Chat&Chai: Yoga Talks from Miami Life Center

Grab a chai and join Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and Yoga Therapist, Rosa Santana and authroized Ashtanga teacher Tim Feldmann for a brand new, installment of our yoga talk series, Chat and Chai. Listen in as they discuss the Lineage of Krishnamacharya, how best to learn yoga, yoga traditions & lineages and what joins/divides us in the yoga world. _ Rosa Santana is the founder of Yoga Rosa, a ln internationally recognized hub of Iyengar Yoga since 1995. Tim Feldmann is the Founder of Miami Life Center, a yoga school rooted in Ashtanga Yoga, and an authorized ashtanga teacher traveling world-wide. Practice with us online 30 days for $30 https://miamilifecenter.com/online-classes/

Confronting injury within a yoga asana practice can be overwhelming, not knowing how to approach the practice you’ve come to rely on as your daily and sacred ritual. There are many lessons to learn during the process of healing, but understanding how to overcome the obstacles and adapt the practice can be difficult to navigate alone. Join Monica in a community yoga talk where she shares her experiences with injury within the practice, how she found her way forward and how it continues to inform her practice and definition of yoga today. It's a conversation, where some of the students participating had a chance to share their experiences with injury, any doubts still coming up as a result and any lessons they learned that might inspire someone else. An opportunity to support and listen to one another to continue moving together along this path of learning and growing. Practice yoga online all levels with Miami Life Center, first 30 days for $30! Learn more here - https://miamilifecenter.com/online-classes/ Connect with Monica: https://www.monicarellano.com / IG: @monicarellano

Dennis Hunter is a senior meditation teacher and creator of the Clarity Dharma and Meditation Collective. He's a former Buddhist monk who spent 2 years in a monastery with Pema Chodron and is currently a Miami based yoga and meditation teacher working with Warrior Flow and Omstars. The name of this talk is Shanti, Santosha and Samadhi: Finding Stillness and Peace. Join Dennis (along with Kino MacGregor, Tim Feldmann and other local teachers) for an upcoming panel discussion on Yoga and Trauma. This is event will be held at Miami Life Center on February 28th at 6pm. If you cant make it in person, don't worry!  We'll also share the talk right here on the podcast.

Yoga as a life hack. An interesting comparison which Kino makes in this talk. Tune in to learn more about how this practice of yoga is relevant to our functioning in the world of today. How does yoga work and why does it work? Let's investigate these question together, in community Practice with Kino at Miami Life Center. 6 day Mysore style intensives coming up! More info here - https://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

This past weekend we had the honor of hosting Ty Landrum for a workshop at Miami Life Center. His love and understanding for the spirit of the practice and its expression through philosophy, the breath, movement and asana, was experienced by all those present. Good news, we recorded one of his talks for you! Tune in as he shares a mythical story he feels portrays the path of a contemplative practice. He presents it as a metaphor for the type of consciousness we are trying to uncover in yoga and immerse ourselves in. Ty then goes on to share his reflections on the Ashtanga Yoga System and how its intelligence leads us towards transformation. Ty Landrum is the director of the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado. He teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in the traditional, contemplative and experimental style of his mentors, Mary Taylor and Richard Freeman. With a PhD in Philosophy, Ty has a special touch for explaining the theory of yoga with color and creativity. His passion as a teacher is to share the brilliance of yoga with anyone who wants to learn. To learn more about Ty and his international teaching schedule - https://tylandrum.com

In this episode of Chat & Chai, our Restorative and Yin teacher, Natalia Vasquez introduces the 4 types of Yin Practices - Yin, Restorative, Yoga Nidra and Meditation - and how they can guide us into discovering the depths of our inner world through our breath, stillness, observation and compassion. Natalia then opens to questions allowing for thought provoking and organic conversation between students of all styles of yoga. Tune in to find out how these practices can be accommodated and beneficial to everyone - from someone who only has 15 minutes before going to bed to a yang attracted Ashtanga practitioner. Natalia's experience of putting these yin tools into practice has brought her into a space of healing and recovery. Her understand of these practices and how they can benefit any practitioner is accessible and inspiring, giving her the unique ability to guide others through their vulnerable inner spaces. If you'd like to learn a quick restorative practice you can practice anywhere, check out our IG TV @miamilifecenter If your local to Miami and would like to practice with Natalia Join her at Miami Life Center Tuesday's and Thursday's at 12:30pm.

Join Kino Macgegor for inspiring talk given at one of her monthly classes at Miami Life Center. Many times we come into the practice of yoga as experts on all our problems or with an expectation of what the practice should be like. We come in with a hardened heart that says - this is how things should be, this is how I know myself. As we begin to inhabit the world we become conditioned to the ways of the world and lose the shimmer, innocence and joy we were born with. We feel beaten up by life and internalize difficult experiences. We believe we aren't good enough. And then we come to yoga and it's not easy to let go of all that. We believe we are only good yogis if... But then the practice of yoga begins to take root. We re-calibrate the mind and update the operating system. Tune into Kino's talk to learn more about what she means by this and how the body becomes the starting point to walking down a spiritual path. End with a guided meditation as Kino guides you through an inner exploration. Starting with the physical body, holding space for whatever arises ad then moving deeper into the inner body to become fully embodied and fully present. If you're interested in learning and practicing with Kino more in depth, she has Mysore retreats coming up in 2019 & 2020. More info and sign up here - http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

Join Kino for a 20 minute meditation to settle into your daily dose of stillness. Release the patterns of the mind and find a sense of neutrality in the space between pleasure and pain. This is part of a series with 14 complete meditations with Kino, available exclusively on Omstars.com. For a free 30 day subscription and access to a full library of course, use this link - https://omstars.com/?r=mlcmonth

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Chase Bossart for a workshop at Miami Life Center on the teachings of The Bhagavad Gita, part of our month long course Ashtanga Practitioner's Intensive. This text along with The Yoga Sutras are crucial in guiding the path of a yogi. Held side by side, they compliment as well as contrast each other and we thought it would be interesting to dive into the concept of God in this regard. Listen in as Chase so skillfully presents the structures of The Yoga Sutras and The Bhagavad Gita and how and why God or Isvara fits in. Is it necessary to turn to 'God' on the path of the yogi? What is the role of a God in the yogi's mind? Tune in to scratch the surface of what these spiritual texts have to say. Chase is a personal student of TKV Desikachar since in 1991 with a B.A. in Eastern philosophy from Colgate University (1992) and a M.A. in Religious Studies & Indian Philosophy (1996) from University of California (thesis on Patañjali’s Yogasūtra). He lived and studied at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai/India 2003-2004. Yoga teaching has been Chase's sole occupation since 2003. He is a former Director of Therapy & Education at Healing Yoga Foundation with a private practice and an internationally traveling yoga therapist. Today, Chase directs The Yoga Well Institute, offering training programs and online classes. If your interested in learning more from Chase and joining his online classes visit https://www.yogawell.com

In this first Yoga and Trauma panel discussion at  Miami Life Center, we gathered a group of professionals in conversation to lightly scratch the surface of this immense topic. Seated at the table are Anne Hurley- Trauma Psychotherapist, Dr. Kristin Jones- Doctor of Health Science and Mental Health Counselor, Dennis Hunter- Yoga and Meditation Teacher and trauma survivor, Adam Ottavi- Certified Rolfer and Somatic Therapist, Greg Nardi- ERYT-500 and Founder of Ashtanga Yoga Worldwide, and moderating the conversation is Natalia Vásquez- Founder of Heart in Brain Studios and trauma survivor. Through these various perspectives, we begin to define the meaning of trauma, its roots, and how yoga plays a role in assisting survivors along their path to full recovery. We discuss the importance of safety and communication between students and teachers in the practice and the need for authentic and trustworthy leaders within spiritual communities. Please take care of yourself as you listen and feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or feedback. We look forward to continuing this conversation as we establish a safe space for all to practice. Our next knowledge event is taking place October 25 on Yoga and Body Image. More details on our website www.miamilifecenter.com

This is the last episode of a series with Tim Feldmann exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Tim goes deeper into the second chapter of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras - Sadhana Pada, or the book on spiritual practice. Join Tim as he begins to explore the external of the 8 limbs in Ashtanga Yoga. This podcast series is taken from six lectures Tim Feldmann gave on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chapters 1 & 2. His intention with these talks was to create an overview, a map of The Yoga Sutras - an important text for any sincere yoga practitioner to be familiar with. Tim gives us an idea of what Patanjali is attempting to teach us, why he is teaching us, how to progress, what to expect along our yogic journey, and some of the more difficult philosophical notions found in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali sets forth the yoga darshana, the yoga point of view. With this series of lectures, Tim hopes to simply present what Patajanli has presented. So that hopefully when we step on our mats for asana we have some a roadmap to look a little deeper. For more opportunities to practice and study with Tim go here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

This is the fifth episode of a series with Tim Feldmann exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Tim goes deeper into the second chapter and into the philosophical foundations upon which the Yoga Sutras rests. This podcast series is taken from six lectures Tim Feldmann gave on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chapters 1 & 2. His intention with these talks was to create an overview, a map of The Yoga Sutras - an important text for any sincere yoga practitioner to be familiar with. Tim gives us an idea of what Patanjali is attempting to teach us, why he is teaching us, how to progress, what to expect along our yogic journey, and some of the more difficult philosophical notions found in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali sets forth the yoga darshana, the yoga point of view. With this series of lectures, Tim hopes to simply present what Patajanli has presented. So that hopefully when we step on our mats for asana we have some a roadmap to look a little deeper. For more opportunities to practice and study with Tim go here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

This is the fourth episode of a series with Tim Feldmann exploring The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. After closing up Chapter 1 in Parts 1-3, we now begin a dive into Sadhana Pada - the second chapter. Tim starts this episode with a discussion on Kriya yoga and the kleshas and then goes into some of the more conceptual sutras. This podcast series is taken from six lectures Tim Feldmann gave on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chapters 1 & 2. His intention with these talks was to create an overview, a map of The Yoga Sutras - an important text for any sincere yoga practitioner to be familiar with. Tim gives us an idea of what Patanjali is attempting to teach us, why he is teaching us, how to progress, what to expect along our yogic journey, and some of the more difficult philosophical notions found in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali sets forth the yoga darshana, the yoga point of view. With this series of lectures, Tim hopes to simply present what Patajanli has presented. So that hopefully when we step on our mats for asana we have some a roadmap to look a little deeper. For more opportunities to practice and study with Tim go here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

This podcast series is taken from six lectures Tim Feldmann gave on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chapters 1 & 2. His intention with these talks was to create an overview, a map of The Yoga Sutras - an important text for any sincere yoga practitioner to be familiar with. Tim gives us an idea of what Patanjali is attempting to teach us, why he is teaching us, how to progress, what to expect along our yogic journey, and some of the more difficult philosophical notions found in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali sets forth the yoga darshana, the yoga point of view. With this series of lectures, Tim hopes to simply present what Patajanli has presented. So that hopefully when we step on our mats for asana we have some a roadmap to look a little deeper. In this third episode of this series, Tim closes up the first chapter of Patanajli's Yoga Sutras. Listen in to complete a discussion on Samadhi Pada, a look into what yoga is and what goes into creating and cultivating yoga. For more opportunities to practice and study with Tim go here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

This podcast series is taken from six lectures Tim Feldmann gave on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chapters 1 & 2. His intention with these talks was to create an overview, a map of The Yoga Sutras - an important text for any sincere yoga practitioner to be familiar with. Tim gives us an idea of what Patanjali is attempting to teach us, why he is teaching us, how to progress, what to expect along our yogic journey, and some of the more difficult philosophical notions found in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali sets forth the yoga darshana, the yoga point of view. With this series of lectures, Tim hopes to simply present what Patajanli has presented. So that hopefully when we step on our mats for asana we have some a roadmap to look a little deeper. In this second episode of this series, Tim continues with the first Chapter – Samadhi Pada. Starting with Sutra 12, unpacking the meaning of practice. Followed by a philosophical look of where we end up if we do this practice, and what will be available to us. For more opportunities to practice and study with Tim go here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

This podcast series is taken from six lectures Tim Feldmann gave on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Chapters 1 & 2. His intention with these talks was to create an overview, a map of The Yoga Sutras - an important text for any sincere yoga practitioner to be familiar with. Tim gives us an idea of what Patanjali is attempting to teach us, why he is teaching us, how to progress, what to expect along our yogic journey, and some of the more difficult philosophical notions found in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali sets forth the yoga darshana, the yoga point of view. With this series of lectures, Tim hopes to simply present what Patajanli has presented. So that hopefully when we step on our mats for asana we have some a roadmap to look a little deeper. In this first episode of this series, Tim goes through the beginning of Chapter 1 – Samadhi Pada. Samadhi is the state of yoga. There's all the suffering we are living in that Patanjali and other eastern philosophers are postulating, and the samadhi state is the yogic state, the other state we are trying to reach. Right from the beginning of the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali sets forth a problem and a solution; but at first not with sufficient detail to base a practice on. Listen in as Tim digs deeper into these details according to Patanjali, and how knowledge of these details can transform our lives. For more opportunities to practice and study with Tim go here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

These monthly classes with Kino MacGregor at Miami Life Center, have become a space for us to not only reconnect into the physical practice; but also become immersed in the philosophy, the theory of the practice and the meditative mind. In this episode, Kino talks about the appropriate attitude to bring to the mat. How do we show up on our mats? It should be something like the beginner's mind. When we live in the box of our knowledge, our hearts become hardened, as Kino explains in more detail. We must walk the path of the student with an innocence of mind, which is the essence of the yoga journey. Every yogi is on a path of initiation - an initiation into the heart. We need to remind ourselves again and again, each time we get on the mat, that we are here with an open heart to practice, not to showcase what we can do or how much we think we know. How can we come to this place? Of truly perceiving what is present without any agenda? Kino guides us through this journey by inspiring us to rediscover ourselves fresh in each moment. It's no easy task. What can get in the way of this experience? How can we be free to experience each moment as it is? Tune in to listen to Kino's thoughts. End this episode as Kino guides us through a meditation in an attempt to implement these ideas using the tools of yoga.

Our very first Knowledge Event taking place at Miami Life Center, a panel discussion on the  question - Is Yoga Good for Me? We gathered a panel of experts in their field of study to share their ideas about if an how the practice of yoga works. Listen to different perspectives alongside each other for an inspiring and thought provoking conversation. Yoga has become the go-to-fix-all for a growing series of physical, psychological and spiritual pains in the west over the last decade. But is yoga really working and if it is, how is it working? Does modern science and Yoga agree on the benefits of yoga? Tune in to hear what these experts have to say. The Panel: Bob Schroder - Doctor of Physical Therapy Christine Spadola - Ph.D Social Welfare & Master in Counseling Psychology. Jesus Caballero - Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner Tim Feldmann - Teacher of Ashtanga Yoga Michael Mannino - Ph.D Candidate in Neuroscience Our next knowledge event will be on Yoga & Body Image. Part of a larger weekend event 'Yoga & Body Image Confluence' with workshops and a panel discussion. For more info and registration - http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/

Monica, Patricia and Esme, all teachers at Miami Life Center are currently practicing Ashtanga Yoga at KPJAYI under R Sharath Jois, for the second and third time. It a sort of pilgrimage Ashtanga Yoga Practitioners from all over the world make to connect with the source of the practice. Watch this video to find out whats its like to practice in the shala & live in Mysore, India and some practical information you need to know to apply for practice and plan your trip. Making this trip can be intimidating and a bit mysterious but it shouldn’t be! We hope this video help you find the assurance and inspiration you need to make it happen. On the other hand, traveling to India and leaving home for a month is simply not possible for many of us. Luckily, SharathJi will be coming to the US this spring! He'll be in Miami May 1-7, as well as Stanford and New York. This is a unique opportunity to touch the source of the practice and be a part of a worldwide Ashtanga Community; to be a part of this passing down of knowledge from generation to generation and feel like were all a part of something bigger than ourselves, of this lineage that has changed so many of our lives. We hope to see you in Miami! For more info and registration - http://miamilifecenter.com/paramaguru-sharath-tour/ Feel free to reach out to us if you have any more questions either on Instagram @miamilifecenter or email us at info@miamilifecenter.com

On this episode of Chat & Chai: Yoga Talks from Miami Life Center we have a very special guest. Joseph Armstrong was a dedicated and long time student at MLC, transitioning into our month long intensive course and then into our most in depth curriculum, a 2 year apprenticeship program. After successfully completing the 2 years, he move to Antigua, Guatemala to start up his own Mysore program. Joseph's story is one of inspiring will power and self-awareness. He found his way through addiction into the healing practice of Ashtanga Yoga. Listen in as he talks about how yoga served as a tool for him through recovery, and even further in becoming the successful teacher he is today. His respect for the tradition, passing on what he has learned from his teachers, and his sincere devotion inform the role he takes on in the Mysore room. Tune in to learn more about Joseph's thoughts on the role of a teacher and what keeps him getting on the mat. An opportunity coming up at the end of the month to learn and practice with Joseph! He'll share the tools and methods that have been integral on his path of healing. A 1 day workshop, Yoga Truly: Tools for Recovery. Sign up here http://miamilifecenter.com/workshop-events/