Age Less / Live More

Just to mix things up a little at The Yoga Talk Show, this week, Lucas will lead you through a guided yoga breathing exercises called, Box Breathing. Box breathing is an easy-to-learn and highly effective practice that you’ll feel benefits from immediately.   Listen & Learn: How to slow your heart rate How to increase your heart rate variability How to stimulate your parasympathetic nervous system How to encourage alpha brain wave states How to reduce stress hormones and find stillness   And all this from a simple breathing practice!   References from the show: Basic pranayama mudra (see hand position below) Thanks to our sponsors!   www.PlankDesigns.com  

As a yoga student, you’ve no-doubt heard of pranayama (yogic breathing practices), but you’ve probably had very little experience practicing it. Yoga breath work is mostly a “lost art” today partly due to the fears and myths that surround the practice. The typical advice from teachers is that pranayama can only be learned after years of asana practice and then you must learn from a master - but is there any truth to that? Probably not.  Breathing practices can serve as a very comfy bridge between asana practice and seated meditation, and for aspiring students, it’s a shame to to miss this bridge. On this week’s Yoga Talk Show, record-holding free diver, Sara Campbell, joins us to share her experiences with breath-holding, breathing techniques and benefits. Sara Campbell is the founder of, Discover Your Depths, a training program and philosophy that uses yoga, meditation and freediving to help people achieve personal transformation in all areas of their lives. Sara discovered yoga and meditation over a decade ago when her own health was suffering, and just a few years later achieved a record of 90 meter free dive on just one breath of air. Sara teaches yoga, meditation, breath-work and free diving. In this Show, You'll learn: What the “dive reflex” is and how it impacts our breath & body  How safe and/or dangerous is it to reduce breathing? The real vs perceived risks of pranayama (on land)  How breathing can lead to personal and even spiritual experiences    Links & References from the Show: www.discoveryourdepths.com   Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Thanks to our sponsors: www.Onzie.com   

Yoga teaching was dominated by men until Russian-born, Indra Devi, came to Los Angeles in 1947 and quietly changed the direction of modern yoga forever. Devi was not only the first woman to break through the gender barrier, she was also the first western woman to study and teach in India with Krishnamacharya, a modern master whose students spread yoga throughout the world. On this week’s Yoga Talk Show, writer and researcher, Michelle Goldberg, shares highlights from her newest book all about the exceptional life of Indra Devi who is affectionately referred to as the grandmother of modern yoga.  Michelle Goldberg is an author and senior contributing writer for The Nation and her work has appeared in Salon.com, The New Yorker, The New York Times Book Review, Glamour, Rolling Stone,  New York, The Guardian (UK) and The New Republic.  Her books include: Kingdom Coming: The Rise of Christian Nationalism, The Means of Reproduction: Sex, Power and the Future of the World, and her newest title, The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Life of Indra Devi, the Woman Who Helped Bring Yoga to the West   In this Show, You'll learn: How a Russian-born woman became a leading voice for yoga in the West during a time when Indian men were considered the authorities on yoga The peculiar India-Los Angeles connection in most modern yoga What it meant to be a yoga teacher over 50 years ago Why modern yoga is much “younger” than most people believe   Links & References from the Show: www.MichelleGoldberg.net     Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com

Environmental toxins, genetically modified food, chronic stress, and the rise in autoimmune conditions have all contributed to an explosion of thyroid problems. Dr. Will Cole joins Lucas on this week’s Yoga Talk Show to explore thyroid health, how you can get tested, treatment options, and the importance of your microbiome.  Dr. William Cole D.C, graduated from Southern California University of Health Sciences in Los Angeles, California. He has his post doctorate education and training in Functional Medicine and Clinical Nutrition. Dr. Cole consults in the Pittsburgh area and phone or webcam consultations for people around the world. He specializes in clinically investigating  underlying factors and customizing health programs for chronic conditions such as thyroid issues, autoimmune, hormonal dysfunctions, digestive disorders, diabetes, heart disease and fibromyalgia. Dr. Cole has been featured numerous times on Pittsburgh news affiliates WTAE-TV, KDKA-TV and WPGH-FOX. He is a health writer for international publications and lectures nationally. In this Show, You'll learn: Why there is a rise in thyroid problems Warning signs to look out for, and how to get yourself tested  To what extent it is possible to improve thyroid function with natural medicine What you can start doing right away to start nursing your body back to health   Links & References from the Show: www.drwillcole.com  Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com

