The Heart of Yoga

Mark Whitwell and friends present heartfelt conversations from the heart of yoga. “Indeed a soft message for a hard time. Please listen to Mark Whitwell. God is in this moment. God is as close as your own breath. So be here now! Mark will show you an easy way.” — Ram Dass on Mark’s book ‘The Promise’ In the spirit of yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ, we offer this podcast as a tool to direct attention towards relationship, intimacy with our experience, and the sublime beauty of our human situation. Ever since he met his yoga teachers TKV Desikachar and his father Tirumalai Krishnamacharya in Madras / Chennai in 1973, Mark has been sharing the tools of intimacy with body and breath through asana, pranayama and meditation, the practical method of response to grace in our life. The influence of J and UG Krishnamurti has clarified Yoga for all time as a practice of participation in the given reality, not a struggle towards a future result. "If you can breathe, you can do Yoga!" Join us for an experience of union / Yoga (not just more knowledge about it), resolution of spiritual confusions, insight from decades of teaching experience, stories from the diverse sangha of practitioners, practical relationship discussion, and the application of Yoga to every aspect of our everyday life. To find out more about teachings, retreats, online yoga classes, and our in-depth online yoga courses for both beginner and advanced practitioners, please visit www.heartofyoga.org.

Bali, Holy Mountains, & the Great Recycling Program 12/03/2025

Bali, Holy Mountains, & the Great Recycling Program What if aging isn’t a problem to solve but a feature of being human? What if what’s falling apart is doing exactly what it’s meant to do? Sarah Jessop is a dear friend, fellow mariner, Yoga teacher, artist, and mystic based in Witchcliff, Western Australia. She’s been coming to Bali since she was 21, when she first left Australia with a little bit of money and no idea what she was in for. We talk about what it means to be welcomed into a living culture, the ways tourists sometimes misunderstand Bali, and how Balinese society holds itself together through invisible threads of connection. Sarah speaks so honestly about what it’s been like to age, to shift from student to teacher, to feel the tug between visibility and invisibility, and to stay true in the face of frog Yoga and downward dogs with goats. This one gets into the heartbreak and humor of being alive, being a woman, and remembering that life is already working, even in the compost pile. Key Takeaways Bali is a Living Culture – The Balinese aren’t performing for tourists. They’re living their culture, and we’re being invited into it. Ageing is Sacred – Watching the body change is confronting, but it’s also part of how life keeps moving and renewing itself. Breath is What People Really Want – When Yoga is centered in breath and simplicity, people feel the difference. They stay. Self-Doubt Still Comes Up – Even seasoned teachers wonder if they’ll be eclipsed by trendier offerings, but truth finds its people. Everything is the Practice – Even the pain of losing what you thought you were is part of Yoga. It all belongs. Life is a Recycling Program – We’re made of star stuff, Einstein’s hair, and dinosaur toenails. Nothing is ever lost. Where to Find Our Guest Sarah Jessop on Instagram: Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/39196475

You Are The Beauty with Sofie Chi and Mark 11/26/2025

The Yoga of Music with Tony Glausi and Mark 11/12/2025

The Yoga of Music with Tony Glausi and Mark For Mark Whitwell, music was always a temple. In the jazz clubs of New York such as Village Vanguard, Blue Note, and Sweet Basil, he felt the power of true presence. In this conversation, Mark is joined by Tony Glausi, a trumpet player and composer who carries the living jazz tradition with profound originality. Over the course of a month practicing together in Bali, a friendship formed through daily Yoga, shared breath, and an unshakable love for music. Tony opens up about the journey that brought him here. From his roots in a large Mormon family to years of exploring Buddhism, psychedelics, and the creative highs and lows of the music industry, he shares how Yoga has become his ground. Mark and Tony speak candidly about sobriety, the myth of the tortured artist, and what it means to truly merge with the music. Tony Glausi is a New York-based musician devoted to the jazz tradition. Through trumpet, piano, and composition, he explores the meeting point of Yoga and sound for the real life of every person. His most recent album, Awaken, came from a time of injury, reflection, and a deep return to what matters most. Key Takeaways Yoga of Breath and Sound – Music and Yoga meet in the breath, in the steady exhale, and in the felt experience of being fully alive. Sobriety and Clarity – Letting go of substances isn’t a loss. It is the return to real perception and sustainable joy. From Dogma to Direct Experience – Yoga isn’t a belief system. It’s how we are with what is. Horizontal Intimacy as the Foundation for Art – Real artistry comes through being fully with the life around us. The End of the Tortured Artist – Art does not need to come from suffering. With real Yoga, artists can thrive and create from wholeness. Concerts as Ceremony – Tony envisions a new kind of performance that begins in silence, in practice, in true receptivity. Where to Find Our Guest Tony Glausi’s Website: Tony Glausi on Instagram: Links & Resources Tony’s Latest Album ‘Awaken’: You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/38990120

The Beauty of Om with Sybille and Rosalind 11/05/2025

The Freedom to Feel: An Interview with Yogini Jin Hee Kim 10/29/2025

The Freedom to Feel: An Interview with Yogini Jin Hee Kim Grief is love. Fear, anger, pain and grief are biological functions that resolve into compassion for all. Rather than fixation on my one dominant emotion, we develop an emotional intelligence. We predict the next emotion that is more fundamental than our present emotion. By this intelligence, we come to compassion. It is our own intelligence. We are born with it. We saw an extraordinary Yoga transformation occur over one year. Jin Hee Kim, (or Jinny) is a yogini from Korea and Melbourne. Over the past year, she has gone through a powerful journey of loss, realization, and return. Jinny shares how the death of her sister-in-law and the pain passed down from her mother, a woman identified as a shaman, led her into deep grief that no method could resolve. When we met in Bali, she began to see that this grief was actually love. That the only way forward was to stop seeking and do her Yoga. To feel, to breathe, to be in her life. This is a real and intimate dialogue about feminine power, suicide, healing, and what Yoga actually is. She speaks from experience. We do not need to run to monasteries or look for answers to big cultural promises. We need to be here. In our bodies. In our breath. In our relationships. This is where life is. Key Takeaways Grief Is Compassion – Jinny’s journey began when she realized her grief wasn’t something to fix. It was something to feel and offer. Stop looking, start living. Stop Seeking, start Breathing – True Yoga began for her not in techniques, but in the simplicity of breath and body, just as they are. Healing Is Intimacy – She found that healing came through a close relationship with herself, her family, and her surroundings. Masculine Drive, Feminine Wisdom – A deep shift happened when she embraced her feminine. Shakti softened the fierce Shiva. The secular must serve the sacred. Cultural Shame Holds Trauma – By speaking openly about her mother’s story, she ended a cycle of silence and fear. The Seduction Of Enlightenment – Her biggest lesson was that we don’t need to transcend life. We need to live it fully, in our own way, in our own language. Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/38804810

