Yogaland Podcast

This week we continue on with our series for beginners (and those teaching beginners): Our focus is the best arm balances for beginners. Arm balances are typically poses that beginners really enjoy playing around with, because they offer shapes that we don't typically do in other disciplines (unless you're a gymnast or a pro skateboarder). Arm balances can build stability, balance, strength, mobility. They're also aesthetically beautiful and novel -- unless you're a gymast or a pro skateboarder, you won't likely encounter shapes like these in your daily life. So, they're fun! And fun is truly valuable in life and in yoga. A little bit about what we mean by "best" -- these are families of arm balances that are accessible and emphasize stability and strength. They are poses that can be broken down into steps so that you feel your confidence grow as you progress. As with anything in life, we want to offer ourselves or our students just enough challenge, but not too much. That's what these families of poses do.To

Modern life is not great for your back -- sitting in chairs tightens the hip flexors, which can lead to a chain reaction that stresses the low back. When we type at a computer, we typically roll the shoulders forward or hunch the upper back. And looking at our phones constantly can lead to the dreaded and painful "tech neck." -- chair sitting, typing, and looking at our phones. Simple backbends are a fantastic antidote. But which backbends are most beneficial for beginners and why? Jason shares his thoughts on this episode. We talk about:Prone backbends like Locust Pose, Medium-Sized Cobra, and SphinxKneeling backbends like Cobra and New School AnjaneyasanaReclined backbends like Bridge Pose and Lying over a blockLearn the best approaches and modifications for these poses. And find lots of sequences to help you practice them by going to the shownotes page here: jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode310 *******************************************************************************************TWO ANNOUNCEMENTSEarly bi

Jason joins me on this week's episode to talk about how yoga teacher training goes beyond skill acquisition and can become a catalyst for self-transformation. We just hosted a webinar on the topic last week and we enjoyed it so much we thought we'd re-record the episode especially for the podcast.This is a fun episode if you're considering YTT or if you've already done a YTT and you'd like to reminisce about all the ways that learning this discipline deepens your understanding of yourself and changes hows you move through the world.PS: Early bird registration for Jason's 200-Hour Online YTT is open! Get all the details here: jasonyoga.com/200 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's conversation is with Alison Zak, who recently published her first book, "Wild Asana: Animals, Yoga, and Connecting Our Practice to the Natural World." Zak's unique nature memoir artfully weaves together her personal stories, ecological context, and yoga asana. Her book is a moving and urgent call for us to remember our connection to the natural world. As Zak says, "We're more alike than different from even the animals that might seem quite different from ourselves, like a scorpion or a fish."Wild Asana is the next selection for the Yogaland Book Club, which I host on my Substack. You can sign up for the book club: yogaland.substack.com and Alison will join us on October 24th. Other announcements: Jason and I are hosting a webinar this Thursday, August 31st on the topic of Yoga Teacher Training as Self-Transformation. You can register for this free live webinar here: jasonyoga.com/webinarHe'll leave some time at the end for questions and a brief overview of his upcoming online 200-hour teacher tra

There’s something about fall that just feels like back to school time for me, even as an adult. Jason’s 200-hour YTT is coming up October 24th, so we thought we’d review what to look for if you’re thinking about going back to yoga school! We talk through the importance of adapting asana to modern knowledge and safety standards, the significance of understanding yoga anatomy in a functional context, and prioritizing strength and stability in practice. We also tough on the need for a thorough understanding of yoga philosophy, and some of the foundational texts to look for on the syllabus.More highlights from the interview:Sequencing is a critical aspect of teacher training. In a 200-hour YTT, learning a few set sequences can be incredibly helpful.Immersive and repetitive practice teaching is essential for building confidence as a yoga teacher. Jason shares how he structures it and the advantages of practice teaching on Zoom.YTTs that offer specialized training in a specific area of yoga are a plus! Th

