Yoga for real life

In the final episode of Season 1, Olivia Wilson Smith returns to the podcast to talk about self-compassion and why we need it now. Episode highlights include: Defining self-compassion and identifying what self-compassion is not An overview of Kristen Neff's book, Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself Self-compassion practices Olivia's and Emily's experiences practicing self-c...

Kati Buckner, Charlotte-based yoga teacher, joins Emily on the podcast this week for a continuation of their anatomy discussions. In this episode, Kati relates the eight-limbed yogic path to the body's major systems. Episode highlights include: An overview of the eight-limbed path, including: yamas (abstinences), niyamas (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (withdrawl)...

Kim Weeks, of Weeks Well, joins Emily on the podcast for an in-depth conversation about yoga lineage and why it matters. Kim is a Certified Iyengar Yoga and Registered Yoga School with 25 years of experience in yoga, mindfulness, and also business. From her website, Kim works "in direct, real-life experience, research, and a deep respect for study and lineage." Episode highlights include: Kim's in...

Natalie Piet joins Emily on the podcast for a discussion of Ayurveda. This episode is a continuation of Episode 49: Introduction to Ayurveda. In this episode, Natalie discusses ways we can embrace our current constitution to bring consciousness and balance to our lives. Episode highlights include: An introduction to Panchakarma Benefits of self massage An overview of the 5 elements (earth, air, fi...

Nichol Walters of the Ahava Yoga Collective in Greensboro, NC joins Emily on the podcast for the fourth of a 5-part series of the yamas, the first limb of the yogic path. In this episode, we focus on brahmacharya (non-excess) from a variety of perspectives related to our practice on and off the mat. Episode highlights include: Identifying what is "just enough:" not excessive but also not...

Mindy Eisenberg, yoga therapist specializing in multiple sclerosis in the Detroit, MI area, joins Emily on the podcast for a conversation about breathwork, which has become a passion for her. Episode highlights include: How Mindy became interested in breathwork How breathwork is so essential for an anxious, stressed society Challenges with teaching breathing in online settings Students' concer...

Tristin Miller, visual artist and USA Level 1 Weightlifting coach in Greensboro, NC, joins Emily on the podcast to talk about trauma-informed weight lifting. Highlights include: Tristin's background as a visual artist and how that influenced her experience as an athlete and coach Why Tristin started strength training and her experience in this often male-dominated world How weightlifting can be tr...

I'm traveling this week, so I'm sharing a listener favorite in case you missed this one. Check back next week for a new episode! In our last episode of 2022, I talked with Olivia Wilson Smith, who I met a few months ago at a workshop with Nichol at the Ahava Yoga Collective. Olivia kindly offered to be a guest on the podcast to talk about her work teaching yoga to children at Youth Focus, a local...

Kati Buckner is back on the podcast for a beginner-friendly deep dive into anatomy basics. Topics include: Muscle actions: concentric, eccentric, and isometric Joint actions: abduction, adduction, flexion, and extension Why this is important for yoga students and teachers and how to apply this in your practice. Be sure to check out Kati's other episodes: 65. Kati and Emily: Body awareness for ever...

Detroit-based yoga teacher and practitioner Shelley Shindler joins Emily on the podcast this week for a lovely conversation about Shelley's experiences as a yoga teacher and practitioner. Episode highlights include: Shelley's introduction to yoga and experiences in Anusara yoga How feminism influenced Shelley's spiritual practice Intertwining Jewish mysticism and yogic philosophy The importance of...

In this episode, Emily talks with her mom about her mom's journey into yoga as a way to promote spinal health and develop body awareness. Highlights include: Joyce's yoga beginnings taking a body awareness class  A fun discussion about leotards, leg warmers, and "slimnastics" in the 80s Transitioning to practicing in a gym setting to a yoga studio in the 90s Joyce's experience with scoliosis begin...

Ron and Emily talk about challenges that arise with living your practice off the mat and how we've worked with them. Enjoy! Email Ron and Emily your thoughts at ⁠⁠⁠⁠yogawithemilyrex@gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our email list: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://eepurl.com/icOan9⁠⁠⁠⁠   Yoga with emily rex website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://sites.google.com/view/emilyrexyoga/home⁠⁠

Brandon Joyner, yoga teacher in Greensboro, NC, joins Emily on the podcast to talk about minority representation in yoga. Episode highlights include: Inclusivity through the simple act of reaching out How vulnerability and accountability affect inclusivity The importance of taking yoga out of the studio setting Equity in yoga offerings for children, adults, and teacher trainings How working for eq...

