J. Brown Yoga Talks

Leila Stuart , author of Experiential Anatomy: Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness , talks with J about studying anatomy and functioning in the world with confidence and enthusiasm. They discuss old models no longer fitting, injuries as impetuous, precipitating events and receiving new information, faith, shifts that lead to healing, Panchakarma, hope and agency, breaking s...

Radhika Mukhija , author of Radiant Rituals: Ayurvedic and Yogic Wisdom for Deep Self-Care and Inner Strength , talks with J about aligning to the rhythms of life through ancient wisdom and modern science. They discuss growing up in India and moving to the US, yogic lifestyle and value systems, intuitive Ayurveda, difference between rituals and habits, high-performing women, turning inward, biohac...

Manny Muros , author of The Oneness Within - A Search For The Living Spirit , talks with J about full surrender and reverse engineering awakening. They discuss life stages and resistance to change, seeing through the lens of our beliefs, betting on yourself and losing, getting grounded, buying a yoga center in the 90's, cultivating silence, relationship to experience, operating from fear, trusting...

Blair Hughes , founder of  Natural Presence in Ibiza, talks with J about looking at where we are and choosing to move forward. They discuss being a diesel engineer from Scotland with one foot on either side of the digital revolution, teachers confronting insecurities, learning from sports psychology, addressing patterns, Sydney yoga scene, different approaches, belief systems and self worth, holis...

Devarshi Steven Hartman , author of The Three Essentials: Timeless Principles for Inner Peace and Self-Transformation , talks with J about Swami Kripalu and the nature of one's true self. They discuss renunciate paths, Yogi Amrit Desai, distinguishing between business and yoga, empowerment and betrayal, deciding peace is possible, A Course in Miracles, religion and belief, koshas, witness consciou...

Andrew Wicklander , founder of Tula Software , talks with J about the evolution of digital technology and the promise of empowerment for independent creators. They discuss the early internet and explosion of software, predatory shifts in the industry, expanding beyond niches, credit card processing fees, growth and profit, implications of AI, ways the world has changed, commercial real estate, end...

Daniel Simpson , author of The Evolution of Modern Yoga and host of the Ancient Futures Podcast , returns to talk with J about the defining characteristics of "modern" yoga and what makes it relevant. They discuss shifts in postural practice over time, premodern texts, Krishnamacharya, Kuvalayananda and Yogendra, east to west crossover, healing benefits, vedic sources, Georg Feuerstein, unfounded...

Karen Patterson talks with J about learning spirituality and the teachings of Heinz Grill . They discuss the religious impulse, finding truth from within, ashram living, Father Bede Griffiths, Heinz Grill, qualities of soul, informing asana with imagination, essence and meaning, inspired wisdom, awakening self, radiance and potential, enlivening yoga, heart to heart communication, ultimate source,...

J gives himself space to air out some of the burning questions he has been pointing to of late. He discusses the in's and outs of wisdom teeth removal, complimentary alternative medicine, claims and broken promises that sold yoga to the mainstream, the slippery slope of email tracking, feeling disheartened by the current zeitgeist, leaning into yoga, being a good person, benefits of practice, lett...

Frank Jude Boccio , host of Pobsa's Dharma Lounge Podcast , returns again to talk with J about ethical foundations in Buddhism and naturalistic explanations for the origins of evil. They discuss the evolution of their conversations over the years, language models and biology, mindfulness education, causes and conditions, relational practice, right livelihood, the Buddha's manhood, criticizing nond...

Jillian Pransky , author of The Power of the Pause , talks with J about becoming present, open, and gently alert. They discuss reconciling our fathers, falling in love with practice, the gift of feeling OK, buddhist meditation, boundaries, the difference between understanding and agreement, taking wise action, receptivity, longer classes and being in service of savasana, guiding someone to relaxat...

Andrew McGonigle , author of The Physiology of Yoga , talks with J about the confluence of studying medicine, teaching anatomy, and finding identity. They discuss going to medical school at a young age, transcendental meditation, getting a job at TriYoga, moving to California, debunking misleading claims, addressing pain, shoulder surgeries and knee replacements, professional landscapes, being a t...

Mary Wagstaff , host of Wild Sobriety , talks with J about overcoming addiction and devotion as a center for change. They discuss experimenting with substances, holistic seeds of breath awareness, seva program at Kripalu, self-observation without judgement, choosing sobriety, when behaviors cross the line, curiosity, sacred time-outs, intrinsic moral codes, embodiment tools, simplicity in truth, e...

