Homebodies Yoga Podcast

I am so excited to welcome Anna Ritner to the podcast. I met Anna at a studio where she practiced acupuncture and I taught yoga years ago, and I was immediately drawn to her. She is an empathic old soul with an easy laugh who knows how to have a good time. She taught me that dancing in public (totally sober) can actually be fun sometimes and that rest is just as an important as movement. It was a pleasure to catch with her in this interview and I'm so excited for everyone to hear it! We talk about what acupuncture actually is and the science backed reasons it works, what she thinks most women need to balance their hormones (hint: it's not bone broth or chia seeds) and her approach to working with clients. She shares how this year has brought her to her knees and how letting go has changed her life for the better. This podcast is a must listen if you're a woman or have women in your life. So, yes, all of you!

It's September and we are back-to-podcast! Lucky us, we are kicking off with an amazing guest, Rachel Rajput. Rachel owns Left Coast Power Yoga where she also teaches classes and teacher trainings. It was wonderful to chat about life these days and we covered many things, including-how people are practicing yoga post pandemic-how she led LCPY through the the the last few years-how she's created community at LCPY-how she thinks about interviewing teachers -Her own self-care-building sequences with her fellow teachersThis would be a great listen for yoga instructors, small business owners and anyone interested in hearing more about the inner workings of a yoga studios.

I've lived many lifetimes of yoga and loved them all.

I've lived many lifetimes of yoga and loved them all.

If a bunch of people get together, anything is possible.

In a capitalistic society, rest is a rebellion.

“..and that's what yoga is..the surrender of the things I don't know that I'm hiding from or even that I have to deal with…but it's coming up and coming out..and I'm going to roll with it….”-Robin Wilner

Yoga is really a mindset. SO if you're doing something that's physically challenging, where does your mind wonder to? Where is your breath? Defining yoga as just something that happens on our yoga mat and is just these ubiquitous postures is really limiting and doesn't honor where yoga comes from in the first place.

And I think that's what guides my practice..where is my body speaking to me, and how can I get into that place no matter what it looks like. -Valerie Starr, Homebodies Yoga Podcast, episode 5

“I'm not the kind of person that says, “shucks, that doesn't exist” I say “I guess I need to make it”

“I don't always think about having any intention in my practice..but I have such an obvious intention ...which is to do art without feeling pain.”

It's all about paying attention

I think we tend to limit what's spiritual and what's not, when really everything is spiritual, and theres an opportunity for service in everything.

Yoga has always encouraged us to do this internal work so we can then show up for the world around us.

“There were a lot of times where I might've feel alone, but I always felt like I wasn't. I had this relationship with my practice and this relationship with myself that was really rich and fulfilling, so I could draw about how lonely was, and then I could be interchanged by my emotions instead of being caught up in them. “

“Because we're not supposed to love ourselves, that's not what they want, they want us to be more insecure so we buy more shit. And so that work we do on the mat and in our self-care practices are a way to take a pause, to say no…. to rework our way of relating to ourselves and each other. “ - Kameko Shibata

Melanie Green talks about the viewing parenting, business, and life through the lens of the Yoga Sutras.

Hormones are everything, that's how we do everything in our lives, from intimacy to showing up at work, and when we don't know what's going on, that's where we get these defeating feelings of “why am I not performing?”-Bekah Andrew

“To me, the whole idea of being able to be aware of how your body responds to discomfort is incredibly important in being able to navigate systems of oppression and to be able to dismantle systems of oppression.”-Dia Penning

“Being a parent is the most advanced yoga pose.”

Find more about Zach, including his best selling books and wonderful podcast at zachbeach.com.

Michelle mentions her latest offering called “Heal”. She says, “Along my healing path, the things that helped me mend my wounds were movement, prayer, writing, and surrounding myself with a community of women who get me. I am bringing together all these pieces and calling our community back together, to HEAL.” To find out more about HEAL and Michelle's other offerings, go to her website, thepracticeforwomen.com

Simple doesn't have to be boring. The more I teach the more I realize the most satisfying yoga practice is a simple one but infused with a lot of presence and intention and breathing.

“Intuition took a lot of work, it wasn't just innate. It takes trusting yourself. I think we all have this ability and it really depends on the work we're doing to tap into it and to trust it because lot of us have intuitions, but we talk ourselves out of it. Speaking from my experience, When you do the work, to tap into intuition, it opens up so many doors, and now I fully trust myself.”

“Another practice of mine is hiking, is getting into my legs and pounding my feet in the ground and climbing up the side of the mountain that brings me a lot of joy and therapy.”

