In this episode, Lauren discusses Ustrasana (camel pose) and its connection to gratitude and contentment, particularly during Thanksgiving week. She explores the physical and emotional aspects of the pose, emphasizing the importance of proper alignment, safety, and the yogic philosophy of Santosha. Through practical tips and personal anecdotes, Lauren encourages listeners to cultivate a sense of acceptance and gratitude both on and off the mat, highlighting the transformative power of yoga in fostering a deeper connection to oneself and the world.

Takeaways:

• Camel pose embodies vulnerability and courage.
• The sensation after the posture brings a sense of openness.
• Gratitude is essential, especially during Thanksgiving.
• Santosha requires acceptance and gratitude.
• Proper alignment is crucial for safety in camel pose.
• Engaging the glutes helps maintain structural integrity.
• Finding contentment in your practice is key.
• Mindful neck positioning is important for safety.
• Exploring variations of camel pose enhances practice.
• Cultivating gratitude and acceptance strengthens resilience.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ustrasana and Gratitude
01:50 Understanding Santosha: The Niyama of Contentment
04:16 Tips for Proper Alignment in Camel Pose
07:33 Safety and Core Engagement in Camel Pose
08:28 Mindful Modifications for Individual Needs
12:17 Cultivating Gratitude and Acceptance on the Mat

• Yoga is a practice that connects body, heart, and mind.
• Many yoga teachers feel uncomfortable with marketing due to societal programming.
• Marketing should be seen as sharing rather than bragging.
• Workshops provide a space for deeper learning and community connection.
• Hosting workshops can help teachers grow personally and professionally.
• Workshops can diversify income streams for yoga teachers.
• Creating a workshop requires understanding its unique value compared to regular classes.
• Effective marketing involves transparency and authenticity.
• Teachers should focus on their purpose and intention in offering workshops.
• Self-study and following one's passion are key to deepening yoga practice.

Chapters

• Understanding the history of yoga provides context for modern practice.
• Yoga's origins may trace back to ancient Egypt or the Indus Valley.
• The Vedic period introduced the first yogic texts, the Vedas.
• Patanjali's Yoga Sutras formalized the philosophy of yoga.
• The Bhagavad Gita outlines different paths of yoga beyond physical postures.
• Tantra and Hatha yoga emphasized the physical body for spiritual awakening.
• Modern yoga emerged in the late 19th to early 20th century.
• Krishnamacharya is considered the father of modern yoga.
• The yoga industry faces challenges of commodification and cultural appropriation.
• Practitioners should strive to honor yoga's roots while adapting to modern needs.

Chapters

• The eight limbs of yoga are a path to mental, spiritual, and emotional liberation.
• Yama and niyama are ethical disciplines and personal observances that guide how we live our lives.
• Asana refers to physical postures and prepares the body for meditation.
• Pranayama is breath control and helps create different energies within the body.
• Pratyahara is sense withdrawal and techniques to let go of external distractions.
• Dharana is concentration, which creates mental clarity and is important for meditation.
• Dhyana is meditation, a state of oneness with the object of focus.
• Samadhi is absorption and liberation, the ultimate goal of yoga.
• The journey of practicing the eight limbs is valuable and can bring more union and alignment to our lives.

Chapters

Summary

In this episode, Lauren discusses the power of hands-on assists in yoga. She shares her personal experience with hands-on assists and how it led her to explore trauma-informed yoga and consent tools. Lauren explains the benefits of hands-on assists, such as increasing proprioception, creating trust and connection, and revealing the energetic dynamics of a pose. However, she also highlights the disadvantages, including the risk of harm, focusing on external aesthetics over internal experience, and creating codependency. Lauren emphasizes the importance of consent and provides different types of assists and adjustments. She concludes by inviting listeners to her hands-on assist workshop.

