#PracticeWithClara Podcast

#PracticeWithClara Podcast

By Clara Roberts-OssSociety & CulturePhilosophy
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#PracticeWithClara Podcast episodes

  • The Chakra Series: 7th Chakra, Sahasrara, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice.

    In this episode, we interviewed Erin Moon, a fellow yogi, anatomy teacher, and reiki practitioner. We also went into the 7th chakra, the crown chakra, and its themes.

    Here's more on what we talk about in this episode:


    0:56 - Special Guest, Erin Moon
    For the 7th chakra we interviewed Erin Moon, an instructor of anatomy, yoga, therapeutics, reiki, and the co-founder and director of the World Spine Care Yoga Project.


    2:40 - 5 Questions to Greet our Guest
    We asked Erin 5 random questions to give our listeners a bit more understanding of who Erin is and what she embodies.


    10:04 - Sahasrara, Crown Chakra, Themes
    Reading from Anodea Judith's Wheels of Life, and discussion on the key themes of the 7th chakra, the crown chakra.


    16:58 - Where Individual Meets Collective Consciousness
    The crown chakra is the space where the individual self meets the collective consciousness or the divine.


    20:47 - Surrender and Trust at the 7th Chakra
    Why we surrender to receive the wisdom and why trust is so important when we work with the 7th chakra.


    22:28 - Anatomy of the 7th Chakra
    Erin shares the anatomy and subtle properties of the crown chakra, and what occurs biochemically in the body.


    26:18 - How We Belong, Joining the Collective
    Examining how we interact as a collective, physically, or consciously, while honoring our own unique expression.


    33:15 - Removing the Binary: Patience in Process
    Why we should take a moment to examine our lives outside the traditional binary forms and having patience for our ongoing process.


    35:44 - Yoga Anatomy versus Yoga Philosophy
    What we learn in the physical breakdown in our bodies; balancing the esoteric aspects of yoga with the anatomical to preserve the alignment and safety of our practice.


    42:11 - Dropping into the Parasympathetic Nervous System
    The benefit of a slower-paced, restorative practice in reaping the benefits of the body dropping into rest and a digest mode.


    44:20 - The Constant Force of Evolution
    Moving with the constant change of the world, and how to hold things lightly as we move towards our goals.


    45:43 - Yoga Therapeutics: What is Your Function?
    Asking what we hope to do, on a larger scale, and the function we wish to have in our lives.


    52:30 - Pronoia versus Paranoia
    Elevating our conscious awareness in how we place positive energy in the world and have faith in the support of the universe.


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/crown-chakra-featuring-erin-moon


    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)

    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/7th-chakra-sahasrara/


    Join the conversation on our facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity

    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast #crownchakra #intuition

    59 min
  • The Chakra Series: 6th Chakra, Ajna, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice.

    In this episode, we discuss the 6th chakra - Ajna or the third-eye chakra, and its themes including blockages and imbalances. We also share our stories of when we feel connected to our inner wisdom and discuss one of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.

    Here's more on what we talk about in this episode:


    0:54 - Qualities of the Third-Eye Chakra, Ajna
    Introducing the 6th chakra at the third eye center, and its themes.


    5:41 - Seeing Yourself in the Bigger Picture
    How we might approach situations to examine our place in the world and who we are.


    10:26 - Connecting to Wisdom Through Quiet

    Silence and stillness are great teachers, why we might sit in how we feel to meet the teacher within.


    12:42 - Choosing Truth Over Ignorance

    The choices we make that lead us toward a deeper truth or keep us sheltered in ignorance.


    19:10 - Meet Your Fears, Conquer the Chaos

    In order to shift, we must face our fears and step into the chaos and how the practice serves as a tool to help us ground and grow.


    22:28 - Stepping Out of the Madness

    How to create calm and connect to our inner wisdom in the center of the storm, what are ways we can do this in the heat of the moment?


    23:35 - Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and the Ego

    Exploring Sutra 11.6 in the Yoga Sutras, a text for modern-day yogis as a guiding philosophy for meditation to connect to the higher self.


    27:05 - Intuition versus Ego: How We Identify

    The strive for balance in our inner wisdom and intuition (6th chakra themes) with the safeguard of the ego (1st chakra fear-based).


