When it comes to yoga, fitness, and anatomy, Leslie Kaminoff has seen it all. Just don’t call him an expert. Because as any yoga student knows, the more you learn in this practice, the more you realize you just don’t know. 

Leslie started his yoga career down the street from Jane Fonda’s first fitness studios in L.A. He was working at the Sports Medicine Institute when one of the studio instructors started teaching therapeutic yoga to physical therapists at the Institute. Leslie shares what it was like to have a front-row seat for this intersection of yoga and fitness in the West.

He was in the right place at the right time and found himself on that first committee of the Yoga Alliance. Leslie helped set the standards that many yoga studios and health clubs use today to hire teachers and trainers. At the time, standardization was needed because the popular demand for yoga greatly outweighed the supply of experienced teachers. Today, our modern climate inspires us to ask: are hours really the way to gauge whether someone is qualified to teach yoga?

Leslie breaks down the Yoga Alliance origin story, how these hourly standardizations came to be, and provides a new perspective for us to see where and how these Westernized expectations surrounding yoga came about. He also speaks to the effect of yoga on physical therapy and how the yoga community responded to injuries, asanas, and the path to healing.

Teaching a therapeutic style of yoga that doesn’t adhere to the sometimes strict rules of the asana practice took a bit of practice itself. Leslie had to learn a new way to speak to students that encouraged them to inquire about the sensation of the practice rather than setting some expectation of the sensation. 

Of course, the nature of the asanas is to provide a framework for the student to see how and where their body fits into the pose. How else do you learn something new about yourself if you don’t try a new physical position or style of breathing? However, the poses often look different for each person and learning how to teach individual students rather than the perfect asana sequence was key to Leslie’s experience of becoming the therapeutic yoga teacher he is today. 

I am so excited to have Leslie come and teach at the Miami Life Center. Having him teach an in-person class means so much to me. We have lost so much during this pandemic, but seeing a classroom full of yoga students in person is something I miss the most. If you would like to take a class with Leslie, keep an eye out for his schedule on his website at YogaAnatomy.org.

If you would like to sign up for yoga courses with me, get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial.

Keep up with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com. 

If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

Take a moment to pause and think about the context through which you are practicing yoga. How long have you been practicing yoga? Do you remember where you were when you were first introduced to the practice? 

For many of us, myself included, we often first engage with yoga through a colonized lens. We signed up for a class at our gym or borrowed a few DVDs from a friend back in the day and never realized the spiritual experience that goes hand-and-hand with what has been marketed in the west as a fitness package.

But yoga is more than physical exercise. All life is yoga, and the practice of yoga is one of the major components of the Hindu faith. To remove this divine perspective is to essentially deny yourself the true practice of yoga. 

Hinduphobia and the erasure of the Hindu culture have been growing in the yoga community. Sushma is here on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast to describe what Hinduphobia looks like, why the roots of yoga are integral to the practice itself, and how to practice yoga respectfully in our modern, diverse world. 

Sushma was born and raised in India and started practicing hatha yoga when she was a kid. She moved to the U.S. nearly a decade ago to earn her Master’s and start a family. In her time here, she has witnessed the cultural intersection of Hinduism and colonized yoga firsthand. She is a primary source of the Hindu experience in the western world as someone who has re-discovered yoga on the other side of the globe where our spiritual methodology is more monotheistic and patriarchal. 

These religious differences are not the only areas where we see Hindu erasure in yoga. We see it manifest in language barriers and accessibility. When yoga teachers don’t know Sanskrit, they are ignoring the lineage of the practice and the decades of training that goes into becoming a true yoga guru. It’s similar to stealing knowledge without first getting to the roots of where it comes. 

This does not mean yoga isn’t for everyone. “All life is yoga,” Sushma says, but the practice deserves yoga students and teachers who are respectful of the history and willing to step out of their comfort zone to practice in a way that is culturally aware.

Sushma’s advice for contemporary yoga practitioners who want to do the right thing and practice yoga respectfully is to move forward working with your own biases, subconscious or otherwise. If you become a yoga teacher, then you are responsible for learning the roots of your practice. You deserve the experience of cultural immersion, and a trip to India to study the beginnings of the spiritual path will only help you gain a new perspective of this ancient practice.

