Off The Mat with author, yoga teacher Ellie Roscher

Off The Mat: Active Surrender

Surrender isn't giving up. It's the most active thing you do. Kyle and David sit down to explore what that actually means on the mat and in real life. David opens up about facing genuine uncertainty in his career for the first time in seven years, and what it looks like to stop forcing outcomes and start trusting the process instead. They talk about the palm tree analogy: strong enough to have a foundation, soft enough to bend with the storm. They dig into the stories we tell ourselves about self-worth, money, being a provider, and what happens when we're willing to rewrite those narratives. This is an honest conversation about what surrender demands from us when life gets uncomfortable, and why that's exactly when we need it most. New episodes every Thursday. Find us on Instagram @yogapodclass.

30-Min Vinyasa | Active Surrender: Shoulder Focus

Surrender isn't giving up. It's giving yourself fully to what is here, right now. Class begins at 4:00. David guides you through a 30-minute active class focused on shoulder strength and mobility, grounded in the theme of Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender). But this isn't passive. Surrender is the most active thing you do. You'll move through sun salutations, warrior variations, extended side angle, horse pose with eagle arms, and deeper shoulder work. The whole time, David invites you to embody a palm tree: strong enough to have a solid foundation, soft enough to bend with the storm. Strength and softness at the same time. That's what surrender looks like on the mat. And off it too. No props required. New episodes every Thursday. Find us on Instagram @yogapodclass and on our website yogapodclass.com [yogapodclass.com]

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]