Kati Buckner is back on the podcast for a fun episode about what we promised not to call yoga anatomy for yoga practitioners and teachers. Episode highlights include: Defining proprioception and interoception and why they are important on and off the mat Benefits for both yoga practitioners of having a basic understanding of anatomy How understanding anatomy helps teachers create more skillful seq...

Nichol Walters of the Ahava Yoga Collective joins Emily on the podcast this week for the third in a 5-part series on the yamas (outer observances). In this episode we discuss asteya (non-stealing) and the surprising complexity of this topic in our relationships with ourselves and others. ⁠Episode 48. Yamas series: Taking a broad view of ahimsa (non-harming)⁠ Episode 58: Yamas series: Living boldly...

Beth Hansen, founder of Lark Fitness Company in Greensboro, NC, joins Emily on the podcast this week to talk about inclusive fitness culture and creating a healthy life-"style." Episode highlights include: How Beth got into the fitness world after breaking her back Lark Fitness Company's values and "four agreements" Connections between fitness companies like Lark that have values statements and yo...

Jane Cable, longtime friend and yoga teacher in Asheville, NC, joins Ron and Emily in this episode to talk about using the breath to inform both our yoga practice and how we care for ourselves. Episode highlights include: How we can use the breath as a guide not only for asana (yoga postures) but for all of our interactions throughout our day How surrender makes space for new growth Why each of us...

Ron is back on the podcast this week for a short episode about choosing the right practice for your day to day. This is an addendum to our popular episode about this topic. Episode highlights include: A recap of our previous episode: 11. What's the best practice for you right now? How daily sadhana, including our yoga, meditation, and self-study practices, inform our interactions with ourselve...

It was such a pleasure to have the opportunity to talk with Dawn Leonard who is a women’s wellness educator and yoga teacher in Greensboro, North Carolina. Episode highlights: How Dawn used yoga practices to heal her body and through her pregnancy. How women can use spirituality and sacred healing practices for embodiment and empowerment. Dawn's approach to her work as a women's wellness educator,...

Longtime friend and yoga teacher Erin Betlej joins Emily on the podcast to talk about her experience weaving together her work in yoga and Christian ministry. Episode highlights: How Erin finds the divine on her yoga mat by working with the breath, body, and spirit Weaving together yogic practices and philosophy into ministry. Erin's experience coming up against resistance to referencing God in yo...

Nichol Walters of the Ahava Yoga Collective joins Emily on the podcast this week for the second in a 5-part series on the yamas (outer observances). In this episode we discuss satya (truthfulness) and what it means to live boldly through the process of being true to oneself in order to be truthful to others. We had some technical issues at the end of the episode, so it's a bit of an abrupt end...

Brandon Joyner, yoga teacher in Greensboro, North Carolina, joins Emily on the podcast to talk about his yoga journey and African American male representation in the yoga community. Episode highlights include: How yoga helped Brandon cope with the loss of his father and grandparents Brandon's journey into teacher training by way of a BIPOC scholarship Being an African American male yoga studen...

Carey Sims, our guest from episode 32, is back on the podcast this week! Although we had intended to talk about the power imbalances and problematic guru figures in some of the yoga lineages, Carey moved the conversation forward to talk about finding universality, connection, and equity in yoga. If you haven't listened to Carey's first episode on the podcast, be sure to check out Episode 3...

A brief and informal episode with Ron and Emily discussing yoga and food, including suggestions for what to eat before and after practice, navigating a vegan diet, and how practicing ahimsa can inform not only our food choices but our interactions with others and the environment. Email Ron and Emily your thoughts at ⁠yogawithemilyrex@gmail.com⁠ Subscribe to our email list: ⁠http://eepurl.com/icOan...

In this episode, Kati and Emily talk about the process of creating the teacher training using the Yoga Alliance standards and take a little time to reflect on months of work we did together to create Kati's Sit Well Yoga School. Other highlights include: Our differing thoughts about when is the best time to take a teacher training. Some guidance on how to choose a teacher training based on your pe...