Skillful Means Podcast

Text me your feedback.While the world may feel increasingly more fraught, we can't sustain ourselves on anger and fear alone. We must remember what we're fighting for and, as Tennessee Williams asks of us, save the love.This latest episode kicks off a series of episodes on Awakening the Heart - theories, teachings, and practices that will better sustain us in the months and years to come. This month, we take a look at why shouldn't feel guilty for taking time out of resisting to foreground what brings us joy and happiness. In fact, making sure we build in positive moments in our lives is going to set up our brains to be more creative and energetic warriors. Some highlights include: - Dr. Barbara Fredrickson's theories on  "micro-moments of connection" and Broaden & Build- The Mahayana Buddhist concept of bodhicitta (open-heartedness)- Dr. Rick Hanson's "Taking in the Good" practice.Resources Mentioned on the ShowLove 2.0 ~ Dr. Barbara FredericksonBodhicitta ~ Tricycle MagazineTaking in the Good - Dr. Rick Hanson*** Jen's got space on her coaching roster. If you'd like to work 1:1, go here for more info: https://www.sati.yoga/ifs-coaching/index.htmlAnd you might also like Jen's newsletter: https://www.sati.yoga/letter/index.html~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.This month's practice features an embodied mediation to help you stay present with life's challenges without becoming overwhelmed or shutting down. Inspired by Roshi Joan Halifax's teachings, you'll cultivate a foundation of stability to underpin your capacity for openness and compassion.This meditation includes several periods of silence of around 3-6 minutes. The guidance assumes you're sitting (chair or cushion are fine) so that you can experience the support of the spine. The practice starts at 2:43 after a brief talk. If your player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.This month, we're looking at a question that comes up a lot:All parts are supposed to be welcome, but how do we work with feelings we don't like?Drawing on Buddhist wisdom and the function of emotions, we're exploring:Why equanimity is about including our feelings, not surprising them.What the Buddhist teachings on dukkha (suffering) can tell us about why fighting against our emotions creates more suffering.How so-called negative emotions serve as important internal motivators.+ Simple techniques to start reframing your relationship with difficult feelings in order to create a welcoming inner atmosphere for all your parts. Mentioned In The Episode:Join me for one of my upcoming Pause and Reset gatherings—hour-long meditative sessions combining desk-friendly yoga, mindfulness practice and parts work meditations. The next one is on June 4th and is pay what you can. ~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.The Taoists believe that we can harness the stabilizing qualities of Earth Qi along with the generative qualities of  Heaven/Sky Qi to improve physical health, increase longevity, and cultivate inner harmony. In this guided practice, Jennifer O'Sullivan shares a visualization technique, paired with mindful breathing, to mobilize and balance these vital energies in the body.

Text me your feedback.There are definitely times when we need to get a hold of ourselves. But how do we do that without dismissing our feelings? This brief Parts Work practice is for moments when you feel too activated or busy for deeper introspection but also need to find our center. It will help you create space – access Self Energy – around difficult emotions while honoring their presence. Practice this technique regularly when you're calm so you are more likely to reach for it when you need it. It'll help you build up your capacity for self-connection and self-compassion so it becomes a resource even in really trying moments.

Text me your feedback.Grounding practices are more than just coping mechanisms during tumultuous times. They're empowering strategies to discharge excess emotional energy while tap rooting your inner strength and resilience. In this episode, we're exploring:An empowered way to think of grounding as a practice6 principles of effective grounding techniquesProactively collecting your tools so you can reach for them when you need themJennifer also pulls from yoga and Buddhist dharma teachings to answer a listener question about engaging others in our values-based causes without creating harm.Resources Mentioned On This ShowAdyashanti: https://www.opengatesangha.org/14 Precepts of Engaged Buddhism: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-fourteen-precepts-of-engaged-buddhism/~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.Instead of speculating endlessly about why you might be avoiding something, ask the part that's hesitating!Based on Internal Family Systems (IFS), this guided parts work practice will help you identify and get to know the part (or parts) that are resisting taking action. If you're new to IFS Parts Work, check out Episode 29 for a primer and 30 for a basic guided practice. You might also appreciate Episode 100 for a deeper dive into what lies underneath resistance. 

