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Join Jivana Heyman and Deanna Michalopoulos for the final episode of the Accessible Yoga Podcast’s fourth season, celebrating Jivana's 30 years of teaching. In this reflective conversation, Deanna turns the tables and interviews Jivana about his journey, asking him to answer the paramount question posed to every guest throughout the season, “What is one teaching that's made an impact on your life and continues to today?” The episode offers an intimate look at what this yearlong series has meant, with heartfelt gratitude to the guests, team, sponsors, and listeners who made it possible. The conversation ends with appreciation for everyone who has been part of this journey and the promise of returning after a short break with a new season. Topics Include: Non-attachment and selfless service Yoga as preparation for death The transformative impact of yoga practice and teaching How service benefits both the giver and the receiver Yoga as a living tradition passed down through generations The future of yoga and the yoga community Hope for moving beyond capitalism toward collective kindness     Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join Jivana Heyman in conversation with his friend, Itzel Hayward, a former lawyer turned yoga teacher who brings together yoga, Buddhism, nonviolent communication, and social justice work. Itzel shares her journey of integrating these seemingly separate parts of her life into a unified practice centered on service, empathy, and compassion. The conversation delves into the philosophy of restorative and transformative justice as alternatives to punitive systems, and how these approaches align with yogic principles. Itzel explains nonviolent communication as both a technique and a lens for seeing everyone's actions as attempts to meet universal human needs. Together, Jivana and Itzel discuss Sutra 1.33 from the Yoga Sutras, known as the "locks and keys" teaching, and how it can be applied to relationships and social justice. At the end of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, continue to explore Sutra 1.33 (friendliness toward the happy, compassion for the unhappy, delight in the virtuous, and equanimity toward the non-virtuous). They discuss how these practices help us overcome obstacles to enlightenment while serving others in the world. The conversation concludes with reflections on non-attachement and how it is a central theme in the yoga teachings. Topics include: Integration of yoga and social justice Itzel’s contribution to Jivana’s book, Yoga Revolution Dual vs. nondual yoga teachings and their implications for social justice How becoming a parent taught Itzel about non-attachment and empathy Addressing guru abuse and creating safer spiritual spaces Balance between internal and external practices in yoga Check out: Itzel’s upcoming event, Engaged Nonduality: Awake Awareness, Wise Action — A Nondual Approach to Anti-Racism on Sunday, February 1, 2026, https://www.attunedliving.com/events/engaged-nonduality Tracee Stanlee’s book, The Luminous Self   Join a free Accessible Yoga webinar! Join the first session of The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga as a FREE course preview:Friday January 23rd, 202610:30am PT | 1:30pm ET (75 mins) -- Register Here Find Your Center Practice: Explore Balance in a Chair & On a MatMonday February 2nd, 2026 9am PT | 12pm ET | 5pm GMT -- Register Here Building Balance in Accessible Yoga WorkshopThursday February 19th, 2026 10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm GMT -- Register Here   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Itzel: Itzel Hayward is a yoga teacher, facilitator, and former attorney whose work sits at the intersection of contemplative practice, justice, and collective care. After more than a decade practicing law in the areas of consumer protection and economic justice, she felt called to explore ways of restoring communities to wholeness after harm. She turned to restorative and transformative justice, compassionate communication, mindfulness, and yoga as practices of repair and healing—both outwardly and inwardly. Through her organization, Attuned Living, and in her role as an Adjunct Professor at UC Law San Francisco, Itzel supports inclusive, collaborative processes rooted in presence, agency, and right relationship with ancestors, community, and the living world. attunedliving.com | bsky.app/profile/attunedliving.bsky.social | linkedin.com/in/itzelhayward | instagram.com/attunedliving   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes Oneika Mays, for an inspiring conversation about her forthcoming book, "Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation," which details her transformative work at Rikers Island prison in New York City. Oneika shares her journey, the challenges of teaching mindfulness in a prison setting, and her practice and understanding of metta (loving-kindness). Together, Jivana and Oneika discuss the importance of embodied wisdom, the role of storytelling in teaching, and the need for self-compassion and boundaries in service work. Oneika opens up about the vicarious trauma she experienced and how to recognize when to walk away from situations that no longer serve us. The episode also features an exploration of how ancient teachings like Patanjali's Sutras relate to contemporary practice. Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, discuss the paradox of embracing the body fully before learning to release attachment to it, offering practical insights for teachers navigating yoga’s complex philosophies. Topics Include: Processing trauma through writing The importance of supervision and support for service-oriented teachers Balancing service work with concerns about upholding oppressive systems Embodied wisdom and listening to your body's signals Cultivating a relationship with yourself through yoga and meditation Jivana’s upcoming free webinars and The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga Training, January 23 - February 24, 2026 Pre-Order Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditationby visiting Oneika's website https://www.oneikamays.com   Join a free Accessible Yoga webinar! Join the first session of The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga as a FREE course preview:Friday January 23rd, 202610:30am PT | 1:30pm ET (75 mins) -- Register Here Find Your Center Practice: Explore Balance in a Chair & On a MatMonday February 2nd, 2026 9am PT | 12pm ET | 5pm GMT -- Register Here Building Balance in Accessible Yoga WorkshopThursday February 19th, 2026 10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm GMT -- Register Here   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Oneika: Oneika Mays is a writer and facilitator who leads with joy, passion, and wisdom. As a Black, queer feminist, meditation teacher, and yoga instructor with nearly 15 years of teaching experience, she brings a poignant lens to building a more compassionate world. Oneika’s gift is taking big ideas and teachings and weaving them with stories. She’s rooted in what she’s studied but teaches from her own experience. Oneika’s your teacher, your auntie, your friend - here for the work of personal and collective liberation. Her memoir Sit With Me (HarperOne, March 2026) delivers a no-BS journey to mindfulness that embraces the mess. Grounded in Buddhist and yogic teachings, Oneika has taught at Rikers Island, Yoga International, and Embodied Philosophy. She believes joy is a revolution and getting closer to your heart is how we change the world. IG @oneikamays | Substack @oneikamays     Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join Jivana Heyman in conversation with his longtime teacher and mentor, Swami Ramananda, a monk (sannyasi) in the Integral Yoga tradition. Swami Ramananda, who has dedicated nearly 50 years to the practice and teaching of yoga, shares profound insights, offering practical wisdom on working with the mind and cultivating inner peace. He discusses the challenges and rewards of monastic life, and how living in service has shaped his understanding of yoga practice. Together they explore the importance of spiritual community, the transformative power of meditation, and essential yogic concepts including non-attachment, surrender, and compassion. In the second part of the episode, Jivana reflects on his 30-year yoga journey and how his practice has transformed his relationship with his mind. He shares that the concept of non-attachment has been a life-changing teaching, helping him understand that happiness comes from within, rather than external circumstances. Jivana emphasizes that yoga isn't about fixing ourselves but rather shifting our identification from ego to spirit, and he expresses gratitude for his teacher Swami Ramananda's influence on his practice and life. Topics include: Jivana’s history with and departure from Integral Yoga The role of meditation in everyday life Non-attachment as a path to freedom while still engaging with the world Sangha (spiritual community) and how it supports yoga practitioners The relationship between inner practice and outer service Bhakti Yoga, prayer, and surrender Developing a compassionate relationship with ourselves    We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Swami Ramananda: Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco and a highly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition, with over 45 years of dedicated practice. A certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of Yoga Alliance, Ramananda is known for his compassionate presence, deep wisdom, and ability to translate the timeless teachings of Yoga into accessible tools for everyday life. He offers practical methods for transforming life’s challenges into pathways toward inner freedom and realizing one’s full potential. A co-founder of the Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), Ramananda brings together individuals committed to social justice, environmental healing, and spiritual activism. His warmth, insight, and gentle humor have inspired and uplifted countless students on the path of Yoga. @swami_ramananda_108 | facebook.com/Swami Ramananda 108   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of mental health challenges and suicidal ideation. Please practice self-care when deciding whether to listen. In this episode, Jivana Heyman sits down with longtime friend and colleague ML Maitreyi to discuss her journey as a yoga teacher living openly with bipolar disorder. Maitreyi shares candidly about how yoga became a lifeline in managing her mental health and the importance of community and discusses the particular challenges of being open about mental health in a yoga world. Maitreyi also celebrates the release of her new chair yoga book, explaining why she wrote it as an "encourager and friend" rather than an instruction manual. Together, Jivana and Maitreyi discuss the significance of the teacher-student relationship and the importance of mutual respect and collaboration. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos reflect on the importance of addressing mental health in the yoga community and why chair yoga represents the distilled essence of yoga. Jivana also introduces his new course, "The Art of Teaching Chair Yoga," designed for yoga teachers. He explains the course's focus on teaching skills and the importance of creating a holistic and engaging class experience Topics include: Breaking the silence around mental health in the yoga community Challenging the pervasive myth that yoga should "fix" or cure mental health conditions Alternate nostril breathing (nadi shodhana) as a nervous system regulation tool Teaching as invitation rather than instruction The art of distilling complex yoga teachings into simple, accessible practices Check out ML Maitreyi's book, Chair Yoga for Strength and Balance: Accessible Exercises to Improve Mobility and Relieve Pain on sale now!    We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with ML Maitreyi: ML Maitreyi is the Founder, Director and Teacher Mentor for Accessible Yoga Sacramento/Tahoe which has offered a free weekly class for the past decade. ML brings with her 30 years as a practitioner and 20 years of experience sharing yoga in diverse community spaces. In December 2025, her first book, Chair Yoga for Strength & Balance: Accessible Exercises to Improve Mobility & Relieve Pain, was released in partnership with Harper Collins Focus and Cider Mill Press. Her Sanskrit name, Maitreyi, means "friendly". She has relocated from California and now permanently resides in San Felipe, Baja Mexico.   IG: @accessibleyogaml, @accessibleyogasacramento   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Take advantage of the Winter 2025 sale between now and December 15th, click here to save 20% on select annual plans.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join Jivana Heyman for an inspiring conversation with Heather Sheree Sanders, founder of the Sedona Yoga Festival, about karma yoga, community organizing, and the often overlooked work that happens behind the scenes in the yoga world. Their conversation explores what it means to be a humble leader in yoga, the transformative power of yoga, and why Western yoga may finally be reaching a pivotal moment where practitioners are ready to go deeper than asana-focused practice. Heather shares how merging her natural gifts with her yoga practice helped her find a sustainable balance between passion and service. She shares her vision for the Sedona Yoga Festival, emphasizing its role in providing a comprehensive yoga education and fostering community. Together, they reflect on the transformational power of in-person events and the need for human engagement in the yoga community. The episode also features a listener question from Eric Johnson about finding courage as a yoga teacher, sparking a profound discussion about how yoga builds prana (energy), why ethical practice is essential for directing that power, and how our authentic selves – including our struggles and vulnerabilities – are actually our greatest gifts to share with the world. Topics Include: Deconstructing narrow definitions of what yoga "looks like" Heart-led leadership through karma yoga ​ Recognizing the teacher-student relationship as sacred Community organizing as activism Approaching yoga holistically The power of yoga nidra Heather’s work with Sedona Yoga Festival, Yoga Unify, The Ramble Burlington Jivana’s book, Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage and Compassion Check out the next Sedona Yoga Festival, April 23-26, 2026   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Heather: Heather Sheree Sanders, Producer and Director of the annual Sedona Yoga Festival in Sedona, AZ, has been a practitioner of yoga since 1996. She believes passionately in yoga's ability to heal and to create peace, and focuses her efforts on bringing authentic yoga to people everywhere through a variety of platforms. Heather's commitment to building community and offering service in the field of yoga, arts, and consciousness is reflected in decades of event and conference creation and direction, as well as program development dedicated to mentorship, civic engagement, creativity, and collaboration. sedonayogafestival.com linkedin.com/in/heathersheree  instagram.com/heathershereesanders instagram.com/sedonayogafestival linkedin.com/company/sedona-yoga-festivalfacebook.com/sedonayogafestival facebook.com/heathershereesanders    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsor! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join Jivana Heyman for a heartfelt conversation with fellow yoga teacher, Francesca Cervero, host of The Mentor Sessions Podcast. Together, they explore teaching during difficult times, yoga and parenting, the art of one-on-one teaching, and the power of co-creating a yoga practice with students. Drawing on her training in Tibetan Buddhism, Francesca discusses how loving-kindness meditation helps her teach her D.C.-area students who are experiencing heightened stress amid federal job cuts and political turmoil. She shares invaluable wisdom from her 20 years of teaching, reflecting on a transformative moment with her first private client. In the second half, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, unpack the concept of vairagya (non-attachment) and why it's essential for both yoga teachers and activists right now. Jivana clarifies how non-attachment differs from apathy, explaining how freedom from selfish craving actually enables more skillful, compassionate action in the world. They also preview Jivana's upcoming eight-week course on building a personal pranayama and meditation practice through the eight limbs of yoga. Topics include: How political turmoil and social stress are showing up in yoga classes Finding balance between acknowledging reality and creating sanctuary Maintaining boundaries as a yoga teacher The importance of peer-support and mentorship for yoga teachers Why emotional neutrality enhances creativity and skill Jivana’s upcoming online training, Accessible Pranayama & Meditation: Exploring the Eight Limbs of Yoga* Check out Francesca's online course, The Science of the Private Lesson™ Online Training and her podcast, The Mentor Sessions Podcast.    We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Francesca: Francesca Cervero (she/her) has been a full time yoga and meditation teacher since 2005 and offers private and group yoga classes as well as yoga teacher mentoring andeducation. Francesca combines deep spiritual teachings with the latest in movement science and rehab research, all in a fun, breath-based movement practice. Francesca’s teaching also makes a direct link between yoga, meditation and political action. The practices of yoga strengthen our ability to sustain hard work, and the teachings of yoga ask that we take political action to make a better world. Her passion lies in the craft of teaching yoga as its own practice. In her work with both students and teachers, Francesca’s focus is teaching yoga and meditation in skillful, nurturing, and accessible ways that makes the practice both supportive and meaningful. www.francescacervero.com | IG: @FrancescaCervero    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsor! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host Jivana Heyman sits down with Finlay Wilson, known on social media as the Kilted Yogi. Together they explore what it means to make yoga truly accessible, the power of community-based service, and the importance of authentic representation in the yoga world. Finlay shares about his new book, Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body, and the work of his nonprofit organization in Scotland, which runs extensive free programming including prenatal and postnatal classes, wheelchair yoga, chair yoga for amputees and veterans, and community outreach in schools, hospitals, care homes, and prisons. Finlay also opens up about his personal journey from being a young person using mobility aids and experiencing an unwelcoming first yoga class, to finding transformation through Ana Forrest's pivotal question: "Why are you trying so hard?" Later in the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, reflect on Finlay's inspiring work and explore the relationship between self-discipline and self-compassion and how service through karma yoga actually fills us up rather than depletes us. They also discuss Jivana's upcoming course on Accessible Pranayama and Meditation, which uses the eight limbs as a framework for deeper practice. Topics include: Chair yoga as a joyful, social practice Moving from dissociation to embodiment in practice The importance of LGBTQ+ representation in yoga Creating spaces of belonging and acceptance The danger of weaponizing yoga teachings against ourselves Using asana to prepare for subtler practices The relationship between karma yoga (service) and bhakti yoga (devotion) Check out: Finlay's book, Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body, on sale now! The upcoming Accessible Pranayama & Meditation: Exploring the Eight Limbs of Yoga online course with Jivana Heyman    We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Finlay: Finlay Wilson is the CEO of Heart Space and an internationally recognized yoga teacher committed to making the practice accessible to everyone. His leadership is rooted in a deep belief in the social-economy model, where all profits from paid classes fund Heart Space’s wide-ranging free community and outreach programs. As a highly experienced instructor, Finlay's expertise lies in creating truly inclusive and adaptive practices for all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. He is the author of the new book, Adapting Chair Yoga for Every Body, demonstrating his specialized knowledge in modifying yoga to meet people wherever they are on their well-being journey. Through Heart Space, Finlay guides a mission-driven team dedicated to delivering trauma-informed and affirming services, with a strong focus on building resilience and community for vulnerable populations, including young people and the LGBTQ+ community. www.finlay-wilson.com | IG: @finlay0901 | FB: finlaytwilson | Tiktok: @scottishyogaboy    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.  OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  October 28th at 10:00am Pacific Time, Your Homepage 101: Craft a Website That Grows Your Business with Mado Hesselink    Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he talks with Rebecca Sebastian, host of the Working In Yoga Podcast and cherished friend. Together they explore the evolving landscape of yoga teaching, the importance of creativity in practice, and the irreplaceable value of human interaction. Rebecca shares her journey from accidental yoga teacher to studio owner and yoga therapist, and how she found a sense of belonging in the yoga community. She also discusses her upcoming project —a digital magazine for yoga professionals, aiming to foster a supportive community and share industry insights. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, respond to a listener's question about incorporating anandamaya kosha (bliss body) in a yoga class. They describe exploring the koshas, from the subtle bliss body to the physical body, as an inward journey that leads to a broader sense of connection. Topics include: Bringing back discussion and conversation as part of a yoga class Building connection instead of competition with peer support AI and its impact on the yoga industry Yoga teaching vs. yoga therapy How to stay creative when teaching Practical advice for new teachers The role of Accessible Yoga in serving diverse populations Check out: Rebecca's podcast: Working in Yoga PodcastRebecca's Facebook group: The Future of Yoga TherapyNischala Joy Devi - Pioneer in yoga therapy and the Dean Ornish ProgramJnani Chapman - Creator of YCat (Yoga for Cancer) programAccessible Yoga Ambassador & Mentorship Program with Rodrigo Souza  We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Rebecca: Rebecca is a 20+ year yoga teacher, 14 year yoga therapist, former studio owner, yoga non-profit co-founder, host of the podcast Working In Yoga and the editor and founder of Inside Yoga Magazine, a trade magazine for yoga professionals. www.workinginyoga.com | @rebeccasebastianyoga @workinginyoga    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  October 28th at 10:00am Pacific Time, Your Homepage 101: Craft a Website That Grows Your Business with Mado Hesselink     Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this special episode, host, Jivana Heyman, sits down with longtime friend and colleague, Anjali Rao, to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Yoga as Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens on Caste, Gender, and Sacred Resilience in Yoga History. Together, they discuss yoga's complex history and the need to bridge scholarship and practice. Drawing from both her Indian heritage and 30 years of living in the United States, Anjali shares her unique perspective on yoga history and how it has inspired her work. She discusses the structure of her book, which includes foundational knowledge about yoga, caste, and Hinduism, as well as historical case studies. Additionally, she reflects on her transformative first yoga class as a breast cancer survivor and her passion for teaching yoga philosophy. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, respond to a listener question about teaching yoga in conservative religious communities and discuss navigating fundamentalist concerns while maintaining the integrity of the yoga teachings. Another listener asked about balancing perfectionism with the practical application of yogic ethics in daily life, inspiring a conversation about ahimsa (non-violence). Topics include: The complexity of yoga history and viewing yoga as a collective creation from multiple traditions and perspectives How patriarchal structures have shaped traditional yoga teachings The impact of resistance movements on yoga The concept of essentialism The challenge of practicing ahimsa in everyday life The Trauma of Caste: A Dalit Feminist Meditation on Survivorship, Healing, and Abolition by Thenmozhi Soundararajan The Yoga Tradition: Its History, Literature, Philosophy and Practice- Georg Feuerstein   Pre Order Yoga as Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens on Caste, Gender, and Sacred Resilience in Yoga History by Anjali Rao today!  Register to attend the Special Book Launch Event, live online, on Friday, October 17th, 1-2pm Pacific / 4-5pm Eastern - hosted by Accessible Yoga! Join the Yoga As Embodied Resistance: Reading Circle! A four-session series to study and discuss the book in community. Live with Anjali on Zoom. October 24 and 31, November 7 and 11, 1-3pm Pacific / 4-6pm Eastern.   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Anjali: Anjali Rao brings an intersectional and decolonial feminist lens to the study of philosophy and yoga history integrating storytelling, art and poetry. Emphasizing an embodied approach, her work deconstructs the dynamics of power in yoga spaces. She is on the faculty of multiple yoga teacher training programs. She is the host of The Love of Yoga podcast bridging scholarship, activism and yoga.  