Stillpoints: A Podcast with Scott Johnson

Tara Mitra: How the Yoga Tradition Helps Us Study the Mind

Tara Mitra has been studying the human mind since 1989. She began through management, self-help, and every healing modality she could find. Then yoga found her and eventually led her deep into the Yoga Sutras, Sankhya philosophy, and Vedic chanting. Now a yoga teacher and certified yoga therapist in the Krishnamacharya lineage, she brings rare clarity to what this path is actually for.

Scott and Tara had wanted to record this conversation for a long time. She joined from a noisy Karnataka, India, at the start of monsoon season.

Sign up here to receive Scott's weekly Sunday Inspiration Newsletter and receive original philosophy, poems, podcasts and films, photography, plus music to inspire your day.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction 01:28 Growing up between Catholic school and a Hindu father - the Mahabharata on weekends, Mass on weekdays. 03:35 Walking into a temple at eighteen and falling into full prostration, something she didn't plan and couldn't explain. 09:46 Ten years trying to understand the mind through management books and self-help. 13:01 Reiki, shamanism, sound healing, somatic work - searching through every modality she could find. 15:27 Finding the Yoga Sutras and Sankhya philosophy: a map for the mind that finally made sense. 18:07 How the contemplative space can become a place to hide rather than to grow. 22:06 Leaving management barefoot in California: "take the suit off". 25:05 Her father: "I spent my entire life to get you out of India". 27:20 The colonisation of yoga - watching the roots disappear in real time. 35:10 Not fully belonging to Canada or India: "maybe that's my role". 42:58 Sankhya philosophy and the Yoga Sutras as a technology of the mind, not a religion. 49:49 Why chanting works, even if you find it strange. 59:46 What yoga can offer people with serious mental health conditions, and where its limits are. 65:56 What thirty-seven years of practice has actually taught her. 68:13 Chanting the Narayan Upanishad in her father's living room and seeing his jaw drop. 69:18 "There is always hope"...

About Tara Mitra

Tara Mitra has been practising yoga for twenty-two years and studying the human mind since 1989. With East Indian and Canadian heritage, she carries a rare dual fluency — she understands both the roots of the tradition and the world her Western students are coming from, and she refuses to water one down for the other.

She trained in Ashtanga Yoga under Tim Miller, R. Sharath, and R. Saraswathi Jois, and spent four years assisting at a busy shala in Mysore, India. For almost a decade she has been a student of Dr. Vigneshwar Bhat, studying the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras, and Vedic Chanting in depth. She is a Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IYAT, Krishnamacharya lineage), specialising in trauma, stress, and anxiety.

Her teaching is traditional and rigorous — and, by all accounts, quietly joyful.

Instagram: @taramitrayoga

Scott's thoughts

Tara is one of those people who makes the tradition feel alive and urgent. She carries the lineage with real care, and asks questions that made me look at my own practice more honestly. I'm grateful this conversation finally happened.

Scott Johnson, Stillpoints

In this wide ranging conversation Scott Johnson talks to Wade Oakley, yoga teacher, strength coach and long-time Ashtanga practitioner, about what it means to sustain a practice across a whole life. Among many honest, personal and thoughtful exchanges, Wade shares how strength training, injury and repeated trips to Mysore have shaped not just his body but his understanding of what devotion to practice really means.

Sign up here to receive Scott's weekly Sunday Inspiration Newsletter and receive original philosophy, poems, podcasts and films, photography, plus music to inspire your day.

00:00 Introduction

01:03 When did you know yoga would be part of your life?

03:29 The fish and the hook — on being slowly caught by practice

05:41 What came before yoga — golf, back injury and the gym

09:14 Did yoga heal the shoulder?

10:23 The early years at UVA — yoga, boxing gloves and John Bultman

13:09 Going to India for the first time

15:17 The spiritual side — temples, scepticism and what study does over time

16:26 Practicing with Saraswati — a supercharged window

20:07 How Mysore shifts your sense of what life can look like

22:00 The corporate years — management consulting, biotech and eight trips to Mysore

24:07 Finding your own way through the dogmatic wormhole

26:08 Thinking about longevity — why people stop and how to stay in

29:11 What curiosity in Mysore planted — watching practitioners who could float

31:00 The skiing accident, the knee surgery and what it unlocked

36:03 Learning to feel the body in a new way

38:38 How rehabilitation brought strength work back in

42:48 Building a stronger body and what it changed in backbending

46:18 Safety, surrender and what strength makes possible in practice

48:34 Is the practice still a sadhana?

