Wild Yoga Tribe

Welcome to Episode #75 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Alina Badarau, a yoga teacher from Moldova, was so lovely as we took a deep dive into how writing and yoga compliment each other, and how writing about yoga experiences shines a light on ourselves. I hope that this conversation made you curious about how yoga is a light, and an instrument for balancing your inner world.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Moldova then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Alina Badarau

Alina Badarau is a yoga teacher and yoga studio owner from Moldova. She is based in the capital city of Chişinău. She tarted practicing yoga when she was just 9 years old, and actually did her yoga teacher training at Moscow University of Modern Yoga. She teaches Hatha and Vinyasa yoga and has been teaching yoga for 7 years. Moreover, Alina studied psychology education in University, and completed a degree at the Institute of Physical Culture and Sports as well.

What to expect in the Yoga In Moldova episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

Alina came to yoga when she was just 9 years old. There were kids yoga classes offered at the school across the street from Alina's house. It’s the longest relationship to anything Alina has had that has stretched all the way until today. She feels like it was a sign from the universe that she was supposed to be involved with yoga.

She actually started teaching yoga when she was only 15 years old. She started teaching yoga at the kids yoga studio, and offered kids yoga classes. At age 18 years old, she realized there was nothing better than yoga, and she was given an adult group to begin teaching. She’s been going through different trainings and seminars in yoga in Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine.

In regards to yoga in Moldova, Alina feels that it is “just the beginning.” She has her own studio, and she works with a lot of people who worries that yoga is boring or just sitting in meditation. There are a lot of people in Moldova who have a lot of preconceptions about yoga, and Alina is working to break those stereotypes down.

At Alina’s studio, every day there are about 8 brand-new students who show up for their very first yoga class. I asked Alina, why does she think that new people come for their first yoga, she said it is because they are in pain or there is a problem with something in their lives. There has been a growing awareness in Moldova that yoga can help with physical pain. 

Curious about yoga in around the world? Yoga teachers around the world? You just got your first-row ticket!

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Moldova episode?

Connect with Alina Badarau

https://instagram.com/yogago.md

https://www.instagram.com/viralika

https://yogago.md

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #74 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Rocky Ryu, a yoga teacher from Indonesia, was so inspiring as our conversation ebbed and flowed around the confluence of spiritual energies in Indonesia, and how yoga has flourished there. I hope that this conversation made you curious about the RM Method, and how yoga is a lifestyle, is essential, and a way that makes life easier.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Indonesia then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Rocky Ryu

Rocky Ryu is a yoga teacher and yoga studio owner from Indonesia who has been teaching yoga in Indonesia for 25 years. He teaches yoga on Surabaya on the Java Island, close to Bali, in Indonesia. Rocky has Asthanga, Iyengar, and Hatha Yoga certifications. His passions beyond yoga include therapy, bodywork, anatomy, and massage. For the last decade, he has come up with his own yoga technique that he calls the “RM method.” He has also taught yoga in the USA, Japan, and India. His yoga studio is called Mallika Yoga.

What to expect in the Yoga In Indonesia episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

Rocky Ryu and I shared a beautiful conversation about yoga in Indonesia. We started off the conversation discussing how yoga first came into his life - as he witnessed yoga taking place through windows, until he one day decided to join.

Over twenty-five years ago, there wasn't a lot of yoga going on in Indonesia. Though, this was personally very hard for me to imagine! Rocky built his own yoga studio, Mallika Yoga, and has been guiding students towards health and wellness through incorporating not just yoga asana, but massage, body work, breath work and more. He has even developed the RM method, which is an act of true union, as it marries together everything Rocky has learned from various healing modalities.

You’ll love hearing birdsong in the background, and Rocky’s kind laughter and gentle energy. As he says, “Only with gratitude can we be satisfied and happy in life.”

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Indonesia episode?

Favorite Quote From Rocky Ryu

“Yoga is more than the body. With asana poses it even can heal traumatic experiences that are long stored in the body, such as fear, abuse, and broken heartedness. Generally speaking, people here that I encounter had so much fear and have anxiety stored in them, so we help them to heal their general health and well-being. So just not just physical, but it's more than that.”