“The love for asana is real, it was the gateway into this whole realm of yoga… and I inward transformation…how I felt I was shifting…and I loved that I could could have a belly and that I could have a level of softness and yet feel fiercely strong…I loved that combination…but that was in my late 20s, 30's…so a lot of asana, a lot of fun times, but in the end, what really sustains me and softens my heart and my attitude and all of it, the stuff that sustains my practice on a daily basis when I leave the house is chanting to God..theres something to the vibration that really softens the harder edges that still exist in me.”-Astrud Castillo, Episode 11, Homebodies Yoga Podcast

Olivia mentions loving the classes at Boston Yoga Union. Check them out here.

In this week's episode, Rebecca talks about her intentions for the new year (don't worry it's only one word) and about finding balance in her asana practice. Then she sits down with Debbie Steingesser, a yoga instructor, dancer and crossfit and mobility coach. She talks (with great entusaimis!) all of the modalities that are part of her practice, and how to “train” for your yoga practice. Instagram, debbiestiengesser.com yoga for athletes, at the readystate.com

In this week's episode, Rebecca talks about her yoga practice being FUN again, and balancing stirum and sukum.Then she sits down with Amy Whoa, a yogi, personal trainer, cycling instructor, graphic designer and all around force of nature. They dig into Amy's daily rituals, how yoga helped her heal from multiple serious car accidents, and the importance of movement and how to listen to your body. Or as Amy says, “Give the mic to each body part.”Find Amy Whoa at discowellness.com, and Amy Wo on social. To find the mini yoga class Rebecca mentions at the top of the episode go to https://online.lovehiveyoga.com

In this episode, Rebecca talks about her practice making her feel capable even when she suspects she might be less than capable at being a mom of a toddler during a global pandemic. Then, she talks to Josh Ehrenreich about his personally crafted practice. He meditates in the morning and has system (down to the minute!) of asana, kettlebells and restorative in the evening. He talks about his practice being a way to cleanse from his day and the joy he finds in being embodied. For Josh, “The most powerful thing is to do it again”.Josh is a student of restorative yoga, and has created ultra light eye pillows in order to block out distractions without putting too much pressure on the delicate eye area. To buy one, or to access free restorative yoga classes, check out his site. I

In this episode Rebecca talks about her new pranayama obsession and learning to shift her practice with the seasons.Then, she talks to Brima Jah about everything the yoga practice brings to his full life as a yoga instructor and social worker. He also talks about his budding love of Katonah yoga, a practice that endevears to keep you “in the center of your circumstance.” When Rebecca mentions her practice is “boring” these days, Brima says, “When we have repetition and can be in the repetition, it helps us build fluency, and when we have fluency we feel more capable.” To find out more about Brima, go to his website or find him on instagram at yogawithbrima.

In this episode Rebecca talks about trying challenging poses again and how meditation and asana and give clarity about anxiety.Then, she talks to Valerie Starr. Valerie talks about her practice in all of the change in 2020, and how she digs up energy in herself. Rebecca and Valerie wax poetic about handstand and prasarita and talk about what running, asana and sitting still all have in common. I cannot recommend checking out Valerie's classes enough! Her classes are the feel good sweaty yoga classes that are also thoughtful and incredibly well sequenced. She has a way of creating a sense of community (even through a screen!) that will stay with you well past class time. You can find her at Valeriestarryoga.com and lovehiveyoga.com

In this episode Rebecca talks about the tools she's using to get out of a funk. (Hint, animal crackers and wine did not do the trick) Then, she talks to Inbal Meron. Inbal shares all the different modalities that have helped her connect to herself: yoga, meditation, pranayama, and even motherhood and non-violent communication. Inbal gives many tips on creating a sustainable and reasonable home practice no matter the tool you choose. One of her best tips for people just starting out in a home yoga practice is to use sequences, “because without structure we can get lost on mat.” She mentions two books of sequences that she found really helpful, The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness by Patricia Walden and 30 Essential Yoga Poses: For Beginning Students and Their Teachers by Judith Lasater .

In this episode Rebecca talks about meditation and gives a listener some advice about starting a daily meditation practice. Then Rebecca and Rachel chat about Rachel's always evolving relationship with her yoga practice as a studio owner and practitioner and the future of in person yoga classes.

In this episode, Rebecca talks about her infinite love for extended side angle and then interviews the brilliant yoga instructor and writer, Jason Bowman. Jason talks about his current practice asana practice of “rolling around on the floor” and his dedication to his sitting practice. His composure and thoughtfulness is a true inspiration to make meditation a priority. Find Jason's writings, classes, and other projects at JasonBowmanyoga.com

In this episode Rebecca talks about her current relationship with her yoga practice now, 15 years since she first walked in a yoga room and answers a listener question about how to start a home yoga practice (hint: start practicing yoga at home). Then she talks to the passionate and authentic Whitney Walsh about her yoga practice as a new mom in 2020. Find Whitney's virtual classes at Leftcoastpoweryoga.com