Peter's Podcast

In this episode, I share a meditation class recording where we look at one of the Bhagavad Gita's chapters about our nature as the "field" and the "knower" of that field. It's an interesting metaphor and provides an useful map of our evolution. Following the talk you can join in a meditation, the ISHTA Diksha.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Find out about upcoming retreats, workshops, and training at peterferko.com

In this episode, I speak to Julianne Mirabello about her unique approach to personal fashion and styling. Julianne studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City and has designed and created costumes and done personal styling in New York and internationally. She is also a Yoga Teacher  who did her 200-hr training at ISHTA with me in New York and a Reiki practitioner. Julianne is launching sartorialstrategist.com, a service to help people figure out and create a sattvic relationship with their wardrobes. Keep an eye out for @sartorialstrategist on social platforms this spring.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com.I'm offering training and workshops all over the place! See peterferko.com for details.Namaste!

In this episode, I speak with Ulrica Norberg and Wendy Newton about using traditional yoga texts as part of practice. We're going to be leading a workshop using the Gheranda Samhita, Yoga Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita this May in Stockholm. Details are on my website: peterferko.com.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.

In this episode, I talk a little about the virus pandemic we're all dealing with. Then I lead us in a meditation to help us stay balanced during this time.A couple resources:Brian Lehrer show where there's a March 13 episode with NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/All Sides Corona Virus news with reference to whether the sources are left, right, or center.

How our new challenges with social distancing can be put to constructive purpose.

Looking at this time as one to choose #deepliving

I pause my walk in the park to talk about yoga as a practice and a new perspective.Join me and Wendy Newton in a day-long workshop Bringing Yoga Off the Mat. Details at ishtayoga.com.Please support Peters Podcast on Patreon.com and rate the podcast wherever you listen. Thank you!

In this episode, Wendy Newton and I do a quick dive into svadyaya, the study of the self and the Self, and the self-reflection and reading of texts that help us "see the light" in the darkness.We're leading an immersion workshop this Friday 9-3 New York Time, and we set it early enough that hopefully some other time zones can make it, too. Details and registration are available at ishtayoga.com. If you're having financial challenges during this time, email me and we'll work something out.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste!

I used some of my "shelter-in-place" time to work on a new kirtan recording of a song that always moved me when we chanted it at Paramahansa Yogananda's Self Realization Fellowship. My nephew, Tucker Sody, a professional drummer in Tampa, provided a long-distance accompaniment. Taking a cue from my Psych Rock Kirtan partner Idgy Dean, I played all the rest of the parts myself. I'm looking forward to playing it live in the future, but for now, I hope it gives you some inspiration. In his book Cosmic Chants, Yogananda said, “Words that are saturated with sincerity, conviction, faith, and intuition are like highly explosive vibration bombs that have power to remove the rocks of difficulties and to create the change desired.”Rock on and blow that sh!t up.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon and please feel free to gmail me with questions at peterspodcast108.

In this episode, I discuss the danger of focusing on finding a silver bullet, whether you're talking about the corona virus epidemic or anything else. The reasons I cover include:It distracts us from what we should be doingIt dilutes learning the lessons of what brought us hereIt gets us invested in magical thinkingIt fosters conspiracy theoriesIt reinforces tribalismI mention: Comedian Ronny Chieng's Netflix special.Ezra Klein's book, Why We're Polarized.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon!Namaste.

In reaction to my previous podcast episode encouraging us not to look for "silver bullet" solutions, I wanted to affirm that there is one silver bullet that addresses everything. I use Elyse Poppers' book The Little Love Book as a prompt to discuss love with Wendy Newton. Poppers, a visual and performing artist as well as a writer, produced this book as a culmination of a project looking for the language with the most words for "love." Her conclusion was that Sanskrit is that language.In the podcast, I also mention The Yoga of the Nine Emotions, by Peter Marchand.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon, which is like a tip jar for the internet age!

In this episode, Wendy Newton and I discuss the notion of freedom from the perspective of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and elsewhere in yoga language. You also learn what we had for breakfast!Check out Wendy's upcoming online workshop on the Yoga Sutras.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com and rate the podcast right on your app or on iTunes.Namaste!

