The Love of Yoga Podcast

2.09 Lighting Up a New Path with Anjali Rao & Jivana Heyman

“Yoga is a microcosm of what's happening in every institution, including the judicial system, employment, medical care, all of that. So I'm just creating a small shift, hopefully, in people's perspectives and understandings of the prevalence of caste in Yoga history.” Join us for the captivating season finale of our podcast as Jivana interviews Anjali and they dive into a deep, transformative conversation. In this special episode, Anjali and Jivana discuss: Personal and Professional Changes The motivations and inspirations behind Anjali’s decision to pursue her Doctorate this Fall. A sneak peek into Anjali’s first book, set to release in Fall 2025. The book tackles profound questions such as:  Is there such a thing as non-patriarchal yoga?  How does caste intersect with yoga?  How is yoga used as a tool of oppression? Pushback and rejections Anjali faced while writing this book and why this topic is crucial in today’s world. Zionist backlash Jivana faced and the challenges of dealing with social media criticism. The tough decision to close the non-profit and the significant transitions within Accessible Yoga  Free Resources for Teachers We are grateful for the support of our podcast partner OfferingTree [http://www.offeringtree.com/] — an all-in-one, easy to use business platform for classes, courses, memberships and more. Check it out at www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga [http://www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga]. Read Transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/13BOpvwWiZdS6w-nsDQWTqnux6UrsA0dK/view?usp=share_link]

2.08 The Alchemy of Anger with sujatha baliga

CW: Abuse sujatha baliga’s work is characterized by an equal dedication to crime survivors and people who’ve caused harm. A former victim advocate and public defender, baliga was awarded a Soros Justice Fellowship in 2008 which she used to launch a pre-charge restorative juvenile diversion program. In her most recent position as the Director of the Restorative Justice Project [https://impactjustice.org/impact/restorative-justice/], sujatha helped communities across the nation implement restorative justice alternatives to juvenile detention and zero-tolerance school discipline policies. She is a guest lecturer at universities and speaker and speaks publicly and inside prisons about her own experiences as a survivor of child sexual abuse and her path to forgiveness. She is worklng on her first book, Angry Long Enough: Towards Healing and Repair for Ourselves and the World. sujatha’s faith journey undergirds her justice work. A long-time Buddhist practitioner, she’s a lay member of the Gyuto Foundation [http://www.gyutofoundation.org/], a Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Richmond, CA, where she leads meditation on Monday nights. In this episode, Anjali and sujatha discuss: sujatha’s personal story that led her to a transformational meeting with the Dalai Lama. How can we metabolize righteous anger? What do the teachings say?  What is the practice of this alchemy?  What role do our inner lives play in the collective?  The significance of fractality of this transformation. Connect with sujatha on her website [https://www.sujathabaliga.com/] or on Instagram @sujathabaliga [https://www.instagram.com/sujathabaliga/] Free Resources for Teachers We are grateful for the support of our podcast partner OfferingTree [http://www.offeringtree.com/] — an all-in-one, easy to use business platform for classes, courses, memberships and more. Check it out at www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga [http://www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga]. Read Transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n3ABOnCXWxc-VPc1mRMMk4nDHmPJSgHQ/view?usp=share_link]

2.07 The Luminous Self with Tracee Stanley

“Yoga is not something that we do. Yoga is a state of consciousness, and yoga is either present or not. And, for us to be able to perceive the difference and to have the tools to be able to welcome this state of consciousness into space where it is not present. Because that unity consciousness is exactly what we need to heal the world.” Tracee Stanley is the author of the bestselling book Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity [https://www.traceestanley.com/radiant-rest] and the forthcoming The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices & Rituals to Remember Who You Are  [https://luminousselfbook.com/home/](Oct 2023 by Shambhala Publications). Tracee is the founder of Empowered Life Circle, a sacred community and portal of practices, rituals, and Tantric teachings inspired by more than 25 years of studentship in Sri Vidya Tantra and the teachings of the Himalayan Masters. As a post-lineage teacher, Tracee is devoted to sharing the wisdom of yoga nidra, rest, meditation, self-inquiry, nature as a teacher, and ancestor reverence.  In this episode, Anjali and Tracee discuss: Tracee’s path into the work and pivotal moments that perhaps on reflection and hind sight, feel like watershed moments Inspiration to write The Luminous Self "Ritual is the fascia that holds the center when it seems like everything is falling apart." How can we cultivate rituals that are authentic and sustainable, especially given the scale of heartbreak that we are witnessing in the world?  The importance of studentship in our paths and how can we maintain that as householders Healing in a world that is hurting so deeply The benefits of Yoga Nidra in the modern world If you were to change one thing about the world of yoga, what would it be and why? Connect with Tracee on her website [https://www.traceestanley.com/] and on Instagram @tracee_stanley [https://www.instagram.com/tracee_stanley/] Free Resources for Teachers We are grateful for the support of our podcast partner OfferingTree [http://www.offeringtree.com/] — an all-in-one, easy to use business platform for classes, courses, memberships and more. Check it out at www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga [http://www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga].   Read Transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RE_XypFPJNPSX2hlon8AinVFVTg9p3R0/view?usp=sharing]

