Accessible Yoga Podcast
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Accessible Yoga Podcast episodes

  • Imagining Self-Care For All

    In this episode, Jivana Heyman sits down with his longtime friend and Accessible Yoga collaborator, Rodrigo Souza, to explore the season's central theme of balancing self-care with service. Rodrigo, who lives with a complete spinal cord injury, shares candidly about managing limited energy, letting go of guilt around rest, and learning to stop measuring his worth by how much he produces.

    Together, they reflect on what it really means to show up for others and why setting boundaries isn't selfish but essential. In the second part of the episode, Jivana is joined by Deanna Michalopoulos to unpack the philosophical heart of the discussion: karma yoga, seva, and what the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras teach about selfless service. They explore why genuine service has to come from a place of fullness rather than lack and why self-love might be one of the most radical practices of all.

    Topics include:

    • Brahmacharya as conscious management of time, energy, and boundaries
    • Representation and visibility of disabled practitioners and teachers
    • Yoga tools for anxiety management Imposter syndrome and challenges of teaching in a capitalist society
    • Teaching what you need to learn
    • Rodrigo’s involvement in Accessible Yoga Mentorship Program and current online series Yoga on Neurological Conditions
    •  

      We Want to Hear from You!

      How do you balance self-care and service in your yoga practice and teaching? 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 Rodrigo:

      Rodrigo Souza (he/him) is an Adaptive and Accessible Yoga teacher with experience in instructing folks who have endured trauma and disability.

      After suffering a traumatic injury which left him paralysed from the chest down, Rodrigo recognised the significance of taking care of his own recovery to enhance his long-term well-being.

      This journey inspired him to become a yoga teacher, where he aims to share his personal insights into discovering joy in movement and rest.

      www.allihopayoga.com | @allihopayoga (IG)

       

      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/accessibleyoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

      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, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

      1 hr 19 min
    • Season Five Launch: Welcome Back!

      Welcome to season five of the Accessible Yoga Podcast! In this launch episode, Jivana Heyman and Deanna Michalopoulos reunite to catch up, share what's been inspiring them lately, and reveal their personal journeys to finding balance in their lives. They offer a preview of this season's overarching theme of self-care and balancing self-care with service, especially for yoga teachers.

      Jivana shares an early look at his upcoming book, Yoga Meditation, which explores meditation in the yoga tradition and its accessibility. Deanna, who is editing the book, shares what she loves about it, especially how Jivana weaves in personal stories and practical applications. Together, they discuss the potential impact of the book on both yoga teachers and practitioners, aiming to deepen their understanding of the many paths into meditation that yoga already offers.

      Topics include:

      • Nature, movement, and daily practice as Jivana's self-care foundation
      • Deanna's experience learning German and living in Berlin
      • Using the ocean as a metaphor for capacity, resilience, and riding life's waves
      • Finding time for self-care and outlets such as creative hobbies
      • Jivana’s upcoming audiobooks and book, Yoga Meditation, set to release Fall 2026
      • Gratitude for the Accessible Yoga community, team, and podcast sponsors
      •   

        We Want to Hear from You!

        How do you balance self-care and service in your yoga practice and teaching? 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 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/accessibleyoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.

         

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

        38 min
      • The Teaching on Impermanence: Season Wrap-up with Jivana

        Join Jivana Heyman and Deanna Michalopoulos for the final episode of the Accessible Yoga Podcast’s fourth season, celebrating Jivana's 30 years of teaching. In this reflective conversation, Deanna turns the tables and interviews Jivana about his journey, asking him to answer the paramount question posed to every guest throughout the season, “What is one teaching that's made an impact on your life and continues to today?”

        The episode offers an intimate look at what this yearlong series has meant, with heartfelt gratitude to the guests, team, sponsors, and listeners who made it possible. The conversation ends with appreciation for everyone who has been part of this journey and the promise of returning after a short break with a new season.

        Topics Include:

        • Non-attachment and selfless service
        • Yoga as preparation for death
        • The transformative impact of yoga practice and teaching
        • How service benefits both the giver and the receiver
        • Yoga as a living tradition passed down through generations
        • The future of yoga and the yoga community
        • Hope for moving beyond capitalism toward collective kindness 
        •   

          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.

           

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

          33 min
        • The Teaching on Living Yoga with Itzel Hayward

          Join Jivana Heyman in conversation with his friend, Itzel Hayward, a former lawyer turned yoga teacher who brings together yoga, Buddhism, nonviolent communication, and social justice work. Itzel shares her journey of integrating these seemingly separate parts of her life into a unified practice centered on service, empathy, and compassion.

