J. Brown Yoga Talks

Tim Kelleher [https://www.tkyoga.com/], founder of Back Bay Yoga Union [https://bostonyogaunion.com/] (formerly Boston Yoga Union,) talks with J about the trials and tribulations of being a yoga center owner then and now. They discuss being naive when the pandemic hit, legal action and predatory capitalism, a life threatening struggle with substance abuse and feeling safe in your body, collaboration, attendance patterns and irregularity of schedules, lack of full-time yoga teachers, faith in something bigger, cultivating contentment, and the soul encouragement of connecting with others.   To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM [https://www.jbrownyoga.com/premium]. Say thank you - buy J a coffee [https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/63ixv3pjvo9q]. Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503564179?ls=1].

David Swenson [https://www.ashtanga.net/], author of Only Dead Fish Go With The Flow [https://onlydeadfishflow.com/], talks with J about his new memoir and the evolution of styles and systems. They discuss doing yoga from a book, leaving home at a young age and moving to California, emergence of vinyasa, beliefs about gurus, Patabhi Jois, thirst for knowledge, the Hari Krishna Movement, spiritual communities and going under cover to make money, abbreviated forms, origins of flow, retirement, ego gratification and humble service, proof being in the person, and the value of lightheartedness in practice and life.   To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM [https://www.jbrownyoga.com/premium]. Say thank you - buy J a coffee [https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/63ixv3pjvo9q]. Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503564179?ls=1].

Jahnavi (Claire) Missingham [https://www.clairemissingham.com/] talks with J about living a life and having a profession in yoga. They discuss being raised by a devout Sufi and going by different names, NY from 1997-2005, music in classes, Sean Corn, Jivamukti training at Omega Institute, Peter Rizzo, teachers being placed on pedestals, HOME Wellness opening up in London, Kundalini yoga with Guru Jagat, Yogaglo, DVD's and Yoga Journal, intellectual property and protecting integrity, utilizing technology, devotion and Hinduism, and finding our way back to who we really are inside.   To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM [https://www.jbrownyoga.com/premium]. Say thank you - buy J a coffee [https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/63ixv3pjvo9q]. Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503564179?ls=1].

Andrew Tanner [https://andrewtanner.com/], founder of the Berkshire Yoga Festival [https://www.berkshireyogafestival.com/] and the American Yoga Council [https://www.americanyogacouncil.com/], talks with J live from the Berkshire Yoga Festival 2025 about the launch of his new project to advance the profession of yoga teaching. They discuss the long history of standards and trade organizations, core values of AYC, retirement funds, standards and a new system, proficiency-based education, incentive structures and career paths, differentiation, public benefit corporations, technology and growth, and focusing on helping yoga teachers make a living.   To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM [https://www.jbrownyoga.com/premium]. Say thank you - buy J a coffee [https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/63ixv3pjvo9q]. Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503564179?ls=1].

Reika Shucart [https://www.reikayoga.com/], host of the Full-Time Yoga Teacher Podcast [https://www.reikayoga.com/pages/resources/full-time-yoga-teacher-podcast], talks with J about what has become of studio culture and the realities of the profession in 2025. They discuss the differences between Japanese and American cultures, international development and volunteer tourism, teaching 28-30 classes/week, benefiting from online training, earning more money and ethical conflicts, mirrors, vegetarianism, less yoga specific offerings, lifestyle and identity, ashtanga active series, and getting outside the box to witness and inspire students.   To subscribe and support the show… GET PREMIUM [https://www.jbrownyoga.com/premium]. Say thank you - buy J a coffee [https://app.moonclerk.com/pay/63ixv3pjvo9q]. Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503564179?ls=1].