The Funny Thing About Yoga

On this episode, we’re joined by Vytas, a seasoned yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in Los Angeles and online.

Giana has taken his classes many times throughout her travels to LA and has always been curious about his journey, especially during the heyday of sweaty, packed vinyasa classes that defined a certain golden era of yoga in the city. Vytas shares a raw and powerful story that brought him to the mat, including his struggles with heroin addiction as a teen, time in prison, and the pivotal moment when friends pushed him toward yoga.

He found a mentor in Bryan Kest, whose approachable style resonated deeply, and eventually began teaching at Power Yoga in Santa Monica. Vytas walks us through his transition into teaching, staying rooted in one studio for two decades, and opens up about the Power Yoga studio split. Oh yes, we got some tea.

True to form, Vytas keeps it real. He’s blunt, direct, and totally unfiltered, which had us both jaw-dropped and cracking up. His intense teaching style even earned him the nickname “The Punisher.” But we also loved hearing how fatherhood, sobriety, and stepping into his 40s have softened him in surprising ways. Along the way, we dive into the culture of mirrors in yoga studios, the struggle with mouth breathing, the importance of diversifying your income as a teacher, and a few of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard- one involving pushing a student too far, and another that ended in a full-blown attack.

You don’t want to miss this one.

Find Vytas on the FitOn app or in person at Power Yoga East and Open.

Thanks for listening!

Find Vytas Online:

IG: @vytasyoga

WEB: vytasyoga.com

🌊 Upcoming Retreats in Nicaragua

• 2026 Starved Rock Retreat- June 12-14, 2026

• Yoga Teachers Retreat – February & March 2026

📚 Read the Podcast Blog:

The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack

📲 Follow Us

Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga

School: @cayayogaschool

Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish

🌐 More Links

gianayoga.com

bradshawwishyoga.com

cayayogaschool.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Giana and Bradshaw catch up during a late-night recording session as they batch episodes ahead of their summer travels. Bradshaw shares about his upcoming workshops and some pre-travel nerves, while Giana gears up for a return to Chicago, prompting Bradshaw to prep by cleaning his bathroom in her honor.

They share some exciting announcements, including the 2026 Starved Rock Retreat, the upcoming Yoga Teachers Retreat, and a little teaser about launching their Patreon.

Then they dive into the main topic: mentorship.

Bradshaw talks about his one-on-one mentorships and how many of his mentees come in with questions about sequencing, social media, and all kinds of random teaching challenges. Giana shares what she’s been up to with her group mentorship for yoga retreat leaders, guiding folks through the nitty-gritty of visualizing, planning, budgeting, and executing their retreat dreams.

They reflect on what they’ve learned from their own mentors- how to be inspired without becoming a carbon copy, and tell some great stories: losing money on a retreat, a funny lunch with Jason Crandell, and fond memories of their old teacher development program.

By the end, they’re both fired up to launch a group mentorship program together (stay tuned!), and they talk honestly about how mentoring others is one of the best ways to keep growing themselves, both personally and professionally.

They also get a little mushy about their own friendship, and how much support, mentorship, and growth they’ve found in each other over the years all before winding down with some hilarious stories. 

🌊 Upcoming Retreats in Nicaragua

• 2026 Starved Rock Retreat- June 12-14, 2026

• Yoga Teachers Retreat – February & March 2026

📚 Read the Podcast Blog:

The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack

📲 Follow Us

Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga

School: @cayayogaschool

Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish

🌐 More Links

gianayoga.com

bradshawwishyoga.com

cayayogaschool.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we have on Karrie Myers, aka SelfKarrie, a deeply intuitive and talented astrologer Giana happened to meet at a tea house in Marin.

We dive into a mind-bending conversation about the current cosmic climate, and Karrie breaks down the incoming 7-year Uranus in Gemini transit (starting July 7!)—what it means for how we learn, communicate, and move through the world.

She explains why this next chapter may feel more fluid than past transits—Uranus and Gemini are both air signs—but also why it’s about to radically disrupt how we speak, travel, and even think. From telepathy to AI to neurodivergence as expanded awareness, Karrie opens up a portal into what’s next.

We also touch on war in the Age of Aquarius: less about weapons, more about who controls the information. Cyber-activism, hacking, and the internet as our collective consciousness? Yep, we go there.

Plus, Karrie gives Giana and Bradshaw a joint business partner reading, and things get real. She shares why their playful, purpose-driven partnership is exactly what this moment calls for—and how staying childlike, creative, and bold with their voices is key to expansion. There’s talk of shadow work and podcasting as soul work.

Come for the astrology, stay for the insight into how current transits may be shaping our communication, creativity, and collective direction.