People use the term "eat clean" in different ways, but what does a healthy diet entail? One of the biggest challenges many people face is reducing their sugar intake. Sugar in all its forms, not just the refined white crystals, is so difficult to avoid, so addictive, and so harmful to our health. In this week’s episode, Lucas Rockwood and Tosca Reno talk about how to identify “food” that is harmful for you, how to pull yourself off of sugar and beat the cravings. Tosca is the New York Times best-selling author of Your Best Body Now and the Eat-Clean Diet® series, and The Start Here Diet, selling more than two million copies globally. Tosca is the pioneer of the Eat-Clean Movement and one of North America’s most renowned health and wellness experts leading the pack in the battle against obesity.   Tosca is also a popular guest on numerous national television, radio and web programs, including Dr. Oz, Good Morning America, The Doctors, Steven and Chris, The Early Show on CBS, and Fox and Friends. She appears regularly as a Lifechanger on the entertainment news program Extra.   Her Gemini award-winning reality show Tosca: Flexing at 49, is now featured on Canada’s Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).   In this Show, You'll learn:   What it really means to “eat clean” How you can quit sugar without the cravings To what extent a fruit-only diet is healthy, especially if you have a sweet tooth Which micro nutrients we should be sneaking into our diet   Links & References from the Show: www.toscareno.com     Got questions?   Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com   Visit us on: www.YogaBody.com www.facebook.com/Yogabody.Naturals   www.instagram.com/yogabodyfitness

Over-the-counter drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen are cheap, easy to obtain and provide instant pain relief - but they are more of a coverup than a cure. For these reasons, it’s no surprise that yoga students often look toward natural remedies first, and to help you with this area of study, Susun Weed joins this week’s Yoga Talk Show to share her wisdom about herbal medicine with a specific slant toward yoga students.  Susun Weed began studying herbal medicine in 1965 and wrote her first book, Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year (now in its 29th printing) in 1985 followed by a series of books including: Healing Wise, New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way, Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way, and Down There: Sexual and Reproductive Health the Wise Woman Way. Susun Weed is a contributor to the Routledge International Encyclopedia of Women's Studies, peer-reviewed journals, and popular magazines, including a regular column in Sagewoman. Susun appears on many television and radio shows, including National Public Radio and NBC News. In this Show, You'll learn: What types of herbs help with sore muscles, sore joints, and connective tissues Which kind of teas and infusions are the most beneficial for you Whether plants can help with nervous system health and nervous system training Coffee and cannabis: friend or foe?    Links & References from the Show: www.WiseWomanMentor.com    Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com Visit us on: www.YogaBody.com www.facebook.com/Yogabody.Naturals www.instagram.com/yogabodyfitness  

Ayurveda, often referred to as traditional Indian medicine, offers us a truly holistic look at health and wellness. From understanding your own personal constitution to the food you eat and the energies impacting you continuously, Ayurveda is truly a perfect pairing for yoga-minded students. My guest today is, Ananta Ripa Ajmera, founder of "Whole Yoga & Ayurveda" a health practice using Ayurveda Health Consultations, Private Yoga Classes, and workshop series to help clients transform. Ananta is a certified yoga teacher, Ayurvedic Health Practitioner, and a graduate from NYU Stern Business School. You may have seen her writing on ElephantJournal, MindBodyGreen, CureJoy.com, Vivid Life, DoYouYoga.com, ABCNews.com, and LIVESTRONG.com.   In this Show, You'll learn: What is Ayurveda, and why is it of interest to yoga students The elemental energies at play in our world, bodies and lives Quick tips to getting started with Ayurvedic principles to your life Tri-doshic or sattvic foods and activities Strengths and drawbacks of practicing Ayurveda Links & References from the Show: Ananta’s site: www.wholeyoga-ayurveda.com  Online dosha test: http://doshaquiz.chopra.com/   Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com   Visit us on: www.YogaBody.com www.facebook.com/Yogabody.Naturals www.instagram.com/yogabodyfitness

