has been thinking about food and it lead to this conversation about Greg’s entrepreneurial spirit and creating The Urban Farm community.

Coby Kozlowski, author of One Degree Revolution, has run into J in a hallway twice over the years and they finally connect for this conversation on using whatever tools you can to hold integrity and fulfill a sense of purpose. They discuss Coby’s work as a coach as well as a yoga teacher, developing Kripalu Vinyasa and getting on the Yoga Journal circuit, returning back to work after a hiatus, and getting clear about how we want to move through the world.

Tatiana Mesar, founder of Zen Yoga Berlin, hosted J for a tour event and the two connected for this conversation on her Croatian roots, like-minded viewpoint, and parallel paths in the yoga world. They discuss the yoga scene in Croatia, going from Transcendental Meditation to rave parties, studying classical flute and the NY downtown music scene, punk rock and yoga, the evolution of yoga industry, the Axis Syllabus, and universal threads of yoga..

Nikki Vilella, senior teacher and co-owner at NYC's Kula Yoga Project, speaks for herself after being mentioned on the show regarding touch and consent in yoga classes. They reminisce about the early days and then get into a candid discussion on teacher training, deep adjustments and the changing narrative around touch and consent, ethics and legislation, the survival of independent yoga centers, finding community. and making it work.

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