Skillful Means Podcast

Jen wraps up her partial series on the Brahma Viharas with Mudita, commonly translated as "sympathetic joy." With Mudita, we're asked to rejoice in the good fortune of others, admittedly not easy.This is why Jen likes to think of Mudita as "delight," specifically delighting in joy itself whether it's originating from someone else or from within. But, when we are able to delight in other's happiness, it's further solidifies our connection and sense of interconnectedness, helping to ease the suffering of loneliness and isolation. The meditation starts at 3:39. If your podcast player support chapter makers, you can skip ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Have you ever caught yourself (or been caught by someone else) with your head buried in your smartphone while doing something mundane like brushing your teeth or walking through your home?If so, you can probably relate to the lure of distraction when certain moments don't seem worth our full attention. In this contemplation, Annie invites us to view these small, ordinary moments during the day as portals to mindfulness that may reveal a hidden treasure of simple awe that awaits our ordinary attention. To skip the talk and go straight to the mediation, fast forward to 3:33 or use the chapter marker if your player supports them.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Continuing her mini-series on the Brahma Viharas, the Four Immeasurables, Jen shares the Tibetan practice of Tonglen. This training in compassion is an inner alchemy where the practitioner seeks to transmute the suffering of others. Tonglen teaches us how to grow our hearts beyond the boundaries of those in our in-crowd. It invites us to embrace our common humanity as an extension of our own being. This particular variation of Tonglen is inspired by a version by Roshi Joan Halifax.To skip the talk and go straight to the mediation, fast forward to 4:18 or use the chapter marker if your player supports them.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

It’s counterintuitive but essentially true: all phenomena itself is neutral, including people and events, and they have equal capacity to provoke suffering or ease alike – it all depends on how we meet the moment.As we continues our series of practice this summer, Annie offers a contemplation on how we might work with discernment in shaping a skillful state of mind when facing difficult circumstances.The meditation starts at 2:57. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump ahead.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Some of the most treasured and widely-practiced Buddhist Teachings are the Brahma Viharas (The Four Immeasurables). They also appear in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as one of the many practices that settle mind. Sometimes referred to as "The Four Faces of Love," these teachings help us to foreground love in all our encounters... with ourselves, loved ones, community members, and even people that we don't particularly like.As part of our summer series of practices, Jen is going to share 3 of the four "Divine Abodes," starting with metta (loving-kindness). In this practice, we're training up the capacity to tap into our shared humanity and awaken goodwill towards others. The meditation starts at 2:04. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump ahead. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

The old Zen proverb that says “before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water” is a gentle reminder that chasing the ecstatic will ultimately let us down. Instead, if we can stay close to the ordinary matters of each moment, we may be much better positioned to experience luminous presence.In this practice, Annie discusses the true meaning of mindfulness, and invites you to use your immediate surroundings as a platform for awakening to the moment. The meditation start at 2:40. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump ahead.~This summer, we here at Skillful Means Podcast are taking a hiatus from releasing discussion episodes. Travel plans being what they are, it was going to be a challenge to get together. But we aren't leaving you hanging! Join us for bi-weekly practices that you can practice wherever you are. No props necessary. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

In the last of our series on the less common practices of the First Foundation of Mindfulness (Mindfulness of the Body), Jen shares a practice of contemplating the four elements of the body: earth, water, fire, and air. Because everything in the manifest world contains these elements, this practice helps us to embody interconnectedness. We're also encouraged to soften our sense of exceptionalism. We are, after all, just this. The meditation starts at 3:00. If your podcast app supports chapter markers, you can jump right to it.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Could you imagine a yoga class without postures?  In fact, millions of dedicated yoga practitioners don't practice asana at all. In this episode, Annie and Jen discuss ways to engage with the teachings separate from asana, drawing on guidance from the "Bhagavad Gita" and their own experiences. "Bhagavad Gita" quote mentioned in the episode: Chapter 2 Verse 42-43"There are ignorant people who speak flowery words and take delight in the letter of the law, saying that there is nothing else. Their hearts are full of selfish desires, Arjuna. Their idea of heaven is their own enjoyment, and the aim of all their activities is pleasure and power."Summer Recommended ReadingContemplating Reality, Andy KarrWaking, Matthew SandfordDavid Copperfield, Charles DickensSilo Series, Hugh Howey~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

In the First Foundation of Mindfulness, the Buddha shared several practices that were intended to help practitioners release their attachments to the body. Whether we are concerned about it's size and shape, the body's age, specific parts... we're encouraged to experience the body as it simple is: comprised of hard and soft tissues... organs... parts. In this month's guided practice, Jen shares a variation on the contemplation of the anatomy of the body. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

We are thrilled to welcome Sarah Powers, author and co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, onto the show to talk about embodying the qualities of love and compassion. This is the "finale" episode our series on the 12 Embodiments of Yoga. Sarah was the perfect guest for this topic as compassion is such a central theme in her teachings. Throughout the sweeping conversation, Sarah helps trace the line between practicing on a mat and love and compassion as an orientation towards living life. Notable touchpoints include:~ why starting a practice with self-compassion sets the mood for what's to come~ an attitude of wonder vs imposing a strict structure on our practice~ yoga practice as a container for meeting our full selves~ getting comfortable with discomfort~ the pressure to perform our best selves~ are we practicing for ourselves or others?~ how to be in touch with others' pain without attempting to carry it for them~ being with the tumult in our world without drowning in itSarah teaches all over the world. To sign up for her next training or retreat, visit: https://sarahpowersinsightyoga.com/If you want to take her US-based Level 1 Yin Yoga Teacher Training in DC at Sun & Moon Yoga Studio, follow this link: https://sunandmoonstudio.cowtinker.com/om/workshops/sarah-powers-insight-yoga-teacher-training-intensive-summer-2023~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

