The Yogic Arts Series: Yantra & the Tantric Arts with Melissa Forbes
The Heart of Yoga
In this episode of "The Heart of Yoga " Rosalind kicks off the Yogic Arts Series with a deep and enlightening conversation with artist and Yogini Melissa Forbes. They explore the intersection of art and spirituality through the study of Yantra, numerology, and Jyotish (Vedic astrology). Melissa shares her personal journey into sacred geometry and how these ancient traditions have shaped her practice, teaching, and artwork. Through this conversation, listeners are invited into the rich, intricate world of sacred Yogic arts and the deeper meaning behind these practices. They...
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The Lifesaving Power of Yoga with Raúl Petraglia
The Heart of Yoga
In this episode of the Heart of Yoga podcast, Raul Petraglia, a former high-flying corporate executive, shares his incredible journey from the high-stress world of luxury hospitality to finding profound peace through the practice of Yoga. Raul opens up about his past life of excess and stress, the physical and emotional toll it took on him, and how a serious health crisis led him to discover Yoga. This transformative experience not only saved his life but also inspired him to dedicate himself to sharing the healing power of Yoga with others, including the corporate world he once inhabited....
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From The Archives: Are You Born In The Wrong Body?
The Heart of Yoga
Teaching at Liliana Lakshmi's teaching training, this question arises.. hear the response. In this episode, Mark explores how Yoga can provide a sense of unity and belonging amidst conflict and division in the world. He emphasizes that Yoga is not about seeking or trying to get somewhere, but recognizing and participating in the beauty, power and extraordinary intelligence that is always there, the wholeness and the harmony. Mark argues that religious seeking and presumption of separation are the root of conflict, and Yoga dissolve this illusion. He shares the principles from...
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Demystifying Tantra - A Conversation with Domagoj Orlić - Part 2
The Heart of Yoga
In this episode, Rosalind and Domagoj have an enlightening discussion demystifying Tantra. They explore how Tantra is a path to freedom that teaches you to fall in love with life. Tantra aims to help one realize everything is infinite and discover naturalness, spontaneity and openness to the mystery of life. Rituals in Tantra go hand in hand with meditation and realization of the teachings within oneself. The goal is freedom and absolute independence. They talk about transcending duality between matter and spirit, external rituals and internal experiences, embracing life and...
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Demystifying Tantra - A Conversation with Domagoj Orlić - Part 1
The Heart of Yoga
In part one of this two part episode, Rosalind is joined by Domagoj Orlić to demystify tantra, a profoundly misunderstood spiritual tradition. As both a scholar and practitioner of Tantra, Domagoj sheds light on what Tantra actually is, its key principles and aims, and how it differs from the "Neo-Tantra" appropriated in the West. They explore Tantra's emphasis on liberation through feeling unity with the divine feminine, why ritual and initiation by a guru matters, and how Tantra can help overcome conditioning to realize inherent power. Domagoj clarifies Tantra's nuanced...
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Discovering Wholeness and Beauty Amidst Suffering
The Heart of Yoga
This episode features Kathrin, a Yoga practitioner and mother of two living in Germany. She shares how she came to Yoga to relieve suffering during the pandemic, and through her daily practice discovered a profound intimacy with her own body and breath. Kathrin describes how Yoga helped her shift from feelings of "not being enough" to simply receiving and participating in each moment just as it is. She and Mark discuss how Yoga connects us to the miracle of life, and talk about translating this experience into everyday life and language. Key topics include releasing shame, rebuilding...
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“Christians need Yoga“ The story of a Christian Yogi with Paul Hoffman
The Heart of Yoga
This episode features Paul Hoffman, a devoted Christian who discovered yoga and has found it deeply enriches his religious life and spiritual connection. He shares how yoga complements Christian teachings and practices, helping him integrate breath, movement and prayer. Paul recounts his journey to incorporating yoga into his church community and daily spiritual rituals. He provides insights into how yoga can allow Christians and people of all backgrounds to more fully embody sacred teachings. They discuss... - How yoga created a framework for Paul's daily devotional...
