Peter's Podcast

In today’s episode, I have a delightful conversation with Rachel Zinman and John Weddepohl, two teachers from the other side of the world, both of whom have a rich connection to ISHTA Yoga as well as other yoga practices. Rachel has turned her attention lately to helping people with diabetes through yoga and a new book.

I begin with Cappuccino Q&A, where I answer questions from subscribers on Patreon. Today's question is a follow-up to Episode 16 about how to know how much you should do to help address things going on in the world.

Then Rachel discusses her book on diabetes (link below), and how yoga helps in several key ways. One of those ways is coming to terms mentally and emotionally. She credits John and his studies in Amta Vidya, or knowing the Self, with helping her understand this key.

John provides a colorful history of his own yoga path that includes early days at the Mani and Alan Finger ashram in South Africa and subsequent studies in India.

We discuss ISHTA Yoga; Paramahansa Yogananda and Babaji regarding Kriya Yoga; Ayurveda; the Upanishads; and we get to provide nuance regarding some yoga philosophy to make it real and valuable in our living.

Rachel mentions that she and John are doing a workshop at ISHTA on December 10. Details at ISHTAYoga.com.

Bios:

Rachel Zinman has been practicing since 1983, teaching since 1992 and teaching teachers since 2000. She’s studied with some of the most influential teachers in the west including Alan Finger and Mark Whitwell as well as immersing herself in the study of Vedanta.

She is the Author of Yoga for Diabetes, How to Manage your Health with Yoga and Ayurveda. http://bit.ly/diabetesyogabook She writes for many online and in print magazines including Australian Yoga Journal and Australian Yoga Life. www.rachelzinmanyoga.com and www.yogafordiabetesblog.com.

Teacher, Musician, Vagabond, Rogue, Rascal, John Weddepohl has always been blessed by his teachers. Opening his first yoga studio in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa in 1969, he then traveled to India and met his Masters through whose grace he assimilated the knowledge of Upanishadic wisdom.

Traditional without being traditionalist John teaches Self-knowledge, Atma Vidya the jewel of Advaita Vedanta as well as Siddha Kriya Yoga the yoga of Augustya. He also shares his love of music in the joy and devotion of Kirtan. Feeling pop yoga complicates a simple process John teaches इष्ट माला ISHTA-Mala; a practice for life. http://www.theyogaco.com

Today, I talk to regular podcast contributor Jenny Bloom, who is an ISHTA Yoga teacher and a strategic brand consultant. We discuss finding peaceful relationship with your self, with others, and with the world; and we talk about Peace Pilgrim, an activist who walked across America between 1951 and 1981 spreading a message of personal and world peace.

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Peter has a lot going on at ISHTA Yoga these days, including classes and trainings. Come visit!

In today’s episode, I speak to Trina Morris. Trina wears many hats. I knew her first as a yoga teacher who studied at ISHTA, but before that, she studied public relations in school and had a career with major fashion brands. Over the past decade, she transitioned to being a self-employed consultant, professor, and coach with her company Style Root. Her project Breathe Bro brings yoga to black men. In today’s podcast, we get to talk about yoga, business, and racial tension in America.

I begin with a report from a Reuter’s article about the latest news regarding the NFL protest begun by Colin Kaepernick. I mention Kaepernick's foundation, which has given nearly a million dollars to support social justice.

We talk about ISHTA Yoga.

In today's episode, I tackle the onslaught of bad news. I start with an essay I wrote in response to a frustrated yoga teacher's blog. (You can find the essay here). Then I talk with ISHTA yoga teacher, strategic brand consultant, and regular podcast contributor Jenny Bloom about all the topics in this month's news. Plus we touch on dealing with lousy bosses, not-quite-right romances, and people on the other end of the political spectrum from you.

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Thanks for listening.

Find out more about my work, my classes, and other interesting tidbits at peterferko.com

Today we start the podcast with Cappuccino Q&A, the segment where a patrons from Patreon gets a question answered. Today our question is about dealing with emotional upset.

Then, I chat with artist and yogi Amanda Shafran about the similarities and synergies between yoga and art, for makers and enjoyers of the arts. Amanda is a freelance artist, maker, and theatrical designer based in New York City. She is also a yoga teacher who trained at ISHTA Yoga, and studied Trauma-Informed Yoga with Hala Khouri and Kyra Harland. She teaches in New York City and is affiliated with Exhale to Inhale, a non-profit that brings yoga to the survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Amanda hand sculpts one of a kind crystal jewelry pieces, designed as touchstones to center and inspire

We talk about making art, living in art communities versus living outside somewhere like New York, and the value of yoga to art practice.

