Anja Brierley Lange is the author of Teaching Yoga for the Menstrual Cycle - an Āyurvedic Approach, and an experienced yoga teacher, Āyurvedic practitioner, and teacher trainer.

Teaching since 2005 she has specialised in yoga and Āyurveda relating to female anatomy and physiology.

Originally from Denmark, Anja moved to London and now lives on the Sussex coast where she enjoys being by or in the sea.

You can head to yogaembodied.com for courses, classes and inspiration from Anja.

IN THIS EPISODE:

- Discover how Anja came to specifically study and work in the field of women's health through the lens of yoga and ayurveda

- How the three doshas govern and transition across a menstrual cycle (Rutuchakra), and how this also overlaps with the Western biological understanding

- Key considerations for adapting a postural yoga practice according to the phases of the menstrual cycle (which also hint to the adaptations we can make over a female's lifespan)

- To invert or not invert during menstruation clarified

- Anja's process of writing a book and who the book aims to serve

CONNECT WITH ANJA:

Website: ⁠yogaembodied.com⁠

Instagram: @anja_yogini

Book: Teaching yoga for the menstrual cycle: An Āyurvedic Approach

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ABOUT YOUR HOST, AMY LANDRY:

A beacon for those craving a connection to tradition and timeless wisdom, Amy has cemented herself as a global yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, speaker, and facilitator of the Study Yoga Summit. Based in Australia and renowned for her sold-out international retreats, Amy has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, Om Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA Magazine (UK), and Nature & Health magazine (AU). She has presented at Wanderlust, Evolve Festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga Festival. You can listen to her Living In Alignment podcast on all major platforms. A registered senior yoga teacher, Amy aims to amalgamate several Indian disciplines into daily life with the hope of inspiring her community to have a tangible relationship with living yoga–rather than seeing it as an isolated practice.

WEBSITE: ⁠https://amyelandry.com/⁠

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/amyelandry/

Indu Arora is a Yoga and Ayurveda teacher, mentor, and author, based out of the USA. She considers herself a student for a lifetime. Indu has been sharing about Yoga philosophy, Yoga Therapy, and Ayurveda for the last two decades. Her unique gift is making Yoga and Ayurveda a practice, which is equally useful for a beginner as for a sincere seeker who has made Yoga a lifelong journey. She is inspired by and taught under Kriya Yoga, Himalayan Yoga, Kashmir Shiavism, and Sivananda Yoga lineages. She has studied in a traditional guru-shishya parampara setting.

Her teaching style is rooted in empowering and inspiring students to awaken the inner guru. Her core philosophy is ‘Yoga is a Work-in and not a Work-out’.

She is the author of Mudra: The Sacred Secret (2015), Yoga: Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow’s Vision (2005, 2019), and SOMA: 100 Heritage Recipes for Self-Care (e-book, 2020; updated hard copy, 2022).

IN THIS EPISODE:

—Demystifying japa: What is Japa, what is it not, the Sanskrit meaning, and the various types of Japa

—Mantra:. What is a mantra and the value of Sanskrit? What mantra should one choose, how to choose or who should choose it?

—Mala etiquette: What to use, how to appropriately wear mala and why

—Insight into the inspiration and motivation behind each of Indu’s books

—Indu’s upcoming offerings, both in person and online

—Her personal story of coming to yoga, her teachers, family, and pivotal moments

CONNECT WITH INDU:

Website: https://www.yogsadhna.com/

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/induaroraofficial/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InduAroraOfficial

INDU’S BOOKS:

Mudra: The Sacred Secret

Yoga: Ancient Heritage, Tomorrow's Vision

SOMA: 100 Heritage Recipes for Self-Care

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ABOUT YOUR HOST, AMY LANDRY:

A beacon for those craving a connection to tradition and timeless wisdom, Amy has cemented herself as a global yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, speaker, and facilitator of the Study Yoga Summit. Based in Australia and renowned for her sold-out international retreats, Amy has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, Om Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA Magazine (UK), and Nature & Health magazine (AU). She has presented at Wanderlust, Evolve Festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga Festival. You can listen to her Living In Alignment podcast on all major platforms. A registered senior yoga teacher, Amy aims to amalgamate several Indian disciplines into daily life with the hope of inspiring her community to have a tangible relationship with living yoga–rather than seeing it as an isolated practice.

WEBSITE: ⁠https://amyelandry.com/⁠

INSTAGRAM: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/amyelandry/⁠

Dr Lauren Tober is a Clinical Psychologist, Senior Yoga Teacher and author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, based in Mullumbimby, Australia.

With a passion for health, healing, happiness and awakening, Lauren integrates the best of Western psychology with ancient yogic wisdom, both on and off the mat.