It feels like the end of the world, but it's not. In this episode, I try to share some yoga insights on two topics relevant to our current crises:The concept of detachment that is so prevalent in yoga literature, andTaking judgement away to experience the essence of namaste.My prayers and well-wishes go out to everyone in this challenging time.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste.

In this bonus episode, I take you to meditation class where I drop some thoughts on the importance of silence, intuition, and action. We do the ISHTA Inner Smile meditation, which you can join. There is a 10-minute period of silence in the recording, followed by a samyama and regrounding practice.Namaste.

#blacklivesmatterOn today's podcast, I share excerpts from the following:Left, Right, and Center podcast from KCRW (May 29 and June 5 episodes) with Josh Barro, Christine Emba, Rich Lowry, and Robert A. George. Martin Luther King, I have a dream speech 1963Course in Miracles, IntroductionTao Te Ching, chapters 1-3, by Lao Tzu (translation by Brian Browne Walker)James Baldwin, from The Price of the Ticket, 1979Creative Quest, by Questlove, p. 117Bhagavad Gita, II.54, translated by Swami SivanandaBhagavad Gita, Introduction, by Mahatma GandhiThe Late Show, Cory Booker, June 5,2020Tantra, the Path of Ecstacy, by Georg Feuerstein, p. 35"What Lightning Flash," by Paramahansa YoganandaPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com.Thank you, and namaste!

Today I welcome an activist and yogi to share his perspective on current events. Reggie Hubbard is the Congressional liaison and Washington, D.C. strategist for the liberal progressive advocacy organization MoveOn. He has worked on gubernatorial and national campaigns, including Florida’s 2006 gubernatorial race and on Bernie Sanders 2016 primary campaign. He also served as senior advance staff for Joe Biden under the Obama administration. Reggie is a yoga teacher, and I got to meet him in our last ISHTA meditation training. I'm grateful that he took the time to meet with me and share his insights and recommendations in this challenging time.#blacklivesmatterFind Reggie on Instagram @oreggieglobalPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.

In this episode, I talk with my teacher Alan Finger, founder of ISHTA Yoga about our new  book The Genius of Yoga: How Yogic Meditation Can Unlock Your Innate Brilliance. Al and I talk about why yoga meditation can take a practitioner beyond mindfulness, and how your meditation practice can help you address challenges as big as pandemics and race. You can now take classes online with Alan Finger (and me) at ISHTA Yoga.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com!Namaste

Backyard musings on yoga and political action.Join me for class, streaming at Ishta yoga.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! It's like a pay-what-you-want yoga class with a high tech cash box.Namaste!

In this episode, Wendy Newton and I discuss the special opportunity this moment in history offers us, despite its immense challenge and disruption. We're sitting by Moreau Lake at the edge of the Adirondacks.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon as you would a drop-in yoga class. Thank you!

In this episode, we head to meditation class. I'm using the technique of Bija Mantra with the chakras and introducing the idea of chakras as the blueprint of our personal path in life. You can listen to the talk or do the meditation, too. (There's a 15-minute silent meditation after the technique.) Enjoy!There's more about the chakras in my new book, co-written with Alan Finger, called The Genius of Yoga. Check it out wherever you get books.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. It keeps this sharing possible! Namaste.

Thoughts on current events and ancient truths.

Discussion of the cycles of existence known as Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra.Join me for online classes at ISHTA Yoga.Please support Peter's Podcast and work on your practice with me on Patreon.Namaste.

Thoughts about the U.S. election the day after but before all votes are counted. On the Gita and the gunas: to life!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Class with Peter is online at ISHTA Yoga.Namaste.

In this episode, I get you some video tips from Rachel Scott, yoga teacher, teacher trainer and instructional designer. Learn about using mics, lighting, and more.You can learn more about Rachel on social media @rachelscottyoga or at rachelyoga.com.Join me for a Thanksgiving masterclass and for more classes at ishtayoga.com.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste

Happy December Solstice, whether it's the winter in the northern hemisphere or the summer in the southern! In this episode, I take us deep into the Sa Ham (or So Hum) kriya that we use at ISHTA during the movements of asana or at any time during the waking day.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon — and consider one of the levels of support that includes working with me one-on-one.Happy holidays of light!

