Podcasts about jivana heyman

Text me Your email for my Booking LinkMichael Jay welcomes Jivana Heyman, founder of Accessible Yoga and a leading voice for inclusive teaching. Jivana shares how AIDS activism drew him back to yoga, eventually centering his work on adaptive classes for marginalized communities. They discuss how studio owners can remove physical, financial, and cultural barriers to help “every body” feel a true sense of belonging.Key PointsJivana's JourneyLearned yoga from his grandmother; returned to it during the AIDS crisis for self-care.Taught at a San Francisco hospital for people with HIV/AIDS, refining accessible teaching methods.What Is Accessible Yoga?Goes beyond props—embraces universal design, inclusive class titles, and deeper yogic teachings.Recognizes that physical ability doesn't correlate to inner peace.Studio Culture & CommunityCultivate a welcoming space: chairs, flexible pricing, clear class descriptions.Focus on relationships—small gestures like introducing newcomers can transform the studio vibe.Practical TipsOffer variations in mixed-level classes.Provide short private sessions for absolute beginners before group classes.Couch and chair yoga can encourage home practice and draw in more diverse populations.Resources & Linkshttps://www.yogajournal.com/practice/couch-yoga/https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/traininghttps://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/accessible-yoga-podcast-30-yearshttps://www.instagram.com/jivanaheyman/About Jivana HeymanFounder of Accessible Yoga, author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body and Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion. Through workshops, trainings, and events, he promotes an inclusive approach to yoga's deeper message of unity and social justice.Connect with Michael JaySubscribe to the Yoga Biz Champ Podcast for more expert insights on growing your yoga business. Ready to dive deeper?Visit YogaBizChamp.link/podlink to book a call and explore coaching options.Book a call with Chris from the Sales Arms with my direct link to his calendar Yoga Biz Champ listeners get 50% off the first 3 months or 15% off annual plans via my exclusive link offeringtree.com/yogabizchamppodcast Book a call with Mitch McGinley from the Boutique Fitness Brokers with my link. BOOK WITH MITCH HERE FREE RESOURCES AND BOOK A CHAT LINKhttps://yogabizchamp.link/podlink

This is the final interview in our series about yoga organizations, how they operate, and our futures. And it is a good one. Jivana Heyman is nothing if not an expert in the operations of organizations, with such an amazing understanding of how they work and what they should be doing for us. KEY TAKEAWAYS*The point of an organization, any organization, is to speak for those who have less power. Jivana put that beautifully. If you are a non-profit organization that takes membership dues, even if your status doesn't explicitly state that you are for the members, what is the point of you if you don't speak up for those with less power? *PLEASE watch for orgs consolidating power. When fewer and fewer people have more and more of the say, that is a KEY sign that things are not functioning properly in the organization.*Accessible Yoga did best practices for online teaching. I just need to repeat that as something that it is INSANE to me that the yoga alliance OR IAYT has not set forth. This is going to be critical to us in the future as we look at a lot more of our work going online in the next 5-10 years. Have YOU been thinking about online, AI and tech? I have. *There IS something not working in the yoga space, and I agree with Jivana, I cannot quite figure it out either. A lack of generosity, so much gatekeeping, resource hoarding, what else? *I will say this now until I die. The Yoga Alliance and the IAYT have scope of practice issues. What is best for yoga practitioners and yoga schools is not always the same. What is best for yoga therapists in practice and best for yoga therapy schools are definitely not the same. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sort your scope of practice issues out!!*Jivana pointed out some operational things about the Yoga Alliance that I find SO STAGGERINGLY awful. The Yoga Alliance is allegedly taking the money they make from dues, funneling it into another organization that has tax-free status (c-6 trade orgs are not tax-free), and each org has the SAME board and CEO. Talk about conflict of interest. Whatcha need that money for Yoga Alliance? Tell us what's going on, boo.*Let's figure out how to support each other in the next four years if you are in the US. By all accounts things are looking dicey for us as an industry that exists in the “extra” bucket of most people's budgets. When people have less extra money to spend, we tend to see our numbers dip. So how are we going to support each other and get through what will likely be a difficult period for our businesses?*Finally, I want to share a few of Jivana's ideas about what an organization could offer its members. Free training, continuing education, legal support, liability insurance, waivers, contracts, more information and data about our industry, marketing, and the role of supporting unions are just some of the things they could be doing. And if any organization was doing this, they would for sure have my money.RESOURCESWorking In Yoga WebsiteWorking In Yoga NewsletterJivana's Website1

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 386: Weaponization of Yoga with Sheena Sood   Description: How can something like yoga, that is meant to be peaceful and focused on meditation and breath, be weaponized? How has it been co-opted by the far-right, colonizer projects, and Zionists? How does this show up in our yoga spaces and what can we do to address it? Dr. Sheena Sood shares her insights.   Dr. Sheena Sood (PhD) is a Philadelphia-based activist, educator, sociologist, and healing justice visionary of South Asian descent. She is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Delaware Valley University in Pennsylvania and has studied yoga at Kailash Tribal School of Yoga in India. Her current research project is about Omwashing Yoga: Weaponized Spirituality in India, Israel, and the US, where she investigates the growing incorporation of yoga and mindfulness by far-right law enforcement, military, and vigilante groups. Sheena is also curates “Decolonizing Yoga” workshops through frameworks that recognize yoga's oppressive layers and liberatory potential and is the founder and creative director of Yoga Warrior Tales, an interactive adventure-based educational program that teaches children yoga and mindfulness through a social justice lens.   Sheena shares her perspective on the situation in Palestine and the reactions in the yoga world after October 7. She explains why this response of “om-washing” is not unexpected, and how we as yoga practitioners, teachers, and studios can counter harmful narratives to support Palestine. Sheena also has some words of encouragement and motivation for those of us doing the work and feeling exhausted, so be sure to tune in for some powerful insights.   Key Takeaways: [3:14] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsors, OfferingTree and her own 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training. [4:26] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Sheena Sood. [11:29] What does Sheena do and who does she do it for? [14:13] How can something like yoga, that is meant to be relaxing and focuses on breath and meditation, be weaponized? What is om-washing? [22:50] Sheena shares her experience of learning about the history of Palestine and how that influenced her interactions with IDF/IOF soldiers in her yoga teacher training. [29:14] Sheena shares her reflections on the video that was circulating of people practicing yoga in support of Israel. [34:42] How is om-washing showing up at a micro level? How does the weaponization of yoga show up in our yoga spaces and studios? [45:22] Shannon pops in with a message about the sponsor, OfferingTree. [49:11] Shannon and Sheena discuss how change can actually be created - it's not by trying to be nice. [54:13] What is Sheena's advice for people who have been taking action but are feeling discouraged or unmotivated that their efforts are making a difference? [62:37] Shannon and Sheena reflect on some of the images they have seen of Israeli soldiers practicing yoga after bombing homes in Gaza. [66:45] Learn more from Sheena on social media or via her website. [69:42] Sheena shares some closing thoughts. [71:26] Shannon shares her reflections from this conversation with Sheena, as well as a personal update.   Links: Sheena Sood Sheena Sood on Instagram: @sheena_shining, @yogawarriortales Yogis For Palestine Sign the Yogis for Palestine Solidarity Statement Previous Podcast Episodes Related to the Topic 385: When the Yoga Teacher Stumbles with Jivana Heyman 382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian 376: Collective Care Over Individualistic Self-Care with Muna Shakour 369: Struggling to Write Content is Normal with Billie Smith 362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE] 356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller 359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh La La Lil Jidar Queer Inclusive Teaching with Billie Smith + Shannon Crow Yogis for Palestine Merchandise (T-shirts) Aniqa Anwar ABCD Yogi - Om-washing and Zionism on YouTube  Southampton Olive Oil Company Move with Billie - Inclusivity Workshops Yoga for Pelvic Health  3-Hour On Demand Workshop with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team Shannon Crow on Instagram   Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.   Quotes from this episode: "Om-washing is the term for how the global far right and these ethnostates and cultural institutions use yoga as propaganda to make themselves look peaceful or liberatory to the public. But in fact, it's disguising their violent agendas."   "If I'm doing yoga according to the ethics that I want to live up to, then yoga invites me to reckon with the violence my ancestors and my relatives might be participating in."   "One of the ways in which these yoga studios participate in om-washing is in these unfortunate ways in which they think they're trying to be well-intentioned and decolonial, but they actually are only just doing this diversity and inclusion approach that is not actually anti-colonial and that is not anti-imperial."   "No oppressed and formally colonized society has ever won a struggle against their oppressor simply through nonviolent, peaceful resistance."   "I just want to encourage folks to not numb yourself as we continue to see these images and think they can't get any worse. Continue to find ways to let your heart feel what it is that you're witnessing."

In this episode, I interviewed Jivana Heyman. Jivana  (he/him), C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body.Over the past 30 years of teaching yoga, Jivana has focused on welcoming all people to practice and celebrating our individuality and our differences. His work has focused on dismantling ableism in the yoga world, as well as emphasizing the intersection of yoga and social justice. His books, classes, and trainings support yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition.I've wanted to have Jivana on for a long time — our worlds overlap in a variety of ways — students who take our trainings often also train with Accessible Yoga. Many of our faculty also colllaborate in both realms. It was great to finally have Jivana on the podcast.Support the showConnect with Inner Peace Yoga Therapy Email us: info@innerpeaceyogatherapy.com Website Instagram Facebook

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 385: When the Yoga Teacher Stumbles with Jivana Heyman   Description: Have you ever been deeply disappointed in a yoga teacher, mentor, or celebrity? You are not alone. It is a common experience that many yoga teachers and practitioners go through, but how should we react? In this episode, Jivana Heyman joins Shannon to discuss how they deal with their feelings of grief and disappointment caused by folks in the yoga world.   Jivana Heyman is a teacher, author, and advocate, well-known in the yoga community. He is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. He has authored multiple books and brings decades of experience as an advocate and teacher to this conversation.   Shannon and Jivana discuss the complex topic of navigating a path forward when yoga teachers or mentors disappoint us. Whether through actions that fall short of our expectations, problematic behavior, or situations where trust is broken, these experiences can be deeply personal and disheartening. Jivana draws on his years of experience in teaching and his commitment to fostering compassionate and ethical yoga communities to share some deep insights and thoughtful reflections on tackling these moments with grace, understanding, and authenticity.   This episode promises to inspire and empower yoga teachers and practitioners alike to approach disappointment with wisdom and resilience.    Key Takeaways: [0:12] Have you ever been deeply disappointed in a yoga teacher, mentor, or celebrity? Shannon and Jivana are discussing their feelings of grief and disappointment in connection with folks in the yoga world. [2:33] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout-out of thanks to sponsors - OfferingTree and her 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training. [5:51] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman. [10:05] What's the newest thing in Jivana's world right now with his work and personal life? [15:12] It is common to be disappointed by yoga teachers or celebrities that we are learning from. Jivana and Shannon reflect on their experiences. [19:40] Can we separate the teacher from the teachings? Is it possible to find a distinction between yoga and the people we learned from? [21:26] Shannon shares an experience she had with a yoga teacher with a sizeable following just before the US elections. [27:35] A second part of that interaction Shannon had is that they seemed to stop speaking up because of capitalism. Jivana shares his perspective on Shannon's reaction and disappointment. [30:18] At what point do we call people out or call them in for the harm they are causing and how do we do that? [32:26] Shannon pops in with a message about the sponsor, OfferingTree. [36:00] Someone reached out to Shannon about wanting to call out a teacher they've been studying with who has said nothing about Palestine but has spoken up about other world events. What is the best way to navigate these situations? [42:43] What is Jivana's advice to a yoga teacher who is observing that their teachers or yoga celebrities they follow are not speaking up about the issues that are important to them? [47:46] It can feel like it takes a lot of energy to work in community. How should we approach this task of overcoming our differences to work towards a common goal? [55:14] Yoga doesn't always feel good. It's not the goal of a yoga practice to leave us in a "blissed out" state. [57:57] What would Jivana say to the yoga celebrity who is listening and having people ask them about not speaking up about social justice causes? [59:24] What would Jivana tell yoga teachers who feel like they are not doing enough right now? [65:48] What is Jivana's next book (his fourth) about? [66:34] What are some practices Jivana is using now for grieving the destruction that is happening to the earth and around the world? [71:51] Shannon shares some of the actions that she is taking to fight back against oppressive systems in the world. [73:17] Connect with and learn from Jivana via his website or Instagram. [74:26] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this conversation with Jivana.   Links: Jivana Heyman Jivana Heyman on Instagram Previous Podcast Episodes with Jivana Heyman 365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman 321: Accessible Yoga & Pelvic Health with Jivana Heyman 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman 251: Reflect & Plan [Part 2] with Shannon Crow & Jivana Heyman 209: Online Yoga Teacher Training with Jivana Heyman 138: Accessible Yoga Beyond Asana with Jivana Heyman Inclusive Yoga: Creating Community Through Accessibility (OfferingTree) Zel Amanzi on Instagram Yoga for Pelvic Health  3-Hour On Demand Workshop with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team Shannon Crow on Instagram   Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.   Quotes from this episode: "You know, we're all human, we're all trying our best." - Jivana   "Where we always get stuck in life is the expectations. .... the expectation is what causes our suffering." - Jivana   "Non-attachment is just freedom, that's what this is. Freedom from desire, freedom from being focused on the outcome." - Jivana   "When you're giving someone feedback or criticism, try to be as nice as you can about it because we're mostly really insecure people." - Jivana   "Direct communication is more effective with people." - Jivana   "Don't let your emotions decide your life for you. Don't let emotions make the decision." - Jivana   "We all have a lot of power in small ways that we don't recognize." - Jivana  

