In part I of this two-part podcast, Kat and Kyle are joined by Molly Birkholm (you may remember her from episode 34 on yoga and trauma). In this episode, we discuss the new Women's Empowerment Initiative that Molly created with Yoga International, how women's empowerment relates to yoga, the importance of speaking up (and how to do it if, like us, you tend to avoid confrontation), yoga as service, and more. Stay tuned for part II, where we'll delve into the role that men can play in women's empowerment! Learn more about the Women's Empowerment Initiative here. Send your comments, questions, and future show ideas to: YogaTalk@yogainternational.com Download mp3 (right click, select "Save link as") Original score for this podcast is by Austin Joy.

21 - Yoga and Women's Empowerment

Honest talk about contemporary yoga culture from the Yoga International team.

Health

Alternative Health

Self-Help

Sexuality

Fitness & Nutrition

Content note: in this episode we discuss suicide with yoga teacher Elliot Kesse. Our conversations are based on our experiences and are not intended to represent the experiences of others, which may be vastly different. Please practice self-care and skip this one if you need to. Elliot Kesse is a fat, white, atheist, agender spoonie who strives to create safe spaces for joyful movement and practical stillness for all humans. They founded change.yoga and are anti-diet and pro-self-empowerment. They live, practice, and teach with several chronic physical and mental illnesses including autoimmune and endocrine diseases, depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.

64 Yoga, Improv, and Connected Mindfulness

Dianne Bondy is a celebrated yoga teacher, social justice activist, and leading voice of the Yoga For All movement. Most recently, Dianne and Kat co-authored “Yoga Where You Are: Customize Your Practice for Your Body and Your Life.” Yoga Talk’s co-host Kyle and our editor Jai modeled in the book. Together, we discuss adapting a yoga practice to fit a person’s specific needs, maintaining authenticity on social media, and how to manage negative self-talk when modeling for a photoshoot. “Yoga Where You Are: Customize Your Practice for Your Body and Your Life” https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Where-You-Are-Customize/dp/1611807867/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=yoga+where+you+are&qid=1608230944&sr=8-1

63 White Fragility, Allyship, and Yoga

Ishan Tigunait has been practicing yoga his entire life. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Himalayan Institute and Chairman of Yoga International, and has been a driving force for the Himalayan Institute’s humanitarian projects in Africa over the past 15 years. In this episode, we discuss the history of yoga meditation, the unique benefits of yoga meditation, and how to keep your meditation practice grounded in reality.

62 Talking Allyship, Masculinity, and More With Dorian Baucum

Content warning: This is a conversation about sexual assault and its impact. Karen Rain joins Kat and Kyle to talk about how the yoga community can support survivors and more effectively address and prevent sexual violence. Resources mentioned in this podcast: Yoga Guru Pattabhi Jois Sexually Assaulted Me for Years I Don’t Need "I Believe You." I Need "I’ll Stand up for You. How to Respond to Sexual Abuse Within a Yoga or Spiritual Community Yoga Nidra Network IndoctriNation podcast by Rachel Bernstein, LMFT Daniel Shaw, LCSW Alexandra Stein, PhD Janja Lalich National Sexual Violence Resource Center Practice And All Is Coming: Abuse, Cult Dynamics, And Healing In Yoga And Beyond Send your comments, questions, and future show ideas to: YogaTalk@yogainternational.com Download mp3 (right click, select “Save link as”) Listen to every episode on SoundCloud! Listen to recent episodes and review us on iTunes! Original score for this podcast is by Austin Joy.

61 - Talking to the Yoga Community About Suicide Prevention

Kat and Kyle talk with Yoga Service Council's Amina Naru and Carol Horton about yoga service and how altruistic teachers can be more effective.

21 - Yoga and Women's Empowerment

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