Connect with Rocky Ryu

https://www.instagram.com/Mallikayoga

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

#73 - The Four Corners of Your Mat - Yoga in Antigua with Ros Langer

Welcome to Episode #73 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Ros Langer, a yoga teacher in Antigua, was so fun as we talked about her immense and immediate love for the practice, and how the four corners of your mat can teach you more than any yoga teacher training can teach you. We also talked about yoga and aging, and what it was like to come to the practice later in life.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Antigua then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Ros Langer

Ros Langer has been studying and practicing yoga for over 15 years. Ashtanga vinyasa yoga remains her central reference and informs all of her teachings. According to Ros, “the mat is just the beginning.” She teaches yoga at Energie in English Harbour, Antigua. Ros's main residence is in Antigua but she spends a few months of the year in Cape Town, South Africa. She is the mother of two young men who continually inspire her to rise to her fullest potential.

What to expect in the Yoga In Antigua episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

Ros Langer was first introduced to yoga through a friend, who had a yoga teacher come to Antigua to teach her and train her in yoga. Ros bought a John Scott Ashtanga DVD, and after practicing for a few years she moved to Capetown, which Ros calls the Rishikesh of South Africa. She was trained in Capetown and was delighted to be able to teach at The Shala in Capetown, which she deems one of the best yoga studios in the world.

We also talked about how Ros’s practice changed through menopause, surgery, and generally as she has gotten older. Ros came to yoga at 45, and was trained at age 50, she shared with us what happened with her practice over the years, and with a cancer scare and after surgery.

Asana is not an exercise. This is something Ros firmly stands behind, and it was great to talk to her more about her thoughts on it. That being said, she thinks it’s completely fine if people want to come to the yoga practice for the sake of exercise. Come and be welcome!

For Ros, yoga is about finding balance and equanimity and spaciousness. Curious? Tune into the whole podcast episode!

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Antigua episode?

Connect with Rosalind Langer

https://www.ros-yoga.com

https://www.instagram.com/Ros.Yoga.Antigua

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #72 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Vanessa Pattison, a yoga teacher from Nicaragua was so inspiring as we took a deep dive into yoga as community, and about how you can weave it into your life. I hope that this conversation made you curious about how you can touch stillness, the space in-between thoughts — and what is available when you're able to touch those places…

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Nicaragua then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Vanessa Pattison

Vanessa Pattison is a yoga teacher and yoga studio owner in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. She has over 2000+ hours of Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin training. I built and run Zen Yoga Nicaragua, the only yoga studio in this cool Central American beach town. She is also trained with the Chopra Center in Primordial Sound Meditation. She also runs retreats for her other business, the Nicaragua Yoga Institute. Her classes are infused with love, creativity, and inspiration. She thinks of her classes as a journey of unraveling the layers of stress that we accumulate and revealing our authentic, radiant selves. One breath at a time.

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Nicaragua episode

What to expect in the Yoga In Nicaragua episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

While yoga in Nicaragua has gotten more and more popular over the years, when Vanessa opened her yoga studio in 2007, she was the only yoga studio around for miles and miles. While there was a mother and daughter yoga teacher duo, whom she practiced yoga with and learned from, they were nomadic. And Vanessa was there to stay.

Vanessa is proud to serve Nicaragua, not just as a yoga teacher and studio owner, but also as a member of the community who actively gives back and takes what the yoga studio earns and does her best to give it back to the community.

Some of my favorite moments in the conversation were when Vanessa spoke about imposter syndrome and yoga, and about how we all have to honor the light and dark side that are inside of each of us. Yoga is a journey of becoming who we are, and we are not all just light, bright, fun, and easy all the time. We must embrace and accept all aspects of ourselves.