We mention my teacher Alan Finger, of ISHTA Yoga.

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In this Episode, we talk about the physical. I inaugurate the Cappuccino Q&A segment, where I answer questions posed by my supporters on Patreon. Today, I answer a "cappuccino-level" patron's question about how practices lead to the goals of Tantra yoga: expansion of the sense of self, and how that leads to actual happiness. I mention Mark Whitwell's book Yoga of Heart and Krista Tippet's interview with Junot Diaz in On Being.

I continue the topic of the physical in a conversation with my friend and colleague Sarah Platt-Finger. Sarah is the co-founder of ISHTA Yoga and has been instrumental in developing ISHTA’s international teacher training programs. She teaches trainings, workshops, and retreats internationally with her husband, Kavi Yogiraj Alan Finger. Sarah, also a yogiraj, or master, is a featured teacher on digital teaching platforms as well as a key participant in several yoga organizations, such as Exhale to Inhale, which teaches yoga to survivors of domestic violence. Sarah is also the private yoga teacher of Deepak Chopra.

Sarah and I talk about expanding asana from a practice of achieving postures to one of real yoga that lets you experience yourself as a spectrum of energy.

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In today’s episode, we discuss purpose, happiness, apprenticeship, and making choices.

In our first segment, Jenny and I talk about the tradition of learning from a master, like craftspeople traditionally have done.

In our second segment, Jenny and I consider the challenges of knowing what to do for work. We touch on the difference between wanting something from the “me” center versus finding what you love at your essence.

We also discuss what you can do, based on the nuances of dharma and karma, which is like fate, but different from fatalism.

I conclude with what some might call a rant about the marketplace and how it isn't very good at helping people execute their passions, because it favors certain kinds of work over others. I use Michael Moore's film Where to Invade Next for some examples. I highly recommend seeing it, if you haven't yet.

I mention ISHTA Yoga, where Jenny and I both teach classes, and I teach workshops and trainings.

I also mention the book, Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow, by Marsha Sinetar. Finally, I bring up, but not by name, the musical artist turned yogi; the late Anant Jesse.

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Today I speak with Cyndie Spiegel, the founder of the Collective of Us, an incubator for women’s small businesses. I've had the pleasure to teach Cyndie yoga for many years, beginning during the time that she was a full-time executive for a major fashion brand. In today’s episode, Cyndie and I work to map the fine line between wishful thinking and setting goals; between working hard to get what you want and trusting the universe to reveal your path.

Cyndie's mission is to help women create bold businesses, which she defines as a profitable business based on the foundation of authenticity, courage, confidence, integrity, and community. Cyndie is an inspiring public speaker who shares her insights at conferences around the U.S. and beyond and I'm delighted that she's sharing inspiration with us today.

We talk about work, balance, goals, yoga and real happiness. I hope you enjoy our conversation.

Please support me on Patreon.com/peterspodcast and keep this podcast working as a bold business!

My wife, Wendy Newton and I just finished leading teacher training courses. We compare notes on how one learns and applies training to find real yoga.

We discuss the Yoga Sutras description of the three components of practice:

As a special treat, Mica makes a guest appearance, barking her comments about finding your teacher!

I'm leading a training at ISHTA Yoga in Manhattan starting in September. You can use the code TTFALL2017 for a discount. See more at ISHTAYoga.com

If you like this podcast, please support it at patreon.com. You can choose your own amount, and get special rewards. You can also ask questions there that I will address in upcoming episodes.

You can see all the episodes of Peter's Podcast and make comments on any episode at peterspodcast.simplecast.fm.

The episode image is from the painting "Penumbra," by Adolph Gottlieb. My logo photo is by Francesco Sapienza.

Thank you for listening!

In today’s episode, we talk about work. What it is, what’s happening in the work world, work in the Bhagavad Gita, and the future of work. Joining me, during my recent visit to Berlin, is Julia von Winterfeldt, of the consulting firm called Soulworx. Her bio describers her as a Digital Expert, Change Evangelist, Consultant, Coach, Yogini and founder. I had the pleasure of being her teacher during ISHTA Teacher trainings in 2010. Julia arranged for me to be the guest at a Soulworx lecture and meditation practice, and we made time for a lovely chat beforehand for this podcast. I hope you enjoy it.

We mention her project Humans of New Work, which you can see here.