52:49 Yoga, strength culture and keeping the yoga as the yoga

55:13 The sledgehammer — finding the right tool for the right nail

57:34 When practice becomes less physical and more spacious

01:03:56 What Wade would leave people with — turn towards the friction

About Wade Oakley

Wade Oakley began practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 2012 at the University of Virginia under Certified teacher John Bultman. He went on to study directly with R. Sharath Jois in Mysore, India across many extended trips, receiving Level 2 Authorization in 2018 and learning Advanced B before Sharath's passing. In honour of his late teacher, Wade strives to practice and teach in the spirit and tradition Sharath conveyed in Mysore and around the world.

As a teacher, Wade seeks to instil curiosity and a sense of personal ownership in each student's yoga journey. His own path has led him into deep exploration beyond the mat, across strength training, injury prevention, nutrition and recovery, areas he sees not as departures from practice but as ways of expanding what practice can hold. He believes an Ashtanga yoga practice can be a boundlessly enriching part of anyone's life.

"Wade is someone who I really connected to when we met last year after recording the Sharath podcasts. We really connected and I loved his approach to longevity in yoga. What I appreciate most is his honesty. He's not selling a system. He's sharing what he's actually found, in his body, over years of real practice and work. If longevity in practice matters to you, I think this conversation will resonate."

Scott Johnson, 2025

Episode 5: Shraddha Jois on the life of her father, Sharath.

In the final episode of Memories of Sharath, we hear from someone who knew Sharath Jois more deeply than any student ever could: his daughter, Shraddha.

Speaking with quiet strength and heartfelt clarity, Shraddha reflects on growing up in the Jois household, surrounded by yoga, devotion, and community. She shares the moment she chose the path of yoga for herself, and how that choice transformed her bond with her father, from a playful, loving dad to spiritual teacher and guide.

With stories of long car rides, private lessons, family dinners, and his unmistakable sense of humour, Shraddha offers a rare and tender portrait of the man behind the lineage. It's an intimate conversation about love, legacy, and the quiet power of presence.

As the Memories of Sharath series comes to a close, this episode offers a final glimpse, through the eyes of a daughter, into the life of a teacher who shaped a global tradition and touched countless lives, starting with his own family.

If you're joining for the first time, you can listen to Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 and Episode 4 to begin the journey.

Subscribe, Listen, and Remember

Sharath Jois's legacy is woven through these voices in the stillness, in the laughter, and in the ways we continue to return to our practice. As we remember him, we stay connected to what matters most: love, presence, and the quiet strength of community.

The Sunday Inspiration Email

Receive a gentle email every Sunday to inspire your day.

Since 2017 Scott Johnson has shared the 'Stillpoint Sunday Inspiration Email' every week. He shares simple yoga philosophy, music he's listening to, short films he's watched, People of Yoga film & photography portraits and his poetry.

If this is something you'd like to receive you can sign up here...

Episode 4: The Final Collective Memories - Stories from Sharath's Friends & Students

In this fourth episode of Memories of Sharath, it will be the last time we bring collective voices in one place. Over the four collective episodes , the memories shared have revealed not only the depth of Sharath's connection to people, but also how the practice of Ashtanga Yoga shapes all of us us in deeply personal ways. How it binds us together through a shared thread - connection.

The stories in this episode share a mix of humour, honesty, tenderness, and devotion. There are moments of being seen, challenged, and cared for. Together, these stories paint a picture of a man who could carry the weight of a lineage while still making space for laughter, mischief, and joy. Each story offers a glimpse into the profound simplicity of how he taught: by showing up fully, again and again.

In this episode, you'll hear from:

• Peg Mulqueen, who remembers Sharath's quiet support through grief, offering steadiness and laughter when it was needed most.
• Tom Norrington-Davis, who recalls the playful teasing and sharp precision that left you feeling both challenged and seen.
• John Bultman offers a portrait of quiet sacrifice, deep listening, and patient guidance.
• Rocket Kaleshu reflects on the joy and simplicity with which Sharath passed on the practice.
• John Tattva shares the warmth of speaking with him in Kannada, the magic of the old shala, and life-changing connections.
• David Robson & Jelena Vesic speak to the evolution of their relationship with him, from fierce discipline to unexpected softness.
• David Swenson takes us back to the boy Sharath once was, someone who was full of light, laughter, and mischief.