Connect with Vanessa Pattison

www.zenyoganicaragua.com

www.nicaraguayogainstitute.com

https://www.instagram.com/vanessapattison

https://www.facebook.com/zenyoganicaragua

https://twitter.com/ZenYogaNcaragua

https://www.instagram.com/nicaragua_yoga_institute

https://www.facebook.com/nicaraguayogainstitute

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #71 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Seitebatso Kabi, a yoga teacher from Lesotho, was so beautiful as we unpacked so many aspects and elements of being a yoga teacher— from imposter syndrome to opening a yoga studio to figuring out how to serve and transform your community through yoga outside of the studio. I hope that this conversation made you laugh, made you smile, and made you want to figure out how you can take yoga off the mat and into the world, as a way to unite us all.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

What to expect in the Yoga In Lesotho episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

Seitebatso Gabi kicked off the podcast by sharing with us how yoga first came into her life, and how she was only looking for exercise, but got so much more. It was actually a friend of hers who recommended she do a yoga teacher training in South Africa. She was incredibly grateful to find a yoga teacher training in Africa, as she was worried she would have had to travel to India or Bali to do a training.

Tell me more about Seitebatso Kabi

Seitebatso Kabi is a yoga teacher and yoga studio owner from Lesotho. She received her yoga teacher training in 2021 and opened her yoga center, Floga Studio, the same year. She teaches Vinyasa and Restorative Yoga and is devoted to sharing the benefits of the practice with those from all walks of life, and especially with teenagers who she feels desperately needs yoga during these tumultuous years.

She opened her yoga studio, Floga, the same year she got trained in yoga! We talked about if yoga is popular in Lesotho, and how it’s hard to get yoga to all the rural areas in her country. There is a fear that yoga is a religion, or a way to worship of a sun god or something of that sort. So Seitebatso is grateful that teenagers have the most curiosity and are willing to take in the practice as a whole - more than just an exercise, more than self-inquiry. She also shared her thoughts on why it’s been her experience that teenagers are so receptive to yoga. Teenagers in Lesotho have taken to yoga more than other groups in the community, in terms of attitude and concentration it can uplift so many people’s lives. She sees yoga as a way to help teenagers become achievers.

Additionally, Seitebatso talked about how yoga has the possibility of unlocking potential in youth and expanding their minds to other possibilities for livelihoods, and teaching them ways to focus and different ways to interact with others. She sees yoga as an amazing opportunity for the next generation to expand their horizons!

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Lesotho episode?

Connect with Seitebatso Kabi

www.floga-studio.com

https://www.instagram.com/flowithstee/

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #70 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Yangchen Lhamo, a yoga teacher from Bhutan, was so delightful as we discussed how yoga is not just what you practice, but how you walk, talk, and interact with others. I hope that this conversation lit a spark in you, about how yoga can help all sentient beings.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga as an act of service then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Yangchen Lhamo

Yangchen Lhamo is a yoga teacher and yoga studio owner in Bhutan. She teaches Hatha yoga, meditation, and Ashtanga Vinyasa. She completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh in January 2020, and opened Yoga Yangchen in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan, in September 2020. In 2022, she completed her 300-hour yoga teacher training in Rishikesh.

Yoga Yangchen’s main social cause is Doghouse Bhutan, which she founded with her Bhutan-based Swiss friend Nadine. It is a community-based project. Doghouse Bhutan builds doghouses for the free-roaming dogs of Bhutan using scrap materials to protect them from the rain, cold, and snow.

Yangchen’s passion in life is creating and improving the well-being of all sentient beings— animals and people alike. She loves learning and exploring new things and meeting new people. She believes that changing the world for the better requires you to start with yourself. After all, ‘practice what you preach’ is core to being able to inspire others.

What to expect in the Yoga In Bhutan episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

I was astounded that Yangchen opened her yoga studio in the same year as getting her yoga certification, as well as in the middle of the pandemic! So many yoga studios closed during the pandemic, yet Yanchen knew it was time for her to open her own. She wanted to give back to her community. Yoga has given Yangchen so many beautiful gifts, like the ability to be more reflective instead of reactive. Yet, she sure has given so many gifts back to her community!

Yangchen also shared with us her thoughts on yoga. Yoga is not just what you practice. Yoga is the way you walk, talk, and the actions you take. Everything, all the small things, is yoga.

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Bhutan episode?