In the second part of this powerful conversation, Jivana and Hannah explore practical steps for making yoga inclusive and accessible. Key topics include: How to teach accessible yoga and why these principles are crucial in every yoga class. How to create a trauma-sensitive space where all students feel empowered to make their own choices. Controversial thought: Is simplifying yoga an oversimplification, or is it the ultimate form of wisdom? Jivana's surprising stance on using props, modifying postures, and the value of ‘meeting students where they are'—a view that challenges traditional teaching norms. Whether you're a seasoned instructor or new to teaching, this episode offers essential insights on bringing the heart of yoga into every class, regardless of students' abilities or backgrounds. Learn more about Jivana Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers.  He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body.  His books, classes, and trainings support yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition. Learn more at ⁠jivanaheyman.com⁠ Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch our extensive library of YouTube videos.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Hannah on Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Celest on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 384: Yoga for Election Grief with Shannon Crow   Description: Many people have shared that they are feeling numb, sad, scared, shocked, and powerless in light of the recent US election results. Shannon Crow has experienced similar feelings and shares her experience in the aftermath of the election results.    Shannon relates an interaction she had with a yoga teacher that prompted her to turn inward and reflect and invites us to do the same. She also invites listeners who support Trump to reach out to have a conversation – in these divisive times, Shannon highlights the importance of remaining open to alternative perspectives, finding common ground, and still showing up to do the work we are here to do.    If you are feeling grief, helplessness, despair, or fear, Shannon shares some inspiring and uplifting words from her community, as well as her strategies for continuing to move forward through this time.   Regardless of where you live, where you are in the election cycle, or who is/has been elected to office, this episode can help you ground into the important things.   Key Takeaways: [0:48] This episode was inspired by some powerful messages from friends and colleagues who were feeling so many emotions after the results of the US elections were announced. [3:15] Shannon introduces herself and gives a shout-out of thanks to the sponsors, OfferingTree and Shannon's 20-hour Yoga for Pelvic Health Training. [7:15] Shannon shares how she felt in the aftermath of the elections in the United States. [12:02] Shannon shares an anecdote of an interaction with a yoga teacher related to the elections in the US. [16:08] Shannon understands and empathizes with people who have fears about living in a country and a world where Trump is the President of the US. She seeks to hear from people who voted for him about their perspectives. [19:00] Shannon explains why the US elections are so relevant to her as a Canadian (and all of us) -- and why we should care about cultures and events in other countries outside our own. [24:49] Having someone like Trump voted in makes Shannon look inward and reflect on what part of her she needs to work on. [26:45] Shannon shares a bit about OfferingTree. [28:26] Some things have helped Shannon in the moment of despair she was feeling when she learned the news that Trump had been elected. [35:07] Next week on the podcast, Shannon will be holding some people accountable for their (in)action.   Links: Some Related Connected Yoga Teacher Podcasts 323: Finding Support in Yoga Philosophy with Sunita Patil 269: Yoga Philosophy and Colonialism with Shyam Ranganathan 382: Having Tough Conversations with Rebecca Sebastian 356: How Silence Feels for a Yoga Student with Suzanne Miller 359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh 362: Yoga in Times of War & Violence with Molly Nixon Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE] 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman 203: Do Politics Belong in Yoga? with Chara Caruthers & Maria Kirsten Post by Jezz Chung on Instagram Yoga for Pelvic Health  3-Hour On Demand Workshop with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Team Shannon Crow on Instagram Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree, and Yoga for Pelvic Health 20-hr Online Training with Shannon Crow.   Quotes from this episode: "This episode was inspired by some powerful messages from friends and colleagues who were feeling so many emotions."   "We talk yoga on this podcast and we talk politics because politics is part of yoga."   "Education is the foundational strength of a country."   "We need to ask what's underneath this if we really want to build safer communities for everyone."   "Having someone like Trump elected in the US definitely does make me ask a lot more questions, but it also makes me look inward."   "Do the work that you are here to do."

In this episode, Jivana Heyman shares his transformative journey with yoga and why he became a passionate advocate for accessibility within the practice. Discover: How the AIDS epidemic and personal loss ignited Jivana's path to making yoga inclusive for all. Why Jivana believes the traditional, rigid approach to yoga alienates people and misses the essence of the practice. Controversial question: Is mainstream yoga more about appearance than genuine connection? The challenges he faced in teacher training, and why he thinks accessible yoga is actually the most advanced form of practice. This conversation dives into yoga's role in supporting people facing life's toughest battles, like illness and grief, and challenges what many think of as "real" yoga. Tune in for a thought-provoking look at what true inclusivity in yoga really means. Learn more about Jivana Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers.  He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body.  His books, classes, and trainings support yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition. Learn more at jivanaheyman.com Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch our extensive library of YouTube videos.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Hannah on Instagram.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Celest on Instagram ⁠⁠

Here's the first installment of a regular timeline cleanser featuring interviews with folks reflecting on hope, faith, resilience and building community in hard times.  You know—all the things that conspirituality itself can't offer. These are short, personal visits in which Matthew asks each guest the same five questions about their life wisdom—at least as it's coming together in this moment. To start this series, Matthew hearkens back to the roots of Conspirituality Podcast in the yoga world with guest Jivana Heyman. Jivana is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body.  BTW: here are the five questions. You can think about them too. What terrifies you most in these times? What is the most meaningful and supportive idea or story you return to for reliable wisdom and relief? What is the greatest obstacle you face in forming community relationships, and how do you work to overcome it? If you were responsible for comforting and guiding a child terrified of climate catastrophe, how would you do it? What would you say?  If your wisest ancestor came in a dream to offer you one piece of advice about living in difficult times, what would it be? Show Notes jivanaheyman.com 9: Ableism in Conspiracy Theories (w/Jivana Heyman) — Conspirituality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the podcast, I'm talking with Jivana Heyman about accessible meditation. Jivana is the founder of the Accessible Yoga movement, and he has plenty of insights to share about how meditation practices can be relevant in our world today. You'll hear about Jivana's own personal journey of learning meditation, and his perspective on how an inward practice like meditation can help during uncertain times when the outer world also needs our attention. Jivana describes the central role that meditation plays in the Yoga tradition, and the wide variety of meditation styles within Yoga (including breath meditation, mantra, chakra meditations, yoga nidra, and more). You'll also hear Jivana's thoughts on reframing asana AS a form of meditation. We talk about:   how pranayama is distinct from breath meditation  adaptations to make meditation more accessible, especially for those with anxiety, trauma, or neurodivergent minds similarities and differences between Yogic and Buddhist philosophies and practices broadening the definition of what counts as meditation I hope this episode will leave you feeling empowered to find your own ways of bringing meditation into your life! -- To learn more about Jivana Heyman's work, visit jivanaheyman.com or accessibleyogaschool.com. For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast. The 100th Episode of the podcast is coming up, and I want to hear YOUR voice! Send me a short message about why you practice, and I will include it in this special episode. Go here to record your message, or email it to me through the website. Our next Teacher Masterclass is on August 24th, with guest speaker Chris McDonald of the Holistic Counseling Podcast! Get the info and join us at https://movedtomeditate.yoga/teacher-masterclasses/ The Mindful Movement Teacher Training is returning this Fall, and applications are now open! Learn more about this unique program at movedtomeditate.yoga/mmtt. Feel free to reach out through my website with any episode requests, topics you'd like to hear about, or guest interview suggestions. You can also connect with me on Instagram or Threads at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, pictures of Pacific Northwest nature, crocheting projects, and my adorable kitty, Mustache).

“Yoga is a microcosm of what's happening in every institution, including the judicial system, employment, medical care, all of that. So I'm just creating a small shift, hopefully, in people's perspectives and understandings of the prevalence of caste in Yoga history.” Join us for the captivating season finale of our podcast as Jivana interviews Anjali and they dive into a deep, transformative conversation. In this special episode, Anjali and Jivana discuss: Personal and Professional Changes The motivations and inspirations behind Anjali's decision to pursue her Doctorate this Fall. A sneak peek into Anjali's first book, set to release in Fall 2025. The book tackles profound questions such as: Is there such a thing as non-patriarchal yoga? How does caste intersect with yoga? How is yoga used as a tool of oppression? Pushback and rejections Anjali faced while writing this book and why this topic is crucial in today's world. Zionist backlash Jivana faced and the challenges of dealing with social media criticism. The tough decision to close the non-profit and the significant transitions within Accessible Yoga Free Resources for Teachers We are grateful for the support of our podcast partner OfferingTree — an all-in-one, easy to use business platform for classes, courses, memberships and more. Check it out at www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga.

In case you don't know, Jivana is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. He's the author of the books: Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and a new book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. His books, classes, and trainings offer support to yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition. Check out the other two episodes with Jivana: 70: Yoga, Human Rights, and Accessibility with Jivana Heyman 105: Yoga And Social Justice with Jivana Heyman In this episode you'll hear: how Jivana recommends we balance  tradition and innovation in asana how teachers can innovate in a way that honors the roots of yoga some thoughts on the abuse present in so many lineages and why ethics creates accessibility the specific skills that yoga teachers can learn to make their offerings accessible to everyone the inherent power imbalance between student and teacher how we can use language to make the practice invitational AND clear the kinds of support Jivana recommend yoga teachers find the recurring teaching nightmare that both Jivana and I have!! Learn More From Jivana: Instagram Facebook Accessible Yoga School The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga Book

