Accessible Yoga Podcast

NISCHALA JOY DEVI is a masterful teacher and healer. For many years she has been highly respected as an international advocate for her innovative way of expressing Yoga and its subtle uses for spiritual growth and complete healing. Her dynamic delivery and deep inner conviction empower each individual, allowing the teachings to expand beyond boundaries and limitations of any one tradition enabling her to touch people’s hearts.  She was graced to spend over 25 years as a monastic disciple with the world-renowned Yogiraj Sri Swami Satchidanandaji, receiving his direct guidance and teachings. She also was blessed with teachings from great Yoga masters in US, India and worldwide. Originally trained in Western medicine, she began to blend western medicine with Yoga, offered her expertise in developing the yoga portion of The Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease, and co-founded the award-winning Commonweal Cancer Help Program. Her book “The Healing Path of Yoga,” and her Abundant WellBeing Audio Series expresses these teachings.  With her knowledge of yoga and her experience in assisting those with life-threatening diseases (particularly people with heart disease and cancer), she created Yoga of the Heart®, a training and certification program for Yoga teachers and health professionals designed to adapt Yoga practices to the special needs of that population.She is now dedicated to bringing the Feminine back into spirituality and the scriptures, in her book, The Secret Power of Yoga, a woman’s guide to the heart and spirit of the Yoga Sutras and Secret Power of Yoga Audiobook Nautilus Book Silver Award Winner! Understanding the need for more love and compassion in today’s world, The Namaste Effect: Expressing Universal Love through the Chakras, her most recent book, explores a heart-centered way of living through the mystical chakras. In this episode: Jivana talks about Nischala being one of his first teachers Nischala created the yoga portion of the Dean Ornish Heart Disease Reversal Program, which was the first to integrate yoga in the west.  Nischala’s four books: The Healing Path of Yoga The Namaste Effect Meditation in the Yoga Tradition The Secret Power of Yoga - Revised Edition comes out May 2022 Nischala discussed founding the IAYT - International Association of Yoga Therapists Her revised edition of The Secret Power of Yoga - a translation of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali She recently translated the 3rd and 4th Pada (chapters) which are usually not studied because they’re very esoteric She discussed Pada 3, which focused on siddhis (powers) The fourth chapter is the Kaivalya Pada, which is the chapter on Isolation She discusses her work in yoga therapy for people with heart disease and cancer

This episode is a replay of a conversation between Jivana Heyman and Octavia Raheem on Jivana's podcast, Yoga Revolution. This week’s guest, Octavia Raheem, teaches us to slow down, prioritize rest, and honor our varied human experiences. Octavia is a mother, author of "Gather," yoga teacher, and founder of Starshine & Clay Online Yoga and Meditation Studio for Black Women and Women of Color. A deep listener and truth teller, Octavia is a gatherer and space holder for rest and awakening. As a teacher and leader she has the skill of hearing beneath the surface for what isn’t being said, yet needs to. Octavia has more than 15 years of experience and nearly 10,000 hours of leading classes, immersions, and trainings. She guides us toward resonance and connection even when the truths we witness, hear, and encounter vary from our own. Her conversation with Jivana touches on how these truths arise in today’s world, as well as what it means to practice activism as a form of yoga, the importance of mindful space holding and compassionate language, and how simply being is perhaps the most important practice of all.   Order Octavia's new book "Pause, Rest, Be" Learn more about Octavia. Follow Octavia's inspirational Instagram. 