While we may train up mindfulness in formal settings, our true aim is to become present and aware all the time. So, at some point, we must take the practice off the cushion or mat and point it towards the everyday things that we usually take for granted.... washing our hands, preparing a meal, folding laundry. In this guided practice, Jen guides you to mindfully eat an orange. Even if you don't particularly like oranges, this is still a surprisingly potent practice because it helps us to separate the experience of mindfulness from what we prefer, enjoy, or dislike. Props: one orange~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

In their continuing exploration of Annie's 12 Embodiments of Yoga, in this episode, Annie and Jen discuss the nuances of Kindness and Generosity. While this may seem like a breezy topic, these qualities (and their corresponding actions) ask of us a certain amount of magnanimity that has to be cultivated and applied intentionally.  Jen & Annie look at how to do that and how their own orientation has changed over their decades as practitioners. ~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

Jen continues her series on Mindfulness of the Body variations with an exploration of standing, one of the four traditional meditation postures. Standing practice can be a respite for many who find sitting for long stretches uncomfortable. And standing can quickly become uncomfortable itself, which his why it is a potent posture to practice with. But mostly, this is one of Jen's favorite meditation postures because you can practice it almost anywhere you happen to be standing in line. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

We're back from an unplanned hiatus with our continuing series on Annie's Twelve Embodiments of Yoga. This month, Jen and Annie are chatting about the role of wonder and whimsy in practice. Jen is a little skeptical, especially with whimsy, having generally approached her practice as a serious endeavor. Listen in to see if Annie can bring her around. Mentioned on the Show:"Yoga and the Quest for the True Self" by Stephen Cope"Wonder – is not precisely Knowing" by Emily DickinsonWhat We're Reading:"Let the Great World Spin" by Colum McCann"This Side of Brightness" by Colum McCann"Apeirogon" by Colum McCannMurderbot Diaries by Martha C. Wells"A Memory Called Empire" by Arkady Martine"A Desolation Called Peace" by Arkady Martine~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

Jen's back with a series new series of guided practices exploring different ways of working with the body to establish mindful awareness. Pulled from teachings in the Buddha's Four Foundations of Mindfulness, our hope is that cultivating mindfulness through the body will help you to find grounded stability and continuity in your connection to the present moment. In this first of five practices, you'll explore Mindfulness of Body Posture, a teaching that can be transferred to any shape whether you're standing, sitting, lying on the beach, or even in a yoga posture. Jen uses Half Butterfly, a simple and accessible Yin Yoga posture in this meditation. To skip right to the practice, jump to 5:00 or use the chapter marker. Props you might need:blockyoga blanket or stiff beach towel~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can get in touch with Jen directly at https://www.sati.yoga where she offers yoga and mindfulness classes, workshops, trainings, and IFS coaching.

Unlike all other biological organisms who have built-in mechanisms to maintain homeostasis, human minds are at the mercy of themselves. They gallivant around, unchecked, until we choose to rein our own thoughts in. In this guided practice, Annie offers a method for helping those galloping thoughts to gently return to a centered place in the body that can orient the mind around gentle peace.   Meditation starts at 2:03.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Continuing with our exploration of Annie's 12 Embodiments of yoga, Jen and Annie chat about sacrifice and spaciousness. With Jen feeling like sacrifice is a loaded term, they spend some time unpacking what is really expected of us when it comes to spiritual growth. In particular, they explore how sacrifice is a necessary natural process and creates the conditions for the spaciousness that promotes the ease and wellbeing we want our practice to foster. ~ ~ ~We love to hear from you! Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.

In this guided practice, Annie shares inspiration from recent scientific breakthroughs in nuclear fusion.She suggests that we can turn simple inward focus into bright, shining energetic presence to generate our own little sunbursts of kindness, patience, and compassion.~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

In this meditation, Annie guides you through a practice of making space for others, especially those who share different philosophical or political beliefs or who we find emotionally activating. Instead of trying to find common ground, Annie offers the option of rooting yourself in the present moment while inviting spacious, peaceful presence to guide you. ~Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey. We welcome your comments. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, send us a note at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com, or leave us a voicemail at https://www.speakpipe.com/skillfulmeanspodcast. You can find  Annie at https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com where she offers dharma talks and meditation on Wednesdays. 

Continuing our exploration of embodied qualities of Yoga, Jen & Annie discuss the nuances of Courage and how it's a necessary ingredient for our Practice. They also share how they're getting ready for the Winter season. ~ ~ ~Reach out to us on  Facebook and Instagram. We also welcome your messages at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com or in our voicemail box on SpeakPipe.You can get in touch with Jen through her website (http://www.sati.yoga). Find Annie at  Sun & Moon Yoga Studio (https://www.sunandmoonstudio.com) on Wednesday nights (in person or online) for meditation and dharma talks.