Passionate about the life-changing benefits of yoga, Lauren is the founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute and the Mental Health Aware Yoga training. This professional development training for Yoga Teachers is designed to educate teachers about mental health so they can support their yoga students experiencing mental health challenges with compassion, confidence and skill.

Lauren is also the founder of the Centre for Mind Body Wellness, an integrative health practice in Mullumbimby, Australia.

Her work is soulful without being new-agey. It’s evidence-based, without being clinical. It’s authentic, heartfelt and life-changing.

IN THIS EPISODE:

—How Lauren came to yoga, India, and her work in the field of psychology and mental health

—Lauren’s book writing process

—What Mental Health Aware Yoga actually is (and its immense relevance to all)

—How Mental Health Aware Yoga pertains to and overlays subtle and deeper aspects of the yogic teachings (such as the five koshas)

—What a “safe container” is, and what yoga teachers need to consider

—The shadow side of meditation

CONNECT WITH DR LAUREN:

Website: https://www.laurentober.com/

YPI trainings and courses: https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurentober/ & https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute/

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ABOUT YOUR HOST, AMY LANDRY:

A beacon for those craving a connection to tradition and timeless wisdom, Amy has cemented herself as a global yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, speaker, and facilitator of the Study Yoga Summit. Based in Australia and renowned for her sold-out international retreats, Amy has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, Om Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA Magazine (UK), and Nature & Health magazine (AU). She has presented at Wanderlust, Evolve Festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga Festival. You can listen to her Living In Alignment podcast on all major platforms. A registered senior yoga teacher, Amy aims to amalgamate several Indian disciplines into daily life with the hope of inspiring her community to have a tangible relationship with living yoga–rather than seeing it as an isolated practice.

WEBSITE: https://amyelandry.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/amyelandry/

Savira Gupta comes from a family of strong women rooted in the Arya Samaj Tradition; founded in April 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati, who wanted to revive the Vedic way of life and the need to create a just society for all.

She spent her childhood in Malaysia, formative years in India, teenage years in France and adult years in the UK, Europe and the USA, and this has given Savira the foundation to relate to people from all walks of life and culture.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Savira approaches yoga through the lens of a sadhaka and seeker. Her approach to teaching invites exploration, and understanding how yoga is a way of life not just modern postures.

Her holistic style of teaching encompasses the understanding of the physical, subtle and causal body.

Her classes are interactive; combining the key principles of the teachings with a dash of humour.

IN THIS EPISODE:

--Savira's path living yoga, and moving from student to yoga teacher

--Fascinating insight and wisdom from the Arya Samaj tradition that empowers women

--Considerations around what Westernised yoga is lacking

--Unpacking the role of a yoga teacher

--Essential reflections when considering what is behind the aspiration to teach yoga for so many people

--Savira's personal guidance for more depth on your path

CONNECT WITH SAVIRA:

Website: https://www.saviragupta.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savvirag/

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ABOUT YOUR HOST, AMY LANDRY:

A beacon for those craving a connection to tradition and timeless wisdom, Amy has cemented herself as a global yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, speaker, and facilitator of the Study Yoga Summit. Based in Australia and renowned for her sold-out international retreats, Amy has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, Om Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA Magazine (UK), and Nature & Health magazine (AU). She has presented at Wanderlust, Evolve Festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga Festival. You can listen to her Living In Alignment podcast on all major platforms. A registered senior yoga teacher, Amy aims to amalgamate several Indian disciplines into daily life with the hope of inspiring her community to have a tangible relationship with living yoga–rather than seeing it as an isolated practice.

WEBSITE: https://amyelandry.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/amyelandry/

Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. He’s the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. His books, classes, and trainings support yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition.

IN THIS EPISODE:

-Insight into Jivana's extensive history of teaching yoga and advocating within communities in the US, along with the inspiration of his Grandmother

-Some major misunderstandings of what accessible yoga actually is

-How ethics create accessibility

-The core ABC's of accessible yoga

-Financial accessibility, financial ethics, and the white saviour complex

CONNECT WITH JIVANA:

Website & books: https://www.jivanaheyman.com/

Courses: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/

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ABOUT YOUR HOST, AMY LANDRY:

A beacon for those craving a connection to tradition and timeless wisdom, Amy has cemented herself as a global yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, speaker, and facilitator of the Study Yoga Summit. Based in Australia and renowned for her sold-out international retreats, Amy has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, Om Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA Magazine (UK), and Nature & Health magazine (AU). She has presented at Wanderlust, Evolve Festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga Festival. You can listen to her Living In Alignment podcast on all major platforms. A registered senior yoga teacher, Amy aims to amalgamate several Indian disciplines into daily life with the hope of inspiring her community to have a tangible relationship with living yoga–rather than seeing it as an isolated practice.

WEBSITE: https://amyelandry.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/amyelandry/

WELCOME TO SEASON THREE!