Text me your feedback.Ever wonder why you feel resistant to doing something that you actually want to do? This month we're unpacking the complexities of resistance through Buddhist teachings and IFS Parts Work. We're going to scrap the self-sabotaging label and get to the roots of why most people struggle to make progress on their goals. The difference types of resistance according to Buddhism's Five HindrancesThe IFS Perspective on the intentions of parts and why they put up road blocksJennifer also shares a few personal anecdotes that highlight a compassionate approach to getting things done. Resources Mentioned in the ShowSatipatthana Meditation by Bhikkhu AnalayoToward a Psychology of Awakening by John Elwood~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.As a practice of being, Yin Yoga creates a unique container for exploring the restless impulses to fix while encouraging us to relax into self-acceptance. In this short practice, Jen shares three postures that target the Earth element as a way of amplifying stabilizing yin energies while directing attention to the Hara - the belly center - as a  way to deepen into your home ground. Postures in this practice:Reclining ButterflyReclining Twist Supported Pontoon (bridge with extended legs)Props:One block (or similar object) - necessaryAdditional block or two small cushions - optionaljournal - optional The practice follows a brief introduction at 2:10. If your podcast player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey.Support the show~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.Feeling the pressure to do all the things? This episode explores the balancing act between living up to expectations, following the rules, and being true to yourself. • Identifying shoulds (compared to wants & needs)• Self-compassion vs should-ing on yourself• Sensing shoulds in body, heart, and mind• Parts Work (Internal Family Systems - IFS) for uncovering the roots of shoulds• Strategies for managing a to-do list of things that are important to youParts Work Questions mentioned in the show:- Why is this important?- How did this become important?- What would happen if I did something else instead?- Do I really want to do this? Or do it in this exact way?Resources and People mentioned in the show:- The Center for Nonviolent Communications Feelings & Needs Inventory- Building Movement Project Social Change Ecosystem Map- Racheal Cook~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.This preview pod explores the concept of upaya (skillful means) and its relevance in today's polarized world + how this focus will be reflected in the next iteration of the show. Jen emphasizes the importance of developing presence and awareness in order to meet life's challenges with courage and heart.Highlights include: • Cultivating what Roshi Joan Halifax calls a strong back and soft front• What kind of awareness is needed for this moment• Recognizing "lab time" on the mat as preparation for real-life challenges • Building a diverse toolkit of practices for various situations Listener feedback and support is essential to the evolution of the how, so don't forget to fill out the survey form: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.This preview pod marks the return of the Skillful Means Podcast, where Jen introduces a new format focused on listener questions and community storytelling... plus a little preview of what's on the horizon for the show. Send me your questions, favorite resources, and vignettes to help shape the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/formMentioned in the episode:• Lojong Slogans~ ~ ~SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

Jen wraps up her partial series on the Brahma Viharas with Mudita, commonly translated as "sympathetic joy." With Mudita, we're asked to rejoice in the good fortune of others, admittedly not easy.This is why Jen likes to think of Mudita as "delight," specifically delighting in joy itself whether it's originating from someone else or from within. But, when we are able to delight in other's happiness, it's further solidifies our connection and sense of interconnectedness, helping to ease the suffering of loneliness and isolation. The meditation starts at 3:39. If your podcast player support chapter makers, you can skip ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Have you ever caught yourself (or been caught by someone else) with your head buried in your smartphone while doing something mundane like brushing your teeth or walking through your home?If so, you can probably relate to the lure of distraction when certain moments don't seem worth our full attention. In this contemplation, Annie invites us to view these small, ordinary moments during the day as portals to mindfulness that may reveal a hidden treasure of simple awe that awaits our ordinary attention. To skip the talk and go straight to the mediation, fast forward to 3:33 or use the chapter marker if your player supports them.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Continuing her mini-series on the Brahma Viharas, the Four Immeasurables, Jen shares the Tibetan practice of Tonglen. This training in compassion is an inner alchemy where the practitioner seeks to transmute the suffering of others. Tonglen teaches us how to grow our hearts beyond the boundaries of those in our in-crowd. It invites us to embrace our common humanity as an extension of our own being. This particular variation of Tonglen is inspired by a version by Roshi Joan Halifax.To skip the talk and go straight to the mediation, fast forward to 4:18 or use the chapter marker if your player supports them.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

