Join Jivana Heyman for a heartfelt conversation with fellow yoga teacher, Francesca Cervero, host of The Mentor Sessions Podcast. Together, they explore teaching during difficult times, yoga and parenting, the art of one-on-one teaching, and the power of co-creating a yoga practice with students.

Drawing on her training in Tibetan Buddhism, Francesca discusses how loving-kindness meditation helps her teach her D.C.-area students who are experiencing heightened stress amid federal job cuts and political turmoil. She shares invaluable wisdom from her 20 years of teaching, reflecting on a transformative moment with her first private client.

In the second half, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, unpack the concept of vairagya (non-attachment) and why it's essential for both yoga teachers and activists right now. Jivana clarifies how non-attachment differs from apathy, explaining how freedom from selfish craving actually enables more skillful, compassionate action in the world. They also preview Jivana's upcoming eight-week course on building a personal pranayama and meditation practice through the eight limbs of yoga.

Topics include:

Check out Francesca's online course, The Science of the Private Lesson™ Online Training and her podcast, The Mentor Sessions Podcast. 

**Join Jivana for a FREE PREVIEW of Accessible Pranayama & Meditation: Exploring the Eight Limbs of Yoga, Session One on Thursday November 13th, 11am-1pm PT | 2pm-4pm ET. Register here! 

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Francesca:

Francesca Cervero (she/her) has been a full time yoga and meditation teacher since 2005 and offers private and group yoga classes as well as yoga teacher mentoring and
education. Francesca combines deep spiritual teachings with the latest in movement science and rehab research, all in a fun, breath-based movement practice. Francesca’s teaching also makes a direct link between yoga, meditation and political action. The practices of yoga strengthen our ability to sustain hard work, and the teachings of yoga ask that we take political action to make a better world. Her passion lies in the craft of teaching yoga as its own practice. In her work with both students and teachers, Francesca’s focus is teaching yoga and meditation in skillful, nurturing, and accessible ways that makes the practice both supportive and meaningful.

www.francescacervero.com | IG: @FrancescaCervero

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsor!

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host Jivana Heyman sits down with Finlay Wilson, known on social media as the Kilted Yogi. Together they explore what it means to make yoga truly accessible, the power of community-based service, and the importance of authentic representation in the yoga world.

Finlay shares about his new book, Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body, and the work of his nonprofit organization in Scotland, which runs extensive free programming including prenatal and postnatal classes, wheelchair yoga, chair yoga for amputees and veterans, and community outreach in schools, hospitals, care homes, and prisons. Finlay also opens up about his personal journey from being a young person using mobility aids and experiencing an unwelcoming first yoga class, to finding transformation through Ana Forrest's pivotal question: "Why are you trying so hard?"

Later in the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, reflect on Finlay's inspiring work and explore the relationship between self-discipline and self-compassion and how service through karma yoga actually fills us up rather than depletes us. They also discuss Jivana's upcoming course on Accessible Pranayama and Meditation, which uses the eight limbs as a framework for deeper practice.

Topics include:

Check out:

Finlay's book, Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body, on sale now!

The upcoming Accessible Pranayama & Meditation: Exploring the Eight Limbs of Yoga online course with Jivana Heyman 

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Finlay:

Finlay Wilson is the CEO of Heart Space and an internationally recognized yoga teacher committed to making the practice accessible to everyone. His leadership is rooted in a deep belief in the social-economy model, where all profits from paid classes fund Heart Space’s wide-ranging free community and outreach programs.

As a highly experienced instructor, Finlay's expertise lies in creating truly inclusive and adaptive practices for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. He is the author of the new book, Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body, demonstrating his specialized knowledge in modifying yoga to meet people wherever they are on their well-being journey.

Through Heart Space, Finlay guides a mission-driven team dedicated to delivering trauma-informed and affirming services, with a strong focus on building resilience and community for vulnerable populations, including young people and the LGBTQ+ community.

www.finlay-wilson.com | IG: @finlay0901 | FB: finlaytwilson | Tiktok: @scottishyogaboy

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

 OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

 **Join their upcoming free webinar! 

October 28th at 10:00am Pacific Time, Your Homepage 101: Craft a Website That Grows Your Business with Mado Hesselink

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he talks with Rebecca Sebastian, host of the Working In Yoga Podcast and cherished friend. Together they explore the evolving landscape of yoga teaching, the importance of creativity in practice, and the irreplaceable value of human interaction.