In this episode, Wendy Newton — yogiraj, polarity therapist, and wife extraordinaire — talks with me about the nature of our holidays. We touch on a bunch of fun topics. Enjoy!Wendy is hosting the next ISHTA Yoga Happy Hour, Wednesday 5pm NYC time. It's an informal forum to put some thought to the end of this year and the start of the next. Join her!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon, and rate the podcast so others hear about it.Namaste and happy holidays!

I share some thoughts on a Martin Luther King Day conversation I had with a group of ISHTA Yoga teachers.Please join me for live-streamed class online at ISHTA. I teach both meditation and asana classes there. Support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com and feel free to write me at peterspodcast108@gmail

Today, we head to meditation class, where I share a little deeper description of the chakras and how practicing with this as a tool can bring you more understanding and flow in your living.There's a talk first, then a half-hour meditation practice. You can listen to the talk and or jump to 18:00 minutes in and do the practice. (Apologies for the couple of audio artifacts and speed glitches of the Zoom recording.)Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. 

Happy Valentine's Day to you!I mention a previous episode when Wendy and I read from Elyse Poppers'  The Little Love Book.

It's almost Spring in the northern hemisphere. It's a kind of Covid Spring as more of us get vaccinated. Today, I talk about the reason to meditate and give yourself a kind of personal Spring every time.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! It's how I fund the podcast. Thank you for listening.

I've been viewing a lot of scientific research lately, and I love that it's there. At the same time, it creates an annoying implication that the practices that have been used for generations are suspect until research validates them. It's a tension I'm struggling with in my own teaching, and I share my own musings about the state of the art.I mention two authors:James Nestor. His book Breath is about breathing techniques of yogis as well as some contemporary breath researchers.Carlo Rovelli. His work is looking for a unified theory of everything and he discusses time as being not a reality in any fundamental way.Thanks for listening! Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. where you can also set up a way to work with me on a recurring basis.Namaste. 

In today's episode, I describe the kleshas and elaborate on the first two: Avidya and Asmita. I mention the ISHTA Yoga Meditation Training that I'm teaching with Alan and Sarah Finger June 8–10. Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Thanks for listening! Namaste.

In this episode, I finish a discussion of the five challenges that humans tackle, and how we can get better at working within our nature rather than expecting circumstances to be different.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon by making a pledge. It's easy!Join me for livestream yoga and meditation class at ishtayoga.com. It's fun!Namaste.

Kristin Leal is a yoga teacher trainer and yoga anatomy specialist who has a new book out. We discuss MetaAnatomy: A Modern Yogi's Practical Guide to the Physical and Energetic Anatomy of Your Amazing Body, the new release and update of her previous books. We also talk about teaching and training during the pandemic and share our two cents on vaccines and the future with Covid-19.Help make this podcast possible by supporting Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Thank you for listening!

The Bhagavad Gita puts a lot of emphasis on the gunas — natures forces of action. Today's podcast is a discussion on how those forces interact with our desires and emotions. The Gita says, attachment to things we desire leads to "ruin." I say more about why that's the case and what we can do about it.Listen to the talk alone, or add the meditation afterwards. It's a full practice with pre-meditative asana, a kriya practice, an 18-minute silence, and regrounding after.Namaste!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon and rate the podcast on your app! 

In this episode, I summarize this thing called yoga. A useful reflection for teachers and practitioners, and a chance for me to explain what I mean when I say “real yoga.”Thank you for using Patreon to support Peter's Podcast: Real Yoga, Actual Happiness, and Deep Living.Take class with me online at ISHTA Yoga. Namaste!

In this episode, I reflect on Sri Aurobindo's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita.Got questions? Write me: peterspodcast108@gmail.comNamaste!

I talk about the topic of my upcoming workshop "Om, the Call to Joy." And we do a short Om meditation. Join the virtual workshop at ishta yoga.com.

In this episode, Yoga master Wendy Newton and I discuss a practice from Chögyam Trungpa, a master whose teachings are the basis of Shambhala Buddhism. The practice is from Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving-Kindness. We discuss the theory and practice and relate it to some yoga ideas.

Wishes for a happy Thanksgiving!

Find time for meditation and that state of mind will be there when you need it!

In this episode, I talk about santosha, part of the niyamas of yoga's eight limbs. Santosha is most often translated as "contentment," but in fact it's a powerful active practice — a way of living. I describe "happiness," "contentment" and "santosha," and tell you why I wish you a santosha new year!Thank you for supporting Peter's Podcast on Patreon!Namaste

From my hibernation cave, some thoughts about finding our bliss!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste

Guess what? We're live and in person this week. Plus an online Gita workshop!