          The conversation delves into the philosophy of restorative and transformative justice as alternatives to punitive systems, and how these approaches align with yogic principles. Itzel explains nonviolent communication as both a technique and a lens for seeing everyone's actions as attempts to meet universal human needs. Together, Jivana and Itzel discuss Sutra 1.33 from the Yoga Sutras, known as the "locks and keys" teaching, and how it can be applied to relationships and social justice.

          At the end of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, continue to explore Sutra 1.33 (friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and equanimity toward the non-virtuous). They discuss how these practices help us overcome obstacles to enlightenment while serving others in the world. The conversation concludes with reflections on non-attachement and how it is a central theme in the yoga teachings.

          Topics include:

          • Integration of yoga and social justice
          • Itzel’s contribution to Jivana’s book, Yoga Revolution
          • Dual vs. nondual yoga teachings and their implications for social justice
          • How becoming a parent taught Itzel about non-attachment and empathy
          • Addressing guru abuse and creating safer spiritual spaces
          • Balance between internal and external practices in yoga
          • Check out:

            Itzel’s upcoming event, Engaged Nonduality: Awake Awareness, Wise Action — A Nondual Approach to Anti-Racism on Sunday, February 1, 2026, https://www.attunedliving.com/events/engaged-nonduality

            Tracee Stanlee’s book, The Luminous Self

             

            Join a free Accessible Yoga webinar!

            Join the first session of The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga as a FREE course preview:
            Friday January 23rd, 2026
            10:30am PT | 1:30pm ET (75 mins) -- Register Here


            Find Your Center Practice: Explore Balance in a Chair & On a Mat
            Monday February 2nd, 2026
            9am PT | 12pm ET | 5pm GMT -- Register Here


            Building Balance in Accessible Yoga Workshop
            Thursday February 19th, 2026
            10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm GMT -- 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 Itzel:

            Itzel Hayward is a yoga teacher, facilitator, and former attorney whose work sits at the intersection of contemplative practice, justice, and collective care. After more than a decade practicing law in the areas of consumer protection and economic justice, she felt called to explore ways of restoring communities to wholeness after harm. She turned to restorative and transformative justice, compassionate communication, mindfulness, and yoga as practices of repair and healing—both outwardly and inwardly. Through her organization, Attuned Living, and in her role as an Adjunct Professor at UC Law San Francisco, Itzel supports inclusive, collaborative processes rooted in presence, agency, and right relationship with ancestors, community, and the living world.

            attunedliving.com | bsky.app/profile/attunedliving.bsky.social | linkedin.com/in/itzelhayward | instagram.com/attunedliving

             

            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.

             

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

            1 hr 3 min
          • The Teaching on When to Walk Away with Oneika Mays

            Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes Oneika Mays, for an inspiring conversation about her forthcoming book, "Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation," which details her transformative work at Rikers Island prison in New York City. Oneika shares her journey, the challenges of teaching mindfulness in a prison setting, and her practice and understanding of metta (loving-kindness).

            Together, Jivana and Oneika discuss the importance of embodied wisdom, the role of storytelling in teaching, and the need for self-compassion and boundaries in service work. Oneika opens up about the vicarious trauma she experienced and how to recognize when to walk away from situations that no longer serve us.

            The episode also features an exploration of how ancient teachings like Patanjali's Sutras relate to contemporary practice. Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, discuss the paradox of embracing the body fully before learning to release attachment to it, offering practical insights for teachers navigating yoga’s complex philosophies.

            Topics Include:

            • Processing trauma through writing
            • The importance of supervision and support for service-oriented teachers
            • Balancing service work with concerns about upholding oppressive systems
            • Embodied wisdom and listening to your body's signals
            • Cultivating a relationship with yourself through yoga and meditation
            • Jivana’s upcoming free webinars and The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga Training, January 23 - February 24, 2026
            • Pre-Order Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation
              by visiting Oneika's website https://www.oneikamays.com

               

              Join a free Accessible Yoga webinar!

              Join the first session of The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga as a FREE course preview:
              Friday January 23rd, 2026
              10:30am PT | 1:30pm ET (75 mins) -- Register Here


              Find Your Center Practice: Explore Balance in a Chair & On a Mat
              Monday February 2nd, 2026
              9am PT | 12pm ET | 5pm GMT -- Register Here


              Building Balance in Accessible Yoga Workshop
              Thursday February 19th, 2026
              10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm GMT -- 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 Oneika:

              Oneika Mays is a writer and facilitator who leads with joy, passion, and wisdom. As a Black, queer feminist, meditation teacher, and yoga instructor with nearly 15 years of teaching experience, she brings a poignant lens to building a more compassionate world.

