Let's Talk Yoga

• Autoimmune Diseases & Yoga - The Science, the Practice, and the Hope with Renu Jain

  Autoimmune diseases can feel isolating and unpredictable, but yoga offers both science and hope. I sit down with yoga therapist and researcher Renu Jain to explore how stress, the gut, and the immune system are connected; and how personalized yoga, pranayama, and mindfulness can support healing from the inside out.Episode Highlights:Introduction to guest Renu Jain and her background at Kaivalyadhama.Understanding what autoimmune diseases are and how they affect the body.Exploring common shared patterns and root causes behind autoimmune conditions.Exploring the connection between stress, the gut, and immune function.Understanding the pranic system and how energetic imbalance mirrors physical symptoms.The role of yoga in managing autoimmune conditions holistically.Importance of personalization in yoga therapy: why no one-size-fits-all approach works.Go-to questions yoga teachers should ask students before planning a practice.Pranayama practices that support balance and calm for autoimmune health.Restorative yoga, relaxation, and mindfulness as healing tools.How meditation helps regulate the nervous system and supports emotional healing.The mindset and empathy yoga teachers need when working with these students.Why yoga philosophy and ethics should always guide therapeutic teaching.Final reflections on patience, compassion, and using yoga as a bridge between science and spirit.Waitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)Join our mailing listFind all the resources mentioned in this episodeConnect with us on Instagram

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• 30 Ways to Live Like A Yogi

  Yoga doesn’t just live on the mat; it’s how we show up in everyday life. I share 30 simple ways to live like a yogi, from practicing gratitude and silence to decluttering, serving others, and reconnecting with nature. Small daily acts that bring awareness, compassion, and joy into the ordinary.Episode Highlights:Updates on the upcoming 300-hour teacher training and free cueing workshopInspiration behind the episode: a personal 30-day mindfulness listThe cultural meaning of the word yogi and why Aru uses it thoughtfullyReminder that yoga is awareness, not limited to the mat or a single class hourEncouragement to bring yoga into everyday life through small actions30 Ways to Live Like a YogiPractice gratitude (Santosha)Notice beauty (Pratyaksha)Use your handsInvite colorWish well for others (Maitri Bhavana)Exhale your worriesAsk what lights you up (Swadhyaya)Light a candle or diyaClap your hands or ring a bellDrink waterPractice AbhyangaClean up and declutter (Aparigraha)Notice negative thoughtsRemember someone who has passed (Shraddha)Take a mindful walkNotice other beingsSmileAvoid gossip and negative newsTouch the soilDetach from drama (Vairagya)Reduce sensory input (Pratyahara)Move your bodyExplore a craftCleanse your spacePractice silence (Mauna)Serve others (Seva)Practice Yoga Nidra or body scanJournalCleanse the body (Saucha)Sit in silenceWaitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)Join our mailing listFind all the resources mentioned in this episodeConnect with us on Instagram

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• When Trust Is Broken: Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Yoga Spaces

  When trust is broken in yoga spaces, the impact runs deep. I talk about sexual harassment, abuse of power, and misconduct in the yoga world—why silence protects harm, how to recognize red flags, and what we can do to rebuild safety and integrity in our communities.Episode Highlights:Announcements about upcoming workshops and the 300-hour online trainingReflection on recent misconduct cases in the yoga community and what they revealPersonal story of confronting harassment within Aru’s own dance studioHistorical overview of sexual abuse and misconduct in yoga lineagesDiscussion of how reverence without accountability allowed abuse to thriveBreakdown of how abuse begins—through trust, power imbalance, and manipulationExplanation of spiritual gaslighting and why survivors often stay silentCommon reasons victims don’t come forward: fear, loss of belonging, trauma response, and cultural conditioningRecognition of microaggressions and boundary violations in modern studiosRed flags to watch for in teachers and studio environments (flirtatious behavior, vague boundaries, unwanted touch, secrecy)Aru’s personal story of ignoring red flags and learning to trust her instinctsPractical suggestions for how to respond if someone confides in you about harassmentGuidance for yoga teachers and studio owners:Create written ethical policiesTeach ethics and boundaries in teacher trainingsEstablish independent reporting systemsModel consent and clear communicationCall to believe women first, foster open conversations, and stop idealizing teachersReminder that ethics isn’t cultural; it’s universal and foundational to yogaFinal reflections on accountability, community healing, and how true yoga shows up in how we treat one anotherWaitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)Join our mailing listFind all the resources mentioned in this episodeConnect with us on Instagram