I talk about our response to the war in Ukraine, and about what ayurveda has to do with our responses. I am Ukrainian on my mother's side and Slovak on my fathers. It's tempting to see this current situation as a that-could-be-us situation, but it's important to remember that our world is full of war, terror, and refugees, all of whom are suffering in similar ways, but who receive a variety of welcomes based on racial and ethnic factors. As yogis, we are trying to realize that we are all one.Please take class with me online or in person at ishtayoga.com!Get your gamer healthy and well with FITGMRPlease rate the podcast and support us on Patreon.

In this episode, Wendy Newton describes the training she's teaching on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali starting May 3. It's for teachers and interested students and yogis. Details are at ishtayoga.com Wendy is happy to take questions via email as well. Write her here.You can find Peter in person again at ISHTA Yoga in Manhattan, and find classes online at ishtayoga.comPeter is helping gamers increase their wellness and performance through an innovative app called FITGMR. Check it out!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! Thank you and Namaste.

Today, I talk about the granthis — the cycles of nature that keep us moving through life. Recognizing them is the first step to being able to gracefully move through life.Thanks for listening! Please rate the podcast, and support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.comCheck out classes, workshops, and trainings at ISHTA YogaGot a video gamer in the house? Check out FITGMR, where we teach gamers wellness, including yoga and meditation!

Today we head to meditation class. There I share some guidance on staying calm through the kinds of upheavals we're facing in the news these days. Listen to the talk, from my Saturday morning class at ISHTA Yoga, and join in the short meditation when you have the time.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon, and join me in person at ISHTA in Manhattan. Gamers can join me on the FITGMR app.Peace and Love.

I talk with Wendy Newton about the Yoga Sutras guidance for maintaining equilibrium in all our relationships. Whether it's your personal challenges or jealousy, or your anger with the Supreme Court, it's possible to gain perspective that lets you move gracefully through challenges toward your best actions.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.

Yoga asks us to trust its philosophy enough to practice. Then practice provides its own understanding. Join meditation class at ISHTA for this podcast episode.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Check out class at ISHTA. Got a gamer in the family? Turn them on to FITGMR.

Today I talk about mantra with delightful yogi/actor/tech pro Stephen Mark. We talk about how mantras work, how to use them, and how they fit into a yoga practice.During the episode, I mention an ecologist. His name is David Abram and I heard him here: https://emergencemagazine.org/interview/the-ecology-of-perception/I also mention a book by a neuroscientist. You can find out more about Dr. Mona Sobhani at https://monasobhaniphd.comPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste

It's a new media world (again) and Peter's Podcast is going video! Episodes will still appear here as podcasts, but if you want to see what Wendy Newton and I look like when we're talking, you have that option, too! Watch Peter's Podcast on Youtube.In this episode, we elaborate on the practice of the Yamas and Niyamas described in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras. Drawing on Tantra of the Yoga Sutras by Alan Finger and Wendy Newton and Wendy's Unbound Yoga Sutras trainings at ISHTA Yoga, we help clarify why these first two limbs of yoga are practice rather than rules. You can watch the video on YouTube.Thank you to everyone who supports production of Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Please consider joining them if you haven't yet.Namaste

Wendy Newton and I compare thoughts on meditation, including mindfulness practice and yoga meditation. We touch on neuroscience, religion, samadhi, and more!This podcast episode is also a video on YouTube.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. 

In this episode, Stephen Mark and I discuss antar karana, or learning to sense inwardly. We recorded this just before I headed to Australia and Bali to teach, as the season in New York covers the last month before the winter solstice. We touch on how yoga relates to acting, as Stephen trained as an actor, and on how work and other activities and relationships benefit from yoga practice.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. And please check out video versions of Peter's Podcast on YouTube!You can take class with Peter and Stephen at ISHTA Yoga.

In this episode, we go to class at ISHTA Yoga for a New Year's meditation. Enjoy the talk at the beginning and stay for the granthi meditation practice.By the way, you can attend regular classes with me live or via Zoom at ISHTAYoga.com.Happy New Year!