In the World, Not of the World with Maartje Hesseling 10/16/2025

In the World, Not of the World with Maartje Hesseling Can Yoga be real in the corporate world? Can we live from the natural state while moving through meetings, deadlines, and the everyday push of professional life? In this conversation with my good friend and dedicated practitioner Maartje Hesseling, we speak about what happens when Yoga becomes a daily reality. Maartje lives in Switzerland and works at a high level in the corporate world, but over the last three years, she has quietly come into a steady rhythm of practice. We talk about how that shift has changed her life, not by chasing self-improvement, but by staying close to what she actually is. This one is for anyone who has felt torn between their inner life and the world of work. Maartje shares from her own experience, and her clarity and honesty really shine. Key Takeaways Yoga as Daily Relationship – Yoga becomes sustainable when it’s not a self-improvement project, but a daily pleasure and relationship with life. Drop the Drive – The subtle pressure to always get better is deeply ingrained, but it’s not necessary. It’s not helpful. Corporate Compassion – When we’re intimate with our own life, we relate with respect and clarity to everyone around us, even when things are tough at work. Inclusion as Yoga – True inclusion at work begins by truly seeing each person, their presence, their gifts, and being in relationship with them. No Conflict Needed – Yoga in the workplace isn’t about turning anyone into a spiritual person. It’s about being human together and making space for wellbeing. Start With Practice – The clarity, confidence, and connection we long for don’t come from a strategy. They come from simply showing up in our practice. Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/38602920

Om Shanti - Not Provoked? Andrew Raba and Rosalind Atkinson 10/09/2025

Om Shanti - Not Provoked? Andrew Raba and Rosalind Atkinson What does it really mean to be not provoked? I called in my dear friend Andrew Raba for this one, because he’s the final and complete master of Shanti, obviously never disturbed by anything ever. Well, not quite. But we did want to talk about this phrase from the tradition: Om Shanti Shanti Shanti. It’s something we’ve both chanted a thousand times, but the meaning that’s really stuck with us is one we learned from Mark, “not provoked.” Andrew shared so honestly about a moment where he lost it in front of a whole group of students. A group of teenage boys showed up to Yoga class, laughing and disrupting everything, and he found himself cold with anger. He was teaching Shanti, and he was not feeling it. What happened next was such a beautiful reminder of how the practice works over time, and how Om comes first for a reason. I loved this conversation so much. It’s about friendship, real practice, and what becomes possible when we stop trying to be peaceful and start actually digesting what provokes us. Key Takeaways Not Provoked Is a Practice – Shanti doesn’t mean calm or passive. It means being able to receive life without being hijacked by memory or reaction. Yoga as Internal Bomb Diffusal – The point of practice is to clear out those little bombs of pain that get lit up in a relationship. Om Comes First – Om reminds us that life is already complete. From that remembrance, peace becomes possible. Reaction Is a Signal – If I’m reacting, I’m being shown something. That’s not failure. That’s the moment the fruit is ripe to fall. Shame Doesn’t Heal – Beating ourselves up for being reactive just keeps the cycle going. What helps is love, humor, and depersonalizing the pain. Peace Improves Relationships – The true test of Yoga isn’t how long you can chant. It’s whether your practice helps you stay open when you’d normally shut down. Where to Find Our Guest Andrew Raba’s Website: Andrew Raba on Instagram: Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/38522025

Why Yoga? An Interview with Rosalind 10/02/2025

You Are the Movement of Life, End of Story 09/24/2025

You Are the Movement of Life, End of Story What if life is already complete, already whole, already free? My dear friend Jana Wirth, a yogini and physiotherapist in Mainz, Germany, speaks about the moment she realized she was free to enjoy her life without guilt. That simple recognition lifted years of conditioning and opened space for ease and joy. Together we speak about her path through physiotherapy, Yoga, and the ways these two streams meet in her daily work. Jana describes her steady commitment to practice, the challenges of cultural expectation, and the simple joy of merging with life as it is. I loved hearing how she no longer feels the burden of fixing people, but instead supports them in discovering their own capacity to heal. This is the Yoga of intimacy with breath, body, relationship, and the living world around us. Key Takeaways Freedom to Enjoy Life – Jana describes the profound relief of letting go of guilt and realizing she is allowed to enjoy her life. Physiotherapy and Yoga Together – Rather than keeping them separate, Jana allows these two pathways to inform and support each other. Healing is Within – True healing happens when people discover their own capacity to move, breathe, and feel, not when someone else tries to fix them. Daily Practice as Anchor – A simple, consistent Yoga practice—sometimes just ten minutes—has guided Jana through emotion, work, and daily life. Union with All of Life – Yoga is intimacy with body, breath, relationship, and the living world, an experience of being one with everything arising. Freedom from Roles – Jana no longer identifies as only a physiotherapist or Yoga teacher, but lives freely beyond professional labels. Where to Find Our Guest Jana Wirth on Instagram: Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/38324810

Victory Over the Usual Life with Kalena Hynes 09/17/2025

The Yoga of Eating and Food 09/10/2025

Yogic Motherhood as the Nurturing Force of Reality with Vivian Clemens 09/03/2025

