Keen on Yoga Podcast

Daniel presents ancient texts for modern times. He is the author of The Truth of Yoga, a comprehensive guide to the history of practice. His approach combines scholarly knowledge with humour and insight, making yoga philosophy accessible and relevant to practitioners today. Daniel teaches courses online, at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, around the UK and internationally. He also offers private tutoring. Drawing on a master’s degree from SOAS (University of London), and two decades of experience, he aims to help students explore their own path. He supplements his teaching with work as an editor. In this episode Daniel talks to Adam about: Sanatarma Dharma The Vedas Upanishads Shruti Family Vedas Rig veda The quest for satisfaction in the outside world  Origins of Hinduism Aryans Brahma and Brahmins Advaita vedanta Darshanas Sadhus Vaishnavism Shivaism  The ultimate oneness Dualism Patanjali’s yoga sutras Ashtanga yoga where did it come from The eight limbs as a way to remove suffering One pointed focus Yamas and niyamas Use of asana  Find Daniel: Website: https://www.danielsimpson.info/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielcsimpson/ If you enjoy the Keen on Yoga Podcast and would like to support us you can share this post, give us a review on Apple or Spotify or make a donation .  We appreciate your help to us keep creating free content for all.

Kate O’Donnell is the author of three Ayurvedic Cookbooks, including The Everyday Ayurveda Guide to Self-Care, The Everyday Ayurveda Cookbook: A Seasonal Guide to Eating and Living Well and Everyday Ayurvedic Cooking for a Calm, Clear Mind: 100 Sattvic Recipes. She is a nationally certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and the founder of the Ayurvedic Living Institute. An authorized Ashtanga yoga instructor, she teaches yoga in Boston and Portland, Maine, and still travels to India annually for study.   Kate began yoga by accident in South India at age 20. More than a dozen extended trips to India and twenty years studying the wisdom traditions of the sub-continent support Kate’s understanding of Ayurveda and Yoga. After years of dedication to the Ashtanga system, Kate has experienced great benefit from this practice and was authorized by her teacher Sharath Jois to teach the Primary and Intermediate series of Ashtanga yoga. She teaches week-long mysore immersions annually in Portland ME, Boston, and abroad. Kate also specializes in Ayurvedic education, cooking skills, and cleansing programs, offering on-line programs, residential immersions and trainings, and individual consultations.  Her Ayurveda and yoga offerings aim to help others come closer to their true nature. Find Kate: Website: https://www.kateodonnell.yoga/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateodonnell.ayurveda/

Gregor is the international author of eight textbooks covering all eight limbs of yoga. He is a mystic and a profuse blog writer covering topics on yoga and beyond. He travels the globe educating with passion, humour, insight and wisdom. Gregor Maehle began his practice of Raja Yoga in 1978 and added Hatha Yoga a few years later. In the mid-1980s he commenced annual travels to India, where he studied with various yogic and tantric masters, traditional Indian sadhus and ascetics. After practising with BKS Iyengar he spent fourteen months in Mysuru, and in 1997 was authorised to teach Ashtanga Yoga by K. Pattabhi Jois. In India Gregor also received eight months of mostly one-on-one instruction in scripture and the higher limbs of Yoga through B.N.S. Iyengar, a student of T. Krishnamacharya. He also studied Sanskrit under Professor Narayanachar and Dr Chandrasekhar. He lived for several years as a recluse, studying Sanskrit and yogic scripture and practising yogic techniques. This is the third time Gregor joins Adam, this time talking about his latest book How To Find Your Life’s Diving Purpose.  Including the talking points below. Human aspects of the divine Bhakti yoga within asana Surrendering to the diving through practice, asana, pranayama, meditation Is concentration devotion? Co-creating with the divine what aspect you were here to express Importance of your Swah dharma - your own dharma Pancha kosha - teaching of the 5 layers, cleansing of impact of past traumas on your body, breath and mind Objective and objectless samadhi Shiva pure consciousness, eternal awareness Shakti female aspect of the divine What is your role in the play & how far can you go with your gift? Life is the child of the divine The divine is here and now How you act in this world matters Everything you see is the crystallised body of God Indigenous practices, walkabouts Vijnanamaya kasha Your duty in society, giving to the world Self love as a pure spiritual state Accepting that state within you We are all children of the divine   Find Gregor: Instagram: @gregor.maehle Website: https://8limbs.com/about/gregor-maehle/ If you enjoy the Keen on Yoga Podcast and would like to support us you can share this post, give us a review on Apple or Spotify or make a donation .  We appreciate your help to us keep creating free content for all.      