She is currently pursuing a PhD in Philosophy and Religion in California Institute of Integral Studies. Her first book, Yoga As Embodied Resistance: A Feminist Lens in Caste, Gender And Sacred Resilience in Yoga History, North Atlantic Books is available for order. https://www.yoganjali.me/ | @yoganjali     Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  October 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Holiday Sales That Actually Convert: A Studio Owner's Guide to Seasonal Promotions with Niki Riga beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes his guest and longtime friend, David Lipsius, for a powerful conversation on ethics and the evolution of yoga institutions in the West. Together, they explore how personal spiritual practice sustains authentic leadership and share wisdom for yoga teachers about discovering their true calling and serving their communities with integrity. David shares his journey from being a yoga student to turnaround CEO at Kripalu, where he helped shift the organization from a harmful past into a thriving retreat center. He also reflects on his time as CEO of Yoga Alliance, where he led initiatives to revise the Yoga Alliance Standards (including adding content about accessibility for the first time), as well as create systems of accountability, a Code of Conduct, and a scope of practice for yoga teachers — all of which continue to shape the yoga world today. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, echo David’s advice to yoga teachers. They emphasize that instead of measuring success against industry standards, teachers can focus on serving their communities, creating their own opportunities, and trusting that their offerings are powerful and enough. They also respond to a listener’s comment on the previous episode, diving into the ongoing challenge of comparing integrative practices with Western medicine. Topics include: How repair can happen after harm in yoga communities Accessible Yoga’s part in restructuring the Yoga Alliance Standards and Code of Conduct Why a code of ethics is essential for safe and inclusive yoga spaces Lessons from activist and grassroots organizing that inform leadership Teachings from the Bhagavad Gita and The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Check out: Yoga Alliance's Code of Conduct   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with David: David Lipsius is a Yoga Teacher, Spiritual Wellness Coach, End-of-Life Doula, and student of Yoga, Ayurveda and Jyotish. He is the former President & CEO of Yoga Alliance and Yoga Alliance Foundation and former CEO of Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health. David is also an Emmy-nominated director from his years at NBCUniversal and served as an Executive Producer on the documentary film Agniyogana, a meditative inquiry into the lost art of classical Hatha Yoga. Today, David advises Yoga and other wellness professionals seeking to improve their strategic and operational excellence to enhance social impact. IG: @dlipsius  | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/david-lipsius-8920a267    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  Access the replay: Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, spends time with his good friend, Steffany Moonaz, research scientist, author, yoga teacher, yoga therapist, and founder of Yoga for Arthritis. Together they reflect on their parallel journeys and explore the intersection of yoga tradition, modern science, and accessibility. Steffany, who describes herself as “evidence-based and heart-centered,” brings her unique expertise in both Western research and yoga to discuss how these two worlds can inform and enrich one another. In addition to sharing her insight into yoga research, Steffany shares the personal reflections and teaching experiences that have impacted her work and spiritual journey. Later in the episode, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopolous reflect on Steffany’s work and accomplishments and the importance of people, like Steffany, who create a bridge between conventional medical science and yoga. They also discuss the benefit of having autonomy within a framework of practices, sensitivity and awareness with experience, and the benefits of having good yoga teachers/therapists. Topics include: The importance of flexibility in research protocols The concept of “yoga snacks” – short, simple practices can create meaningful change Integrating yoga philosophy into yoga teaching and practice Ethical principles in yoga and how they guide safer, more accessible teaching practices The importance of humility and curiosity when teaching diverse populations   Check out:  Steffany's Intro into Meditation Course: 8 Week Series Class To Learn How To Confidently Meditate with Dr. Steffany Moonaz.  