Yogic Motherhood as the Nurturing Force of Reality with Vivian Clemens Every mother is the first Guru, the one who transmits life to her children. My friend and Yogini Vivian Clemens shares how Yoga revealed to her that the nurturing force of reality was always within her. We speak of Yoga motherhood and the unity of existence. Vivian shares her own story of moving from fear and suffering into freedom through daily Yoga practice and how that change has shaped her daughters, her teaching, and her way of being in the world. Vivian lives in the German Alps where she teaches Yoga to her local community and online. She is co- translator into German of my book, Hridaya Yogasutra. We speak of bringing children into Yoga, the grace of suffering, and the recognition that Yoga is participation in the nurturing force of the cosmos. This is a story of motherhood Yoga and the healing of generational pain through the direct experience of unity. Key Takeaways Yoga and Motherhood – The first Guru is the mother and children receive Yoga through her daily practice. Generational Healing Through Yoga – Daily Yoga practice ends cycles of trauma and opens space for health and freedom. The Grace of Suffering – Pain can be a powerful motive that brings sincerity to Yoga practice and real transformation. Unity of Life – Yoga reveals that body, breath, and cosmos are one movement and that life itself is love. The Nurturing Force of Reality – Each person is the Shakti, the mother force that cares for and sustains life. Yoga as Community and Sharing – Teaching is the simple act of sharing practice and experience in family and in the local community. Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/38070925

From the Archives: The Deep Place of The Guru Function 08/27/2025

Timeless Conversation: Living Yoga in the Lineage of Krishnamacharya with R. Sriram 08/20/2025

Timeless Conversation: Living Yoga in the Lineage of Krishnamacharya with R. Sriram What happens when someone born inside the culture of Yoga meets the modern world with eyes wide open? This timeless conversation with my Gurubhai, R. Sriram, originally recorded five years ago, is as alive and necessary now as it was then. Sriram grew up in South India, surrounded by music, temples, and traditional values. He also experienced Catholic schooling, English literature, radical theater, and many layers of spiritual and political questioning. This is a deeply personal account of growing up in the very society that Krishnamacharya and Desikachar came from, while still struggling to feel at home in it. We talk about what it means to be indigenous to this tradition, and how Sriram’s life became a bridge between ancient learning and modern experience. When he met Desikachar in the late 1970s, he didn’t just begin to study Yoga. He entered a relationship that helped him live through the emotional and cultural complexity of his own story. Breath, practice, and shared understanding gave him a way to continue, to grow, and to teach. That path eventually took him to Germany, where he has taught since 1988 alongside his wife, the Indian classical dancer Anjali Sriram. This conversation is a reminder that the teacher-student relationship is about being seen. It is about friendship, sincerity, and learning to live with all parts of who we are. Key Takeaways A Life Inside the Tradition – Sriram shares firsthand memories of growing up in the same world that Krishnamacharya and Desikachar belonged to. Holding the Whole – His life shows how Yoga supported him through family customs, academic pressure, spiritual curiosity, and social questions. Desikachar’s Openness – Sriram remembers how Desikachar welcomed real people with real conflicts and questions. Voice and Breath – Chanting became a way to connect with his roots, express devotion, and care for his inner life. Ongoing Search – This story speaks to anyone asking how to live in two worlds, and how to find peace without needing to erase anything. Yoga in a New Culture – Sriram reflects on decades of teaching in Germany, how people first reacted to Yoga, and how that has shifted over time. Where to Find Our Guest R. Sriram’s Website: R. Sriram on Instagram: Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37888950

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted 08/15/2025

Yoga for Every Body: An Interview with Mark 08/06/2025

The Tables Turned: David Interviews Mark 07/30/2025

The Tables Turned: David Interviews Mark In this episode, David turns the tables and interviews Mark. We dive into the roots of Mark’s life, growing up in New Zealand’s church and school systems, confronting injustice early on, and stumbling into my body through sport and the natural world. David grills Mark on the long journey that led him to the heart of Yoga with his teachers Krishnamacharya and Desikachar. This is a very personal conversation, going into the sincere “teachers” (aka friends)who helped Mark see through the spiritual industrial complex, and the simple, traditional yoga practices that smoothed out all the drama of spiritual India in the 1970s. In other words, Yoga as intimacy with reality. Key Takeaways Early Awakening – A childhood moment on the lawn, sun on the back, revealing the body’s deep continuity with the cosmos. Seeing Through Systems – From church to school to spirituality - recognising how society exploits us with the promise of a future salvation or success. Real Yoga Is Empowering – the good stuff adapts to the individual, honors the breath, and returns us to our natural state of wholeness. Teachers Who Transmit – Meeting Krishnamacharya and Desikachar brought a transmission of humility, scholarship, and direct experience, not guruism. Yoga Is Relationship – the power of real and actual friendship that is equal and mutually felt and expressed The Body Is God – Yoga reveals that the body is not separate from divinity, it is divinity. Not a metaphor!! Where to Find Our Guest David’s Website: David on Instagram: Links & Resources You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access courses at Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation if you can… you help us keep the lights on and the podcasts made listenable. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37591775

Stop Looking, Start Living with David Fardi 07/23/2025

Stop Looking, Start Living with David Fardi What if the life you’re seeking is already unfolding beneath your feet? David Fardi's path from spiritual confusion to grounded clarity is a powerful reminder that real Yoga begins when we stop chasing and start participating in what is. A Yoga teacher and founder of the men’s fashion brand Le Nirvana, David shares how he moved through disillusionment in Europe and neo-tantric circles to find a deeply embodied practice in Bali. His story touches on healing generational wounds, living in rhythm with nature, and discovering how simple breath and movement can reshape a life. David now teaches private sessions at Samyama Yoga and lives what he practices with devotion, artistry, and love. Key Takeaways The Power of Presence – Gathering in person allows for a deeper transmission of Yoga that even the best Zoom call can’t replicate. Bali’s Blessing Culture – The spiritual fabric of Balinese daily life creates an environment of tolerance, beauty, and ease that supports deep practice. Yoga Is Participation, Not Performance – Real Yoga is not information gathering; it’s direct participation in the reality of breath, body, and being. Spiritual Friendship Matters – One-on-one connections made in gatherings often become lifelong support systems for practice and healing. The End of the Separate Self – Gathering invites us into a recognition: there’s no fixed “me” to fix. There’s only reality unfolding through us. We Are the Forest Dwellers – These gatherings are part of an eternal cultural process of Yoga; friends meeting in sacred spaces for wisdom to be lived and shared. Where to Find Our Guest David Fardi’s Website: David Fardi on Instagram: Le Nirvana on Instagram: Links & Resources All In-Person Gatherings : You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at . Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37515870

