In this second episode of a series of five on the Mindful Strength Podcast relating to body image, accessibility, diet and cultural perceptions of "health," we welcome Jivana Heyman. 

Jivana is the founder and director of non-profit education and advocacy organization, Accessible Yoga. He is also co-owner of the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and an Integral Yoga Minister. With over twenty-five years of training and teaching in the Integral Yoga tradition, Jivana has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities with an emphasis on social engagement.  Today he chats with Kathryn on a range of subjects as they apply to accessibility, what that term really means in the context of yoga and what efforts can be made towards people feel comfortable in any given environment. They talk about accessibility as a spectrum, the difference between having open or all levels classes versus classes tailored to specific needs, and integration required in these spaces. Additional conversations topics include: the physicalities vs spiritual nature of a yoga practice and how such vast practice can become abused; reclamation of the practices following commercialization of yoga; creating equitable societies based on inclusivity and integration; disability, yoga therapy, accessible yoga and trauma informed instruction; competition and perceived value on "advanced" adaptations of movement and posture; student-teacher relationships; empowerment and injury; as well as the application of hands on adjustments or touch in classes, use of language, and of course, the notion of balance.

Jivana and his community of exceptional humans are bringing the Accessible Yoga Conference to Toronto in June and Europe later in the year. Fine information links and more details below in our Show Notes. We hope you enjoy this episode!