Keen on Yoga Podcast

In this episode, we explore the practice of Yoga Nidra, its safety, benefits, and how to incorporate it into modern wellness routines. Guests Beverly Nolan and Theo Wildcroft share insights on maintaining autonomy, managing emotional responses, and the historical roots of this multifaceted practice. MAIN TOPICS ·       What is Yoga Nidra and how does it differ from sleep and hypnosis ·       Ensuring safety and maintaining autonomy in Yoga Nidra practice ·       Managing emotional responses and challenging experiences during practice ·       Historical roots and evolution of Yoga Nidra from Indian traditions to modern adaptations ·       The role of intention and visualization in Yoga Nidra ·       Scientific insights into the benefits of deep relaxation and rest ·       Practical tips for incorporating Yoga Nidra into daily routines ·       The importance of informed consent and ethical teaching in Yoga Nidra New Book: Leading Safe and Simple Yoga Nidras CONNECT WITH THEO Website: https://theowildcroft.com/   | IG @theodorawildcroft CONNECT WITH BEVERLEY Website: https://www.beverleynolan.com/  SUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf FULL PODCAST LIST https://www.keenonyoga.com/keen-on-yoga-podcast-guests/

Keen on Yoga host Adam reflects on what he learned from teachers whose methods sometimes inspired, challenged, or discouraged him. Through stories from Ashtanga classes, Mysore practice, and teacher trainings, he explores how rigor, technique, charisma, and careful communication can help one student while harming another.   Key  Topics   ·      Adam frames the episode around how teachers can teach valuable lessons even through experiences that felt difficult or unhelpful at the time. ·      A poorly organized first class helped Adam realize he could teach without being perfect and that students often need a supportive space more than a flawless performance. ·      A charismatic teacher's handstands motivated Adam to stay with Ashtanga but also made yoga seem performative and obscured the practice's vinyasa technique. ·      Mysore self-practice offered a profound group experience, but little technique instruction contributed to Adam pushing through postures and injuring both menisci. ·      Adam recalls a teacher-training comment about his worn-out body that eventually helped him recognize over-practice, while arguing that truth should be delivered with care. ·      He criticizes teaching that is too advanced or inaccessible for the people in the room, emphasizing that instruction must meet students where they are. ·      Adam questions adjustment-centered teaching and rigid progression, arguing that students need technique, agency, and the ability to modify practice. ·      The episode's recurring paradox: rigor can support progress or drive overexertion, while encouragement can welcome students but also leave practice sloppy. ·      Adam says teachers should be careful with offhand remarks because a few words can remain painful for a student long after the teacher has forgotten them. ·      He describes Sharat's demanding Mysore approach as raising his standards while also contributing to pressure, over-practice, and injury. SUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf FULL PODCAST LIST: https://www.keenonyoga.com/keen-on-yoga-podcast-guests/ CONNECT WITH ADAM https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga WATCH https://www.youtube.com/@keenonyoga

Daniel discusses his new book, The Evolution of Modern Yoga, exploring its historical roots, key figures like Vivekananda, and how traditional practices have been adapted for contemporary wellness and cultural contexts.  MAIN TOPICS ·       The distinction between pre-modern and modern yoga practices ·       Vivekananda's influence on yoga in the West ·       The shift from renunciate to household yoga ·       The integration of Western and Indian traditions ·       The role of physical postures in modern yoga ·       The influence of Indian nationalist movements on yoga ·       The impact of the Theosophical Society ·       The development of yoga as a health and wellness practice ·       The appropriation and adaptation of yoga in the West ·       The importance of understanding yoga's core objectives CONNECT WITH DANIEL Website: https://www.danielsimpson.info/  | IG: @danielcsimpson New Book: The Evolution of Modern Yoga SUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf FULL PODCAST LIST https://www.keenonyoga.com/keen-on-yoga-podcast-guests/ CONNECT WITH ADAM https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/@keenonyoga

Adam explores how to maintain motivation for yoga practice during different seasons of energy and life. He shares practical tips, philosophical insights, and personal stories to help practitioners stay connected to their practice and deepen their understanding of yoga beyond the physical postures. Key  Topics  ·      The natural seasons of energy and motivation in yoga practice ·      Practical strategies to overcome lack of motivation, including variation and focal points ·      The importance of ritual and consistency in yoga practice ·      Understanding the deeper purpose of yoga beyond physical postures ·      The impact of aging on motivation and how to adapt ·      The role of the breath and diaphragm in deepening practice ·      The relationship between yoga practice and self-inquiry ·      The significance of personal connection and inspiration in teaching and practice ·      The concept of yoga as a lifelong journey with ups and downs ·      The importance of integrating yoga into daily life for meaning and connectioSUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf FULL PODCAST LIST: https://www.keenonyoga.com/keen-on-yoga-podcast-guests/  

James discusses the research on the Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā, its historical context, and the significance of different manuscript recensions. We explore the evolution of yoga texts, the importance of original sources, and the challenges of translating and interpreting ancient practices. James and Adam explore the evolution of yoga practices, the influence of different traditions, and the scholarly insights into ancient texts and their relevance to modern yoga.   Sir James Mallinson, 5th Baronet, of Walthamstow is a British Indologist, writer and translator. He is Boden Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Oxford, and recognised as one of the world's leading experts on the history of medieval Hatha yoga. MAIN TOPICS ·       Research on the Hatha Yoga Pradipika ·       Manuscript transmission and variations ·       The significance of original recensions ·       Translation challenges and practices ·       Historical context of yoga texts ·       The role of practitioners in textual transmission Evolution of yoga techniques over time ·       The influence of Indian and Chinese practices ·       The role of Siddhas and yogis in shaping yoga ·       The ambiguity in Svātmārāma's presentation of yoga ·       The relationship between physical postures and meditation ·       The significance of breath control and bandhas ·       The development of asanas and their origins ·       The impact of religious and cultural contexts on yoga TAKE AWAYS The Hatha Yoga Pradipika is one of the earliest physical yoga texts and has over 100 translations. The most reliable manuscripts are from the 15th to 19th centuries, not necessarily the oldest. Svātmārāma's version of the text is considered the most coherent and closest to the original. Practitioners' oral traditions significantly influenced the written texts. The translation of Sanskrit terms can impact the understanding and practice of yoga. CONNECT WITH JAMES Website:  https://hathapradipika.online/ SUPPORT KEEN ON YOGA Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf FULL PODCAST LIST https://www.keenonyoga.com/keen-on-yoga-podcast-guests/