The Happy Yoga Podcast

Withdrawal of the senses (Pratyahara) is the fifth of the eight limbs of YogaIt is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.When we withdraw the senses, we're not trying to switch the senses off, we are just becoming attuned to the subtle. Easier said than done in this over-stimulating world we live in because there's so much information being fed to our brains all day, every day.In this episode Jo explores why we sometimes feel discomfort when we try to withdraw our senses.  It takes practice to "switch off" and ground yourself.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Postures (Asana) is the third of the eight limbs of YogaIt is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.Asana means the physical posture, the seat that we take for meditation.In this episode, Jo talks about the evolution of Asana. She explores the extreme "instagrammable" postures and her belief that they are symptomatic of our society where people may be placing their personal value and worth on achieving them. Jo reminds us that these extreme postures do not make someone "better" at yoga, and how we should all practice Yoga at our own physical & mental pace. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Mindful Breathing (Pranayama): Part 2Pranayama is the fourth limb of Yoga.It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.This episode has been split into two: this is the second, which will focus on the energetic entity of Pranayama.In this episode, Jo explores the spark of life and how our lives link with the natural world through breath. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Mindful Breathing (Pranayama): Part 1Pranayama is the fourth limb of Yoga.It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.This episode has been split into two: the first will explore Pranayama in terms of breathwork, and the second will focus on the energetic entity of Pranayama.In this episode, Jo explores the importance of breathing techniques in your yoga practice, and life in general! We learn about the impact breath has on our nervous system and how we can control our states through inhaling or exhaling.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Surrender (Ishvara-Pranidhana): the fifth of the observations (Niyamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.However you interpret 'surrender', there is a common theme of letting go of control. In this episode, Jo talks openly about how her personal loss led her down a path to find an answer to human existence and the fragility of life. We hear how she came face to face with surrender on this search for the answers.    ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Self-study (Swadyaya): the fourth of the observations (Niyamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.Self-study is not just the study of yourself, it's also the study of what is the self, so you may need to grab a coffee before you listen to this mind-bender!In this episode, Jo talks to us about the life-long mission of self-discovery, but how exactly can this be achieved when we are constantly changing and evolving? This leaves us with the big question - what is our 'self'?● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Discipline (Tapas): the third of the observations (Niyamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.We need discipline to practice yoga (and anything else you wish to do consistently in life), but discipline can make it feel forced which sometimes makes us resist doing things which we would otherwise enjoy! In this episode, Jo talks to us about how we don't need to be doing an hour of physical yoga every day to embody this Niyama. We also learn how reframing the way we think of discipline can help us achieve our goals, especially when we are trying to change our habits and incorporate new ones!  ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Contentment (Santosha): the second of the observations (Niyamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.You're not going to be surprised to hear that the modern world isn't designed to make us feel content, and neither is the human brain! Our brains are there to keep us alive and safe from harm (making us content is low on the list of its priorities!)In this episode, Jo talks about how we can find inner peace and contentment when we focus on the things that we already have rather than always searching for more! Happiness is attainable at every moment if we choose it, but only if we stop relying on external factors to provide it. When we do this, we can cultivate a sense of contentment and gratitude.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Purification (Saucha): the first of the observations (Niyamas) .It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one. In recent years the definition of "purity" within the yoga community has been up for debate because it can be interpreted to mean purifying the body from toxins and "eating clean" etc, but there are so many other (and less harmful) interpretations of this Niyamas.In this episode, Jo talks about how we could be more aware of our consumption of things that we may be relying on to feel a certain way - social media to feel connected, alcohol to feel relaxed etc and how we can observe and change the habits, behaviours or rituals that no longer nourish us. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha): the fifth of the restraints (Yamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.Non-possessiveness is about the acceptance of change and letting go of the idea that things should remain the same. In this episode, Jo talks about our attitude towards impermanence and how it can distract us from being present and enjoying the moment (end-of-holiday-blues sound familiar?). Jo reminds us that we shouldn't just rely on eternal factors to be happy, improve our wellbeing or establish our identity because nothing is permanent. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Energetic Continence (brahmacharya): the fourth of the restraints (Yamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.It could be tempting to only ever do things or socialise with people who give you energy (aka "fill your cup"), but life isn't that simple and we have responsibilities which require us to get involved in energy-zapping pursuits.  In this episode, Jo encourages us to be careful, aware and respectful of our energy and talks us through two interpretations of energetic continence; one being a theory that we all have a finite amount of energy to get us through life, and the other being based around celibacy,  sexual conduct and consent.  ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Non-Stealing (Asteya): the third of the restraints (Yamas).It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.The essence of non-stealing is less about taking something that is owned by someone else and more about taking something that you are not entitled to; taking more than your fair share; taken something that isn't freely given. For example - stealing someone's time / taking someone's time for granted.   In this episode, Jo explains why this restraint is such a complicated issue and encourages us to examine our own feelings by tuning in to our nervous system to find what we actual want from life. Jo touches upon our insatiable drive for more and how we should be mindful about the impact this can have on others. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the Facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Truthfulness (Satya): the second of the restraints.It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one.Truthfulness isn't as simple as "just don't lie" because we all see the world through a different lens and because of this, one person's truth will differ from another person's.  In other words - there is no one truth.In this episode, Jo talks about what happens to our internal truths when we hold ourselves back in fear of judgement and rejection; and how we strive to be better because we are constantly telling ourselves the story that we are not good enough and undeserving of other peoples attention.Jo believes that Yoga is about relearning and rejecting those messages that we're getting from society and unlearning the negative beliefs we have about ourselves. You are enough, just as you are!● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Being You - A New Science of Consciousness – Anil Seth● Newcastle Yoga School website

Non-harm (Ahimsa): the first of the restraints.It is advisable to listen to "The Yoga Sutras" episode before you listen to this one. Although our actions may cause harm, it is the intention behind it that matters - so don't be too hard on yourself for accidentally stepping on your cat's tail (and don't let them take advantage of you for that - because they will guilt-trip you for treats for as long as they can!) In this episode, Jo talks about what it means to live your life with compassion in a way where you don't cause deliberate harm to other living beings.We learn about the "we are one" concept where separation dissolves; where you understand and embody the fact that we are all one, and by doing harm to another living being is doing harm to yourself.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

The yoga sutras are a composition of texts which offer practical wisdom for reaching enlightenment (like a "how-to" guide).In this episode, Jo looks at the path of enlightenment and why the open invitation to find it is a rather radical concept. The origins of the Sutras is unknown but there are so many different stories over different cultures and the truth has become a little muddy.Not only are the Sutras a path, they also serve as a kind of map of human consciousness. ● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● Newcastle Yoga School website

Welcome to the first episode of The Happy Yoga Podcast! So, what is Yoga?  This isn't a simple question and the answer requires us to go back thousands of years to delve into ancient Indian philosophy and pull ourselves back into the modern day.In this episode, Jo talks about the  journey to enlightenment how this is different for all of us.  We learn that Yoga can be used in various ways, some of which may feel right and others not so much because Yoga is a very personal practice!Jo looks at the interpretations of yoga through the ages and walks us through an epic tale of the Hindu Gods.● Happy Yoga online community● Jo’s Instagram● Join the facebook group here● Happy Yoga Newcastle website● The Bhagavad Gita - Eknath Easwaran● Newcastle Yoga School website