For this first anniversary of the publication of my book, The Essential Guide to Trauma-Sensitive Yoga: How to Create Safer Spaces for All, I'm releasing the Outside the Studio episode I was featured on with Tessa Tovar. We discuss suggested language for shifting power in group settings, how to create after environments, how to practice to reach yoga in a way that includes all, as well as other topics. The Essential Guide to Trauma-Sensitive Yoga has received outstanding reviews and remains an important resource for yoga teachers and practitioners as well as an intro for the yoga curious. "I was so excited to receive this book in the mail. I am an amateur yogi and an aspiring school counselor who believes that trauma-informed ANYTHING is important. I especially love that photos were added to this book for added clarification. I am excited to use this book as a guide for myself and looking forward to eventually sharing this knowledge with others! This book is essential for any instructor who wants to be trauma-informed and very helpful to anyone who practices yoga or wants to start but doesn't know how. I would give this book more stars if I could!" - Melissa Smith “The Essential Guide for Trauma Sensitive Yoga is a comprehensive resource for teachers to understand the complex nuances of trauma and the subtle and overt ways it can present itself in our students. As teachers, we have a responsibility to serve the whole person and that includes sensitizing ourselves to the various ways that trauma lives uniquely in each body, how it influences the mind and perceptions and can affect one's health and emotional wellness. Lara Land deftly provides the necessary guidance, insights, and best practices so that facilitators can support their students on their journey toward healing with more mindfulness, awareness, and skill. This excellent resource should be required reading in any teacher training course.”—Seane Corn, Yoga Teacher, author of Revolution of the Soul ----------------- Tessa received her degree in Human Communication with honors at the University of Southern Oregon in Ashland. It was at Southern Oregon University that Tessa found and developed her passion for the practice of Yoga. Since 2001 she has been practicing Yoga and in 2015 she acquired her first 200HR RYT. Since then she has accumulated over 500HRS of accredited teaching certifications with a focus on Vinyasa, Nidra, Restorative, Reiki Level I&II, Pranayama, and guided meditation.  Lara Land is a deeply compassionate life coach, consultant, and yoga teacher trainer specializing in trauma sensitivity. Her work is in helping to heal trauma both subtle and significant and train others using trauma-sensitive yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and breathing practices. Lara has spent the last 25 years studying Ashtanga yoga and sharing yoga asana, chanting, meditation, and philosophy directly from her teachers in India. -------------------- Coming UP! Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training, Universal Power Yoga, MA, 5/17-5/19 Forest Therapy Walk, Steady Slope, NY, 6/22 Catskill Mountain Yoga Festival, NY, 7/27 Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training, Omega Institute, NY, 8/9-8/11 Virtual Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training w/Reggie Hubbard and Jivana Heyman, 9/27-9/29

Over the past decade, there has been a welcome push towards a more inclusive approach to yoga. But what does that look like on a practical level? Jivana Heyman has been at the center of the accessible yoga movement as the founder of the Accessible Yoga Project and the author of The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. In this episode, Jivana shares an anti-perfectionist approach to accessible yoga that centers the relationship between teacher and student. The conversation delves into insecurities and imposter syndrome, the interplay between teaching and personal growth, and the importance of ethics in guiding both personal and teaching practices.     EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: 00:00 The philosophy of accessible yoga 01:48 Jivana's early experiences with yoga 03:30 How yoga helps with emotional regulation 05:59 The impact of social media and information overload 08:43 How to deal with impostor syndrome 13:22 Teaching as a relationship 21:04 Inquiry on the ethics of teaching 27:50 The importance of meeting your students where they are and respecting their preferences 33:41 Perfectionism and people-pleasing 38:30 Kindness as a guiding principle for accessible yoga 42:15 Helping and fixing vs serving  EPISODE LINKS & RESOURCES: Accessible Yoga School Access all of Jivana's books here Follow Jivana on Instagram @jivanaheyman LINKS AND RESOURCES: Follow YTR on Instagram @yoga.teacher.resource  Join the Yoga Teacher Resource email list Join the Yoga Teacher Resource Facebook Group Learn more about the Impact Club Leave a review on iTunes Ask a question for the podcast on the Yoga Teacher Resource website or on SpeakPipe

In this enlightening episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour and Beyond, host Amy delves deep into the essentials of accessible yoga with guest Jivana Heyman, author of "The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body." Their conversation shines a light on the critical aspects of the teacher-student relationship, emphasizing the importance of setting healthy boundaries to foster a safe and creative environment. Heyman's insights into avoiding burnout, addressing ableism within the yoga community, and the nuances of teaching yoga at different levels further enrich the dialogue. The discussion also covers the use of invitational language to empower students with choice and agency, ensuring yoga remains accessible and inclusive to all. In this enlightening episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour and Beyond, host Amy delves deep into the essentials of accessible yoga with guest Jivana Heyman, author of "The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body." Their conversation shines a light on the critical aspects of the teacher-student relationship, emphasizing the importance of setting healthy boundaries to foster a safe and creative environment. Heyman's insights into avoiding burnout, addressing ableism within the yoga community, and the nuances of teaching yoga at different levels further enrich the dialogue. The discussion also covers the use of invitational language to empower students with choice and agency, ensuring yoga remains accessible and inclusive to all.Key thoughts/concepts discussed in the episode:Setting Boundaries: It's crucial for teachers to maintain professional boundaries with students, recognizing that students are not friends and are not there to meet the teacher's personal needs.Avoiding Burnout: By establishing clear boundaries, teachers can avoid burnout, ensuring they meet their own needs through personal support systems outside of the student-teacher dynamic.Addressing Ableism: The conversation highlights the pervasive issue of ableism in yoga, encouraging teachers to recognize and mitigate its impacts on students.Understanding Yoga Levels: Distinguishing between beginner and advanced yoga is less about complexity and more about meeting students where they are, using language that is inclusive and empowering.Invitational Language: The use of invitational language is essential for giving students choice and agency in their practice, without overwhelming them with too many options. In summary, this episode with Jivana Heyman offers invaluable insights into making yoga more accessible and inclusive. By focusing on the significance of boundaries, the awareness of ableism, and the thoughtful approach to teaching, Amy and Heyman provide a roadmap for yoga teachers and therapists to enhance their practice and foster a more welcoming space for all students. The dialogue not only underscores the importance of professional relationships and self-care but also propels the conversation towards creating a more inclusive yoga community that values choice, safety, and collaboration.If you would like to receive the free infographics, research, articles and handouts that correspond to each episode on the Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast, please subscribe to our segmented email list. You will have the opportunity to determine the Infographic Topics that you would like to receive. When The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast has a topic that corresponds to your choices, then you will receive an email for that week with the PDF's for download.Topics you can choose from include: Yoga Therapy & Mental HealthYoga Therapy & Physical HealthSocial Justice in yoga & Yoga TherapyYoga/Ayurveda ToolboxYoga & Indian PhilosophyGlobal & Trending Yoga Therapy TopicsClick the link below to subscribe. It takes 10 seconds total.https://amywheeler.com/subscribe Find Jivana Heyman:www,JivanaHeyman.comwww.accessibleyogaschool.com Check out Amy's website Visit Amy's training section on her website to check out the courses belowYoga therapy training courses 865-certified-yoga-therapist-program www.optimalstateyoganidra.comwww.TheOptimalState.com

Jivana Heyman shares how accessibility flows naturally from ethics. We explore how accessibility and trauma informed care weave together as we support those in our care. This conversation applies not only to. yoga teachers and facilitators but to anyone in a supporting and healing role. We delve into the theme of sharing power and why we do this with those in our care. Collaboration is key in how we show up and empower students, clients and participants. This conversation is sure to leave you feeling inspired and with some fresh perspectives in your approach to healing whether you're facilitator or participant. About Jivana: Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. He's the author of the books: Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and a new book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. Over the past thirty years of teaching yoga, Jivana has focused on welcoming all people to yoga and celebrating our individuality and our differences. His work has focused on dismantling ableism in the yoga world, as well as looking at the intersection of yoga and social justice. His books, classes, and trainings offer support to yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition. More information at jivanaheyman.com Facebook Instagram Soulful Retreat:

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 365: How to Teach Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman   Description: How can we make yoga more accessible? From financial accessibility to the language we use in teaching, from offering modifications to supporting students who don't follow our lesson plans, making yoga accessible encompasses many different things. Jivana Heyman shares his insights.   Making yoga accessible is at the core of the work Jivana does. He is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. He is also an author, and his latest book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, was recently released (listen in to find out how you can enter to win a copy!).   In this episode, Jivana shares how we communicate yoga has evolved over the years, although yoga philosophy remains unchanged, and how accessibility is a part of that.  He also talks about figuring things out as new teachers, overcoming imposter syndrome and why maybe a little bit of imposter syndrome is not a bad thing, and many other aspects of making yoga accessible, including how to maintain a yoga practice even when we don't have time!   Key Takeaways: [3:52] This episode is powered by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [4:52] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming yoga series: Nourish Your Nervous System. [5:58] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman. [10:05] What is the work that Jivana does and who does he do it for? [11:15] How can yoga teachers find that balance between being paid for their work enough to make a living and making sure people can access their classes financially? [13:56] Pay-what-you-can models and tiered pricing models are some options to increase financial accessibility. [15:36] What are some other main things Jivana covers in his new book? [18:43] Shannon and Jivana discuss the idea that there is one best/correct way of doing a pose in yoga. This is not true! [20:13] The general public has a very different idea of what yoga is than how it can actually be practiced. [24:30] What are some new things Jivana has learned recently about making yoga more accessible? [27:31] How does Jivana address situations in his classes where a student gives another student a hands-on assist? [30:20] Jivana is giving away two of his books! Leave a comment in the show notes to stand a chance to win a copy! [30:40] Are you signed up for the OfferingTree newsletter? They offer a free workshop or webinar every month for teachers! [31:53] It can sometimes feel that as we learn more about making yoga accessible, there is always yet more to learn. [34:36] Yoga has remained the same for millennia but how we interpret, communicate, and share it with people has changed and evolved over time. [38:40] How yoga is taught has evolved over time but the yoga philosophy has not. [42:13] It can be tempting to want our yoga practice to be perfect, like we experience at a yoga retreat, but how can we apply yoga to our real day-to-day? [46:38] What are some tools we can use to bring yoga into our lives? [50:28] Shannon and Jivana discuss other ways we can bring yoga into our busy lives. [53:50] We can hold opposing things as true at the same time. [56:05] Jivana shares the ABCs of yoga: Agency, Boundaries, Collaboration. [62:27] How does Jivana handle situations where students don't do what everyone else is doing? [68:08] Many yoga teachers deal with imposter syndrome. Jivana addresses this. [74:08] Join the giveaway for Jivana's books by leaving a comment and find out more about his work and the books at his website and on Instagram. [75:43] Shannon shares her biggest takeaways from this episode. [79:08] Shannon shares some of the upcoming events in Pelvic Health Professionals, including Nourish Your Nervous System.   Links: Jivana Heyman, Accessible Yoga School Jivana Heyman Jivana Heyman on Instagram The Teacher's Guide To Accessible Yoga, by Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow Shannon's Family Maple Syrup The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 321: Accessible Yoga & Pelvic Health with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 251: Reflect & Plan [Part 2] with Shannon Crow & Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 209: Online Yoga Teacher Training with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 138: Accessible Yoga Beyond Asana with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 357: Pay-What-You-Can is Working with Shannon Crow Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals Guest Speakers in Pelvic Health Professionals Support the podcast Shannon Crow on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Pelvic Health Professionals   Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: "Mostly the studio model doesn't really work for making yoga accessible."   "I just don't think advanced yoga is advanced asana anymore. That's not the point."   "As a yoga teacher, you're not simply just channeling the teachings in a pure way, you have to be interpreting them."   "The question is, how do you make them resonant and applicable to this moment for your students who are in front of you today?"   "I don't think yoga practice is just about my personal enlightenment or the goal of becoming that. Rather, it's about becoming of service to the world and to others."   "I would say a little bit of imposter syndrome is actually healthier than too much ego."  

