Living Yoga with Darren Main

What is floatation? Floatation therapy is the act of floating on your back in 10 inches of a warm saltwater solution, in a lightproof and almost soundproof tank . Free from external stimulation and gravity, your body and mind quickly reach a state of relaxation and meditation. Many people float to relieve pain, to catch up on rest, to meditate, or to find creative inspiration. http://www.zazensf.c...

Swami Kriyananda, born J. Donald Walters (born May 19, 1926), is a direct disciple of the yogi Paramahansa Yogananda and had many hours of personal contact with him during the last four years of Yogananda\s life (1948 – 1952).[1] During this time Kriyananda became a minister for Self-Realization Fellowship, founded by Yogananda. Yogananda also asked him to teach Kriya Yoga, which Yogananda called...

Swami Kriyananda (J. Donald Walters) is one of the foremost spiritual teachers of Yoga principles in the world today. In 1948 at the age of twenty-two, he became a disciple of the Indian yoga master, Paramhansa Yogananda. He is one of a few remaining direct disciples of Yogananda teaching today. At Yogananda’s request, Swami Kriyananda has devoted his life to lecturing and writing, helping others...

Shahla Ettefagh has committed her life to assisting underprivileged children in India. she gave up her careers in USA and permanently relocated to India in 2002 to create Mother Miracle's Programs in slums of Rishikesh free of charge. Shahla Ettefagh has a master's degree in Architecture and a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology with an emphasis in child development. In 1984, she started...

Stacie-Saraswati Dooreck is a Certified Gentle Integral Yoga Instructor, Certified Sivananda Hatha Yoga Instructor Since 1995, and  a Certified Kundalini teacher.  Stacie used chair yoga while healing from an illness and continues to share with others the benefits of chair yoga. In 2011 she was featured on CBS Ch. 4 News Healthwatch teaching "Yoga for Seniors".  She created and leads SunLight Chai...

John L. Martin has served as Airport Director of SFO since 1995. Prior to becoming Director, he served as the Airport’s Deputy Director for Business and Finance and has worked for the Airport Commission since 1981. He received a Masters Degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lawrence University. During his tenure as Airport Director, Mr....

In this podcast Shayla Mihaly discussed her system to detox and cleanse without annoying shakes, powders, hunger or side effects.  Her system is affordable and will not interupt your daily life/routine.  To sign up for the cleanse go here:   http://CleanseEasy.com/summary Enter the code "ilovedarren" and enjoy your cleanse for 1/2 price! To watch the free educational videos on cleansing, go here: ...

Listen to an inspiring interview on how yoga teacher Janessa Wells survived sexual assault through yoga and ultimately found her own voice through forgiveness.  Her traumatic experience and journey of healing has shaped her teaching and the sharing of yoga with her students. Email: j@janessawells.com Website: janessawells.com Organizations: SF Women Against Rape  353 18th St. #7, San Francisco, CA...

History has demonstrated over and over again that humanity finds ways to utterly miss the punch line in God’s cosmic joke.  But every now and then an author comes along who finds humor in the divine and in doing so unveils profound truths that are easily hidden under layers of fundamentalism.  In this podcast, Tosha Silver reflects on her new book Outrageous Openness: Letting the Divine Take the L...

Most people think of the ancient practice of yoga as a purely physical one, but anyone who has maintained a deep practice for any length of time knows that the practice is even more intense on the psychological and emotional level.  In this podcast psychologist Marc Rappaport, MFT talks about the experience of becoming a yoga teacher and the profound yet intense psychological and emotional cleansi...

Since the 1960's incidents of eating disorders have more than doubled as people the world over struggle with weight, diet and body image.    In this interview, Sue Louiseau shares her struggles with food addiction that trace back more than sixty years to her early childhood.    At her heaviest, Sue weighted over 300 pounds and suffered many health consequences as a result.    While she still strug...

Since adopting my son, I have had many people approach me with questions.  How did you do it?  Was it hard to do?  Did anyone care that you were single, gay or HIV+? Why did you choose a local adoption over a foreign adoption?  Family Builders is the agency that I worked with to fulfill my longtime dream of becoming a father. In this podcast I interview Jill Jacobs, Executive Director of Family Bu...