🔮 Where to Find Karrie Myers:

• Website: www.selfkarrie.com
• Instagram: @selfkarrie
• YouTube: SelfKarrie

✨ Bio:

Karrie Myers (aka SelfKarrie) is an Astrological Coach & Counselor. With a background in Astrology, Mindfulness, Buddhist Psychology, Life & Relationships Counseling and Business Coaching, Karrie provides custom, astrology-informed sessions, life strategies and wellness advice for individuals, couples and business owners.

Karrie has provided workplace astrological services to Pinterest and Roblox, and has taught astrology at Esalen Institute. She has been a featured astrologer for the NY Post, Well + Good, Bustle Magazine, San Francisco’s Gate Magazine, Redfin’s Real Estate blog, and a guest on multiple podcasts and platforms.

Karrie is host of the podcasts, "Waking Up to Your Worth", “You & Me in Orbit”, and one half of the popular astrology & tarot podcast, “The Melanated Mystics”.

🌊 CAYA Yoga School Retreats:

• Yoga Teachers Retreat – Nicaragua, February & March 2026: Retreat Info
• Starved Rock Retreat – June 2026: Retreat Info

🌐 More Links

• gianayoga.com
• bradshawwishyoga.com
• cayayogaschool.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, we kick things off with some chitchat about podcast consistency—Bradshaw reflects on feeling good while Giana takes a quick spiral. Then we dive into your questions: our favorite classes to teach, whether we tell students if their leggings are see-through, and what our experience has been with CorePower. Thanks for sending these in—it’s a fun one!

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: [email protected]

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Yoga Retreat (Open to All): Costa Dulce, Nicaragua (February 2026): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/nicaragua-retreat

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, your favorite yoga podcast hosts turn the mic on each other for a totally unscripted, anything-goes interview, AND nothing is off-limits.

Before diving in, they share retreat updates, a big announcement about their new Patreon, and a classic moment of Bradshaw’s forgetfulness. Then the real fun begins: Bradshaw kicks things off with a bold (and slightly unhinged) question about Giana’s past trauma, while Giana responds with a gentler, but no less revealing, prompt about what people often misunderstand about Bradshaw.

What follows is a chaotic, heartfelt exchange of deeply personal and delightfully weird questions: irrational fears, dating at 38, queerness in teaching, childhood beliefs, surprise moments of growth, what kind of lesbian Giana would be, and the reality show Bradshaw would absolutely star in.

It’s honest, hilarious, a little unhinged, and full of heart, like a sleepover with your emotionally intelligent besties.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of masturbation, sexual identity, and sex. Please listen with care.

🌊 Upcoming Retreats in Nicaragua

• Yoga Teachers Retreat – February & March 2026

📚 Read the Podcast Blog:

The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack

📲 Follow Us

Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga

School: @cayayogaschool

Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish

🌐 More Links

gianayoga.com

bradshawwishyoga.com

cayayogaschool.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Giana and Bradshaw take a hard and honest look at the once-popular hashtag YogaEveryDamnDay, a phrase that began with good intentions but quickly became a symbol of obsession, injury, and hustle culture disguised as wellness.

They reflect on their own experiences of going too hard, pushing through pain, chasing results, and losing touch with the deeper purpose of the practice. Both share the moments that made them realize that more wasn’t always better, and that the pursuit of progress at all costs was no longer serving them.

In this episode, they explore:

• The fitness industry’s “no days off” mentality
• The relation between disordered exercise and disordered eating
• How capitalism shows up in modern yoga and wellness culture
• The dangerous glorification of harder, faster, deeper
• Whether studios and teachers should rethink their messaging and class policies

They also dig into the responsibility yoga teachers have in modeling a healthy relationship to movement and rest. What kind of messages are we sending when we celebrate discipline without moderation? What does it look like to teach from a place of enoughness rather than exhaustion?

This is a raw and reflective conversation about unlearning toxic productivity and returning to movement as a practice of connection, not performance.

🌊 Upcoming Retreats in Nicaragua

• Yoga Teachers Retreat – February & March 2026

📚 Read the Podcast Blog:

The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack

📲 Follow Us

Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga

School: @cayayogaschool

Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish

🌐 More Links

gianayoga.com

bradshawwishyoga.com

cayayogaschool.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant and hilarious Jill Miller — creator of Yoga Tune Up®, author of Body by Breath, and a pioneer in blending movement, science, and recovery.

We cover everything from Jill’s early journey discovering yoga to her performance days in Chicago, and then dive deep into the science of it all- fascia, the nervous system, body dissection, and how it all ties back to yoga. We explore the power of longer holds, the widespread misinformation about the body, the importance of down-regulation, and what Jill’s currently working on (spoiler: it’s exciting).

Along the way, we laugh, swap stories, and share plenty of those “wow, that makes so much sense” moments. Jill even offers Giana some powerful advice.