Are you a yoga teaching looking to make your classes more accessible and just don't quite know where to start??Women in particular have a tendency to take care of everyone else around them first, while putting their own self care and wellness on the back burner. This podcast is designed to give you actionable advice and tools to help you power up your own wellness journey, and live the best life possible!I am your host, Amy Zellmer. I am editor-in-chief of MN YOGA + Life magazine and author of The Chair Yoga Pocket Guide. Additionally I am passionate about yoga, photography, wellness, and all things glittery! You can find out more about me at www.creatingwellnessfromwithin.comFollow me on: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter         Today's guest is: Jivana HeymanJivana Heyman (he/him), C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and the new book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. Jivana is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga and the Accessible Yoga School, an online portal focusing on equity and accessibility. More info at jivanaheyman.com.Consider supporting the podcast for $5 though BuyMeACoffeeSupport the show

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 364: 7 Years of Podcasting with Shannon Crow   Description: It has been 7 years of podcasts on the Connected Yoga Teacher podcast with Shannon Crow. While it is a time of celebrating the consistency and the amazing connections that have come from the podcast, Shannon shares some of her reflections about her recent situation, both personal and on a broader scale.   Shannon has been dealing with emotional heaviness, sadness, and heartbreak, on top of a cold. She shares how current events like what's happening in Gaza have been affecting her emotions, especially because of the silence of many people in the health and wellness world. She talks about some things that are helping her through this time and how she is working through the anger and emotions she is feeling. Shannon also invites us to explore how we can start seeing the connections between us and how we can support ourselves as we navigate these challenging times.   Key Takeaways: [0:02] It's the 7th year anniversary of the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast! [4:23] This episode is supported by OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals, but you can chip in to keep the podcast going too! [7:05] Kathleen Pratt shares a little about the upcoming Yoga Series she is hosting in Pelvic Health Professionals - Nourish Your Nervous System. [9:26] Shannon guides a short breath exercise. [10:22] Shannon checks in with herself. In addition to dealing with a cold she has been feeling some heaviness, sadness, and heartbreak. [15:14] Shannon has also been feeling angry about the silence from many people in the health and wellness world. [18:13] One thing that has made a difference for Shannon is seeing the yoga teachers who are speaking up and supporting the Palestinian cause. [21:06] Shannon talks about some ways she is working on processing her anger. [25:10] Shannon shares two messages that have held her and kept her steady. [27:39] Shannon gives a shout out to Jivana Heyman's upcoming collaboration with OfferingTree - Chair Yoga is Real Yoga. [29:22] Shannon reads another message she received after sharing Rula's episode. [34:14] How can we start seeing the connections between us? [37:08] The upcoming yoga series, Nourish Your Nervous System, is a great course for anyone who has been feeling stressed. [38:33] Shannon shares some other upcoming events and offerings you can check out.   Links: Support the podcast The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 277: Yoga and Land Acknowledgement with Jessica Barudin & Emmy Chahal The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 361: Connect to Nature and Your Roots with Tracee Stanley OfferingTree Webinar - Chair Yoga is Real Yoga: Integrating Chairs into Your Classes with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast: Yoga for Peace with Shannon Crow [BONUS EPISODE] The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 359: Ahimsa in Times of Conflict with Rula Wardeh Nourish Your Nervous System, 6-Week Online Series with Kathleen Pratt in Pelvic Health Professionals Guest Speakers in Pelvic Health Professionals Shannon Crow on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Pelvic Health Professionals   Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: "I am so grateful to those of you who listen to multiple episodes. It's really a complete honor and the podcast exists because of you."   "I want to be able to speak up against harm and oppression because I feel like that's part of yoga."   "We can speak up and make mistakes and be in community."   "In society, we are not taught to get comfortable with anger."   "I am just so grateful when I see a comment on a post that we've made or a podcast that we've done or a message in support of the work that we're doing here on the podcast."   "In these connections, we realize how connected we really are."

It was such a delight to have Jivana Heyman back on the show to talk about his latest book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga. (You can listen to our first chat at yogalandpodcast.com/episode176). The episode explores: What it means to be more collaborative in your teaching, how being more collaborative could help break down traditional hierarchical power dynamics that have led to teacher-student abuses in the past, the importance of overcoming impostor syndrome (especially if you don't think you look the part of the "typical" yoga teacher), his love of asana because of how accessible it makes the spiritual practice of yoga, and the importance of de-stigmatizing chair and bed yoga.For shownotes, go to: yogalandpodcast.com/episode320Jason's 2024 training schedule is up! You can find it at jasonyoga.com/scheduleYou can support the podcast by joining my Substack community at yogaland.substack.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to make yoga accessible? Jivana Heyman first used the term when he started to train disabled teachers. But its significance is broader, pointing students towards something subtler – their own true nature beyond mind and body.As Jivana explains in his latest book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga, that's a goal more aligned with traditional texts than performing contortions. But does it set the bar high to reveal the true self? And if it's found in all beings, does it also teach us universal values? Along the way, our conversation explores (among other topics):* The importance of ethics and peer support networks* If “yoga has always been political”, as a headline once said* Potential limits to arguing “if it's not accessible, it's not yoga”* Whether “cultural appropriation” is a helpful framework* The pros and cons of self-publishing for yoga authorsIf you enjoy the conversation, and want to fuel more, please consider subscribing or buy me a coffee... All donations are greatly appreciated, as I explained in a recent article! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ancientfutures.substack.com/subscribe

We're thrilled to welcome back beloved teacher and accessibility advocate Jivana Heyman to discuss his latest book, The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga. As one of the early pioneers of making yoga welcoming and accessible for all types of bodies through his non-profit Accessible Yoga, Jivana has inspired countless teachers to rethink their approach. His new book offers practical guidance on best practices for making classes trauma-informed and tailored to each student's needs. Jivana stresses that rather than focusing on perfect alignment or achieving advanced poses, a good teacher uplifts students to find their own inner wisdom. We discuss simple techniques like giving options, avoiding assumptions, and letting go of judgement that make yoga spaces safer and more empowering. Other topics include: Balancing discipline and self-compassion in practice Integrating meditation and pranayama into asana classes Teaching in a way that serves both introverts and extroverts Fostering student agency and community Jivana also shares personal stories from his 30 years of teaching experience to illustrate how yoga can be transformative when focused on creating connection rather judging ourselves or others. His humility and kindness shine through as always! We're giving away a copy of Jivana's illuminating book The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga. Listen to the end of the episode to learn more! Thank you for listening and for helping to spread the message of inclusive and compassionate yoga spaces! Links: The Teacher's guide to Accessible Yoga Book Launch: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/teachers-guide-to-accessible-yoga-launch Accessible Yoga School: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/jivana-home-landing Accessible Yoga Association: https://accessibleyoga.org/ Jivana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivanaheyman/

You've heard of Accessible Yoga, right?The movement started with the term, which was coined around 2007 by today's guest. Jivana and I talk all about our current ambitions for the yoga teaching and industry landscape, and discuss how we can make yoga accessible to all folks. We also discuss where we go from here—how is our future more accessible, more non-profit focused, and more dedicated to the tradition and practice of yoga.Take a listen.KEY TAKEAWAYS:-Covid definitely made us more accessible as an industry. the ability to find a welcoming community aligned with who you are is also much easier now that more of us are online. So don't forget to be your authentic self as you interact with others in the online space–it makes a difference when you are working to find your people.- Making training accessible is something that is at the forefront of Accessible Yoga's work. How we train has always been a system for the privileged, especially when training existed only in person. Seeing this change is exciting, and it allows us to share our yoga community with even more amazing humans with new and fresh ideas. This diversity will only make us better and stronger as an industry.- Online teaching has leveled the playing field for yoga teachers. Often times before Covid you had to become incredibly popular before you were able to travel and teach. The internet now allows us an entirely new pathway to build careers as yoga pros.- The lack of yoga non-profit organizations, is a big red flag for us as an industry. Full stop. Non-profits are a sign of a thriving ecosystem–where we have built an industry stable enough to not only provide for ourselves but also to address the needs of those who are not thriving. -That said: Here are the names of some other great non-profit organizations in the larger yoga space. Casa de Paz, SLV, Flow For Black Lives, and Mimi's Yoga Kids all do work in their respective communities–and you can go back to previous episodes with their founders Gina Barrett, Osiris Booque, and Mimi Felton to get more info on those organizations.-Empowering folks from all communities to become yoga teachers is really important. The more we see not only a diverse range of yoga students but yoga teachers as well, the better off both ethically and financially we become.RESOURCESWorking In Yoga WebsiteWorking In Yoga NewsletterAccessible Yoga OrganizationAccessible Yoga SchoolSEVA articleSunlight Streams Sponsor Blog

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 335: Black Lives Matter is Yoga with Danielle Tridenti   Description: Black Lives Matter (BLM) was formed ten years ago, and while many people jumped on the bandwagon and pledged their support for the cause a few years ago in light of the murder of George Floyd, it seems like BLM is getting “less popular”. It is important to continue this conversation about BLM and explore how it relates to yoga. Danielle Tridenti shares their experience in showing up as an ally for the cause.   Danielle is a facilitator of yoga, an embodiment coach, and an equity + inclusion group facilitator/consultant, who believes that cellular and personal change informs and affects institutional, collective, and cultural change. They have over 5000 hours of training in yoga, somatics, trauma informed care, anti-racism, equity + inclusion, as well as 20 years of experience in teaching and group facilitation, and 10 years as a mental health clinician and social worker. Currently, Danielle offers individual and group experiences, education/training, coaching, and consulting centered around embodying equity, LGTBQIA2S+ affirmation and inclusion, and solidarity with a trauma informed, intersectional, anti-racist, anti-patriarchal, and anti-oppression framework to individuals and organizations.   Recently, a student in Danielle's class asked Danielle to remove their BLM shirt. Danielle shares more about how they handled that situation with the student and the studio they were teaching at, as well as their thoughts on why yoga is political. Danielle also explains why BLM and showing up as an ally is part of yoga. And discusses privilege, creating “safe spaces” in yoga, and how ahimsa (non-violence) ties into all of this.   Key Takeaways: [2:39] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Danielle Tridenti. [8:12] What does Danielle do and who do they do it for? [11:17] Recently, a yoga student attending Danielle's class asked them to remove their Black Lives Matter t-shirt. Danielle recounts the experience. [16:21] How did Danielle follow up after the incident? What kind of reaction did the studio she was teaching at have after this incident? [19:57] Why is Black Lives Matter yoga? [26:47] What is Danielle's reaction to people who complain about how these discussions always feel "in your face" or that we are still having these conversations. [34:34] Shannon pops in with a shout out of thanks to sponsor, OfferingTree [37:01] What are some of the actions that people can take to support Black Lives Matter and create a world that is equal and just? [43:01] What are some other resources yoga teachers can use to get educated and learn more about this topic? [48:39] Learn more from Danielle by connecting with them on Instagram. [49:28] Shannon shares some of her key takeaways from this conversation with Danielle.   Links: Danielle Tridenti Dr. Bettina Love Michelle Cassandra Johnson Resmaa Menakem Susana Barkataki Are We Free Yet? by Tina Strawn  Lara Rod Owens Octavia Raheem Tristan Katz Jacoby Ballard Related Podcast Episodes: 203: Do Politics Belong in Yoga? with Chara Caruthers & Maria Kirsten 199: Creating Inclusive Yoga Spaces Erin Ajayi 189: Your Movement Science is Racist with Jesal Parikh  BONUS: Anti-Racism & Yoga with Michelle Johnson 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman 266: Social Location, Power & Privilege with Raudhah Rahman 231: Conscious Marketing with Tristan Katz 230: Anti-Oppression Yoga with Pooja Virani 246: Anger, Forgiveness & Self-Care with Jacoby Ballard 276: Caring for Yoga's South Asian Roots with Susanna Barkataki 334: Many Shades of Brown in Yoga with Anjali Rao Shannon Crow on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group Pelvic Health Professionals   Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.   Quotes from this episode: "It's not my [Black Lives Matter] shirt that was making her uncomfortable, right? It was her beliefs that were causing this discomfort."   "The bigger issue is exercising your white supremacy and your racism."   "I believe that in teaching, I can leverage my privilege and practice co-conspiratorship and take a stand and take risks for folks who are historically erased and marginalized and oppressed and invisible and killed."   "Picking what you want and leaving what you don't - that's very privileged too."   "The bottom line is, if any of us are harmed, we're all harmed. We're all impacted. This is not a passive practice. It's an active practice."   "People who have marginalized identities can't just leave the oppression behind. It's just not possible."  