Wendy and I discuss a quote from one of our early teachers, Mark Whitwell. It's about the relationship between our actual experience and all our thoughts about it. We also share thoughts about finding the right practice for yourself, and about the thing to keep in mind when marketing yoga.NEW: You can view this episode as a video: https://www.youtube.com/@peterspodcastYou can catch Wendy's new class and my classes, too online or in person at ISHTA Yoga.Please support Peter's Podcast at Patreon. 

In this episode, ISHTA teacher, actor, and software engineer Stephen Mark and I discuss "sankalpa," or intention, that aligns with your purpose. We touch on a lot of topics around the nature of goals, career hopes, and the unique attitude tantra yoga brings to the mix.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.You can see some episodes of Peter's Podcast on YouTube @peterspodcast.Join me for class online or in person at ISHTA Yoga.

Wendy Newton and I discuss the Kleshas, or "obstacles" that challenge our practice, but make our life what it is!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Take class, workshops or training with me (and Wendy!) at ISHTA Yoga, online or in person.Namaste.

In this episode, Wendy Newton and I show up on video to discuss happiness, "santosha" and practice. We tackle the difference between wanting something and getting it, about accepting reality versus settling for something inadequate. See what we look like on YouTube or check the audio only version here. Please consider supporting Peter's Podcast on Patreon. You can take class with Wendy or Peter online or in person at ISHTA Yoga.

In this episode, we go to meditation class. By the way, you can join my classes at ISHTA Yoga in person or online. I got a couple requests for a recording of this Sat Yam meditation from people who were there, so here is the whole practice for you. Enjoy!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste.

In this episode, I talk to Wendy Newton about "sacred listening," a phrase she's using to describe how to learn more about how we relate to self and other. Check out Wendy's deep understanding of the Yoga Sutras and somatic energy work here and at her upcoming workshop at ISHTA Yoga. The workshops is a multi-part learning and practice experience offered in-person and online beginning Friday March 24.Please support Peter's Podcast on PatreonNamaste! 

In this episode (which is also available on video at YouTube), Stephen Mark and I discuss tantra and several other topics in preparation for my workshop this weekend. You can attend the workshop in person or online by going to ISHTAYoga.com.What Is Yoga and Why Do We Do It? A deep dive for practitioners and teachers.Sunday, April 2, 12:15–5:00Online and in-person info at ISHTAYoga.comPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon

We head to meditation class for the eponymous ISHTA practice: ISHTA Diksha. This practice, based on a kriya from Paramahansa Yogananda and refined by Alan Finger moves you efficiently into and out of  meditation. Diksha means "initiation" and refers to this practice as a bedrock practice at ISHTA Yoga. Have a listen to the intro, and join in the meditation if you like.You can join Peter for meditation classes or look into training at ISHTA Yoga in person or online at ISHTAYoga.comPeter's Podcast relies on your contributions on Patreon.

In this episode, I speak with Katrina Repka. Katrina is an ISHTA Yogiraj (master) who has led classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings in her home in London and beyond. She is the co-author with Alan Finger of Breathing Space: Twelve Lessons for the Modern Woman and Chakra Yoga: Balancing Energy for Physical, Spiritual, and Mental Well-being.You can take class with Katrina online at ISHTAYoga.com.Wendy Newton and I are hosting 4 day-long retreats this Spring and Summer. Join us for Fresh Air Fridays, the first friday of May-August at Ascend Center in Cold Spring, New York. Links to info and registration at https://linktr.ee/peterferkoPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Thank you!

In this episode, I indulge my love of music to share a mixed-genre playlist. The full songs are available at the links below or wherever you get music. The podcast episode includes my critiques/comments on the songs. This episode is also available on YouTube as a video. Check it out!Listen on Tidal. Tidal was created by Jay-Z and a dozen musicians as an alternative to other platforms to help musicians and to provide CD+ quality. There is a free version, or you can upgrade for higher resolution versions of songs.Listen on Spotify. There is a free version or you can upgrade.I spend lots of time making Peter's Podcast, and my only funding is your generous support on Patreon. Please contribute if you can. I mention in this episode how much I gain from public radio stations like WFUV in New York and KCRW in Santa Monica. Please support your local public radio stations. They are one strong source of independent, non-market based culture in America.ANNOUNCEMENT: Please come join me and Wendy in Cold Spring this season for Fresh Air Fridays. Details here.