    29:50 - Trust Your Gut

    When to put down the theory and analyzation of an event, and trust your gut and what you already know.


    31:51 - Listen and Doubt: Why We Need Both
    Listening to inner wisdom usually leads us to the answers, but along the way, there's a need to doubt and ask questions to validate our instincts.


    34:55 - Connecting to the 6th Chakra

    Get quiet, get still, and simplify your actions to connect to your inner wisdom and truths.


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/ajna-chakra-truth-vs-ignorance


    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)

    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/the-chakra-series-6th-chakra-ajna-themes-and-practices/

    Join the conversation on our facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity

    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast #thirdeye

    43 min
  • The Chakra Series: 5th Chakra, Vishuddha, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice. 

    In this episode, we sit with Shiv Derek Oss for a discussion of the fifth chakra, Vishuddha. We go into some of the themes and the imbalances/blockages, including how to discover your song and your story, and the sacred power of mythology.

    Here's more on what we talk about in this episode:

    0:53 - Introducing Vishuddha Chakra

    Reading from Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, to introduce the main themes of the 5th chakra.

    2:10 - Cycles of Aum in Hindu Philosophy

    The 4 parts contained in the Aum and how this relates to our evolution and the cycles of life and the transformation we experience.

    5:56 - The Myths that Make Us Who We Are

    An exploration of the stories that make us who we are: Stephanie asks Clara and Shiv what they're currently reading to explore how the stories we read create our realities.

    13:25 - Making The Beast Beautiful

    Examining anxiety in how we move through it and work with it through the lens of the novel by Sarah Wilson, First, We Make the Beast Beautiful.

    19:01 - The Power of Mythology

    Storytelling gives us the idea that we are never alone as we read about the events of others that may have gone through what we've experienced.

    20:00 - Centering Through Sound

    How we connect to our sound and why its relevant; tracing our oral tradition and its roots, back to bird song.

    23:46 - Sounds We Might Connect To

    Some of the unique sounds that make up our landscape and the powerful effect that resides in the mind and body as a result. What are you favorite sounds?

    27:40 - The Magic Carpet of Storytelling

    How we prefer to be in story, through film, literature, or other forms of media.

    36:11 - The Vitality of Self-Expression

    Exploring the theme of self-expression with the 5th chakra in feeling complete, blocked, or imbalanced in how we express ourselves.

    42:30 - How Do You Express Your Truth?

    Leaving our listeners with a question of how you express your truth, authenticity, and your sound? What are the sounds that make your heart sing?


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/vishuddha-chakra-self-exploration-inner-truth

    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)

    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/the-chakra-series-5th-chakra-vishuddha-themes-and-practices/

    Join the conversation on our facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity

    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    45 min
  • The Chakra Series: 4th Chakra, Anahata, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice.

    In this episode, we talked about the chakras; what they are and why they're essential. We went into the 4th chakra, Anahata, and its themes and imbalances. We also answered your questions related to the business of yoga.

    Here's more on what we talk about in this episode:

    0:53 - What Are Chakras?

    Why do we care about the chakras, as yogis? A brief description of the chakras and their themes, and why they're relevant to the discussion.

    7:00 - Anahata by Anodea Judith

    Reading from Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith, which is our text for the Chakra Series, to explore Anahata, the 4th chakra.

    9:03 - Anahata Themes & Devotion

    Love, compassion, forgiveness, healing, relationships, grief, sadness; exploring the themes of Anahata chakra, and a yoga class for devotion and/or surrender.

    12:26 - What Does Devotional Practice Feel Like?

    How Clara creates a devotional practice and surrender as a theme around Anahata chakra, and what it feels like doing such an asana practice.

    15:06 - Blockages of the Heart Chakra: What Are They?

    The body never lies; what is released or arises during asana practice for heart chakra imbalances is usually related to sadness and tightness in the chest.

    17:19 - Healing Through the Heart

    The path to healing is through the heart and how you relate to the people around you, those you love, and your relationship with yourself.

    18:12 - Anahata: The Unstruck Sound

    What is the unstuck? And how does this relate to our heart?

