Yoga in South Africa - A Transforming Journey | Michael McColly | YogaScussion Preview

Yoga Community & Recovery | Brianna Georgeson | YogaScussion Ep. 18

In this YogaScussion, hosts Brendon Orr and Gina Clingerman sit down with Brianna Georgeson, the heart and steward behind Wild Root Yoga [https://www.wildrootyoga.com/] in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a leading voice in modern yoga culture, Brianna shares her powerful journey from high-functioning alcoholism to finding sobriety through the transformative power of wellness and mindful movement. Discover the reality of yoga studio ownership as she navigated taking over her beloved space during the 2020 pandemic. Brianna discusses creating a sacred environment for body-positive classes that focuses on mental health rather than fitness trends. Learn about the real challenges of studio ownership, the art of building a supportive community, and why her studio's motto is "yoga for everybody else." Whether you are exploring holistic wellness or seeking an authentic yoga podcast that dives deep into the human experience, this conversation offers profound insights into holding a safe, inclusive space. Key Topics: * Brianna's journey from high-functioning alcoholism to finding yoga as recovery and purpose * Taking over Wild Root Yoga during pandemic and maintaining community through virtual + in-person offerings * Philosophy-heavy, non-Yoga Alliance teacher training emphasizing yogic limbs over perfect poses * Embodied movement offerings: Groove somatic dance, Walk It Out, and yoga nidra for nervous system regulation * "Yoga for everybody else": creating inclusive sacred space where body positivity and connection thrive Follow YogaScussion wherever you get your podcasts. To get access to ad-free episodes five days early and attend live show recordings, join the YogaScussion Circle [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/]! About YogaScussion: YogaScussion [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] is a dynamic podcast that goes far beyond the yoga mat. Each episode brings together passionate practitioners, teachers, experts, and thought leaders from various backgrounds to dive deep into the rich, nuanced world of yoga. Hosted by Brendon Orr and Gina Clingerman, the show explores yoga’s intersection with philosophy, wellness, culture, personal growth, and social issues. Expect authentic, thought-provoking discussions, personal stories, and insights that challenge and expand your understanding of what yoga has meant in the past and what it means today. In each episode of YogaScussion, Gina and Brendon are joined by guests and paid member listeners to share in a collective discussion about what yoga is, what it’s not, what it was, what it wasn’t, what it is becoming, and what it can be. Support the show: > Join the YogaScussion Circle! [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] for extra benefits, to attend live show recordings and participate in the YogaScussion > Donate to the Show [https://donate.stripe.com/cNi7sKbICgghcMQ4RwdfG0j] > Shop the YogaScussion Collection on the Podmasana Store [https://podmasana.threadless.com/collections/yogascussion-1] Connect With Podmasana: > Website: yogascussion.podmasana.com [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] > Email: yogascussion@podmasana.com [yogascussion@podmasana.com] > Support the Show: yogascussion.podmasana.com/support [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] > Social Media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@yogascussion] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/yogascussion.bsky.social] | Mastodon [https://mastodon.social/@yogascussion] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yogascussion/] Current Release Schedule: New episodes every other Wednesday with preview episodes releasing the following Wednesday Early access for YogaScussion Circle members (5 days before public) Follow and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others who might be interested. Thank you for listening and thank you for your support! Feel free to also check out Podmasana Media’s other shows: Podmasana [https://podmasana.com/] and My Mindful Moment [https://podmasana.com/mymindfulmoment].