In this episode, Wendy and I are getting excited about you joining us for a day of yoga, meditation, and nature on the first Fridays of summer. Hosted by Ascend Center + Collective on Main Street in the Village of Cold Spring. Details and a link to each date are at https://linktr.ee/peterferko.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. 

In this episode, I parse the notion of equanimity in a world where we all experience emotion.Please join me and Wendy Newton at our day retreat Fresh Air Friday on July 7. Details here. Thank you for supporting Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste!

In this episode, I interview Mona Sobhani, PhD, the author of Proof of Spiritual Phenomena: A Neuroscientist's Discovery of the Ineffable Mysteries of the Universe. (available at https://monasobhaniphd.com/book/) We discuss Dr. Sobhani's survey of the abundant research on divination, reincarnation, and other topics typically called "spiritual." We also talk about the capabilities and limitations of neuroscience to describe and explain mental phenomena. Dr. Sobhani speaks about her own journey from a mainstream science background to a wider framework while still holding to her scientific skepticism. The video version of this episode of Peter's Podcast is on YouTube/@peterspodcast. Please support Peter's Podcast at https://patreon.com/peterspodcast You can take class with Peter at https://ishtayoga.com #yoga #meditation #neuroscience

Greetings from Romania! In today's episode, I talk about the why, how, and tips about our favorite topic of real yoga: meditation. I'm talking to gamers who are competing 150 miles from the Ukrainian border. With 120 countries represented here, the only war they are focused on is happening onscreen, and it's wonderful to watch so many nationalities together.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon!Talk to you soon. Namaste.

Today, we go to meditation class at ISHTA Yoga for a meditation that helps make sense of our turbulent world. You can listen to the intro or join in the meditation. There are 20 minutes of silence in the meditation itself.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.May there be peace on earth.Namaste

Wendy Newton and I discuss the practical importance of subtle body, spiritual practices in addition to taking care of business out in the physical world.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.You can take class online and in-person with Peter (and Wendy!) at ISHTA Yoga.Know a video gamer you wish would take care of their wellness, including yoga and meditation? Check out FITGMR.Namaste.

Today we go to ISHTA Meditation class for a fusion meditation of kriya yoga and gratitude practice. Enjoy! There is 18 minutes of silence in the middle, followed by a practice of mantra and mudra to bring inspiration from your meditation back into living.Enjoy, and happy Thanksgiving.NamastePlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Take the upcoming meditation training with Alan Finger, Sarah Finger, and Peter; or take a class online or in person at ISHTA Yoga.

Peter talks Ayurveda, the Indian science of health, with Naomi Edwards. Naomi is a Holistic Health Practitioner who specializes in Ayurveda, Yoga and Plant Medicine. Her passion is to share the knowledge of these ancient practices and give people the education of preventative health in a joyful way. She is the founder of Hillabrant Holistics, an Ayurvedic wellness studio and apothecary. It is a place to heal and to be empowered to take ownership of your health and well being. Naomi Edwards is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner, a 500 hour RYT Yoga and Meditation Teacher with many specialties, and a Certified Aromatherapist. Learn more at www.hillabrantholistics.com or on socials @hillabrantholisticsThis episode is also available as a video on YouTubePlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com.

Wendy and I share some insights from our New Year's special class on drishti and perspective.I mention a podcast episode and quote Dr. Mark Leary. The podcast is Finding Mastery 12/27/2023 .Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Thank you!You can take class and workshops with Peter. Find the full list of links here.You can find Wendy at ISHTA Yoga and Ascend Center in Cold Spring.

We're off to class for a talk and a meditation on the granthis, with a nod to Tay Tay. 

Join me in class for a meditation on the cycles of life.

Today we head to meditation class for Shakti Chalani, a beautiful practice that traditionally uses the image of a snake to represent kundalini shakti — the movement from the earthbound to the transcendent perspective. Alan Finger taught us a form of this alternative, which uses a sprouting flower. I think it's a perfect image for Spring.Enjoy the 10-minute introductory dharma talk and the meditation, too, when you have a chance. You can join me live, in person or online, at ISHTA Yoga.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.comNamaste, and happy Spring!

