POPULARITY
I have often been criticized for making yoga political, but it is impossible to be a yoga teacher today and not be socially engaged. The definition of Ashtanga yoga is changing and being an Ashtanga yogi requires more from us than daily practice. I brought Wambui back on the show to discuss more of the indigenous wisdom of our practice and how the practice of ahimsa is playing out in the world beyond the yoga mat. The last time I talked to Wambui Njuguna-Räisänenin, we were discussing the cognitive dissonance of yoga and the challenges of taking what we learn on the yoga mat out into the real world. Wambui shares with us the teachers who have inspired her to take on new perspectives and apply what she's learning through yoga to the social and cultural changes that are happening all around us. We discuss the meaning of transformative justice with lessons from Mia Mingus and examine emergent strategies and the paradox of power with lessons from adrienne maree browne. Being a socially engaged yoga practitioner does not mean we are walking away from yoga. As Wambui describes it, we are walking around our practice and looking for connections across different communities and circumstances. It's how we find inspiration from new teachers and how we gain new perspectives to enhance our practice and improve the emotional and spiritual well-being of the world in our own way. Wambui would like to see wellness spaces engage more in social justice and collective change and activist spaces learn to breathe deeply and practice sustainable self-care in the midst of dismantling systemic oppression. This is her definition of community care. Wambui Njuguna-Räisänen is a Kenyan-American based in Finland, passionate about making wellness through yoga and meditation seamlessly engaged in equity and justice so that more people of the global majority can live well and thrive. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and has appeared on Omstars, StillPoint Yoga London, and Maailmankuvalehti (Finnish publication). Wambui is deeply inspired by spiritual teachers and communities that seek ways to apply the insights from our various practices and teachings to situations of social, racial, political, environmental, and economic suffering and injustice. To learn more about Wambui and her offerings, visit wambuinjuguna.com or connect with her @wellnesswithwambui on Patreon, Youtube, and Instagram. To speak with Wambui directly, write her a letter: Wambui Njuguna -Räisänen Väylänrinne 5 a 1 00830 Helsinki Finland Take advantage of the resources we discussed today: Mia Mingus' blog on Accountability and Apology We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree browne Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree browne Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree browne Trans Yoga Teacher with Allé K @transyogateacher If you would like to see Wambui on Omstars, get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial. Keep up with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com. If you want to share what you've learned on your yoga journey, get in touch with me at info@kinoyoga.com. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.
Scott Johnson is the director and senior teacher at Stillpoint Yoga London and host of the Stillpoints podcast. Scott has been practising yoga since 1998 and teaching Ashtanga yoga since 2003. He's one of only a few Ashtanga teachers to both be authorised in the primary and intermediate series by Manju Jois and be given senior teacher status by John Scott. Scott is also co-founder of Amāyu Yoga, a co-operative Ashtanga yoga organisation dedicated to creating safer spaces in yoga. In this episode we discuss: The creative ways Scott uses Zoom to teach Mysore online /// Appropriate adjustments and consent /// How Scott is making Ashtanga more accessible /// Advice on opening up your own yoga space /// How Scott has stayed motivated during the pandemic /// The key to building a yoga community To find out Scott on Instagram @scottjohnsonlife or @stillpointyogalondon. Alternatively, visit his website www.stillpointyogalondon.com For all things Yoga Evolved related and to sign up for our free newsletter, visit www.yogaevolved.co.uk
Scott Johnson has over 17 years of experience with Ashtanga Yoga. He is the co-founder and director at Stillpoint Yoga London which he established in 2009. Scott has taught Ashtanga Yoga there almost daily since Stillpoint opened. He was introduced to the practice of Ashtanga yoga by John Scott in 2002 and has studied deeply with him, Lucy Crawford and Manju Jois since then, dedicating himself to the practice while working and raising a family. He is authorised to teach the primary and intermediate series of ashtanga yoga by Manju Jois and has a deep connection to the ancient practices of pranayama and vedic chanting that Manju shares. Scott has also undergone extensive Mindfulness training under the tutelage of Cathy Mae Keralse at Clear Mind International, gaining their level 3 certificate in Mindfulness and Compassion. Scott is co-founder and one of the directors of Amāyu Yoga (est. 2018), a first of its kind organisation dedicated to educating Ashtanga teachers around power dynamics and consent driven, student centred approaches to the teaching and practice of Ashtanga Yoga. Scott teaches with encouragement, insight and integrity to the teachings of yoga and mindfulness that he has had access to. His deep love of the contemplative side of these practice creates a rich, nurturing environment and he is deeply dedicated to the healing power of yoga and mindfulness in the people that he is fortunate to meet. His devotion and dedication to these practices assists practitioners in discovering how contemplative practice can unfold not only personally on the mat, but also find meaning in the wider context of daily life.
