JivaChaiChat

The path that led Gianni to yoga started at the age of 17, where he took his first asana class in Napoli, Italy. Gianni has been practicing yoga for over 15 years and for the past 7 years he has been sharing his passion and love with his students in Europe and across south east Asia and India. Gianni has studied Hatha yoga in Rishikesh, India. He then explored the world of Vinyasa and Yin Yoga in...

When Céline was 18, she was plagued by back pain, which led her to start practicing yoga. She quickly noticed positive changes on physical and mental levels. Céline not only felt lighter and more flexible, but also more balanced and calm. In 2006, she discovered Jivamukti Yoga. What fascinated Céline was the modern way of practicing yoga, rooted in tradition. It became clear to her that Jivamukti...

Born and raised in Madrid, Rebeca first heard about yoga as a child from her grandmother, a dedicated practitioner and teacher in the 80s. However, it wasn’t until years later, while living in Sydney, that she truly discovered her own path through the transformative practice of Jivamukti Yoga. After every session, she felt a sense of clarity and calm that sparked a deep desire to dive even deeper...

Duncan shares with us tales from his transformational journey into becoming a modern mystic. He joins us at the Chai Cafe to describe nature's influence on his spirituality, the connection between yoga and martial arts, energy management as an empath, and the relationship between monogamy and tantra. Duncan Wong is one-of-a-kind and not to be missed! Duncan teaches at Form Yoga Studio in Kyoto...

Tim. What can be said? He's obviously lived a life, and that life led him to yoga. He started his yogic pursuits in 2009 at Union Square Jivamukti Yoga...and from there, well, listen in to our conversation and find out what it means to be a householder yogi. The way he talks about his kids and mother will make you realize the fruits of a yoga journey. Tim's website Follow Tim on Instagram

Dawn comes into the Chai Shop and has a nice chat outlining a path of self-discovery and internal inquiry since the age of 21. Dawn shares her journey from a troubled childhood marked by bullying and abuse to finding solace in yoga and philosophy, culminating in her participation in the Jiva Mukti training in Costa Rica.  Between sips of chai, Dawn talks about teaching yoga and philosophy to a com...

Durga Devi, the name given to Denise by her beloved teachers, Sharon Gannon and David Life, is a former dancer and competitive gymnast who grew up in New York City.  After high school, she studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and hung out in Manhattan's East Village, soaking up the downtown music and art scene, which inspired her to take up guitar and become a singer/s...

This episode has been a long time coming, and it was worth the wait. Some people have stories...Duncan has EPICS! Seriously, one of the most fabulous guys around. In this episode, Sensei Wong opens up about his childhood, his early days in the San Francisco yoga scene, meeting Sharon and David, the importance of adjustments, meeting Shri Brahmananda, traveling to Mysore, how to annoy Madonna in th...

Clare’s interest in yoga was ignited as a child when she was introduced to the Mahabharata; she fell in love with the stories and the philosophies woven throughout. Since 2001, Clare has practiced asana and views the physical practice as a way to undo the habits we hold in our bodies and release the past, creating space for the future. Clare began teaching in 2005 with a British Wheel of Yoga Dipl...

Peter Rizzo is a yogi's yogi (a real one, as the kids would say.) Residing in Vermont, Peter’s teachings and lifestyle are deeply rooted in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the vinyasa principles he learned from Sharon Gannon and David Life. He offers private lessons and small group classes, both in-person and online. Treat yourself to an "old school vinyasa class," as Peter likes to...

Mild technical issues during this interview. Please accept my apologies that I wasn't able to smooth out all the rough edges; however, the lessons that Mark gives are worth the minor inconveniences. Mark Stevens started practising Yoga at art school in 1986 after a career in motorcycle road racing, which left him with a body badly in need of rehabilitation! After leaving art school, he worked...

Originally from Woodstock, NY, Catherine has been teaching yoga since 2017 after completing the 300-hour Jivamukti training in India, followed by an additional 500-hour apprenticeship with senior teacher Jules Febre. Catherine taught at Jivamukti NYC before its closing in 2019 and has since co-led two yoga teacher trainings and taught in large and small studios around the country.  Catherine is al...

