Child's Pose

In this episode of Child's Pose Michael talks to LA based teacher Travis Eliot about having one foot within the traditional practice and honouring our teachers, whilst the other steps ahead and into the future, evolving the practice to make it authentic to ourselves and really inspire our students. After Travis survived two near death experiences - one in Kauai and another during the Tsunami of 2004 - he dedicated his life to spreading the teachings of yoga and meditation to as many people as possible. He is now known world wide and teaches his signature Holistic Yoga Flow classes both at home in LA and globally. He is a published author and creator of groundbreaking online programs, as well as co-founder of Inner Dimension TV, director of the Holistic Yoga Flow teacher trainings, and a member of the faculty at Kripalu Institute and 1440 Multiversity. Most recently he has become passionate about sharing the practices inside maximum security prisons, bringing light to the darkest of places. Follow Travis @realtraviseliot and visit his webstite traviseliot.com.

On this episode Michael talks to David Eneroth and Andreas Hector, Co-Founders of Yoga Games about why and how they started the festival, what you should think about if you want to host a yoga event, and what makes Yoga Games so special as an experience. This is a great episode for anyone planning yoga events or festivals within their own community. Yoga Games is the largest yoga festival in Scandinavia, and this year they celebrate their 10 year anniversary in Gothenburg. The festival features various forms of yoga, lectures and workshops from a mix of international, national and local presenters. Their goal is to convey new experiences and to get more people to discover the wonderful world of yoga. To find out more about the festival David and Ansreas founded follow @yogagames or visit yogagames.org

This week Michael talks to Dustin Brown a dedicated yogi, vedic meditator, yoga teacher and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who is making waves in the yoga world. In this episode they discuss the importance of creating a welcoming environment, and allowing your students to take responsibility and focus on what feels good in their own bodies during the practice. Dustin grew up in Kauai, Hawaii and after travelling the world as a professional surfer he settled in Melbourne with his wife, Nova. He is the visionary and founder behind Warrior One Yoga, a bespoke yoga studio in Brighton, Melbourne. He brings his martial arts and surfing background to his yoga practice and through his dedication to his daily personal yoga practice, Dustin has found strength, flexibility, increased recovery, body awareness and an overall balanced lifestyle. His teaching style encourages exploring the potential of the body through the practice of mindful movement. To find out more about Dustin follow him on Instagram @dbrownyoga.

This week Michael welcomes Grammy Nominated record producer and composer Dave Stringer to discuss how music transforms the practice and how chanting can make us feel more connected to one another. Dave Stringer has been widely profiled as one of the most innovative artists of the modern Yoga movement. He's both an inspiring singer and a captivating public speaker, resolving neuroscience, yoga philosophy and music into a participatory theatrical experience. He is featured in the upcoming documentary films Mantra: Sounds Into Silence and The Power of Mantra and has toured extensively, leading concerts, workshops and retreats all over the world. To find out more about Dave visit his website davestringer.com and follow him on Instagram @davestringer.

On this episode Michael talks to Mary Beth Larue, a yoga teacher based in Los Angeles about doing your best, using the practice of yoga in your everyday life and letting go of perfection when you step onto the mat. Mary Beth is a yoga and meditation teacher as well as a writer, and is the creator of Embodied by Mary Beth Larue. She is guided by her values of connection, embodiment and soulfulness and has shared these all over the world through her teaching during the last decade. Over the last decade Marybeth has travelled the world teaching professional athletes as well as designing custom yoga programs for rehabilitation centres, homeless shelters , The Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles and partnered with Amazon, Nike, Adidas, Vital Proteins and Merrill Lynch. To find out more about Mary Beth visit her website marybethlarue.com and follow her on Instagram @marybethlarue.

On this episode Michael talks to Jase Te Patu, a New-Zealand based teacher and Founder of M3 Mindfulness for Children about how Maori Culture has shaped the way he teaches, and his passion for leading the next generation to a healthier and happier way of life. Jase Te Patu is a Ted Talk Speaker, Founder of M3 Mindfulness for Children, and Co-owner of AWHI Yoga and Wellbeing He has over 25 years worth of experience teaching in the health and wellness space. Jase is passionate about spreading the teachings of yoga and meditation to help everyone with their mental and emotional wellbeing. He particularly passionate about sharing this with our children - the future leaders! Find out more at awhiyoga.co.nz, m3mindfulnessforchildren.com and follow Jase on Instagram @jasetepatu

On this Episode Michael talks to Eoin Finn a globally renowned yogi, surfer and founder of Blissology, Eoin has played a huge part in the yoga world since the late 1980's and continues to bring a fresh perspective and inspiring energy wherever he goes. They discuss the importance of feeling deeply connected to the wellbeing of both body and mind, and the power and support that comes from being a part of a community. Rooted deeply in the therapeutic and transformative alignment and physiology of yoga, Eoin's down to earth, modern insights on spirituality focus on the ideas of finding bliss and connecting with nature. He is a passionate ocean-activist, and started the Blissology EcoKarma project in 2014 raising aid and awareness through yoga and activism for the world's precious but imperilled coral reefs. To find out more about Eoin visit blissology.com and follow on Instagram @blissology.

On this episode Michael talks to Cristi Christensen about the early days of yoga in LA, discovering her own passions within the practice and making space for the new, old and different styles of teaching as yoga evolves. A former elite-level gymnast and platform diver, Cristi trained with the US Olympic diving team as a young adult. After an injury cut her Olympic dreams short, Cristi shifted her focus to helping others improve their level of fitness through personal training, Pilates, Core Fusion, and yoga. After earning her degree in Kinesiology, Cristi studied extensively for over 10 years with world-renowned teachers including Saul David Raye, Shiva Rea, Seane Corn, Elisabeth Halfpapp, and Fred DeVito. Cristi's bright energy permeates her teaching, creating a dynamic and unique practice that imbues her students with potent vitality. She spreads this energy across the globe leading workshops and retreats and has been faculty on numerous international yoga festivals, teacher training programs, and conferences and shaking up the yoga world by integrating yoga and dance with live DJ'd house music during her invigorating Deep Exhale events. You can find out more about Cristi on her website cristichristensen.com or follow her on Instagram @cristi_christensen.

On this episode Michael talks to Matt Giordano about his journey with yoga and his personal inspirations, as well as discussing best practice and support for teachers who are moving their students out of the studio and into the digital world. Matt travels internationally to teach Chromatic Yoga, a systematic approach to teaching that provides a highly intentional and well structured experience for students to cultivate awareness of their body and mind. Matt is known for his ability to guide students deeply into postures with his refined attention to detail and precise action cues, teaching at festivals, workshops and in his weekly studio classes. His study of biomechanics and integrative mind-body techniques inform his teaching, as he draws upon wisdom from traditions of yoga, martial arts (Aikido and Tae Kwan Do), acrobatics, AcroYoga and Thai Yoga Massage. The craving for knowledge amongst students and teachers lead Matt to create theyogimatt.com a website and resource for yoga, mind and body. To find out more about Matt visit theyogimatt.com and follow him on Instagram @theyogimatt

Child's Pose is a yoga podcast that aims to deepen your understanding, expand your perspective and inspire your practice. Hosted by Michael James Wong, teacher, author and Founder of communities Just Breathe, Boys of Yoga and Sunday School Yoga. Join us each week as we connect with teachers from around the world to discuss the topics and techniques that have evolved and progressed over the years; from the evolution of alignment, to the joys of practicing at home and online, to what yoga means to the next generation of teachers.