Yoga Sutras Talk Recorded at Bali Teacher Untraining 07/16/2025

Why Do We Gather in Bali? 07/10/2025

Why Do We Gather in Bali? What makes us leave home and come together in person to share Yoga? In this episode, Mark and Rosalind reflect on hosting Yoga gatherings in Bali. They speak about the deeper meaning of these meetings, the beauty of Balinese blessing culture, and what it really means to offer something useful in a spiritual tourist economy. Can travel be justified as Bali groans under the weight of tourism and the expansion of the concrete jungle? What are we doing here, and what are the potential They discuss how seeking makes us vulnerable to exploitation, the nature of real practice, and the kind of intimacy that arises when people meet without pretense. Themes Bali as a spiritual gathering place and why people come here Blessing culture: what is it and how does it work How do we justify going to a Yoga gathering? Is it selfish? The difference between information-gathering and experiential learning Personal practice as the foundation of everything The healing power of dear friendship grounded in Yoga How do we welcome a genuinely wide range of people? Key Quotes “Yoga is participation in the given reality.” “There’s no need to get to what you already are.” “The gathering is the icing on the cake. Zoom is the cake—we already have it.” “People come to Bali looking for something, even if they don’t know what it is.” “There’s a relief in realizing there’s nothing to become. You already are.” Key Takeaways Place Carries Power – Bali holds a blessing culture that people can feel in their bodies. Gatherings Create Intimacy – In-person Yoga opens a space for deeper relational presence. Practice Starts with You – The daily rhythm of breath and movement is where change happens. Transmission Is a Felt Thing – Yoga is shared in silence, in contact, in attention. Seekers Need Care – Honest offerings matter in places shaped by spiritual commerce. There Is No One to Fix – Yoga reveals freedom through untraining, not accumulation. Learn more and register for future events at . This podcast is sustained by your donations. You can support the Heart of Yoga Foundation at /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37357565

Walt Whitman was a Yogi | Dylan Giles 07/02/2025

Walt Whitman was a Yogi | Dylan Giles Imagine words so sincere, that the author appears as a close friend, speaking directly through time to the deepest part of who we are? This week, Dylan Giles joins Rosalind to share how reading Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself” in a time of personal drift opened a direct experience of connection. Dylan describes nights spent under the Californian moon, feeling Whitman’s words as a living presence, breaking him free of rigid traditions. In this episode I find out from Dylan about Whitman as mystic, and we use him to understand yogic ideas such as shaktipat, ishta, and guru parampara. We explore how reading Whitman can lead to a shift from cleverness to sincerity in our own writing, the subtle ways we unconsciously believe we are separate from greatness, and the challenge of integrating moments of inspiration into daily life. In this conversation we track the shift from being a FAN of a mystic like Whitman of William Blake, to being a fellow participant in the great mystery called life. With our artists and mystics holding our hands. Subjects Explored Meeting Whitman in a moment of drift and loneliness The freedom of Whitman’s meterless, sincere poetry Sensing Whitman’s living presence through reading How sincerity cuts through patterned language Moving beyond cleverness to honest writing Recognizing unconscious beliefs of separation Yoga as the way we integrate grace into our lives Key Phrases or Quotes “I was reading this and feeling from the page that Walt Whitman was directly communicating to me, like he was in the room.” “True sincerity really moves me.” “I felt as if his words were so sweet. I felt it in my heart that he was just around me somehow.” “There’s erosion of spontaneous human expression. You sort of felt like you’d discovered a fountain of spontaneous human expression in a desert.” “I realized he wasn’t different from me. We are made of the same stuff.” Key Takeaways Sincerity Creates Real Connection – Honest words carry a power that reaches others directly. Poetry Reveals Yoga – Words infused with life transmit a sense of presence and unity. Admiration Sparks Recognition – Seeing beauty in Whitman helps us see it in ourselves. Yoga Grows in Integration – Grace opens possibilities, and Yoga helps us live them fully. Spontaneous Words Are Alive – Breaking from scripts nourishes life and brings clarity. We Share the Creative Force – The same life that moved Whitman moves through each of us. Suggested Reading Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman – Explore the groundbreaking free verse poems that celebrate the body, nature, death, and the joy of existence. The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake – A visionary work challenging traditional views of good and evil, exploring the unity of opposites, and the energy of life. Timestamps 00:02:00 Intimate Yoga revealed in Whitman’s poetry during Dylan’s personal drift 00:04:00 Whitman’s presence felt through words alive and immediate across time 00:06:00 Scripted language blocking authentic, heartfelt human communication 00:08:00 Shaktipat-like realization ignited by powerful, sincere words 00:09:00 Shared creative power with Whitman dissolves illusions of separation 00:20:00 Radical embrace of body, sexuality, death, and life celebrated by Whitman 00:29:00 “What is the grass?” reflects on life, death, and universal connection 00:32:00 Eternal life recognized within finite human experience through Yoga 00:36:00 Bold authenticity inspired by Whitman’s lines urging courage beyond comfort 00:46:00 Body-soul unity illuminated in Blake’s vision of eternal creative energy You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at https://www.heartofyoga.com. Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37252890

Healing from the Need to Heal: Ayurveda, Orthorexia & Yoga with Konstanze Weiser 06/25/2025

