Yoga Matters Podcast

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) The Manipura Chakra is all about personal power, confidence, and transformation. In this episode, we explore the "solar plexus" energy center in a lighthearted and accessible way, breaking down ancient wisdom into practical insights anyone can understand. We dive into the psychological dimensions of this...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this sequence of podcasts we are discussing the 7 Chakras. This week's episode is on the second Chakra, Svadhisthana, which refers to the Chakra thought to reside around the abdomen or diaphragm area of the body. This Chakra is related to emotions, flexibility and creativity, governing our ability to experi...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode, we dive deep into the Muladhara Chakra—the first of the seven chakras we introduced in a previous episode. This foundational chakra focuses on grounding, physical health, stability, and building the inner strength that supports everything else in your life. We approach this topic in an accessible w...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode, we explore the concept of core values—the fundamental qualities and principles that guide how we see ourselves, connect with others, and navigate the world. We discuss how identifying your core values can help clarify your priorities and provide a framework for making meaningful decisions in your l...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode, we explore the principle of self-concept and distinguish it from self-image. While self-image focuses on how we perceive our external qualities, self-concept delves deeper into the core of our identity—how we understand and relate to our inner being. We discuss practical ways to examine what drives...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Not sure what to expect from a Learn Live Give retreat? In this episode, we discuss and break down the common concerns that hold people back from booking their first yoga retreat and give you an insider's look at the actual experience. Whether you're drawn to our half-day sessions, full-day workshops, wee...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we talk about samskaras, which are habits, tendencies and habitual processes that drive our actions and behaviours. Some of these can be beneficial and some can be detrimental, but both create ruts of repetitive behaviour, which can be addressed and changed if desired. We talk about the whole concep...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) The lotus flower is a symbol frequently used in yoga. You will no doubt have seen it on yoga imagery, imbedded in mandalas, as part of diagrams for philosophies such as the chakras and almost certainly inked onto yoga instructors' skin! But what does it really represent and what can the principles of the lotus...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss Somatics - a practice that can enhance the connection between the mind and the body for improved overall health and well-being. It involves multiple elements such as movement, sensing, and awareness to improve physical and mental well-being by re-educating the nervous system and addressin...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This episode explores the art of reducing future suffering—particularly the kind we unconsciously create for ourselves. By cultivating awareness, we gain the power to recognize and lessen the unnecessary pain that might otherwise shape our days ahead. Our discussion centers on the yoga sutra Heyam Dukham Anagatam ,...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss what yoga calls the three laws of nature, or, the Gunas. These are present in all aspects of nature, and affect everything. It's a scale (or spectrum) of energy, with low heavy slow energy at one end, fast fiery energy at the other, and balanced calm energy sitting in the middle. It&...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This is a discussion about allowing yourself to go a bit deeper into yoga than you have previously been... allowing yourself to relax more into a posture, delve deeper into an aspect of theory, or allow a meditation to take yo to a place you have not experienced before. It's about letting go a little bit more,...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we talk about listening... properly listening.  There are various levels of listening that we are all capable (and sometimes guilty) of; from not really listening at all, to truly digesting what is not even being said. There's actually a bonus 8th layer of listening that Emma mentions towards t...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This is possibly one of the simplest concepts that we have talked about - but possibly one of the greatest. It is a very simply way of improving your communications, listening, empathy and compassion, whilst at the same time opening your attitude and tolerance, and ultimately improving your life and potentially mak...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This episode discusses the concept of Chit and Chitta. Chit is defined as divine universal consciousness and Chitta is individual consciousness, including the ego - i.e. the thing that makes us human and individualises us from Chit. This sounds like a heavy theological discussion, but actually remains light and acc...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss a psychology model called the window of tolerance - a very useful tool for picturing your own (and others') ability to handle life and the stresses and strains that it throws at you. It's a great way to understand why people might react in particular ways and opens the door to m...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This episode is a really fun and interesting conversation about the word Om - a word that represents so much more than the two letters would imply. Om has a great deal of significance to all of us, in so many ways, regardless of any other beliefs we may hold.  Emma and Andy try to keep their podcasts light-hearted...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Quite a simple one for this episode, in which we discuss various yoga and other health or well-being related books that we have found really helpful and/or enjoyable to read over the past few years. There are a few differences of opinions between us, but hopefully there is at least one book recommendation in here f...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Don't let the topic intimidate you! While quantum physics might sound complex, this episode is surprisingly accessible and fascinating for everyone. We explore recent quantum physics discoveries that seem to validate concepts yoga has taught for thousands of years. This remarkable convergence of cutting-edge s...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss the 8th and final limb of the 8 limbs of yoga, Samadhi - which means 'profound consciousness' or 'meditative absorption'. It's the ultimate level of yoga, equivalent to 'enlightenment', achieved via the deepest type of meditation with the intention of be...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss the 7th limb of the 8 limbs of yoga, Dhyana - meditation. It sounds like a simple and quick subject, but as it turns out, there's a great deal to discuss and contemplate, including: the many different types of meditation and the multiple benefits and reasons to practice it. This was...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss the 6th limb of the 8 limbs of yoga - Dharana. This is the practice of focussing on a single thing - whether that be a visual item such as a candle flame, or a sound such as a mantra, or on your own breath. We debate the various ways and benefits of this practice which ultimately allows y...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This episode discusses the fifth limb of the eight limbs of yoga, Pratyahara, which means to withdraw the senses. We discuss what this does (and does not) mean and how it can help to have a positive effect on mental health and calming both the body and the nervous system. We also discuss how it is the first of the...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode, what began as a light-hearted topic quickly unfolded into a surprisingly deep and emotional conversation. We explored the true weight of compassion - how essential it is to all of us, and how profoundly it can shape our relationships, communities, and the world around us. Whether it’s offered or wi...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Maybe we should have started with this subject - rather than waiting until episode 31 before covering it! But we decided that it was about time we went back to basics and discussed the ways in which yoga can benefit you from both a physical and a mental perspective. We even delve a little bit deeper into realms tha...