Yogaland Podcast

Today is the first in a series of episodes where Jason shares the underpinnings of Patanjali. Most yoga students have heard their teachers reference Patanjali and the text that he is known for, The Yoga Sutra. But rarely do teachers have time to unpack this seminal text. For this episode, Jason shares the foundational concepts of purusha and prakriti and the samkya philosophy that informs Patanjali’s worldview.Show notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode229 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

20 Apr 202238min

I want to offer some context for today's episode. My guest is the phenomenal pediatric psychologist and author of the new book, Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids, Mona Delahooke. Mona is not a yoga teacher; in fact, her life's work focuses on looking beyond children's behaviors to understand the root cause -- which, in most cases, begins by looking at the nervous system.So, although her work focuses on children and how we parent and teach our children, there is so much beneath the surface that applies to all adults. None of us were parented the way that Mona and her colleagues suggest -- because the neuroscience simply wasn't there when we were kids. Our parents didn't have Polyvagal theory in their back pockets (we talk about this in the episode), they didn't know that the most effective way to manage our behavior was to co-regulate with us, to make sure our "platform" was sturdy, and to practice self-compassion.Now that we know these things, we have the opportunity to practice them in our own lives; to hold space for them in our yoga classes; to view our friends and family's negative behaviors through the lens of the nervous system instead of instantly judging them. This is THE stuff for me right now -- the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, and applied yoga philosophy or mindfulness. This is where we have the power to change our own lives and the lives of those we come into contact with. To break it down, in this episode here are a few of the things we cover:Mona's three-part framework for how to measure the state of the autonomic nervous system, and how to utilize it in working with childrenNew research about interoception and how interoceptive awareness can help children develop emotional literacyCo-regulation and how it’s different from coddling or spoiling a child (plus how yoga teachers use it in their classes, even if they don’t know it!)Why she feels that flexibility is the cornerstone of resilience for children and adults alikeShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode261 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 Apr 202249min

This episode of Yoga Teacher's Companion breaks down the single most important key to practicing and teaching Bakasana and other arm balances.Watch the companion video: https://jasonyoga.com/podcast/ytc-ep14/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 Mar 20220s

On today's episode, I speak to Sarah Henderson, a yoga teacher who specializes in teaching adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Sarah's parents were role models of advocacy after her younger sister, Hannah, was born with Down Syndrome. And Sarah has followed in their footsteps -- before she became a yoga teacher, she worked at an inclusive preschool, in respite care, and as a developmental evaluator. Add to that the many different types of yoga training Sarah has under her belt -- including training with Jivana Heyman of Accessible Yoga, with Matthew Sanford, and with Jason -- and Sarah has a an incredible toolkit to draw from as she works with her students. On this episode, Sarah shares many useful insights such as:How one of her teachers encouraged her forge her own path and teach this population of adultsHow she sequences her classes based on the training she's done with JasonThe tools she uses to people who learn and process things differentlyWhy she believes “presence is participation”How teaching this community is different—and, perhaps more importantly, how it’s the same as teaching anyone elseShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode260 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

29 Mar 202249min

To quote this week's guest, yoga teacher and social scientist Melissa McLaughlin, "How we engage with our phones is changing our minds." In other words, we are on our phones being constantly bombarded by information. How do we navigate this reality and maintain our sanity? How do we cope with the rush of adrenaline that comes when we see a strongly-worded opinion that we disagree with? Perhaps most importantly, how do we continue to stay engaged as citizens of the world and not allow our devices to lead us into cynicism/shutting down/complete burnout? The answer is simple although not easy -- it starts with mindfulness practice. Melissa shares many insights with us including: How to be a more conscious consumer of social media—especially observing the feelings that arise before you reshare What to do when you feel overwhelmed by something happening in the world or something that you see in the mediaTips for having tough conversations about media with friends and family members with differing viewpointsWhat yoga philosophy has to say about living in a world that feels chaoticShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode259 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

22 Mar 202251min

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really happening in your body and brain during asana and meditation, today’s conversation is going to fascinate you. Our guest is Dr. Daya Grant -- a neuroscientist, sports psychologist, and mental performance consultant -- who explains the growing research on mindfulness and meditation and how these practices are beneficial to the brain.We cover a lot of ground in this interview including:How yoga and meditation affect the brain, both structurally and functionallyWhat happens to the brain during breathing practices like alternate-nostril breathing (which Daya says is one of the most widely studied pranayama exercises)How she helps athletes use mindfulness, asana, and yoga philosophy to enhance their performanceWhat it was like having a meditation practice growing up impacted her, and how she’s carrying on that tradition with her own sonShow notes: http://www.jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode258 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Mar 202255min

Beginning yoga students often struggle to breath properly in class. As a yoga teacher, we want to provide our students with skillful, accessible techniques to support their journey. This discussion shows 3 simple, universally beneficial ways to help your students learn to breath when they practice yoga. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 Mar 20220s

Beginning yoga students often struggle to breath properly in class. As a yoga teacher, we want to provide our students with skillful, accessible techniques to support their journey. This discussion shows 3 simple, universally beneficial ways to help your students learn to breath when they practice yoga. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10 Mar 20220s