Healing from the Need to Heal: Ayurveda, Orthorexia & Yoga with Konstanze Weiser What happens when healing becomes another form of harm? When the search for purity, wellness, and relief becomes a maze of restriction, shame, and exhaustion? In this quietly radical conversation, Konstanze Weiser joins us to speak not as an expert, but as someone who lived it from childhood illness to orthorexia, Panchakarma to spiritual burnout. We explore the parts of wellness culture we don’t often talk about: the obsession with food, the spiritualization of suffering, the silent shame around digestion and embodiment. Konstanze shares what it took to finally stop outsourcing authority, soften her grip, and listen to her own body. What emerged wasn’t a protocol, but a practice. Not control, but connection. This is not a story of being healed. It’s a story of no longer needing to be. Subjects Explored Orthorexia and the glorification of “clean” eating When Ayurveda becomes another system to get right Panchakarma, shame, and the desire to purge pain Digestive distress, embodiment, and feminine silence Yoga practice as participation, not perfection Letting go of healing as a project Food, feeling, and the return to simplicity Key Phrases or Quotes “It wasn’t the food. It was the shame.” “I believed my body couldn’t heal unless I followed all the rules.” “At some point, I didn’t even have the capacity for shame anymore.” “I don’t use food to compensate as much anymore—because I don’t need to.” “Healing isn’t about fixing. It’s about not betraying yourself.” “My practice is non-negotiable. But it’s not because I’m trying to improve. It’s because it brings me back.” Key Takeaways Orthorexia is often hidden in wellness culture – When food becomes a moral issue, restriction masquerades as discipline. Systems are not saviors – Ayurveda, yoga, or detox can become prisons when driven by fear or perfectionism. Digestion and shame are deeply linked – It wasn’t the food causing distress. It was the silence, the hiding, the internalized shame. Embodiment is not a theory – Real practice means listening to the body, not overriding it with ideals. Simplicity is a form of intelligence – Healing came not from doing more, but from letting go. The body already knows – The role of practice is to help us trust it again. Resources Mentioned Konstanze Weiser on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/konstanze.weiser The Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden: https://www.larabriden.com/period-repair-manual Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction from Mexico and today’s theme [00:02:00] Konstanze’s early health struggles and the roots of obsession [00:05:00] Orthorexia and the quiet pain of trying to eat “perfectly” [00:08:00] When Ayurveda becomes another form of control [00:13:00] First Panchakarma: detox, intensity, and unexpected peace [00:17:00] Returning to Germany and feeling alive for the first time [00:23:00] Digestive shame and the false image of the perfect woman [00:28:00] The trap of spiritual protocols and chasing purity [00:36:00] Second Panchakarma: heartbreak, collapse, and exhaustion [00:42:00] Yoga as non-negotiable—not for performance, but for sanity [00:48:00] Breaking the rules and finding freedom in food [00:54:00] Reframing sickness as a message, not a malfunction [01:00:00] Breath, simplicity, and the intelligence of the body [01:01:00] Final reflections and invitation to return to trust Your body is not broken. You are not behind. You are not a problem to be solved. Practice is not a fix. It’s a homecoming. To support the Heart of Yoga Foundation or learn more about our courses, visit . This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37145030

Kali and the Marriage of Heaven and Hell 06/18/2025

Kali and the Marriage of Heaven and Hell What if our anger is sacred? What if the rage we feel in our bodies, in our culture, in our Earth, is not something to suppress, but something to honor? This week, Mariana Garcia Flores and I sit again in the Garden of the Moon to invoke the presence of Kali, the fierce face of the Divine Feminine, and the part of us that says no more. We speak into the places where softness meets strength, where grief becomes action, where Yoga becomes the healing of the rift between Shakti and Shiva, within us and in the world. This conversation is not sanitized. It’s raw, truthful, necessary. Kali is not here to be palatable. She’s here to wake us up. To rewild us. To make our practice real. Subjects Explored The mythology of Kali and the archetype of feminine rage Dissociation and the violence of spiritual bypass Why embodiment is activism The pain of controlling Shakti and separating from Shiva What Yoga teaches us about sacred integration How feminine anger becomes a healing force Key Phrases or Quotes “Shakti is angry. And it is appropriate.” “Kali is here to destroy what needs to be destroyed.” “You don’t separate Shiva from Shakti. You gather her.” “Your practice is making love with life.” “She’s not killing people. She’s killing the delusion.” “It is destroying what is not real.” Key Takeaways Sacred Anger is Real – Feminine rage is not dysfunction. It is sacred correction. Dissociation is the True Demon – When the mind leaves the body, suffering begins. Yoga is the Union of Opposites – Strength and softness, Shiva and Shakti, must be lived together. Receptivity is Power – To receive Shakti is the strength of true masculinity and humanity. Embodied Intimacy is Activism – When we inhabit our wholeness, we reclaim the world. The Feminine Will Not Be Silenced – This is not about gender. It’s about life force refusing erasure. Resources Mentioned Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine by David Kinsley Timestamps [00:00:00] Opening with Kali and the missing piece of feminine rage [00:02:00] The illusion of gendered energy and cultural separation [00:04:00] Trees, nature, and the union of opposites [00:05:00] Reading the terrifying and sacred imagery of Kali [00:07:00] Kali’s rage as sacred destruction and healing [00:09:00] Severed heads and the metaphor of cutting dissociation [00:10:40] Yoga as receptivity and the return of mind to body [00:11:50] Gathering Shakti: what real husbanding means [00:12:40] Modern relationships, transactional needs, and intimacy [00:14:00] Feminine rebellion and Kali as a global force [00:16:00] Suppressed anger and the cost of not saying no [00:18:00] Strength, softness, and the spine of Yoga practice [00:20:00] Shiva’s surrender and the softening of Kali [00:22:00] William Blake and the marriage of heaven and hell [00:24:00] The sacredness of desire and the distortion of repression [00:27:00] Violence, anger, and sexuality in religious conditioning [00:29:00] Receiving desire vs. grasping in relationship [00:30:00] A meditation on Kali’s wrath and the transformation of rage [00:32:00] The world’s denial of the feminine and embodied revolt [00:34:00] Kali’s names, her sacred sexuality, and final reflections You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at https://www.heartofyoga.com. Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/37051550

