Episode 45 - Desire, Sandwiches and the Thirst of Being Human

In our conversation about the kleshas (the obstacles to liberation) we talk about raga or desire and The Princess Bride. I also manage to take a sandwich metaphor way too far for my own good. 

Here is a link to the book, The Dharma of 'The Princess Bride' by Ethan Nichtern, which I both quote in this episode and highly recommend. 

There's a lot in here about whether desire is an obstacle to liberation - is it good or bad or neither? And through that discussion, I referenced a few back episodes that might be of interest. 

Episode 33 - Attachment, Sam Wheat and Hamlet includes a discussion of attachment and its relationship to desire and liberation.

Both Episodes 41 and 44 are about the obstacles to liberation as put forth by Patanjali, while Episode 41 introduces the idea of the kleshas and mentions who Patanjali is and what the Yoga Sutras are.  

Episode 41 - The Kleshas, The Ignorati and the Goal of Yoga

Episode 44 - Labels, Asmita and the True Self

Episode 44 - Labels, Asmita and the True Self

How do you know your True Self? We talk about ego, the second of the five kleshas - or obstacles to liberation. How can we know what is self and what is outside of the self? There's some mistaken identity, we have some fun with labels and are horrified by looking through old pictures.

An easy article in Yoga Journal called, "Mistaken Identity"

A little bit more about labels from Yoga Hyde.

Episode 43 - A Little About A Lot with Boonie

In Part 2 of our conversation with Adriene of the Boonie Breakdown, we talk about real-life examples of using meditation as a tool in the real world, how yoga is not praying, and how no one is trying to convert anybody. Except that I kind of am. 

Here's where you can find The Boonie Breakdown.

Last week, we mentioned both Jessamyn Stanley and Black Girl in Om and I neglected to link to them in the show notes. I added those links there - and here. 

Episode 42 - Breaking Down Yoga with Boonie

We talk to the one and only Adriene  of the Boonie Breakdown in the first of a two part conversation about yoga and meditation - what got her back into her practice and where it might take her next. In this episode we also talk a little bit about lady podcasting and if there’s such a thing as a “good slave owner.”  

When you're done listening to this episode, check out The Boonie Breakdown.

We mention Jessamyn Stanley in this show, author of Every Body Yoga and more. 

And here's a link to Black Girl in Om, the podcast and online publication.

Episode 41 - The Kleshas, the Ignorati and the Goal of Yoga

We talk about what yoga is actually for, and go over the four not-so-simple steps to liberation set out by Patanjali. The idea of the Kleshas are introduced as well as the yogic concept of Avidya, ignorance. 

During the podcast, we reference the goal of Yoga: Sutra 2.2 states “The goal of Yoga is not to obtain something that is lacking: it is the realization of an already present reality. Yoga practice removes the obstacles that obstruct the experience of samadhi, or the state of complete absorption” (Jaganath Carrera, Inside the Yoga Sutras). 

 This translation is what was used. That link also contains some more information on the Kleshas for your reading pleasure.

Episode 40 - 360 Wellness with Lindsay Kellner

What’s the definition of freedom, how do we deal with dissent and what’s the best way to go do sh*t in real life? We talk to Lindsay Kellner, Sr Wellness and Beauty Editor at Mind Body Green and founder of the Well Aware show.

During the show we tried to assess how many yoga teachers there are in NYC. I couldn't find an accurate stat on that, but I did find this vague but fun bit of info:

As of December 2015, 52,746 teachers and over 18,000 yoga schools were registered with the Alliance, and there are two people interested in becoming a yoga teacher for every one teacher in the U.S. (Yoga Journal and Yoga Alliance 2016). 

Episode 39 - From Hot Hot Heat to Kool And The Gang

When the season goes from ‘too hot to handle’ to ‘too cold to hold’, we shift our food and lifestyle to accommodate the change. Ayurveda teaches us how - so we'll go over some basic guidelines, I'll say some sanskrit you don't have to remember and we'll go along our merry way.