Accessible Yoga’s Yoga for Older Adults Course: Building a Safe & Effective Practice   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Steffany: Dr. Steffany Moonaz is a yoga therapist and research scientist in San Diego. She serves as the Research Director and Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. She completed undergraduate work in biology and dance at Oberlin College, earned an MFA from University of Maryland and completed her PhD in public health at Johns Hopkins University, helping to develop and evaluate a yoga program for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. She then spent a decade at the Maryland University of Integrative Health co-creating a Master of Science in Yoga Therapy and a university-wide culture of evidence-based practice. Dr. Moonaz is focused on bringing yoga to people with arthritis in communities around the world and educating yoga professionals about this population through Yoga for Arthritis courses, The Yoga Rheum podcast, and related advocacy work.  Her first book, “Yoga Therapy for Arthritis: A Whole-Person Approach to Movement and Lifestyle” was published by Singing Dragon in 2018.  A subsequent memoir entitled, “Driving Home: Cancer, Concussion, Mom and Me” was released by FriesenPress in 2024. Her third book on yoga research is anticipated in 2026. https://arthritis.yoga | IG: @yoga4arthritis, @drmoonaz    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  September 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

“Am I observing or absorbing? Am I caring or carrying?” Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he talks with Zabie Yamasaki, accomplished author and founder of Transcending Sexual Trauma Through Yoga. Zabie shares about her mission to empower survivors of sexual violence, highlighting her work on college campuses and how trauma-informed yoga supports survivors in their healing journey. Together, Jivana and Zabie examine how body-based practices are complementary to talk therapy, as healing trauma requires integrating the body and mind. Zabie talks about her new book, "Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs," which offers practices to nurture the nervous system. They also discuss the importance of boundaries and protecting your energy as a yoga teacher. Later in the episode, Jivana and co-host Deanna Michalopoulos further reflect on boundaries, the yogic principle of brahmacharya (wise use of energy), and what it means to support students without taking on their burdens. Topics include: Creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors The eight-week curriculum Zabie developed for college campuses and trauma agencies Yoga research projects Creating inclusive spaces for survivors of all gender identities The benefits of predictability, ritual, and repetition Avoiding burnout in teaching and service work The opportunity for connection and healing in community Teaching as karma yoga Pre-Order Zabie's book, Protect Your Energy: A Gentle Guide to Nurture Your Nervous System, Cultivate Rest, and Honor Your Needs Check out the podcast episode with Jivana discussing yoga as a compliment to talk therapy here. Learn more and join the Trauma & Yoga Series: Exploring Power, Privilege & Healing, featuring Zabie Yamasaki and other guests, now available On-Demand: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/trauma-and-yoga   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Zabie: Zabie Yamasaki, M.Ed., RYT (she/her) is the Founder of Transcending Trauma through Yoga which is an organization that offers trauma-informed yoga to survivors, consultation for universities and trauma agencies, and training for healing professionals. Zabie has trained thousands of yoga instructors and mental health professionals and her trauma-informed yoga program and curriculum is now being implemented at over 30 college campuses and trauma agencies including the University of California (UC) system, Stanford, Yale, USC, University of Notre Dame, and Johns Hopkins University. She has received countless awards in victim services and leadership, including the Visionary in Victim Services award from one of the largest rape crisis centers in California and the Voice of Courage Award from Exhale to Inhale. She is the author of the book, flipchart, and affirmation deck, Trauma-Informed Yoga for Survivors of Sexual Assault: Practices for Healing and Teaching with Compassion zabieyamasaki.com | IG: @transcending_trauma_with_yoga   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.  **Join their upcoming free webinar!  September 9th at 11:00am Pacific Time, Teaching Without Burnout: How to Stay Inspired as a Yoga Teacher with Brea Johnson beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, host, Jivana Heyman, reconnects with his guest and longtime friend, Uma Alessandra Cocchi, who shares Accessible Yoga internationally, leading trainings in Italy, London, and beyond. Jivana and Uma reflect on their memories together since first meeting in 2013 and discuss how Accessible Yoga provides a gateway to personal transformation, community, and empowerment. Their conversation explores the connection between Accessible Yoga and yoga therapy, highlighting Uma’s scientific research on how yoga supports people with chronic digestive diseases. Uma also speaks about her upcoming in-person training in London with Rodrigo Souza, the significance of yoga philosophy in her teaching, and the life-changing impact of applying yogic principles to real-life experiences. In the second part of the episode