    18:47 - Dealing with Heart Chakra Blockages

    Clara shares how she's dealt with heart chakra blockages, what came up in terms of anger and anxiety, and how she felt her pain to move through it.

    24:47 - How Blockages Affect The Chakras

    What happens when we have unresolved issues or imbalances in the chakras and how this affects the other chakras in terms of energy.

    29:07 - Getting Paid for Doing What You Love

    How we balance doing what we love (teaching yoga) with getting paid accordingly, and the practice of knowing you intentions and setting boundaries.

    36:27 - Yoga and Cultural Appropriation

    Exploring how we integrate different religions, philosophies, and traditions into the yoga practice, and how we avoid appropriating a culture that is not ours.

    41:51 - Managing Art, Community & Business

    How do you create space for what you love and continue to build your brand on what you love, while balancing the business demands and the requests of the community?


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/anahata-chakra-understanding-the-body-and-yoga

    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)

    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/the-chakra-series-4th-chakra-anahata-themes-and-practices/

    Join the conversation on our facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity

    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    47 min
  • The Chakra Series: 3rd Chakra, Manipura, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice.

    In this episode, we sat with Shiv Derek Oss for a discussion of the third chakra. We went into some of the themes including force versus assertion, connecting to your gift, and sitting in your discomfort.

    Here's more on what we talk about in this episode:

    1:00 - Introduction to Manipura Chakra

    Reading from our book to anchor the chakra series,  Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith.

    2:45 - The Qualities of Fire in Relationship to Manipura

    The third chakra is expressed through the element of fire, which works with passion, purpose, and power.

    4:10 - How We Connect to Our Inner Power

    The esoteric elements of inner power, the deep undercurrent, and how we work from this space.

    6:24 - Why We Need Play in Our Lives

    When we force things to be a certain way, they become concretized. Why we need balance and spontaneity in our lives and the sense of play.

    11:48 - Balancing Surrender and Discipline

    Knowing when to surrender to the moment and open to spontaneity, and when to stick to your discipline and the duty of what it is you need to do.

    18:03 - Pranayama to Stimulate Fire and Momentum

    Clara outlines a few of the pranayama to stimulate fire and break the lethargy if you're feeling static, stuck, or heavy.

    23:43 - Advice for Entrepreneurs and Artists

    Clara and Shiv offer their advice to entrepreneurs and artists to break through the discomfort and persevere in following their dreams.

    36:44 - Discovering Your Gift

    How to discover and feed your gift, how to feed your soul to transform and go against the norm.

    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/manipura-chakra-working-with-purpose

    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/the-chakra-series-3rd-chakra-manipura-themes-and-practices/


    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)


    Join the conversation on our facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity


    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    48 min
  • The Chakra Series: 2nd Chakra, Svadhisthana, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice. In this episode, we discuss the second chakra, go into the themes prenatal and postnatal yoga, and tantric philosophy.

    Here's more on what we talk about in this episode:

    1:06 - Second Chakra, Svadhisthana, Themes

    Quote by Anodea Judith, taken from Wheels of Life, as we expand on the themes of the sacral chakra, Svadhisthana.

    4:07 - Going with the Flow

    What comes up when we work with water, a central theme of Svadhisthana, and the movements to perform to embody the fluidity, flow, and change.

    7:18 - What is Prana Flow Yoga?

    The definition of Prana Flow yoga, how it's performed, what it achieves, and a little bit about Clara's teacher, Shiva Rea.

    10:12 - Relationships and Boundary Setting

    How to be in relationship with others and set boundaries as we explore the edges of our comfort zone.

    15:43 - Prenatal Yoga: Controversial Poses to Avoid

    The poses to avoid in yoga if you're pregnant, and why, including twists and backbends.

    28:27 - Post-Natal Yoga for Strengthening

    The areas of the body to strengthen and lengthen post-pregnancy, and how these postures assist those who sit in an office all day.

    31:49 - Duty Versus Pleasure

    Feeding our soul by doing what brings us pleasure while observing moderation, and identifying the split between body and mind.

    39:51 - Celebrating the Body through Tantra

    Tantric philosophy celebrates the body, the divine within, and embraces all things- there is no separation- and why this is expressed in Clara's practice.