I share a few tips on how to approach asana, and how to do a powerful, simple vinyasa: the Sun Breath.This episode of Peter's Podcast is also a video. Check it out on YouTube/@peterspodcastPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Thank you!Namaste

ISHTA Yogiraj Wendy Newton talks about her upcoming course and shares some insights on the Yoga Sutras.More info on the course at ISHTAYoga.comNamaste!

In today's episode, Wendy Newton and I trade ideas for overcoming overwhelm!See this episode on video on YouTube/@peterspodcast. You can take classes, workshops and trainings with Peter and Wendy. See https://linktr.ee/peterferko for links to ISHTA Yoga and other events.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Thank you!Namaste.

In today's episode, you can join Peter at ISHTA Yoga for an introductory talk about mantra, or stay tuned for the full meditation practice. You can join Peter in person or online at ISHTA Yoga.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon!Namaste

A quick thought on pausing the news cycle for our own mental well-being...

Sometimes we get fancy with meditation techniques, but today we keep it simple with a practice of breath awareness. Give a listen, and then take the practice for a spin when you feel the need to shift gears, calm down, or get focused before doing something important.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste!

I discuss yoga training, lineage, and sound healing and meditation with teacher Lindsay Monal. Lindsay Monal is an ISHTA Yoga Graduate, Reiki Master, and Sound Meditation Facilitator. She regularly offers classes and teacher trainings in North Jersey and New York City, and hosts international yoga and meditation retreats a few times each year. Lindsay has spoken at the United Nations, performed sound at Harvard University, and led immersive wellness experiences for Google, Audible, and Athleta,. You can find out more about Lindsay's work on Instagram or on her website, smilingsavasana.comOnline Trainings & In Person Trainings in Hoboken: https://yogarenew.com/Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon

Join Wendy Newton for a preview of her course on the Yoga Sutras. Next up Vibhutti Pada. This fascinating part of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali describes what comes from your practice, or to use one translation: the gifts of yoga!Course details at ISHTA YogaPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! Thank you.

Barack Obama has his music list; I have mine. Here are 21 songs that have been in heavy rotation this past Spring and summer. Hope you find something to enjoy. If you'd like to listen to the full songs, you can find the playlists on Tidal and on Spotify.Namaste!

Tantra Philosophy gave us a definition of reality that considers everything as a path to learning that we are just right as we are, that there is nothing better. Today's pod is a meditation class. Listen to the intro or join in the meditation practice!You can take class with Peter at ISHTA Yoga in person or online. Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste!

In this episode, I chat a bit about how the Bhagavad Gita, which I consider a kind of human being instruction manual, gives guidance about the qualities of someone who is more "divine" vs. someone more "demonic." Since our political situation has become one where the opposite sides are so at odds, I thought Chapter 16 of the Gita could provide a little insight. And make your plan to vote this November!If you have an interest in the Gita, I would recommend starting with the translation and commentary by Eknath Easwaren.I'm teaching two workshops this fall. One at ISHTA Yoga on Meditation for beginners or people who have trouble trying to meditate. The other at Ascend in Cold Spring is about gaining a richer yoga practice to use in challenging times. For details, see https://ishtayoga.com/workshops and https://www.ascendcenter.com/special-events/richer-practice-richer-life-with-peter-ferko-yogirajPlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Thank you!

Today's podcast is a yoga nidra practice, which is a meditation done lying down. Yoga nidra is very helpful at helping you relax or fall asleep. The meditation is about 20 minutes long and can be done on a yoga mat, on a couch or in bed. If you need to get up after the practice, you might want to set an alarm so you don't fall asleep for too long!Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.You can find out more about Peter on linktr.ee/peterferkoNamaste!

I share some thoughts for those with feelings of having lost the election.I refer to the book Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy by Georg Feuerstein.More on the Stages of Grief at https://www.healthline.com/health/stages-of-griefNamaste.

Best wishes to you and your family. Some thoughts on Indigenous Peoples' Day and Thanksgiving.I'm grateful for the chance to talk with you about real yoga, actual happiness, and deep living. Wendy and I are planning a retreat in the Florida Keys in February. Keep posted for more details.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! Thank youNamaste!