Subscribe, Listen, and Remember

Sharath Jois's legacy is woven through these voices — in the stillness, in the laughter, and in the ways we continue to return to our practice. As we remember him, we stay connected to what matters most: love, presence, and the quiet strength of community.

The Sunday Inspiration Email

Receive a gentle email every Sunday to inspire your day.

Since 2017 Scott Johnson has shared the 'Stillpoint Sunday Inspiration Email' every week. He shares simple yoga philosophy, music he's listening to, short films he's watched, People of Yoga film & photography portraits and his poetry.

If this is something you'd like to receive you can sign up here...

Episode 3: A Life Remembered, A Practice Continued - Stories from Sharath's Friends & Students

In this third episode of Memories of Sharath, we continue to explore the life and legacy of Sharath Jois through the voices of those who knew him well. This episode features deeply personal reflections from long-time students, close friends, and those whose lives were shaped by his steady presence and quiet encouragement.

These stories reveal Sharath's capacity to meet each person with care - to see them, guide them, and trust them. Through humour, devotion, honesty, and sometimes heartbreak, we hear how his teachings lived far beyond the mat.

In this episode, you'll hear from:

• Karen Cairns – A long-time student whose two-decade journey with Sharath was marked by quiet love, resilience, and grace.

• Joseph Armstrong & Edgar Navarro – Sharing funny and intimate memories from hosting Sharath in Miami, including filming his final Mysore class.

• Priya Jhawar – Offering a tender, familial view of Sharath through stories of food, mischief, and deep love.

• Dominic Corigliano – Bridging past and present through memories of Sharath's early years and his growth into leadership.

• Matt Corigliano – Reflecting on being seen and shaped by Sharath from childhood into adulthood.

• Alexander Medin – A powerful and honest reflection on a friendship marked by both rupture and enduring gratitude.

Subscribe, Listen, and Remember

Sharath Jois's legacy is woven through these voices — in the stillness, in the laughter, and in the ways we continue to return to our practice. As we remember him, we stay connected to what matters most: love, presence, and the quiet strength of community.

The Sunday Inspiration Email

Receive a gentle email every Sunday to inspire your day.

Since 2017 Scott Johnson has shared the 'Stillpoint Sunday Inspiration Email' every week. He shares simple yoga philosophy, music he's listening to, short films he's watched, People of Yoga film & photography portraits and his poetry.

If this is something you'd like to receive you can sign up here...

Episode 2: A Deeper Look into Sharath's Impact – Voices from His Close Students and Family

In this second episode of Memories of Sharath, we continue our journey through the life and legacy of Sharath Jois, one of the most influential figures in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition. This episode features heartfelt stories from Sharath's family, close students and long-time friends who reflect on his life, teachings, and the profound impact he had on everyone who crossed his path.

Through these intimate conversations, we explore Sharath's enduring legacy - his kindness, humor, dedication, and the deep connections he built with his students and the global yoga community. These voices share not only memories of Sharath's guidance as a teacher but also a glimpse into the essence of who he was as a person.

In this episode, you'll hear from:

• Sharmila Mahesh – Sharath's sister, sharing intimate memories of their early life together and his start in yoga.

• Eddie Stern – On growing up together as students in Mysore, Sharath's role in shaping Ashtanga Yoga and his lasting influence on the global community.

• Boonchu Tanti – Offering light-hearted stories of Sharath's playful side and love for technology.

• Anne Finstad – Talking about Sharath's spiritual depth and how he embodied kindness, simplicity, and deep humanity.

• Megan Riley – Sharing how Sharath's humor and support helped empower her practice and personal growth.

• Deepika Mehta – Reflecting on Sharath's dual nature as both a strict teacher and a playful, light-hearted person outside the Shala.

• Mark Robberds – Discussing how Sharath's guidance shaped his life, especially during transformative moments.

• Wade Oakley – Speaking about Sharath's emphasis on family life and the balance between practice and everyday life.

• Harmony Slater – Reflecting on Sharath's leadership and love, offering a heartfelt view of his influence on her own journey.

Subscribe, Listen, and Remember

Sharath Jois left a legacy that continues to guide us all. In this series, we share the voices of those who experienced his presence firsthand—offering a deep, human connection to his teachings and his spirit. As we remember Sharath's influence, we hold onto what binds us together as a community—our shared love for the practice, for each other, and for the path he helped to light.

The Sunday Inspiration Email

Receive a gentle email every Sunday to inspire your day.