Shakti is Not a Concept - Rosalind Atkinson & Mariana Garcia Flores 06/11/2025

Shakti is Not a Concept - Rosalind Atkinson & Mariana Garcia Flores What if everything you were taught to fear is actually sacred? In this intimate, resonant conversation, I sit down with Mariana, a dear friend and fellow teacher whose life story continues to unfold in powerful ways. Raised in a strict Catholic school environment in Mexico, Mariana shares how years of religious repression shaped her understanding of sexuality, embodiment, and spirituality and how the practices of Yoga, meditation, and humanistic psychotherapy helped her unravel those beliefs and come home to her own sacred aliveness. This episode is not a theoretical conversation. It is an embodied testimony to the power of Yoga as life itself as Shakti, as descent, as the energy that we are. Together, we question the cultural scripts that pit spirit against flesh, and remember what it means to live in a world where the seen is the source. Subjects Explored Growing up Catholic and the repression of the body Unlearning religious shame through embodied practice How Yoga reunites what doctrine divides The holiness of desire and the wisdom of William Blake Why the feminine can never be denied, only exiled Shakti as the undismissable truth of nature Key Quotes "Shakti is what we are. There's no denying Shakti." "It was as if I had finally placed the needle on the right record, and the music began to play in rhythm with my own heart." "The body is not a shell to the soul. It is the soul." "Religion told me that the closer I was to God, the further I should be from the body. Yoga showed me they were never separate." "The repression of nature is not safety. It's suffering." Key Takeaways Embodied Awakening – True spiritual life begins when we reclaim the body as sacred. Shakti Cannot Be Denied – The feminine principle is life itself—wild, wise, and ever-present. Beyond Duality – Spirit and matter are not in opposition. Yoga reveals their unity. From Shame to Sovereignty – Dismantling internalized doctrine opens the door to freedom. The Holiness of Desire – As William Blake taught, energy is delight. To feel is divine. Intimacy is the Practice – Yoga is not an escape from reality but a deep participation in it. Resources Mentioned Mariana’s offerings: IG @aliveaslife Timestamps [00:00:00] Opening and Mariana’s Catholic upbringing [00:04:05] Leaving Mexico and the search for freedom [00:08:17] Early messages about sexuality and sin [00:12:00] Confession culture and fear of the body [00:15:48] Yoga, psychotherapy, and reclaiming desire [00:19:55] William Blake and the holiness of energy [00:23:40] From shame to sovereignty [00:27:12] The myth of ascension and the truth of descent [00:31:06] Shakti as nature, not a concept [00:35:30] The body is the soul [00:39:45] Mariana’s current offerings and final reflections You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at https://www.heartofyoga.com. Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/36949535

Alive as Life: An Interview with Mariana Garcia Flores 06/04/2025

Alive as Life: An Interview with Mariana Garcia Flores What if you are already everything you're looking for? What if the power of the cosmos is not out there, but pulsing through your breath, your body, your life right now? In this conversation, I welcome Mariana Garcia Flores, a radiant presence from Mexico City, and a Woman of the Americas in her full power. Mariana shares her story of transformation from counselor and seeker to embodied yogini and teacher. She speaks of the moment the search ended, when she realized: I am that. Not as an idea, but as a lived, undeniable reality. It is the story of Yoga as life itself, not a technique, not a path, but a participation in what already is. Mariana's clarity is practical, grounded, and deeply feminine. She speaks with the strength of someone who has remembered who she is, and now wants to share that possibility with others. It is not ambition; it is love. It is not effort; it is life flowing through. Key Phrases or Quotes "You are the power of the cosmos. You are life happening." "The end of the search is the beginning of participation." "This is not poetry. It's not something to attain. It is the fact of your existence." "No power can stop you because you are that power." "Yoga is the catalyst that brings forth your latent talents." Key Takeaways Embodied Awakening – Yoga is not something you do; it is who you are when you remember. Feminine Power Reclaimed – Women of the Americas and the world are remembering their inherent Shakti. The End of Seeking – The great relief comes when we realize there's nowhere to get to. We are already home. Spiritual Decolonization – Dismantling inherited frameworks that deny the power and beauty of life, especially for women. Yoga is for Everyone – This is the base of human life, not a luxury, not an escape, but our shared ground. Service from Wholeness – Teaching is not a career move. It is what naturally flows when we recognize our completeness. Resources Mentioned The Heart of Yoga course: https://www.heartofyoga.com Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction and welcoming Mariana, honoring her as a Woman of the Americas and setting the context for the conversation. [00:10:00] Mariana and Mark discuss the impact of colonialism on feminine power and Shakti, exploring the inherited cultural wounding and need for reclamation. [00:20:00] Mariana speaks about family life, sacred motherhood, and how Yoga supports the creative and relational aspects of living. [00:30:00] They reflect on returning to source, living in alignment with life, and how spiritual practice must be grounded in truth and experience. [00:40:00] Mariana discusses the dismantling of guilt, shame, and inherited patterns that obscure our connection to life and presence. [00:44:00] Closing reflections on clarity, the simplicity of being, and how Yoga reveals the truth already present. ‘’You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it.’’ Learn more and access the course at https://www.heartofyoga.com. Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/36814050

