Yogaland Podcast

Jason's back on the podcast this week answering some of the best questions we've gotten in about yoga postures. (Yogaland listeners are a smart, inquisitive bunch!)We dive into:* Why he rarely teaches Virabhadrasna I (Warrior I Pose) and how he feels about "squaring" the hips* What Jason teaches instead of Warrior I (and what a relief it is)* The differences between Paripurna Navasana (Full Boat Pose) and Ardha Navasna (Half Boat Pose) and which one is better for strengthening the core muscles* What to do when you can't breathe deeply in twists* What it means to be an advanced yoga practitionerShownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. Zola is reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience. From engagement to wedding to decorating your first home, Zola is there, combining compassionate customer service with modern tools and technology. To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to zola.com/yogaland 2. RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious! For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout.3. Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogaland4. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we continue our conversation with Jill Miller to learn even more about the mysterious (and amazing!) connective tissue that literally holds our bodies together: fascia.We talk more about:The three different layers of fascia, how each layer functions, and why each one is importantWhere in your own body you can feel the different textures of fasciaWhat happens to the fascia when you stretch your musclesHow to use tools like therapy balls, a yoga mat, or even a hard wood floor to create awareness from the skin to the deep fascia (Hint: Less is more)Whether rolling on therapy balls is more effective before or after exerciseShownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. Zola is reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience. From engagement to wedding to decorating your first home, Zola is there, combining compassionate customer service with modern tools and technology. To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to zola.com/yogaland 2. RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious! For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout.3. Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogaland4. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've got a special two-part series this week Yoga Tune Up® founder Jill Miller about -- you guessed it -- fascia. There is more and more info. being shared about fascia. But I've found that it sometimes feels esoteric. My goal with these interviews is threefold: I wanted to offer clarity about what fascia is and then talk about why it is so important and how we can apply this info. to our yoga practice. By the end of Part II, I feel like Jill and I dug into all of these questions, so be patient! Fascia is complex and it took me a bit longer than usual for these interviews to land.We learn more about:* What exactly fascia is anyway? And why is there some controversy over the definition.* Why fascia is the "Cinderella story of human anatomy"* How to incorporate our understanding of fascia into our yoga practice* Why using a yoga ball to roll one part of your body can help to relieve tension in another part of the body* The nervous system's relationship to the fascia systemShownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode89/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS1. Zola is reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience. From engagement to wedding to decorating your first home, Zola is there, combining compassionate customer service with modern tools and technology. To sign up with Zola and receive a $50 credit towards your registry, go to zola.com/yogaland 2. RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious! For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout.3. Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogaland4. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yogis often talk about the nervous system in terms of how it responds to stress. But if you've ever wanted to learn more about the science of how the nervous system works, this episode is for you! (Spoiler alert: It controls almost everything related to movement!)This week, I talked with yoga therapist and PhD candidate Robyn Capobianco, who studies at the Neurophysiology of Movement Laboratory at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She explains how her research applies to yogis and offers practical ways to apply her findings to avoid yoga injuries and more. It's fascinating stuff.We explore:* How the nervous system works and informs movement* How the body responds to sensory input, and how it relates to yoga* How the SI joint differs from other joints in the body and what yogis can do to avoid SI joint pain* One simple thing you can do to engage the core more in Plank Pose* The science behind common beliefs like: Is it really unsafe to jump back from Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) to Plank Pose?* And gets to the bottom of why teachers instruct you to lift your toes in Utkatasana (Chair Pose)Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode88/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!1.   Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent.2.   RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious!  For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. 3.  Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogaland4.   To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We pick up where we left off last week with Jason answering more of your recent questions! This week, he answers:* How often should I change my sequences?* How do I sequence given the large influx of new students in January without alienating my established students?