              Oneika’s gift is taking big ideas and teachings and weaving them with stories. She’s rooted in what she’s studied but teaches from her own experience. Oneika’s your teacher, your auntie, your friend - here for the work of personal and collective liberation. Her memoir Sit With Me (HarperOne, March 2026) delivers a no-BS journey to mindfulness that embraces the mess.

              Grounded in Buddhist and yogic teachings, Oneika has taught at Rikers Island, Yoga International, and Embodied Philosophy. She believes joy is a revolution and getting closer to your heart is how we change the world.

              IG @oneikamays | Substack @oneikamays  

               

              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.

               

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

              1 hr 15 min
            • The Teaching on Working with Your Mind with Swami Ramananda

              Join Jivana Heyman in conversation with his longtime teacher and mentor, Swami Ramananda, a monk (sannyasi) in the Integral Yoga tradition. Swami Ramananda, who has dedicated nearly 50 years to the practice and teaching of yoga, shares profound insights, offering practical wisdom on working with the mind and cultivating inner peace. He discusses the challenges and rewards of monastic life, and how living in service has shaped his understanding of yoga practice. Together they explore the importance of spiritual community, the transformative power of meditation, and essential yogic concepts including non-attachment, surrender, and compassion.

              In the second part of the episode, Jivana reflects on his 30-year yoga journey and how his practice has transformed his relationship with his mind. He shares that the concept of non-attachment has been a life-changing teaching, helping him understand that happiness comes from within, rather than external circumstances. Jivana emphasizes that yoga isn't about fixing ourselves but rather shifting our identification from ego to spirit, and he expresses gratitude for his teacher Swami Ramananda's influence on his practice and life.

              Topics include:

              • Jivana’s history with and departure from Integral Yoga
              • The role of meditation in everyday life
              • Non-attachment as a path to freedom while still engaging with the world
              • Sangha (spiritual community) and how it supports yoga practitioners
              • The relationship between inner practice and outer service
              • Bhakti Yoga, prayer, and surrender
              • Developing a compassionate relationship with ourselves
              •   

                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 Swami Ramananda:

                Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a highly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, with over 45 years of dedicated practice. A certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of Yoga Alliance, Ramananda is known for his compassionate presence, deep wisdom, and ability to translate the timeless teachings of Yoga into accessible tools for everyday life.

                He offers practical methods for transforming life’s challenges into pathways toward inner freedom and realizing one’s full potential. A co-founder of the Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), Ramananda brings together individuals committed to social justice, environmental healing, and spiritual activism. His warmth, insight, and gentle humor have inspired and uplifted countless students on the path of Yoga.

                @swami_ramananda_108 | facebook.com/Swami Ramananda 108

                 

                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.

                 

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

                1 hr 8 min
              • The Teaching on Yoga for Mental Health with ML Maitreyi

                Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of mental health challenges and suicidal ideation. Please practice self-care when deciding whether to listen.

                In this episode, Jivana Heyman sits down with longtime friend and colleague ML Maitreyi to discuss her journey as a yoga teacher living openly with bipolar disorder. Maitreyi shares candidly about how yoga became a lifeline in managing her mental health and the importance of community and discusses the particular challenges of being open about mental health in a yoga world.

                Maitreyi also celebrates the release of her new chair yoga book, explaining why she wrote it as an "encourager and friend" rather than an instruction manual. Together, Jivana and Maitreyi discuss the significance of the teacher-student relationship and the importance of mutual respect and collaboration.

                In the second part of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos reflect on the importance of addressing mental health in the yoga community and why chair yoga represents the distilled essence of yoga. Jivana also introduces his new course, "The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga," designed for yoga teachers. He explains the course's focus on teaching skills and the importance of creating a holistic and engaging class experience

                Topics include:

                • Breaking the silence around mental health in the yoga community
                • Challenging the pervasive myth that yoga should "fix" or cure mental health conditions
                • Alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) as a nervous system regulation tool
                • Teaching as invitation rather than instruction
                • The art of distilling complex yoga teachings into simple, accessible practices
                • Check out ML Maitreyi's book, Chair Yoga for Strength and Balance: Accessible Exercises to Improve Mobility and Relieve Pain on sale now! 