Since 2017 Scott Johnson has share the Sunday Inspiration Email every week. He shares simple yoga philosophy ideas, music he's listening to, short films he's watched and his photography and poetry.

If this is something you'd like to receive you can sign up here...

Memories of Sharath Jois (episode 1) | Stillpoints Podcast

Join Scott Johnson on a journey through the life and legacy of Sharath Jois, one of the most influential figures in the Ashtanga Yoga community. In this special series of the Stillpoints Podcast, Scott brings together the voices of those who knew Sharath personally—his family, long-time students, and close friends—to share stories, memories, and reflections on his extraordinary life and teachings.

From his early years in Mysore to his global impact as a yoga teacher and paramguru, Sharath's influence transcended the practice of Ashtanga Yoga. His humility, dedication, and deep connection to the lineage of his grandfather, Pattabhi Jois, left an indelible mark on yoga practitioners worldwide.

In Memories of Sharath Jois, you'll hear firsthand accounts from those who were closest to him, offering a rich, multi-dimensional perspective on the man who shaped the Ashtanga tradition as we know it today. In this first episode you'll hear the voices of:

• Joanne and Mark Darby Having learned directly from both Sharath and his grandfather, Pattabhi Jois, Joanne and Mark have been part of the Ashtanga community for decades. Their long-standing relationship with Sharath gives them a unique insight into his evolution as a teacher and the deep connections he fostered within the community.

• Angela Jamison Angela has been a dedicated student of Sharath for many years. Her memories are rooted in his teachings and their connection that spans decades of learning, evolving, and personal growth in the Ashtanga system.

• Petri Räisänen One of the leading Ashtanga teachers in the West, Petri studied with Sharath for many years. His reflections on Sharath's teachings and the role Sharath played in bridging the gap between Eastern and Western Ashtanga communities provide a deep and thoughtful perspective on his impact.

• Hamish Hendry Hamish has known Sharath since the mid-1990s and brings a wealth of experience from that time. His memories reflect the warmth and wisdom Sharath shared with his students and the unique relationship they built over decades of practice.

• Greg Nardi A long-time student of Sharath and a close friend, Greg's memories span years of growth and transition in the Ashtanga community. His reflections shed light on how Sharath impacted his teaching and practice.

• Kino MacGregor & Tim Feldman Kino and Tim, two of the most well-known Ashtanga teachers globally, reflect on the direct influence Sharath had on their practice and teaching. Their stories offer a glimpse into how Sharath's presence shaped their understanding of yoga as a path of life and transformation.

• Sushmita A devoted student of Sharath, Sushmita shares her experiences of his guidance, humility, and his unique ability to connect deeply with his students. Her memories highlight how Sharath touched lives far beyond the yoga mat.

• Olivier David Olivier speaks to Sharath's role in shaping his own journey with yoga. His reflections focus on how Sharath's teachings resonated with him personally and how they shaped his understanding of Ashtanga Yoga.

• Shelley Washington Shelley shares her intimate experiences of working with Sharath and how his influence guided her through personal growth and development as a yoga teacher. Her reflections offer a personal glimpse into Sharath's deep understanding of both practice and life.

• David Kessel David had the profound experience of being with Sharath at the time of his passing. His reflections are full of respect and gratitude for the teachings Sharath left behind.

Whether you're an Ashtanga practitioner, a yoga teacher, or someone who simply appreciates the impact of great spiritual teachers, this series invites you to reflect on Sharath's teachings, his legacy, and how his influence continues to ripple through the global yoga community.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to sign up for Scott's Sunday Inspiration Email. Each week, you'll receive fresh insights, stories, and creative content that explore the intersection of yoga, life, and personal growth. Don't miss out - join the community today!

In this wide ranging conversation Scott Johnson talks to Dr Mark Williams, professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford and director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, about mindfulness meditation and its ability to treat and prevent depression. Mark was raised in a devout Christian household, and at a young age believed his calling was with the ministry. His path changed while studying clinical psychology at university, where he was drawn to the field of treating adult mental health.

_____

We'd like to invite you to join our growing monthly Stillpoint Online Yoga community. For just £20 per month you can support the podcast and every Monday evening join The Still Space, our live stream yoga philosophy, mindfulness, pranayama and discussion sessions hosted by Scott Johnson. You can also gain access to our growing Stillpoint Online library of helpful yoga and mindfulness content.