Rebecca shares her journey from accidental yoga teacher to studio owner and yoga therapist, and how she found a sense of belonging in the yoga community. She also discusses her upcoming project —a digital magazine for yoga professionals, aiming to foster a supportive community and share industry insights.

In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, respond to a listener's question about incorporating anandamaya kosha (bliss body) in a yoga class. They describe exploring the koshas, from the subtle bliss body to the physical body, as an inward journey that leads to a broader sense of connection.

Topics include:

Check out:

Rebecca's podcast: Working in Yoga Podcast
Rebecca's Facebook group: The Future of Yoga Therapy
Nischala Joy Devi - Pioneer in yoga therapy and the Dean Ornish Program
Jnani Chapman - Creator of YCat (Yoga for Cancer) program
Accessible Yoga Ambassador & Mentorship Program with Rodrigo Souza
 

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Rebecca:

Rebecca is a 20+ year yoga teacher, 14 year yoga therapist, former studio owner, yoga non-profit co-founder, host of the podcast Working In Yoga and the editor and founder of Inside Yoga Magazine, a trade magazine for yoga professionals.

www.workinginyoga.com | @rebeccasebastianyoga @workinginyoga

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

 **Join their upcoming free webinar! 

October 28th at 10:00am Pacific Time, Your Homepage 101: Craft a Website That Grows Your Business with Mado Hesselink

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this special episode, host, Jivana Heyman, sits down with longtime friend and colleague, Anjali Rao, to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Yoga as Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens on Caste, Gender, and Sacred Resilience in Yoga History. Together, they discuss yoga's complex history and the need to bridge scholarship and practice.

Drawing from both her Indian heritage and 30 years of living in the United States, Anjali shares her unique perspective on yoga history and how it has inspired her work. She discusses the structure of her book, which includes foundational knowledge about yoga, caste, and Hinduism, as well as historical case studies. Additionally, she reflects on her transformative first yoga class as a breast cancer survivor and her passion for teaching yoga philosophy.

In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, respond to a listener question about teaching yoga in conservative religious communities and discuss navigating fundamentalist concerns while maintaining the integrity of the yoga teachings. Another listener asked about balancing perfectionism with the practical application of yogic ethics in daily life, inspiring a conversation about ahimsa (non-violence).

Topics include:

Pre Order Yoga as Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens on Caste, Gender, and Sacred Resilience in Yoga History by Anjali Rao today! 

Register to attend the Special Book Launch Event, live online, on Friday, October 17th, 1-2pm Pacific / 4-5pm Eastern - hosted by Accessible Yoga!

Join the Yoga As Embodied Resistance: Reading Circle! A four-session series to study and discuss the book in community. Live with Anjali on Zoom. October 24 and 31, November 7 and 11, 1-3pm Pacific / 4-6pm Eastern.

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Anjali:

Anjali Rao brings an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens to the study of philosophy and yoga history integrating storytelling, art and poetry. Emphasizing an embodied approach, her work deconstructs the dynamics of power in yoga spaces. She is on the faculty of multiple yoga teacher training programs. She is the host of The Love of Yoga podcast bridging scholarship, activism and yoga. 

She is currently pursuing a PhD in Philosophy and Religion in California Institute of Integral Studies. Her first book, Yoga As Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens in Caste, Gender And Sacred Resilience in Yoga History, North Atlantic Books is available for order.

https://www.yoganjali.me/ | @yoganjali 

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

 **Join their upcoming free webinar! 

October 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Holiday Sales That Actually Convert: A Studio Owner's Guide to Seasonal Promotions with Niki Riga

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes his guest and longtime friend, David Lipsius, for a powerful conversation on ethics and the evolution of yoga institutions in the West. Together, they explore how personal spiritual practice sustains authentic leadership and share wisdom for yoga teachers about discovering their true calling and serving their communities with integrity.