This is the second time Adam has hosted Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor on the Keen on Yoga Podcast.  In this episode they focus the discussion on the Bhagavad Gita.  Richard & Mary have been studying and practicing yoga since the early 1970s and were some of the very first students to discover the Ashtanga yoga method. Together they co-founded the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, have produced several highly regarded yoga audio and video recordings, as well as authoring several books, both together and individually. Their latest title, When Love Comes to Light, is a guide to the Bhagavad Gita and interweaves insight into how these classic teachings are relevant for modern readers struggling with what it means to live responsibly in challenging times. In this talk with Adam they cover such topics from the book as   Sounds of the battleground We’re all in this together There is more to things than the conflict we feel Identification with the body Action gives information Ashtanga yoga giving the embodied experience of karma Tending to the mind Identification with the mind The question of Renunciation Using our practice for the good of the world Your responsibility Right attitude and duty What is our dharma Action without attachment to fruits Devotion Practice as sacrifice Expectations Children and practice Motivation You can find Richard and Mary on Instagram @ freemantayloryoga or on their website www.richardfreemanyoga.com If you enjoy the Keen on Yoga Podcast and would like to support us you can share this post, give us a review on Apple or Spotify or make a donation .  We appreciate your help to us keep creating free content for all.

Deepika Mehta has been on the forefront of Yoga, fitness and wellness in India since 2001. She is a Level 2 Authorised Ashtanga Yoga Teacher and a mom to her daugther Devi Tara. Because Deepika used Yoga to heal herself from an accident she had several years ago, she believes deeply in the power of the healing process of the practice. Deepika is known for her motivational and inspirational style of teaching, believing that anyone can achieve what they want if they put their mind to it. It’s hard to fit all her achievements into one write up. She has had several television shows of her own like Yoga City on NDTV Good Times, Tata Sky Active Fit and Biggest Loser. She has been featured in various publications in India including Vogue, India Today, Elle Magazine etc.Been on the cover of India Today. In addition, she was awarded Yoga Expert of the Year by Vogue India in 2018 and been in the Wellness Powerlist, 2021 in Hello Magazine, India. Some of India’s top celebrities and actors including Priyanka Chopra, Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone have been taught by Deepika.   She has given a Ted Talk at the UN Headquaters in NYC. Deepika loves to incorporate dance and various other forms of movement and healing practices into her teaching mix. She now lives in Bali with her husband Mark Robberds and daughter Devi. Instagram:  @deepikamehtayoga Website deepikamehtayoga.com If you enjoy the Keen on Yoga Podcast and would like to support us you can share this post, give us a review on Apple or Spotify or make a donation .  We appreciate your help to us keep creating free content for all.    

Andrea Pennington is an integrative medicine doctor, acupuncturist, TEDx speaker and author of several books including I Love You, Me! and The Orgasm Prescription for Women. She specializes in self-love, mindfulness and authentic self-expression. She is nationally recognized as an expert in meditation, resilience and positive psychology with multiple appearances on Oprah, Dr. Oz, CNN, The Today Show and LUXE-TV. Andrea has also been a luxury lifestyle, beauty and wellbeing reporter and a proud TV host and producer, including her role as Medical Director and Spokesperson for Discovery Health Channel. She is the author and contributor to 10 books including #1 bestseller, The Orgasm Prescription for Women, Time to Rise, How to Liberate and Love Your Authentic Self, Daily Compassion Meditation, The Pennington Plan : 5 Simple Steps for Achieving Vibrant Health, Emotional Wellbeing and Spiritual Growth and the Pennington Plan For Weight Success. She helps people create and enjoy a life filled with passion, purpose and ageless vitality by eliminating the cause(s) of their ‘dis-ease’ and creating a personalized lifestyle plan that promotes health, prevents disease, increases happiness and slows aging. Her specialty is taking people from drowning in tragedy to fulfilling their destiny.  Her goal is to get to the root cause of their condition and set them on the road toward living a full life which is in alignment with their values and ideals.  www.AndreaPennington.com IG: @drandreapennington If you enjoy the Keen on Yoga Podcast and would like to support us you can share this post, give us a review on Apple or Spotify or make a donation .  We appreciate your help to us keep creating free content for all.    

Govinda Kai has studied and dedicated himself to martial arts, meditative disciplines and yoga for over 20 years. At the age of 30, Govinda discovered the practice of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga and immediately fell in love with the practice. He is one of the select individuals in the world who are certified to teach the Ashtanga Yoga Method by its founder, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. In 1995, Govinda made his first trip to Mysore, India to practice with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. From 1995 to 2015, Govinda made over 20 trips to Mysore to practice Ashtanga, with each trip lasting an average of 3-4 months. He is of Japanese-American descent, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. From a very young age, Govinda took a passionate interest in meditation, yoga and spiritual philosophy. Govinda’s father, Edward Yamaguchi, was a highly respected practitioner and teacher of martial arts (he held a high ranking in both Judo and Aikido) and like Govinda, nurtured a strong attraction to spirituality and philosophy from a very young age. Govinda began the practice of martial arts while in high school and began yoga, meditation, and devotional chanting at age 18, studying with respected teachers such as Swami Muktananda and Sogyal Rimpoche. Govinda’s father died of colon cancer at the age of 49 years old, when Govinda was only 16. The passing of his father affected Govinda deeply and inspired him to begin reading books on spirituality and meditation at the age of 16. After university, Govinda considered becoming a Buddhist monk, but was advised by his teacher Sogyal Rimpoche to enter into a more worldly career. Thus, Govinda became a practicing professional in the area of real estate, all the while still devoting much of his time to spiritual practice. He is currently teaching in Bellingham, Washington state and you can find him at @govindakai If you enjoy the Keen on Yoga Podcast and would like to support us you can share this post, give us a review on Apple or Spotify or make a donation .  We appreciate your help to us keep creating free content for all.  

This is the second time that Taylor has been on the Keen on Yoga Podcast, this time talking about the role of the yoga teacher. Taylor believes that Ashtanga yoga is for everyone and that it can be tailored to fit each individual’s needs. He encourages others to find a practice they can commit to and make it a part of their daily routine. After years of practice, he is amazed how it continues to teach him so much about life. Taylor teaches daily Mysore classes at Ashtanga Yoga Columbus and offers workshops around the world. He is also the author of A Way From Darkness and director of the Trini Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the life-changing practice of Ashtanga with those suffering from addiction. He continues to inspire others through his story of personal transformation and accessible approach to the practice. To learn more about Taylor’s story and life’s work, please visit www.awayfromdarkness.com and www.trinifoundation.org. Follow Keen on Yoga Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keen_on_yoga/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_keen_ashtanga/ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf Support Us: https://keenonyoga.com/donate/ Website: https://keenonyoga.com/  

The journey started in the late 60’s, Krishna Das met spiritual seeker Ram Dass. He traveled across the country with Ram Dass as his student. And was captivated by the stories of his recent trip to India where he had met the legendary guru Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji.  Finally, following his heart, in August 1970, Krishna Das left behind his dreams of being a rock star and made his way to meet this remarkable Being. Basking in the love of Maharaj-ji in the three years that followed, KD’s heart was drawn to the practice of Bhakthi Yoga – the yoga of devotion and after two and a half years with Maharaj-ji, he returned to USA – alas, six months after his return, word came that Maharaj-ji had died. “I will sing for you in the west” he had promised his beloved Guru in his own heart. This did not come easily. If you listen to KD in one of his many workshops or read his book ‘Chants of a Life Time’ you will know that it took almost 20 years for KD to sing with groups of people around the USA. In his book Chants of a life time, KD writes about his journey over all the years. If you would like to know more straight from Krishna Das himself, we invite you to read his book. KD TODAY In 1994, he started leading chant at Jivamukti Yoga Center, NYC. Over the years, he continued chanting, developing his signature style, fusing traditional kirtan of the east with western harmonic and rhythmic sensibilities. The audiences have been ever growing. With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das – known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD, has been called yoga’s “rock star.”  He has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time. KD now travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and wonderful stories of his life, of Maharaji-ji, of his life on the Path, and discusses bringing chanting into our lives through retreats and workshops. To date, KD has released 16 well received albums, including Live Ananda (released January 2012)  that was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category. In February 2013, Krishna Das performed at the Grammy awards in Los Angeles, CA streamed online to millions of viewers. The award-winning film ‘One Track Heart: The Story of Krishna Das’ has been in over 100 US cities, over 10 countries worldwide and is available on DVD everywhere. In 2014 the Kirtan Wallah Foundation was formed. This 501c3 is dedicated to spreading the teachings of KD’s guru and spiritual teacher, Neem Karoli Baba, Lovingly called Maharjji, his teachings can be summed up by his saying: ‘Love Everyone. Serve Everyone. Remember God” To visit the website click here. IG: @krishnadasmusic YouTube: Krishna Das Music

From the very young age of 13, Doug Swenson began his study of yoga in 1964. He has studied and practiced with many amazing teachers including Ernest Wood, the highly respected British Yoga Master, theosophist, and Sanskrit scholar. Doug’s other mentors include Pattabhi Jois, Ramanand Patel, BKS Iyengar and Swami Satchidananda. Many of Doug’s students have become highly celebrated teachers, including his younger brother, David Swenson. Doug is a master yoga practitioner, philosopher, poet and dedicated health advocate. He has incorporated influences from several different yoga systems along with his passion for cross-training, elevated nutrition and healthy lifestyle. Over the years he has authored four books and 23 videos on Amazon. The book list includes: Yoga Helps, Power Yoga for Dummies, Mastering the Secrets of Yoga Flow, and Pioneering Vinyasa Yoga. His educational videos, for all levels of practice, include topics of Yoga practice and philosophy, enhanced nutrition, and cross-training between challenging and more restorative yoga styles.  Doug’s Sadhana Yoga Chi is a holistic balance between learning and teaching, power and softness, intellect and fitness.  The goals of Sadhana Yoga are achieved by striving to create a body of enhanced health and fitness, a mind with pure clarity, true intellect and focus, all woven together with a heart filled with peace and harmony. Sadhana Yoga Chi does not restrict your intelligence, or put limits on expanding your knowledge. Instead, we encourage the freedom to study and practice positive aspects of other different holistic techniques. This includes other systems of yoga and alternate body and mind expansion concepts. Doug is one of the original yoga teachers in the West and has quietly been living as a yogi for decades.  You can find him on his website