All of us have a body and a gender identity, but few of us are forced to confront the depth of personal and cultural meaning these things hold. Author Nick Krieger shares his powerful story of self-discovery, growth, and empowerment.  Born Nina Krieger, Nick first identified as a lesbian only to realize that coming out sexually was only part of the journey.  Nina Here Nor There is not simply a mem...

Amrit Desai was one of the original gurus to come to the United States from India in the 1960s.  He founded the Kripalu Yoga Ashram in Massachusetts—the largest ashram in the West.   He, like most gurus, is not without controversy .  Yet in spite of the controversy, he has made an invaluable contribution to modern yoga and to the massive growth of yoga here in the West and he is considered one of...

Judith Hanson Lasater has been teaching yoga since 1971.  She has studied directly with B.K.S Iyengar, is a physical therapist and holds a Ph. D. in East-West psychology.    She has taught and lectured the world over and is one of the original founders of Yoga Journal.   In this podcast, Judith talks about the physiological difference between rest and sleep and how restorative yoga allows us to ta...

Les Leventhal is a popular San Francisco based yoga instructor who offers retreats and workshops around the world.  In this episode, Darren and Les talk about his upcoming retreat in Indonesia where he and his students will help Bumi Sehat, a natural birthing clinic which helps the poor families of the community who were being taken advantage of by the medical system.  By helping those in need, Le...

Eric Maisel is a former novelist and psychological counselor turned creative coach with over 30 published books.  In this episode Darren and Eric discuss Mastering Creative Anxiety: 24 Lessons for Writers, Painters, Musicians, and Actors from America's Foremost Creativity Coach.   Through Eric’s 22 anxiety management techniques, we can help ours open up to the creative anxiety  that all creative w...

Dan Millman is a former world champion athlete, university coach, martial arts instructor, and college professor.  After an intensive, twenty-year spiritual quest, Dan’s teaching found its form as the Peaceful Warrior’s Way, expressed fully in his books and lectures. His work continues to evolve over time, to meet the needs of a changing world.  Dan’s thirteen books, including  Way of the Peaceful...

Sam Jackson is a renowned musician who’s pioneering work with the crystal singing bowls has become the sound track in hundreds of yoga classes and massage therapy offices.  The tones vibrate the listener to the core and frequently move people to deep states of meditation and evoke powerful emotions.  In this podcast Sam talks about his new CD Initiate: Crystal Bowls and Bamboo Flutes.   Resources...

Jeffrey Small, Jr. is the author of the mystical thriller, The Breath of God, a popular blogger on Huffington Post , and an acclaimed speaker on religious and spirituality topics.  A student of world religions, Jeffrey has studied at Harvard and Yale and traveled the globe to study various religions.  In addition he is a successful real estate developer and champion amateur ballroom dancer along w...

Kamini Desai is an author and teacher with an exciting and versatile body of teachings combining western psychology and eastern philosophy. In addition to assisting individuals towards higher levels of physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, she delivers corporate training and conducts teacher trainings for the Amrita Yoga Institute. Kamini talks about growing up in an ashram, in the shadow of h...

Amrit Desai was one of the original gurus to come to the United States from India in the 1960s.  He founded the Kripalu Yoga Ashram in Massachusetts—the largest ashram in the West. He, like most gurus, is not without controversy .  Yet in spite of the controversy, he has made an invaluable contribution to modern yoga and to the massive growth of yoga here in the West and he is considered one of th...

For thousands of years yoga masters have understood the connection between the breath and ones physical, emotional and mental health.  But because retraining old breathing patterns can be a difficult task, these powerful techniques were generally reserved for advanced yogis.  Nagabhushanam "Bobby" Peddi believes it is time to change that and he is using the iPhone and iPod to make the ancient art...

If  you wander the lush, green hills surrounding San Francisco, you may be lucky enough to encounter the  hauntingly beautiful music of Lee Ellen Shoemaker, also known as The Tunnel Singer.  Lee Ellen uses abandoned World War I  military tunnels to chant, play Tibetan bowels and create mind-altering music.  She has recorded numerous CD’s and is world renown for her unique vocals. Resources Tunnel...

There are few issues more vexing than relationships for those wishing to walk a spiritual path—at the same time relationships that are rooted in mindfulness and compassion can be the most rewarding aspects of life.   In this podcast psychotherapist and meditation practitioner Cameron Yarbrough MA, MTFi discusses the intersection between spirituality and relationships and how to begin, mindfully li...