David shares his journey from being a yoga student to turnaround CEO at Kripalu, where he helped shift the organization from a harmful past into a thriving retreat center. He also reflects on his time as CEO of Yoga Alliance, where he led initiatives to revise the Yoga Alliance Standards (including adding content about accessibility for the first time), as well as create systems of accountability, a Code of Conduct, and a scope of practice for yoga teachers — all of which continue to shape the yoga world today.

In the second part of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, echo David’s advice to yoga teachers. They emphasize that instead of measuring success against industry standards, teachers can focus on serving their communities, creating their own opportunities, and trusting that their offerings are powerful and enough. They also respond to a listener’s comment on the previous episode, diving into the ongoing challenge of comparing integrative practices with Western medicine.

Topics include:

Check out:

Yoga Alliance's Code of Conduct

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with David:

David Lipsius is a Yoga Teacher, Spiritual Wellness Coach, End-of-Life Doula, and student of Yoga, Ayurveda and Jyotish. He is the former President & CEO of Yoga Alliance and Yoga Alliance Foundation and former CEO of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. David is also an Emmy-nominated director from his years at NBCUniversal and served as an Executive Producer on the documentary film Agniyogana, a meditative inquiry into the lost art of classical Hatha Yoga. Today, David advises Yoga and other wellness professionals seeking to improve their strategic and operational excellence to enhance social impact.

IG: @dlipsius  | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/david-lipsius-8920a267

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

 **Join their upcoming free webinar! 

Access the replay: Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, spends time with his good friend, Steffany Moonaz, research scientist, author, yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and founder of Yoga for Arthritis. Together they reflect on their parallel journeys and explore the intersection of yoga tradition, modern science, and accessibility.

Steffany, who describes herself as “evidence-based and heart-centered,” brings her unique expertise in both Western research and yoga to discuss how these two worlds can inform and enrich one another. In addition to sharing her insight into yoga research, Steffany shares the personal reflections and teaching experiences that have impacted her work and spiritual journey.

Later in the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopolous reflect on Steffany’s work and accomplishments and the importance of people, like Steffany, who create a bridge between conventional medical science and yoga. They also discuss the benefit of having autonomy within a framework of practices, sensitivity and awareness with experience, and the benefits of having good yoga teachers/therapists.

Topics include:

Check out: 

Steffany's Intro into Meditation Course: 8 Week Series Class To Learn How To Confidently Meditate with Dr. Steffany Moonaz.

 Accessible Yoga’s Yoga for Older Adults Course: Building a Safe & Effective Practice

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Steffany:

Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and research scientist in San Diego. She serves as the Research Director and Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from University of Maryland and completed her PhD in public health at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. She then spent a decade at the Maryland University of Integrative Health co-creating a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy and a university-wide culture of evidence-based practice. Dr. Moonaz is focused on bringing yoga to people with arthritis in communities around the world and educating yoga professionals about this population through Yoga for Arthritis courses, The Yoga Rheum podcast, and related advocacy work.  Her first book, “Yoga Therapy for Arthritis: A Whole-Person Approach to Movement and Lifestyle” was published by Singing Dragon in 2018.  A subsequent memoir entitled, “Driving Home: Cancer, Concussion, Mom and Me” was released by FriesenPress in 2024. Her third book on yoga research is anticipated in 2026.

https://arthritis.yoga | IG: @yoga4arthritis, @drmoonaz

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

 **Join their upcoming free webinar! 

September 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

“Am I observing or absorbing? Am I caring or carrying?”

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he talks with Zabie Yamasaki, accomplished author and founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga. Zabie shares about her mission to empower survivors of sexual violence, highlighting her work on college campuses and how trauma-informed yoga supports survivors in their healing journey.

Together, Jivana and Zabie examine how body-based practices are complementary to talk therapy, as healing trauma requires integrating the body and mind. Zabie talks about her new book, "Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs," which offers practices to nurture the nervous system. They also discuss the importance of boundaries and protecting your energy as a yoga teacher.