She’s incredibly easy to talk to, overflowing with knowledge, and was an absolute pleasure to have on. We left this conversation feeling inspired, nerdy, and ready to roll around on our Tune Up Balls. And, YES, Jill did graciously send us some!

✨ You’ve got to check out this episode and leave it some love.

🔗 Connect with Jill Miller

Website: tuneupfitness.com

Instagram: @thejillmiller & @tuneupfitness

YouTube: Yoga Tune Up® Channel

Jill’s Upcoming Training

Yoga Tune Up® Certification (Online)

📅 July 8–16, 2025 — Virtual (Livestream)

🔗 Register here

Join Giana’s Yoga Retreat Leaders Mentorship beginning June 11th

Sign up by June 10th — DM @gianagambino or email: [email protected]

🌊 Upcoming Retreats in Nicaragua

• Yoga Teachers Retreat – February & March 2026

📚 Read the Podcast Blog:

The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack

📲 Follow Us

Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga

School: @cayayogaschool

Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish

🌐 More Links

gianayoga.com

bradshawwishyoga.com

cayayogaschool.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on big schedule shifts, exciting growth, and the very real tension of giving a lot… maybe too much.

After three years of podcasting, countless hours of teaching, and years of building CAYA, we’re finally feeling the momentum. We talk about the slow burn of consistency, the fear and power of taking risks, and what it really means to invest in yourself.

But we also get candid about the DMs asking for free consulting, the entitlement that can come with putting out so much free content, and the blurry line between generosity and boundaries. How do you give enough to hook people in without giving it all away? We’re learning in real-time—and sometimes the hard way.

Giana shares about being new to San Francisco and the weirdness of trying to connect with studio coworkers, while Bradshaw recalls the moment Giana asked her out for a coffee… and how that one message turned into this whole thing. The irony isn’t lost on us—but there's a big difference between building real relationships and being asked to work for free.

This episode is about knowing your worth, honoring your time, and figuring out how to create value and demand. All with plenty of tangents and hilarious stories, of course.

Sign Up For Giana’s Yoga Retreat Mentorship by June 10th- DM her on Instagram. 

UPCOMING RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat for Students (February 2026): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/nicaragua-retreat

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bradshaw kicks things off by breaking into song and completely ignoring Giana. Then they joke about Bradshaw’s newfound notoriety and what it’s like to have his yoga idols asking about his romantic life.

Next, they dive into your questions:

– Are yoga retreats for introverts?

– What are our current yoga and wellness practices?

– What can you do if you can’t control the heat in a hot room?

We share some solid advice, get a little personal, and—as always—bring the ridiculous banter while trying to figure out if we’re introverted extroverts or extroverted introverts.

Come hang with us, send in your questions, and keep those 5-star reviews coming!

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: [email protected]

Sign Up For Giana’s Yoga Retreat Mentorship by June 10th- DM her on Instagram. 

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Yoga Retreat (Open to All): Costa Dulce, Nicaragua (February 2026): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/nicaragua-retreat

Yoga Teachers Retreat: Costa Dulce, Nicaragua (MARCH 2026): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/teachers-retreat

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this rich and wide-ranging episode, we sit down with the legendary Rod Stryker to talk about his early days teaching in Los Angeles and how his approach to yoga has evolved over the past 40 years. From the simplicity of sequencing to the complexity of modern distractions (looking at you, phones), we explore the shifts in vinyasa and ask: what’s the point if not regulation? If not wholeness?

We dive into the importance of embodying what you teach. Shouldn’t you actually practice something before you teach it? Rod thinks so. We also talk about learning to see bodies, trusting your own experience, and how to sustain your practice across the decades- letting exercise be exercise and yoga be the meditation it's intended to be, because regulating the nervous system is more important than ever.

There’s a deep dive into Yoga Nidra (and yes, we teach you how to pronounce it). We explore the liminal, energizing space of yogic sleep that might just be the unsung hero of modern yoga. And of course, there are plenty of laughs along the way- including Giana calling Bradshaw out mid-show (it’s hilarious), and we wrap up with a truly funny story from Rod involving a porta-potty. Trust us, you won’t want to miss it.

Connect with Rod Stryker:

• Website: rodstryker.com
• Instagram: @rodstrykerofficial
• YouTube: youtube.com/user/rodstryker

Use Code: FUNNYTHING for $100 any 40-hour course. Offer valid through August 1st. 

Sign Up For Giana’s Yoga Retreat Mentorship by June 10th- DM her on Instagram or email [email protected]

UPCOMING RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat for Students (February 2026): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/nicaragua-retreat

Yoga Teachers Retreat: Costa Dulce, Nicaragua (MARCH 2026): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/teachers-retreat

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.