Connect with Yangchen Lhamo

www.yogayangchen.com

https://www.instagram.com/yogayangchenbhutan/

https://www.facebook.com/yogayangchen

https://www.instagram.com/doghousebhutan/

https://www.facebook.com/doghousebhutan

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #69 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Sachiko Kawabata, a yoga teacher from Japan, was so inspiring as she shared with us her unique perspective on and understanding of yoga. I hope that this conversation made you curious about the relationship between yoga and Taoism, and the yoga synchronicities that happened all over the world in history.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga for the spirit then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Sachiko Kawabata

Sachiko Kawabata is a yoga teacher from Japan who practices Balinese massage, aromatherapy, macrobiotic nutrition, Chinese medicine, and yoga. She used to have her own studio as a therapist and supported women in search of a new lifestyle based on women’s health and beauty – all rooted in ancient wisdom.

Sachiko feels that the roots of her soul are in the Asian culture. She leads Yin Yoga Japan across all of Japan as a Yin Yoga and Qigong teacher. Her approach is a challenging teaching style that combines both ancient Chinese wisdom and the latest Fascia research from Sports Science. She is convinced that the way we create, use, and store energy with Yin Yoga offers many answers to the questions that she has long been searching for. She has been teaching yoga for over 15 years.

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Japan episode?

Favorite Quote From Sachiko Kawabata

“Taoism has a surprising amount in common with Hatha yoga. In fact, as a Japanese person, I can easily understand Chinese philosophy, which is based on a common culture and Indian philosophy. I think many people believe that yoga happened only in India. Yoga did not originate only in India. Around the time yoga was born, synchronicities were happening all over the world at the same. Especially in China, there are many common items such as chi. Chi is energy, by the way. So Chi is similar to prana, meridians are similar to nadis.”

Connect with Sachiko Kawabata

https://www.yinyogajapan.com

https://www.facebook.com/yinyogajapan/

https://www.instagram.com/yinyogajapan

https://vimeo.com/yinyogajapan

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbOvCM4TZoKSpaMY1Iw8O0w/featured

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Questions? Comments? Let's get social!

https://www.instagram.com/wildyogatribe/

https://www.tiktok.com/@wildyogatribe

https://www.facebook.com/wildyogatribe

https://twitter.com/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #68 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Mugisha Ali Allan, a yoga teacher from Uganda, was so touching as Mugisha shared stories with us about teaching yoga to children with special needs and who are struggling with life-long illnesses. He also shared how grateful he is to be a part of people’s yoga journeys.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about the healing journey of yoga and how yoga is the art and science of well-being, then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Mugisha Ali Allan

Mugisha Ali Allan has been practicing yoga since 2015, and he has been a yoga teacher since 2018. Mugisha teaches hatha yoga, vinyasa power yoga, and yin yoga. She also is a meditation instructor and a Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher. He studied yoga and was certified by the Pura Vida Foundation in 2018, Karuna Yoga Journeys in 2020, Living Life Limitlessly University in 2020, and the Yoga Impact Institute in 2019. Mugisha is the founder of the Entebbe Yoga Community and is a co-owner of the Kindle Yoga Studio Entebbe. Mugisha also teaches yoga at NGOs that support special children like Embrace Kulture and Aid Child Leadership Institute in Entebbe. Moreover, Mugisha taught at Kampala International School and he is a Yoga Teacher at the National Culture Center Kampala.

What to expect in the Yoga In Uganda episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

Get ready for an incredible episode! Mugisha opened up the world of Uganda to us, and didn't hold back. He shared vulnerable stories about his heart attack, and how that led him to want to help others find wellness and ultimately inspire people to live a good life.

He knew he wanted to work with children because to enact change in a country, you start with the children. Mushier teaches yoga to children with special needs, and children who have AIDs. He told us sweet stories about how much the children love yoga and the games he plays with them.

Mugisha described yoga as the art and science of well-being. And he really dove into how yoga is challenged in Uganda, and also how yoga has changed his life.

What’s in the yoga in Uganda episode?