* If I let my pelvis rotate during twists, will it cause a hip impingement?Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode87/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!1.   Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent.2.   RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious!  For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. 3.  Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogaland4.   To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Crandell joins me this week to answer your questions. We cover a lot of ground in this short episode including:* Strategies for Down Dog -- How to make it easier to step forward, what to do when a student can't straighten their arms* Lower Rib Flare -- Why it's important to think of core length, not just core strength* The Cue to 'Tuck Your Tailbone Under -- Is it dangerous? Appropriate? What's the deal. Please.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode86SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS!!1.   Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent.2.   RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious!  For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. 3.  Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogaland4.   To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week’s podcast with author and yoga teacher Michelle Marchildon focuses on her formula for theming your yoga classes. The formula comes from her book, Themeweaver: Connect the Power of Inspiration to Teaching Yoga and is a clear, thorough approach to creating themes that are meaningful, not cheesy, and will help your students really deeply connect their physical practice to Michelle talks us through:•The three types of students who come to class•The four elements that make a good theme•Theming don’ts•Five rules for incorporating your themes into your classes•How to organize your themes so that you can edit them and reuse them in the futureShownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode85/SHOUTOUT TO OUR SPONSORS:1.   Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent.2.   RxBar are protein bars made from 100% whole foods. That means RxBars do not contain artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or fillers. They also do not contain added sugar. They’re also delicious!  For 25% off your first order, visit RXBAR.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. 3.  Freshly is the easiest and most convenient way to eat healthy no matter what life throws your way. Freshly’s chef create delicious gluten-free meals delivered fresh to your door. Every single meal comes with a detailed overview of each ingredient in the meal. Get $25 off your first order of 6 fresh-cooked dinners by going to freshly.com/yogalandSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I love the idea of starting of the New Year with healthy, nourishing routines. Over the past few years, I’ve done that with my skincare routine and I find it to be a great form of self care. When you think of self care, you don’t think of smearing petroleum, endocrine disruptors or other toxic chemicals on your face, right?In the process of researching the products I use, I’ve learned that there is basically no federal regulation on our personal care products (or on most industrial chemicals in the U.S.)That was my inspiration behind this episode and I’m so excited to share it with you. This week on the podcast I speak to Abby Jean and Rachel Pachivas from AnnMarie Skincare and they answer all of my questions (and more) including:·     Do products made with botanicals really work as well as our familiar “tried and true” formulations?·     How to start purging your skincare products·     Red flag ingredients too look for·     Nutrient-rich ingredients to look for·     How you know you’re getting a truly organic product (since there are FDA loopholes)·     Web sites and certifications to help you navigate which products are safe, healthy, and don’t test on animals·     Where are we with trying to improve FDA regulations?Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode84/1.Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent. 2.To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can you guess which podcast was the most popular of the year? I give you a glimpse into my analytics on this episode (spoiler alert: the #1 episode is not one of Jason's), plus we talk 2017 highlights (hello, creativity!) and lowlights (puffy eyes), what we're looking forward to in 2018, and how I aspire to channel both Maria Bamford and Oprah. (PS: Iyengar Yoga "belt" vs. "strap" question still not solved!!)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judith Hanson Lasater and her daughter, Lizzie Lasater, have been on the podcast separately before. On episodes 64 & 65 I focused on their backgrounds and on the mother-daughter connection. This time, I wanted back up and simply ask the question, "Why restorative yoga?" Why now? And why isn't "regular" hatha yoga restorative enough? One response, in particular, surprised me -- seeing restorative yoga as a radical act of self care in a society that's so filled with aggression and violence.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode821.   Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent. 2.    We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that’s helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.3.   Care/Of is a new, online vitamin company that is devoted to personalization and authenticity in its sourcing. Set your health goals, take their quiz, and they'll give you vitamin, mineral, and adaptogen recommendations. They also include sourcing information and studies to give you background on your choices. I've had fun trying them out!  Visit takecareof.com and use offer code YOGALAND at checkout for 50% off your first month of vitamins. 