The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga

In this final wrap up episode, Jivana offers an overview of his book,  The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga ,  and highlights a few topics that are of particular importance to him. Whether you’ve read the book or not, this episode addresses many key elements in making yoga accessible for yoga teachers and yoga therapists. Join Jivana as he quickly reviews all the chapters in his book a...

How does being a student of yoga translate into teaching yoga? Loving the practice and wanting to share it with others is at the heart of becoming a teacher. As a teacher, you also continue learning and evolving, deepening your own understanding and practice. This journey of teaching and learning is a continuous cycle that enriches both teacher and students. In this podcast episode, Jivana talks w...

“All we're doing is preparing for that moment, where grace just drops in." - Tracee Stanley The subtle practices of yoga, like yoga nidra and meditation, are among the most accessible forms of yoga. When we release the burden of expectation around these practices and realize there is no perfect form or outcome, we can discover their gifts. Join Jivana Heyman and guest, Tracee Stanley, as they expl...

According to the yoga teachings, pranayama is among the most powerful practice we have. Yet, many of the common breathing practices are taught in ways that are not accessible or trauma-informed. How can teachers make pranayama more accessible to their students? In this episode Jivana and guest, Melissa Shah, offer advice for creating a safe and nurturing environment for the practice of pranayama....

Initially, Shavasana may seem like a simple posture. But, when we approach the practice with a little more depth, we can discover a powerful restorative practice with profound and multifaceted benefits. In this podcast episode, Jivana talks with guest, Shawn Moore, about ways to make Shavasana more inclusive and supportive for everyone. Shawn shares insights into the transformative nature of Shava...

“Yoga is about embodiment, which is freeing, but a lot of us have experienced a level of disembodiment in the aftermath of trauma.” - Nityda Gessel Trauma manifests in our body and affects how our nervous system responds to external situations. Yoga teachers should be aware that asking students to connect deeply with themselves can be challenging due to trauma.  Join Jivana and this episode’s...

Asana serves as a gateway to inner transformation, offering not just physical benefits but also profound connections to the mind, emotions, and spirit. When explored through the lens of accessibility, a deeper understanding of asana can unfold.  What do yoga teachers need to know to make asana more accessible for their students? Join Jivana and this episode’s guest, Avery Kalapa, as they desc...

“There's almost never a singular way in a pose that we're going deep into, that I'm trying to get everyone to do…there's this range, you have to play within this range and figure out which one doesn't work and which one does work best.” – Jason Crandell Each student is an expert in their own body and lived experience. By collaborating with students with a focus on outcomes over strict techniques,...

Yoga and business can feel contradictory at times, but there is a way to put yoga into practice in your work as a yoga teacher. Incorporating yogic philosophy into how you market yourself and run your business can revolutionize the way yoga is offered and perceived and foster inclusivity and trust within the yoga community. Join Jivana and this episode’s podcast guest, Tristan Katz, as they explor...

What is the difference between giving commands and inviting exploration in a yoga class? How can yoga teachers allow students to be their own authority over their bodies and practice? These questions relate to power and consent, and sharing power and promoting a culture of consent is fundamental to making yoga accessible and equitable.  In this podcast episode, Jivana Heyman and guest, M Came...

In yoga culture, teachers are often placed up on pedestals, creating an unequal power dynamic. So, what happens when teachers get down from the pedestal and learn alongside the student? When teaching is approached as a practice, a collaborative and intuitive relationship with the student can be formed and opportunities for growth discovered.   Join Jivana Heyman and this episode’s guest,...

“Yoga is a destruction process. It's taking away all that stuff that we've picked up, and we thought is us and that we've just hung on to, and it's dismantling that.”   – Shanna Small Society teaches us to seek external validation to feel complete. Yoga teaches us that we are already whole, full and complete. Through yoga, we can dismantle false beliefs and recognize the connection betwe...

Teaching yoga is a great privilege and responsibility! With an ethical approach that includes compassion, respect, boundaries, and clarity, yoga teachers can honor the gift of yoga, exemplify the yoga teachings, and share their best selves with the world.  In this podcast episode, Jivana and guest Judith Hanson Lasater talk about guidelines for ethical teaching, creating a relationship with s...