_____

Mark Williams - How We Created Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy

In this conversation, Mark explains how cognitive therapy and mindfulness can be used to reduce the risk of relapse in people who have experienced depression. Mindfulness, unlike antidepressants and cognitive therapy, is uniquely effective as a preventative measure against poor mental health. By engaging in mindfulness even when we are not depressed, we can lower the risk of it affecting us in the first place. Among many rich and inspiring stories Mark shares how he developed MBCT after working with Jon Kabat Zinn, the founder of modern day mindfulness practices.

Mark shares:

• How he developed MBCT with his colleagues and working directly with Jon Kabat Zinn
• How he experienced the transformational power of mindfulness meditation only after having abandoned it.
• How mindfulness and his Christian faith work in tandem, with surprising similarities between Buddhist awareness meditation and the Gospel of St John.
• How, within the Christian contemplative tradition, God can be understood as the 'loving heart' at the centre of the universe.
• How effective the combination of cognitive therapy and mindfulness is at reducing the risk of relapse.
• The limitations and contraindications of mindfulness.
• How liberation is to be found in the present moment, and that each moment is a possible moment of freedom.

_____

About Mark Williams

Mark Williams is Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Oxford, having held posts at the Medical Research Council's Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit at Cambridge and the University of Wales, Bangor. He co-developed Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy and founded the University of Oxford's Mindfulness Centre that works to prevent depression and enhance human potential through the therapeutic use of mindfulness across the lifespan. His books include The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness (with John Teasdale, Zindel Segal and Jon Kabat-Zinn) and Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World (with Danny Penman). His most recent work focuses on how to sustain and deepen mindfulness through a programme that explores feeling tone (vedanā) 'frame by frame', as explained in Deeper Mindfulness (2023).

You can find more about Mark here:

• Oxford Mindfulness Foundation
• Wikipedia
• Books

"This conversation with Dr Mark Williams gives a beautiful insight into one of the foremost leaders in the field of mindfulness over the past 40 years. Mark shares not only his involvement in the growth of mindfulness based interventions but also about his own journey with mindfulness. It is one of my favourite conversations yet...."

Scott Johnson - September 2023

_____

If you enjoyed this podcast then you might also enjoy Scott's conversations with Pamela Weiss, Peter Levitt and Martin Aylward.

In this deep and rewarding conversation Scott Johnson talks to author, yoga teacher and mystic Gregor Maehle on his life as a seeker in the contemplative and spiritual traditions. Gregor shares how his childhood created the bedrock for a life of spiritual discovery, the outcome being a life embedded within the mystical limbs of yoga and contemplative practice.

___

We'd like to invite you to join our growing monthly Stillpoint Online Yoga community. For just £20 per month you can support the podcast and every Monday evening join The Still Space, our live stream yoga philosophy, mindfulness, pranayama and discussion sessions hosted by Scott Johnson. You can also gain access to our growing Stillpoint Online library of helpful yoga and mindfulness content.

___

Gregor Maehle on Yoga As A Mystical Experience

Scott and Gregor talk openly about Gregor's life as a yoga practitioner and mystic. Gregor shares:

• How he grew up in a catholic upbringing.
• How he had a mystical experience aged 6.
• How his parents saw something deep in him from an early age.
• How he read mystical books from a very young age.
• How he took psychedelics in his late teens but the integration as a spiritual experience didn't work.
• How in his twenties he did the guru trail in India.
• How he decided to spend his life doing personal sadhana.
• Why mystical experiences are not spontaneous.
• Why you should work with hypotheses rather than belief.
• Why the mystical state is your birth right.
• How in his forties he developed a relationship with Jesus.
• How the ego gets in the way of the mystical experience and is known in many traditions with different names.
• How we need to be in the service of all beings.
• Why yoga is the most powerful tool for transformation.
• What the inspiration is that he uses to write his books.
• How we can all find our life's purpose.
• How we can stay connected to nature.
• What the most important thing is that he has discovered through his practice.

___ About Gregor Maehle

Gregor Maehle began his yogic practices 45 years ago. In the mid-1980s he commenced annual travels to India, where he studied with various yogic and tantric masters, traditional Indian sadhus and ascetics. He spent fourteen months in Mysore, and in 1997 was authorised to teach Ashtanga Yoga by K. Pattabhi Jois. Since then he has branched out into researching the anatomical alignment of postures and the higher limbs of yoga.