Later in the episode, Jivana and co-host Deanna Michalopoulos further reflect on boundaries, the yogic principle of brahmacharya (wise use of energy), and what it means to support students without taking on their burdens.

Topics include:

Pre-Order Zabie's book, Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs

Check out the podcast episode with Jivana discussing yoga as a compliment to talk therapy here.

Learn more and join the Trauma & Yoga Series: Exploring Power, Privilege & Healing, featuring Zabie Yamasaki and other guests, now available On-Demand: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/trauma-and-yoga

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Zabie:

Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT (she/her) is the Founder of Transcending Trauma through Yoga which is an organization that offers trauma-informed yoga to survivors, consultation for universities and trauma agencies, and training for healing professionals. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals and her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum is now being implemented at over 30 college campuses and trauma agencies including the University of California (UC) system, Stanford, Yale, USC, University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University.

She has received countless awards in victim services and leadership, including the Visionary in Victim Services award from one of the largest rape crisis centers in California and the Voice of Courage Award from Exhale to Inhale.

She is the author of the book, flipchart, and affirmation deck, Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault: Practices for Healing and Teaching with Compassion

zabieyamasaki.com | IG: @transcending_trauma_with_yoga

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

 **Join their upcoming free webinar! 

September 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, reconnects with his guest and longtime friend, Uma Alessandra Cocchi, who shares Accessible Yoga internationally, leading trainings in Italy, London, and beyond. Jivana and Uma reflect on their memories together since first meeting in 2013 and discuss how Accessible Yoga provides a gateway to personal transformation, community, and empowerment.

Their conversation explores the connection between Accessible Yoga and yoga therapy, highlighting Uma’s scientific research on how yoga supports people with chronic digestive diseases. Uma also speaks about her upcoming in-person training in London with Rodrigo Souza, the significance of yoga philosophy in her teaching, and the life-changing impact of applying yogic principles to real-life experiences.

In the second part of the episode segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, discuss the benefits and challenges of inversions in yoga practice. They discuss the importance of personalized attention in yoga practice and the benefits of having a well-trained teacher or therapist.

Topics Covered:

Train with Uma in London August 15-17! - Join the ACCESSIBLE YOGA TRAINING with Alessandra Uma Cocchi & Rodrigo Souza. Learn more and register at https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/london-2025

Join the FREE ACCESSIBLE YOGA SERIES: PRACTICE & WORKSHOP with Jivana Heyman. Register here: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/fall-2025-ay-workshops

Workshop (1 hour) Inverting Safely: How to Teach Accessible Inversions with Jivana Heyman - Tuesday September 16, 2025

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Uma:

Alessandra Uma Cocchi is an Accessible Yoga trainer for Europe since 2016. She is also an experienced Integral Yoga trainer, a certified yoga therapist involved in scientific research, and a mentor within the Integral Yoga Therapy faculty.

Based in Italy, Uma founded 'YAP Integral Yoga Centre' in 2004, a non-profit association dedicated to social advancement through Yoga. In 2015 she launched 'YAP Specialized Yoga', an organization focused on promoting Accessible Yoga in therapeutic settings and contributing to the field through scientific research.

www.accessibleyogaeurope.com | IG: @accessible_yoga_europe, @alessandra_uma_cocchi_yoga | FB: Yoga Accessibile Italia - Accessible Yoga, Italy, Alessandra Uma Cocchi Yoga

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

**Access the replay! July 31st at 12:30pm Pacific Time, Design a Registered Series That Sells Itself with Michael Jay

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, Jivana Heyman speaks with yoga teacher and spiritual guide, Shanna Small, about accessibility, mantra, and yoga philosophy. Their conversation highlights the importance of integrating yogic teachings into everyday life and finding a personal yoga practice that is intuitive and joyful.

Shanna opens up about the challenges of navigating abusive yoga lineages, the awakening that followed her physical injury, and how the murder of George Floyd propelled her into social justice work through the lens of yoga. Shanna shares her passion for mantra and spiritual practice, emphasizing how deeply these tools can transform our minds and lives.

