#221 In Conversation with Andrew Tanner of The American Yoga Council
Release Date: 01/16/2026
#236 From Effort to Stillness: The Journey of Ashtanga from Gross to Subtle
Yoga Inspiration
From Gross to Subtle: The Journey of Ashtanga Yoga Practice In this episode, Kino MacGregor and Tim Feldmann explore the two ends of the yoga spectrum: the gross and the subtle, the dynamic and the still, the effortful and the refined. Ashtanga Yoga asks us to inhabit both worlds, jumping through, sweating, moving the body with strong discipline, and then turning inward, softening into breath, subtle sensation, and the quietude of mind. Drawing from Sanskrit roots and classical teachings, Kino and Tim explain how sthūla, gross or dense practice, and sūkṣma, subtle or refined practice, are...
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#235 Patience in Yoga Practice: Abhyāsa, Vairāgya, and the Wisdom of Stages
Yoga Inspiration
In this episode we explore one of yoga’s most essential lessons: patience. Drawing from Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras 3.6 and 1.12, we reflect on why everything in yoga unfolds in stages and why true progress comes through the twin practices of steady effort, abhyāsa, and non-attachment, vairāgya. Through personal stories, including my struggle with Pincha Mayūrāsana and unexpected ease in Mayūrāsana, we learn how forcing or rushing can lead to harm, while patience and surrender create the conditions for real growth. Yoga, is like tending a garden. Each posture is a seed, and with care,...
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#234 The Work of Second Series: Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series
Yoga Inspiration
In this episode of Yoga Inspiration, Kino answers student questions about the Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series, traditionally known as Nāḍī Śodhana. We explore the structure and purpose of Second Series, including its deep backbends, leg-behind-the-head postures, arm balances, inversions, and the seven headstands. Kino also explains how to know when you are ready to begin Intermediate Series, why perfect postures are not the goal, and how consistency in Primary Series creates the foundation for deeper work. The conversation also covers struggle poses, practicing six days a week,...
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#233 The Three Pillars of Tristhāna with Tim Feldmann
Yoga Inspiration
At first glance, Ashtanga Yoga may look like a simple sequence of postures. But beneath the surface lies a subtle framework that carries the entire method: Tristhāna, the threefold support of breath, posture, and gaze. In this episode, Kino and Tim explore the deeper meaning of Tristhāna. The word comes from Sanskrit, with tri meaning “three” and sthāna meaning “place” or “support.” These three abodes are not just techniques. They are thresholds that guide the practitioner from gross sensation into subtle awareness. Breath is the golden thread linking body and mind. Posture is...
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#232 Living as a Yogi: Sincerity, Sattva, and the Eightfold Path
Yoga Inspiration
What does it really mean to be a yogi? In this episode, Kino explores the heart of yogic life beyond postures and performance. A yogi, she reminds us, is someone sincerely committed to realizing the Self and who understands that cultivating sattva (clarity, harmony, and balance) is an essential step along the path. Drawing from Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra and the teachings of the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, and tamas), Kino examines how our daily choices, from the food we eat to the words we speak and the actions we take, either cloud the mind or orient it toward truth. She also explores the...
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#231 The Business of Yoga: Leadership, Marketing, Pricing & Growth with Bruce Barkus
Yoga Inspiration
What does it take to build a successful yoga business while staying true to your values? In this episode, Kino MacGregor sits down with business leader and longtime mentor Bruce Barkus to explore the intersection of yoga, entrepreneurship, leadership, and service. Drawing on decades of executive experience leading global companies and years of dedicated Ashtanga Yoga practice, Bruce shares practical insights for yoga teachers, studio owners, and wellness entrepreneurs looking to build sustainable businesses. Together, Kino and Bruce discuss the realities of running a yoga business, from...
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#230 Yoga is Mind Training: How to Steady the Mind Through Practice
Yoga Inspiration
Yoga is more than flexibility or physical strength. At its essence, yoga is the training of the mind. In this episode, Kino MacGregor explores how yoga philosophy, breath, and daily practice help steady the mind, re-pattern habitual thinking, and cultivate inner awareness. Drawing from the Bhagavad Gītā, the Yoga Sūtra, and the teachings of K. Pattabhi Jois, Kino reflects on the deeper purpose of practice beyond physical achievement. Learn how yoga helps us work with fear, emotional patterns, distraction, and the fluctuations of the mind while cultivating steadiness through breath,...