Yoga Saved Me from Alchoholism | Brianna Georgeson | YogaScussion Preview

In the next YogaScussion, Brianna Georgeson shares recovering from alcoholism through yoga, taking over Wild Root Yoga [https://www.wildrootyoga.com/] in Lincoln, Nebraska during pandemic, creating sacred space for somatic healing, and making yoga accessible as "for everybody else." Wild Root owner discusses teaching yoga philosophy, business challenges from drumming studio neighbors to managing 14 teachers, Reiki master training, holding space for students' breakthrough moments, staying weird at grocery stores, and why her three words for yoga are "soul, connection, and magic." Key Topics * Brianna's journey from high-functioning alcoholism to finding yoga as recovery and purpose * Taking over Wild Root Yoga during pandemic and maintaining community through virtual + in-person offerings * Philosophy-heavy, non-Yoga Alliance teacher training emphasizing yogic limbs over perfect poses * Embodied movement offerings: Groove somatic dance, Walk It Out, and yoga nidra for nervous system regulation * "Yoga for everybody else": creating inclusive sacred space where body positivity and connection thrive Follow YogaScussion wherever you get your podcasts. To get access to ad-free episodes five days early and attend live show recordings, join the YogaScussion Circle [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/]! About YogaScussion: YogaScussion [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] is a dynamic podcast that goes far beyond the yoga mat. Each episode brings together passionate practitioners, teachers, experts, and thought leaders from various backgrounds to dive deep into the rich, nuanced world of yoga. Hosted by Brendon Orr and Gina Clingerman, the show explores yoga’s intersection with philosophy, wellness, culture, personal growth, and social issues. Expect authentic, thought-provoking discussions, personal stories, and insights that challenge and expand your understanding of what yoga has meant in the past and what it means today. In each episode of YogaScussion, Gina and Brendon are joined by guests and paid member listeners to share in a collective discussion about what yoga is, what it’s not, what it was, what it wasn’t, what it is becoming, and what it can be. Support the show: > Join the YogaScussion Circle! [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] for extra benefits, to attend live show recordings and participate in the YogaScussion > Donate to the Show [https://donate.stripe.com/cNi7sKbICgghcMQ4RwdfG0j] > Shop the YogaScussion Collection on the Podmasana Store [https://podmasana.threadless.com/collections/yogascussion-1] Connect With Podmasana: > Website: yogascussion.podmasana.com [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] > Email: yogascussion@podmasana.com [yogascussion@podmasana.com] > Support the Show: yogascussion.podmasana.com/support [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] > Social Media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@yogascussion] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/yogascussion.bsky.social] | Mastodon [https://mastodon.social/@yogascussion] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yogascussion/] Current Release Schedule: New episodes every other Wednesday with preview episodes releasing the following Wednesday Early access for YogaScussion Circle members (5 days before public) Follow and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others who might be interested. Thank you for listening and thank you for your support! Feel free to also check out Podmasana Media’s other shows: Podmasana [https://podmasana.com/] and My Mindful Moment [https://podmasana.com/mymindfulmoment].

Healing Body Shame with Yoga | Briiohn Covert | YogaScussion Ep. 17

In this YogaScussion, yoga teacher Briiohn Covert [https://linktr.ee/NeonBriiohn] shares her transformative journey from managing scoliosis, back pain, and endometriosis to finding healing through body awareness yoga and mindful movement. Discover how yoga for chronic pain management, breath work for anxiety relief, and overcoming body shame through yoga practice can support your wellness journey. Briiohn reveals how the mind-body connection in yoga helps release disconnection from physical sensations, while her teaching philosophy emphasizes showing up as you are—because if you're breathing, you can do yoga. Learn practical breath work for anxiety relief through nostril breathing, yoga for women with endometriosis, and how finding your authentic yoga teaching voice creates safer spaces for students navigating chronic pain, comparison culture, or seeking embodied presence on and off the mat. Key Topics * Briiohn's journey from accounting career to yoga teaching through personal healing with back pain, scoliosis, and endometriosis * Body awareness and mind-body connection as pathway to managing chronic pain and releasing disconnection from physical sensations * Teaching philosophy using "bright stars" metaphor to guide students from easy concepts to deeper yogic understanding with autonomy * Overcoming body shame and comparison culture through present-moment awareness and non-judgmental practice on the mat * Breath work practices for anxiety relief and nervous system regulation through nostril breathing and balancing brain activity Follow YogaScussion wherever you get your podcasts. To get access to ad-free episodes five days early and attend live show recordings, join the YogaScussion Circle [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/]! About YogaScussion: YogaScussion [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] is a dynamic podcast that goes far beyond the yoga mat. Each episode brings together passionate practitioners, teachers, experts, and thought leaders from various backgrounds to dive deep into the rich, nuanced world of yoga. Hosted by Brendon Orr and Gina Clingerman, the show explores yoga’s intersection with philosophy, wellness, culture, personal growth, and social issues. Expect authentic, thought-provoking discussions, personal stories, and insights that challenge and expand your understanding of what yoga has meant in the past and what it means today. In each episode of YogaScussion, Gina and Brendon are joined by guests and paid member listeners to share in a collective discussion about what yoga is, what it’s not, what it was, what it wasn’t, what it is becoming, and what it can be. Support the show: > Join the YogaScussion Circle! [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] for extra benefits, to attend live show recordings and participate in the YogaScussion > Donate to the Show [https://donate.stripe.com/cNi7sKbICgghcMQ4RwdfG0j] > Shop the YogaScussion Collection on the Podmasana Store [https://podmasana.threadless.com/collections/yogascussion-1] Connect With Podmasana: > Website: yogascussion.podmasana.com [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] > Email: yogascussion@podmasana.com [yogascussion@podmasana.com] > Support the Show: yogascussion.podmasana.com/support [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] > Social Media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@yogascussion] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/yogascussion.bsky.social] | Mastodon [https://mastodon.social/@yogascussion] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yogascussion/] Current Release Schedule: New episodes every other Wednesday with preview episodes releasing the following Wednesday Early access for YogaScussion Circle members (5 days before public) Follow and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others who might be interested. Thank you for listening and thank you for your support! Feel free to also check out Podmasana Media’s other shows: Podmasana [https://podmasana.com/] and My Mindful Moment [https://podmasana.com/mymindfulmoment].