It's counterintuitive but essentially true: all phenomena itself is neutral, including people and events, and they have equal capacity to provoke suffering or ease alike – it all depends on how we meet the moment.As we continues our series of practice this summer, Annie offers a contemplation on how we might work with discernment in shaping a skillful state of mind when facing difficult circumstances.The meditation starts at 2:57. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump ahead.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Some of the most treasured and widely-practiced Buddhist Teachings are the Brahma Viharas (The Four Immeasurables). They also appear in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as one of the many practices that settle mind. Sometimes referred to as "The Four Faces of Love," these teachings help us to foreground love in all our encounters... with ourselves, loved ones, community members, and even people that we don't particularly like.As part of our summer series of practices, Jen is going to share 3 of the four "Divine Abodes," starting with metta (loving-kindness). In this practice, we're training up the capacity to tap into our shared humanity and awaken goodwill towards others. The meditation starts at 2:04. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

The old Zen proverb that says “before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water” is a gentle reminder that chasing the ecstatic will ultimately let us down. Instead, if we can stay close to the ordinary matters of each moment, we may be much better positioned to experience luminous presence.In this practice, Annie discusses the true meaning of mindfulness, and invites you to use your immediate surroundings as a platform for awakening to the moment. The meditation start at 2:40. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump ahead.~This summer, we here at Skillful Means Podcast are taking a hiatus from releasing discussion episodes. Travel plans being what they are, it was going to be a challenge to get together. But we aren't leaving you hanging! Join us for bi-weekly practices that you can practice wherever you are. No props necessary. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

In the last of our series on the less common practices of the First Foundation of Mindfulness (Mindfulness of the Body), Jen shares a practice of contemplating the four elements of the body: earth, water, fire, and air. Because everything in the manifest world contains these elements, this practice helps us to embody interconnectedness. We're also encouraged to soften our sense of exceptionalism. We are, after all, just this. The meditation starts at 3:00. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump right to it.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Could you imagine a yoga class without postures?  In fact, millions of dedicated yoga practitioners don't practice asana at all. In this episode, Annie and Jen discuss ways to engage with the teachings separate from asana, drawing on guidance from the "Bhagavad Gita" and their own experiences. "Bhagavad Gita" quote mentioned in the episode: Chapter 2 Verse 42-43"There are ignorant people who speak flowery words and take delight in the letter of the law, saying that there is nothing else. Their hearts are full of selfish desires, Arjuna. Their idea of heaven is their own enjoyment, and the aim of all their activities is pleasure and power."Summer Recommended ReadingContemplating Reality, Andy KarrWaking, Matthew SandfordDavid Copperfield, Charles DickensSilo Series, Hugh Howey~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

In the First Foundation of Mindfulness, the Buddha shared several practices that were intended to help practitioners release their attachments to the body. Whether we are concerned about it's size and shape, the body's age, specific parts... we're encouraged to experience the body as it simple is: comprised of hard and soft tissues... organs... parts. In this month's guided practice, Jen shares a variation on the contemplation of the anatomy of the body. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

We are thrilled to welcome Sarah Powers, author and co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, onto the show to talk about embodying the qualities of love and compassion. This is the "finale" episode our series on the 12 Embodiments of Yoga. Sarah was the perfect guest for this topic as compassion is such a central theme in her teachings. Throughout the sweeping conversation, Sarah helps trace the line between practicing on a mat and love and compassion as an orientation towards living life. Notable touchpoints include:~ why starting a practice with self-compassion sets the mood for what's to come~ an attitude of wonder vs imposing a strict structure on our practice~ yoga practice as a container for meeting our full selves~ getting comfortable with discomfort~ the pressure to perform our best selves~ are we practicing for ourselves or others?~ how to be in touch with others' pain without attempting to carry it for them~ being with the tumult in our world without drowning in itSarah teaches all over the world. To sign up for her next training or retreat, visit: https://sarahpowersinsightyoga.com/If you want to take her US-based Level 1 Yin Yoga Teacher Training in DC at Sun & Moon Yoga Studio, follow this link: https://sunandmoonstudio.cowtinker.com/om/workshops/sarah-powers-insight-yoga-teacher-training-intensive-summer-2023~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

While we may train up mindfulness in formal settings, our true aim is to become present and aware all the time. So, at some point, we must take the practice off the cushion or mat and point it towards the everyday things that we usually take for granted.... washing our hands, preparing a meal, folding laundry. In this guided practice, Jen guides you to mindfully eat an orange. Even if you don't particularly like oranges, this is still a surprisingly potent practice because it helps us to separate the experience of mindfulness from what we prefer, enjoy, or dislike. Props: one orange~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