Connect with Mugisha Ali Allan

www.yoga-ugandan.com

YouTube : Kaduggalayoga

https://www.instagram.com/alimugisha8/

https://www.instagram.com/256yoga/

Facebook: Mugisha Kaduggalayoga

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #67 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! This week, I welcome Michel Uranga Briñas onto the show. My conversation with Michel Uranga Briñas, a yoga teacher from Cuba, was so vibrant as we took a deep dive into what Kundalini yoga is, and the history behind it. I hope that this conversation made you also curious about shiatsu massage and Thai massage, and how they are different and similar.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Cuba then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Michel Uranga Briñas

Michel Uranga Briñas is a yoga teacher from Cuba who mainly teaches Kundalini yoga, though he occasionally does teach haha yoga. He used to own a yoga studio in Havana, though since the pandemic, his work has been directed towards spiritual retreats on mountain beaches. He has been teaching yoga in Cuba for nine years.

Michel began his studies in East Asian therapies and fell in love with Thai massage. He began studying yoga to understand the origin and nature of yogic massage. A short time later, Michel joined a Kundalini Yoga Teach Training in Mexico and then a Hatha yoga teacher training course. In Cuba, as Michel obtained a university degree in Therapeutic Physical Culture. He has also studied Japanese medicine, the Matsunaga shiatsu method, for three years. He then founded AgataYoga, which involves some yoga teachers and therapists who work alongside Michel and offer spiritual retreats.

What to expect in the Yoga In Cuba episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

On the podcast, we talked about what is Kundalini yoga, and why out of all the types of yoga out there, he chose to study Kundalini. Michel feels that Kundalini yoga offers the maximum amount of benefits in the shortest amount of time. Personally, Michel shared that he only practices 5-10 minutes of Kundalini yoga a day, and that is enough to provide the benefits he needs. As he said, “Yoga teachers have more secrets than yoga students— more knowledge.” These secrets help him to get the benefits he needs in mere minutes, just as he finds that his students need an hour or more to really soak up the magic of the practice.

I was also grateful that Michel shared with us what it is like to live in Cuba, and the difficulties that creates for him, as a yoga teacher, and for his country as a whole. He was very transparent about what the reality in Cuba is like, and he expressed excitement that yoga in Cuba has been slowly and steadily growing as more and more people are coming to the practice.

Ready to learn more about yoga in Cuba? Let’s go!

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Cuba episode?

Connect with Michel Uranga Briñas

https://www.instagram.com/agatayogaretreat/

https://www.facebook.com/agatayogaretreat

https://www.agatayoga.com/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe

Welcome to Episode #66 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Sila Atikol, a yoga teacher from Cyprus, was so gorgeous as we took a deep dive into how yoga is a great metaphor for life. I hope that this conversation made you curious about what yoga means to you, and how yoga can reflect your life itself.

If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about not being asana-driven, goal-driven, or ego-driven in your practice then this is the conversation for you.

Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/wildyogatribe

Tell me more about Sila Atikol

Sila Atikol had a career as a lawyer until she realized she wanted something else. She found her true love in pilates and yoga. She is now certified in Pilates (Mat 1, 2 & Prenatal), 200hr Vinyasa Yoga, Total Barre Foundation, Total Barre Endurance, TRX Suspension Training, Prenatal Yoga, Aerial Yoga, and Restorative Yoga. Moreover, she is also a Thai Massage therapist. As a teacher, she aims to increase flexibility and mobility and decrease emotional and physical discomfort through movement, while increasing overall fitness and health. Sila knows that first, foremost and forever she is a student, and she is currently completing a 300-hour multi-style yoga teacher training.

What to expect in the Yoga In X episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

You're going to LOVE this podcast episode with Sila! She is such a bright, intelligent, well-spoken yoga teacher from Cyprus who talks to us about how yoga came into her life, what's going on in Cyprus, and what happens when you progress on the path and in the practice of yoga.

We talked about how yoga brings people together— no matter what. People put politics aside, and all differences and come together and practice yoga.

This was one beautiful episode! Make sure to tune in!

For the skimmers - What’s in the yoga in Cyprus episode?

Connect with Sila

https://www.instagram.com/silaatikol

https://www.youtube.com/c/YogawithSila

www.silaatikolyoga.com

Want more? Head on over to my website

https://wildyogatribe.com/thepodcast/

Everything you need is just one click away! Check out all the resources here: https://linktr.ee/wildyogatribe