My 200-hour program begins in September, just 5 weeks from now, and this episode was created as a source of inspiration for that. Consider this as a thorough evaluation and comprehensive audit of your yoga education journey thus far. The purpose is to help you accurately assess your current position as a yoga student or instructor. Reflect on the quality of the education you have received so far, whether it has been outstanding, good, average, or below par.

Episode Highlights:

• Focus on how much clarity you get from your teacher instead of solely focusing on the credentials and popularity index.
• Are you an Asana expert?
• My non-negotiables whenever I share something about a pose
• How much pranayama should you learn?
• Is yoga history and evolution important?
• How much of the subtle body or Sukshma Sharira do you know?
• Yoga for special conditions
• Adaptability of yoga
• Yoga philosophy and how to live yoga off your mat
• Teaching skill set
• The sequencing and the teaching
• The Invisible stuff

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In today's episode, I will be unveiling five essential poses that are a must-know. These poses form a checklist for those aspiring to master Shirshasana, the head balance, or aiming to teach it to others. I will also delve into the mythical story of Shirshasana, adding depth and cultural context to this practice.

Episode Highlights:

• What is Shirshasana
• Shirshasana as the king of all poses
• The mythical story of Shirshasana
• Physical benefits of Shirshasana pose
• Psychological benefits of Shirshasana pose
• Five non-negotiable headstand preparatory poses
  • Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward-facing Dog
  • Uttanasana
  • Prasarita Padottanasana or Wide-Legged Standing Forward Bend
  • Chaturanga Dandasana or Four-Limbed Staff Pose
  • Salamba Sarvangasana or Shoulderstand Pose, the mother of all poses
• Alternative options for individuals unable to put weight on their neck or head
• Headless Headstand

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Have you ever wondered why our minds are so full of thoughts and are restless? Is there actually a way that we can manage our minds? The last time I checked, I think there are more or less 60,000 thoughts we have per day, which is just mind-blowing. To shed some light on this interesting topic, I’ve invited a friend of mine whom I’ve known for almost a decade and who also happens to be a yoga teacher, Pavel Dmitriev.

Episode Highlights:

• What is the mind according to yoga?
• Where in the mind is morality?
• Managing the mind through yoga for beginners
• Why is our mind so troubled?
• Pranayama and the mind
• What is the purpose of a thought?
• Where do thoughts come from?
• What we resist persists
• Practices in yoga that will help manage our mind

Find the Full Episode Show Notes Here: https://letstalk.yoga/episode/managing-the-mind-with-yoga/

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I’m really excited about today’s conversation with Dr. Manasa Rao sharing her experience and knowledge about sadhana. Dr. Manasa Rao is practicing yoga since the year 1995. She genuinely believes that yoga is about connecting, healing, and becoming aware of a higher reality within all of us, that stretches beyond the mat.

Join us as we discover the meaning of the word sadhana, what its goal is, and its importance. We also go as far as discussing the obstacles while being in sadhana and whether we need to lean on a teacher or not to create a sadhana for us.

Episode Highlights:

• What does the word sadhana mean?
• What is the goal of yoga practitioners?
• Does everyone who does yoga need to have a sadhana?
• Factors to consider while building a sadhana
• The obstacles while being in sadhana
• Different components to building one’s sadhana
• Who creates the sadhana for you?
• What to do if you feel stuck in your sadhana?
• Sharing sadhana knowledge

Find the Full Episode Show Notes Here: https://letstalk.yoga/episode/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sadhana-in-yoga-with-dr-manasa-rao/

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In my studio at Aham Yoga, I have students who have some knowledge of Ayurveda and I would often get so many questions about what the role of food is. How should we really eat? How frequently should we eat and in what quantity? This is honestly a topic that I am no expert with and so I decided to invite back a past guest who is the real expert in Ayurveda, Nidhi Pandya.