In their continuing exploration of Annie's 12 Embodiments of Yoga, in this episode, Annie and Jen discuss the nuances of Kindness and Generosity. While this may seem like a breezy topic, these qualities (and their corresponding actions) ask of us a certain amount of magnanimity that has to be cultivated and applied intentionally.  Jen & Annie look at how to do that and how their own orientation has changed over their decades as practitioners. ~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

Jen continues her series on Mindfulness of the Body variations with an exploration of standing, one of the four traditional meditation postures. Standing practice can be a respite for many who find sitting for long stretches uncomfortable. And standing can quickly become uncomfortable itself, which his why it is a potent posture to practice with. But mostly, this is one of Jen's favorite meditation postures because you can practice it almost anywhere you happen to be standing in line. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

We're back from an unplanned hiatus with our continuing series on Annie's Twelve Embodiments of Yoga. This month, Jen and Annie are chatting about the role of wonder and whimsy in practice. Jen is a little skeptical, especially with whimsy, having generally approached her practice as a serious endeavor. Listen in to see if Annie can bring her around. Mentioned on the Show:"Yoga and the Quest for the True Self" by Stephen Cope"Wonder – is not precisely Knowing" by Emily DickinsonWhat We're Reading:"Let the Great World Spin" by Colum McCann"This Side of Brightness" by Colum McCann"Apeirogon" by Colum McCannMurderbot Diaries by Martha C. Wells"A Memory Called Empire" by Arkady Martine"A Desolation Called Peace" by Arkady Martine~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

Jen's back with a series new series of guided practices exploring different ways of working with the body to establish mindful awareness. Pulled from teachings in the Buddha's Four Foundations of Mindfulness, our hope is that cultivating mindfulness through the body will help you to find grounded stability and continuity in your connection to the present moment. In this first of five practices, you'll explore Mindfulness of Body Posture, a teaching that can be transferred to any shape whether you're standing, sitting, lying on the beach, or even in a yoga posture. Jen uses Half Butterfly, a simple and accessible Yin Yoga posture in this meditation. To skip right to the practice, jump to 5:00 or use the chapter marker. Props you might need:blockyoga blanket or stiff beach towel~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Unlike all other biological organisms who have built-in mechanisms to maintain homeostasis, human minds are at the mercy of themselves. They gallivant around, unchecked, until we choose to rein our own thoughts in. In this guided practice, Annie offers a method for helping those galloping thoughts to gently return to a centered place in the body that can orient the mind around gentle peace.   Meditation starts at 2:03.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Continuing with our exploration of Annie's 12 Embodiments of yoga, Jen and Annie chat about sacrifice and spaciousness. With Jen feeling like sacrifice is a loaded term, they spend some time unpacking what is really expected of us when it comes to spiritual growth. In particular, they explore how sacrifice is a necessary natural process and creates the conditions for the spaciousness that promotes the ease and wellbeing we want our practice to foster. ~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

In this guided practice, Annie shares inspiration from recent scientific breakthroughs in nuclear fusion.She suggests that we can turn simple inward focus into bright, shining energetic presence to generate our own little sunbursts of kindness, patience, and compassion.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

In this meditation, Annie guides you through a practice of making space for others, especially those who share different philosophical or political beliefs or who we find emotionally activating. Instead of trying to find common ground, Annie offers the option of rooting yourself in the present moment while inviting spacious, peaceful presence to guide you. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Continuing our exploration of embodied qualities of Yoga, Jen & Annie discuss the nuances of Courage and how it's a necessary ingredient for our Practice. They also share how they're getting ready for the Winter season. ~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

Dovetailing on our conversations on embodiment, Annie's back with a guided practice that reframes distracting thoughts by laying a simple and straightforward path an easy breath. In this practice, Annie share's the mindfulness technique of noting, which draws compassionate attention to rumination while giving you the option of choosing not to stay there. We hope this will be of benefit. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

In this episode, Jen and Annie take a look at two of Annie's 12 Embodiments: quiet and attention. The sweeping conversation covers a lot of ground from inner spaciousness, meeting emotions with compassion, quietude in relationship, beginners mind, quality of attention, and is it creepy to do nothing at a coffee shop? They also share a few "hacks" that are saving their lives right now. Mentioned in this episode:Alter Eco Chocolate BarsHungry Lady Salads by Kathleen AshmorePets + Oxytocin~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

Join Annie Moyer as she guides you through an exploration of embodied listening, connecting you to the subtle vibrations of sound that can be felt throughout the body. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