Overcoming Body Shame Through Yoga | Briiohn Covert | YogaScussion Preview

In the next YogaScussion, yoga teacher Briiohn Covert [https://linktr.ee/NeonBriiohn] shares her transformative journey from managing scoliosis, back pain, and endometriosis to finding healing through body awareness yoga and mindful movement. Discover how yoga for chronic pain management, breath work for anxiety relief, and overcoming body shame through yoga practice can support your wellness journey. Briiohn reveals how the mind-body connection in yoga helps release disconnection from physical sensations, while her teaching philosophy emphasizes showing up as you are—because if you're breathing, you can do yoga. Learn practical breath work for anxiety relief through nostril breathing, yoga for women with endometriosis, and how finding your authentic yoga teaching voice creates safer spaces for students navigating chronic pain, comparison culture, or seeking embodied presence on and off the mat. Key Topics * Briiohn's journey from accounting career to yoga teaching through personal healing with back pain, scoliosis, and endometriosis * Body awareness and mind-body connection as pathway to managing chronic pain and releasing disconnection from physical sensations * Teaching philosophy using "bright stars" metaphor to guide students from easy concepts to deeper yogic understanding with autonomy * Overcoming body shame and comparison culture through present-moment awareness and non-judgmental practice on the mat * Breath work practices for anxiety relief and nervous system regulation through nostril breathing and balancing brain activity Follow YogaScussion wherever you get your podcasts. To get access to ad-free episodes five days early and attend live show recordings, join the YogaScussion Circle [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/]! About YogaScussion: YogaScussion [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] is a dynamic podcast that goes far beyond the yoga mat. Each episode brings together passionate practitioners, teachers, experts, and thought leaders from various backgrounds to dive deep into the rich, nuanced world of yoga. Hosted by Brendon Orr and Gina Clingerman, the show explores yoga’s intersection with philosophy, wellness, culture, personal growth, and social issues. Expect authentic, thought-provoking discussions, personal stories, and insights that challenge and expand your understanding of what yoga has meant in the past and what it means today. In each episode of YogaScussion, Gina and Brendon are joined by guests and paid member listeners to share in a collective discussion about what yoga is, what it’s not, what it was, what it wasn’t, what it is becoming, and what it can be. Support the show: > Join the YogaScussion Circle! [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] for extra benefits, to attend live show recordings and participate in the YogaScussion > Donate to the Show [https://donate.stripe.com/cNi7sKbICgghcMQ4RwdfG0j] > Shop the YogaScussion Collection on the Podmasana Store [https://podmasana.threadless.com/collections/yogascussion-1] Connect With Podmasana: > Website: yogascussion.podmasana.com [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] > Email: yogascussion@podmasana.com [yogascussion@podmasana.com] > Support the Show: yogascussion.podmasana.com/support [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] > Social Media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@yogascussion] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/yogascussion.bsky.social] | Mastodon [https://mastodon.social/@yogascussion] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yogascussion/] Current Release Schedule: New episodes every other Wednesday with preview episodes releasing the following Wednesday Early access for YogaScussion Circle members (5 days before public) Follow and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others who might be interested. Thank you for listening and thank you for your support! Feel free to also check out Podmasana Media’s other shows: Podmasana [https://podmasana.com/] and My Mindful Moment [https://podmasana.com/mymindfulmoment].