On our live episode two weeks ago, we answered the question, ‘Is this thing that we’re doing still yoga?’ Jason shared five principles that make even the most modern practices a yoga practice. On this episode, we will walk through how yoga teachers can bring these principles to life in their teaching.Here are some of the ideas we talk through:Reflecting on whether classes still have liberatory qualities, inviting students to grow beyond self-limiting beliefs and identifications.Introducing intentional theming or recommended readings to enhance students' understanding of yoga philosophy and its application.Incorporating abhyasa (effort) and vairagya (letting go) -- balancing striving with non-attachment to outcomes in the practice.Encouraging students to focus on specific skills to enhance the transformational aspect of yoga.Inviting students to cultivate self-awareness by observing their self-talk, patterns of reactivity, and responses to discomfort during practice.For shownotes, visit www.yogalandpodcast.co

As many of yoga know, Sally Kempton was hugely influential to me. She was an expert guide, a loving presence, and a creative inspiration. She passed away on July 10th and has been on my mind constantly since then. I put together this episode to honor and remember her with my friend, the former editor-in-chief of Yoga Journal, Kaitlin Quistgaard. We had a lot of fun sharing stories and memories of Sally.The second part of this episode features my favorite episode that I did with Sally a few years ago: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly of the Ego.I hope you enjoy it. If you have any stories about Sally that you'd like to share, send me a voice note! You can DM it to me on Instagram (@andreaferretti) or email it to me at support@jasonyoga.com.I put links to other past episodes with Sally and other useful resources from her on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode305 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This discussion was recorded in London at the new Mission studio where Jason led Module I of his hybrid YTT a few weeks ago. Together, Jason and I explored the question -- Is this thing that we're all doing still actually yoga? Our power-hour or our 30-minute glo class or our rolling on foam rollers with some poses sprinkled in -- are those still yoga? Or has yoga in the West evolved into something else altogether?A few tidbits that we discuss in the episode:The fact that the word "yoga" has more than 350 definitions in Sanskrit, revealing its diverse nature.The belief in a singular, authentic yoga tradition is challenged throughout history.Swami Vivekananda's influence on bringing yoga to the United States and his perspective on Hatha Yoga.Different yoga traditions, like Iyengar and Ashtanga, were once considered radical innovations.The long-standing tension between "head up" and "head down" yogas: intellectual vs. physical practices.The importance of focusing on one's practice and impact rather than judging

Today we're talking about five things that Jason wishes he knew earlier in his yoga teaching career. We hope this discussion helps yoga teachers everywhere take some pressure off of themselves to be everything to everyone all the time. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason takes over this week to present a special comprehensive lecture on Patanjali, aka, his Patanjali “Super Lecture.” This episode essentially combines our three existing episodes on Patanjali plus additional content featuring essential philosophical concepts to teach beginners. We wanted to provide a place for all of these conversations to exist together so you have them at your fingertips. The topics we take on include:The Sutras: Unpacking Purusha and Prakriti The Sutras: Defining Chitta, Vritti and the GunasThe Sutras: Three Approaches to the 8 Limbs of Yoga8 Essential Philosophical Concepts to Teach BeginnersJason spends so much time teaching and discussing asana, pranayama and meditation so these conversations were a welcome change of pace for us. We hope you enjoy it.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deepen your knowledge of yoga anatomy and the anatomy of twists, in this 20-minute detailed conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week I'm sharing 8 things I've learned in the process of creating this podcast for the past 8 years. Jason joins as my sound board and points out that a lot of these ideas about how to create content -- things like defining your editorial scope, sustaining your passion, and having a thick skin -- apply to teach yoga, too. So -- you get a twofer here: lessons for sharpening your content creation/podcasting skills that can also help boost your confidence, creativity, and effectiveness as a yoga teacher.We'll be doing a Yogaland live episode at Mission in London on July 14th! Come join us for this free event. Find the link on the shownotes page, here: yogalandpodcast.com/episode301It's not too late to join Jason's Online YTT module that focuses on spine and core. The group starts together July 22nd! Go to jasonyoga.com/300 to get all the details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the 300th episode of Yogaland -- huzzah! For this momentous occasion, I've decided to reflect on the past 8 years. So much has changed in yoga and in podcasting and I wanted to take a look back together. On the episode I share where and why podcasting started for me (it was a comfort during radiation treatment for breast cancer treatment), what my aim was in starting the podcast, and what the podcasting landscape was like at that time vs. now.I share some personal details of how these past 8 years have helped me to grow and some of the big surprises along the way.Lastly, I read listener responses to a question I posed on my Substack: "What's your why? Why do you teach yoga?" One of the biggest benefits of doing the podcast has been the sense of community and connection that has formed. So, I wanted to share your thoughts, feelings, and motivations to celebrate you, too!Support the podcast by subscribing to Yogaland Substack -- you can read all of the whys from other listeners and get lots more