The word embodiment is becoming as ubiquitous as mindfulness these days. Wondering if the word is drifting in meaning, Annie and Jen look at what embodiment is through several lens including spirituality, philosophy and psychology. They also point out ways in which something may appear to be embodied but not. And this is all a lead up to a series of upcoming explorations in what Annie has dubbed "The 12 Embodiments of Yoga." Mentioned in this episode:"Years and Years" on HBO"Upload" on Amazon Prime"Futurama" Bo ForbesJohn Schumacher "Radical Wholeness" by Philip Shepherd (Note that neither Annie nor Jen have read this book nor are we familiar with the author. So this is not an endorsement. We just mentioned it on the show. If you've read this book, we'd love to know what you think. )~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Check out her upcoming in-person class in Arlington, VA .Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation  and dharma talks

In our fifth and final Short Yin Yoga Practice Snack, Jen shares offers some relief for the upper back, a common area of tension for a lot of people. Throughout the practice, she'll also help you mindfully attend to your breath as a way of gathering and calming the mind. Postures in this practice: rolling panda x2butterfly variationProps you might need:blockyoga blanket or stiff beach towelVisit our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/skillfulmeanspodcast/) for a time lapse video of this practice if you aren't familiar with the postures. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

In this month's conversation, Annie and Jen are exploring the question: who's the real teacher in the yoga room? To put another way, how do we balance listening to our own inner guidance with that of the person standing at the front of the room? The discussion spans a range or themes around agency, autonomy and what's the purpose of the teacher in spiritual life and practice. Mentioned on the ShowSarah PowersStephen Bacheloradrienne maree brown~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Check out her upcoming Yin Yoga & Taoism training. Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) and check out their upcoming 200hr Yoga Teacher Training. 

In our fourth Short Yin Yoga Practice Snack, Jen skillfully and tenderly guides you through a sequence of postures for the thighs and back. Because the thighs, in particular, can be a challenging target area, she also offers nervous system support with gentle breath work and visualization.Postures in this practice: dragon x2caterpillarProps you might need:block bolster or firm cushionyoga blanket or stiff beach towelVisit our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/skillfulmeanspodcast/) for a time lapse video of this practice if you aren't familiar with the postures. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

We're continuing our exploration of opposites in the way that yoga is practiced and taught with a look at the debate over form and function when it comes to asana. How do we stay safe in the yoga room? Should we focus on how the postures look and try to work towards alignment paradigms? Or should we focus on the why? We also dive into deeper questions around the overall purpose of asana in the broader context of yoga practice and how Instagram Yogis are impacting how we think about asana. Mentioned on the ShowHow Yoga Can Wreck Your Body - William J. Broad, NY TimesJohn SchumacherAngela Farmer & Victor van KootenEric SchiffmanPaul GrilleyJules MitchellWho's Inspiring Us with Innovative & Accessible Approaches to AsanaMatthew Sanford +  Interview with Kirsta TippettJivana HaymanTheresa MurphyHeart + Bones YogaDianne Bondy~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga) and Annie through Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com). 

In the third  Short Yin Yoga Practice Snack, Jen guides three postures for the upper chest and arms. This little practice is a nice antidote to desk posture. She also shares encourages to become more familiar with the feelings that arise when we practice, holding whatever arises in a compassionate container. Postures in this practice: supported fishbanana x2Props you might need:block bolster or firm cushionyoga blanket or stiff beach towelVisit our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/skillfulmeanspodcast/) for a time lapse video of this practice if you aren't familiar with the postures. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

In this month's discussion, Annie and Jen unpack sutra 2.33 from "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali." When negative thoughts arise, this sutra advises that we cultivate the opposite. Is Patanjali advocating for spiritual bypassing? Or is this an early form of cognitive behavior therapy? And how might more modern interpretations of this sutra be used to inadvertently cause harm? Mentioned in this episode:The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali translation and commentary by Alistair ShearerShambhala Encyclopedia of Yoga by Georg FeuersteinOn Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean VuongTime is a Mother by Ocean VuongSally Miller's Instagram post on Yin Yoga and Anti-racism~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga) and Annie through Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com). Listen live to Annie's dharma talks on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/SunMoonYogaStudio/featured). 

