Accessible Yoga Podcast

In episode 42, Amber Karnes interviews Jivana Heyman about his upcoming book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion. We discuss what a “yoga revolution” means, the relationship between yoga and social justice, the role of self-care in our work, and much more. This interview invites us to take a look at the “why” behind our personal yoga practice and consider possibilities for expanding how we use our yoga in the world on and off the mat. *Note: Yoga Revolution's publishing date has been pushed back to December 7, 2021. In Episode 42: Why Jivana chose “Yoga Revolution” for the title of his book and what he means by a yoga revolution What does it mean to build a practice of courage and compassion? What is the relationship between yoga and social justice?  How your inner practice affects your actions in the world (activism) and helps us see humanity and honor wholeness The different traditions in yoga on and off the map and a renewed look at the tradition of yoga as a path of service  How Jivana took inspiration from the Black Lives Matter movement to fuel his current activism What it means to have a “rainbow mind” or a Queer approach to yoga The role of self care in our service / justice work A question we are sitting with this week: What is the goal or focus of your personal practice (enlightenment, less stress, strength & flexibility, physical healing)? How does that show up in your life? Links from the episode: Learn more and order Yoga Revolution by Jivana Heyman Yoga Revolution free practices Aarti Inamdar Untitled [I talk to my inner lover] by Kabir AY Conference

In episode 43, Jivana interviews Bill Brown from Prison Yoga Project.  In this episode, Jivana and Bill discuss: Bill’s background and personal interests How Bill started his yoga practice How Bill ended up volunteering teaching in prison Childhood trauma How trauma is stored in the body What teaching in prison is like Society failing to care for people COVID disrupting Prison Yoga Project’s work The business back end for people who want to teach yoga in prisons Yoga as shamanistic soul retrieval and relationship building Accessible Yoga Training Prison and disenfranchised people Bill’s experience facilitating classes Supporting students with grounding and emotional release Subtlety in yoga practice Hierarchy and empowerment Neuroscience perspective Letting go of fear and moving into love and connection

In episode 42, we're sharing a recording of Reggie Hubbard's powerful closing keynote from this year's Accessible Yoga Conference online. There are some within the yoga community that think politics and yoga should not mix. That the purpose of yoga is to escape from the pressures of the outside world and find inner peace. But yoga at its essence is the refinement of conscious awareness to meet life circumstances with more clarity, courage and compassion. To find inner peace and then engage with the world more fully - serving from that sense of peace. This talk will explore how to merge yogic practice and civic engagement, as well as why it is important to do so. Reggie will share from his personal experience and teaching practice how yogic practice and civic engagement have become inextricably bound, and how we might better serve our communities, students and society through forming such a union. Connect with Reggie: @oreggieglobal  @activepeaceyoga activepeaceyoga.com Practice Makes Purpose podcast

In episode 41, Amber and Jivana discuss community building and collaboration. As we gear up for the upcoming Accessible Yoga Conference, community is on our mind. In this episode we’ll talk a little bit about our history with community building including Amber’s time in the hardcore punk scene and Jivana’s AIDS activism. We talk about the “how” of collaboration, things to think about when joining a community, and discuss the benefits and challenges of being in community with others. We’ll also talk about why it’s crucial for community builders to unlearn cultural conditioning and examine unconscious bias.  In Episode 41: Amber and Jivana each share about their history with community building, including Amber’s time in the hardcore punk scene and Jivana’s AIDS activism  Jivana talks about how the Accessible Yoga Conference was born What “Jivana’s homework” is and why everyone should do it, even if you’re not at the conference The “how” of collaboration - how to reach out or make a request to someone you’d like to collaborate with Why community is about contribution and mutual support and what questions to ask yourself when you’re trying to fit in Using discernment when joining a community  Challenges of being within community community - normalizing abuse or unhealthy dynamics, requires perspective, discernment, and information gathering How Jivana got started building community with yoga and what keeps students coming back What the Accessible Yoga Ambassador program is and how you can get involved Looking at our unconscious bias as community builders and showing up as an ally in community space How mistakes are actually an opportunity for growth Links: Cheri Clampett’s Therapeutic Yoga Training

In episode 40, we’re back! Amber and Jivana catch up about what they’ve been doing while the podcast has been on break and update you with all the latest of what’s to come. We’ll discuss what Accessible Yoga Association is up to, plus give you a sneak preview of the upcoming Accessible Yoga Conference Online.  In this episode... Amber & Jivana check in and catch up about the time we’ve been away We discuss some changes to the podcast: it is now part of Accessible Yoga Association’s monthly programming Topic of the podcast correlates to our theme in our monthly programming, for September the theme is Cultural Appropriation in Yoga, October is Conference, November is Yoga in Prisons, December is Yoga for Pain Care.  What the nonprofit has been up to, plus a big thank you to our board and staff All about our Ambassador program, plus a chance to be featured on the podcast We are planning to release episodes twice a month, subscribe wherever you get your podcast Jivana shares about the upcoming Accessible Yoga Conference We’ll hear from some of our Ambassadors about their Conference experiences or aspirations