In episode 52, Amber interviews Maya Breuer, yoga teacher, community activist, and Yoga Alliance’s Vice President of Cross-Cultural Advancement. She shares about the work Yoga Alliance is doing for teachers working in marginalized communities as well as her important projects like the Yoga Retreat For Women of Color, Black Yoga Teachers Alliance, and more. Maya talks about the importance of self-care for Black women and how the yoga practice has kept her grounded during challenging times. In this episode... Maya introduces herself and talks about the work she does with Yoga Alliance as Vice President of Cross-Cultural Advancement Maya shares about Yoga Alliance Foundation’s Teaching for Equity program which offers stipends for yoga teachers working in marginalized communities She talks about the origins of the Yoga Retreat for Women of Color, which has been held since 1999 at Kripalu, as well as what you can expect if you come to the retreat Maya tells her yoga origin story from the 1970s and how rediscovering yoga in the 1980s helped her heal herself and find peace Maya talks about her teachers and how she came to study to become a yoga teacher, followed by how the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance came to be Maya discusses the importance of self-care for Black women as well as how the pandemic has been for her and her practice Maya shares her go-to breathing practice for grounding herself as well as some things that are lighting her up these days Resources: Teaching for Equity program Yoga Retreat for Women of Color Kripalu Amrit Desai  Beryl Binder Berch Tom Gilette Judith Lasater Stephen Cope Lakulish school in India Black Yoga Teachers Alliance

Content warning: this episode contains discussion of death and grief. In episode 51, Amber and Jivana talk about how they are each navigating grief and loss in their personal and professional lives. We’ll discuss tools that help us from humor to therapy to our yoga practice. We talk about how concepts from yoga philosophy have helped us reduce suffering and embrace the nature of life as it really is. Amber leads us in a simple movement practice that can be done from a chair. And finally, Jivana reads a short excerpt on grief from his book Yoga Revolution, then leads us in a meditation.  In this episode... Amber & Jivana check in and catch up We highlight some of the Accessible Yoga programming for the month of February We share some of our favorite resources for navigating grief and caring for our hearts and minds Amber shares how humor helps her cope with grief and loss Jivana reminds us not to judge our “trauma responses” as inherently negative, since sometimes they’re survival tools We discuss how sometimes patterns that have served us when we were younger aren’t needed anymore and how therapy has helped each of them We talk about how picking the right folks for your support system can make a big difference We discuss how the yoga practice helps us stay grounded through grief and loss, and actually embrace life as it is Amber leads a short movement practice that can be done in a chair Jivana reads an excerpt from his book Yoga Revolution and leads us in a short meditation  Resources: Molly Lannon Kenny Yoga for Grief and Loss by Karla Helbert Yoga Revolution by Jivana Heyman Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief by Michelle Cassandra Johnson Deb Malkin’s instagram (@movewithdeb) Dallas Rising is holding an unique session on Secret Grief Nichala Joy Devi

The information on this Podcast does not constitute medical or other professional advice and should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician, psychotherapist, or other health care provider.  Please note, the views, information, or opinions expressed during this program are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of the Accessible Yoga Association, its Board of Directors, and its employees. Robin Rothenberg, C-IAYT is a long time yoga therapist and yoga researcher. She serves as Chair of the Accreditation Committee for the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) as well as the Advisory Council. She has presented on lower back pain at SYTAR (Symposium for Yoga Therapy and Research) and is considered one of the foremost experts in the area of yoga therapy for lower back pain. Her ability to speak articulately to the way in which yoga impacts the nervous system, mind and emotions has led to her presenting at both NAMA (National Ayurvedic & Medical Association) and SYTAR on the subjects of anxiety and stress. For the past three years, Robin has immersed herself in a personal study of the breath, of the ancient teachings on pranayama, and the science of respiratory physiology. The result of this inquiry has her calling for a “Breath Revolution” in the yoga community. Her new book, released in 2020, Restoring Prana: A Guide to Pranayama and Healing Through the Breath, suggests a serious re-evulation of the ‘big breathing’ habit, and a scientifically supported return to the roots of yoga which teach us to retain prana, by minimizing breath while increasing breath suspensions. She is currently researching yoga for long COVID.  In this episode they discuss: Robin’s interest in prana and pranayama  Common misconceptions and mistakes that yoga teachers make in the area of teaching and practicing pranayama  Importance of CO2 levels in the body Breathing through the nose Keeping the breath slow and close to the body She leads Jivana through a short pranayama practice Connect with Robin on her website: Essential Yoga Therapy Robin's books:  Restoring Prana: A Guide to Pranayama and Healing Through the Breath  The Svadhyaya Breath Journal