Episode Highlights:

• The role of food in our lives according to Ayurveda
• The three pillars of health in Ayurveda
• The connection between the ahara (food) and prana
• Does Ayurveda look at cooked food and raw food differently?
• The effects of green juices and smoothies on our bodies
• How the yogis ate and their relationship to food
• What is a sattvic diet?
• Does doing yoga mean one should only eat a vegetarian diet
• Does the food we eat affect the quality of our minds and our thoughts
• Ayurveda’s approach to the frequency of meals, what to eat, and in what quantity
• Practical tips for modern-day yoga practitioners to live more holistically

Find the Full Episode Show Notes Here: https://letstalk.yoga/episode/eat-like-a-yogi-with-nidhi-pandya/

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Today's episode features a deep dive into the intersection of social media and yoga. It's an important listen for those active on social media, as well as for those who may have chosen to disconnect from it due to its distractions. We have Daniel Simpson, the author of "The Truth of Yoga," joining us in discussing discernment and digital yoga.

Episode Highlights:

• The future of yoga for someone who has worked with long-form yoga studies and content for a long time.
• How can yoga consumers be sharper at discerning and be better at critical thinking?
• What are some of the qualities of a good student?
• The difference between knowledge and wisdom
• Approaching social media consumption critically
• Is there any way to measure whether or not our yoga is working for us?
• Understanding the concept of ‘dukkha’ in yoga and how suffering can be an opportunity for growth.
• Setting intentions for yoga beginners

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I'm excited to welcome Swami Chidananda to the show, our first-ever Swami guest. We delve into the topic of peace in light of current global events. We explore how we can practice and promote peace in our daily lives, given the prevalence of unrest and suffering in the world. How can we engage peacefully and act in a way that benefits both ourselves and those around us?

Episode Highlights:

• What is peace?
• The journey to inner peace
• Suffering or grace: the two ways to grow on the spiritual path
• How to balance detachment and indifference in reactions when thinking about peace and suffering?
• Is peace and love the same thing?
• Where does one begin when trying to cultivate peace, love, and compassion?
• How does one find their dharma?
• Is there a sudden change once you understand your dharma?
• How does one understand the divine?

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On today's episode, I am excited to share three deeply insightful and practical tips that you can pass on to your asana students to help them establish a stronger connection with the non-physical aspects of yoga. These tips go beyond the physical practice of yoga and delve into the more subtle and profound elements of the practice.

Episode Highlights:

• Arrive early to class and sit with yourself.
• Practice Mauna (silence) on the way home after yoga class
• Spend a little time in reflection

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In this episode of the Let's Talk Yoga podcast, we welcome Savitha Enner, a fellow yoga teacher from Karnataka, India. Savitha shares her unique perspective on living yogic wisdom, which she affectionately calls the "lazy person's approach."

Episode Highlights:

• What is this lazy teacher's approach?
• Exploring the pursuit of sustainable inner peace through yoga practice
• Exploring the concept of ahimsa in yoga practice
• Prioritizing peace over ego in personal relationships can be challenging but rewarding in the long run.
• Emphasizing the importance of being true to oneself and showing compassion towards others.
• Savitha’s advice to a beginner teacher and an experienced teacher
• “Teaching yoga is a privilege”
• Learning to be more loving by responding to messages with kindness and creating situations for love to flourish.

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In this episode, I share five important lessons I have learned from practicing yoga, which include letting go of mental and physical burdens, being kind to ourselves, and building inner resilience. These lessons are not just applicable to yoga but can be incorporated into our daily lives to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

Episode Highlights:

• Insights on yoga poses and life lessons.
• Yoga poses offer valuable life lessons in different shapes
• 5 things yoga poses teach us about navigating life
  • Yoga poses make you fitter, stronger, healthier, or wholesome.
  • You put yourself in different shapes and orientations in yoga poses regularly.
  • You embrace the unknown.
  • You learn to surrender.
  • We learn to treat ourselves with true self-compassion, kindness, and respect.

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Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)
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