    43:19 - What is Tantra?

    Reading from Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith on what the word tantra means when broken down in Sanskrit.


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/sacral-chakra

    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/the-chakra-series-2nd-chakra-svadhisthana-themes-and-practices/

    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)


    Join the conversation on our facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity


    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    46 min
  • The Chakra Series: 1st Chakra, Muladhara, Themes and Practices

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice. 

    In this episode, we discuss the root chakra, lower back pain and poses to avoid, mythology with the story of shiva and Parvati, and how to use ritual to center.

    Here's more on what we'll be talking about in this episode:

    0:58 - Root Chakra Themes

    Exploring Muladhara, the root chakra, and some of its themes, starting with a quote from Anodea Judith's, Wheels of LIfe.

    3:00 - Root Chakra in Your Yoga Practice

    Building strength in the legs and staying low to the ground are examples of a root chakra themed yoga class.

    4:17 - Balance in Yoga Class Themes

    Why we counter the heat and fire of the summer with a root chakra themed yoga class.

    5:17 - What a Root Chakra Class Might Include

    The elements of a root chakra themed class that you may include in a class, with specific poses that connect to the earth element.

    7:10 - Yoga for SI Instability

    How to tell if you have SI instability, poses to avoid if you have sciatica, and poses to relieve SI pain with hip opening and gluteal strengthening.

    21:11 - Yoga and Space for Inquiry

    How our body provides physical indicators through pain or tension, that points at a deeper emotional issue or conflict that we need to look at.

    27:19 - The Mythology of Shiva and Parvati

    The story of Shiva, the destroyer, and Parvati, Shiva's consort and the Goddess who represents the Earth.

    39:10 - Rituals to Ground in Unfamiliar Places

    Clara shares methods and pranayamas to ground and create calm if you're traveling or in an unfamiliar place.


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/root-chakra

    Clara's website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/the-chakra-series-1st-chakra-muladhara-themes-and-practices/

    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)


    Join the conversation on our Facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity


    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    44 min
  • Let's Get Technical: Yoga Asana, Mantra, and Self-Care

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice. In this episode, we answered some of the questions that came up in the 30-Opportunities Challenge, including:


    - The difference between stability and mobility in yoga bodies.
    - A definition for self-care, and
    - If you’re new to yoga what to study first.

    Here's more on what we'll be talking about in this episode:

    1:00 - Fire, DIscipline, and Forgiveness in the 30-Day Challenge

    Wrapping up our 30-Opportunities Yoga Challenge, final thoughts, and reflections from the past month.

    7:37 - The Gift of Virtual Yoga

    The abundance of feedback, questions, and reflections posted online helped us engage, answer, and contribute to the community.

    8:57 - Let's Get Technical

    Breaking down specific yoga poses for safety including Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (pigeon pose) and Virasana (hero pose)

    17:55 - Yoga for Stability vs. Mobility

    Observing your body to assess if you're doing yoga to create stability if you're really flexible, or to create mobility if you're really tight.

    20:03 - Less is More in the Cooldown

    In the Lunar portion of the class, the cooldown, do less poses to help people access deep relaxation and calm the nervous system.

    21:25 - Counterposes in Your Sequence

    Why we build to a peak pose in the solar part of the class in vinyasa yoga and complement the sequence with counterposes in the lunar part of the class.

    24:42 - A Definition for Self-Care

    What is self-care and how do we take care of ourselves on a day-to-day basis when we step off of our mat?

    35:25 - Where to Begin if You're New to Yoga

    Where to begin if you're new to the practice and a selection of books to read to learn the history.

    41:45 - The Benefits of Chanting

    The spiritual and scientific benefits of chanting with the study of water crystals by Dr. Masaru Emoto.

    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/yoga-philosophy-books

    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)

    Visit Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/lets-get-technical-yoga-asana-mantra-and-self-care/

    Join the conversation on our Facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity

    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    51 min
  • Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita: Action, Devotion, & Fate

    Welcome to the #PracticWithClara Podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things yoga-related. This week our theme was the Warrior and we read the Bhagavad Gita. We discussed three of the major themes from the Gita including action for action's sake, devotion, and fate.