In India Gregor also received eight months of mostly one-on-one instruction in scripture and the higher limbs of Yoga through B.N.S. Iyengar, a student of T. Krishnamacharya, and he studied Sanskrit under Professor Narayanachar and Dr Chandrasekhar. Gregor's internationally acclaimed textbook series consisting of Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series, Pranayama: The Breath of Yoga, Yoga Meditation: Through Mantra, Chakras and Kundalini to Spiritual Freedom, Samadhi The Great Freedom, How to Find Your Life's Divine Purpose, Chakras, Drugs & Evolution and Mudras: Seals of Yoga – have sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide and have been translated into eight foreign languages. Additional volumes currently prepared are Tantric Meditation and Bhakti: Yoga of Love. Gregor has been invited to many countries to teach and has contributed to and been interviewed by numerous yoga magazines. On Gregor's blog page chintamaniyoga.com/blog/ you will find over 300 articles, videos and podcasts on all aspects of yoga, which Gregor has authored together with his wife Monica.

Today Gregor teaches an anatomically sophisticated interpretation of traditional vinyasa yoga, integrated into the practice of the higher limbs in the spirit of Patanjali and T. Krishnamacharya. His zany sense of humour, his manifold personal experiences, and his vast and deep knowledge of scripture, Indian philosophies and yogic techniques combine to make his teachings applicable, relevant and easily accessible to all his students.

You can find more about Gregor here:

• Website
• Blog
• Books

In this deep and rewarding conversation Scott Johnson talks to author, yoga teacher and mystic Gregor Maehle on his life as a seeker in the contemplative and spiritual traditions. Gregor shares how his childhood created the bedrock for a life of spiritual discovery, the outcome being a life embedded within the mystical limbs of yoga and contemplative practice.

We'd like to invite you to join our growing monthly Stillpoint Online Yoga community. For just £20 per month you can support the podcast and every Monday evening join The Still Space, our live stream yoga philosophy, mindfulness, pranayama and discussion sessions hosted by Scott Johnson. You can also gain access to our growing Stillpoint Online library of helpful yoga and mindfulness content.

Gregor Maehle on Yoga As A Mystical Experience

Scott and Gregor talk openly about Gregor's life as a yoga practitioner and mystic. Gregor shares:

• How he grew up in a catholic upbringing.
• How he had a mystical experience aged 6.
• How his parents saw something deep in him from an early age.
• How he read mystical books from a very young age.
• How he took psychedelics in his late teens but the integration as a spiritual experience didn't work.
• How in his twenties he did the guru trail in India.
• How he decided to spend his life doing personal sadhana.
• Why mystical experiences are not spontaneous.
• Why you should work with hypotheses rather than belief.
• Why the mystical state is your birth right.
• How in his forties he developed a relationship with Jesus.
• How the ego gets in the way of the mystical experience and is known in many traditions with different names.
• How we need to be in the service of all beings.
• Why yoga is the most powerful tool for transformation.
• What the inspiration is that he uses to write his books.
• How we can all find our life's purpose.
• How we can stay connected to nature.
• What the most important thing is that he has discovered through his practice.

About Gregor Maehle

Gregor Maehle began his yogic practices 45 years ago. In the mid-1980s he commenced annual travels to India, where he studied with various yogic and tantric masters, traditional Indian sadhus and ascetics. He spent fourteen months in Mysore, and in 1997 was authorised to teach Ashtanga Yoga by K. Pattabhi Jois. Since then he has branched out into researching the anatomical alignment of postures and the higher limbs of yoga.

In India Gregor also received eight months of mostly one-on-one instruction in scripture and the higher limbs of Yoga through B.N.S. Iyengar, a student of T. Krishnamacharya, and he studied Sanskrit under Professor Narayanachar and Dr Chandrasekhar. Gregor's internationally acclaimed textbook series consisting of Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series, Pranayama: The Breath of Yoga, Yoga Meditation: Through Mantra, Chakras and Kundalini to Spiritual Freedom, Samadhi The Great Freedom, How to Find Your Life's Divine Purpose, Chakras, Drugs & Evolution and Mudras: Seals of Yoga – have sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide and have been translated into eight foreign languages. Additional volumes currently prepared are Tantric Meditation and Bhakti: Yoga of Love. Gregor has been invited to many countries to teach and has contributed to and been interviewed by numerous yoga magazines. On Gregor's blog page chintamaniyoga.com/blog/ you will find over 300 articles, videos and podcasts on all aspects of yoga, which Gregor has authored together with his wife Monica.