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#229 Deep Practice, Full Heart: Why Consistency Changes Everything
Yoga Inspiration
What does it really mean for practice to deepen? It is not a bigger backbend or a more dramatic shape. It is the quiet transformation that comes from showing up day after day. In this talk, Kino explores how steady effort widens our capacity to feel the full spectrum of life. The highs may feel brighter, and the lows may feel deeper, yet the work is to meet both with awareness rather than attachment. Think of the mind as a garden. When we tend it with practice, wisdom takes root. When we stop tending it, weeds of habit and reactivity return. Kino shares a classical view of the path. Asana is...
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#228 The Benefits of Traditional Ashtanga Yoga Practice: From Nectar Drop to Ocean with Tim Feldmann and Kino MacGregor
Yoga Inspiration
Recorded at Nøsen Yoga Retreat in Norway, Kino and Tim explore the deeper benefits of traditional Ashtanga Yoga practice. Together, they reflect on Yoga as both a drop of nectar and an ocean, drawing on the Yoga Sūtra, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā. From strength and vitality in the body, to balance in the nervous system, to the quiet of meditation, they share how tradition transforms practice into a path of peace, humility, and self-realization. If this conversation resonates, you can continue your practice inside Explore full-length classes, guided series, and...
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#227 Beyond Asana: The Complete Path of Yoga with Srivatsa Ramaswami
Yoga Inspiration
Srivatsa Ramaswami is one of the last direct students of the legendary yogi Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, often regarded as the father of modern yoga. He studied with Krishnamacharya for over three decades, receiving a deeply traditional education in āsana, prāṇāyāma, chanting, and classical yoga texts. He is widely respected as a teacher and scholar of yoga, known for preserving and sharing the Vinyāsakrama method. His work emphasizes thoughtful sequencing, breath-led movement, and adaptation for the individual practitioner. Through decades of teaching, writing, and lecturing around the...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Yoga Inspiration Podcast, Kino MacGregor is joined by Andrew Tanner, yoga teacher of over 20 years, founder of the American Yoga Council and the Berkshire Yoga Festival, and author of So You Want to Open a Yoga Studio.
Together they explore what it truly means to be a yogipreneur and how to build a sustainable livelihood in yoga without losing the heart of the practice. Andrew shares why service is the foundation of meaningful work, why the yoga industry has shifted in recent years, and what many teachers and studio owners are navigating right now.
A central focus of the conversation is the vision behind the American Yoga Council, including competency-based standards, lineage-respecting accreditation, mentorship pathways, and accountability structures designed to better support teachers, schools, and the future of yoga.
This episode is a thoughtful, honest discussion for anyone who teaches yoga, runs a studio, mentors students, or cares deeply about the integrity and evolution of the yoga community.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
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What “yogipreneur” really means in today’s yoga landscape
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Why service is the spark behind sustainable yoga businesses
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How and why the yoga industry has changed since 2017
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The limitations of traditional accreditation models
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The vision and mission of the American Yoga Council
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Competency-based standards and lineage transparency
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Mentorship, accountability, and trust in yoga education
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Supporting teachers and schools without forcing one-size-fits-all systems
Practice with Kino on Omstars
Continue the conversation on the mat. Omstars is Kino’s online yoga platform, offering thousands of classes, workshops, and in-depth courses designed to support a sustainable, lifelong practice. Members can explore teaching, philosophy, strength, mobility, and mindful movement from anywhere in the world.
About the Guest
Andrew Tanner is a yoga teacher of over 20 years, founder of the American Yoga Council and the Berkshire Yoga Festival, and author of So You Want to Open a Yoga Studio. He has owned and sold multiple yoga studios and is dedicated to creating ethical, transparent systems that support yoga teachers, schools, and lineages.
Listen, Reflect, and Share
If this episode resonates with you, consider joining the Omstars community to deepen your practice with Kino and explore yoga as a path of study, movement, and self-inquiry. Share this episode with a teacher, studio owner, or mentor who would benefit from the conversation.