    4:07 - Synopsis of The Bhagavad Gita

    One of India's epic narratives, a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna on how to deal with intense moral decisions.


    7:22 - Backstory to the Battlefield

    What led Arjuna to the battlefield and how he wound up with Krishna (God) as his advisor.


    15:03 - The Dualistic Nature of Humanity

    How The Gita captures the light and dark of what it means to be human and all of our flaws.


    15:58 - Why Read a Book About War?

    As yogis, we practice ahimsa (non-violence) so why would we study a book about violence?


    20:18 - Acton for Action's Sake

    Why we should act for action's sake and not strive for a desired result, and do what we need to because its what needs to get done.


    21:48 - The Warrior We Call Upon

    Clara shares how we call upon the warrior when we need courage, or to discover our truth and speak our truth.


    28:27 - I Am Death, Shatterer of Worlds

    Reading and discussion of an excerpt from The Gita, 11:32


    34:40 - Acting for the Greater Good

    The importance of coming together as a collective through examples of The GIta and voting in the Americas.


    37:33 - What is Fate?

    Examining the idea of fate in how energies come together as we interact with the world.


    41:25 - Who Creates Change?

    A story about children on a playground and the rhythm of energy created, and asking: who is creating the rhythm?


    43:30 - The Indigo Children

    Who are the indigo children, why are they important, and some examples of where and how they live today.


    47:17 - The Great Revelation

    Reading from The Gita, where Krishna reveals Arjuna his cosmic form and discussion of devotion being a devoted student to the practice.


    53:00 - The Power of Bhakti, Devotion

    Why we act from a pure place in the heart, as an offering to something outside of yourself, to let go of ego and melt into the Divine.


    You can watch the full version on the #PracticeWithClara App (TV, Mobile, Tablet) Download on your favourite App Store:

    https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/BHAGAVAD-GITA-lessons


    Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify or wherever you like to listen :)


    join the conversation on our Facebook group:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/practicewithclaracommunity


    Clara's Website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/lessons-from-the-bhagavad-gita-action-devotion-fate/


    #philosophy #yogatalk #yogapodcast

    59 min
  • Healing Through Boundaries: Learning How to Give & Receive

    Healing Through Boundaries

    Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara podcast where Clara and Stephanie discuss yoga, philosophy, and all things related to the practice. This week’s theme was on Giving and Receiving, where we shared a meditation practice for compassion, tools on how to create boundaries, and how to shift energy and emotions.

    Here's more on what we discuss in this episode:

    0:42 Why We Balance Rigidity with Fluidity

    Excerpt from Dark Nights of the Soul by Thomas Moore and how rigidity may serve as a container as you create your own way.


    4:37 How Hard Do You Push?

    Weeks into the 30-Opportunities Yoga Challenge, how do you stay within the discipline of the practice while honoring where you are physically and mentally, to avoid pushing too hard?


    7:35 Breaking Away from Societal Norms

    The need to break away from societal norms to examine what fosters inner satisfaction, and fuels personal values and desires.


    12:35 A Meditation for Compassion

    Pema Chodron’s Tong Len, a meditation for compassion, how to do it, when to use it, and how it serves.


    18:48 Tactics to Purge Energy That Is Not Yours

    How to clear and cleanse the energy that isn’t yours that you may pick up as an empath.


    24:05 Reiki and How it Works

    Using Reiki, a healing modality to shift energy, to clear an experience.


    28:05 Tools on How to Create Boundaries

    Tactics to understand how you give and/or receive to get a better understanding of how you take up space when coming into contact with others.


    32:28 How to Shift Energy and Emotions

    Ways to clear energy and emotions that rise up and cause an intense reaction, to forgive, learn to let go, and come back to neutral.


    37:18 Surrendering Control and Receiving the Moment

    Excerpt from The Dark Night by Thomas Moore that discusses the importance of receiving things for what they are and surrendering to the moment.


    *

    Join the community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PracticeWithClaraCommunity

    Watch the full episode: https://practice.clararobertsoss.com/programs/healing-through-boundaries

    Clara's website: https://www.clararobertsoss.com/podcast/healing-through-boundaries-learning-how-to-give-receive/

    50 min

About #PracticeWithClara Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast.