Yoga Matters Podcast

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This podcast episode is all about Pranayama (breathing and energy). Now, we know what you are thinking: "I know how to breathe - I've been doing it all my life!" But you'd be amazed how we underestimate its true (hidden) strength. So we take a light-hearted look at breathing and the practice of...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Most people think they understand the concept of Karma, however, it might actually be far more wide reaching and varied than you first thought. There are a number of different aspects to Karma, including that it is neither good nor bad. In this light-hearted episode, we talk through the concept of Karma in depth, d...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we have fun discussing the concept of 'no, yes, wow': i.e. saying 'no' less often, 'yes' more often and 'wow' as frequently as possible. All taking into account when it is appropriate to do so for your own well-being. We know this sounds really simple, but as...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This episode takes a slightly different approach to our norm... instead we discuss Andy's rather convoluted journey to finding yoga. We chat about the impact that a near-death experience had on him (due to necrotising fasciitis) as well as the influences other "life-quakes" had on his journey. But it...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Asana is the Sanskrit word for postures, and refers to all aspects of physical yoga - usually carried out on a yoga mat. We discuss this aspect of yoga - which the majority of the Western world often mistakenly believes is the main, if not only, element of yoga. Asana forms but a small element of the full suite of...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This discussion is about surrendering yourself, in Sanskrit: Ishvara Pranidhana. It is the final, and arguably, the most important of the 5 Niyamas. Our discussion describes what yoga principles mean by the term 'surrender' and how this can impact your life and well being.   Emma and Andy try to keep thei...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Here we discuss Svadhyaya - the process of self-study and self improvement. This is a really key aspect that truly seems to encompass all aspects of yoga in its comprehensive form - which is to continue to learn and improve yourself as a human being throughout the whole of your life. The benefits if this self-study...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss the third of the 5 Niyamas, Tapas, which can be translated as Self-Discipline. This is much more than just forcing yourself to go to the gym once in a while, and can be a major factor to all aspects of drive and determination.  Emma and Andy try to keep their podcasts light-hearted and un...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we talk about contentment, which is the second niyama, Santosha. An arguably hugely under appreciated value that can have profound effects on our wellbeing and happiness.  Emma and Andy try to keep their podcasts light-hearted and unedited, wherever possible, allowing for a more natural conversation...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we start to discuss the 5 Niyamas - which are also known as 'positive duties' or 'observances', and are a set of self-disciplinary practices that complement the previously discussed Yamas (which are ethical / social restraints). These five Niyamas, start with Saucha, meaning &apo...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss Karuna - which is translated as compassion. And you can witness Andy actually learning something during this recording! He has a small epiphany on the subject of compassion and genuinely comes to a new realisation he has not had before. Unintentionally, Andy and Emma illustrate the power...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Learning about yoga philosophy is incredibly rewarding, positively life affecting and beneficial to all. But it is not always as easy as it arguably could or should be. In this episode Andy and Emma discuss the challenges of learning about the principles of yoga, whilst recommending a few books that could be of int...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode Emma and Andy discuss the 5th and final Yama - Aparigraha, which means non-possessiveness, or to put it in a more positive light: 'letting things go'.  It's a really important Yama, and one that can have profound effects on our day to day lives, both from a perspective of physical pos...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Brahmacharya is the 4th Yama in the 5 Yamas that make up the first limb of the 8 limbs of yoga. The Yamas are the ethical restraints all humans should be practicing according to yoga principles. Brahmacharya means non-excess, or moderation, or even efficiency - i.e. putting the right amount of effort into the right...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss Asteya, or non-stealing (occasionally also referred to as generosity). Asteya is the third of the 5 Yamas, which make up the first limb of the 8 limbs of yoga. And as with previous Yamas, the subject matter is not as clear-cut and obvious as you might think - there is a great deal more to...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we discuss Satya, or truthfulness. Satya is the second of the 5 Yamas, which make up the first limb of the 8 limbs of yoga. And it's not as straight forward as you might think. It's not just about not lying or being dishonest... we discuss much deeper than that, delving into all the ways b...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this week's episode, we discuss the first of the 5 Yamas, which form the first limb of the 8 limbs of yoga:- The first Yama is the fundamentally important topic of Ahimsa, which can be translated as non-harming, or kindness, or consideration. It can be argued that it is the foundation upon which all yoga is...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) We had a lot of fun discussing and debating the topic of reincarnation! We go through some of the scientific facts behind the subject, alongside the related yoga principles and other belief systems regarding the emotive subject, in an attempt to open our minds to its possibilities. We feel we have done this subject...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) This is a 4 minute sample of one of our podcasts. Hopefully it will give you a feel for the kind of conversations we have and the way we try to tackle yoga philosophy. Our aim is to try to have light-hearted but informed discussions based on our readings and experiences, and discuss how such things apply to our liv...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we talk about the profound effects yoga had on Emma's recovery from her eating disorder, and how this can translate to other people who are experiencing disordered eating or a poor relationship with body self-image.  If you would like further information eating disorders, would like to donate t...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Yoga is definitely for men too!  We really want to get across just how beneficial it is for everyone - especially middle aged men, to help them deal with the effects of aging - which affects the flexibility of both their muscles and their minds. We want to encourage men to get past their excuses (such as "I&ap...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode we introduce the subject of the 7 Chakras - which are our body's energy centres positioned along the spine. The word "chakra" comes from the Sanskrit word for "wheel" or "disk", which is why the Chakras are often depicted as coloured circles in diagrams. This ancie...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Emma and Andy discuss the meaning of the word Guru, from its dictionary definition to its truest yogic sense. We debate the concept of the inner guru and the potential benefits people can get from initiating this kind of thinking. It's an enlightening discussion (arguably going off-topic a bit!) but there are...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) Andy and Emma discuss this very useful analogy, which helps people to picture how external influences affect their attitude and perception. By understanding the Serene Lake concept, a person can be better able to understand how best to manage the 'bad weather' that churns up their emotions and stops them...

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you :-) In this episode Emma and Andy talk about the principles of the Kleshas - the 5 main causes of human suffering. Often illustrated as a tree trunk and 4 branches, Emma talks Andy through the details of this useful construct whilst also introducing the metaphor of the 2 arrows - another great lesson in reducing your o...