4.   To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.5.   Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love and each week Storyworth will send them a question about their life. After a year, stories are bound in a beautiful book. For $20 off, visit storyworth.com/yogaland when you subscribe.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Niika Quistgard, Ayurvedic practitioner extraordinaire -- is back! (She joined me on episode 17 for a great vata-calming episode. If you haven't heard it, go back and listen to it. It's a great foundation and complement to this one!) On this episode Niika explains the Ayurvedic approach to nourishing ojas -- thought to be our vital essence -- during the winter and the holiday season. When ojas is strong, we feel content, stable, and grounded. When it gets depleted, our immunity goes down the tubes (my parlance, not hers :) We got super-fancy and cross-cultural on this episode, because it turns out that the way to cultivate ojas is very similar to the Danish concept of hygge (think cozy socks, candlelight, and delicious spiced drinks). Niika also shares her approach to asana and pranayama for keep ojas tip top.Go to the shownotes page for an ojas-nourishing chai recipe from Niika and a link to her ojas assessment: yogalandpodcast.com/podcast/episode81/1.   Did you know that you can save money on your life insurance just because you do yoga? Health IQ is an insurance company that helps yogis get lower rates on their life insurance. To see if you qualify, get your free quote today at healthiq.com/yogaland or mention the promo code YOGALAND when you talk to a Health IQ agent. 2.    We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that’s helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.3.   Care/Of is a new, online vitamin company that is devoted to personalization and authenticity in its sourcing. Set your health goals, take their quiz, and they'll give you vitamin, mineral, and adaptogen recommendations. They also include sourcing information and studies to give you background on your choices. I've had fun trying them out!  Visit takecareof.com and use offer code YOGALAND at checkout for 50% off your first month of vitamins. 4.   To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.5.   Treehut is a team of inspired designers and creators building unique wooden watches with personalized engravings. For 15% off your first order, visit treehutwatches.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. Offer expires December 31st.   6.   Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love and each week Storyworth will send them a question about their life. After a year, stories are bound in a beautiful book. For $20 off, visit storyworth.com/yogaland when you subscribe.  Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You've probably heard people say that a short yoga practice is better than no yoga practice. Jason and I heartily agree -- but it can still be hard to carve out the time. I think the root problem is that it's hard to step on your mat solo and know what to do. This episode will help you get over the avoidance. We talk strategy and Jason offers three concrete, easy approaches to creating a home practice sequence that suits your mood, your energy level, and your time crunch.If you still need help, I put lots of sequences here, on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode80/1. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that’s helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.2. Care/Of is a new, online vitamin company that is devoted to personalization and authenticity in its sourcing. Set your health goals, take their quiz, and they'll give you vitamin, mineral, and adaptogen recommendations. Visit takecareof.com and use offer code YOGALAND at checkout for 50% off your first month of vitamins. 3. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. 4. Treehut is a team of inspired designers and creators building unique wooden watches with personalized engravings. For 15% off your first order, visit treehutwatches.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. Offer expires December 31st.   5. Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love and each week Storyworth will send them a question about their life. After a year, stories are bound in a beautiful book. For $20 off, visit storyworth.com/yogaland when you subscribe.   6. Zola is a new online wedding company that’s reinventing wedding planning and the registry process. Plus, there’s an app for your Ipad, iphone and AppleWatch – check and update your registry in real-time. For a $50 credit toward your registry zola.com/yogaland Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you're grieving, the holidays--with its equal share of memories and new situations--can intensify all of your feelings. The holidays can even surprise you with feelings that you might have considered long resolved. On this episode, Washington, DC, yoga teacher and studio owner Faith Hunter generously shares the story of losing her older brother, Michael, to complications from HIV. Faith and I talk about how time, therapy, patience, and yoga helped her move through the grieving process. If you're feeling all the feelings this season, my hope is that this episode will help you feel a little bit less alone in the world. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode79/Shout-Out to Sponsors:1. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that’s helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.2. Care/Of is a new, online vitamin company that is devoted to personalization and authenticity in its sourcing. Set your health goals, take their quiz, and they'll give you vitamin, mineral, and adaptogen recommendations.  Visit takecareof.com and use offer code YOGALAND at checkout for 50% off your first month of vitamins. 3. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. 4. Treehut is a team of inspired designers and creators building unique wooden watches with personalized engravings. For 15% off your first order, visit treehutwatches.com/yogaland and enter the promo code YOGALAND at checkout. Offer expires December 31st.   5. Storyworth makes it easy and fun for loved ones to tell their stories. Simply purchase a subscription for someone you love and each week Storyworth will send them a question about their life. After a year, stories are bound in a beautiful book. For $20 off, visit storyworth.com/yogaland when you subscribe.   6. Zola is a new online wedding company that’s reinventing wedding planning and the registry process. Plus, there’s an app for your Ipad, iphone and AppleWatch – check and update your registry in real-time. For a $50 credit toward your registry zola.com/yogalandSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can you get the most from your restorative poses? That's a question that Roger Cole and I explore on this episode. Roger Cole is an internationally recognized, certified Iyengar Yoga teacher who has been teaching since 1975. He is also an accomplished scientist educated at Stanford University and the University of California, with specialties in the science of relaxation, sleep, and circadian rhythms.In this interview, Roger explains how to use the Baro Reflex to maximize relaxation in restorative yoga poses. As he puts it, there is not one single system that is responsible for relaxation -- in yoga classes, we often focus on the nervous system. But, if you "gang up a lot of factors that promote relaxation," you're more likely to go deeper and feel more restored afterward. We also talk about that time he took B.K.S. Iyengar to a lab and tested his breathing (with interesting, if imperfect results), and a possible reason that inversions promote relaxation.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode78/Shout-Out to Sponsors:1. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that’s helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.2. Care/Of is a new, online vitamin company that is devoted to personalization and authenticity in its sourcing. Set your health goals, take their quiz, and they'll give you vitamin, mineral, and adaptogen recommendations. They also include sourcing information and studies to give you background on your choices. I've had fun trying them out!  Visit takecareof.com and use offer code YOGALAND at checkout for 50% off your first month of vitamins. 3. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. 4. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, CHEMICAL-FREE sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND.5. Zola is a new online wedding company that’s reinventing wedding planning and the registry process. Plus, there’s an app for your Ipad, iphone and AppleWatch – check and update your registry in real-time. For $50 credit toward your registry, visit zola.com/yogalandSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy gratitude week folks! This week, Gina Caputo returns to talk about her Yoga Off the Mat/Let's Stay Together Challenge. I love the idea of infusing our holidays with meaning and with practice. This challenge does exactly that with small, actionable ideas for us to do together each week leading up to the holidays. Imagine the ripple effect it would have if everyone listening to this podcast took part. Makes my heart full just thinking about it! Use the hashtags #yogaoffthemat and #letsstaytogether so we can find each other and support each other in the challenge.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode77/Shout-Out to Sponsors:1. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that’s helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.2. Care/Of is a new, online vitamin company that is devoted to personalization and authenticity in its sourcing. Set your health goals, take their quiz, and they'll give you vitamin, mineral, and adaptogen recommendations. They also include sourcing information and studies to give you background on your choices. I've had fun trying them out!  Visit takecareof.com and use offer code YOGALAND at checkout for 50% off your first month of vitamins. 3. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. 4. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, CHEMICAL-FREE sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND.5. Zola is a new online wedding company that’s reinventing wedding planning and the registry process. Plus, there’s an app for your Ipad, iphone and AppleWatch – check and update your registry in real-time. For $50 credit toward your registry, visit zola.com/yogalandSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason and Andrea sit down to review some of the themes discussed in episode 74 with Jill Miller and to delve more deeply into the topic of yoga injuries. How do we stop overpraising flexibility and "going further" in a pose without becoming afraid to fully use and inhabit our bodies?Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode76/Shoutout to our sponsors:1. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.2. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, CHEMICAL-FREE sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND.3. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that's helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've all been there -- in that yoga class where the person next to us is not doing any of the poses the teacher calls out, or in teacher training when someone asks question after question after question after...you get the picture. Do these people drive you crazy? Or, if you're teaching, do you wonder how you can make that rebellious person follow your lead or satisfy the questioner's endless questions?This week, my guest is New York Times bestselling author, Gretchen Rubin. Her new book, The Four Tendencies, offers a framework for understanding how different personalities respond to both inner and outer expectations. I thought it would be fun to take Gretchen's framework into the yoga room to see how it plays out. We talk about The Rebel -- that person in class who is not doing any of the poses the teacher calls out. The Obliger -- the person who needs outer accountability to help them stick to their inner expectations. The Questioner (my tendency) who asks question after question after...you get the idea. And The Upholder who can tend toward being rigid. As Gretchen says, "Understanding fosters tolerance" and her framework offers ideas for understanding -- and managing -- our own tendencies as well as those around us. Give it a listen and let me know which type you think you are! Use the hashtag #yogalandstories. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode75Shoutout to our sponsors:1. To my women listeners out there – have you tried LOLA yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.2. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, chemical-free sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND.3. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that's helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jill Miller is the creator of Yoga Tuneup and The Roll Model Method -- a self care method that utilizes specific poses, sequences, and self massage tools to help you tune into your body's "blind spots." Jill's method can help ease and pains, it can soothe your nervous system, and increase proprioception -- that important ability to feel where your body is in space. Just before this interview, Jill made the announcement that years of wear and tear on her body (including yoga practice) have led to the need for a hip replacement. Understandably, the response in the yoga community was one of shock, curiosity, and even some judgment. Jill was kind enough to share her story -- what she thinks led her to this point, what she would do differently, and why she's not throwing yoga under the bus.For shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode74/Shoutout to our sponsors:1. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe.2. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, CHEMICAL-FREE sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND.3. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that's helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to psychologist and author, Kelly McGonigal, listening to someone else's story of resilience and overcoming adversity can have a positive effect. Listening to someone's "restorative narrative" can inspire strength and courage in you. In addition, if you're the person doing the storytelling about your own traumatic event, and you both acknowledge the difficulty as well as the how it transformed you in positive ways, you are more likely to have better health outcomes. In this light, Andrea tells her breast cancer story and shares the four profound ways it has changed her three years later. Shownotes: http://yogalandpodcast.com/episode73Shoutout to our sponsors: 1. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit http://mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. 2. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, CHEMICAL-FREE sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to http://burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND. 3. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that's helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to http://sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, I talked about the science of self-compassion and how self-compassion practice has more favorable outcomes than boosting self-esteem. On this episode, I offer a way to put self-compassion into practice by sharing a 10-minute guided Lovingkindness meditation. This type of meditation involves silently repeating a mantra and extending love and compassion toward yourself, then toward someone you love, then toward all beings. The full meditation is written out on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode72Shoutout to our sponsors:1. To my women listeners out there – have you tried Lola yet? LOLA is a female-founded company offering organic cotton tampons, pads, and liners. For 60% off your first order, visit mylola.com and enter the code YOGALAND when you subscribe. 2. Burrow is a new online company that creates modern, CHEMICAL-FREE sofas that ship to you within a week! For $50 off your purchase, go to burrow.com and use the promo code YOGALAND.3. We all go through busy times where it can feel like a challenge to eat well. One thing that's helped me is Sunbasket meal delivery service. Go to sunbasket.com/yogaland to get $35 off your first order.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

High self-esteem used to be regarded as a vital component to happiness. But it's fallen out of favor in the past decade. Research -- much of it led by Dr. Kristin Neff -- has shown that self-compassion is a more effective way to increase optimism, happiness, curiosity, and connectedness. This episode talks you through the research and offers three very practical ways to incorporate self-compassion in your yoga practice and life.SHOWNOTES: yogalandpodcast.com/episode71/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of my favorite quotes from Jason is,"I believe that we should embrace anything and everything that helps us and our students be well." On this episode, we dive into the meaning behind that quote and why it's important to advocate for our students to try other modalities if needed. There are times when yoga teachers feel pressured to know all of the answers or to make a diagnosis and there are also times when we unintentionally make our students feel guilty if they're not finding healing in the yoga room. Jason dispels these ideas and helps teachers cope with not having all the answers.