Schalk started practicing yoga in 2000 after moving from South Africa to Germany. His practice deepened immensely once he discovered Jivamukti Yoga in New York in 2007. He completed the Jivamukti Teachers Training in 2011 with Sharon Gannon, David Life, and Lady Ruth—a life-transforming experience. He is an 800-hour Advanced Certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher, having completed his apprenticeship in...

Luis is an Advanced Certified Jivamukti yoga teacher. He trained with the method's founders, Gannon and David Life, in New York and later received his Advanced Certification from Ruth Lauer Manenti in Munich. Luis trained as an actor and singer in London and started practicing yoga in 2007 while at drama school to support his body through movement and dance training. However, the effect on the...

Katchie Ananda has been with Jivamukti since its early days. Originally a student, she became a teacher at the 2nd Avenue Center after Shyamdas encouraged Sharon to hire her. Katchie has lived in Switzerland, Brazil, New York City, San Francisco, and now resides in South Dakota with her husband, Joshua, and their dog, Naya. Katchie is certified in Anusara, Jivamukti, and Integral Yoga, and she has...

She's friendly, she's from the Midwest, and she wants her students to get closer to God. What's not to like? Come into the Chai Shop and get to know Amanda van Kessel. Amanda first heard the phrase, “yoga is politics and politics is yoga” from Seane Corn in 2016. Since then, through a series of *random* events, yoga became her organizing principle, a non-negotiable and constant source of guidance...

Yogesvara / Joshua M. Greene is a treasure to the Jivamukti Community. At age twenty, Joshua was initiated as Yogesvara dasa by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In 1982, after living thirteen years in ashrams of India and Europe, Yogesvara returned to New York and started a career in film, producing childr...

Andrea is a sincere and benevolent teacher, who is a grounding presence, fierce, intuitive, and sweet. Her classes are challenging, musical, and creative, with an emphasis on slow, deep, and equal breathing, and teachings grounded in life experience and yoga philosophy. The seamless sequencing of her classes is fluid and reflects her knowledge of the body and rhythm through many years of dance and...

Tim is a health and wellness professional with over 25 years of experience, Tim helps people live their happiest lives by working with them to be their healthiest. Tim brings his unique sensitivity and energetic balance to the Embodied Masculine community, with experience across a wide range of men’s work modalities – including group facilitation, 1-on-1 coaching, breathwork, embodiment, asana, vi...

Kiki Flynn began her yoga studies in 1983 as a student in theater and dance at New York University. Living in Downtown New York as a young theater artist, she soon studied, and then taught at Jivamukti Yoga. In 1993, she first studied AshtangaYoga with Pattabhi Jois in his ground breaking classes in NYC. In 1995 she began the first of more than a dozen visits to Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in...

Marni is a delight. Join us in the chai shop and find out why. We talk about old school Jivamukti, offering veganism in a graceful way, David and Sharon, and sticking to yoga when you're at a crossroad in life. More Marni here Follow Marni on Instagram

The one and only Moritz. Follow Moritz on Instagram. Take a class at his (and his husband's) studio => Peace Yoga Berlin Jivamukti Yoga Studio Moritz on Spotify Moritz Ulrich is the Co-Director of Peace Yoga Berlin – Jivamukti Yoga School, an Advanced certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher, and a Medical Doctor. After having practiced almost daily for several years, studying with different teache...

Nick joins Chris in the Chai Shop where they talk about introducing Jivamukti Yoga into an established studio, the challenges of owning a business, and the joys of studentship. Nick co-owns M3Yoga with his adorable husband Nick. M3Yoga will be hosting the Spiritual Warrior Training in October => more info here Follow Nick on Instagram More about Nick - Nick hails from the DC metro area where he...

Follow Purnima on Instagram Purnima Maria Langen is an Island Girl from Hawaii who moved to the Island of NYC, where she discovered her passion and path in life as a Jivamukti Yoga Teacher. She became inspired to become a Jivamukti Yoga teacher after taking classes at Gold’s Gym with Sandhi Gayatri Ferreira. Her focus and devotion to the discipline of Kung Fu helped her transition to the disciplin...

Katie Rose is an advanced-level Jivamukti Yoga Teacher with the highest possible accreditations with Yoga Alliance and Yoga Australia and has taught yoga for over twenty years.   Katie is a published author of several books (her newest Trust Life, Trust Yourself, Find Peace can be found here ). Follow Katie Rose on Instagram Katie's website => bhaktirose.com.au