Ashtanga Yoga: For the Seekers

Defining Dharma: A Discussion on the Ramayana with Justin Curnow, Part 2

Welcome back to Part 2 of Justin’s discussion about Dharma as it is presented in the Ramayana. Today, Justin gets introduces the character of Hanuman, the idea that the majority of what we experience is a creation of our own mind, and ways to keep that rather daunting thought simple and practical for our every day lives. *This was a live lecture originally held over zoom. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!!! Find Justin on Instagram:⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeordeathashtangayogaclub/] https://www.instagram.com/justincyoga/ [https://www.instagram.com/justincyoga/]  Find me on Instagram:⁠⁠ @marlasyoga⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/marlasyoga] Practice yoga with us on Sādhaka Studio: ⁠⁠https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog⁠⁠ [https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog] Come with me and Justin to Costa Rica: ⁠⁠https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403 [https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403] Timestamps 00:00 0:56 Ravana representing the acquisition of power 12:38 The complexity of good and evil 17:15 The Quest to Rescue Sita and introduction of Hanuman 22:02 The most important passage in the entire book 25:06 Adharma is the strong taking from the helpless 25:53 Dharma will always become whole again 28:40 Illusion: the majority of what we experience is a creation of our own mind 29:42 Self-awareness is a major victory 34:01 We always continue 40:41 Keep it simple 43:27 Important takeaways

Defining Dharma: A Discussion on the Ramayana with Justin Curnow, Part 1

Justin leads a discussion about Dharma as it is presented in the Ramayana. The concept of Dharma has taken on a modernized definition in most western yogic circles. And while this definition is not entirely divorced from its original idea, it is a small section of a much larger picture. Dharma is one of most important concepts in eastern spiritual traditions. In this discussion we will use the Ramayana, an Indian epic poem, to help us define what Dharma is in its ancient context. In Part 1, Justin (1) defines the concepts of Karma, Samsara, and Adharma, (2) introduces the story of the Ramayana is introduced, including Rama’s exile; and (3) talks about how we are currently in an age (referencing Kali Yuga) where dharma is in decline. *This was a live lecture originally held over zoom. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!!! Find Justin on Instagram:⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeordeathashtangayogaclub/] https://www.instagram.com/justincyoga/ [https://www.instagram.com/justincyoga/]  Find me on Instagram:⁠⁠ @marlasyoga⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/marlasyoga] Practice yoga with us on Sādhaka Studio: ⁠⁠https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog⁠⁠ [https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog] Come with me and Justin to Costa Rica: ⁠⁠https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403 [https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403] Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:56 Introduction to Eastern Philosophy and Hinduism 03:51 The Concepts of Karma and Samsara  14:23 Yoga as alignment  16:35 Adharma  19:25 Super brief overview of the Ramayana 23:45 Rama becomes banished to the forest 32:03 “Every broken promise takes away a little dharma from the world” 34:57 Metaphor of the forest as the dark recesses of our minds 37:00 Digesting Hindu epics by seeing all of the characters as different aspects of your own personality 38:53 The lined blurred between good and evil 43:41 The inevitability of Dharma 46:34 We are living in the age where dharma is declining

Healing Through the Body: Trauma, Somatics, and Yoga with Rebecca Ferguson

In this “The Body Keeps the Score”-esque conversation, Rebecca and I we explore how our nervous systems hold onto past experiences and how movement-based practices (cough like yoga) can help reprocess these patterns that are quite literally stuck in our brains. Rebecca explains the difference between big “T” and little “t” trauma, why we hold on to the familiar, top-down vs. bottom-up approaches to therapy, and how EMDR works. “When someone is drowning, it’s not the time to teach them how to swim.” Sometimes we need to feel safe before we can go into that deeper work. Once we start the deeper work, as overwhelming as it might seem, remember that even a 1% change can shift everything. Whether you're working through your own trauma or simply curious about the mind-body connection, this episode offers insight, personal reflection, and hopefully gives you a few tools for moving forward. Rebecca is a trauma and somatics therapist and fellow Ashtangi, and lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!!! Rebecca’s website and teaching schedule: ⁠⁠ [https://dharmatemple.circle.so/feed]https://www.malayogaco.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabUDxxQIUVU1GqOn_tglMU3RmHnlGEEdprQYQRtFbC6LKoJUxiIOyXSuQ4_aem_GYNezuFw8J9nwRtipvdHEA [https://www.malayogaco.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabUDxxQIUVU1GqOn_tglMU3RmHnlGEEdprQYQRtFbC6LKoJUxiIOyXSuQ4_aem_GYNezuFw8J9nwRtipvdHEA]  Find Rebecca on Instagram:⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeordeathashtangayogaclub/] https://www.instagram.com/rebeccagraceferguson/ [https://www.instagram.com/rebeccagraceferguson/]  Find me on Instagram:⁠⁠@marlasyoga⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/marlasyoga] Practice yoga with me on Sādhaka Studio: ⁠⁠https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog⁠⁠ [https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog] Come with me to Costa Rica: ⁠⁠https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403 [https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403] Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:40 Defining trauma: Big “t” trauma versus little “t” trauma 14:13 How to begin to process stuck traumas 16:12 Marla’s experience with talk therapy 19:04 Top-down approaches vs. bottom-up approaches and getting to the root of trauma 22:18 How EMDR reprocesses the stuck patterns 26:20 It gets more familiar for us to stay stuck than it is to heal 27:13 How to get to the “root” of the trauma 31:28 How yoga can be another bottom-up approach to reprocessing trauma 36:14 Self-study 38:58 Having a teacher that believes you can do it when you don’t  43:27 How trauma can be inherited or passed down through generations  51:40 Asking myself why 52:42 A 1% change is a change; it’s a different system 56:35 The power of finding your thing