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode70/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all struggle from time to time with the question -- "Am I doing enough?" This week, Jason and I talk about this question and this fear in the yoga room. His clear message: Trust in the process of yoga. And return to the fundamentals of what we're trying to teach (and learn) in yoga: To hone attention and discipline so that we can remain steady in the face of stress.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason is back and he's sharing just a few of the values he hopes to pass onto his teacher training graduates. We talk about -- how do you develop a strong, personal point of view without minimizing others' points of view? And is yoga a discipline that changes over time -- are we allowed to revise? For shownotes and a full blog post go to: yogalandpodcast.com/episode68Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MC Yogi is a well-known performing artist -- and perhaps one of the only rappers to write lyrics about Hanuman and Ganesha? -- and is married to artist Amanda Giacomini who I interviewed on episode 45. Together, they've owned and been the primary teachers at the Point Reyes Yoga Studio in Point Reyes, CA. On this episode, we talk about MC Yogi's his new book, Spiritual Graffiti, which tells the story of how discovering yoga helped him overcome his troubled youth and brought his artistry to life. Thanks to MC Yogi for allowing us to use his music for this episode. For shownotes and a link to order his book: yogalandpodcast.com/episode67Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessica Berger Gross is the author of the beautiful, moving, hopeful memoir, Estranged: Leaving Family & Finding Home. Jessica was raised in a seemingly typical middle class family in Long Island. But behind the scenes she suffered physical abuse from her father. She made the decision in her late twenties to stop communicating with her parents not knowing that the decision would become permanent. Now, 17 years later she's written a memoir that Elle Magazine included in their guide to the "best books of summer," and that Glamour called "gripping." Jessica was first introduced to yoga in high school and immersed herself in the practice after the estrangement. She practiced many different styles -- Jivamukti, Baptiste, vinyasa -- before settling on Iyengar as her chosen path. We talk about how yoga helped her reclaim her body, how it informs her choices now that she's a mom, and how it kept her sane and inspired during the writing of this book. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode66/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lizzie Lasater teaches the pleasure of deceleration through Restorative yoga workshops and digital trainings. Lizzie is the daughter of venerated yoga teacher Judith Hanson Lasater, so I was keen to pick her brain about how yoga was (successfully! without rejection!) passed onto her. Lizzie also offers great tips for incorporating Restorative Yoga into everyday life. And, as she's witnessed both of her parents growing older and benefitting from lifelong yoga and meditation practice, Lizzie talks about the importance of taking the longview with asana practice.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode65/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judith Hanson Lasater Ph.D., physical therapist, has been teaching yoga since 1971. Judith has written nine books and is one of the founders of Yoga Journal Magazine. I had many opportunities to interview Judith during my decade as an editor there, but this interview was so refreshingly different for me because I got to ask her whatever I wanted! She shared how she found yoga, the importance of following your intuition, and her tips for learning to communicate clearly. I have the utmost respect for Judith -- her body of work, her insight, her compassion and care for her students all shine through in this interview.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode64/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kino MacGregor is an Ashtanga yogi in the lineage of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and is the co-owner of the Miami Life Center in Miami Beach, Florida. Kino also has a new book out called Yogi Assignment, where she shares 30 days of "assignments" to help you bring the philosophy of yoga into everyday life. Kino talked to me about the surprising story of meeting her teacher for the first time, what it's like to be trolled online, and how the yoga practice "ferments" with time. You can practice with Kino online on her new channel, Omstars.com. Yogalandstories question this week: What's one valuable way that your yoga practice has been of benefit to the people around you? Please submit your story on Instagram with a photo of yourself using the hashtag #yogalandstories and I'll pick one to feature on my feed. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode63Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this special bonus episode, Jason and I answer your questions that came up during the summer series. Thanks, as always, for sending in your questions. It helps us plan episodes!We talk about why the cue to keep the feet parallel in Wheel Pose came about (and is it really necessary?), I offer some help for hurting knees, ideas for strengthening the "pull muscles," and Locust Pose alternatives during pregnancy.Shownotes: yogalandpodast.com/epsiode62/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I first met Jaimal Yogis when he was a young, up-and-coming journalist, a long-time spiritual seeker, and a surfer. These days he can award-winning writer, three-time book author, and father of three boys under the age of five to his bio. He is such a wonderful writer and his new book, All Our Waves Are Water is one of the best examples of relating deep meditation practice to the pains and beauty of every day life I have ever read. I am in love with this book and I'm so happy to share this interview with you.