Today Gregor teaches an anatomically sophisticated interpretation of traditional vinyasa yoga, integrated into the practice of the higher limbs in the spirit of Patanjali and T. Krishnamacharya. His zany sense of humour, his manifold personal experiences, and his vast and deep knowledge of scripture, Indian philosophies and yogic techniques combine to make his teachings applicable, relevant and easily accessible to all his students.

You can find more about Gregor here:

• Website
• Blog
• Books

"This conversation with Gregor is grounded in deep insight. Gregor has lives such a rich life of study and practice that his teachings are a visceral outcome of personal committed study. Gregor shares life experiences that are at the same time teachings. We all can find a deeper way to interact with ourselves and the world. Gregor is a testament to that… "

Scott Johnson – April 2023

If you enjoyed this podcast then you might also enjoy Scott's conversations with Ty Landrum, Simon Borg Olivier and Frank Jude Boccio.

In this deep and rewarding conversation Scott Johnson talks to author, yoga teacher and mystic Gregor Maehle on his life as a seeker in the contemplative and spiritual traditions. Gregor shares how his childhood created the bedrock for a life of spiritual discovery, the outcome being a life embedded within the mystical limbs of yoga and contemplative practice.

We'd like to invite you to join our growing monthly Stillpoint Online Yoga community. For just £20 per month you can support the podcast and every Monday evening join The Still Space, our live stream yoga philosophy, mindfulness, pranayama and discussion sessions hosted by Scott Johnson. You can also gain access to our growing Stillpoint Online library of helpful yoga and mindfulness content.

Gregor Maehle on Yoga As A Mystical Experience

Scott and Gregor talk openly about Gregor's life as a yoga practitioner and mystic. Gregor shares:

• How he grew up in a catholic upbringing.
• How he had a mystical experience aged 6.
• How his parents saw something deep in him from an early age.
• How he read mystical books from a very young age.
• How he took psychedelics in his late teens but the integration as a spiritual experience didn't work.
• How in his twenties he did the guru trail in India.
• How he decided to spend his life doing personal sadhana.
• Why mystical experiences are not spontaneous.
• Why you should work with hypotheses rather than belief.
• Why the mystical state is your birth right.
• How in his forties he developed a relationship with Jesus.
• How the ego gets in the way of the mystical experience and is known in many traditions with different names.
• How we need to be in the service of all beings.
• Why yoga is the most powerful tool for transformation.
• What the inspiration is that he uses to write his books.
• How we can all find our life's purpose.
• How we can stay connected to nature.
• What the most important thing is that he has discovered through his practice.

About Gregor Maehle

Gregor Maehle began his yogic practices 45 years ago. In the mid-1980s he commenced annual travels to India, where he studied with various yogic and tantric masters, traditional Indian sadhus and ascetics. He spent fourteen months in Mysore, and in 1997 was authorised to teach Ashtanga Yoga by K. Pattabhi Jois. Since then he has branched out into researching the anatomical alignment of postures and the higher limbs of yoga.

In India Gregor also received eight months of mostly one-on-one instruction in scripture and the higher limbs of Yoga through B.N.S. Iyengar, a student of T. Krishnamacharya, and he studied Sanskrit under Professor Narayanachar and Dr Chandrasekhar. Gregor's internationally acclaimed textbook series consisting of Ashtanga Yoga: Practice and Philosophy, Ashtanga Yoga: The Intermediate Series, Pranayama: The Breath of Yoga, Yoga Meditation: Through Mantra, Chakras and Kundalini to Spiritual Freedom, Samadhi The Great Freedom, How to Find Your Life's Divine Purpose, Chakras, Drugs & Evolution and Mudras: Seals of Yoga – have sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide and have been translated into eight foreign languages. Additional volumes currently prepared are Tantric Meditation and Bhakti: Yoga of Love. Gregor has been invited to many countries to teach and has contributed to and been interviewed by numerous yoga magazines. On Gregor's blog page chintamaniyoga.com/blog/ you will find over 300 articles, videos and podcasts on all aspects of yoga, which Gregor has authored together with his wife Monica.

Today Gregor teaches an anatomically sophisticated interpretation of traditional vinyasa yoga, integrated into the practice of the higher limbs in the spirit of Patanjali and T. Krishnamacharya. His zany sense of humour, his manifold personal experiences, and his vast and deep knowledge of scripture, Indian philosophies and yogic techniques combine to make his teachings applicable, relevant and easily accessible to all his students.