In this episode, Wendy and I talk about the Four Keys and the Yamas/Niyamas, two oft-quoted and oft-misunderstood parts of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which Wendy worked on with Alan Finger to create a Tantric interpretation. These will be the topics of our retreat to Key Largo this February. More info about the retreat is at peterferko.com/retreat/ You can get more info by writing me at peterspodcast108@gmail.com.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! Thank you!Namaste.

In this episode, I talk with Brian McLaren, an old friend and well-respected spiritual voice about his new book, Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart. I was so moved by his book that I asked Brian to discuss it for listeners of Peter's Podcast. The book doesn't focus on gloom and doom, though Brian provides a clear context of where we stand as a planet. Rather, it discusses how we can respond and adapt given the likelihood that our lives will be affected by climate change scenarios ranging from significant changes in the way we value material goods all the way to the collapse of society. The book's advice reminded me of a practice of seeing with clarity and acting from wisdom, so it seemed a great match for the podcast. I hope you agree.More about Brian and his book are at brianmclaren.netPlease support Peter's Podcast on PatreonJoin me and Wendy Newton this February in Key Largo for a winter warm-weather retreat! Details at peterferko.com 

In today's episode, we go to ISHTA Yoga for meditation class. The meditation is based around three mudras and taps into what Tantra yoga calls dahar akasha, or the cave of the heart wherein Universal Consciousness abides as our whole Self.You can take class in person or online with Peter at ISHTA Yoga. Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.com.Namaste

Today's episode is a meditation that begins with a talk about an aspect of sattva, the balanced action that is difficult to grasp in a world of constant motion. I share some ideas from quantum physics and from author Byron Katie to serve as analogs to what are doing we when we're not so wrapped up in our stories.You can join Peter in person or online for classes at ISHTA Yoga. You can find out more of what Peter's doing at linktr.eePlease support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste

Thoughts about our chaotic time, and how the philosophical symbol of the "granthis," or knots can help us move from fear and anger toward clarity and perspective.I mention the ISHTA Meditation Training that will be led by Alan Finger, Sarah Finger, and myself March 25-28.I mention a book on better communications between liberals and conservatives: Bridging Our Political Divide, by Kenneth Barish.I also want to recommend Life After Doom, by Brian McLaren, whom I interviewed in a recent podcast. 

Mona Anand, a co-owner of ISHTA Yoga, and I took teacher training together, but we both intended it to help us learn more about yoga. We both think of teacher training as training to be a yogi — to understand more deeply what it means to have and draw on this powerful practice. In today's episode, we discuss training in general, and highlight aspects of upcoming 200 and 300 hour trainings. Whether you have no intention to ever teach yoga, or already took teacher training, I hope you will find our observations interesting and useful.Details of ISHTA trainings can be found at ISHTAYoga.com, where you can have the opportunity to learn more about yoga with Mona, myself — and Wendy Newton. The 300-hr (Art of Touch Module) starts May 9; the 200-hr starts July 14. Free info sessions with Mona are April 24 and May 2. Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon! And thank you for all who do

In today's episode, Wendy Newton, Mona Anand, and I discuss why we're hosting a retreat in the Hamptons May 27-30. We talk about the value of sangha — intentional spiritual community, the power of satsang — speaking about our highest truths, and the importance of fun and wonder when we're facing challenge. Join us for this conversation here, and then join us at the retreat! Details are at https://ishtayoga.com/retreats/hamptonsretreatmay2025 .Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. Thank you for your support, and thank you for listening!

Today's episode takes us to ISHTA meditation class for a talk about how Tantra offers us not just an escape, but a way to bring our wisdom into life to help both ourselves and the world. Listen to the talk, or stay on for the meditation practice, too. Please come to our retreat! Calling on Your Practice Now:A Hamptons retreat with Mona Anand, Wendy Newton, and me. May 27-30. Come for the whole retreat or come out for a day. Details via the link above.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon. And thank you for your support!Namaste.

Come by ISHTA Yoga with me today for a talk about the chakras, plus a meditation using the "chakra bhedana," kriya practice.If you have a chance this Memorial Day week, join me, Wendy Newton, and Mona Anand in the Hamptons on Long Island for a retreat that looks at how to deepen your practice. Day rates available. Info at retreats2025@ishtayoga.comProfound thanks to members of the military who fought and gave their lives to protect American freedom on this Memorial Day.Please support Peter's Podcast on Patreon.Namaste