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode61/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm tired of the stale, depressing exercise and yoga advice for the "older set." It too often characterizes people over 50 as weak, unfit, and fragile. There are now plenty of yogis who have been practicing for decades and are approaching their 50s, 60s, & 70s. Do you think they're taking it easy? Nope. Neither do I. Desiree Rumbaugh and Michelle Marchildon confirm that I am right! (And who doesn't like to be right?) They're the co-authors of the book -- Fearless After Fifty: How to Thrive With Grace, Grit, and Yoga. Their book doesn't sugarcoat the aging process -- there are fears that come, there is loss. But it's equally practical about the strength and wisdom that come with years of experience being on this planet and in this practice. It's inspiring and fun to listen to them and hear their perspectives about the process that -- if we're lucky -- we will all get to experience.shownotes -- including videos from michelle & desiree's book! yogalandpodcast.com/episode60/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason Nemer is the co-founder of AcroYoga and has spent the past decade on the road spreading the practice around the world. Acro is a beautiful, vibrant, playful practice and it's an amazing practice for developing trust, confidence, and communication. Check out the gorgeous AcroYoga flash mob on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode59/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bonus episode for you this week! Jason and I talk about his new online course on yogaglo.com, The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Arm Balances & Inversions. There's a lot packed into this episode: Jason shares his system for teaching these poses, how he sees both arm balances and inversions as "clusters of poses" -- so that you're learning a whole family of poses -- e.g., the Bakasana Family -- instead of just one pose. He also talks about how the course can help teachers feel more confident and skillful teaching these poses.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The core is an often-obsessed about part of the body, and yogis are no exception. In this episode, Jason breaks down the component parts that make up the core. He also offers three ideas for tapping into those parts we ignore -- from paying attention to rotation, to the paraspinal muscles to learning to, at least once in a while, let your core go and let it all hang out.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the last two episodes, Jason offered some tips for working with your hips and shoulders. On this installment, we're moving to the central axis -- the spine. Jason shows off his superior maths skills by sharing that we for every 10 Sun Salutations we do 50 forward bends to every 10 backbends!! He also offers ideas for strengthening the muscles that help you rotate, and talks about everybody's (least favorite) pose -- you guessed it, Locust Pose.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that your shoulder complex has four joints on each side? This dynamic engineering allows us to do all of the things we do with our arms and hands. But it can leave the shoulder joints vulnerable if we don't balance them with strength. In vinyasa yoga we ask the shoulders to do a lot early on in the practice (because Chaturanga). So, on this episode Jason talks ideas for offsetting this, the best ways to create balanced shoulder strength, plus proper alignment while lifting your arms overhead.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode55/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We love, love, love to stretch our hips in yoga. Pigeon Pose -- oh yeah. Lizard -- yep. Thread the Needle -- mmmhmmm. But sometimes we focus on how good opening the outer hips feels to the exclusion of creating strength and stability in the support muscles. Similarly, we focus on the part of our hips that screams the loudest (outer hips) while neglecting another tight area that's quieter (hip flexors). On this episode, Jason maps out three ways to create balance in the complex network of the hips. After recording this episode, I realized that it's a metaphor for life: We want to stay open and flexible. And this requires time and attention. But we also need to focus on stability, strength, and grounding. When we find the right subtle balance, we feel happier and more free. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode54/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Summer can actually make it harder to practice -- schedules change, kids are home, we spend more time doing outdoor sports -- so Jason and I thought we'd offer 10 ideas for staying inspired to do yoga this summer! Plus, Andrea shares a tip from Susan Cain about how solitude inspires creativity.For a full blog post of this episode, check out the shownotes: jasonyoga.com/podcast/episode53/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gina Caputo has so much to offer to Yogaland: In addition to practicing and teaching yoga for nearly two decades, she's been on the ground floor of opening and managing three different yoga schools -- Sacred Movement in Venice, California, Kansas Siddhi Yoga Studio, and and The Colorado School of Yoga in Boulder, Colorado. Gina also has a FANTASTIC sense of humor. One of my favorite things she says in this interview is, "Be sincere, not serious." On this episode, I asked Gina to share her thoughts and stories about self-awareness practice, specifically her recent experience of doing a 10-day silent meditation course. Spoiler alert: She made it through 10 days of silence! But not without some support from a banana or two.