What a beautiful podcast to kick off Pride month! This is an important month to celebrate our common humanity, diversity, and unconditional love and acceptance of one another. Jivana coined the phrase, “Accessible Yoga,” over ten years ago, and it has now become the standard appellation for a large cross section of the immense yoga world. He brought the Accessible Yoga community together for the first time in 2015 for the Accessible Yoga Conference, which has gone on to become a focal point for this movement. Russell's tendency of over-relating to our guests has been noted. And this episode is no exception. It might seem he's attempting to “out gay the gays,” so to speak. But it opens this conversation into an incredibly intimate and deep portrait of a young man stepping into a cultural identity during a particularly traumatic time in our collective history, the HIV/AIDS crisis. Jivana talks about his anger as an activist and how it informed his beliefs. It gave insight to some very important decisions around how he could best serve, offering a unique way to practice yoga within a community of practitioners of varying identities, capacities, or abilities. You see, this world is not a one way mirror. We are all reflections of one another. When we are angry, we project and see anger in the other, and that's who we become. Jivana has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities with an emphasis on community building and social engagement. Out of this work, the nonprofit Accessible Yoga Association was created to support education, training, and advocacy with the mission of shifting the public perception of yoga. Accessible Yoga offers Conferences, Community Forums, a Podcast, and a popular Ambassador program He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body (Shambhala Publications), and Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion (Shambhala Publications, Nov. 2021). FOLLOW JIVANA HEYMAN: INSTAGRAM I WEBSITE JOIN ME IN JUNE! JUNE 7 - 12, 2023 - All-Inclusive Turkey Retreat!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET DETAILS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ harmonyslater.com/yoga-retreat-turkey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JUNE 16 - 18, 2023 - WORKSHOP in Munich, Germany - ⁠⁠⁠GET DETAILS⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠- harmonyslater.com/events⁠⁠⁠ DONATE $5 and doTERRA will MATCH the funds so it becomes $10! All money goes to YOGA GIVES BACK ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Girls Scholarship for Higher Education with Digital Access in India⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠yogagivesback.info/givetogirls⁠⁠⁠ A big heart of thanks to our friends, family, and students from around the world, who've generously supported this podcast through your comments, sharing, and financial donations. If you've enjoyed today's podcast, please consider supporting our future episodes by making a donation. Every little bit goes a long way and we are immensely grateful for any and all of your support. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠    Make A Donation   ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠harmonyslater.com/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe and leave a review!  ❤  Give us a 5★ rating! Opening and closing music by Nick Evans from his album “for Morgan.” Listen to the entire album on Spotify ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Purchase your own copy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 321: Accessible Yoga & Pelvic Health with Jivana Heyman   Description: Why is pelvic health important and how can we make it more accessible in our yoga classes? In this episode, which first aired on the Accessible Yoga Podcast hosted by Jivana Heyman, Shannon Crow appears as the special guest to talk about pelvic health and making it accessible.   Jivana Heyman is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization devoted to making yoga teachings more accessible. He is also the author of Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion and Accessible Yoga: Poses & Practices for Every Body.   Jivana and Shannon kick off this episode by discussing their shared love for supporting and connecting yoga teachers to each other and to information and their messy process of learning. Shannon then shares more about why she started Pelvic Health Professionals, the role of gendered language in discussing pelvic health, and how it plays a part in yoga. They also discuss trauma, fear–based language vs clear contraindications, what it really means to engage the pelvic floor, the core, and the difference between weak and relaxed pelvic floor. Tune in to learn more about how to share about this important topic with your students in a way that is accessible to all!   Key Takeaways: [1:39] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman. This podcast episode was originally recorded for the Accessible Yoga podcast. [4:18] Jivana introduces Shannon and she tells listeners a little more about herself. [8:26] Being open to new information and learning is so important, and it can be a messy process. [10:36] Shannon invites experts in pelvic health to share information with other professionals. Is she intimidated by the expertise others bring to the table in her membership community? [13:09] Pelvic health is often seen as a gendered topic that applies more to cis-gender women or people who are giving birth. [14:49] How does Shannon help the people she works with connect with their pelvic floor without gendered language? [16:37] Jivana voices his frustration that there are a lot of gender assumptions in yoga spaces as well. [20:14] If you are keen to learn more about gendered language, Shannon has a coupon code for you. [21:08] What could it look like if yoga teachers started exploring how to remove gendered language from their classes? [23:20] Jivana and Shannon discuss how anatomical terms should be used in trauma-informed teaching. [26:13] Shannon gives a shout out of thanks to sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals. [28:10] What are some specific things yoga teachers could be saying to help yoga students understand more about pelvic health within the context of a yoga class? [31:27] Jivana highlights contraindications in yoga and the pushback against that in the yoga community. Shannon offers some tips on how to avoid fear-based language. [38:36] Shannon shares how she provides yoga cues without using fear-based language.  [41:41] It's common for yoga teachers to cue engagement of the pelvic floor or core. Shannon explains why this may not be a useful cue and how to cue this engagement instead. [47:05] What is the connection between the breath and the pelvic floor? [51:30] Being aware and staying within your scope of practice as a yoga teacher is very important. [53:38] Shannon shares some final thoughts around being subtle in your practice and questioning everything we come across. [60:00] Have more questions about pelvic health? Send Shannon an email or a voice note, or join Pelvic Health Professionals to learn from experts! Links: Balance Flow Yoga: 7-Week Online Series with Shelly Prosko (Code: BALANCE) Jivana Heyman Accessible Yoga Accessible Yoga Podcast The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 138: Accessible Yoga Beyond Asana with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 251: Self-Reflect and Plan [Part 2] with Shannon Crow and Jivana Heyman The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 284: Beyond Pronouns and Pride Month with Shannon Crow The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 033: A New Perspective on Diastasis Recti with Dr. Sinead Dufour The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 267: Thoughts on Belly Breathing with Shannon Crow Accessible Yoga Community on Facebook Shannon Crow on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group   Gratitude to our Sponsors, OfferingTree and Pelvic Health Professionals.   Quotes from this episode: "Every single human is walking around with a pelvis, with a pelvic floor." - Shannon   "I think it's really important that we start to talk about pelvic health and take out the gendered language." - Shannon   "We all need to be more conscious with our words, especially if you're in the position of teacher or any kind of authority." - Jivana   "We forget sometimes that if you're calling yourself a teacher, then your job is to educate." - Jivana  

CONTENT WARNING: Diet culture, mental health, death In this interview, I brought on Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500 to talk about his incredible work in the yoga industry. In this episode, we discuss the origins of The Accessible Yoga Association and Accessible Yoga School and unpack ways that yoga teachers can create change in an industry that has strayed so far away from the roots of yoga. Jivana's bio & links: Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings. He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body and Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion (Shambhala Publications). Jivana has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities with an emphasis on community building and social engagement. Out of this work, the nonprofit Accessible Yoga Association was created to support education, training, and advocacy with the mission of shifting the public perception of yoga. Accessible Yoga offers Conferences, Community Forums, a Podcast, and a popular Ambassador program. Jivana coined the phrase, “Accessible Yoga,” over ten years ago, and it has now become the standard appellation for a large cross-section of the immense yoga world. He brought the Accessible Yoga community together for the first time in 2015 for the Accessible Yoga Conference, which has gone on to become a focal point for this movement. Jivana is also the creator of the Accessible Yoga Training and the co-founder of the online Accessible Yoga School with Amber Karnes, which is a platform for continued education for yoga teachers in the field of equity and accessibility. They also created the Accessible Yoga Podcast in 2020. Over the past 25 years, Jivana has led countless yoga teacher training programs around the world, and dedicates his time to supporting yoga teachers who are working to serve communities that are under-represented in traditional yoga spaces. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yoga-biz-podcast/message

Avi and Lucy Cannon discuss the balance between service and self care, overcoming the need for approval, rigidity and growth into authenticity.Lucy Cannon was born in London, and moved to Portugal as a young child. Following her studies, she moved to London where she worked at the fashion house Gucci for 3 years. In 1999, she returned to Portugal to follow her love and curiosity of Yoga. In 2002 Lucy became a Certified Integral Yoga teacher and has continued her studies with Integral Yoga. Between 2012-2016, she became a teacher trainer for Integral Yoga in Basic and Intermediate courses. Over the past 20 years she has studied in; Yoga of the Heart with Nischala Joy Devi, Raja Yoga with Nalanie Chellaram, Yoga for the Special Child with Sonia and Renata Sumar, Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman and many other great teachers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"People who are trauma survivors, their body has not been a safe place. It's not a safe place to land and then there's that disconnect between the body and mind."On this episode of HerVoice, we sit down with Exhale to Inhale Instructor Ellyn Gerry to explore the mind-body connection and the healing power of trauma-informed yoga. Ellyn Gerry has over three decades of combined experience as a Labor and Delivery Nurse, Childbirth Educator and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. She is a highly regarded Prenatal/Postnatal Yoga Teacher, and currently co-teaches the Prenatal Yoga Center's Teacher Training with Deb Flashenberg. She has completed over 1000 hours of Yoga and Fitness training, including Pelvic Floor Yoga with Leslie Howard, Advanced Yoga TT with Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman Yee, Yin Yoga with Corina Benner, Trauma-Informed Yoga with Exhale to Inhale, Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman, and Baby and Me Yoga with Kidding Around Yoga. She is also certified in Yoga for Recovery from Eating Disorders with Chelsea Roff, Relax and Renew Restorative Yoga with Judith Hanson Lasater and is a Level 3 Mindfulness MeditationTeacher with Cyndi Lee. Additionally, she is a Power Pilates Instructor, NASM Women's Fitness Specialist, and Body Ready Method Pro. She is currently completing specialty training in Yoga for Female Health with a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective. When she is not teaching or studying, she loves to swim with her two grandchildren. 