You can find more about Gregor here:

• Website
• Blog
• Books

___

"This conversation with Gregor is grounded in deep insight. Gregor has lives such a rich life of study and practice that his teachings are a visceral outcome of personal committed study. Gregor shares life experiences that are at the same time teachings. We all can find a deeper way to interact with ourselves and the world. Gregor is a testament to that… "

Scott Johnson – April 2023

If you enjoyed this podcast then you might also enjoy Scott's conversations with Ty Landrum, Simon Borg Olivier and Frank Jude Boccio.

"This conversation with Gregor is grounded in deep insight. Gregor has lives such a rich life of study and practice that his teachings are a visceral outcome of personal committed study. Gregor shares life experiences that are at the same time teachings. We all can find a deeper way to interact with ourselves and the world. Gregor is a testament to that… "

Scott Johnson – April 2023

If you enjoyed this podcast then you might also enjoy Scott's conversations with Ty Landrum, Simon Borg Olivier and Frank Jude Boccio.

In this beautiful and enlightening conversation Scott Johnson talks to Zen teacher, poet and author Peter Levitt about his book Fingerpainting On The Moon, his life as a Soto Zen practitioner and poet and how we can all use contemplative practices to find our own unique creative process.

---

We'd like to invite you to join our growing monthly Stillpoint Online Yoga community. For just £20 per month you can support the podcast and every Monday evening, between 7.30pm - 8.30pm UK time, join our live stream yoga philosophy, mindfulness, pranayama and discussion sessions hosted by Scott Johnson. You can also gain access to our growing Stillpoint Online library of helpful yoga and mindfulness content and connect with others on a private messaging group. We look forward to welcoming you to our community

---

Peter Levitt on How Mindfulness Is Creativity

Scott and Peter talk openly about his life as a writer and a Zen practitioner. Peter shares:

• About his early years of growing up with chronic illness
• How his early life spending time on his own was the catalyst to his learning his craft
• How he discovered Zen at the end of the sixties.
• How he begun to understand how his creative process comes from him
• How the art of practice is intimacy
• How all relationship is intimacy
• Who the great Soto Zen master Dogen was.
• How non-separation is the key to creativity
• How creativity is expressed without language.
• How poetry lands in someone.
• How we finds words that move through us.
• How the language of poetry carries ineffable words.
• On how we are all creators
• About his book Fingerpainting On The Moon
• Seeing that we have choice with what we do with this moment

---

About Peter Levitt

Peter Levitt is authorized as a Zen teacher within the Suzuki-roshi lineage, and as a preceptor within the White Plum Asanga. He is is the founder and guiding teacher of Salt Spring Zen Circle on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia where he lives with his wife and fellow poet Shirley Graham,

Peter is the author of seventeen books of poetry and prose including Within Within, One Hundred Butterflies and Bright Root, Dark Root.

In 2003 Peter wrote Fingerpainting on the Moon: Writing and Creativity as a Path to Freedom a beautiful meditation on finding our own unique creative process.

A longtime student of Zen, he edited Thich Nhat Hanh's classic,The Heart of Understanding, and recently he served as Associate Editor of The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye – Zen Master Dogen's Shobo Genzo, edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi (pictures above with Peter) and he co-edited, with Tanahashi, The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Zen Master. In addition, Peter has published many fiction and literary translations from Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.

In late 2022 Peter released his latest book of translations, Yin Mountain: The Immortal Poetry of Three Daoist Women, co-translated with Rebecca Nie. You can find links to these books in the show notes.

Governor General Award recipient, Robert Hilles said of Peter books One Hundred Butterflies and Within Within, "these are master works that reveal the interconnected fabric of it all in ways that will leave you stunned."

And Legendary poet, Robert Creeley, wrote that Peter Levitt's poetry "sounds the honor of our common dance," and, in 1989 Peter received the prestigious Lannan Foundation Award in Poetry.

Find our more about Peter Levitt here:

• Website
• Wikipedia
• Peter's books on Amazon

---

"Peter's book Fingerpainting On The Moon is a roadmap to getting underneath our own creative process. This conversation with Peter Leviit is beautiful and helps us to consider how we can make our way through this precious life with openness. It is one of my favourite conversations and has changed the way I see my own creativity."

Scott Johnson - April 2023

---

If you enjoyed this podcast then you might also enjoy Scott's conversations with Pamela Weiss, Sarah Powers and Frank Jude Boccio.