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode52/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Susan Cain is the reason the word "introvert" came back into everyday conversation. Her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" spent more than four years on The New York Times Best Seller List, her Ted Talk on the topic has been viewed more than 16 million times, and she's the co-founder of the organization Quiet Revolution. She also loves yoga! We talk about why yoga is so appealing for introverts, the reasons introverts make great leaders, and ideas for when to push yourself out of your comfort zone and act more extroverted for a spell.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode51/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode Jason answers listener Kat's question, "How do I make sure I'm not leaving anyone out as I teach my mixed level classes?" The solutions include acknowledging that the reality for modern yogis is that we all learn together regardless of our level, using humor to diffuse tension in the class, and encouraging students to engage in the learning process even if they can't do the final shape of the pose. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode50Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this little bonus episode, I offer my own story of the panic attacks and depression that plagued me in my twenties and the subsequent shame I felt about being a yogi and making the choice to take anti-depressants. If you're suffering, I created this podcast to let you know that you're not alone. And if you're feeling guilty about taking the meds, I want to help you clear that guilt, to help you NOT put another layer of pain on top of the suffering. Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode49/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Rosen returns to the podcast and answers some common questions about hatha yoga, including who the "original yogis" were, the meaning of the word "hatha," plus he opens up about Parkinson's Disease and shares his love for pranayama (breathing practice).Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two-time Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world-champion and yoga teacher Sebastian Brosche joins Jason on the podcast this week. AS a competitor in his twenties, Sebastian was in a cycle of chronic injury that was so uncomfortable, he couldn't put on his socks. He had no intention of trying yoga until he saw a beautiful woman teaching class -- who is now his wife. Hear him tell the story of how yoga healed his body and how he founded an online training program that helps other BJJ practitioners stay healthy and as Sebastian puts it, able to keep rolling and grappling for the rest of their lives.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jessamyn Stanley is a world-traveling yoga teacher and self-proclaimed body positive advocate with a new book, Every Body Yoga. Several years ago she decided to document her yoga practice on a brand new app called Instagram, having no idea that she would garner nearly 300,000 followers, many of whom begged her to become a yoga teacher. We talk about the evolution of her yoga practice from her early days as a Bikram yogi to a vinyasa teacher, how yoga studios can make efforts toward being more inclusive of different body types and capabilities, and her quest to stay grounded as she spreads her message that, indeed, yoga is for everyone.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode46/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A hike in the Ajanta Caves in India several years ago sparked a massive creative project for artist and yoga teacher Amanda Giacomini: To put 10,000 Buddhas out into the world. Her work has appeared on murals, canvases, and prayer wheels in cities from Washington DC to Los Angeles to Panama. Amanda tells the story of what inspired the project, her creative process, and how it feeds her own life and yoga practice.Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode45/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tiffany is a renowned yoga teacher and the founder of Yoga Medicine. She's also a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and ran an acupuncture clinic at Nike headquarters for years. Tiffany offers her unique perspective on how to modify our diet, asana, breathwork, and meditation for spring. She also (very patiently) answers my questions about the ways that Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine overlap. This is a great ep for all the complementary medicine geeks in the crowd (like myself).Shownotes: yogalandpodcast.com/episode44/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jason comes back to Yogaland to answer your questions, specifically:- Is the cue 'flatten your tailbone' correct or outdated?- Why do yoga teachers tell us to flex the foot in Pigeon Pose? How does it protect the knee?- Why is sacroiliac pain such a pain in the a$$?Thank you to all of you who have sent in questions!We have a sequence on the blog for low back pain. Link on the shownotes page: yogalandpodcast.com/episode43/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maty Ezraty is a genuine pioneer of yoga in the U.S. One of the original co-founders of YogaWorks, Maty is a true teacher's teacher. On this episode, Maty shares stories from her early days as well as how her practice has changed with age. She also shares her approach to mentoring teachers and students, which is an alchemy of communication, love, and meeting people where they are.Shownotes for this episode: yogalandpodcast.com/episode42/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/yogaland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.