                   

                  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 ML Maitreyi:

                  ML Maitreyi is the Founder, Director and Teacher Mentor for Accessible Yoga Sacramento/Tahoe which has offered a free weekly class for the past decade. ML brings with her 30 years as a practitioner and 20 years of experience sharing yoga in diverse community spaces. In December 2025, her first book, Chair Yoga for Strength & Balance: Accessible Exercises to Improve Mobility & Relieve Pain, was released in partnership with Harper Collins Focus and Cider Mill Press. Her Sanskrit name, Maitreyi, means "friendly". She has relocated from California and now permanently resides in San Felipe, Baja Mexico.  

                  IG: @accessibleyogaml, @accessibleyogasacramento

                   

                  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. Take advantage of the Winter 2025 sale between now and December 15th, click here to save 20% on select annual plans.

                   

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

                  1 hr 2 min
                • The Teaching on Service with Heather Sanders

                  Join Jivana Heyman for an inspiring conversation with Heather Sheree Sanders, founder of the Sedona Yoga Festival, about karma yoga, community organizing, and the often overlooked work that happens behind the scenes in the yoga world. Their conversation explores what it means to be a humble leader in yoga, the transformative power of yoga, and why Western yoga may finally be reaching a pivotal moment where practitioners are ready to go deeper than asana-focused practice.

                  Heather shares how merging her natural gifts with her yoga practice helped her find a sustainable balance between passion and service. She shares her vision for the Sedona Yoga Festival, emphasizing its role in providing a comprehensive yoga education and fostering community. Together, they reflect on the transformational power of in-person events and the need for human engagement in the yoga community.

                  The episode also features a listener question from Eric Johnson about finding courage as a yoga teacher, sparking a profound discussion about how yoga builds prana (energy), why ethical practice is essential for directing that power, and how our authentic selves – including our struggles and vulnerabilities – are actually our greatest gifts to share with the world.

                  Topics Include:

                  • Deconstructing narrow definitions of what yoga "looks like" Heart-led leadership through karma yoga ​
                  • Recognizing the teacher-student relationship as sacred
                  • Community organizing as activism
                  • Approaching yoga holistically
                  • The power of yoga nidra Heather’s work with Sedona Yoga Festival, Yoga Unify, The Ramble Burlington
                  • Jivana’s book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion
                  • Check out the next Sedona Yoga Festival, April 23-26, 2026

                     

                    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 Heather:

                    Heather Sheree Sanders, Producer and Director of the annual Sedona Yoga Festival in Sedona, AZ, has been a practitioner of yoga since 1996. She believes passionately in yoga's ability to heal and to create peace, and focuses her efforts on bringing authentic yoga to people everywhere through a variety of platforms. Heather's commitment to building community and offering service in the field of yoga, arts, and consciousness is reflected in decades of event and conference creation and direction, as well as program development dedicated to mentorship, civic engagement, creativity, and collaboration.

                    sedonayogafestival.com

                    linkedin.com/in/heathersheree 

                    instagram.com/heathershereesanders

                    instagram.com/sedonayogafestival

                    linkedin.com/company/sedona-yoga-festivalfacebook.com/sedonayogafestival

                    facebook.com/heathershereesanders

                      

                    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

                    1 hr 10 min
                  • The Teaching on Boundaries with Francesca Cervero

                    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:

                    • How political turmoil and social stress are showing up in yoga classes
                    • Finding balance between acknowledging reality and creating sanctuary
                    • Maintaining boundaries as a yoga teacher
                    • The importance of peer-support and mentorship for yoga teachers
                    • Why emotional neutrality enhances creativity and skill
                    • Jivana’s upcoming online training, Accessible Pranayama & Meditation: Exploring the Eight Limbs of Yoga*
                    • Check out Francesca's online course, The Science of the Private Lesson™ Online Training and her podcast, The Mentor Sessions Podcast. 

                       

                      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

                      1 hr 2 min
                    • The Teaching on Community Care with Finlay Wilson

                      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:

                      • Chair yoga as a joyful, social practice
                      • Moving from dissociation to embodiment in practice
                      • The importance of LGBTQ+ representation in yoga
                      • Creating spaces of belonging and acceptance
                      • The danger of weaponizing yoga teachings against ourselves
                      • Using asana to prepare for subtler practices
                      • The relationship between karma yoga (service) and bhakti yoga (devotion)
                      • 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

                        1 hr 8 min

                      About Accessible Yoga Podcast

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                      Accessible Yoga Podcast with Jivana Heyman

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