Bibi Lorenzetti on Hearing Our Inner Truth

Bibi has a way of eloquently articulating the experiences that are, well, really, really hard to articulate.  In this episode, we talk about how the practice of ashtanga yoga helps refine our ability to listen and discern what is true—and what is your mind projecting something on to the truth.  We all have that deep intuitive voice within ourselves, it just takes a matter of getting quiet enough to hear it, and then faith and a structure that allows us to go forward with what we hear. We also talk about her chanting practice and how Bhakti and Vedic chanting are more subtle doorways to connecting with the divine. How can we remove ourselves enough to connect with what’s truly there? How can we embody the practice, not as a performance, but as a lived truth? Let’s dive in. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!!! Bibi’s website and teaching schedule: ⁠⁠ [https://dharmatemple.circle.so/feed]https://linktr.ee/Bibilorenzetti?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabpZUHvRemgc3uwqU2sEeCThdgMoQeSkPvI2naeTUoeycDbqI-q-9a7Z7c_aem_-GP_1P2eo4f0vi8iCkWldQ [https://linktr.ee/Bibilorenzetti?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabpZUHvRemgc3uwqU2sEeCThdgMoQeSkPvI2naeTUoeycDbqI-q-9a7Z7c_aem_-GP_1P2eo4f0vi8iCkWldQ]  Find Bibi on Instagram:⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeordeathashtangayogaclub/] https://www.instagram.com/bibi.lorenzetti/ [https://www.instagram.com/bibi.lorenzetti/] Newburgh Yoga Shala: https://www.newburghyogashala.com/ [https://www.newburghyogashala.com/]  Find me on Instagram:⁠⁠ @marlasyoga⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/marlasyoga] Practice yoga with me on Sādhaka Studio: ⁠⁠https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog⁠⁠ [https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog] Come with me to Costa Rica: ⁠⁠https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403 [https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403] Timestamps 00:00 Intro 05:23 Bibi’s path to ashtanga yoga 11:54 How the practice gave Bibi the tools to heal from anorexia  16:06 How to get quiet enough to hear the deep intuitive voice within 18:42 The role of asana in spiritual growth 19:42 The deep cleansing that needs to happen in order for everything to get quiet 24:54 Chanting is another, subtler way to connect with the energy of these sages, poets, and seers 26:06 The difference between bhakti and vedic chanting 29:10 How to connect with the devotional aspect of the practice, especially when you are someone who needs things to be intellectual  33:13 The end goal is can you be with the difficulty of it all 36:18 How willing to look at yourself you are and how much compassion can you offer yourself 37:48 Being a walking example of the practice and offering your experience 40:53 Teaching to the individual 41:53 The importance of parampara and having a teacher

Breaking Inherited Patterns with Melissa Matt

In this episode, Melissa and I talk about the process of breaking old patterns, feeling the things you used to avoid, and learning to regulate yourself in a way that doesn’t leave you exhausted. Melissa shares what it was like to grow up being the “nervous system regulator” for the family, to losing a lot of people close to her in a very short period of time, and ultimately, how she went from detaching from those feelings to being able to trust them.  We also get into the role of emotional awareness, how generational patterns shape us, and why sometimes, if the thing you need doesn’t exist—you have to create it yourself. If you’ve ever felt like you’re slipping back into old patterns or like you’re carrying things that might not be yours—this one’s for you. IF YOU ENJOYED THIS INTERVIEW, PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & DROP ME A RATING. Thank you!!! Melissa’s website and teaching schedule: ⁠⁠ [https://dharmatemple.circle.so/feed]https://linktr.ee/melissamatt?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaVne_FulU1L17x3D9MITb5lw_U7AI24_tUMLYdrzcIach7LbGfS-0RYTQ_aem_M0bmRDVByC6VQLLSCsobDA [https://linktr.ee/melissamatt?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaVne_FulU1L17x3D9MITb5lw_U7AI24_tUMLYdrzcIach7LbGfS-0RYTQ_aem_M0bmRDVByC6VQLLSCsobDA]  Find Melissa on Instagram:⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lifeordeathashtangayogaclub/] https://www.instagram.com/melissamattyoga/ [https://www.instagram.com/melissamattyoga/]  Find me on Instagram:⁠⁠@marlasyoga⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/marlasyoga] Practice yoga with me on Sādhaka Studio: ⁠⁠https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog⁠⁠ [https://sadhakastudio.uscreen.io/catalog] Come with me to Costa Rica: ⁠⁠https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403 [https://www.wetravel.com/trips/for-the-seekers-ashtanga-yoga-retreat-sadhaka-67726403] Timestamps 00:00 Intro 06:28 Navigating postpartum challenges 10:49 A really difficult five-year period and the role of emotional awareness 12:28 Detaching from feeling things in the body to learning to trust the body 17:17 Being the nervous system regulator for the family from a very young age 22:57 Slowly taking back autonomy and responsibility for my own happiness 26:28 Changing the patterns for the next generation the next version you are becoming is going to require a whole new level of self-belief 27:59 Not becoming exhausted by the tendency to slip back into your old patterns 32:05 You have to create the thing that doesn’t exist 34:58 How the practice strengthens compassion 36:34 Why certainty is the lazy way out 41:34 Why it’s important to focus on the details in your practice  45:14 Teaching to people’s aversions and the power of other people believing in you 48:30 Our tendency to hyper-independence versus having a community 50:19 Learning that you don’t have to do it alone 53:25 Questions from our followers