In episode 49,  Amber and Jivana reflect on how constantly changing circumstances surrounding COVID are shaping their personal and professional lives. We’ll discuss how we are each navigating the burnout and hopelessness that many of us are feeling, as well as ways we are responding. We discuss strengthening community bonds, practical tools for navigating anxiety and uncertainty, and Jivana leads us in a simple breath awareness meditation that can be done while wearing a mask.  In this episode: Amber & Jivana check in and catch up We discuss the parallels Jivana is noticing between the government’s response to the current pandemic and the AIDS epidemic  We explore our current thoughts around individual responsibility and collective care, including how we are interpreting the yoga teachings in this moment We discuss how ableism is continuing to show up in the pandemic and how that connects to yoga How we are navigating constantly changing circumstances with our work How we are coping with our own anxiety in this moment How mask wearing brings awareness to breath Jivana leads us in a short breath awareness meditation that you can do while wearing a mask   Resources: Quotes from this episode: Desmond Tutu “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” “I am often struck by the dangerous narcissism fostered by spiritual rhetoric that pays so much attention to individual self-improvement and so little to the practice of love within the context of community.” - bell hooks Elie Wiesel,”We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” Links Wolf Terry yoga journal article, “Getting Vaxed Was My Act of Ahimsa”: https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/philosophy/covid-vaccine/ Jivana’s new book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion

Jacoby Ballard is a social justice educator and yoga teacher in Salt Lake City, Utah known for his playfulness, heart-opening, and commitment to change from the inside out. As a yoga teacher with 20 years of experience, he leads workshops, retreats, teacher trainings, teaches at conferences, and runs the Resonance mentorship program for certified yoga teachers to find their niche and calling. In 2008, Jacoby co-founded Third Root Community Health Center in Brooklyn, to work at the nexus of healing and social justice. Since 2006, Jacoby has taught Queer and Trans Yoga, a space for queer folks to unfurl and cultivate resilience. Jacoby received Yoga Journal’s Game Changer Award in 2014 and Good Karma Award in 2016. Jacoby has taught in schools, hospitals, non profit and business offices, a maximum security prison, a recovery center, a cancer center, LGBT centers, gyms, a veteran’s center, and yoga studios. He leads workshops and trainings around the country on diversity, equity, and inclusion and consults on DEI for yoga and meditation organizations. He is the author of A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation, released in 2021.  In this episode, Jivana and Jacoby discuss: Jacoby’s book: A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation   What do queer spaces look like in yoga and spirituality? How did Jaocby find his voice in writing this book? What is the role of anger in spiritual practice? How can you release the energy of anger safely? What is the relationship between yoga/dharma and social justice? How do you find equanimity while still fighting for change? How does he feel about having his book out in the world?    

Michelle C. Johnson is an author, yoga teacher, social justice activist, licensed clinical social worker and Dismantling Racism trainer. She approaches her life and work from a place of empowerment, embodiment, and integration. With a deep understanding of trauma and the impact that it has on the mind, body, spirit and heart, much of her work focuses on helping people better understand how power and privilege operate in their life. She explores how privilege, power and oppression affects the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and energy body. In episode 47, Jivana and Michelle discuss: The 2nd edition of Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World The Bhagavad Gita Bringing real world experience into yoga spaces The connection between social justice and yoga Dharma Staying inspired in social justice work Actionable Love Karma Yoga How to take your yoga off the mat Shared humanity How the 2nd edition of Skill in Action offers guidance and tools for what’s happening now Michelle’s next book about healing in community

