This week, we’re honored to welcome Chicago yoga legend Gabriel Halpern to The Funny Thing About Yoga. Gabriel founded The Yoga Circle in 1985 and has been teaching yoga longer than we’ve been alive! Sitting down with him was an absolute treat as we explored the vastness of his life’s work—from discovering yoga through Yogi Bhajan and Kundalini to studying with Iyengar, sharing his philosophies, and the invaluable lessons he’s learned along the way.

A natural storyteller, Gabriel brings wisdom, humor, and positivity to every topic. In this episode, he takes us through his journey—from practicing yoga in San Francisco to navigating challenging moments in the yoga world and eventually selling his beloved studio. He also shares profound insights on the concept of the guru and the importance of separating lessons from the teachers.

There was so much more we wanted to ask, and we can’t wait to have him back for another conversation. We hope you enjoy this inspiring episode! Don’t forget to share, rate, review, and subscribe—it really helps!

WHERE YOU CAN FIND GABRIEL HALPERN:

WEB: https://gabrielhalpern.com/

IG: @themeiste

ONE SPOT LEFT: Nicaragua Yoga Retreat March 2-8, 2025: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

OTHER UPCOMING RETREAT:

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

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In this episode of The Funny Thing About Yoga, Giana, and Bradshaw dive into the world of workshops! Bradshaw shares all the juicy details from his recent handstand workshop, and the duo breaks down how to structure workshops, their purpose, and why they’re valuable for both teachers and students. Along the way, they sprinkle in plenty of laughs with stories about "stealing" content, giving credit where it’s due, spilled coffee disasters, and some truly hilarious retreat texts.

This might just be the tip of the iceberg regarding workshops—there’s so much more to explore, but for now, enjoy this fun and informative chat!

The next Funny Fam Meetup is on January 27 at 8 PM CST! 🎉 Join our community meetup here: https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/community

Sign Up for Bradshaw's next Handstand workshop, on March 16th at Yogaview: https://yogaview.com/workshops-events/

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/nicaragua-retreat

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/starved-rock-retreat

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://cayayogaschool.com/pages/italy-retreat

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

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This week on The Funny Thing About Yoga, Giana and Bradshaw sit down with fellow yoga podcaster J. Brown for an unfiltered conversation about life behind the mic. They share all the details about recording episodes, trying to stay ahead, navigating listenership, and what it means to have a platform—and whether that comes with responsibility.

J. reflects on his decade-long journey as a podcaster, sharing how he’s landed interviews with revered guests, who’s still on his dream list, and how his approach has evolved. He opens up about starting as a provocateur and how personal shifts have influenced the podcast’s evolution.

The conversation dives into significant topics like the Me Too movement, cancel culture, and learning from the trans community. Later, things get personal as they discuss losing a parent, grief and how yoga can offer a profound connection to spirituality.

This raw, honest, and inspiring chat left us moved by J.’s authenticity and inspired to keep learning and growing in public. If you haven’t already, check out J. Brown’s Yoga Talks podcast for more thoughtful conversations every week.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND J. BROWN:

POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/j-brown-yoga-talks/id1029751323

WEB: https://www.jbrownyoga.com/

IG: @jbrownyoga

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this exciting season opener, Bradshaw and Giana reflect on how The Funny Thing About Yoga has found its groove, celebrating the joy of their "friend dates" and the personal and professional growth they've experienced with each episode. They share their big 2025 goals for the podcast and their business, C.A.Y.A. Yoga School, including plans for their 300-hour teacher training and growing their offerings.

The duo dives into the business side of yoga, offering advice to teachers looking to plan workshops, retreats, and trainings, while keeping it real about the lessons they’ve learned from failure. Things get personal as they reflect on where they've been, where they are now, and where they hope to go next. From reckoning and transformation to tranquility and self-love, Bradshaw and Giana get candid about their journeys and aspirations.

And, of course, there’s humor—Bradshaw wraps things up with two hilarious stories about teaching yoga after the New Year rush. Tune in for inspiration, laughs, and the perfect start to a brand-new season!

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our final episode of Season 2, we kick things off with a delightfully random mix of banter: air fryers, ice cream, Bradshaw’s dog, cow udders, and kitchen renovations (and that’s just the beginning). As we reflect on a year of podcasting, we share fun listener stats—like our most popular episodes, countries you’re tuning in from, and how much the podcast has grown. We even brainstorm a hilariously sneaky (and completely unethical) plan to keep that momentum going.

