The Yoga Podclass

Off The Mat : Ahimsa (non-violence)

Non-violence sounds easy until you turn it inward. Ahimsa is the first of the yoga yamas, and Kyle and David think that's not an accident. In this episode, they explore why the most persistent violence in most of our lives isn't physical. It's the critic, the judge, the comparer, and the voice that keeps saying "you should be further along by now." Kyle shares what grief and a recent breakup have been surfacing for him. David opens up about a day where the best thing he could do for himself was skip the yoga class and just feel bad. Together they get into how ahimsa shows up on the mat (pushing past pain, sacrificing breath, stretching further than your body is ready for) and how the same patterns run off the mat without us noticing. They also cover the difference between pain and discomfort in practice, why anxiety and excitement feel identical in the body, a quick walkthrough of the yamas and niyamas, and why replacing one "should" with another isn't the answer. The Yoga Podclass is a screen-free yoga podcast. Some weeks we guide you through practice, other weeks we explore how patterns on the mat show up in daily life. yogapodclass.com [https://www.yogapodclass.com]|

20-Minute Yin Yoga| Ahimsa: A Restorative Practice in Self-Compassion

When was the last time you said something to yourself that you'd never say to someone you love? This restorative class explores ahimsa, yoga's first ethical invitation, often translated as nonviolence. But this isn't about fists or actions. It's about that quiet voice that says "I should be further along" or "what's wrong with me." Class starts at 5:20. Kyle guides you through a slow, reclined practice focused on moving the spine in every direction. Banana pose, gentle twists, sphinx, seal, and child's pose. All floor-based, all held long enough to actually settle in. No props needed. This class is an invitation to notice where you're carrying self-criticism in your body and your thoughts, and to practice, even just for a few minutes, putting it down. Softening without giving up. Best for evening practice or anytime you need to slow down. Led by Kyle | Restorative/Yin | All Levels New to The Yoga Podclass? This is a screen-free, audio-only yoga podcast. Just press play, close your eyes, and follow along. Next week, Kyle and David explore ahimsa off the mat in conversation.

Off The Mat with author, yoga teacher Ellie Roscher

What if your body isn't the problem—but the narrator? Kyle and David sit down with author, yoga teacher, and brilliant human Ellie Rocher to talk about body stories, narrative repair, and what your time on the mat is actually trying to tell you. Ellie shares how a catastrophic gymnastics injury taught her that trauma doesn't change, but the story you tell about it does. And that shift changes everything. They explore the stories society hands us about our bodies, the ones we've been carrying without questioning, and how the yoga mat becomes a laboratory for talking back to the narratives that limit us. From paradoxical breathing to the power of practicing with a prosthetic leg, this conversation gets specific about what it means to listen to your body's whisper instead of overriding it. You'll hear about master narratives and counter stories, why discomfort is an invitation worth exploring, and how bodies that have felt othered can be centered and celebrated. This isn't about self-improvement. It's about witnessing yourself. Revision, not perfection. Follow this exhale back home to your body, back home to this moment where there is so much to notice. You can practice with Ellie at Up Yoga in South Minneapolis, and you can find Ellie at ellieroscher.com [ellieroscher.com] and on Instagram @ellieroscher [https://www.instagram.com/ellieroscher?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==]. Her latest book is Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sport. New episodes every Thursday. Find us on Instagram @yogapodclass and on our website yogapodclass.com [yogapodclass.com]

33-Min Vinyasa | Turning Towards Curiosity

Your body has been trying to tell you something. Are you listening? Class begins at 4:40. David guides you through a 33-minute vinyasa class that treats your practice as self-study, not self-improvement. You'll move through sun salutations, warrior variations, hip openers, and twists with longer holds that ask: what story have you been telling about your body? Is it true? Is it kind? Is it even yours? This class isn't about pushing through. It's about turning inward with curiosity instead of judgment. Your body is the narrator. Your practice is where you learn to listen. No props required. New episodes every Thursday. Find us on Instagram @yogapodclass. For information on our upcoming retreat, visit yogapodclass.com/retreat [https://www.yogapodclass.com/retreat]

Off The Mat: Contentment Isn't What You Think

Santosha is usually translated as contentment. It's usually misunderstood as feeling good. This week, Kyle and David talk through what contentment actually looks like when life is hard — how grief and gratitude can exist in the same moment, why "I'll be content when..." is a trap, and what it means to bring your whole self to the mat when your whole self isn't doing great. They get into the physical side too: the duality inside poses like Warrior II and revolved triangle, why softening into a twist gets you deeper than forcing it, and what half pigeon reveals about your relationship to discomfort. Also: The Recalibration yoga retreat at Haramara in Sayulita, Mexico is officially open for registration. Details at yogapodclass.com [https://www.yogapodclass.com] under Events.