Marlysa Sullivan is a physiotherapist and yoga therapist with over 15 years of experience working with people suffering with chronic pain conditions. She is the physical therapy coordinator of the empower veterans program which provides an integrative model in working with people with chronic pain at the Veterans Administration. She is an Assistant Professor in Yoga Therapy and Integrative Health Sciences at Maryland University of Integrative Health and holds an adjunct position at Emory University, where she teaches the integration of yoga and mindfulness into physical therapy practice in the DPT program. She is also the author of Understanding Yoga Therapy: Applied Philosophy and Science for Well-being and co-editor of Yoga and Science in Pain Care: Treating the Person in Pain as well as several peer-reviewed articles. Marlysa has been involved in the professionalization of the field of yoga therapy through the educational standards committee of IAYT, which helped to define the competencies for the field, and in characterizing the yoga therapy workforce through research. Her research interests focus on defining the framework and explanatory model for yoga therapy based on philosophical and neurophysiological perspectives. In episode 46, Jivana and Marlysa discuss: Marlysa’s book and the way she connects yoga therapy to traditional yoga philosophy concepts Yoga therapy’s evolution in the West Cultural appropriation vs. making the teachings accessible Her research on Polyvagal Theory and the connection to the yoga concept of the gunas Her work with people with chronic pain at the VA (Veteran’s Administration) How to teach yoga to people with chronic pain Focus on agency and empowerment Connect with Marlysa on her website and purchase her book: Understanding Yoga Therapy: Applied Philosophy and Science for Health and Well-Being. Yoga Therapy and Polyvagal Theory: The Convergence of Traditional Wisdom and Contemporary Neuroscience for Self-Regulation and Resilience Jeremy Engles, The Ethics of Oneness: Emerson, Whitman and the Bhagavad Gita

In episode 45, Amber and Jivana share tips for keeping students safer in yoga classes. In this episode we’ll explore how the methods we use to teach can contribute to an environment of safety for our community. Amber and Jivana will discuss practical tools they use to help students tap into their personal power and listen to their bodies, rather than striving or competing to keep up with the rest of the class. We’ll talk about strategies for empowering students, how to bring in yoga philosophy and subtle practices to help students connect with their bodies, and we’ll give specific examples of language we use to create a culture of permission and agency for our students.  In Episode 45: Amber & Jivana discuss their recent injuries and how they are relating to them Resource: Ann Swanson, Science of Yoga book Research on how props don’t automatically make students safer (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6664709/) The way we create the container for a class can help keep students safer We should teach our students what yoga really is (not just advanced asana)  Honoring the wholeness of the yoga practice in our teaching helps people feel included, creates a sense of belonging, avoids cultural appropriation, and more Giving our students agency and personal power helps them find the appropriate place for their practice, rather than encouraging striving or conforming Resource: On agency and personal power - M. Camellia Explicit ways to create safety in class, including what we say out loud, establishing general guidelines & classroom norms How you perceive your role as a teacher, and how to speak on that to redistribute power Examples of specific language cues we can use to create safety and turn students’ attention inward Resource: On language and “verbalize to normalize” - Dianne Bondy What to do when students have conflicting needs Implicit ways of teaching the concept of agency and personal safety include valuing students who practice in a different way Teaching ahimsa and other concepts from yoga philosophy to reinforce this concept Teaching subtle practices, getting the mind involved takes the focus away from physical prowess Learning to listen to the body and cultivate the skill of interoception goes toward giving the student more agency as they understand what’s happening in their bodies How telling students to “stop when you feel pain” is limited when it comes to students with chronic pain or nervous system conditions  Teaching this way is not just about making practices more physically gentle, it’s about getting to a more subtle level of experience by energetically working with the breath Resource: Matthew Sanford's DVD - Beyond Disability We review some techniques we use to help students recognize their “edge” or work with body sensations to find the edge Why identifying and working with our brain’s negative self-talk loop is important to keeping our students’ focus in the most helpful place How encouraging students to observe their thoughts and embody the witness allows for individual experiences This episode's supporting organization is Garden of Yoga. Learn more about becoming an Accessible Yoga Ambassador at the individual level or as a supporting organization at accessibleyoga.org/ambassador-program