Takeaways

• Hands-on assists can be beneficial in yoga by increasing proprioception, creating trust and connection, and revealing the energetic dynamics of a pose.
• However, there are also disadvantages to hands-on assists, such as the risk of harm, focusing on external aesthetics over internal experience, and creating codependency.
• Consent is crucial when giving hands-on assists, and there are various ways to obtain consent, including consent cards, verbal consent, and ongoing communication.
• Different types of assists and adjustments can be used, including verbal assists, self-assists, stabilizing assists, deepening assists, and PNF assists.
• Teachers should prioritize safety, professionalism, and individualization when giving hands-on assists.
• Hands-on assists are not necessary to be a great yoga teacher, but they can enhance teaching and create more impactful and supportive yoga experiences.

Chapters

Summary

In this episode, Lauren discusses supportive Ayurvedic practices for autumn and how to support the season change through yoga. She explains the principles of Ayurveda and the doshas, with a focus on vata dosha during autumn. Lauren provides tips for balancing vata dosha, including warming and grounding foods, self-massage, breathing practices, and mindful movement. She also suggests lifestyle rituals such as lighting candles, creating cozy spaces, and letting go of clutter. Lauren emphasizes the importance of embracing the slower pace of autumn and tuning into one's needs.

Takeaways

• Ayurveda is a holistic system of health that emphasizes the balance between the body, mind, and spirit through diet, lifestyle, and seasonal changes.
• Autumn is considered a vata season, characterized by coolness, dryness, and wind. Balancing vata dosha is important during this time.
• To balance vata dosha, focus on warming and grounding foods, practice self-massage with warm oil, engage in breathing practices like ujjayi breath, and engage in mindful movement.
• Lifestyle rituals such as lighting candles, creating cozy spaces, and letting go of clutter can support the slower pace of autumn.
• Embrace the opportunity to go inward, tune into your needs, and practice self-care during this season of transition.

Chapters

Summary

In this episode, Lauren discusses the readiness and considerations for becoming a yoga teacher. She shares her personal journey and highlights the importance of understanding one's why, committing to personal practice, and embracing continuous learning. Lauren also emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence, holding space for others, and the reality of teaching yoga. She addresses common fears and doubts, encourages authenticity and finding one's teaching style, and emphasizes the value of community support. Lauren concludes by urging listeners to listen to their intuition and take the leap if becoming a yoga teacher feels enriching and enhancing to their lives.

Takeaways

• Understand your why and the reasons behind wanting to become a yoga teacher.
• Commit to your personal practice and maintain consistency.
• Embrace continuous learning and have a passion for expanding your knowledge.
• Develop emotional intelligence and the ability to hold space for others.
• Be aware of the reality of teaching yoga, including the time commitment and business aspects.
• Overcome fears and doubts, and be open to personal transformation.
• Find your authentic teaching style and voice.
• Seek community support and mentorship from experienced teachers.
• Listen to your intuition and take the leap if becoming a yoga teacher feels enriching and enhancing to your life.

Chapters

Summary

In this episode, Lauren Leduc interviews Katie Brown, a yoga and mindfulness specialist, about her journey into yoga and her passion for yin yoga. Katie shares how she fell in love with yoga after years of competitive bodybuilding and struggling with body image issues. She explains that yin yoga is a meditative practice that focuses on stillness and passive postures held for several minutes. Katie also discusses the upcoming Yin for Yoga Teachers 201 workshop, where she will dive deeper into yin yoga theory, postures, props, and modifications.

Takeaways

• Yoga can be a healing practice that helps us develop a more positive relationship with our bodies.
• Yin yoga is a meditative practice that focuses on stillness and passive postures held for several minutes.
• Yin yoga can be a beginner-friendly practice but also presents challenges, especially for those who struggle with stillness.
• Incorporating yin yoga into your practice can offer spaciousness and balance in our fast-paced, yang-focused society.
• The Yin for Yoga Teachers 201 workshop is designed for yoga teachers or those in training who want to deepen their understanding of yin yoga and learn modifications for different students.

Chapters