Brett Parris , author of Yogic Metaethics: Comparing Patañjali's Yoga, Nondual Śaivism, and Vedānta , talks with J about the links between spirituality and morality. They discuss inappropriate behavior from gurus, practical vs normative ethical theories, definition of metaethics, moral prescriptions before Patanjai, gunas, satva orientation, theism in Samkhya history, substance and action, Abhinav...

Maile Wicklander , founder of Tula Yoga in Chicago, talks with J about staying committed to a deeper model of yoga when the market often rewards otherwise. They discuss her unusual path from industrial organizational psychology to yoga center ownership, craving community, combining somatics, lease agreements and r egistration software , transitioning to new focus being called to teach something di...

Jordan Ashley , PhD, founder of Souljourn Yoga , talks with J about the ethics of running retreats and teacher trainings in the Global South. They discuss seeing through the eyes of different cultures, the darker side of voluntourism and orphanage tourism, the NY Yoga scene circa 2016, becoming disenchanted with the yoga industrial complex, teen girls, working with locals, savior-ship mentality, h...

Sage Rountree , coauthor of Yoga Off the Mat: A Practical Guide to the Wisdom of Yoga , talks with J about exploring the deeper aspects of yoga in ways that are accessible and useful. They discuss knowing when to walk away from long held classes, pre/post pandemic numbers and membership models, representations of asana, reverse classrooms and co-creative learning, retirement, parenting, filtering...

Rebecca Sebastian , host of the Working in Yoga Podcast and founder of Inside Yoga Magazine , returns to talk with J about challenges and possibilities for yoga professionals. They discuss data that confirms an industry contraction, getting lumped in with pilates, pivoting away from owning centers, transferrable skills, trade organizations, ethics around credentialing, value of spreadsheets, decen...

Chad Herst , author of The Performance Trap: The Ache No Success Will Ever Fix , talks with J about departing from deeply ingrained patterns and the nature of embodiment. They discuss coming to yoga through grief, going to Mysore in the early 90's, witnessing abuse, injuries, pressure to be successful, aftermath of fallen gurus, boom and bust of the industry, radical transparency, prana and apana,...

Leslie Kaminoff , co-author of Yoga Anatomy, returns to talk with J about his recent blog post on the impact of AI on creators and beyond. They discuss intellectual property theft, industrialized systems of deception, targeting of vulnerable populations, chair yoga, copyright violations, appropriate use of technology, individual sense of integrity, relating to language models, agential medical car...

Joe Simek , co-owner of Dragonfly Yoga , returns to talk with J about his inquiries into religion and the nature of non-duality. They discuss aspects of Quakerism and community-led worship, questions of good and evil, value systems, understanding the divine, the point of nonduality, personal relationship with God, everything as a blessing, drawing lines, devotion to the goddess, suffering and orie...

Paul JJ Alix , founder of Yoga for All , returns to talk with J about the future of his yoga business and the nature of karma. They discuss pricing for home studios, revenue streams and projected profits, people with money and those without, giving stuff away and valuing your work, karma, Ayn Rand, a mature vision of God, relationship to the divine, Desikachar and yoga sutras, teachings of Jesus,...

Will Revak , co-founder of Orawellness , talks with J about the oral microbiome and dental self-empowerment. They discuss common dental issues, periodontal disease myths, hidden lies in toothpaste labels, crystal nature of teeth, decay and enamel loss, choosing a dentist, statistics and outcomes, fluoride vs hydroxyapatite, mindful brushing, naturally sourced xylitol, the importance of saliva, nav...

Troy Hadeed , founder of Beyond Yoga and author of My Name Is Love: We're Not All That Different , talks with J about coming to know the love of God. They discuss Bob Marley and Jesus, interpretations and denominations, moving away from the church, connecting to Christ, yoga in Trinidad, Sean Corn, breath practice as prayer, divine agency, collective consciousness, questioning orthodoxy, slippery...

Grace Gessel , once founder of the Trauma-Conscious Yoga Method now offering faith-centered counseling at Through Faith Therapy , talks with J about leaving yoga and becoming a follower of Christ. They discuss religious trauma, being a public voice, questioning narratives around social justice and anti-racism, identity politics, church hypocrisy and exploitation, getting to the end of yourself, br...