Everyone from trainers to medical doctors is touting the benefits of lifting, not just for cosmetic reasons, but for metabolic health, hormonal health, bone density, and more. Nia Shanks joins to Lucas on the Yoga Talk Show to share her experiences with weightlifting, and the impact that continuous exercise can have on your overall well-being.   Nia Shanks is a coach, health and fitness writer, and founder of "Lift Like a Girl" website and popular podcast. She is busting the myth that women can’t develop strong bodies in a healthy way and she wants them to embrace who they are and become even stronger, more awesome versions of themselves.   Nia has a degree in Exercise Physiology and has written for and been featured in: Burn the Fat Blog, Tribe Sports, Breaking Muscle, Experience Life Magazine, EliteFTS, Muscle and Strength, Contributor to TNation, Beautifully Hardcore, BodyBuilding.com, and more.   In this Show, You'll learn: The benefits of weight training for women (and men) Why injuries are so common in lifting and how to avoid them Gettings started 101 3 resistance training exercises to start now   Links & References from the Show: www.LiftLikeaGirl.com   Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com   Visit us on: www.YogaBody.com www.facebook.com/Yogabody.Naturals www.instagram.com/yogabodyfitness

Poor sleep quality has reached critical mass, and the problem seems to be getting worse with our modern lifestyles. Whether it’s stress, anxiety or diet-related, millions are struggling each night. In an effort to improve your sleep, Dan Pardi shares his professional work experience and research into insomnia and narcolepsy, and the crucial role of sleep quality and good health.  Dan is a health researcher, educator and facilitator. Early in his career, he served as a Division 1 Strength and Conditioning Coach where he designed year-round training protocols for 13 different athletic teams. More recently, Dan developed the Loop Model to Sustain Health Behaviors that help people live a healthy lifestyle in our modern world. Dan  does research with the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department at Stanford, and the Departments of Neurology and Endocrinology at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Dan works with Naval Special Warfare to help elite fighters maintain vigilant performance in both combat and non-combat conditions. His current research looks at how sleep influences decision making.   In this Show, You'll learn: The underlying causes behind insomnia How good sleep (or lack thereof) can impact your health Quick remedies you can implement to improve the quality of your sleep High tech solutions & sleep hacking - does it work?    Links & References from the Show: www.dansplan.com   Got questions? Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com   http://YogaBody.com   https://www.facebook.com/Yogabody.Naturals  http://instagram.com/yogabodyfitness

Running and injuries go hand-in-hand, but it’s such a fundamental, functional movement practice - and so good for you - there must be a way to spend your “life on the run.” On this week’s Yoga Talk Show, Lucas interviews, Bart Yasso, about the benefits and physical challenges of a life spent running across the world (literally).   Yasso joined Runner's World in 1987 to develop the "Runner's World Race Sponsorship Program," creating a vehicle for Runner's World to work with over 7,000 races representing 4 million runners per year. Inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions.   Yasso also invented the Yasso 800s, a marathon-training schedule used by thousands around the world. He is one of the few people to have completed races on all seven continents from the Antarctica marathon to the Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon.   In 1987, Yasso won the U.S. National Biathlon Long Course Championship and won the Smoky Mountain Marathon in 1998. He has also completed the Ironman five times and the Badwater 146 through Death Valley.   He has also cycled, unsupported and by himself, across the country twice. In this Show, You'll learn: ✓The benefits and physical challenges of competitive running ✓ What its like to dedicate your life on the road racing ✓ Whether the minimal footwear and barefoot running movement makes sense ✓ What foods you should be eating when doing a ultra-running event Links & References from the Show:   www.BartYasso.com   Got questions?   Write to us: podcast@yogabody.com   http://YogaBody.com   https://www.facebook.com/Yogabody.Naturals     http://instagram.com/yogabodyfitness