In Episode 39 of the Accessible Yoga Podcast, Amber Karnes sits down with Anjali Rao to discuss the connection between yoga and activism. Anjali Rao is a yoga teacher, social justice activist, multi-cultural training specialist, and a cancer survivor. She is an Indian American immigrant from Bangalore, India. Her work explores yoga philosophy and history integrating marginalized voices using storytelling, imagery and poetry. In this interview, Amber and Anjali discuss the history of activism in yoga, including how yoga philosophy and social justice are connected. For folks who are hesitant to step into the space of activism or call themselves an activist, this interview is for you. Anjali addresses the role of the activist and discusses how we can build capacity for resilience using our practice. Finally, she discusses her new course with the Accessible Yoga Training School, Yoga & Activism: A Blueprint for Collective Transformation, which is open for enrollment now! In this episode: Anjali introduces herself and talks about her work in the world How are yoga and activism connected historically? What is the lineage of yoga and activism? Yoga Is a container of practices, thoughts, concepts which can build capacity & resilience for activism Yoga helps us be aligned with our deepest dharma Yoga is about expansion of consciousness: what are you using your expanded consciousness to accomplish? How your social location is connected to your dharma Who is an activist? What “counts” as activism? How perfectionism and black-and-white thinking hold us back Rituals and practices that can anchor us in our purpose The importance of community for activists Anjali’s course, Yoga & Activism: A Blueprint for Collective Transformation, which is open for enrollment through June 19 A call to action for all of us Show notes and links can be found at accessibleyogatraining.com.

In Episode 38 Amber Karnes sits down with Tristan Katz and Maygen Nicholson to address a few common transphobic talking points and discuss how we can support our trans and gender expansive community members. Tristan and Maygen are both educators who focus on LGBTQ+ awareness, advocacy, and wellness at the center of their work. In this interview, Tristan and Maygen discuss gender identity, why we should all be invested in dismantling the gender binary, and why representation matters. They debunk many commonly held, harmful narratives about trans and gender non-conforming folks, and talk about action steps for learning and beyond. This conversation invites us to take a deeper dive into understanding gender identity and creating affirming space for our trans siblings. Note: This conversation was recorded in response to the March 22nd J. Brown yoga podcast interview with Katchie Ananda on the topic of “Gender Spectrum and Biological Sex.” Both J. and Katchie are cisgender individuals. The conversation they shared was rooted in biological exceptionalism, trans* exclusionary feminism, transphobia, homophobia, racism, and tokenization. We found it deeply hurtful and problematic and felt the need to address it publicly to stand in solidarity with our trans* and non-binary siblings. Get show notes, links to everything we discuss in the podcast, and subscribe here.

In Episode 37 of the Accessible Yoga Podcast, Jivana Heyman sits down with Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT. Zabie is the director of Trauma Informed Programs at UCLA and is the Founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma through Yoga. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals on trauma-informed teaching and her new book Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault which is coming out this year. Jivana and Zabie discuss trauma-sensitive teaching practices that benefit every student that comes to our classes. They also discuss the role of the teacher, power dynamics, and walking the line between authenticity and healthy boundaries. This conversation invites us to consider ways we can shift our community spaces to create more safety and opportunities for rest. Get show notes, links to everything we discuss in the podcast, and subscribe here.

In Episode 36 of the Accessible Yoga Podcast, Jivana Heyman sits down with Daniel Simpson to talk about yoga philosophy and his new book The Truth of Yoga: A Comprehensive Guide to Yoga’s History, Texts, Philosophy, and Practices. Daniel is a former foreign correspondent who has gone on to study and teach yoga, meditation, yoga history, and yoga philosophy at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Triyoga, and beyond. Jivana and Daniel discuss many concepts and themes from yoga philosophy including the role of ethics in yoga and how our individual interpretation of the teachings influences how we “live” our yoga. This conversation invites us to consider how we use self-study and practice to either retreat from the world or become a more conscious citizen. Get show notes, links to everything we discuss in the podcast, and subscribe here.

In Episode 35 of the Accessible Yoga Podcast, Jivana Heyman sits down with Linda Sparrowe to talk about creativity and finding our voice. The former editor of Yoga International and Yoga Journal magazines, Linda has been teaching, talking and writing about yoga for more than 20 years. She has a long and varied career as a writer, editor, speaker, and mentor in the holistic healing arena, with a special emphasis on women’s health. Jivana and Linda talk about how personal practice can help us find our authentic voice and how they each get into the mood to be creative. This conversation invites us to consider how we use our voice and our yoga practice and how we can trust our authenticity to express what we truly wish to communicate to others. For show notes and links, visit the Accessible Yoga Podcast page or episode 35 here.