segment, Jivana and cohost, Deanna Michalopoulos, discuss the benefits and challenges of inversions in yoga practice. They discuss the importance of personalized attention in yoga practice and the benefits of having a well-trained teacher or therapist. Topics Covered: Uma’s journey from fashion to yoga Accessible Yoga in Italy Accessible Yoga vs. yoga therapy Concepts of time and space as mental frameworks Yoga teaching as service Using yoga philosophy to guide asana classes Empowerment through accessibility Yoga practice and personal growth Finding a yoga teacher/therapist/studio you connect with   Train with Uma in London August 15-17! - Join the ACCESSIBLE YOGA TRAINING with Alessandra Uma Cocchi & Rodrigo Souza. Learn more and register at https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/london-2025 Join the FREE ACCESSIBLE YOGA SERIES: PRACTICE & WORKSHOP with Jivana Heyman. Register here: https://www.accessibleyogaschool.com/fall-2025-ay-workshops Practice (1 hour) A New Perspective: Accessible Yoga Inversions with Jivana Heyman - Friday August 8, 2025 Workshop (1 hour) Inverting Safely: How to Teach Accessible Inversions with Jivana Heyman - Tuesday September 16, 2025   We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Uma: Alessandra Uma Cocchi is an Accessible Yoga trainer for Europe since 2016. She is also an experienced Integral Yoga trainer, a certified yoga therapist involved in scientific research, and a mentor within the Integral Yoga Therapy faculty. Based in Italy, Uma founded 'YAP Integral Yoga Centre' in 2004, a non-profit association dedicated to social advancement through Yoga. In 2015 she launched 'YAP Specialized Yoga', an organization focused on promoting Accessible Yoga in therapeutic settings and contributing to the field through scientific research. www.accessibleyogaeurope.com | IG: @accessible_yoga_europe, @alessandra_uma_cocchi_yoga | FB: Yoga Accessibile Italia - Accessible Yoga, Italy, Alessandra Uma Cocchi Yoga   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **Access the replay! July 31st at 12:30pm Pacific Time, Design a Registered Series That Sells Itself with Michael Jay beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer

In this episode, Jivana Heyman speaks with yoga teacher and spiritual guide, Shanna Small, about accessibility, mantra, and yoga philosophy. Their conversation highlights the importance of integrating yogic teachings into everyday life and finding a personal yoga practice that is intuitive and joyful. Shanna opens up about the challenges of navigating abusive yoga lineages, the awakening that followed her physical injury, and how the murder of George Floyd propelled her into social justice work through the lens of yoga. Shanna shares her passion for mantra and spiritual practice, emphasizing how deeply these tools can transform our minds and lives. In the Question and Answer segment, Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopolous, share listener comments and questions, including a question about next steps for yoga teachers interested in offering accessible/adaptive yoga. Jivana shares resources for ongoing training and highlights the importance of learning from students and other yoga teachers. Topics Covered: Shanna’s history with and transition away from Ashtanga Yoga The Vedic tradition of chanting mantra Healing from abuse in yoga lineages Embodying yogic principles as a form of social justice Applying the yoga principles in everyday life The revolutionary power of yoga   Check Out: ​​ Shanna’s weekly group, The Householder’s Guide to Yoga Accessible Yoga Podcast episode with Melissa Shah The Luminous Self by Tracee Stanley Lee Majewski’s book, Spirituality and Yoga: Bridging the Sacred and the Human, out this November. Click here for pre order link. Upcoming Accessible Yoga Training Online, September 26 - November 7th, 2025 Upcoming Accessible Yoga Trainings In-Person: Santa Barbara, August 1-3, 2025 and London, August 15-17, 2025 Join the Accessible Yoga Community Facebook Group Join the Accessible Yoga Ambassador & Mentorship Program    We Want to Hear from You! What story, teaching, or practice inspires your yoga journey today? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Shanna: Shanna Small is a yoga educator and spiritual teacher with over two decades of experience in the field. Her work centers on accessibility, social justice, and the deep wisdom of yoga philosophy. Rooted in the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Vedic teachings, Shanna guides students beyond the surface into embodied transformation. She is the creator of Householder’s Guide to Yoga, a program that helps modern seekers integrate ancient wisdom into daily life. Through her teaching, Shanna invites us to remember that yoga is not just a practice on a mat, but a way of life.  shannasmallyoga.com | @shannasmallofficial   Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessible-yoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription. **Join their upcoming free webinar!  July 31st at 12:30pm Pacific Time, Design a Registered Series That Sells Itself with Michael Jay beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana.   Credit: Mikus Dharma (they/them), AY Podcast Sound Engineer