Here are the 20 Gunas, or qualities, if you're interested:

Heavy (guru)                    Light in weight (laghu)

Slow or Dull (manda)       Sharp, penetrating (tikshna)

Cold (hima or shita)         Hot (ushna)

Oily  (snigdha or sneha)   Dry (ruksha)

Smooth (shlakshna)          Rough (khara)

Dense or solid (sandra)     Liquid (drava)

Soft (mridu)                       Hard (kathina)

Static or stable (sthira)      Mobile or unstable (chala)

Gross or big (sthula)          Subtle (sukshma)

Slimy or sticky (picchila)   Clear or non-slimy (vishada)

Episode 38 - Avoidance, Denial and Suffering

We spend so much time trying to avoid what hurts. We dance around it, we look the other way. But when we ignore suffering, it just hurts more. So, what to do? The alternative to ignoring pain and suffering, is to meet it. We experiment with a brief Tonglen meditation - a Tibetan Buddhist practice focused on giving and receiving.

Episode 37 - The Danger of 'Good Vibes Only'

We're taught to disregard the wicked in order to calm the mind. But what happens when we ignore oppression under the guise of equanimity?

Links:

6 Ways Spiritual Thinking Can Reinforce Oppression and Racism

Yoga Sutra I.33 as translated by Swami Satchidananda, in Yoga Journal

The Fourteen Precepts of Engaged Buddhism

Episode 36 - Feminism, Broga and the Age of Aquarius

We talk about the pros and cons of gender domination and if we are, in fact, moving towards a more egalitarian future. Also, we unite the masculine and feminine within using alternate nostril breathing.

In this episode I refer to the research of Dr. Alice Eagly. This bio is from The Institute of Policy Research at Northwestern: "Alice Eagly is a social psychologist who has published widely on the psychology of gender and of attitudes, especially attitude change and attitude structure." And you can find the work I mention right here. 

Here is more information on the Age of Aquarius. I chose less didactic source material here, so enjoy.

Episode 35 - Love, Justice and the Isolationism of "Wellness"

Today we are talking about the two things that might be keeping the wellness world from taking on social injustice. And we take a closer look at the context surrounding our own inner journey. Clue: The context is everyone else and all this sh*t that’s happening.

Here are some other voices I recommend:

Liberty by Andrea Ranae Johnson

This Is America, The Boonie Breakdown

Episode 34 - Nazis and Gandhi and The Importance of Knowing Who You Are

Nazis march with torches and the world is upside down. We’ve been here before and we try to figure out what to do about that kind of thing. How do we learn from our history, how do we move forward, and do we even try to look inside for the icky darkness in ourselves?

As we continue on our every day, and to look at our own place in all of this, please also listen to and amplify the voices of people of color and others. 

I found this article and its links helpful: White Feelings for Charlotte.

Read more about Black Lives Matter here. 

Episode 33 - Attachment, Sam Wheat and Hamlet

Today we discuss Aparigraha, non-coveting or non-attachment, and how it applies to governing, dinner parties and revolution. Also, we do some holding on of our own with a brief breath work practice.

Here are a few items mentioned in the podcast: Ekhart Yoga, this gem of a movie, and for good measure, Hamlet.

Episode 32 - Let’s Talk About Brahmacharya, Baby

This episode we talk about what yoga has to say about celibacy and what a hot number Warren Harding really was. We also do a sound meditation to bring our energies up instead of letting them swirl in the sexy place.

Om Mantra Chanting audio available for download here. 

Episode 31 - Asteya and Breaking News: We’re The Jerk

Seems like a good time for another dip into Universal Morality. This episode, we talk about hoarding, stealing, wasting, wanting and more. We try to get behind why we want so much and do a brief meditation on letting it all go.

That meditation comes from Michael W. Taft and you can see it here. 

Episode 30 - Practice: Cooling Breath

This episode I’ll be guiding shitali - a cooling pranayama.

Episode 29: Practice - Alternate Nostril Breathing

This episode I’ll be guiding alternate nostril breathing - balancing out the right and left sides of the brain and body.

Episode 28 - Practice: Lion's Breath

This episode I’ll be guiding a pranayama called Lion’s Breath. Roooaaar. 

Episode 27 - Practice: Breath with Retention

This episode we’re practicing a breath called Antara kumbhaka - breath retention. 

Episode 26 - Practice: Metta Meditation

This episode I’ll be guiding a version of metta meditation - a loving kindness meditation practice.