We talk about the balance of being candid and vulnerable while staying professional, reminiscing about our early days of recording and editing. We share the mission behind C.A.Y.A., what inspired us to start, and how we strive to create a welcoming space for anyone who has laughed, learned, or felt seen through our conversations.

From Bradshaw’s tangents about men to Giana unexpectedly breaking out in German (yes, really), this episode is packed with fun. We wrap things up with a comical story about charcuterie and conflict, where Bradshaw accuses Giana of “reading him to filth.”

Thank you for being part of this journey. We can’t wait for what’s next: more guests, more laughs, more banter, and, of course, more us. See you in Season 3!

Join our 200-Hour INFO Session on Monday December 26th at 7pm (cst)- Zoom Link Available Here: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/200

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

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This week, we’re joined by the incredible Yvonne Kingsley, a yoga teacher based in San Francisco who’s been sharing her practice for over a decade. After having the pleasure of taking her classes, we can confidently say they’re the perfect blend of thoughtful sequencing, mindfulness, and grounding strength. Yvonne’s calming presence, sharp sense of humor, and inspiring approach to dharma talks, pacing, and meditation truly left us in awe.

In this episode, we dive deep with Yvonne to explore reconnecting with your practice, finding balance, navigating life’s big changes, and embodying yoga in every aspect of life. Yvonne shares what it means to teach from the heart, embrace your humanity as a teacher, and live your practice authentically.

This conversation is full of inspiration, laughter, storytelling, and even a little Virgo humor. Whether you’re a yoga teacher, practitioner, or simply curious about living with more mindfulness, this episode has something for you.

Follow Yvonne on Instagram and explore her online offerings—links are in the description. Don’t forget to rate, review, subscribe, and share this episode with friends who might enjoy it!

FIND YVONNE KINGSLEY:

WEB: www.yvonnekingsley.com

IG: @yvonnekingsley

You can practice with Yvonne both in-person and online.

https://www.yvonnekingsley.com/schedule

CHECK OUT OUR 200-Hour YTT: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/200

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: CAYAYOGASCHOOL@GMAIL.COM

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we get personal and candid about the holiday season—both the joy and the stress it brings. We chat about our new Thanksgiving traditions, the old ones we cherish, and the many personal memories tied to childhood, family dynamics, and a whole lot of dysfunction. From navigating grief and setting boundaries to reflecting on mental health and holiday stress, we cover it all.

We also explore how turning to your yoga practice during this time can help cultivate peace and resilience. Drawing from yogic wisdom, we discuss satya (truth), ahimsa (nonviolence), and santosha (contentment), weaving these principles into the stories we share. It's heartfelt, raw, and a reminder that even the messiest family gatherings can hold lessons for growth.

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: CAYAYOGASCHOOL@GMAIL.COM

CHECK OUT OUR 200-Hour YTT: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/200

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/community

PODCAST SUBSTACK: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this short bonus episode, the holiday spirit kicks things off with lighthearted banter specifically around subbing yoga classes. Then, they dive into listener questions, starting with how to begin teaching yoga part-time, sharing practical tips and ideas along the way. Next, they tackle the nuances of incorporating Hindu mythology into classes, offering thoughtful perspectives on honoring tradition while keeping it accessible and engaging. As always, there’s plenty of laughter, and by the end, you’ll find out what Bradshaw’s hilariously unexpected half-human, half-[mystery] counterpart turns out to be. Don’t miss this mix of humor, heart, and helpful insights!

SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: CAYAYOGASCHOOL@GMAIL.COM

CHECK OUT OUR 200-Hour YTT: https://www.cayayogaschool.com/200

JOIN US ON A RETREAT:

Nicaragua Yoga Retreat (MARCH): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/nicaragua

Starved Rock Yoga Retreat (JULY): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/starvedrock

ITALY Yoga Retreat (AUGUST): https://www.cayayogaschool.com/italy

FOLLOW US:

@thefunnythingaboutyoga @cayayogaschool @gianagambino @bradshawwish

BE PART OF OUR FUNNY FAM: https://thefunnythingaboutyoga.substack.com/

LINKS:

https://www.cayayogaschool.com/

https://www.gianayoga.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.