Take advantage of the resources we discuss:

• Hindu Student Council
• UnderstandingHinduphobia.org

Remember, to make the effort is a sign of respect.

If you would like to sign up for yoga courses, get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial.

Keep up with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com. 

If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

I have often been criticized for making yoga political, but it is impossible to be a yoga teacher today and not be socially engaged. The definition of Ashtanga yoga is changing and being an Ashtanga yogi requires more from us than daily practice. I brought Wambui back on the show to discuss more of the indigenous wisdom of our practice and how the practice of ahimsa is playing out in the world beyond the yoga mat.

The last time I talked to Wambui Njuguna-Räisänenin, we were discussing the cognitive dissonance of yoga and the challenges of taking what we learn on the yoga mat out into the real world. Wambui shares with us the teachers who have inspired her to take on new perspectives and apply what she’s learning through yoga to the social and cultural changes that are happening all around us. 

We discuss the meaning of transformative justice with lessons from Mia Mingus and examine emergent strategies and the paradox of power with lessons from adrienne maree browne. 

Being a socially engaged yoga practitioner does not mean we are walking away from yoga. As Wambui describes it, we are walking around our practice and looking for connections across different communities and circumstances. It’s how we find inspiration from new teachers and how we gain new perspectives to enhance our practice and improve the emotional and spiritual well-being of the world in our own way.

Wambui would like to see wellness spaces engage more in social justice and collective change and activist spaces learn to breathe deeply and practice sustainable self-care in the midst of dismantling systemic oppression. This is her definition of community care. 

Wambui Njuguna-Räisänen is a Kenyan-American based in Finland, passionate about making wellness through yoga and meditation seamlessly engaged in equity and justice so that more people of the global majority can live well and thrive. She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and has appeared on Omstars, StillPoint Yoga London, and Maailmankuvalehti (Finnish publication).

Wambui is deeply inspired by spiritual teachers and communities that seek ways to apply the insights from our various practices and teachings to situations of social, racial, political, environmental, and economic suffering and injustice.

To learn more about Wambui and her offerings, visit wambuinjuguna.com or connect with her @wellnesswithwambui on Patreon, Youtube, and Instagram. To speak with Wambui directly, write her a letter:

Take advantage of the resources we discussed today:

• Mia Mingus' blog on Accountability and Apology
• We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree browne
• Emergent Strategy by adrienne maree browne
• Pleasure Activism by adrienne maree browne
• Trans Yoga Teacher with Allé K @transyogateacher

If you would like to see Wambui on Omstars, get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial.

Keep up with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

I am happy to say I have been tested out of quarantine and I am no longer in the quarantine hotel in Norway. I have so many people to thank for their support and help during this time, especially my friends in Oslo, the Oslo City Commune, my host in Germany, and my fellow yogis at the Nøsen Yoga Retreat Center. I would have never been able to get my digital vaccination card or expedite my test results without their insight and advice.

I also have so much gratitude for the support from you, my listeners, my students, and my fellow yogis. I really do rely on these positive moments in my community, and it makes up for all of the stress and negative emotions I’ve experienced over the past few days. 

No matter how long I’ve been practicing yoga, I have to remind myself that these kinds of moments are the true testament to the spiritual experience of yoga. No matter how much you meditate or practice the asanas, there are things beyond your control. All you can control is yourself, maintain peace of mind, and continue on the inner journey. 

Our anxieties and our expectations can obstruct the journey, but yoga prepares you to let go of those attachments. I don’t know how many times I visualized that QR-code, but that is not how the universe works. Somehow she knows that the stronger the attachment, the stronger the restriction, and maintaining a positive attitude throughout experiences like this is easier said than done.

I appreciate that yoga teaches us how to face adversity with an optimistic point of view, and I appreciate even more that I am still a yoga student at heart and still able to learn from my mistakes. This experience has been a challenge, but it has taught me more than I ever would have learned at home. Think on this as you reflect on your own practice, and always remain open to new learning experiences and opportunities to get help when you need it. 

