Common Ground: On the Yoga Path

In today's episode, we discuss Bhakti yoga, one of the 5 pathways. Bhakti yoga is the path of love and surrender. Bhakti is a very deep and intense emotion of love of the devotee for the Divine, but as we talked about during the episode the Divine is whatever you decide and resonate wholeheartedly with. ----- Join Lianna, Janna, Meeraj, and Sydney to explore how most of (y)our yoga practice ha...

This week's episode discusses Karma yoga as one of the 5 pathways.  Karma, in this instance, means "action." The path of Karma Yoga is "the yoga of action, the path of selfless service."   To be genuinely selfless can be challenging. We share personal struggles and stories of inaction in an effort to be transparent with you all and to show that this doesn't just occur overnight. Karma yo...

We discuss Hatha yoga as one of the five pathways. Although this was not one we all learned as a pathway, we can all agree it is the gateway to the other paths in the western world. Is that a bad thing? We don't think so! Let us know your journey with Hatha if you have one or if you're curious about learning more! ----- Join Lianna, Janna, Meeraj, and Sydney to explore how most of (y)our yoga prac...

Enjoy 5-minute breath, meditation, and mantra practices in between the regular episodes! Let's practice viloma breathing or "against the natural flow" breathing on the exhales. How do you feel being empty in this way? ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever students) as we chat candidly about h...

Today we dive into the 5 Kleshas (Sanskrit for "poisons or "afflictions"). They are negative mental patterns that cloud our true nature and ultimately cause suffering. Sounds fun, right?  But there are paths to remembering our true nature! The 4 paths of yoga help us to re-establish our connection to Oneness. Karma, Bhakti, Raja, and Jnana yoga. Let's dive in!  ----- Join Lianna, Janna,...

What happens after dharma is established? Or does it all come back around at some point? Today we explore the four Purusharthas or the "object of human pursuit" found in ancient the Vedic texts. Dharma leads the way as we explore artha (material security), kama (material happiness), and moksha (spiritual liberation). How can these aims lead you to your purpose, and how can your purpose lead you to...

It is said that all beings must accept their dharma to exist in order and harmony. So how do we discern our purpose and path? A favorite quote from our discussion today is, "It's basically a trust fall with yourself." Listen now and let us know what you think! ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and fo...

As we approach the end of the first month of 2023, we take a look back at what we set out to do at the beginning of it. What goals did you set for yourself, or resolutions even? Did you put steps in place to make them achievable? How is it all going? We discuss what being in-process looks like, what we see on social media, how to step back and check-in with what is actually going on instead of see...

First, we pause in the question. What do you think? We explore definitions of wellness, why we begin the journey in the first place, the fine line of seeking community and losing self agency, and how yoga really isn't for everyone. Tune in and let us know your thoughts. Perhaps you have an answer that we don't! ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the fou...

Enjoy 5-minute breath, meditation, and mantra practices in between the regular episodes! This mantra practice, led by Lianna, helps us embrace the truth of what is. ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever students) as we chat candidly about how our yoga lives unfold on and off the mat. We share...

Today we discussed a big topic: FAILURE. How can we become more comfortable with "failing" as a part of the process of learning and growth? Any time you try something new, failure is inevitable.  We dive into thoughts on The Bhagavad Gita, perfectionism, relationships, and more! ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join fo...

What happens when you begin to examine new routines alongside your depth of commitment? It's the new year and that means new intentions for how we each want to be in this world. Whether it's your word of the year, a resolution, a goal you set, or something you are simply curious about, let's explore what it means to actually stick with it. Let's also look at giving ourselves a little bit of grace...

How can you bring yoga with you as you spend time with devices and social media? In this episode, we explore what technology actually is, how it's always existed, and how to see it not as a crutch, but as a tool for greater expansion and evolution. ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever studen...

Different than a goal or resolution, a word of the year is chosen by how you want to feel. So, what do you want to feel in 2023? In this episode, we further discuss what this practice is and where it came from, how to choose one, previous years, and ways to keep it present. ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga te...

The end of the year is near, often prompting us to revisit our resolutions. Also, the start of a new year is around the corner potentially inviting us to set new ones! In each process, it is helpful to ask... What does success look like?  We discuss defining success on your terms, how often times the journey is not so black and white, share some personal examples, a mantra, and more!  Li...

Enjoy 5-minute breath, meditation, and mantra practices in between the regular episodes! This breath practice, led by Janna, encourages an energy shift to give you a boost. ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever students) as we chat candidly about how our yoga lives unfold on and off the mat....

"Instant gratification is a term that refers to the temptation, and resulting tendency, to forego a future benefit in order to obtain a less rewarding but more immediate benefit." Why do we make easy decisions that may not be the most beneficial long term? We dive into how/why instant gratification shows up, discomfort and resistance (and how they can lead to growth), delayed gratification, and mo...

We have arrived at the very last niyama, Isvara Pranidhana, often understood as surrendering to a supreme being or our truest self. In practice, we learn how to cultivate trust and how to let go of control. We discuss surrender and what that means today, how to observe the walls we build in protection that may obstruct this niyama, how it shows up for us personally, worry/rumination, AND there's v...

The next niyama, Svadhyaya, is often understood as self-study. By paying close attention or "studying" ourselves, we become more aware of who we are, and who we are not.  “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the Self” – The Bhagavad Gita  In this episode, we discuss different avenues of self-study, pride, music, labels, and experience some real a-ha moments toward the e...

Today we dive into the next niyama, tapas. In Sanskrit "tap" means "to burn" so we think of tapas as a fiery discipline or passion. In this episode, we chat about the word discipline and how it can feel full of possibilities, rather than a punishment. We discuss how tapas helps light us up and burn away the impurities holding us back, the importance of controlled burns, how tapas involves courage,...

Today we discuss the Niyama Santosha, loosely translated to contentment. We chat about the surface level of what this means, and also dive in to some ways contentment (or the opposite!) show up on and off the mat. For example, do you say "I'll be happy when..." Do you buy things and then have buyer's remorse? We discuss these and more!  Is feeling content currently part of your life? Where do...

Enjoy 5-minute breath, meditation, and mantra practices in between the regular episodes! This meditation practice, led by Sydney, might bring a little smile to your face. ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever students) as we chat candidly about how our yoga lives unfold on and off the mat. We...

Listen to why Saucha, the first Niyama, is about more than simply cleaning your space! Listen and let us know, do you see how it can be like a "clean slate"? How does this Niyama show up for you?  ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever students) as we chat candidly about how our yoga live...

Janna gives an overview of the Niymas, the 2nd limb of yoga in the Yoga Sutras. The Niymas transition us from the last few weeks of studying and discussing and discovering the Yamas, which are our outer behaviors and attitudes to the world to now our inner behaviors and observances of our selves. This week, how can you begin to observe yourself through an objective lens. What do you see? ----- Thi...

Closing out the Yamas this week and reflecting on how they are a part of all of us. ----- This podcast explores how most of (y)our yoga practice happens outside of the four walls of a studio. Join four yoga teachers (and forever students) as we chat candidly about how our yoga lives unfold on and off the mat. We share from the heart about our experience of yoga philosophies and other traditions an...