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• The Yoga Pose Born from a Curse - The Story of Ashtavakrasana

  The story behind Ashtavakrasana, or Eight-Angled Pose, is as powerful as the pose itself. I share the tale of Sage Ashtavakra—born bent in eight places and mocked by many—whose wisdom and self-realization transformed both body and spirit. Discover how his journey teaches us to find strength in awkwardness, grace in imperfection, and alignment beyond the body.Episode Highlights:Announcements about upcoming online and in-studio programs at Aham YogaIntroduction to the monthly “Mythical Stories Behind Poses” seriesStory of Ashtavakra: born deformed due to a father’s curse, yet destined for greatnessHow Ashtavakra’s intellect and wisdom outshone physical limitationsThe debate between young Ashtavakra and scholar Vandin in King Janaka’s courtAshtavakra’s victory and miraculous transformation through the power of truthConnection between Ashtavakra’s journey and the yoga pose AshtavakrasanaSymbolism of the pose: steadiness through asymmetry, strength through surrenderLessons for modern practitioners: transcending ego, judgment, and appearanceReminder that real alignment comes from within, not from physical perfectionReflection questions for practice: Where am I resisting? What can I soften or “straighten” within?Encouragement to share these stories and teachings to keep yoga’s roots aliveWaitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)Join our mailing listFind all the resources mentioned in this episodeConnect with us on Instagram

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• Pain vs. Inflammation: What Every Yoga Teacher Should Know with Andrew McGonigle

  Join me and Dr. Andrew McGonigle as we unpack the difference between pain and inflammation, how language and mindset shape the way students experience discomfort, and what yoga teachers can do to create safe, supportive spaces. From understanding acute vs. chronic pain to practical advice on guiding students you’ve just met, this conversation blends science with compassion to give you tools you can use in every class.Episode Highlights:Defining pain: What it is, how the brain creates it, and the difference between acute and chronic (or “persistent”) painWhy language and mindset can change how pain is experienced—both positively and negativelySimple, general questions teachers can ask when they don’t know a student’s historyHow yoga teachers can respond compassionately when students share injuries or painIs pain always a sign of tissue damage? The biopsychosocial model and what landmark research revealsAru’s personal story of ACL surgery and recovery without heavy pain medsObservations of widespread knee pain in Indian women and the role of lifestyle and expectationGood discomfort vs. bad pain in yoga practice, and how to guide students without teaching from fearPlacebo and nocebo effects in yoga classrooms—why our words matter so muchThe nervous system’s role in amplifying or quieting pain, and how stress or mindfulness shifts the experienceTransitioning to inflammation: acute vs. chronic, myths about boosting the immune system, and what yoga can (and can’t) doThe link between osteoarthritis, systemic inflammation, and lifestyle habitsMovement as medicine: why physical activity is the best way to manage both pain and inflammationClearing up wellness myths around posture, core stability, and anti-inflammatory fixesClosing reflections for yoga teachers on recognizing and working with pain or inflammation in class and in lifeWaitlist for the Online 300-Hour Yoga Teacher Training (launching January)Free upcoming workshop: “Queuing for Yoga Teachers – From Gross to Subtle” (November 14, 10 a.m. PT)Join our mailing listFind all the resources mentioned in this episodeConnect with us on Instagram

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