Now that I have tested positive and have my digital coronavirus e-certificate, I will be traveling and teaching around Europe, through Sweden and Denmark. Keep up with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial, and visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com.

Since most of us cannot practice in person, I invite you to check out some classes at OmStars. Not a member? Get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. 

If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

What do you do when things don’t go your way? I’m supposed to be teaching yoga classes right now, but instead, I’m sitting in a quarantined hotel in Oslo, Norway waiting for a vaccine verification QR-code. It’s been nearly a week, but I’m optimistic and decided to present a new flavor of Yoga Inspiration for you.

This pandemic has not been easy for any of us. No matter if you’re quarantined at home, in a luxury hotel, or going to work every day, nothing about this situation is normal or easy. But that’s when yoga happens. Your yoga practice isn’t limited to the mat or meditation. Yoga prepares you for situations just like this one, and I know I’m not alone when it comes to the fear and frustration that’s been all too common over the past eighteen months.

Usually, I have a lot of time to prepare to travel abroad, but things were busy this time around. Not only did the international travel rules change just five days before my flight, but I’ve also been teaching, preparing new classes, and starting Miami Yoga Garage for my local yogis. I didn’t realize my connecting flight in France would require an EU-DCE, a digital coronavírus e-certificate that acts as translatable proof of vaccine as you travel through Europe. (It’s only required in France, but it will make international travel easier for many Americans.) I also wasn’t aware that U.S. vaccination cards are not valid in most of Europe.

Imagine the fear and frustration coursing through me and the families also traveling abroad as we were shuffled around the Oslo airport just to wait, the sense of impending doom as we board a bus with no idea where we’re going. Luckily, it was just a short trip to the comfortable quarantine hotel I’m speaking to you from now, but it took over eight hours to finally get here.

I am grateful for my yoga training. Finding a phone charger might have helped the boredom, but keeping a calm mind kept the negative thoughts from spiraling through my head. Things happen that are beyond our control, and being able to accept these upsets and continue moving forward is a strength I am grateful for. 

In the meantime, as I wait to teach yoga again here in Norway, I invite you to check out some classes at OmStars. Not a member? Get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST. 

Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com, connect with me on Instagram at @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial, and check out the new things that are coming with @MiamiYogaGarage.

If you have an interesting experience on the yoga mat to share, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

Ashtanga yoga is more than the asanas, and it’s important to understand the method of this practice as you take this step on your yoga journey. The traditional definition of the Ashtanga method comes from Patanjali’s yoga sutras, and I’m taking a deep dive into his definition and how it applies to our yoga practice in this special episode of The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.

The method of Ashtanga yoga is not the perfect execution of the pose. Not all of our triangle poses need to look the same, and this strict kind of discipline is actually the opposite of what Patanjali teaches us. When we first approach the yoga mat with the intention to practice Ashtanga, the first thing Patanjali promises us is suffering. 

You will burn through impurities with this practice, and that is the truth. But that deep burn we feel in our muscles, in our minds, in our heart’s center, is the purifying fire through which we cleanse ourselves of bad habits and negative thoughts. 

To be human to suffer, and yet we define ourselves by this suffering. It feeds into our habits and our egos. It creates an endless cycle of suffering. If you do not stand up for yourself and spark this flame and walk through it, the cycle will not end for you either. This flame that burns through our impurities also lights the lamp of knowledge and gives us the tools we need to overcome the obstacles set before us. 

That is the Ashtanga method. It can take centuries of practice to reach enlightenment, but Ashtanga provides you with the tools you need to get on the mat and keep practicing. It influences what you eat, what you think, and what you say, and Ashtanga yoga inspires you to face those thoughts head-on so you can burn through them and come out stronger on the other side. 

Of course, getting the discipline to practice is difficult. How do you find that perfect balance between discipline and tenderness? When is it appropriate to apply discipline? When is it appropriate to be gentle? Ashtanga allows you to work with the mind and train it to find this equilibrium within yourself. 