This episode features a conversation w/ Scott Johnson about the delicate nature around re-opening Yoga Studios during COVID. Scott is the founder and director of Stillpoint Yoga London in the UK. Scott is one of the only ashtanga yoga teachers to both be authorised in the primary and intermediate series by Manju Jois, son of K Pattabhi Jois and be given senior teacher status by John Scott, certified by Pattabhi Jois and one of the most recognised and world renowned names in Ashtanga Yoga.
Scott talks to colleague and fellow yoga practitioner Jess Glenny, a London based yoga teacher and educator, on her lifelong dedication to movement practices. Those were the days my friend We thought they’d never end We'd sing and dance forever and a day Jess is a long term and highly skilled yoga/movement teacher, facilitator and therapist specialising in teaching people how to practice with hypermobility. She brings a personal depth of knowledge to the experience of being hypermobile, dispraxic and autistic, shining a light on how these conditions interact with yoga practice and life. Jess runs Greenwich and Woolwich Ashtanga yoga self practice classes and specialises in teaching people with hypermobile conditions. She also leads courses, intensives and workshops nationally. Jess also has a book, the Yoga Teacher Mentor, coming out in January 2020. You can find out more about Jess here. Jess also has a highly informative blog here _____________ Movement Through Life - Jess Glenny In this deeply personal conversation Jess share moments of her life that shaped the way she practices yoga and movement. She is incredibly open about her dyspraxia, hypermobility and autistic journey and shares intimately how these have impacted her life. Her courage in meeting these conditions head on shines through and is a deep inspiration to others. Scott and Jess also share their journey of trust as they recollect how Jess felt able to be comfortable practicing in the Stillpoint Yoga London self practice room. This personal conversation is inspiring, particularly for those who are working through the same conditions that Jess brings up. Jess' story is one of facing the challenges she found head on, in a beautiful and inspiring way. If you like this podcast then also listen to Scott’s conversation with Laura Graham-Dullaert Jess talks about: how she already felt embodied through dance from age just 6 and how that was truly important for her. how she was told that this movement was wrong how she discovered her dyspraxia from an early age. how she draws on different types of practice to make sense of her experience. how she first found out that she was hypermobile the differences in hypermobilty syndromes. the process of having hyper mobility and how it’s not linear. how Ashtanga yoga really helped her understand her body through the movement principle. how she came into the Stillpoint room and navigated her relationship with Scott by asking for space and not be helped. how she navigated her way back into an Ashtanga yoga self practice room. how she now navigates her needs now. how practice is about feeling. how more approaches outside of yoga is needed. how what she needs in relationship to her autism. how this turned into listening to others needs. how dancing has been the thread that has run through her life and that has allowed her to thrive. Show Notes Ehlers-Danlos syndrome Jess’s blog on the movement of the mats at SYL.