What is the purpose of a yoga practice? This simple, but powerful inquiry, can help take us to the essence of yoga. When we go beyond technique and approach yoga as a philosophy, we honor this ancient tradition and form a deeper understanding of our practice as a purposeful act.  Join Jivana and this episode’s guest, Indu Arora, as they delve into the delicate balance between tradition and in...

In the early days of yoga, a student had to study for decades before becoming a teacher. Today, a person can become a yoga teacher with little time and experience. So how can teachers gain deep experience to be inclusive and authentic in their teaching?  In this podcast episode, Jivana talks with Anjali Rao, who wrote the foreword for  The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga . Anjali talk...

Our culture presents yoga as primarily a physical practice for flexible, thin, white bodies — and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Yoga is for everyone, and yoga teachers are truly on the front lines of a major trans­formation in the world. Yoga instructors hold in their hands the tools to change lives, and in turn, entire communities.  The potential is really awe-inspiring. The quest...

Jivana wraps Season 1 of the Yoga Revolution Podcast by reflecting on the writing, publishing, and promotional process he’s experienced over the past couple years. He shares about his history and experiences with both activism and yoga, including his first introduction to the practice (his grandmother), and how his connection to the practice has grown and changed throughout life. He also hints at...

As this season of the Yoga Revolution Podcast comes to a close, Jivana chats with Beth Frankl, the editor of his two books,  Accessible Yoga and Yoga Revolution,  the book that inspired this podcast. Beth is an Executive Editor at Shambhala Publications, where she has worked for more than 23 years. She and Jivana discuss the book writing and publishing process, including where...

This week M Camellia joins Jivana to take a deep dive into how we can challenge the norms and “rules” of Westernized yoga culture and co-create a culture that focuses on collective, rather than just individual, liberation. M Camellia (they/them) is a fat, queer, non-binary, neuro-emergent yoga teacher, writer, and advocate, called to create profoundly accessible spaces for self-inquiry. They belie...

This week’s guest, Octavia Raheem, teaches us to slow down, prioritize rest, and honor our varied human experiences. Octavia is a mother, author of "Gather," yoga teacher, and founder of Starshine & Clay Online Yoga and Meditation Studio for Black Women and Women of Color. A deep listener and truth teller, Octavia is a gatherer and space holder for rest and awakening. As a teacher and leader s...

This week Marc Settembrino joins Jivana for a powerful conversation about living in a larger body, reclaiming the word "fat," righteous anger, and the disconnect between capitalism and the yogic teachings. Marc is a fat-queer educator, researcher, and yoga facilitator based in Hammond, LA, who envisions a world that celebrates diversity and promotes dignity. In 2018 Marc created Fat Kid Yoga Club,...

Mei Lai Swan joins Jivana to discuss what it means to experience deep interconnectedness, the ethics of yoga, systemic and cultural trauma, and trauma-informed yoga teaching. Born on the unceded indigenous lands of Australia, Mei Lai Swan is the founder of social enterprise yoga school Yoga for Humankind, offering specialized trainings in Trauma-Informed Yoga and Embodied Social Change. Dedicated...

This week  Itzel Berrio Hayward joins Jivana Heyman for a warm and dynamic conversation about our innate divinity, finding unity in diversity, and the relationship between social justice and yoga.  Itzel is a compassionate and fierce advocate for love. After serving as a public policy lawyer for 13 years, Itzel left her legal career and founded Attuned Living, a mindfulness and well...

This week Jivana shares a heartfelt conversation about yoga service with teacher Adrian Molina. Adrian has been teaching yoga since 2004 and has an extensive worldwide following through his platform and school of yoga, Warrior Flow. Even with his wide-ranging reach, Adrian remains humble, warm, and dedicated to using the tools and practices of yoga to benefit others. He is also a writer,...

On Episode 12 of Yoga Revolution, despite a few connection issues along the way, Jivana and De Jur Jones share a moving conversation about teaching yoga in prisons, trauma-informed yoga, generational trauma, and yoga service. A yoga devotee since 2001, De Jur attended Loyola Marymount University’s Yoga Therapy program and teaches a therapeutic style of yoga suitable for most students. Along with h...