Yoga Journal, which is the long standing print magazine for yoga professionals, and the yoga community, is owned by the same parent company that publishes Clean Eating magazine. So there’s a lot of intersection in the writing and the journalists between them. And I find it very problematic. Extremely problematic. But that’s capitalism, right? You’re listening to Burnt Toast. This is the podcast where we talk about diet culture, fatphobia, parenting, and health. Today I’m chatting with Jessica Grosman! Jessica is an experienced anti-diet registered dietitian and certified Intuitive Eating counselor, weight inclusive health practitioner, and yoga teacher. She is on the faculty of Yoga for Eating Disorders, where she teaches the popular compassionate and mindful yin yoga series. And she’s a co-founder of Anti-Diet Culture Yoga, a platform with a mission to keep diet culture out of yoga spaces by providing training and educational opportunities for teachers. So, as you can probably guess from her bio, Jessica and I are discussing the intersection of diet culture and yoga today. This was such a fascinating conversation for me, because I truly did not know the extent to which yoga has been colonized and appropriated by white people and diet culture. If you have a fraught relationship with yoga, or have had that over the years like I have, I think you will get a lot out of this one. I do want to acknowledge that Jessica and I are two white, privileged ladies having this conversation. I’m very aware that in order to divest from yoga from diet culture and white supremacy more completely, we need to be learning this from people of color. We do shout out some of those voices towards the end of the episode. But I would love to know who else you are learning from—post suggestions in the comments so we can continue this conversation! If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us in your podcast player! It’s free and a great way to help more folks find the show.Keep sending in your questions for Virginia’s Office Hours! If you have a question about navigating diet culture and anti-fat bias that you’d like to talk through with me, or if you just want to rant about a shitty diet with me, you can submit your question/topic here. I’ll pick one person to join me on the bonus episode so we can hash it out together.PS. Also hi new subscribers/listeners! I think a bunch of you found me through Julia Turshen’s podcast Keep Calm and Cook On. I have loved her entire series on Unapologetic Appetites and was delighted to join her for this conversation. Episode 52 TranscriptVirginiaHi, Jessica! Why don’t we start by having you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and your work?JessicaMy work is primarily patient-focused nutrition therapy, and I work to help individuals reestablish a comfortable connection with food and body most often after years of living and diet culture. I am a member of ASDAH, the Association of Size Diversity and Health and use HAES principles in my individualized care. I’m also a yoga teacher, as I mentioned, and really love bringing together all sorts of ways to help people feel comfortable in their body.VirginiaI think you’re our first yoga teacher on the podcast and today that’s going to be our focus — this intersection of diet culture and yoga. I think for a lot of listeners, this probably isn’t breaking news. We’ve all kind of seen the Lululemon version of yoga, and the Gwyneth Paltrow / Goop version. I think a lot of us may assume that diet culture has been baked into yoga from the start. But is that true or do you see this as a more recent co-option of yoga?JessicaI want to start by asking you if you know what the word yoga means. So I want to spin this question back to you. VirginiaI feel like I knew this when I did a lot more yoga, and now I’m going to fail this quiz. JessicaIt’s okay! Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means “to yoke” or “to join.” So right there, the word yoga does not mean acrobatics, leggings, green juice, restrictive diets, or any other stereotype that has been portrayed in the media through diet culture. I want to acknowledge that right from the start that yoga has nothing to do with diet culture in its origin. I’m going to give you a little history lesson here. There are eight limbs of yoga, with only one being the physical practice of yoga, the poses and postures that we see so often. In the classic, traditional sense, yoga really is about the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. The physical practice of yoga was developed to help rid the body of distractions, of impulses, to be able to sit and meditate. So if you think about kids in a classroom, we know that if we want kids to sit and concentrate, first we let them get all their energy out, and they run around on a playground have play time before they’re able to sit calmly and concentrate. Yoga, the physical practice of yoga, is in the same vein, to give the body time to rid itself of the distractions to be able to turn inward and sit and focus in meditation.VirginiaI love that framing and I’d never thought of it that way. And nothing you mentioned has to do with weight loss or changing your body size or shape. So when did the shift happened? JessicaSo, yoga was brought to the west from southern Asia about 100 years ago—and notice I said Southern Asia and not India, because yoga’s inception was not just in the land that is currently India, but all throughout southern Asia. So we want to give respect and honor to those lineages. But it was brought to the West about 100 years ago by a Russian woman named Eugenia Peterson who later changed her name to Indra Devy. She was an actress and a spiritual seeker who traveled to India and became the first female student of Krishna Macharia, who was considered the father of modern yoga. He created the posture-based yoga practice, the physical yoga that was influenced by martial arts and wrestling and British calisthenics. Remember, this was in colonized, British-occupied India. And so Indra was able to bring her yoga studies to the west with her when South Asians were not able to come West due to the Immigration Act of 1924, which set quotas for immigration from “less desirable” countries. Indra came back to the west, came to Hollywood dressed in saris and was emulated by movie stars and Hollywood types seeking exotic practices from the East to keep themselves young and beautiful. This was the start of the modern wellness movement and with yoga at the core. VirginiaShe’s like a proto-Gwyneth Paltrow.JessicaExactly. And you know, how ironic that she was on Gwyneth Paltrow land?VirginiaSo, the Western conception of yoga has always been more linked to diet culture. We wouldn’t have called it diet culture back then, but certainly this idea of the body and controlling the body. JessicaI would say so, especially in the yoga space that is full of white practitioners. I think South Asians in the West practicing yoga that are coming from that lineage, from their motherland, it’s a different type of practice. But the yoga of diet culture is very whitewashed.VirginiaLet’s talk specifics about how that manifests. What are some of the most surprising ways you’ve seen diet culture infiltrate yoga?Jessica Yoga is part of wellness culture and wellness culture is that friendly guise of diet culture which is rooted in capitalism. Yoga in the West is rooted in capitalism. I can tell you that working as a yoga teacher, to earn a living as a yoga teacher is not sustainable in our capitalistic society. There’s just no way to go about doing that for most people, other than those elevated—and I’m going to use air quotes—“gurus” of yoga, the ones that we see in the ads for Lululemon and all of the other brands.So yoga studios—we have yoga studios in the West, not so much in South Asia. But yoga studios in the West are for profit, and you can just look at what they sell beyond classes: The food, the drinks, the clothing, the apothecary items. This is all so steeped in diet culture. So before setting foot in a yoga studio, there’s this assumption that certain clothing is required to practice yoga, and that clothing is most often indicated for particular bodies. That keeps diversity out of yoga spaces. We don’t have to look too far to see that the ad campaigns for leggings, for activewear that is indicated for yoga practices, is usually on very small bodies. VirginiaAs you’re saying that, I’m just thinking I would feel weird going to a yoga class not wearing yoga pants. Like, we have this sense that you have to. But you also don’t have to. When I practice yoga at home, I often do it in just my pajama pants or any loose clothing. Why we have this idea that you have to wear this one type of pants to go to a yoga studio is fascinating.JessicaIt’s all about that culture of fitting in and needing to feel like you’re worthy of being in that space. VirginiaYep, that makes sense. And yet the pants so rarely have pockets and are not efficient for many of my needs.JessicaWell, that’s why you need more of the swag to go along with them.VirginiaOh, of course. JessicaYou need the correct bag to hold your yoga mat. And it has to be the correct yoga mat. And then the correct yoga bag, which has the pockets for this, that, and the other. VirginiaThere’s many more products we can buy.JessicaSo yoga studios, right? They’re selling more than classes. They’re selling a lifestyle. And I can tell you that walking into many studios—and I have not been in many studios since the pandemic, that’s been the beauty of the pandemic for me is the ability to both practice and teach yoga from the comfort of my home which I think is very, very important. But yoga studios have to make a profit and they do this by selling more than classes, by selling more than experience. So there is the clothing, there is oftentimes food—and I can tell you that it’s not chips and candy that are sold in yoga studios. It’s whatever bar or superfood of the moment is capturing the attention of wellness culture. It’s specific filtered water and kombucha and all sorts of other foods and foodstuffs that really have nothing to do with yoga or wellbeing, but just offer that glimmer of hope that by being in the space, by drinking this liquid, eating this snack, you’ll become more than who you were when you walked in the door. VirginiaAnd they’re also selling restriction too, right? There’s often an emphasis on cutting out food groups. I’m hoping you can tease this out a little bit. I know being vegetarian is linked to some of the history of yoga, but cutting out sugar seems more of just a straight up diet culture intervention. JessicaSo there are many different lineages of yoga. As I mentioned, yoga is not just based in the land that is currently referred to as India, but all over South Asia. And different lineages do have different traditions when it comes to food. There’s this assumption, though, that to practice yoga, to be a quote unquote “good yogi,” means that you are vegetarian, if not vegan, and that cannot be further from the truth. Really what we are looking for in a yoga experience is to feel well in your body. One of the ethical precepts of yoga is a Ahimsa and I’m sure a lot of people have heard this term Ahimsa, which means “no harm” and oftentimes gets co opted into meaning veganism as no harm, you’re not harming another living organism. But I like to turn back Ahimsa to no harm upon yourself. And really, when you’re not harming yourself, you’re loving yourself and taking care of yourself. The notion that to practice yoga means that you have to eat a certain way or not eat a certain way is completely false for the general population. As I said, there are pockets of yoga lineages and people practicing yoga that do take a different stance, but for the general public that wants to bring yoga into their life, keep on eating whatever you want and feel well in your body.VirginiaThat’s a really powerful reframing because yes, I’ve gotten stuck on that ahimsa, do no harm piece. And I think that’s really useful to consider that we have to include ourselves in that doing of no harm. I also want to circle back quickly to the guru concept that you touched on. I’m curious to hear more about to what extent the idea of a guru is important to what yoga was originally and how you see the guru concept working out today, because it seems like that’s often where a lot of the diet culture comes in, right? Because people in a studio or in a yoga community are so revering this one teacher to the point that there’s a lot of opportunities for harm. JessicaCorrect. Yoga in its origin was taught from teacher to student, and there wasn’t a set number of hours that you study with your teacher and then are declared a yoga teacher. It was a lifelong relationship of learning and reciprocity between student and teacher, and continuous learning. We don’t see that sort of student teacher relationship in modern yoga in the West. There is more of that Guru culture where teachers are revered. They’re oftentimes put on a pedestal and whatever a teacher says is often taken as the right thing to do, the right way to be. That’s really dangerous because the scope of practice which is a set of rules and policies set forth by Yoga Alliance, the governing body of yoga teachers, does not include any talk of food, diet or nutrition. Yet we know that to be far from the truth, that is definitely an area that is abused by many teachers who share their thoughts, their opinions, their personal experiences as the way things should be done, on and off of the mat. And that’s where the danger comes in. VirginiaI’m looking back on my own relationship with yoga over the years and so many workshops I went to with male gurus who were very hands on in their adjustments of the women who came in with the right Lululemon leggings. There’s just a whole whole lot going on there.JessicaAbsolutely. I mean, I didn’t even touch on the hands-on adjustments. Partly from teaching outside of studios, in the online space, I think we’ve gotten away from adjustments a lot, because my students are on the other side of the screen. But that sort of abuse in teacher/student relationships definitely has been well documented. I think the more subtle abuse or harm is the teacher or the guru that inflicts on their students their own beliefs, opinions, and knowledge that isn’t their place to share.VirginiaIt can be hard when you’re seeking something from yoga, which a lot of people are. You’re in a vulnerable position, right? This person seems to have a lot of answers. They’re personifying this lifestyle that’s extremely seductive. And often you’re getting some real tangible benefits from the yoga practice. So it can get very murky and hard to sort out. Like, which aspect of what I’m doing in yoga, what’s coming from the breathing or the meditation or the physical work and what’s coming from now I’m doing this cleanse with 30 people in my studio?JessicaExactly, exactly. It gets blurry, as you said, and I think it’s important for anyone that is currently practicing yoga or looking to begin a yoga practice to really examine their intention for being in a space or for being in the presence of a particular teacher. VirginiaYeah, let’s talk more about that. There’s obviously so much that’s great about yoga and making yoga more accessible for all bodies is so important. So how can we think about separating yoga from diet culture? How do you start to suss out where a studio falls in all of this? And how do you figure out what to wear if you don’t want to wear skinny yoga pants?JessicaYou never need to wear skinny yoga pants. The most important thing from the start is to be comfortable. So skinny yoga pants aren’t comfortable for you, then that’s not what you should be wearing. But I think the most important thing from the start is to read class descriptions. If you’re looking for a yoga class, read class descriptions. There should not be any promise of changing a body or any regimented requirements for diet involved, right? Along the lines of diet, culture and wellness culture and its roots in white supremacy and patriarchy, we have to look at classes and specifically about levels of classes and saying that a class is advanced and has advanced poses is not a place that welcomes everyone, right? If you go to a class and feel like you’re being told to just rest while everyone else is doing some fancy shape pose, then that class is not for you, and that class shouldn’t be taught that way, either. We have autonomy as yoga students to practice the way we want to in our body, our bodies are unique and individual and have unique capabilities that change from day to day. So there is no one pose or practice is more advanced than another. It’s learning how to honor your body and its unique abilities from day to day, from moment to moment.VirginiaI certainly have had and I’m sure many people listening have had that feeling of failure, when you’re told, “okay, you can just go into child’s pose now,” and that feels very stigmatizing. I think a lot of teachers mean it kindly. I think they mean, like, listen to your body and take your time and whatever. But if you’re the one person in the room, and especially if you’re in a bigger body than everybody else, it doesn’t feel kind. JessicaI also pay attention to the languaging used by the teacher and the languaging used within a yoga studio. You want language to be qualitative, and not descriptive. Descriptive language can be inappropriate and stigmatizing. So for example, if a teacher says, “place your hands on your fleshy thighs” versus “place your hands on your upper legs,” there’s a big difference right there. “Rest your hands on your abdomen” versus “rest your hands on your soft belly.” Well, it just isn’t comfortable, right? This is something that’s very nuanced. My experience in teaching yoga for eating disorders and those suffering from eating disorders—that’s very trauma informed work—really informs the language that I use. But I think it’s something that all yoga teachers need to have exposure to and be taught the nuance of qualitative and descriptive languaging. Because there is something very uncomfortable about being told to put your hands on your fleshy thighs, on your soft belly.(Note from Virginia: Obviously fleshy thighs and soft bellies are not inherently bad! Jessica is referencing how these descriptions can feel not great when used by thin teachers, in a diet culture context.)VirginiaI had a yoga teacher once who taught triangle pose by telling us to imagine our body between two panes of glass. It took me years to even recognize how stigmatizing that was because I don’t want my round body flattened between two panes of glass. That’s not a helpful note. I don’t really want anyone’s body being flattened between two panes of glass. That sounds painful. It’s an incredibly anti-fat image.Jessica I couldn’t agree more. I want to point out that yoga is an embodied practice. So that means listening to your body’s cues and messages and trusting yourself and your instincts. So, if you don’t feel comfortable in a space, if you don’t feel comfortable in the presence of a teacher, if it’s online or in person, trust your body. Trust your nervous system, if you have that awareness because it’s very hard to have an embodied practice and embodied experience in a body that is heightened and on alert and not relaxed and not comfortable.JessicaSo in terms of where diet culture comes in to yoga, and especially in social media, at this point, Yoga Journal, which is the long standing print magazine for yoga professionals, and the yoga community, has a large online presence. And it is owned by the same parent company that publishes Clean Eating magazine. There’s a lot of intersection in the writing and the journalists between Yoga Journal and Clean Eating. I find it very problematic. Extremely problematic. But that’s capitalism, right? VirginiaIt sure is.JessicaThe other very alarming situation that I’ve seen time and time again is this notion that some students, especially in a more active yoga class, will leave before savasana, before the end of class. Savasana is this time to reconnect with the body, to integrate all of the practice into the body. Its definition is “corpse pose.” Not to be gruesome, but just laying on the back in stillness that is savasana. There are a number of people, as I said, especially in more active classes that will leave class before savasana because it’s not a calorie burning pose. They feel like they need to keep the body moving and active and that rest is for the weary. It’s very sad to me.VirginiaI admit, savasana is the pose I often struggle with most, not because I want to burn calories but just because I’m, feeling like I need to get on with my day. But that’s also why it’s important, right? That’s what I need to be challenging. But yes, thinking of yoga as a workout, period, is so problematic. But certainly then thinking every minute of it has to be this really intense workout is that’s just straight up diet culture, for sure.JessicaYoga as a workout is straight up diet culture, because as I said, at the beginning, yoga is for the purpose of being able to sit and meditate. One thing I didn’t say at the start is the way that I define yoga is the integration of body, mind, and breath in the present moment. So, Virginia, we’re practicing yoga right now. We are having this conversation. We’re here, we’re breathing. We’re present. We’re in the present moment. We are practicing yoga. We are not doing handstands and contorting our bodies. VirginiaWe are not, for people who can’t see us. Nobody’s in a  headstand right now. JessicaMaybe when we’re done recording, I will go and get in that headstand. But for now…VirginiaThat’s such a more inclusive way to think about it because so many of the Yoga Journal cover poses are so inaccessible for bigger bodies. We should talk about that, too. I have a longtime hatred of shoulder stand because if you are a person with a stomach and large breasts, being in shoulder stand can feel like your body is suffocating you. It puts me immediately at war with my body when that’s not at all how I want to feel during a yoga practice. It always strikes me as a very male body designed pose. I don’t know if there are other examples like that you want to mention, in terms of getting away from this specific idea of doing yoga for certain bodies.JessicaI want to acknowledge that any body—any shape and size body—can be challenged by different yoga shapes, yoga poses. Someone in a thin privileged body may not have the ability to get into every shape and that is due to bone structure. Bone structure and the uniqueness of anybody’s bones and joints and tissues, regardless of their body size. So this assumption that you need to be in a smaller frame body, in a thin, privileged body to practice yoga is completely false. Just because you have a smaller body doesn’t mean that you’re able to do every shape either. So there are ways for every body, every single body shape and size, to get into nearly all of the shapes and postures and poses that are out there. I’ve done training on how to teach yoga for those that are bedbound, yoga for people in wheelchairs. There actually is bed yoga, which is so lovely and really beneficial for people that don’t have the ability to get out of bed, don’t have the ability to get out of a wheelchair or some other mobility device. VirginiaAs you’re saying this too, I’m realizing another way that the diet culture shows up is we so often think of modifications for poses as either failure or as a starting point and you have to progress beyond. Like, you have to eventually be able to do inversions in the middle of the room is always a big one that comes up in class. I have no interest in doing a headstand in the middle of the room. I want the wall there. I want to know that I’ve got that support. The idea that I’ve somehow never achieved a true headstand because I don’t feel safe doing it in the middle of a room is so frustrating. And there are so many examples of that.JessicaUsing props, including the wall, the wall is the greatest of all props is not a sign of inadequacy, or of being a beginner being a failure. Oftentimes, and more often than not, the use of a prop can help you get further into a shape into an area of the body that you didn’t know you had access to. VirginiaWho else do you love who’s fighting this diet culture definition of yoga? Who are you learning from? I would love to shout out some names.Jessica There are a lot of people bringing awareness to the origins and to the roots of yoga, the South Asian roots. Names like Susanna Barkataki. There’s two podcasters from the Yoga is Dead podcast, Jesal Parikh and Tejal Patel. Those three women in particular are bringing a lot of awareness of the roots of yoga and what has happened through colonization and cultural appropriation of yoga practices. I don’t see as much of the resistance to diet culture, because I see this is a little different from the fat positive or body positive movement within yoga. There is a small but mighty group of us registered dietitian and yoga teachers and a very small group that I know of that are in the anti-diet, weight inclusive space and practicing as Registered Dietitians as well as yoga teachers that are really trying to make sure that diet culture does not continue to bring harm or the harm of diet culture into the yoga space. One of my colleagues and I have started Anti-Diet Culture Yoga as a training platform for yoga teachers to help them decipher what is the true teachings of yoga versus what is the influence of diet culture. VirginiaThere are so many ways we need to rethink what modern yoga has become. It makes sense that not everybody is doing all of the work, because there’s so much work. I’ll shout out a couple of people I love on Instagram who are doing yoga and fat bodies. Jessamyn Stanley has been a longtime go-to for me. I love her underbelly app videos. They were really a turning point for my yoga relationship, both in terms of being able to do yoga outside of a studio and do yoga with someone who wasn’t in a thin body. All of that was really liberating for me. I also love @fringeish on Instagram. Shannon does a lot challenging people’s perceptions of what fat bodies can do with yoga, and creating safe spaces. Dianne Bondy is another one I’ve learned a lot from. So they’re there. You’re right, there’s not nearly enough. Different people are working on different aspects of this, but it is encouraging to see this kind of small community of voices emerging.JessicaI also I want to give a shout out to accessible yoga, specifically to Jivana Heyman, who has done a tremendous amount for bringing yoga to all people and that recognition that any body and everybody, regardless of shape, size, color, ability, disability, so on and so forth, can practice yoga in a meaningful way. I also want to mention Yoga for Eating Disorders which is an online school that I’m on the faculty of. One thing that we didn’t touch upon, which is a whole other conversation is that not all yoga is good yoga. Yoga and its intertwining with diet culture has been harmful and in the perpetuation of disordered eating and development of eating disorders. Not all yoga is good yoga for all bodies and for all people, especially those suffering with issues of disordered eating and eating disorders. At yoga for eating disorders we teach in a way that is safe is trauma-informed and is available to help heal the relationship with the body in a way that is neutral and supportive. VirginiaIt’s so important to have that safe space. Butter For Your Burnt ToastVirginiaWell, Jessica, we always wrap up, as you know, with our butter for burnt toast segment, so I would love to know what is your butter for us today?JessicaI’m so glad you asked! Because it’s summertime, and there’s nothing better in the summer than ice cream. And I’m talking about real ice cream. I’m not talking about Tasti D-lite. I’m a former New Yorker that thought that Tasti D-lite was a good thing. Now is the time on a beautiful sunny afternoon or a rainy afternoon like I have today here to go and enjoy a bowl of ice cream, cone of ice cream, whatever it may be. I just can’t think of anything better. VirginiaIt really is one of the most perfect things about summer. I’m gonna do a plant recommendation for my plant obsessed listeners. My butter is the Great Umbrella Plant, Darmera Peltata. Okay, so Darmera looks like a giant rhubarb. It has a very round umbrella shaped leaf. It’s a garden plant, not a house plant. I should have started with that. It’s native to the Pacific Northwest but it grows really well in shade gardens if you have enough moisture. I’ve just put some in and they get huge and they put up these really pretty pink flowers in the spring. And then you get these giant leaves for the rest of the season. So if you’re looking for a good plant for a shade garden, check out Darmera. It’s like an alternative to a hosta but even more giant big leaves. Very cool.All right. Well, thank you so much, Jessica, for being here! Where can we follow you and learn more about your work?JessicaYou can find me on Instagram at @withhealthandgratitude and that’s also the name of my website, with health and gratitude which has all the information for how to work with me for nutrition therapy. I teach weekly online yin yoga classes which are accessible for everyone—there is no previous experience required. Links to my classes are at yoga for eating disorders. I have hundreds of recipes on my website, original recipes—I used to do work and recipe development and culinary education. So my website has lots of information regardless of what you’re looking for. There’s something for everyone. VirginiaWe will link to that. Thank you so much for being here!Thanks so much for listening to Burnt Toast! If you’d like to support the show, please subscribe for free in your podcast player and tell a friend about this episode.Consider a paid subscription to the Burnt Toast newsletter! It’s just $5 a month or $50 for the year you get a ton of cool perks and you keep that’s an ad- and sponsor-free space.The Burnt Toast Podcast is produced and hosted by me, Virginia Sole-Smith. You can follow me on Instagram or Twitter.Burnt Toast transcripts and essays are edited and formatted by Corinne Fay, who runs @SellTradePlus, an Instagram account where you can buy and sell plus size clothing.The Burnt Toast logo is by Deanna Lowe.Our theme music is by Jeff Bailey and Chris Maxwell.Tommy Harron is our audio engineer.Thanks for listening and for supporting independent anti-diet journalism. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit virginiasolesmith.substack.com/subscribe

The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast 273: Yoga is a Revolution with Jivana Heyman   Description: What is the ultimate goal with your yoga practice? How does yoga tie in with social justice and activism? How is yoga a revolution? Jivana Heyman is back on the podcast to answer these questions and to share more about his new book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion.   Jivana Heyman, is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings. Through his work with Accessible Yoga, Jivana offers conferences, community forums, a podcast, and a popular ambassador program. He is also the co-founder of the Accessible Yoga Training School, and the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body.   In this episode, Jivana explains his perspective on how yoga relates to social justice, and how our personal practice of yoga helps us show up and serve. Jivana and Shannon also discuss the power dynamic in teacher-student relationships, why we struggle with failure and how we can normalize it, what to do when the world feels overwhelming, and more.   Tune in to also find out how to win one of two copies of Jivana's book as well!   Key Takeaways: [4:28] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode - Jivana Heyman [8:35] What was it like for Jivana to write his second book? [10:51] What does yoga have to do with social justice and activism? [14:29] Shannon and Jivana invite you to consider what is the goal of your own practice. [17:19] What are Jivana's thoughts on how some people view speaking out as unbecoming or not aligned with being a yoga teacher or the teachings of yoga? [22:05] A live listener, Jessica, shares that for them, the ultimate goal of yoga is connection. [24:06] Another listener shares about how yoga has helped them with patience and building community. [27:07] Shannon and Jivana discuss a personal experience he shared in the book about how he dealt with his yoga teacher being accused of abuse. [33:45] Shannon pops in with a message about a new update from OfferingTree. [35:51] Jivana explains what he means by 'my liberation is tied to yours'. [42:04] If we're all connected, we need to work on our connections to people we disagree with as well. [47:51] Jivana talks about failure as a practice, and the impact of our internal self-talk on ourselves. [51:40] Shannon shares some comments from listeners. [54:09] Going back to the theme of failure, Jivana reflects on how we should approach failure. [55:58] What is the rainbow mind? [59:11] How does building your personal practice tie in with being able to deal with the world when it feels overwhelming? [63:29] How can you support someone in your life right now? [66:37] Jivana's new book is available for purchase and Shannon is also giving away two copies to listeners!   Links: Jivana Heyman Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion by Jivana Heyman Accessible Yoga Association Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body By Jivana Heyman Yoga Revolution Podcast The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Devi Post-Lineage Yoga, by  Theodora Wildcroft Live with Jivana (full interview) - Yoga Revolution with Jivana Heyman Live with Wolf Terry - Ahimsa in Action with Wolf Terry Theo Wildcroft - Yoga with Theo Wildcroft Native Land Digital Shannon Crow on Instagram The Connected Yoga Teacher Facebook Group   Gratitude to our Sponsor, OfferingTree.   Quotes from this episode: “I've always always really found those connections between yoga and social justice and I wanted to share them.” - Jivana   “To me, social justice is wanting justice for others, actually just having compassion for others and caring about other people other than myself. To me that's directly aligned with the yoga teachings.” - Jivana   “What do you think the ultimate goal for you is with your own practice?” - Shannon Crow   "We are all intimately connected, and that's the point of yoga actually is to find those connections." - Jivana  

On today's episode, I speak to Sarah Henderson, a yoga teacher who specializes in teaching adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sarah's parents were role models of advocacy after her younger sister, Hannah, was born with Down Syndrome. And Sarah has followed in their footsteps -- before she became a yoga teacher, she worked at an inclusive preschool, in respite care, and as a developmental evaluator. Add to that the many different types of yoga training Sarah has under her belt -- including training with Jivana Heyman of Accessible Yoga, with Matthew Sanford, and with Jason -- and Sarah has a an incredible toolkit to draw from as she works with her students. On this episode, Sarah shares many useful insights such as:How one of her teachers encouraged her forge her own path and teach this population of adultsHow she sequences her classes based on the training she's done with JasonThe tools she uses to people who learn and process things differentlyWhy she believes “presence is participation”How teaching this community is different—and, perhaps more importantly, how it's the same as teaching anyone elseShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode260Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The historical teachings of yoga have incredible lessons for our modern world. Understanding and unpacking the ancient teachings is a lifelong process, and those of us lucky enough to practice, study and teach yoga must investigate how these teachings can shape our worldview. The bottom line is that the teachings of yoga point towards care of the collective as a path to enlightenment. The liberation of all beings (including ourselves) is where my personal study has led me over and over again. In our world today, that often looks like what we call social justice. Jivana Heyman, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings.

This episode is a replay of a conversation between Jivana Heyman and Octavia Raheem on Jivana's podcast, Yoga Revolution. This week's guest, Octavia Raheem, teaches us to slow down, prioritize rest, and honor our varied human experiences. Octavia is a mother, author of "Gather," yoga teacher, and founder of Starshine & Clay Online Yoga and Meditation Studio for Black Women and Women of Color. A deep listener and truth teller, Octavia is a gatherer and space holder for rest and awakening. As a teacher and leader she has the skill of hearing beneath the surface for what isn't being said, yet needs to. Octavia has more than 15 years of experience and nearly 10,000 hours of leading classes, immersions, and trainings. She guides us toward resonance and connection even when the truths we witness, hear, and encounter vary from our own. Her conversation with Jivana touches on how these truths arise in today's world, as well as what it means to practice activism as a form of yoga, the importance of mindful space holding and compassionate language, and how simply being is perhaps the most important practice of all. Order Octavia's new book "Pause, Rest, Be" Learn more about Octavia. Follow Octavia's inspirational Instagram.

This episode is a replay of a conversation between Jivana Heyman and Octavia Raheem on Jivana's podcast, Yoga Revolution. This week's guest, Octavia Raheem, teaches us to slow down, prioritize rest, and honor our varied human experiences. Octavia is a mother, author of "Gather," yoga teacher, and founder of Starshine & Clay Online Yoga and Meditation Studio for Black Women and Women of Color. A deep listener and truth teller, Octavia is a gatherer and space holder for rest and awakening. As a teacher and leader she has the skill of hearing beneath the surface for what isn't being said, yet needs to. Octavia has more than 15 years of experience and nearly 10,000 hours of leading classes, immersions, and trainings. She guides us toward resonance and connection even when the truths we witness, hear, and encounter vary from our own. Her conversation with Jivana touches on how these truths arise in today's world, as well as what it means to practice activism as a form of yoga, the importance of mindful space holding and compassionate language, and how simply being is perhaps the most important practice of all. Order Octavia's new book "Pause, Rest, Be" Learn more about Octavia. Follow Octavia's inspirational Instagram.

This week I chat with Jivana Heyman, the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings. He's the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body, as well as the forthcoming book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion. Visit his website JivanaHeyman.com and his IG @jivanaheyman

Yoga is wonderful, but for students practicing with various limitations as and unique challenges or who use a wheelchair, it's hard to know where to start or how to practice. In this conversation, Jivana Heyman, a certified yoga teacher and author, will offer tips on how to adapt the practice to make it more accessible for everyone. Jivana Heyman's Website Purchase Accessible Yoga FREE VIDEO COURSE: Mindfulness for Busy Minds (limited time) This video course will teach you everything you need to avoid frustrating pitfalls and get started with regular practice so that you can start living a healthier, happier life. Jumpstart your meditation practice today! Free Registration

This week Itzel Berrio Hayward joins Jivana Heyman for a warm and dynamic conversation about our innate divinity, finding unity in diversity, and the relationship between social justice and yoga. Itzel is a compassionate and fierce advocate for love. After serving as a public policy lawyer for 13 years, Itzel left her legal career and founded Attuned Living, a mindfulness and wellness organization that helps individuals heal the sense of separation they feel from others—or even from themselves. Her unique work—based on the teachings of yoga, mindfulness, and compassionate communication—ranges from promoting social justice work within organizations and communities to guiding individuals on their search for personal and professional fulfillment. During their heartfelt chat, Jivana and Itzel consider the following: How is our spirituality connected to our humanity? How do we avoid making the yogic teachings overly dogmatic while still keeping the tradition alive? And, how can we connect those teachings to our modern-day, human experience for the benefit of all?Learn more about Itzel and Attuned Living.Follow Itzel on Instagram.Learn more about Jivana's book.Learn more about Jivana.Pre-order your copy of Yoga Revolution at Shambala, Amazon, or wherever books are sold.

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

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

Listen to the full episode by supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhourAmy discusses with Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, who is the founder and director of the Accessible Yoga Association, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to yoga teachings. Accessible Yoga offers Conferences, Community Forums, a Podcast, and a popular Ambassador program. He's the co-founder of the Accessible Yoga Training School, and the author of w, as well as the forthcoming book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion (Shambhala, Nov. 2021). Amy and Jivana talk about Yoga Revolution & Accessible Yoga, Jivana's background in Yoga and Activism, the act of service without expecting credits/praises in return, and experiencing compassion and love towards other people.They touch on the following:Jivana's forthcoming book, Yoga RevolutionJivana's Yoga background as an activist and how it informs his yoga teachingThe importance of Community & Service from the heart and with compassionJivana's experience with parenting and being married as a yoga teacherShowing compassion to others, as we have difficult discussionsHow to keep your priorities and focus on what is really important in your lifeExperience is all that there is, and outcome might be irrelevantJivana's mother's death and how it impacted him as a humanYoga & Social JusticeSelfless ServiceJivana's personal practice Today's Podcast is sponsored by The Optimal Therapy Schoolhttps://theoptimalstate.com/Foundations we supporthttp://www.kym.orgWe have all benefitted from the ancient wisdom of India and her people, so it feels really great to be able to serve in this way. The Optimal State family has pledged on-going support of $500 per month, to go directly to KYM Mitra (www.kym.org). We will collect the monies and gift them each month. Please consider a recurring monthly payment to the fund. Even a small gift or intention makes a difference! If we make more than $500 in any given month, it will roll into the following month's payment. The hope is that we can contribute for many years to come. If you even lose the link to donate, it is at the top of the homepage at www.amywheeler.com also. I will be reporting on the website the progress; how much money is coming in at any given time and where we are in the process of getting this project off the ground.Here is the link for you to get started with your donation. We are so happy that you have decided to join us. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts!Link to click in the description:http://Paypal.me/KymMitraDonationCheck out Amy's website http://www.amywheeler.comMeet Jivana jivanaheyman.comBooks mentioned in the podcastYoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion by Jivana Heymanhttps://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Revolution-Building-Practice-Compassion/dp/1611808782Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Bodyhttps://www.amazon.com/Accessible-Yoga-Poses-Practices-Every/dp/1611807123

Jivana is the founder and director of the non-profit Accessible Yoga, dedicated to increasing access to yoga teachings. Jivana's yoga practice started in the 90s in San Francisco. He got involved in the AIDS movement when many of his friends in the gay community were dying from this terrible disease. Jivana decided then to use yoga as a tool to channel the anger & frustration accumulated over the years... and also to share his knowledge to support & heal others in his community. That was the beginning of Accessible Yoga. Since then, Jivana has spent most of his life working towards making the practice accessible by educating other yoga teachers. He leads many trainings, has published a book (with another one on the way) and hosts a podcast on the subject too. He is working to make yoga truly accessible to everyone, in every body, at any age and in any state of health. At the end of the episode, Jivana also shares with us his experiences adopting 2 children with his husband. Enjoy the show. If you enjoy listening to our podcast and would like to support us, check out our Buy Me a Coffee page: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/jippodcast Our website: https://justinterestingpeople.com Follow Jivana on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jivanaheyman More information about Jivana & Accessible Yoga work, books and training on their websites: https://jivanaheyman.com https://accessibleyoga.org https://www.accessibleyogatraining.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinterestingpeople https://www.instagram.com/rosieandre_com https://www.instagram.com/jeremieandre_fr

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

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

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

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

In Episode 34 of the Accessible Yoga Podcast, Jivana Heyman welcomes Pamela Stokes Eggleston and Amina Naru to talk about compassionate leadership and mentorship for yoga teachers. Pamela and Amina are two yoga service leaders and the co-founders of Retreat To Spirit - a mentorship organization that helps yoga teachers realize their potential, build their businesses according to yogic principles, and learn how to support themselves with their practice on and off the mat. Pamela and Amina share how self-care and mentorship helped foster their yoga careers and talk about connecting to your “why.” Finally, they share details about their upcoming Retreat To Spirit Mentorship course here at the Accessible Yoga Training School, which opens for enrollment next week. For show notes and links, visit the Accessible Yoga Podcast page or episode 34 here.

In Episode 32, Jivana Heyman sits down with Theo Wildcroft. Theo Wildcroft, PhD is a teacher, trainer, writer and scholar working for a more sustainable relationship between our many selves, the communities that hold us, and the world that nourishes us. Her research considers the democratization of yoga and the many different ways yoga communities are responding to concerns about safety in practice. In this episode, Jivana and Theo discuss post lineage yoga, the backlash against her work, and her new book, Post-lineage Yoga – From Guru to #MeToo. This week we explore: A deeper understanding of post lineage yoga How Theo decided to do the research and work she is doing How Theo has navigated backlash for the work she is doing How we can share power within our spaces and classes The importance of empowering students from the beginning The importance of learning outside of formal structures How Theo does her research

Hey Episode 31: Q & A In Episode 31, Amber Karnes and Jivana Heyman sit down to answer questions submitted by our listeners and community. In this episode, we will discuss how the practice can support mental health treatment in a responsible and ethical way, scope of practice, the importance of collaboration in our communities, as well as a question about exploring practice while experiencing vertigo. This week we explore: How the practice can be used to support mental health treatment in a responsible and ethical way The importance of understanding scope of practice How important it is to build collaborative working networks in your community The importance of having clear descriptions for our classes The importance of destigmatizing mental health support within the wellness and yoga communities The importance of giving power back to students in our class spaces How to explore the practice during vertigo

Episode 28: Power In Balance In Episode 28 Jivana Heyman sits down with Susanna Barkataki. Susanna supports yoga practitioners to lead with equity, diversity and yogic values while growing thriving practices and businesses with confidence. She is founder of Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute and runs 200/500 Yoga Teacher Training programs. Jivana and Susanna have an in-depth conversation about the philosophy and history of the yoga and social justice movements of India. This conversation explores lessons and takeaways from the traditions, practices, and movements of yoga to bring social justice and advocacy to the forefront of our wellness spaces. This week hear more about: How Susanna started piecing together her recently released book through, essays, articles, interviewing her family and community How social justice and yoga have always been connected practices for Susanna The importance of seeking social justice and activism as a part of yoga more and more How important service is in the tradition of yoga How non-violence and service led social justice movements in India's fight for liberation How Ghandi and others modeled service and social justice as major part of the traditions of this practice How Susanna learned about movements and service during her time living in India How ancient texts, like the Yoga Sutras, gives us inspiration for social justice