Scott interviews David Keil, a long term SYL friend and collabarator, about his life and evolution into becoming one of Stillpoint's most loved visiting teachers and a highly sought after yoga anatomy educator. David Keil is a yoga teacher, yoga anatomy educator and entrepreneur who is changing the way we integrate with and learn yoga anatomy. He has written a yoga anatomy book, called Functional Anatomy of Yoga, created a set of highly successful yoga anatomy online courses, he facilitated a yoga research project assessing the yoga asana practice on physical health and injuryand has also just launched a groundbreaking new anatomy learning tool called 3D Muscle Lab. David lives in Miami and travels globally teaching yoga and anatomy. You can find more about David's work here _____________ Owning Your Practice Scott gets under the skin of David Keil, looking deeply into David's journey from starting yoga at 15 through to becoming, what Scott calls him, one of the most skilled Ashtanga yoga teachers and yoga educators teaching today. David has taught at Stillpoint Yoga London since 2010 and in this conversation shares his journey through yoga practice and teaching in a beautifully open and honest way David's skill has always been to be able to help find people's agency in their yoga practice. This podcast get's behind why that is, how David ultimately sees practice and why we love him here at Stillpoint. The conversation covers: how David got in to contemplative practice through self hypnosis/meditation. how David used these techniques to change his school grades. how David got into yoga through practicing Tai Chi. how David began Ashtanga yoga how David started his yoga anatomy workshops how David met John Scott. how David moved to studying in Mysore how David looks at his own practice. how David's practice has been a contemplative process what David wants to get people to understand through teaching anatomy how David helps people to take responsibility for their own yoga practice _____________ Show notes Teachers Mentioned John Scott, Ryan Spielman, Lucy Crawford, Joey Miles
Scott talks to Caroline Taylor, a long term SYL practitioner, about how she has navigated her yoga practice since the time she started in 2012. Caroline has been a practitioner of Ashtanga yoga since 2012 when she first met Scott after walking into Stillpoint Yoga London as a beginner. She joined Stillpoint at the time just after Ozge Karabiyik had passed away and has been an integral part of the community since then. Caroline works as a highly skilled clinical psychologist, based in Brighton. You can find out more about Caroline and her deeply powerful work here. _____________ A Transformative Pathway Scott and Caroline talk candidly about their relationship as teacher and student and how both have grown as a response to meeting each other. Caroline's story is of courage as she found Ashtanga yoga incredibly difficult right from the start. But from the first words she spoke to Scott in the Stillpoint room to now Caroline has shown deep courage in the way she has moved and navigated her yoga practice and life. Carrie also shares how how persistence allowed for her to meet and transform the way she saw her body. It transformed her in such a way that it influenced the way she practice her work too. Carrie's story is a wonderful take on how moving through difficult layers of practice can turn into something transformative. The conversation covers: Caroline's way into contemplative practice. Caroline's time at Bangor University. How she used the Ashtanga practice to land her in her body How Mindfulness wasn't helping her. How she started at Stillpoint How challenging she found yoga practice How she transformed because of her yoga practice How she then found how mindfulness re-invigorated her life. How feedback really helped and re-inforced her How she connected to Ozge even though she had passed a few moths before. How her practice transformed the way Caroline served her clients as a clinical psychologist. Caroline shares ways she helps her clients using principles she has learnt from yoga. How practice is deeply personal. How John Scott helped her to not stop. _____________ Show notes Teachers Mentioned Andy Gill, Lee Monk, Laura Graham-Dullaert, Maria Jose Pantoja, John Scott. Also mentioned Bangor University
Scott talks to Maria Jose Pantoja who between 2009 and 2013 was one of the most consistent members and teachers at Stillpoint Yoga London. She turned from one of the most beautiful practitioners into one of our loveliest ever teachers. Maria was loved by everyone who was part of our community. She moved back to her native Mexico in 2013 ------- Remembering Precious Times When do you get the opportunity to reminisce with someone who was there at a deeply meaningful part of your life. Scott and Maria have a moving conversation about the early years of Stillpoint Yoga London (between 2009 and 2013) and their relationship as teacher, student and friends. These were beautiful times. A yoga space finding it’s place in it’s early phase, yoga students and teachers being part of that growth together. The conversation brings up lost but incredibly special memories for both of them. Scott and Maria talk about: Maria’s evolution into Ashtanga yoga Her part in the early years at SYL while studying for her PHD. How she became a teacher under the guidance of Scott and the late Ozge Karabiyik. Her memories and deep friendship with Ozge. Her reaction to Ozge’s death in 2012. The impact from her moving away from the UK in 2013. The deep trust she has This is a really lovely podcast. You’re perhaps left with a deep appreciation of the love and respect that Scott and Maria have for each other. Show notes Teachers Mentioned Abby Hoffman Craig Norris John Scott Lucy Crawford Ozge Karabiyik Rachel Barlow Laura Graham-Dullaert