Tune in now as I discuss more about how to find this balance and check out the Ashtanga resources in my blog at Kinoyoga.com. View my teaching schedule and sign up for a class. Not a member? Get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST.

If you have an interesting experience on the yoga mat to share, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

Stay connected with me at @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial.

Meditative practice starts with the breath. We first recognize the neutrality and awareness of the touch of our breath, the way it feels in the nostrils and on our lips, and when our mind wanders we always bring it right back here. But as your practice evolves, you become aware of sensations.

These sensations are two-fold: those of the conscious mind and those of the unconscious mind. The conscious mind is aware of what it’s feeling. These are the pains we feel in our thighs from sitting for an hour, or those pins and needles when our feet fall asleep. But where the conscious mind ends, the unconscious mind continues to feel and carries these feelings with us into our waking life. 

When you feel these sensations on your yoga mat, this is when true meditation begins. This is your chance to train the power of your mind to penetrate the unconscious and explore these feelings more fully. The unconscious is where our habits are formed, and only when we can tap into that unconscious mind can we start to change those habits and redirect our thoughts.

We aren’t just training ourselves to become neutral to the physical pains of yoga or exercise. We are training ourselves to remain neutral amid the annoyances and inconveniences of our daily lives. We each fight battles every day - battles with ourselves, with our loved ones, even in that traffic jam on the way to work. We continue to carry the energy of these battles throughout our day, never truly letting them go, but meditation gives us the tools to start letting go.

Guided meditations are a great place to start, but you have to fight your own battles. Your yoga teacher can turn on a flashlight and show you the way through the tunnel, but it’s you who will have to climb your way through. Realize that your yoga teacher and everyone else on their yoga mat today have their own battles to fight, and we are all putting in the mental work to be better, stronger, and more fulfilled. 

Working out this yoga journey is a balance between wisdom and compassion. You need to find the right balance for you. Are you willing to take on the challenge? Try five minutes of meditation every day for a month and tell me how you feel. Maybe after one month, you can increase it to 10 minutes, or maybe you’re ready to take on a 10-day Meditation Retreat. No matter where you are on this yoga journey, I invite you to try this homework assignment and see where it leads you. 

If you have an interesting experience on the yoga mat to share, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

Not quite ready yet? Check out the resources in my blog or pick a class on my teaching schedule at Kinoyoga.com. Not a member? Get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com & use code: PODCAST.

Stay connected with me at @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial.

If you’ve ever been at the center of an emotional storm, or a storm of thoughts we can call it, then you know how real these sensations can get. Those raw feelings of pain, hurt, anger, even embarrassment are all very real emotions...but they are impermanent. As you sit here now for this meditative practice, I invite you to pay attention to your thoughts about and the way you respond to these sensations.

It’s hard to put yourself in danger when you’re in a comfortable, seated position on the floor, and this becomes our safe space to practice equanimity. There is no physical risk in a negative thought or a foot falling asleep or an itch on your nose from this seat. You might have the desire to move, shift your weight, or otherwise fix the discomfort - but don’t. Take advantage of this opportunity to practice neutrality. 

When your muscles burn or your mind aches, let it be. Recognize the sensation and let it go. Remember you are not your body, and this is your chance to practice and hone the mental peace and acuity that comes with Anapanasati. 

If the physical discomfort or emotional narration in your mind distracts you, always bring your attention back to the breath. The natural flow of your ingoing and outgoing breath will calm your mind and replace it with the peaceful neutrality that comes when you recognize that nothing is permanent, not even your breath. It leaves you as soon as it enters, only to come back again and again. 

No matter what emotional or physical turmoil you are facing today, your feelings are valid. Yet it makes no sense to force permanence when nature itself is inherently impermanent. You know how you feel will not last, so stand, or actually — sit comfortably with me in the open field of awareness and remember you are not permanent, your body is not permanent, so why would these emotional storms be permanent?

The Buddha teaches us that life is suffering, but these teachings also recognize the cause of and relief for that suffering. No matter your faith or religious beliefs, this meditation practice is meant to empower you and the way you think about your suffering. From a small cramp in yoga practice to an emotionally draining argument with a loved one, you can harness the power to calm your mind and embrace these experiences. 

