Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast

Today, I’m talking to Shanna Small, the founder of the Ashtanga Yoga Project and a teacher/student in Charlotte, North Carolina. Our subject is racism. Though not the kind of overt prejudices and discrimination that most of us think of - but a type of racism that is almost more destructive. Because it’s unconscious. It’s implicit. And it’s so deeply embedded within our institutional structures that we barely recognize it. And this includes our yoga culture - a world that is predominately white - and privileged white, at that. Now, as a black woman, there was a time Shanna did not want to call attention to the color of skin. You’ll hear her explain that from the time she was a little girl, she was taught that to be accepted in a white world, she must blend in, assimilate, and make others comfortable before she could show herself. And so for many years, Shanna did just that. But not now. Not anymore. Shanna wants you to see her color. And she wants you to see HER.

4 Mai 201929min

Meghan attended the 2019 Bali Ashtanga Yoga Conference and caught up with long-time teachers Dom Corigliano, Mark Robberds, Kathy Cooper, Scott Johnson, Radha, John Scott, and Chuck Miller - asking each the same question: What does yoga or practice mean for them? Each had a unique perspective not only in how they answered the question but reflected in how they teach as well. And yet, there were some very definite common themes: nature, family, and the process of change. This episode of the Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast was hosted by Meghan Powell, and edited and produced by Peg Mulqueen. Please support the online community by making a donation at www.ashtangadispatch.com Thank you.

5 Apr 201928min

In today's episode, teacher and author Gregor Maehle discusses the corruption of authority in everything from religion to politics - and suggests that if yoga wants to help heal that problem, then it must become a vehicle for dismantling such hierarchical structures, including its own. Perhaps more than in any other podcast to date, this episode with Gregor really had us examining what we believe and why we believe it. Which may have been exactly the idea. In fact, I get the feeling Gregor is constantly doing the same, of himself. Though questioning is different than doubt. Because Gregor does not doubt Patanjali's yoga. Not at all. But instead, introduces the question - is it Patanjali's yoga that we are actually practicing? It's a question only we can answer for ourselves. The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is edited, hosted, and produced by Peg Mulqueen along Meghan Powell - a small but dedicated, mother/daughter team. But it would not be possible without friends like you who generously support. If you would like to make a donation, please visit ashtangadispatch.com Thank you. We appreciate your support.

5 Mar 201950min

In this month's podcast episode, Dr. Monica Gauci discusses some of the more complex issues facing yoga students today - like how Ashtanga yoga is taught here in the west; the effects of age, injury, and life stages such as menopause; and the importance of listening and trusting our heart. The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is edited, hosted, and produced by Peg Mulqueen along Meghan Powell - a small but dedicated, mother/daughter team. But it would not be possible without friends like you who generously support. If you would like to make a donation, please visit ashtangadispatch.com Thank you. We appreciate your support.

4 Feb 20191h 9min

If you want to feel better, healthier, be more resilient and clear, Eddie Stern, says the answer is quite simple: Yoga. In a world more and more divided, yoga may be one those rare and special subjects where we all agree – practicing yoga makes us feel good. And in today's episode as well as in his new book, One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga and How it Can Transform Your Life (due out March, 2019), Eddie combines his own experience with philosophy and science to explain why this one simple thing makes us all so happy.  But that's not all we talk about ... Eddie also gives a rather impassioned explanation how the word, method, is often misused as a substitution for practice. Or the word, modifications, for options. Turns out Eddie isn't just a yogi and science geek - he's also a bit of a wordsmith as well.  And finally, Eddie answers your questions about practicing as we get older - and as he's gotten older.  The Ashtanga Dispatch podcast is edited and hosted by me Peg Mulqueen along with Meghan Powell. Chris Lucas is our producer. If you are enjoying these yoga chats, we hope you will take time a moment to help support by visiting www.ashtangadispatch.com

6 Jan 20191h 7min

Can exploration in movement and other approaches to practice coexist within the Ashtanga yoga tradition? Teacher Mark Robberds, certainly hopes so. And in today's episode, Mark shares some really valuable information about movement - like how variety is critical for our physical development, and in Ashtanga in particular - a way to balance out some of the more extreme movements sometimes involved.  But Mark also shared his feelings on a few more serious topics within the yoga community. Like the sexual abuse that took place in the practice room with Pattabhi Jois - and the whole debacle when Mark was temporarily stripped of his teaching certification after it was reported he was exploring different approaches to the practice. (As I type this, I am SMH for real). I hope you enjoy this last podcast of 2018 with Mark Robberds. As always, thank you for listening - and for all your support! The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is edited and hosted by Peg Mulqueen along with Meghan Powell. We are an incredibly small but dedicated mother-daughter team - and we bring each episode to you without any third-party advertisers. To keep these podcasts ad-free, please consider offering your support. Please visit www.ashtangadispatch.com to donate.

5 Des 201848min

This is teacher, David Garrigues’ third time on as a guest on the podcast. David is someone who sees the yoga through the eyes of an artist - finding magic in the ordinary and painting the familiar into delightful new forms. Full of all the same passion, that same spark of enthusiasm that sets souls on fire - he also seemed different. Definitely more clear - and especially about his role in this world and as a teacher. In fact, when he says his whole life has been leading up to this point, I believe him. This is the process, he tells me. A process through practice. Thank you for your spending time, listening to the Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast. Our mission is to explore the yoga practice in mindful and insightful ways - far beyond the shapes we make on our mat. We are an incredibly small team - just my daughter Meghan and me - and we work hard to find inspiring individuals who make this practice come to life - and bring them to you. All without any third-party advertising or interruptions. So if you are enjoying these podcasts, we hope you will take time a moment to share or support your experience here. Like ... - Introduce your yoga friends and community on to the show. - Follow us on FB and IG, sharing with the hashtag #Ashtangadispatchpodcast. - Or subscribing to the podcast on iTunes, rating us and even taking the extra time to leave a review. And if you are in a position to help, please visit ashtangadispatch.com to make a donation in any amount. Trust me, it all helps. Thanks for listening and enjoy the interview. For more, please visit www.ashtangadispatch.com

7 Nov 201858min

Mary Taylor is a woman who has been consistently practicing Ashtanga yoga for over 30 years - through pregnancy, injury, and more recently, a debilitating illness. What’s more, Mary didn’t enter the yoga room as the star student, but rather, as she says - the stiff student. Yet where her body was not as flexible, the yoga and her teacher, were. And in today’s episode, you’ll hear Mary explain her understanding of the Ashtanga yoga method and how it’s worked for her. Of course, that’s only the beginning of our conversation. From there, Mary talks about the body’s holding pattern, especially in terms of trauma not fully processed - sharing within this, her own experiences with sexual abuse and how this manifested within her own body and psyche. Which explains why Mary was perhaps the first senior teacher within the Ashtanga yoga community to publicly acknowledge Pattabhi Jois previous sexual misconduct - even as she continues to hold love and gratitude for a teacher who changed her life and the lives of many. It was a brave and necessary dialogue to begin. But as you’ll hear Mary say, “I can’t be part of a world anymore where women can’t talk about abuses they feel and abuses they experienced. I can’t do that anymore. Because it almost killed me.” The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is edited and hosted by Peg Mulqueen, along with Meghan Powell. The show is produced by Chris Lucas. Please visit www.ashtangadispatch.com to learn more about this episode and others.

7 Okt 201858min