In this last of our "essentials" series, Jason shares 5 essential ideas for finding ease and stability in your shoulders during yoga practice. On this episode, you will learn:Why it's particularly crucial to build shoulder stability if you practice vinyasa yoga -- and which joint (of the four) in the shoulder is the most unstableA common misconception about what to do with your shoulders when your arms move overheadThe cue that you can give when arms move overhead that will prevent neck and shoulder tension (without leaving the shoulders vulnerable to injury)Why different backbends benefit from different shoulder openersHow to experiment with different rotations of the shoulders in Downward-Facing DogHow a simple change in your hand placement can create more freedom in your shouldersTo try a shoulder sequence from Jason at home, go to our shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode299 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Jason clarifies what we mean when we talk about the core in yoga. Once you're finished listening, the core will no longer be a vague two-dimensional region that you aspire to pummel into submission. Instead, you'll understand:The difference between the abdominals and the coreThe functions of the core -- it contains! connects! supports! It's like a Swiss Army Knife!The part of the core that is typically the tightest; the part of the core that is typically weakestHow to counteract our tendency to be "up & tight"What you need to binge on Netflix right now if you haven't already (no this has nothing to do with the core, but you'll thank us later)Go to the shownotes for links to past episodes -- 5 Essential Ideas for Healthy Hips & 5 Essential Ideas for a Healthy Spine: yogalandpodcast.com/episode298 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I speak to yoga teacher, writer, and mama Sarah Ezrin about her new book, The Yoga of Parenting: 10 Yoga Based Practices to Help You Stay Grounded, Connect with Your Kids, and Be Kind to Yourself. As Sarah points out right at the beginning of the episode, there are far more than just 10 practices in this book. There are 34 to be exact, but more importantly it's just brimming with both creative and science-backed ideas to help you grow as a parent, increase those oh-so-essential self-regulation skills, and foster connection with your kids.Tune in to hear how Sarah has applied these practices in her own life, how she balances being a content creator with social media boundaries, how yoga helped her recover from her own tumultuous childhood.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode297 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason joins me this week to share 5 essential ideas for a healthy spine in yoga.How to distribute your physical and mental attention for optimal spinal health while practicingOne of the riskiest moves for the spineHow shielding ourselves from back pain can lead to a weak backWhether the spine twists from bottom to top or from top to bottomWhen it's beneficial to round the spine (and how we often forget to do this!)

Libby Hinsley is a yoga therapist and a Doctor of Physical Therapy living with Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Suffice it to say, she is the expert on yoga for hypermobility. Her new book, Yoga for Bendy People: Optimizing the Benefits of Yoga for Hypermobility. This book is so needed in the yoga community and in the medical community, where a dearth of clarity and education abound.We cover a lot ground in this episode, including:The difference between being flexible and having joint hypermobilityWhat yoga teachers can do if they suspect that a student is hypermobileLibby's experience of getting diagnosed and how challenging it was to find healthcare providers who understood the systemic affects of hypermobilityHow hypermobility affects proprioception, body mapping, and strengthThe connection between hypermobility and neurodiversityWhether or not stretching is beneficial for bendy peopleAs you'll hear in this episode, hypermobility is complex and you can't absorb it all in one podcast. That's wh

Learn the best way to practice, teach and troubleshoot one of Yoga's most important hip openers: Pigeon Pose. In this episode, Jason breaks down the Yoga Anatomy of this essential hip-opener and shows you reliable ways to troubleshoot the knee discomfort that some students experience in this pose. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason joins me this week to share 5 essential ideas for healthy hips in yoga.Also: Jason's Essential Guide to Yoga Anatomy is open for enrollment!