The Yogapedia Podcast

Season 3 Episode 8: Dr. Richard Miller - Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Nidra Teacher

Miller is the Founder, and Director of the iRest Institute. Miller is a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar and spiritual teacher. For over 40 years, Miller has devoted his life and work to integrating the nondual wisdom teachings of Yoga, Tantra, Advaita, Taoism and Buddhism with Western psychology. Miller is also the co-founder of The International Association of Yoga Therapy and founding editor of the professional Journal of IAYT. He is also a founding member and past president of the Institute for Spirituality and Psychology and a senior advisor for the Baumann Foundation for the study of Awareness and its impact on well-being. Author of Yoga Nidra: The Meditative Heart of Yoga, Miller serves as a research consultant studying the iRest Yoga Nidra protocol that he has developed. iRest stands for Integrative Restoration, a modern adaptation of the ancient nondual meditation practice of Yoga Nidra. Miller researches its efficacy on health, healing and well-being with diverse populations including active-duty soldiers, veterans, college students, children, seniors, the homeless, the incarcerated, and people experiencing issues, such as sleep disorders, PTSD, chemical dependency, chronic pain, and related disorders. In this episode, we talk with Miller about the difference between Eastern and Western practices, how yoga can help us understand the wholeness of ourselves and how we can train our minds to better handle everyday stress. Listen in as we discuss Yoga Nidra and the benefits it can provide.

Season 3 Episode 7: Dr. Domonick Wegesin - Neuroscientist and Yoga Teacher

Wegesin is a yogi, neuroscientist and dancer with a passion towards meditation and the healing arts. After moving to New York City, Wegesin worked for ten years as Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at Columbia University. Wegesin's research focused onneuroimaging of the aging brain, and how aging impacts memory and executive functions, such as attention. At the same time, Wegesin began his journey into yoga and was immediately hooked by the practice. Wegesin now works as a yoga teacher, mindfulness teacher and message therapist. He trains the brains and bodies of his yoga students, helping them wake up to their mental, emotional and physical experience in a way that cultivates awareness, acceptance and ease. In this episode, we talk with Wegesin about how aging affects our brains and how mindfulness and yoga can help us as we age. Listen in as we discuss the benefits yoga can have on our minds and our bodies.

Season 3 Episode 6: Linda Sparrowe - Yoga Teacher and Women's Health Advocate

Sparrowe is a writer, editor, speaker, and mentor in holistic healing, with a special emphasis on women’s health. She is the former editor-in-chief of Yoga International magazine and past managing editor of Yoga Journal, as such she has been instrumental in bringing the authentic voice of yoga to thousands of practitioners and teachers. Sparrowe is also on the advisory board of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition. Sparrowe co-leads the Courageous Women, Fearless Living retreats for women touched by cancer. She also gives talks and provides workshops for women who are facing any number of challenges, including body issues, pregnancy, anxiety, depression, menopause and more. In this episode, we talk with Sparrowe about the promise of yoga and how it can help us learn to love ourselves and our bodies. Listen in as we discuss the true benefits of yoga, and why you don't need to be a thin or flexible to do yoga.

Season 3 Episode 5: Nikki Myers - Founder of Y12SR

Myers is a yoga therapist, a somatic experiencing practitioner, addictions recovery specialist, and a certified health coach. Myers is also the founder of Y12SR - Yoga of 12-Step Recovery. Y12SR is a 12-step recovery program designed to help address the physical, mental and spiritual disease of addiction. Myers founded Y12SR after her own struggles with addiction. Myers believed recovery programs needed to combine the cognitive approach of traditional 12-step programs with the somatic approach of yoga; this is the goal of Y12SR. In today's episode, we talk with Myers about yoga as a path to healing and how yoga has influenced her life. Listen in as we discuss how yoga helps us align with ourselves and embrace our true self.

Season 3 Episode 4: Astrud Castillo - Bhakti Yoga Teacher and Kirtan Artist

Castillo has been teaching yoga in NYC and San Francisco for over 20 years. She has studied with many renowned master teachers and had the honor of studying Vedic chanting and yoga philosophy with T.K.V. Desikachar. These days she spreads her love and knowledge of Bhakti yoga to aspiring teachers around the Bay Area. Since 2012, Castillo has been leading her band the Cosmic Caravan locally, nationally and internationally. She passionately guides communities in the ancient art of kirtan - singing the names of the divine through call-and-response chanting. In this episode we talk with Castillo about the heritage of Bhakti yoga and the power of mantra. Listen in as we discuss why chanting can be such a powerful tool and what Bhakti means to her.