Yoga for a Better World with Mark Whitwell and Jonathan Cassell 05/29/2025

Yoga for a Better World with Mark Whitwell and Jonathan Cassell What if true activism doesn’t begin with protest signs or policy change, but with the way we breathe? In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Cassell in the lush Fijian islands to explore the profound intersections between Yoga, ecology, and the urgent need for human change. We speak about our shared grief for a world in ecological crisis and ask: how can we act from love, not just outrage? Yoga for a Better World isn’t a lofty ideal, it’s a daily, grounded intimacy with life. We explore the emotional cost of caring deeply, why burnout is so common among changemakers, and how a consistent practice can nourish resilience, compassion, and courage. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world, this conversation is for you. Subjects Explored The emotional weight of ecological collapse and climate activism Why true activism begins with caring for your own body Eco-grief, burnout, and the need for deep rest How Yoga creates the energy for meaningful action Moving from overwhelm to embodied intimacy with life The illusion of separation and the urgency of reconnection Key Phrases or Quotes "If you're not grieving, you're not paying attention." "Yoga is intimacy with what life actually is." "Depressed means deep rest—we need to honor what our biology is telling us." "You can't repair the ecosystem without repairing the wild of Mother Nature here—your own body." "The purpose of Yoga isn't to escape fear or grief—it’s to act from them with clarity and care." Key Takeaways Rooted Activism – Real change begins with embodiment, not burnout. The Wisdom of Grief – Pain is not a flaw, but a biological function that signals connection. Eco-Grief is Real – Honoring our emotions is part of collective healing. Yoga is the Ground – A daily practice nourishes the clarity and energy needed for action. You Are the Ecosystem – Caring for the planet begins by caring for the body. From Despair to Movement – Yoga helps transmute grief into grounded, life-sustaining action. Resources Mentioned The Heart of Yoga course: Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation: https://www.heartofyoga.com/foundation Timestamps [00:00:00] Opening in Fiji and naming the ecological crisis [00:01:00] Why the course name changed from "Yoga for Activists" to "Yoga for a Better World" [00:02:00] Activism as intimacy with life and caring for the body [00:03:00] The risk of burnout among changemakers [00:05:00] Honoring legitimate emotional responses: anger, grief, pain [00:07:00] The necessity of inner repair for ecosystem repair [00:09:00] Depression as deep rest and a call to stillness [00:11:00] The myth of "overcoming" grief; honoring emotions as biology [00:22:00] Reframing civilization and reconnecting to the body as sacred [00:30:00] The power of receptivity and nurturing in embodied activism [00:33:00] Course insights: daily Yoga as a way to care for life [00:36:00] The chaos of culture and the need for a new attractor [00:37:00] Yoga as the movement of life: a shift from thought to participation [00:40:00] A non-dramatic, non-obsessive Yoga that supports sustainable action You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it. You need only participate in it. Learn more and access the course at . Support the Heart of Yoga Foundation. This podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/36725555

From the Archives: Mark Teaching in Saanen, Switzerland 05/21/2025

From the Archives: Mark Teaching in Saanen, Switzerland This talk was recorded live at a workshop in the Swiss town of Saanen. A very interesting place for yoga and spiritual history and the transmission from East to West! Among the ‘himalayas of the north’, Mark is unravelling the core of modern spiritual systems and the search for enlightenment. Summarising the teachings of Krishnamacharya, Desikachar, and the radical honesty of U.G. Krishnamurti, this episode presents Yoga as an intimate participation in what is real—life itself. Subjects… J Krishnamurti, UG Krishnamurti, BKS Iyengar, and the history of the Saanen Valley Why the ideal of a “perfect person” has deeply disempowered humanity How Yoga has been distorted by systems of effort, hierarchy, and branding U.G. Krishnamurti’s radical realization and the myth of spiritual seeking The social hoax of striving, self-improvement, and enlightenment fantasies How true Yoga arises spontaneously from intimacy with breath, body, and life The feminine principle and restoring our natural intelligence Key Phrases: “The Guru has no followers. The Guru has friends to help.” “Stop looking. Start living. Your Yoga is the living of it.” “No more gymnastics. No more spiritual gymnastics. Yoga is just your participation in life.” Gratitude to Moritz Kuebler who recorded this, and our host in Saanen, Stephanie Iseli. Resources Mentioned: Teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar The lives of J. Krishnamurti and U.G. Krishnamurti The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice book History of Theosophy and the Saanen Valley gatherings Timestamps: [00:00:00] Opening invocation: You are the power of the cosmos [00:03:00] Stephanie’s story and how Yoga found a home in Saanen [00:08:00] Mark shares the deeper purpose of the gathering [00:11:00] What makes a true Guru: no more than a friend, no less than a friend [00:16:00] The myth of spiritual hierarchy and the problem of “perfection” [00:23:00] Why modern Yoga and meditation have become systems of disempowerment [00:27:00] Reframing the idea of enlightenment as a harmful distraction [00:32:00] U.G. Krishnamurti’s “calamity” and the end of seeking [00:39:00] The mind is for relationship—not for searching [00:44:00] Healing trauma through natural breath and spontaneous Yoga [00:49:00] Revisiting the Yoga of Krishnamacharya and the legacy of Desikachar [00:55:00] The Saanen gatherings and spiritual history of the valley [01:02:00] The rejection of modern Yoga branding and spiritual consumerism [01:10:00] A new view: Yoga as participation, not performance [01:17:00] The body is intelligence, the breath is healing [01:25:00] Embracing life without effort: no more spiritual goals [01:32:00] How to practice a Yoga that serves your real life [01:38:00] Preparing to receive a personal, breath-centered practice “You are the beauty. You are the intelligence. You are already in perfect harmony with life. You don’t need to seek it—you need only participate in it.” Learn more and stay connected at Support — this podcast is sustained by your donations. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/36620610

The Source and the Seen: Reclaiming Intimacy, Yoga, and the Power of the Feminine 05/14/2025