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Already Free: The Life of Yogini Acharya Akia Merritt
The Heart of Yoga
This episode features yogini Akia Merritt who shares her life journey growing up in Miami and discovering her capital S Self through yoga sadhana. Akiya recounts the journey from aspiring fashion designer in New York City to becoming a capital-Y Yoga teacher, and the pitfalls of the industry along the way. Relatable to everyone whose journey has taken them far from where they started, and then back home with compassion. Mark and Akia discuss: - Akia’s childhood in poverty, family struggles with addiction, and dangerous neighborhood in Miami - Her drive to get out of...
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Women, Life, Freedom ژن، ژیان، ئازادی
The Heart of Yoga
This episode features a powerful and insightful conversation between Mark and a Yogini living in Iran, who we refer to as Sarah for her safety. They discuss the ongoing revolution and protests in Iran, along with the government brutality and oppression people, especially women, face daily. Sarah shares her personal experiences surviving the turmoil, finding refuge through community, and taking action for freedom through sharing yoga's teachings. This episode offers an inside look at Iran's struggle, the universal need for connection, and the hope that comes from within through truly knowing...
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Yoga Education in Schools Y.E.S. with Andrew Raba
The Heart of Yoga
Rosalind and Andrew meet again to lay out the vision for the Heart of Yoga ‘YES’ programme: Yoga Education in Schools. Andrew shares the vision behind it: for every young person to leave school with a basic yoga education including the ability to practice connection with body and breath at home by themselves. We discuss how the project was born from Andrew's experience teaching yoga at a high school in New Zealand, where he saw firsthand how it benefited both students and teachers. And we discuss the 8-week teen yoga course that is at the heart of the YES...
info_outlineRosalind and Andrew meet again to lay out the vision for the Heart of Yoga ‘YES’ programme: Yoga Education in Schools.
Andrew shares the vision behind it: for every young person to leave school with a basic yoga education including the ability to practice connection with body and breath at home by themselves.
We discuss how the project was born from Andrew's experience teaching yoga at a high school in New Zealand, where he saw firsthand how it benefited both students and teachers. And we discuss the 8-week teen yoga course that is at the heart of the YES program.
Key Topics:
- The mental health crisis among teens and the need for new solutions
- How the YES project started at Andrew's high school in New Zealand
- The vision for bringing yoga education to every student globally
- The 8-week teen yoga course and how it's structured
- Teaching yoga breathing and asana to younger kids
- Stories of how teens benefit from yoga classes at school
- Training people to deliver the YES teen program in schools internationally
- Creating positive experiences for young people through yoga
Insights:
- Young people intuitively understand and feel the benefits of yoga for themselves. When they experience it, they don't need convincing to keep practicing.
- Yoga can create contexts for authentic human connection between teens and teachers. It's not about assessment or filling them with knowledge.
- Teens appreciate having a space to rest, be quiet, and tap into inner peace amidst the stresses of school. The yoga "cleans the pot" so they can focus again.
- Teens provide profound and sensitive feedback on how yoga helps their mental health, grounding, sleep, and ability to engage life.
- Yoga is a positive cultural intervention, offering kids tools to transform their relationship with themselves, others and nature.
Quotes:
"Yoga is prior to intellectual subjects and learning about life. It's to be connected to your actual life."
"After doing this, I feel like nothing can knock me off my balance." — teenage practitioner
"The breath made me feel all tingly and calm. Afterwards I feel like I can sleep for an eternity because I'm so connected to the earth." — 13 year old student
Resources:
Heart of Yoga: heartofyoga.org/YES
YES New Zealand Project Website: yogainschools.org.nz
Train to be a facilitator: October–November 2024, online
Timestamps:
2:00 - Introducing the YES project and its vision
4:00 - How the project started organically at Andrew's New Zealand high school
6:00 - Taking yoga into schools globally, training facilitators
10:00 - The mental health crisis and need for yoga in schools
15:00 - Creating the 8-week teen yoga program
20:00 - On the profound wisdom and experiences of teens
25:00 - Powerful stories of teens benefiting from yoga
30:00 - Using yoga for relational intelligence and autonomy
35:00 - Training people internationally to share the program
45:00 - Teaching yoga breathing to younger kids
50:00 - Allowing teens to experience all facets of life in yoga
55:00 - Yoga as a positive intervention in society and culture