Join me, Shawna Krueger, for an interview with Rey Cardenas—a yoga teacher, former professional poker player, co-owner of Practice Yoga Austin, and deep thinker—for a wide-ranging conversation that flows from the intensity of professional poker to the mysteries of human consciousness. We talk about how life can feel like a game, how what we focus on shapes us, and how yoga shifted from the background of Rey’s life into a central practice. He shares why he sees yoga as a karmic amplifier, his reflections on alcohol and actual freedom, and how his beliefs have evolved over time. We dive into Anthroposophy, Rudolf Steiner, and big questions about time, consciousness, and spirituality. We talk harmonizing opposites, developing true concentration, and the role dreams play in accessing deeper truths. We also touch on ancient Greece, 7-year life cycles, relationships, his philosophy on teaching yoga, and what makes a truly exceptional leader. It’s a deep, thoughtful, and inspiring conversation—hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Find Rey on instagram:

@reys_awareness

Visit and Train at Practice Yoga in Austin:

https://practiceyogaaustin.com/ 

Find Shawna on instagram:

@shawnakru 

Time stamps:

00:00 Intro

01:00 The real deal

03:30 Professional poker, is life a game? 

7:50 You get shaped by what you pay attention to: becoming cold

11:50 When yoga comes out of the background and into focus

14:00 The “game” of yoga

15:00 Yoga is a karmic amplifier 

17:15 Alcohol and different concepts of freedom.

20:20 What Rey believes now 

21:50 Anthroposophy and Steiner: the mysteries of time and the evolving human consciousness and religion, spirituality

26:20 Harmonizing opposites

30:40 Concentration 

35:00 Exact clairvoyance and revelations in dreams

36:50 Personalities emerging in ancient Greece

39:15 How can we follow our dreams and create our reality?

41:20 7 year cycles

47:00 Relationship

50:00 Rey’s yoga teaching philosophy 

57:30 What makes an exceptional leader?

58:50 Billboard message