Scott and Laura talk deeply about how they’re relationship has evolved over 8 years. They share how they met, the shift of their relationship through teaching and Laura apprenticing at Stillpoint Yoga London, how they both navigated the death of SYL co-founder Ozge Karabiyik and then moved into becoming colleagues and dear friends who still goof around together. Laura also talks candidly about how the practice has changed for her over the years based on a condition she has called marfan syndrome. Her practice turned into an investigation and because of it she became a deeply gifted and insightful yoga teacher. She also shares openly about the open grief she shared on social media regarding the death of her father. _____ Scott met Laura in 2009 when Laura stepped into a self practice class he ran near his home in Kent. She quickly recognised the power in practicing Ashtanga yoga regularly and became a integral part of Stillpoint from 2010 through to when she left in 2018. Laura left Stillpoint in 2018 and moved to Margate. She continues to teach yoga there and in central London. Find out more about Laura here. _____ Show notes Yoga Akasha Marfan Syndrome Laura’s Instagram around the death of her father
In a beautifully revealing conversation at the Purple Valley Retreat Centre in Goa where they were both teaching, John and Scott share intimate moments of their lives. The teacher/student relationship that has evolved between John and Scott over the years has turned into friendship. One where they deeply support each other's work, aren't afraid of having challenging conversations but they can also have a beer and laugh with each other. John talks about developing his deeply profound Ashtanga yoga teaching with his first wife Lucy Crawford in the first decade of the millennium, how he moved through the death of two of his yoga teachers, how emigrating twice challenged him greatly and both John and Scott share how their personal relationship has evolved over the years. They also both remember the late Ozge Karabiyik, who had a deep impact on both their lives. John Scott is a world renowned teacher of Ashtanga Yoga. He has been practicing for 30 years and travels the world sharing the method. www.johnscottyoga.com _____ Scott met John Scott at a yoga workshop in Oxford in 2002. He left knowing he'd found his teacher. Since then Scott has traveled far to work with John, training deeply with him and Lucy Crawford in 2008/2009 on their 2 month teacher training. Stillpoint Yoga London was established in 2009 as response to the teachings Scott and Ozge Karabiyik received from John and Lucy. Interesting fact: Stillpoint Yoga London is named after John and Lucy's 'Stillpoint' retreat in Nelson, New Zealand, which they established between 2006 and 2010.
Scott Johnson, founder of Stillpoint Yoga London, joins J for a continuation of the friendship and conversation that started between them when they met in London a few months earlier. They discuss Scott’s former life as an electrician, the importance of family, the motivations for his yoga and center, his relationship to the Astanga Yoga Tradition and feelings about the current crisis the community is facing. They also talk about low-overhead business models and finding shared or alternative spaces. This episode is brought to you by Yogaanatomy.net. This episode is part of our premium podcast subscription. To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM.
Part Two of our conversation with Ashtanga Certified teacher John Scott, who imparts his knowledge and experience of the Ashtanga yoga practice it in a way that is almost poetic. This was not as much an interview as it was John doing what he loves - teaching, as he spent more than 90 minutes sharing his experience with Guruji, his passion for the breath and vinyasa, and the method of Tristhana, as I hung on every word - and you will too. And why we broke this podcast into two parts, so you could relax and take it all in. Here's Part Two of the Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast with John Scott. Today's episode was sponsored in part by Stillpoint Yoga London, a vibrant growing ashtanga yoga community and frequent host of John Scott's trainings. Visit their website at stillpointyogalondon.com. And also by Meghan Powell Photography, official photographer and creative director of the Ashtanga Dispatch Magazine and website. Find out more by visiting meghanpowellphotography.com. The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is brought to you by me, Peg Mulqueen and my producer and editor, Chris Lucas of http://cwlucas.com
Ashtanga Certified teacher, John Scott imparts his knowledge and experience of the Ashtanga yoga practice it in a way that is almost poetic. This was not as much an interview as it was John doing what he loves - teaching, as he spent more than 90 minutes sharing his experience with Guruji, his passion for the breath and vinyasa, and the method of Tristhana, as I hung on every word - and you will too. And why we broke this podcast into 2 parts, so you could relax and take it all in. Here's Part One of the Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast with John Scott: All is God. Today's episode was sponsored in part by Stillpoint Yoga London, a vibrant growing ashtanga yoga community and frequent host of John Scott's trainings. Visit their website at stillpointyogalondon.com. And also by Meghan Powell Photography, official photographer and creative director of the Ashtanga Dispatch Magazine and website. Find out more by visiting meghanpowellphotography.com. The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is brought to you by me, Peg Mulqueen and my producer and editor, Chris Lucas of cwlucas.com. Thanks for joining us and look for Part Two with John Scott, next week.