The Source and the Seen: Reclaiming Intimacy, Yoga, and the Power of the Feminine The Yoga Tantras that Krishnamacharya graciously brought forth teach us direct participation in Reality and the qualities or nature of Reality. They flush from the living body the restive patterning and traumas that culture and society has put in us. These Tantras disappeared in India & Tibet after the 14th century replaced by authoritarian power structures. In this powerful episode of The Heart of Yoga Podcast, Mark returns with scholar and heart of Yoga teacher Andrew Raba for a deeply vulnerable & piercing conversation on the core wounds of society: the denial of the feminine, the suppression of sexual wisdom, and the destructive legacy of religious thinking that created world mind. Together, they unravel the heavy conditioning that shapes our views of intimacy, self-improvement, and the male fantasy of enlightenment. Together they point us back to the radical truth: that the source & the seen are one. With candor, grief, humor and hope, Mark and Andrew explore how Yoga is participation in What is already the case, real & natural. They discuss… How the ancient idea of enlightenment has created harmful hierarchies that separate the spiritual from the sexual and the sacred from the ordinary. The personal and collective consequences of suppressing the feminine, intimacy & body intelligence. Why intimacy is often the battleground for inherited trauma, shame, and confusion—how Yoga can help us participate in love, the unity condition that is life, without seeking to “fix” or “transcend” ourselves. Mark’s reflections on sex, relationship, and receiving each other is the only sacred life there is. The power of whole-body breathing, above to below, inhalation to exhalation, strength to receptivity reconnects us to What is real, beyond religious dogma or self-improvement fantasies and struggles. They discuss… How the ancient idea of enlightenment has created harmful hierarchies that separate the spiritual from the sexual and the sacred from the ordinary. The personal and collective consequences of suppressing the feminine, intimacy, and embodied wisdom. Andrew’s journey from academic seeker to awakened Yogi, and how one simple truth—the source and the seen are one—transformed his life. Why intimacy is often the battleground for inherited trauma, shame, and spiritual confusion—and how Yoga can help us participate in love without seeking to “fix” or “transcend” ourselves. Mark’s reflections on sex, relationship, and receiving the other as a sacred, cosmic act—not as a spiritual obstacle. The power of whole-body Yoga to reconnect us with what’s real, beyond religious dogma or self-improvement fantasies. Favorite Phrases: “Life is perfectly expressing itself through you. What could create a human body? That power is not somewhere else—it’s here, as this.” “Sex is not something done to get something. It is to participate in what life actually is.” “Male does not receive female—and that’s the core wound of civilization.” Resources Mentioned: Teachings of T. Krishnamacharya Taoist insights into yin-yang and sacred sexuality Reflections on world religions, mystic traditions, and cultural conditioning Timestamps: [00:00:00] Opening reflection on hierarchy, enlightenment, and the denial of the feminine [00:02:00] Introduction to guest Andrew Raba and his background [00:06:00] Andrew shares his transformation after hearing “the source and the seen are one” [00:10:00] The collapse of the seeking framework and the emergence of presence [00:16:00] The deep cultural programming around sex, love, and spirituality [00:23:00] Exploring karmic patterns, judgment, and self-forgiveness [00:31:00] Reclaiming sex as participation, not transaction [00:36:00] The role of Yoga as a daily reflection and realignment with truth [00:42:00] Mark and Andrew discuss the union of opposites and the healing of gender divisions [00:47:00] Closing thoughts on spiritual honesty, Yoga as participation, and receiving the other /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/36562425

The Yogic Arts Series: Yantra & the Tantric Arts with Melissa Forbes 09/13/2024

The Yogic Arts Series: Yantra & the Tantric Arts with Melissa Forbes 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 discuss… The profound relationship between Yantra, numerology, and the energies of the planets, exploring how specific shapes, colors, and numbers influence one's life and spiritual journey. Melissa’s background in sacred geometry and her teachings on how constructing Yantras can help align an individual's energy with cosmic forces. The influence of Melissa’s teacher, Harish Johari, and the tradition of integrating chanting, numerology, and sacred geometry into the spiritual practice. Insights into the powerful energy of certain colors and planets, such as working with green and emerald to harness the healing energy of Mercury. The importance of natural movement and geometry in understanding the true essence of Yoga beyond its physical form. Favorite Phrases: "The study of the macrocosm via the microcosm. Tantra offers a holistic approach to the universe through the lens of the individual." "The energy of the Yantras is all about alignment—through sound, color, and shape, we can tap into the deeper forces of the cosmos." "Working with a spiral in sacred geometry mirrors nature’s own patterns; it’s a theme that’s as universal as the DNA in our bodies or the form of a fern unfurling." Resources Mentioned: Books by Harish Johari: Numerology, Tantra, Ayurveda: You are invited to join Melissa on her Sacred Geometry luxury retreat in India, January 2025. Melissa leads an annual retreat at Shreyas, member of Relais & Chateaux, focusing on Sacred Geometry. An excellent opportunity to explore the inner dimensions and rekindle our creative energies, and direct it towards spiritual unfoldment. Yoga, Ayurveda and Art in a refined beautiful environment. Connect with Melissa on IG @melissaforbes8 Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction to the episode and guest, Melissa Forbes [00:01:00] Melissa shares her initial journey into Yoga and sacred geometry [00:03:00] Discussion on numerology and the relationship mandala [00:06:00] Exploring the deeper meaning of Yantra and the connection with planets [00:20:00] Transition into Jyotish and how numerology ties into personal energies [00:36:00] Retreat discussions and how participants interact with the Yogic arts [00:50:00] Personal anecdotes about U.G. and Melissa's experiences in sacred spaces [00:59:00] Conclusion and final reflections on art, spirituality, and cosmic energy /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/33033462

The Lifesaving Power of Yoga with Raúl Petraglia 08/28/2024

The Lifesaving Power of Yoga with Raúl Petraglia 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. They discuss: Raul’s early life in Argentina and his rise in the luxury hotel industry, leading to a lifestyle of excess and eventual burnout. The pivotal moment when Raul realized his lifestyle was unsustainable, leading him to seek a different path through Yoga. How Raul’s journey into Yoga began as a necessity for physical rehabilitation and evolved into a profound personal practice. The unique challenges of teaching Yoga within a corporate environment and the impact it has on stressed executives. The importance of adapting Yoga practices to individual needs, as Raul did for his own mother. Favorite phrases: "I used to party till sunrise. Now I wake up to see the sunrise and do my practice." "There is a special feeling there, Mark. It’s like this is my goal, my dharma." "Yoga is participation in reality via the breath." Resources: Books: The Heart of Yoga by T.K.V. Desikachar Websites: Heart of Yoga Studio Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction: Raul’s background and entry into Yoga. [07:00] Corporate Burnout: Transition from a high-stress career to discovering Yoga. [16:00] Yoga’s Impact: How Yoga transformed Raul’s life. [26:00] Teaching Yoga: Bringing Yoga into corporate settings. [40:00] Personalizing Yoga: Adapting practices for individual needs. [52:00] Reflection: Raul’s ongoing journey and mission with Yoga. /episode/index/show/theheartofyoga/id/32772782

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