Walking Meditation & Yoga | Michael McColly | YogaScussion | Ep. 16

In this YogaScussion, author and former Northwestern professor Michael McColly [https://www.michaelmccolly.net/] shares how yoga became his anchor after an HIV diagnosis, transforming his practice into a path of care, embodiment, and connection. He discusses teaching yoga to people living with HIV across continents, weaving mindful movement with creative writing to help students feel their words in their bodies. Michael explores walking meditation as urban pilgrimage through his latest book, Walking Chicago's Coast [https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Chicagos-Coast-63-Mile-Journey/dp/1501783149], a 63-mile journey from his doorstep to the Indiana Dunes that blends memoir, environmental witness, and place-based awareness. Discover how walking cultivates perception, sensing history in the land, and developing empathy for body and others. Learn about yoga as care, the power of intention in practice, and how simple acts of walking can become moving asana that connects us to place, community, and the sacredness of everyday life. Key Topics * Michael's journey from HIV diagnosis to finding yoga as agency, community, and spiritual practice * Teaching yoga to people living with HIV across Africa, Asia, and the U.S. as an act of care and empowerment * Weaving yoga with creative writing to help students cultivate embodied, sensory-rich prose through body awareness * Walking Chicago's Coast: a 63-mile urban pilgrimage blending memoir, environmental witness, and walking meditation * How walking cultivates perception, empathy, and connection to place as an extension of yoga practice Follow YogaScussion wherever you get your podcasts. To get access to ad-free episodes five days early and attend live show recordings, join the YogaScussion Circle [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/]! About YogaScussion: YogaScussion [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] is a dynamic podcast that goes far beyond the yoga mat. Each episode brings together passionate practitioners, teachers, experts, and thought leaders from various backgrounds to dive deep into the rich, nuanced world of yoga. Hosted by Brendon Orr and Gina Clingerman, the show explores yoga’s intersection with philosophy, wellness, culture, personal growth, and social issues. Expect authentic, thought-provoking discussions, personal stories, and insights that challenge and expand your understanding of what yoga has meant in the past and what it means today. In each episode of YogaScussion, Gina and Brendon are joined by guests and paid member listeners to share in a collective discussion about what yoga is, what it’s not, what it was, what it wasn’t, what it is becoming, and what it can be. Support the show: > Join the YogaScussion Circle! [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] for extra benefits, to attend live show recordings and participate in the YogaScussion > Donate to the Show [https://donate.stripe.com/cNi7sKbICgghcMQ4RwdfG0j] > Shop the YogaScussion Collection on the Podmasana Store [https://podmasana.threadless.com/collections/yogascussion-1] Connect With Podmasana: > Website: yogascussion.podmasana.com [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/] > Email: yogascussion@podmasana.com [yogascussion@podmasana.com] > Support the Show: yogascussion.podmasana.com/support [https://yogascussion.podmasana.com/support/] > Social Media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@yogascussion] | Bluesky [https://bsky.app/profile/yogascussion.bsky.social] | Mastodon [https://mastodon.social/@yogascussion] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/yogascussion/] Current Release Schedule: New episodes every other Wednesday with preview episodes releasing the following Wednesday Early access for YogaScussion Circle members (5 days before public) Follow and subscribe now so you don't miss an episode. Leave a review and share the show with others who might be interested. Thank you for listening and thank you for your support! Feel free to also check out Podmasana Media’s other shows: Podmasana [https://podmasana.com/] and My Mindful Moment [https://podmasana.com/mymindfulmoment].