For more information on meditation and the Buddha, check out my teaching schedule, blogs, and more on Kinoyoga.com. Or get in touch with me on Instagram @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial. 

Don’t forget to tune in for more meditative practices at Omstars.com. Not a member yet? Get your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com with code: PODCAST

If you have an interesting experience on the yoga mat to share, get in touch with me at [email protected]. You could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast. 

Is yoga just a physical thing? Is our value and our skill only limited to our physical frame? Or are we practicing to be a part of something greater than ourselves? To answer these questions and more, I invited fellow yoga teacher Shanna Small back to the show to share her perspective on our role as yogis and as yoga instructors.

If you follow Shanna on social media, then you know the work she is putting in to deconstruct the use of hierarchical language in the yoga classroom. She breaks down the differences between hierarchical and non-hierarchical language for us, and we discuss how this hierarchical queuing creates unnecessary stress in the yoga studio.

Hierarchical language can manifest in many ways. On the yoga mat, the most common instance is when you hear someone say “if you want more of a challenge, do this” or “if you’re feeling stiff today, do this”. While it may seem harmless, this kind of qualifying language inspires this idea that some poses are more important than others or, worse, that some yogis aren’t working as hard as others. 

You can’t tell how hard someone is working on the yoga mat just by looking at them, and as yoga teachers, it is our job to create a space where everyone can practice yoga comfortably and safely. Shanna offers tips for teachers on how to use the right words in the classroom, and we share examples of how our teachers spoke to us back in the day. Modern language has come a long way, but there are still many steps to take on this path, and sometimes a look into the past can do our perspective some good. 

The hierarchy Shanna is talking about is fueled by misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the ancient teachings of yoga. To overcome this, she reminds us to sit on the mat with a seeker’s mind. We aren’t here to show off what we know or out-pose someone, we are here to learn, to practice, and to become better human beings so that we can bring the goodness needed to make a positive change in this world. 

Learn more on my blog at Kinoyoga.com, and check out my teaching schedule so you can join me for a class. Don’t forget about the Handstands for Everyone challenge that finishes up this month. Only a few more days left to get inverted!

Get your free 30 day membership on Omstars.com& use code: PODCAST

There’s this common misconception that yoga is supposed to feel good. And it does. The practice is known to help us heal our injuries, relieve stress, and foster inner peace, but every yogi would be lying if they said yoga feels great all of the time. 

To be completely honest, yoga practice trains us how to become equanimous with our pain. That serene and peaceful look you see on our faces comes with years of asana practice and meditation that teaches us how to sit and truly experience our pain. Whether it’s emotional or physical, yoga gives you the tools to face pain and discomfort and accept them rather than running away. 

But yoga isn’t a challenge. The practice isn’t designed to make you push harder or work faster. We aren’t trying to generate more experiences of pain. Yoga is here to prepare you to overcome the pains you are currently facing. As you sit on the yoga mat, I invite you to explore these uncomfortable spaces and learn to recognize how your body reacts to negative experiences of pain, sadness, hurt, and discomfort.

I discuss how the asanas are designed to get you in tune with your body. From sun salutations to standing poses to the spiritual closing series, each step is there to guide you closer to inner peace. If you’re practicing inversion, this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the benefits of shoulder and headstands and to join the July Challenge of Handstands for Everyone all this month.

The path won’t be easy, and many yoga students get very frustrated at how “hard” the practice can be. But instead of worrying about perfecting the asanas right off the bat, try starting with a meditation practice instead. Meditation is a way to explore discomfort without the risk of injury. You can’t run from pain when you’re in a seated, comfortable position, so if you’re new to yoga, this is an excellent place to start. 

Tune in now for more helpful tips for new yoga students, including yoga diets and how to practice yoga with an injury.

Stay connected: @kinoyoga and @omstarsofficial

View my teaching schedule, blogs, etc on Kinoyoga.com

Get your free 30 day membership on Omstars.com& use code: PODCAST