In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopolous, share listener comments and questions, including a question about next steps for yoga teachers interested in offering accessible/adaptive yoga. Jivana shares resources for ongoing training and highlights the importance of learning from students and other yoga teachers.

Topics Covered:

Check Out: ​​

Shanna’s weekly group, The Householder’s Guide to Yoga

Accessible Yoga Podcast episode with Melissa Shah

The Luminous Self by Tracee Stanley

Lee Majewski’s book, Spirituality and Yoga: Bridging the Sacred and the Human, out this November. Click here for pre order link.

Upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online, September 26 - November 7th, 2025

Upcoming Accessible Yoga Trainings In-Person: Santa Barbara, August 1-3, 2025 and London, August 15-17, 2025

Join the Accessible Yoga Community Facebook Group

Join the Accessible Yoga Ambassador & Mentorship Program

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Shanna:

Shanna Small is a yoga educator and spiritual teacher with over two decades of experience in the field. Her work centers on accessibility, social justice, and the deep wisdom of yoga philosophy. Rooted in the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Vedic teachings, Shanna guides students beyond the surface into embodied transformation. She is the creator of Householder’s Guide to Yoga, a program that helps modern seekers integrate ancient wisdom into daily life. Through her teaching, Shanna invites us to remember that yoga is not just a practice on a mat, but a way of life. 

shannasmallyoga.com | @shannasmallofficial

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

**Join their upcoming free webinar! 

July 31st at 12:30pm Pacific Time, Design a Registered Series That Sells Itself with Michael Jay

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, and guest, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, for a rich and insightful conversation about community, collective care, and the creative process. Together, Jivana and Michelle explore the evolving role of the yoga teacher, the importance of being grounded in humility and service, and how we can use yoga as a path to truth and connection.

As an accomplished author, educator, and activist, Michelle offers insight into her books, including her first book, Skill in Action, and her sixth and newly released book, The Wisdom of the Hive, which draws inspiration from honeybees and their interconnectedness. Michelle also offers a glimpse into her upcoming book, which focuses on protection practices, and how it ties into her ongoing work.

In the second part of the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, reflect on the conversation between Michelle and Jivana and Michelle’s impact on the yoga world. They reinforce the importance of community and what it means to practice non-attachment as a yoga teacher while remaining true to yourself.

Topics Covered:

Check out:

The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga Podcast Interview with Michelle

The Wisdom of the Hive Book Club

More events with Michelle: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/events

Learn more and join the Trauma & Yoga Series: Exploring Power, Privilege & Healing, featuring Michelle Cassandra Johnson and other guests, now available On-Demand: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/trauma-and-yoga

We Want to Hear from You!

What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga

Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!

Connect with Michelle:

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant and educator, and intuitive and shamanic healer. She approaches her life and work from a place of knowing we are, can, and must heal individually and collectively. Michelle facilitates workshops and immersions, leads retreats and transformative experiences nationwide, and offers an array of healing services for individuals and groups. For over 25 years as a racial equity educator, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups. Michelle is a five-time published author, and in May 2025, her sixth book, The Wisdom of the Hive, published by Sounds True and co-written with her best friend, Amy Burtaine, was released.

Michelle was a TEDx speaker at Wake Forest University in 2019 and has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores the premise and foundation of Skill in Action, along with embodied approaches to racial equity work, creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal.

Michelle leads courageously from the heart with compassion and a commitment to address the heartbreak dominant culture causes for many because of the harm it creates. She inspires change that allows people to stand in their humanity and wholeness in a world that fragments most of us. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, sweet dog, Jasper, and her honeybees.

www.michellecjohnson.com/ | @skillinaction | facebook.com/skillinaction

Connect with Jivana:

Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org

www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

OfferingTree

Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

**Join one of their upcoming free webinars! 

Replay available: Text to Connect: SMS Strategies for Studio Growth with Chris Appiah

Replay available: Why You’re Not Selling Out Your Classes…& What To Do About It! with Barry Kostabi

beYogi

Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.

Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer