Accessible Yoga Podcast

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes his guest and longtime friend, David Lipsius, for a powerful conversation on ethics and the evolution of yoga institutions in the West. Together, they explore how personal spiritual practice sustains authentic leadership and share wisdom for yoga teachers about discovering their true calling and serving their communities with integrity. David shares his journey from being a yoga student to turnaround CEO at Kripalu, where he helped shift the organization from a harmful past into a thriving retreat center. He also reflects on his time as CEO of Yoga Alliance, where he led initiatives to revise the Yoga Alliance Standards (including adding content about accessibility for the first time), as well as create systems of accountability, a Code of Conduct, and a scope of practice for yoga teachers — all of which continue to shape the yoga world today. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, echo David’s advice to yoga teachers. They emphasize that instead of measuring success against industry standards, teachers can focus on serving their communities, creating their own opportunities, and trusting that their offerings are powerful and enough. They also respond to a listener’s comment on the previous episode, diving into the ongoing challenge of comparing integrative practices with Western medicine. Topics include: How repair can happen after harm in yoga communities Accessible Yoga’s part in restructuring the Yoga Alliance Standards and Code of Conduct Why a code of ethics is essential for safe and inclusive yoga spaces Lessons from activist and grassroots organizing that inform leadership Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Check out: Yoga Alliance's Code of Conduct   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with David: David Lipsius is a Yoga Teacher, Spiritual Wellness Coach, End-of-Life Doula, and student of Yoga, Ayurveda and Jyotish. He is the former President & CEO of Yoga Alliance and Yoga Alliance Foundation and former CEO of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. David is also an Emmy-nominated director from his years at NBCUniversal and served as an Executive Producer on the documentary film Agniyogana, a meditative inquiry into the lost art of classical Hatha Yoga. Today, David advises Yoga and other wellness professionals seeking to improve their strategic and operational excellence to enhance social impact. IG: @dlipsius  | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/david-lipsius-8920a267    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  Access the replay: Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, spends time with his good friend, Steffany Moonaz, research scientist, author, yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and founder of Yoga for Arthritis. Together they reflect on their parallel journeys and explore the intersection of yoga tradition, modern science, and accessibility. Steffany, who describes herself as “evidence-based and heart-centered,” brings her unique expertise in both Western research and yoga to discuss how these two worlds can inform and enrich one another. In addition to sharing her insight into yoga research, Steffany shares the personal reflections and teaching experiences that have impacted her work and spiritual journey. Later in the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopolous reflect on Steffany’s work and accomplishments and the importance of people, like Steffany, who create a bridge between conventional medical science and yoga. They also discuss the benefit of having autonomy within a framework of practices, sensitivity and awareness with experience, and the benefits of having good yoga teachers/therapists. Topics include: The importance of flexibility in research protocols The concept of “yoga snacks” – short, simple practices can create meaningful change Integrating yoga philosophy into yoga teaching and practice Ethical principles in yoga and how they guide safer, more accessible teaching practices The importance of humility and curiosity when teaching diverse populations   Check out:  Steffany's Intro into Meditation Course: 8 Week Series Class To Learn How To Confidently Meditate with Dr. Steffany Moonaz.  Accessible Yoga’s Yoga for Older Adults Course: Building a Safe & Effective Practice   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Steffany: Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and research scientist in San Diego. She serves as the Research Director and Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from University of Maryland and completed her PhD in public health at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. She then spent a decade at the Maryland University of Integrative Health co-creating a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy and a university-wide culture of evidence-based practice. Dr. Moonaz is focused on bringing yoga to people with arthritis in communities around the world and educating yoga professionals about this population through Yoga for Arthritis courses, The Yoga Rheum podcast, and related advocacy work.  Her first book, “Yoga Therapy for Arthritis: A Whole-Person Approach to Movement and Lifestyle” was published by Singing Dragon in 2018.  A subsequent memoir entitled, “Driving Home: Cancer, Concussion, Mom and Me” was released by FriesenPress in 2024. Her third book on yoga research is anticipated in 2026. https://arthritis.yoga | IG: @yoga4arthritis, @drmoonaz    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  September 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

“Am I observing or absorbing? Am I caring or carrying?” Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he talks with Zabie Yamasaki, accomplished author and founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga. Zabie shares about her mission to empower survivors of sexual violence, highlighting her work on college campuses and how trauma-informed yoga supports survivors in their healing journey. Together, Jivana and Zabie examine how body-based practices are complementary to talk therapy, as healing trauma requires integrating the body and mind. Zabie talks about her new book, "Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs," which offers practices to nurture the nervous system. They also discuss the importance of boundaries and protecting your energy as a yoga teacher. Later in the episode, Jivana and co-host Deanna Michalopoulos further reflect on boundaries, the yogic principle of brahmacharya (wise use of energy), and what it means to support students without taking on their burdens. Topics include: Creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors The eight-week curriculum Zabie developed for college campuses and trauma agencies Yoga research projects Creating inclusive spaces for survivors of all gender identities The benefits of predictability, ritual, and repetition Avoiding burnout in teaching and service work The opportunity for connection and healing in community Teaching as karma yoga Pre-Order Zabie's book, Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs Check out the podcast episode with Jivana discussing yoga as a compliment to talk therapy here. Learn more and join the Trauma & Yoga Series: Exploring Power, Privilege & Healing, featuring Zabie Yamasaki and other guests, now available On-Demand: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/trauma-and-yoga   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Zabie: Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT (she/her) is the Founder of Transcending Trauma through Yoga which is an organization that offers trauma-informed yoga to survivors, consultation for universities and trauma agencies, and training for healing professionals. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals and her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum is now being implemented at over 30 college campuses and trauma agencies including the University of California (UC) system, Stanford, Yale, USC, University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University. She has received countless awards in victim services and leadership, including the Visionary in Victim Services award from one of the largest rape crisis centers in California and the Voice of Courage Award from Exhale to Inhale. She is the author of the book, flipchart, and affirmation deck, Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault: Practices for Healing and Teaching with Compassion zabieyamasaki.com | IG: @transcending_trauma_with_yoga   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  September 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, reconnects with his guest and longtime friend, Uma Alessandra Cocchi, who shares Accessible Yoga internationally, leading trainings in Italy, London, and beyond. Jivana and Uma reflect on their memories together since first meeting in 2013 and discuss how Accessible Yoga provides a gateway to personal transformation, community, and empowerment. Their conversation explores the connection between Accessible Yoga and yoga therapy, highlighting Uma’s scientific research on how yoga supports people with chronic digestive diseases. Uma also speaks about her upcoming in-person training in London with Rodrigo Souza, the significance of yoga philosophy in her teaching, and the life-changing impact of applying yogic principles to real-life experiences. In the second part of the episode segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, discuss the benefits and challenges of inversions in yoga practice. They discuss the importance of personalized attention in yoga practice and the benefits of having a well-trained teacher or therapist. Topics Covered: Uma’s journey from fashion to yoga Accessible Yoga in Italy Accessible Yoga vs. yoga therapy Concepts of time and space as mental frameworks Yoga teaching as service Using yoga philosophy to guide asana classes Empowerment through accessibility Yoga practice and personal growth Finding a yoga teacher/therapist/studio you connect with   Train with Uma in London August 15-17! - Join the ACCESSIBLE YOGA TRAINING with Alessandra Uma Cocchi & Rodrigo Souza. Learn more and register at https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/london-2025 Join the FREE ACCESSIBLE YOGA SERIES: PRACTICE & WORKSHOP with Jivana Heyman. Register here: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/fall-2025-ay-workshops Practice (1 hour) A New Perspective: Accessible Yoga Inversions with Jivana Heyman - Friday August 8, 2025 Workshop (1 hour) Inverting Safely: How to Teach Accessible Inversions with Jivana Heyman - Tuesday September 16, 2025   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Uma: Alessandra Uma Cocchi is an Accessible Yoga trainer for Europe since 2016. She is also an experienced Integral Yoga trainer, a certified yoga therapist involved in scientific research, and a mentor within the Integral Yoga Therapy faculty. Based in Italy, Uma founded 'YAP Integral Yoga Centre' in 2004, a non-profit association dedicated to social advancement through Yoga. In 2015 she launched 'YAP Specialized Yoga', an organization focused on promoting Accessible Yoga in therapeutic settings and contributing to the field through scientific research. www.accessibleyogaeurope.com | IG: @accessible_yoga_europe, @alessandra_uma_cocchi_yoga | FB: Yoga Accessibile Italia - Accessible Yoga, Italy, Alessandra Uma Cocchi Yoga   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **Access the replay! July 31st at 12:30pm Pacific Time, Design a Registered Series That Sells Itself with Michael Jay beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, Jivana Heyman speaks with yoga teacher and spiritual guide, Shanna Small, about accessibility, mantra, and yoga philosophy. Their conversation highlights the importance of integrating yogic teachings into everyday life and finding a personal yoga practice that is intuitive and joyful. Shanna opens up about the challenges of navigating abusive yoga lineages, the awakening that followed her physical injury, and how the murder of George Floyd propelled her into social justice work through the lens of yoga. Shanna shares her passion for mantra and spiritual practice, emphasizing how deeply these tools can transform our minds and lives. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopolous, share listener comments and questions, including a question about next steps for yoga teachers interested in offering accessible/adaptive yoga. Jivana shares resources for ongoing training and highlights the importance of learning from students and other yoga teachers. Topics Covered: Shanna’s history with and transition away from Ashtanga Yoga The Vedic tradition of chanting mantra Healing from abuse in yoga lineages Embodying yogic principles as a form of social justice Applying the yoga principles in everyday life The revolutionary power of yoga   Check Out: ​​ Shanna’s weekly group, The Householder’s Guide to Yoga Accessible Yoga Podcast episode with Melissa Shah The Luminous Self by Tracee Stanley Lee Majewski’s book, Spirituality and Yoga: Bridging the Sacred and the Human, out this November. Click here for pre order link. Upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online, September 26 - November 7th, 2025 Upcoming Accessible Yoga Trainings In-Person: Santa Barbara, August 1-3, 2025 and London, August 15-17, 2025 Join the Accessible Yoga Community Facebook Group Join the Accessible Yoga Ambassador & Mentorship Program    We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Shanna: Shanna Small is a yoga educator and spiritual teacher with over two decades of experience in the field. Her work centers on accessibility, social justice, and the deep wisdom of yoga philosophy. Rooted in the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Vedic teachings, Shanna guides students beyond the surface into embodied transformation. She is the creator of Householder’s Guide to Yoga, a program that helps modern seekers integrate ancient wisdom into daily life. Through her teaching, Shanna invites us to remember that yoga is not just a practice on a mat, but a way of life.  shannasmallyoga.com | @shannasmallofficial   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **Join their upcoming free webinar!  July 31st at 12:30pm Pacific Time, Design a Registered Series That Sells Itself with Michael Jay beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, and guest, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, for a rich and insightful conversation about community, collective care, and the creative process. Together, Jivana and Michelle explore the evolving role of the yoga teacher, the importance of being grounded in humility and service, and how we can use yoga as a path to truth and connection. As an accomplished author, educator, and activist, Michelle offers insight into her books, including her first book, Skill in Action, and her sixth and newly released book, The Wisdom of the Hive, which draws inspiration from honeybees and their interconnectedness. Michelle also offers a glimpse into her upcoming book, which focuses on protection practices, and how it ties into her ongoing work. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, reflect on the conversation between Michelle and Jivana and Michelle’s impact on the yoga world. They reinforce the importance of community and what it means to practice non-attachment as a yoga teacher while remaining true to yourself. Topics Covered: Michelle’s books, including Skill in Action, Illuminating Our True Nature, and her newly released book, The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us about Collective Wellbeing The experience of writing a book and discovering one’s personal writing style Mindful leadership as yoga teachers The risks of ego and power A teaching from Lama Rod Owens Heart centered teaching   Check out: The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga Podcast Interview with Michelle The Wisdom of the Hive Book Club More events with Michelle: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/events Learn more and join the Trauma & Yoga Series: Exploring Power, Privilege & Healing, featuring Michelle Cassandra Johnson and other guests, now available On-Demand: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/trauma-and-yoga   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Michelle: Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant and educator, and intuitive and shamanic healer. She approaches her life and work from a place of knowing we are, can, and must heal individually and collectively. Michelle facilitates workshops and immersions, leads retreats and transformative experiences nationwide, and offers an array of healing services for individuals and groups. For over 25 years as a racial equity educator, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups. Michelle is a five-time published author, and in May 2025, her sixth book, The Wisdom of the Hive, published by Sounds True and co-written with her best friend, Amy Burtaine, was released. Michelle was a TEDx speaker at Wake Forest University in 2019 and has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores the premise and foundation of Skill in Action, along with embodied approaches to racial equity work, creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal. Michelle leads courageously from the heart with compassion and a commitment to address the heartbreak dominant culture causes for many because of the harm it creates. She inspires change that allows people to stand in their humanity and wholeness in a world that fragments most of us. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, sweet dog, Jasper, and her honeybees. www.michellecjohnson.com/ | @skillinaction | facebook.com/skillinaction   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **Join one of their upcoming free webinars!  Replay available: Text to Connect: SMS Strategies for Studio Growth with Chris Appiah Replay available: Why You’re Not Selling Out Your Classes…& What To Do About It! with Barry Kostabi beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes his longtime mentor and pioneer in yoga and accessibility, Matthew Sanford, for a powerful conversation about yoga and human potential. As Jivana reflects on his 30 years of teaching, they discuss the influence of Matthew's work on Jivana's journey and how Matthew’s first book, Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence, inspired Jivana to start Accessible Yoga. Matthew shares stories from his early injury, the beginnings of his yoga path, and the evolving philosophies of his upcoming book. He offers his profound insights into consciousness and a vision of yoga that transcends physical form—where sensation, presence, and subtle awareness guide healing and transformation. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos discuss Jivana’s personal evolution, highlighting Matthew’s role in the early days of Accessible Yoga. They also share a conversation about how to hold space for trauma and discuss the upcoming Trauma & Yoga series with Accessible Yoga. Topics include: Interconnectedness of mind and body Prana (life force), breath, and subtle energy Metaphors of gardening and planting seeds Trauma as an intersectional injury Spiritual growth through loss The value of collaboration and community Learn more and join the Trauma & Yoga Series: Exploring Power, Privilege & Healing, featuring Matthew Sanford and other guests, now available On-Demand: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/trauma-and-yoga   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Matthew: Matthew Sanford (he/him) is an expert in the process transformation through the healing power of yoga. Paralyzed from the chest down at age thirteen and beginning yoga at age twenty-five, Matthew knows firsthand the transformative effect that yoga can have on the mind-body relationship. He is an internationally recognized yoga teacher, a sought-after public speaker, and founder of the non-profit Mind Body Solutions. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Waking: A Memoir Of Trauma and Transcendence (Rodale: 2006). Matthew has also been working with people living with a wide array of trauma, loss, and disability since 1997. He also works with leading psychologists, psychiatrists, and neuroscientists, including Bessel van der Kolk, Ruth Lanius, and Wendy D’Andrea, and is a regular presenter at the internationally acclaimed Boston Trauma Conference. mindbodysolutions.org | @mindbodysolutions   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **Join one of their upcoming free webinars!  June 27th at 9am PT, Text to Connect: SMS Strategies for Studio Growth with Chris Appiah July 16th at 9am PT, Why You’re Not Selling Out Your Classes…& What To Do About It! with Barry Kostabi beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this thought-provoking episode, Jivana Heyman speaks with marketing expert and equity activist, Tristan Katz, about the intersections of yoga, truth, identity, and social justice. Together, they explore how yoga can be a tool for personal and collective liberation, especially for the trans and queer communities in a time of sociopolitical tension and violence. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and Deanna reflect on a listener question from Rebecca Sebastion about the future of yoga. In response, they discuss the impact that AI (Artificial Intelligence) has and will continue to have on the yoga world. To counter it, they emphasize a focus on ethics, equity, and the tangible vibration of human connection. Topics include: The impact of Michelle Cassandra Johnson’s book, Skill in Action, on Tristan’s path Dismantling assumptions and showing up authentically Creating inclusive and welcoming yoga spaces Yoga for self-care and resilience, especially for marginalized communities The importance of truthfulness (Satya) over performative expertise in teaching Showing up and wrestling with hard questions The importance of listening to marginalized voices The evolving role of yoga teachers Check out: Rebecca Sebastian’s Podcast: Working In Yoga "The Future of Yoga" - Yoga Journal article by Deanna Michalopoulus   **You are invited to celebrate Jivana’s 30th Anniversary with a special yoga practice that tells the story of Jivana’s life. To access the recording, click here. This event was live streamed on June 4th and raised money for The Trevor Project, supporting queer and trans youth. We encourage you to donate to The Trevor Project by donating here: https://www.thetrevorproject.org   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Tristan: Tristan Katz (they/he) is a business consultant, conscious marketing strategist, and equity-inclusion facilitator with a lifelong commitment to human rights and justice. Tristan supports individuals and organizations in aligning their values with their messaging through an intersectional, anti-oppression lens. Tristan’s work centers authenticity, relationship, and accessibility, and they’ve collaborated with authors, educators, and cultural leaders as well as organizations like Stanford University, HubSpot, Portland Public Schools, and Port of Portland. Currently, Tristan serves as COO and Director of Programming at Fruition Growth Network. He is also a longtime yoga student, Yoga Journal game-changer (2021), and former board member of Accessible Yoga. www.katz-creative.com | @tristankatzcreative   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **On June 16th at 12:00 PM Pacific Time, discover 'How to Host Courses in OfferingTree' and easily create, manage, and sell your online courses directly on their platform. Register here! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

"Yoga isn't about achieving something. It's about being with what is and trusting that that's enough in the moment." – Sunny Barbee Join host, Jivana Heyman, and guest, Jacquie “Sunny” Barbee, for an uplifting conversation full of humor, vulnerability, honesty, and deep insight. Sunny shares her journey from self-doubt to self-acceptance, offering powerful reflections on satya (truthfulness) and how living her truth has made her a more authentic and relatable teacher. Together, Sunny and Jivana explore how true accessibility is about creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and invited to show up as they are. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, reflect on the concepts of wholeness, faith, and joy. Jivana answers a listener question on teaching yoga to students with varying disabilities, offering insight into the heart of his teaching philosophy and training methods. Topics include: Teaching to older adults Community connection in chair yoga classes The deeper meaning of satya, beyond truth telling Imposter syndrome and the ego The importance of representation in yoga spaces Jivana’s technique of ‘Prepare separately, practice together’ - AY Blog Post Sunny’s faculty roles with Accessible Yoga, including the upcoming Chair Yoga for Everyone course June 25 - July 23, 2025 The ABCs of Yoga - Jivana's book The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga or Jivana's IG Post   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Sunny: Jacquie “Sunny” Barbee is an E-RYT 500hr  yoga teacher living in the Panhandle of Florida.  Sunny finished  YTT in 2016 after turning to an asana practice to help with her chronic illness and depression. While in YTT she realized there was a need for more teachers that didn’t fit the stereotypical “yoga body” image like her and that she could make a difference in helping people see that yoga is for every body. She is able to share with others how to customize their practice to fit their own body, whether that body is larger, aging, or living with illness or injury, much like she does with her own practice.  What she loves most about teaching is that she tries to create safer spaces where the student can connect and make peace with their bodies.  sunnybeeyoga.net | @sunnybeeyoga | facebook.com/SunnyBeeYoga   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

In this heartfelt episode, Jivana Heyman reconnects with longtime friend and fellow yoga teacher, Kristie Dahlia Home. The two first met in their 200-hour yoga teacher training in 1995 and together they reflect on the evolution of their practice, their shared history with Integral Yoga, and the role of spiritual community over the decades. Dahlia shares her radical life decision to live on a boat for five years, her shift into a more intuitive, devotional, and trauma-sensitive approach to teaching, and the way she holds space today through "workshops for living" that center meditation, embodied practice, and spiritual support. The episode also includes a deep and honest discussion about abuse in yoga lineages, the complexity of separating the teacher from the teachings, Jivana’s personal journey leaving Integral Yoga to create the Accessible Yoga organization. In the Question and Answer segment, a listener question sparks discussion of how the Yoga Sutras offer trauma-informed wisdom. Topics Covered: Sangha and friendships rooted in spiritual practice Jivana and Dahlia’s shared experience with ministry service Reclaiming meditation as a natural human capacity The devotional practice of yoga through chanting and meditation Cultural appropriation and yoga Yoga teachers as spiritual leaders   Annapurne Mantra annapūrṇe sadāpūrṇe, śaṃkara prāṇavallabhe, jñāna vairāgya sidhyarthaṃ, bhikṣāṃ dehica pārvati, mātā ca pārvatī devī, pitā devo maheśvaraḥ, bāndhavāḥ śivabhaktāśca, svadeśo bhuvanatrayam Salutations to Mother Annapoorna: O mother Annapoorna, You who are always full (with the gift of food and blessings), You who are the beloved of Shankara (Shiva), O mother Parvati, please grant me the alms of your grace, to awaken within me spiritual knowledge (jnana) and detachment, freedom from all worldly desires (vairagya). Salutations to mother Annapoorna, my mother Devi Parvati, and my father, Deva Maheswara (Shiva). My friends are the devotees of Lord Shiva, and my residence is all the three worlds (whose Lord is none other than Shiva-Parvati). Aarti Mantra jyoti jyoti jyoti swayam, jyoti jyoti jyoti param, jyoti jyoti jyoti arul, jyoti jyoti jyoti Sivam, vaama jyoti soma jyoti, vaana jyoti jnaana jyoti, maaha jyoti yoga jyoti, vaata jyoti naada jyoti, ema jyoti vyoma jyoti, eru jyoti veeru jyoti, eka jyoti eka jyoti, eka jyoti jyotiye Light, O light of self-effulgence, Light, O light of absoluteness, Light, O light of gracefulness, Light, O light of auspiciousness, Light of Siva, light of moon, Light divine, light of wisdom, Light of Heaven, light of yoga, Light of wind, light of sound, Light delight, light of water, Rising light, vital light. The only light, the only light, Give us light, O light of lights.   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Dahlia: Kristie Dahlia Home (she/her) has been teaching the arts of wellbeing and healing with devotion for 30 years. Dahlia is a voracious learner with training in Instinctive Meditation, Yoga, Thai Massage, Reiki, Intuitive Healing, and Chi Nei Tsang. She has taught people of every age and state of health, including extensive work at UCSF and California Pacific Medical Centers. Her students say that they appreciate her warmth, contagious love of life, and keen attention to the unique needs of each individual. She currently teaches online and at her home in Port Townsend, Washington; more at beloved.org. beloved.org | FB: Kristie Dahlia Home, Insta: @priestess_of_the_mystery, Bluesky: @kristiedahlia.bsky.social   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he talks with renowned yoga teacher and writer, Kathryn Budig. Kathryn shares her journey through injury, healing, and transformation in her yoga practice and teaching. Together, they discuss the evolving world of yoga, the shift away from celebrity culture, the importance of authenticity as a teacher, and why it's okay — and essential — to be yourself. Kathryn opens up about her shoulder surgery recovery, her transition away from more athletic asana practices, and her creation of a more sustainable, joyful teaching style through her online platform, Haus of Phoenix. She also shares how honesty and feedback from students have reshaped her approach to teaching over the years. Stay tuned after the interview for a discussion with Jivana and Deanna Michalopoulos, where they reflect on Kathryn's insights and share listener stories about transformation through yoga. Topics Covered: Rethinking asana practice for long-term health Building an authentic online community Why creativity, playfulness, and joy are essential to the yoga journey Kathryn’s publishing house, Inky Phoenix Press, a division of Bindery Books Letting go of unrealistic expectations and focusing on personal growth How COVID reshaped the global yoga community and teacher-student relationships Reflections on Accessible Yoga, teaching with injuries, and staying true to yourself The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and it’s many translations Resources Mentioned: Haus of Phoenix — Kathryn’s online community Jivana’s book Yoga Revolution Pantanjali's Yoga Sutra by Shyam Ranganathan The Secret Power of Yoga by Nischala Joy Devi The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary by Edwin Bryant Inside the Yoga Sutras by Jaganath Carrera   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Kathryn: Kathryn Budig (she/her) is the founder of the online platform Haus of Phoenix and acquiring editor of Inky Phoenix Press under Bindery Books. www.kathrynbudig.com | @kathrynbudig, @thehausofphoenix, @theinkyphoenix   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

In this thought-provoking conversation, Jivana Heyman speaks with educator, yoga teacher, and sound healer, Shawn Moore, about the deeper dimensions of teaching yoga—especially the often-overlooked role of the yoga teacher as a leader and space holder. Shawn shares insights from his background in higher education, Buddhism, and stillness-based practices, unpacking what it means to hold ethical and energetic space for students. He discusses why self-care is a radical responsibility, and how rest practices like restorative yoga help us show up more fully. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, further breakdown the role of leadership and community care, in a conversation supported by listener questions and feedback. Topics Covered The concept of “Entrainment” and how our nervous system impacts the room Shawn’s transformative experience with restorative yoga at Sacred Chill in Atlanta Teaching as facilitation—not performance or perfection How to encourage students’ exploration and autonomy  Reflections on guru culture and the teacher-student relationship Shawn’s interest in creating experiential learning opportunities for students through his workbooks and card decks The upcoming Accessible Yoga Restorative Yoga Series, featuring Shawn as one of ten presenters   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Shawn: Shawn Moore (he/him) empowers movement builders and social impact leaders to get still to lead skillfully by created sacred spaces for renewal, self-inquiry, and disruption. As a Contemplative Learning & Development Strategist, he specializes in mindfulness, social equity, and strengths-based leadership, blending integrative approaches that bridge research and tradition to support transformative leadership.  Shawn is a dedicated Buddhist practitioner who brings compassion and insight to the intersection of Dharma, leadership, and embodied action. With nearly two decades of personal practice, he integrates meditation, yoga nidra, restorative yoga (E-RYT®500, YACEP®), and sound healing into his work. His expertise extends to designing and leading impactful training programs, including Inward Illumination™ Meditation Leader Training and Chill So Hard™ Yoga Nidra & Restorative Yoga Leadership Training.  Shawn has collaborated with organizations like Blue Origin, Spotify, the Center for Urban and Racial Equity, and Sounds True One. Whether facilitating workshops, coaching leaders, or authoring resources like Sound is My Sanctuary: A Practical Guide to Sound Healing as a Portal for Self-Exploration, his mission remains the same: to help leaders align their strengths, intention, and impact to create meaningful change. shawnjmoore.com | @shawnj_moore   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Connect with Joe: Joe's Yoga and Fitness   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. Yogamatters Discover over 2,500 yoga and wellbeing items. Use code JIVANA15 at the checkout to apply a 15% discount to your order of yoga props (one use per customer). www.yogamatters.com     Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer  

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, reconnects with his guest and good friend, Amber Karnes, to reflect on non attachment and self acceptance through challenges and life changes. Amber, whom Jivana credits for shifting contemporary yoga culture, shares about her professional and personal journey since COVID. Together, they remember the work they have done together over the years, including starting this podcast in 2020. In the Question and Answer Segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, feature two voicemails from callers, Tyi-Sanna and Taylor that spark conversations about the importance of interpreting yoga teachings through diverse perspectives and the role of healthy debate in understanding ancient texts. Topics Include: Amber's retreats in Mexico and Virginia Body positivity vs. body neutrality and self acceptance The connection between self image and culture/society Yoga and personal growth and social justice Self care and taking pause Intergenerational living and support Yoga history authors who examine gender and caste: Anjali Rao and Nischala Joy Devi Jivana's book, Yoga Revolution   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Amber: Amber Karnes is a multi-disciplinary artist, community builder, educator, and yoga teacher. She has over 25 years of community-building experience and marketing know-how under her belt. Amber is the creator of Body Positive Yoga and the co-creator of other successful yoga projects like Accessible Yoga School and the Yoga For All Teacher Training. Currently, she hosts adventure retreats where daring women can explore body acceptance through yoga, nature, and travel. She also offers marketing strategy coaching for solo business owners. Her new projects include a surfing retreat for complete beginners and an online community for biz owners who want to quit social media. Find her at amberkarnes.com amberkarnes.com | @amberkarnesofficial   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman     Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. Yogamatters Discover over 2,500 yoga and wellbeing items. Use code JIVANA15 at the checkout to apply a 15% discount to your order of yoga props (one use per customer). www.yogamatters.com     Credit: Mikus Dharma, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana, and guest, Rodrigo Souza, as they discuss teaching yoga with compassion and awareness, the role of yoga in healing trauma, and the importance of representation and advocacy for people with disabilities in yoga. Rodrigo shares his journey of living with a spinal cord injury and how yoga became a transformative tool for healing and self-acceptance. He reflects on his first time teaching a yoga class and the impact it had on his students and himself. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and Deanna discuss the importance of empathy in today’s world, the significance of self-compassion, and allowing space for all experiences in yoga. Jivana answers a question about who his current teachers are and his ongoing learning and growth as a yoga teacher. Topics Include: Yoga as a tool for healing Strategies for creating safe and inclusive yoga spaces What gentle yoga means beyond asana Why being present in the body can be challenging for students The importance of language and offering choices in yoga classes Accessible Yoga Training Online: Learn from Rodrigo and other guest teachers Rodrigo's Yoga for Disabled Folks online course The Accessible Yoga Ambassador & Mentorship Program, led by Rodrigo The upcoming Accessible Yoga Restorative Yoga Series, April 24-May 27, 2025   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Rodrigo: Rodrigo Souza (he/him) is an Adaptive and Accessible Yoga teacher with experience in instructing folks who have endured trauma and disability. After suffering a traumatic injury which left him paralysed from the chest down, Rodrigo recognised the significance of taking care of his own recovery to enhance his long-term well-being. This journey inspired him to become a yoga teacher, where he aims to share his personal insights into discovering joy in movement and rest. www.allihopayoga.com | @allihopayoga (IG)   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman     Connect with Cheri Clampett: Therapeutic Yoga Check out the Cumbria Yoga Foundation!      Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. Yogamatters Discover over 2,500 yoga and wellbeing items. Use code JIVANA15 at the checkout to apply a 15% discount to your order of yoga props (one use per customer). www.yogamatters.com     Credit: Mikus Dharma, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

In this powerful episode, host, Jivana Heyman, and guest, Tamika Caston-Miller, examine yoga as revolutionary—being a catalyst for personal and collective transformation. Tamika shares about her work in Houston, Texas, as both an educator and a permaculturist, creating a culture of sustainability, both in nature and within the community. Together they discuss their commitments to learning and expanding beyond comfort zones and practicing self awareness without judgement. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and Deanna share voicemails from Ber McCall in Ireland and Jo Stewart from Garden of Yoga in Australia celebrating Jivana and the teachings they have learned from him. Deanna also shares a question regarding making yoga offerings financially accessible and Jivana describes his approach to offering free content on social media and the importance of making teachings accessible through various platforms. Topics Include: Lessons about life through the lenses of gardening and permaculture Capitalism and disconnection from nature Panchamaya Kosha: the five spiritual layers of being The variety of ways to continue education and learning Teaching with a lens of curiosity and beyond physical postures Learning from challenges and pratipaksha bhavana The teachings of yoga philosophy in Jivana’s book, Yoga Revolution The upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online, March 6 - April 17th, 2025   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Tamika: Tamika Caston-Miller is a yoga educator, executive coach, and mindful communities builder living the life of urban farmer florist in Houston, Texas. She curates nature-inspired yoga practices in service to collective care through the lens of rest, resilience, and ancestral repair. Tamika is founder of inclusive wellness space The Ranch Houston and virtual yoga studio & school Ashe Yoga Collective, constributes to Yoga Journal, and is a former board member of Accessible Yoga Association. Tamika aims to build intersectional, intergenerational, multiethnic communities that center radical compassion, agency, and self acceptance. Her modern application of ancient yogic principles is inspired by her understanding of yoga as a practice of right relationship with others, the planet, and oneself. www.tamikacastonmiller.com | www.asheyoga.com | tamikacastonmiller.substack.com | @tamika_castonmiller  (IG)   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman     Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. Yogamatters Discover over 2,500 yoga and wellbeing items. Use code JIVANA15 at the checkout to apply a 15% discount to your order of yoga props (one use per customer). www.yogamatters.com   Credit: Mikus Dharma, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana, and guest, Melissa Shah, to reflect on the fullness of the path of yoga as an inner practice that translates to outer action and service. Melissa shares about her grassroots efforts to support her LA community after the recent fires and together they discuss how yoga helps foster resilience, prevent burnout, and serve as a tool for community care. They share thoughts on the importance of slowing down to integrate teachings and embrace the present moment. In the Question and Answer segment, we hear inspiring stories from Sally Denton and Jackie Driscoll about the impact of yoga in building community and the wisdom of nature as a teacher. We also hear from Lesley on her goals to merge her roles as Occupational Therapist and yoga teacher and her excitement to join the upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online in March. Topics Include: Activism and social justice through a yogic lens Generational cycles of trauma and healing Breaking Western values of perfectionism and urgency Teaching what you know The value of repetition in practice The balance between acceptance and change Highlights of the upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online, March 6 - April 17th, 2025   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Melissa: Melissa Shah (she/they), founder of Find Your Breath, is an Indian-American yoga therapist who works to educate folks on how to practice yoga holistically through one-to-one and group sessions, retreats, and uplifting South Asian and BIPOC wellness leaders. She also regularly guest lectures for trainings and events across the U.S,, where she educates people on the more subtle aspects of yoga, such as mantra and pranayama. One of Melissa’s greatest passions is to create and co-create supportive spaces for rest and exploration of Self that are rooted in radical inclusion. Their work has been featured by NBC Asian America and in Yoga Journal, Anti-Racism Daily, SHAPE magazine and Women's Health Mag. www.findyourbreath.net | @findyourbreath (IG)   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Connect with Lesley: @mindbodyflow_yoga       Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. Yogamatters Discover over 2,500 yoga and wellbeing items. Use code JIVANA15 at the checkout to apply a 15% discount to your order of yoga props (one use per customer). www.yogamatters.com   Credit: Mikus Dharma, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, Jivana spends time with artist and yoga teacher, Scottee, to explore identity, accessibility, and the power of yoga to support marginalized communities. Scottee shares stories of growing up in working-class North London to finding yoga as a form of healing and expression. Together, they discuss the intersections of queerness, class, neurodivergence, and yoga, questioning how yoga spaces can be more inclusive and equitable and a source of support in the current political climate. In the Question and Answer segment, Rebecca Sebastian leaves a heartfelt voicemail celebrating Jivana’s 30 years of teaching and Elisa Jouannet shares a transformative lesson from her yoga teacher: "Wherever you are, that's perfect." Jivana answers a question about how he made a living while teaching yoga and discusses with cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, the challenges of integrating business with yoga. Topics include:  Speaking out against injustice, and the role of yoga in providing hope and peace The connection between running and yoga Pros and cons of studio classes Yoga for end of life and holding space for loss The beauty of the student-teacher relationship and its impact on personal growth The importance of financial accessibility and equity  Shared resource: Tristan - Stop Charging Your Worth Training   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Scottee: Scottee (he/they) is a self taught actor who has received critical acclaim for his work in theatre and audio, he is also the creator behind Wonkee. Wonkee is a digital club with a focus on inclusive yoga practice, self paced learning, creativity and self care, whose practices are made with the weird, sad, mad, fat, neurodivergent, sensitive, soft natured and queer amongst us.  wonkee.club | @scotteeisfat | @wonkee.club   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Connect with Rebecca: @rebeccassebastianyoga Connect with Elisa: @elisajouannet   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. Yogamatters Discover over 2,500 yoga and wellbeing items. Use code JIVANA15 at the checkout to apply a 15% discount to your order of yoga props (one use per customer). www.yogamatters.com Credit: Mikus (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer  

“You can only wake up someone who is asleep, not someone who is pretending to be asleep.” - Indu Arora In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, chats with his guest and good friend, Indu Arora, who shares her journey in yoga and the lessons she learned in her youth, which began a lifelong study of yoga. Together, they emphasize the importance of ethics and explore profound themes like humility in teaching, the intersection of tradition and modernity, and the joy of living a balanced life through yoga. The Question and Answer segment with Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, featured a question submitted about how to provide a full authentic and profound experience into a 45 to 60 minute yoga class and shared a listener voicemail about developing yoga for functional aging.  Topics include: Impact of fires in Southern CA - Couch Yoga Fundraiser Class Ethics as a work in progress Reflections on queerness and spirituality Living yoga in daily life The evolving nature of the yoga teachings as we learn and grow in our practice Shorter vs. longer yoga classes and the importance of a regular and consistent practice Sharing yoga with the aging population and an introduction to the Accessible Yoga School training: Accessible Yoga for Older Adults   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Indu: Indu Arora (she/her), Ayurveda and Yoga Therapist considers herself a student for lifetime. Her teachings are deeply rooted in the philosophy: 'Nothing has the greatest power to heal, but Self.’ Authored: Mudra: The Sacred Secret (2015, also translated in German and French languages) Yoga - Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow"s Vision (2019) SOMA - 100 Heritage Recipes for Self-Care (2020) Hardcopy + eBook www.yogsadhna.com | @induaroraofficial | www.facebook.com/InduAroraOfficial    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman     Thank You to Our Sponsors!   OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

Host, Jivana Heyman, kicks off this celebratory series with the first of 30 conversations marking his 30th year of teaching yoga. In this episode, Jivana welcomes Shannon Crow, host of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast and cherished friend, for an inspiring conversation about their shared journeys, the profound teachings of yoga, and the lessons that have shaped them. The question to start these conversations is, “What is a story, teaching, or practice from your past that continues to inspire you as you move forward on your path of yoga?” Shannon shares a moving story from her early days as a yoga teacher about releasing control and embracing openness—a theme that resonates deeply in her life and practice today. Jivana reflects on his experiences with his first teacher and the mindfulness practices she imparted, from gardening to the Japanese tea ceremony. Together, they explore the sacredness of everyday moments and the power of living yoga off the mat. This heartfelt conversation sets the tone for a season dedicated to meaningful stories, rich teachings, and celebrating yoga's ability to transform lives. Topics include: Why Jivana decided to celebrate 30 years of teaching with 30 special guests Shannon's journey from Kundalini Yoga to becoming a mentor and podcaster Lessons in non-grasping, letting go, and parenting through the lens of yoga The sacredness of the present moment and mindful action How storytelling can illuminate the depth of yoga philosophy and practice   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Shannon: Shannon Crow (she/her) is a yoga teacher, trainer and host of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast. She is passionate about helping yoga teachers to specialize so that they can stand out with their unique yoga offerings. Shannon is the founder of Pelvic Health Professionals and a Mom to her three best teachers. www.theconnectedyogateacher.com | @theconnectedyogateacher | facebook.com/groups/connectedyogateacher   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors!   OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus (they/them), AYP Podcast Sound Engineer

Welcome to season four of the Accessible Yoga Podcast! Host Jivana Heyman celebrates 30 years of teaching yoga by reflecting on his journey and setting the stage for a season filled with meaningful conversations with dedicated yoga practitioners and teachers. This episode is a heartfelt introduction to Jivana’s personal story, the history of Accessible Yoga, and what to expect from this season. Join Jivana as he shares his gratitude for the yoga teachings, the lineage of practitioners who’ve preserved these teachings, and the powerful impact yoga has had on his life. He also introduces an interactive component for listeners, inviting you to share your stories, questions, and reflections. Topics Include: The season’s theme: 30 episodes, 30 minutes each featuring conversations with 30 different yoga teachers Reflections on Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga and his upcoming book on making meditation accessible An invitation for listener participation   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here: https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes! Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org Connect with Jivana: www.jivanaheyman.com |  @jivanaheyman   |  facebook.com/jivanaheyman