Leadership and Yoga Rey Cardenas on the Inner Work of Yoga: Anthroposophy, Consciousness, Karma & Religion
Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an interview with Rey Cardenas—a yoga teacher, former professional poker player, co-owner of Practice Yoga Austin, and deep thinker—for a wide-ranging conversation that flows from the intensity of professional poker to the mysteries of human consciousness. We talk about how life can feel like a game, how what we focus on shapes us, and how yoga shifted from the background of Rey’s life into a central practice. He shares why he sees yoga as a karmic amplifier, his reflections on alcohol and actual freedom, and how his beliefs have evolved over time. We dive into Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner, and big questions about time, consciousness, and spirituality. We talk harmonizing opposites, developing true concentration, and the role dreams play in accessing deeper truths. We also touch on ancient Greece, 7-year life cycles, relationships, his philosophy on teaching yoga, and what makes a truly exceptional leader. It’s a deep, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation—hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Find Rey on instagram:
Visit and Train at Practice Yoga in Austin:
https://practiceyogaaustin.com/
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Time stamps:
00:00 Intro
01:00 The real deal
03:30 Professional poker, is life a game?
7:50 You get shaped by what you pay attention to: becoming cold
11:50 When yoga comes out of the background and into focus
14:00 The “game” of yoga
15:00 Yoga is a karmic amplifier
17:15 Alcohol and different concepts of freedom.
20:20 What Rey believes now
21:50 Anthroposophy and Steiner: the mysteries of time and the evolving human consciousness and religion, spirituality
26:20 Harmonizing opposites
30:40 Concentration
35:00 Exact clairvoyance and revelations in dreams
36:50 Personalities emerging in ancient Greece
39:15 How can we follow our dreams and create our reality?
41:20 7 year cycles
47:00 Relationship
50:00 Rey’s yoga teaching philosophy
57:30 What makes an exceptional leader?
58:50 Billboard message