In this second  Short Yin Yoga Practice Snack, Jen shares three postures that target the inner and outer thighs to help promote gracefulness and mobility in areas that are often stiff. Jen also sprinkles in a dash of mindfulness of body sensation while encouraging you to also notice the way your mind reacts to being in the postures. Postures in this practice: dragonflyreclined, single leg twist x2Props you might need:block bolster or firm cushionyoga blanket or stiff beach towelVisit our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/skillfulmeanspodcast/) for a time lapse video of this practice if you aren't familiar with the postures. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

In the next few discussion episodes, Annie and Jen will explore some of the common opposites that show up in our practices spaces and in conversations among practitioners and teachers. They start things off with the friction between purusha (unbounded consciousness) and prakriti (form/matter), which are outlined in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as the framework for understanding our existence in the universe. How does one balance the needs of the form body with the spiritual aims of practice? Are we too enamored with the physical aims of practice or too pre-occupied with transcending form? Mentioned on the show:Your Atomic Self by Curt Stager~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga) and Annie through Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com). Listen live to Annie's dharma talks on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/SunMoonYogaStudio/featured). 

This is the first practice in a series Jen is calling "Yin Shorts: Short Yin Yoga Practice Snacks with a Dash of Mindfulness."Kicking things off, Jen focuses on the low back with three poses that will hopefully help you feel a little more mobile and comfortable in the low back. She'll also guide you through a survey of the three centers of your inner world: body, heart, and mind. Postures in this practice: sphinx1/2 butter variation x2Props you might need:block or twobolster or firm cushionyoga blanket or stiff beach towelVisit our Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/skillfulmeanspodcast/) for a time lapse video of this practice so you can see what the postures look like. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Following on Annie's series of contemplative practices on the kleshas, Jen and Annie discuss how uncovering the roots of our "mental poisons" might guide us in navigating current events that feel particularly fraught. Resources Mentioned on the Show: G.R.A.C.E.: Training in Cultivating Compassion-based Interactions via Upaya Zen CenterThe Lightmaker's Manifesto by Karen WalrondWhat We're ReadingSmall Wonder: Essays by Barbara KingsolverWild Seed (Book 1 of The Patternist Series) by Octavia ButlerTen Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga) and Annie through Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com). Listen live to Annie's dharma talks on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/c/SunMoonYogaStudio/featured). 

In the last practice in our series on the kleshas (hindrances) Annie masterfully guides you through a contemplation of abhinivesha. Often translated as "fear of death," it can also mean "will to live." But it's the flavor of fear of abhinivesha, compounded by other kleshas such as raga (attachment) and dvesha (aversion), that abhinivesha creates so much suffering. In this gentle practice, you'll connect with the cyclical quality of the breath as a signifier of the give and take of life. For repeat listens the meditation starts at 4:01. If your player supports chapter markings, you can skip ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she teaches hybrid online/in-person classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

This month, Annie and Jen discuss how consequential our language is, particularly when cultivating a culture of inclusivity in our yoga and spiritual spaces. We see yoga communities as microcosms of general society, and we believe that the grassroots work we do in our small spaces rolls up into the more nourishing and equitable world we'd like to see in the world. Teachers, Books, and other References mentioned in this episode:If we missed one, let us know at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.comEmergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree BrownDianne BondyPaul GrilleyYour Body Your Yoga by Bernie ClarkLeslie Kaminoff Amber KarnesJivana HeymanAccessible Yoga Community Kelly Diels~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga) and Annie through Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com).

Continuing our contemplations of the kleshas — t he causes of suffering — Annie guides us through a tender exploration of dvesha, or aversion. Noting that we tend to view our aversions as safety measures, Annie gently encourages us to widen our bandwidth of experience to include discomfort so that we don't waste precious energy that we could be directing towards growth and transformation. For repeat listens the meditation starts at 3:48. If your player supports chapter markings, you can skip ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she teaches hybrid online/in-person classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Annie and Jen explore the nuances of Tapas (heat) and Santosha (contentment), two oft misunderstood concepts. Is tapas really about burning off impurities through vigorous practice? Is santosha a ticket to complicity? Have a listen and let us know what you think!~ ~ ~What We're Reading:The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki MurakamiThe Expanse Series by James S. A. CoreyGrounded Spirituality by Jeff Brown~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can also get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga) and Annie through Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com).

In this heart-filled third of five practices on the kleshas – the causes of suffering — Annie guides you through the difference between love and attachment (raga), beautifully bringing to light how the suffering of our conditioned experience snuffs out the luminous essence and unconditional presence of divine humanhood. For repeat listens the meditation starts at 2:57. If your player supports chapter markings, you can skip ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she teaches hybrid online/in-person classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.