2.06 Illuminating Our True Nature with Michelle Cassandra Johnson

Michelle Cassandra Johnson is an author, activist, spiritual teacher and practitioner, racial equity consultant and trainer, and intuitive healer. She approaches her life and work from a place of knowing we are, can, and must heal individually and collectively. Michelle teaches workshops and immersions and leads retreats and transformative experiences nationwide. As a dismantling racism educator, she has worked with large corporations, non-profits, and community groups. Michelle was a Tedx speaker [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEJ_F8NCD2Q] at Wake Forest University in 2019 and has been interviewed on several podcasts in which she explores the premise and foundation of Skill in Action, along with embodied approaches to racial equity work, creating ritual in justice spaces, our divine connection with nature and Spirit, and how we as a culture can heal. Michelle published the first edition of Skill in Action: Radicalizing Your Yoga Practice to Create a Just World [https://www.michellecjohnson.com/skill-in-action-book/] in 2017; and the 2nd edition of Skill in Action in November 2021, published by Shambhala Publications. Her second book, Finding Refuge: Heart Work for Healing Collective Grief [https://www.michellecjohnson.com/finding-refuge-book], was published by Shambhala Publications in 2021. Her third book, We Heal Together: Rituals and Practice for Building Community and Connection [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717903/we-heal-together-by-michelle-cassandra-johnson/], published by Shambhala Publications, explores the deep knowing and truth that we are interconnected; we belong to one another. We Heal Together offers rituals and practices meant to dream us into a new way of being to benefit the highest and fullest good. Her latest book, A Space For Us: A Guide For Leading Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Affinity Groups [https://www.aspaceforusbook.com/], was published by Beacon Press in August 2023.  Michelle leads courageously from the heart with compassion and a commitment to address the heartbreak dominant culture causes for many because of the harm it creates. She inspires change that allows people to stand in their humanity and wholeness in a world that fragments most of us.  In this conversation, Michelle and Anjali discuss: Kleshas as an inquiry: Michelle’s new book on kleshas What does healing mean when the world is ablaze? Our collective nervous systems Michelle’s writing as a practice of reclamation and re-connection Her go to rituals during the writing process Role of community care and collective How does she practice care as a space holder? Connect with Michelle on her website [https://www.michellecjohnson.com/] or on Instagram @skillinaction [https://www.instagram.com/skillinaction/] You can receive 30% off if you pre-order Illuminating Our True Nature [https://www.shambhala.com/illuminating-our-true-nature.html] from Shambhala Publications. Use TRUENATURE30 at checkout. Free Resources for Teachers We are grateful for the support of our podcast partner OfferingTree [http://www.offeringtree.com/] — an all-in-one, easy to use business platform for classes, courses, memberships and more. Check it out at www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga [http://www.offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga].

2.05 A Song for Liberation: Activism with Music with Leila Hegazy

“It should be enough to listen to Palestinian voices and Arabs voices, and we need to ask that question of why do we need a Western source to stand with us in order to be heard?” Leila Hegazy is an Egyptian-Italian-American singer-songwriter, social media creator, teacher, and activist in New York City. Using music to advocate for Palestine is one of her passions, and her adaptations of popular songs aim to help those in the pro-Palestine movement feel seen, as they battle the absurdity of the occupation and Western propaganda. Leila is currently working on a protest album for Palestine and plans to donate the proceeds to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. She is also in the process of recording her next project with her twin sister duo, HEGAZY. In this episode, Anjali and Leila discuss: Leila’s musical path and background as an Arab-Italian-American living in New York City Music as a practice of connection to social change Accessible and authentic activism Culture, appropriation and power Social media as an important source of information Palestine allyship and sources and actions for folks  Buy Leila’s single on Bandcamp [https://app.kajabi.com/admin/podcasts/episodes/2148568694/Leilahegazy.bandcamp.com] based on the poem by beloved Palestinian Professor and writer, Dr. Refaat Alareer. All proceeds will be donated to Dr. Alareer’s surviving family in Gaza to help them rebuild. Connect with Leila on Instagram @leilajhegazy [https://www.instagram.com/leilahegazy].   Read Transcript [https://drive.google.com/file/d/15RQHSQwKLa20BK2tlB4g_j0oF3C4WVP7/view?usp=share_link]