Tova Olsson is a scholar of religion, author and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in educating. She is appreciated for her deep knowledge, her ability to explain esoteric ideas and philosophical concepts in an accessible way, and for her skillful storytelling and humorous approach. As a scholar-practitioner, she strives to combine academic, critical understanding with the dedicated experience of a long-term practitioner, offering courses that provide liberating knowledge - on many different levels. Tova holds an MA in religious studies from Gothenburg University and is currently working on her PhD at Umeå University, where she researches gender constructs in contemporary tantra in Europe. She lectures internationally on the history, philosophy and mythology of yoga and tantra and runs the online school Saraswati Studies.

IN THIS EPISODE:

-Tova's story of how she came to yoga, tantra, shaktism and scholarship

-Meanings of the Sanskrit word, Shakti

-Insight into the revered goddesses, Saraswati and Matangi

-Tova's book, a resource for serious practitioners and yoga teachers

-Stories, symbolism, and a wealth of more wisdom!

CONNECT WITH TOVA:

Online courses: https://saraswati-studies.teachable.com/

"Taste" course: https://anjabergh.com/taste

India retreat: https://www.mysticart.org/retreats

Purchase Tova's book: https://www.motilalbanarsidass.com/products/yoga-and-tantra-history-philosophy-mythology?srsltid=AfmBOopLNOuw9zKGDqVENHuEInm-GXlRX8LkkUi7RhqaT5uiNxbghH4o

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ABOUT YOUR HOST, AMY LANDRY:

A beacon for those craving a connection to tradition and timeless wisdom, Amy has cemented herself as a global yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, speaker, and facilitator of the Study Yoga Summit. Based in Australia and renowned for her sold-out international retreats, Amy has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, Om Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA Magazine (UK), and Nature & Health magazine (AU). She has presented at Wanderlust, Evolve Festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga Festival. You can listen to her Living In Alignment podcast on all major platforms. A registered senior yoga teacher, Amy aims to amalgamate several Indian disciplines into daily life with the hope of inspiring her community to have a tangible relationship with living yoga–rather than seeing it as an isolated practice.

WEBSITE: https://amyelandry.com/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/amyelandry/

Sophie Duncan is the founder of Aaoka Beauty, which was born from a desire to raise beauty consciousness through the lens of Ayurvedic wisdom.

A mother of two young children, Sophie’s holistic work promotes a deep connection to nature, nourishment, and natural, luminous ageing. 

She provides offerings that empower women to remember their innate radiance through all stages of life so they can take beauty back into their own hands.

Creating a new paradigm within the community, her content and teachings enable all to apply Ayurvedic wisdom in a tangible and time-accessible way.

Sophie offers an online membership called The Radiance Rhythms, as a means to working more intimately to discover many holistic ways to nourish you from within.

IN THIS EPISODE:

- Sophie's story, how she came to Ayurveda and the invaluable approach to ageing and beauty

- The key reframe and shift in paradigm that occurs through the Ayurvedic approach to beauty

- Unpacking how the face is a mirror for the mind

- Sophie's recommended tools and ingredients to get started on this path

- Her guidance for simple ways to support nourishment during the postpartum window for mothers

- What we need to understand in order to age radiantly

- Sophie's recommended reading

- The opportunity to join the Radiance Rhythms membership to work closely with Sophie

MENTIONED:

- Absolute Beauty by Pratima Raichur

- The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf

Sophie's website: Aaoka Beauty

Join the Radiance Rhythms HERE.

Born in Texas in 1953, Dr. Robert Svoboda is the first Westerner ever to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and be licensed to practice Ayurveda in India.

After being ritually initiated into the Pokot tribe of northern Kenya as its first white member in June 1973 he moved to India, where he lived from during the 70’s and 80’s, receiving his Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery from the University of Poona in 1980. 

In his final year of study at the Tilak Ayurved Mahavidyalaya he won all but one of the University of Poona’s awards for academic excellence in Ayurveda, including the Ram Narayan Sharma Gold Medal.

During and after his formal Ayurvedic training he was tutored in Ayurveda, Yoga, Jyotish, Tantra and other forms of classical Indian lore by his mentor, the Aghori Vimalananda.

Author of over a dozen books, Dr. Svoboda has traveled extensively In the years since 1986, spending three months per year on average in India.

You can find out more about his work and study online with Robert at www.drsvoboda.com and follow him on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Learn of Dr Svoboda’s most pivotal moments across his life
• Sanskrit words that help to illumine a greater understanding of death
• The rich significance of Benares (Varanasi) and cremation grounds
• How to understand and work with the planet Saturn through the lens of Vedic Astrology 
• Dr Svoboda’s book recommendations
• His favorite temple in India
• And the new book coming soon from Dr Svoboda!

RESOURCES:

• Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Deepika)
• Ka, by Roberto Calasso 

Learn from Robert via his huge library of online courses: https://drsvoboda.teachable.com/