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The yoga teacher training industry has a pipeline problem. You pay two to ten thousand dollars, the school gets a new graduate, a new ambassador, and someone who will keep buying more certifications — optimized for volume and profit, not for producing teachers who are actually ready to hold the lineage. In this episode, I dive into why yoga went from the Guru-Shishya parampara — a years-long, fully immersive tradition of passing down knowledge — to a QR code certificate. What that costs the practice, the teachers, and the students who walk into classes taught by people who were never ready to be there.I also share what actually goes into vetting a program worth your time — the questions to ask yourself before you spend a dollar, what a serious curriculum looks like, and the red flags that should make you walk away. If you're considering a yoga teacher training, already in one, or teaching and questioning how you got there, this episode is for you. Yoga Off The Mat is a podcast by Divya Balakrishnan. Follow: @yogaoffthematpodcast | @divyabala Support the show: patreon.com/divyabala

According to Ayurveda, summer is pitta season. If you've been pushing harder, running hotter, and arriving at the end of August exhausted, this episode is for you :)In this episode, you'll learn what summer actually asks of us according to Ayurvedic philosophy: why a hot yoga class might be working against you right now, which pranayama technique cools the body, what seasonal foods can do for you, and when your digestive fire naturally decreases, and why uniquely in summer, a short afternoon rest is not laziness.This is part 2 of an ongoing seasonal series using yoga philosophy and Ayurveda to help you build routines that move with nature rather than against it! The yoga way. Yoga Off The Mat is a podcast by Divya Balakrishnan.Follow: @yogaoffthematpodcast | @divyabala Support the show: patreon.com/divyabala Work with me! www.divyabala.comDisclaimer: This video is for entertainment purposes only and Divya Balakrishnan does not assume any resulting liability.

Most early yoga teachers share the same quiet belief: that going full time is the goal. That teaching as your sole livelihood is what makes the practice legitimate. This episode is a direct response to that and to the cultural script that keeps selling it. This episode covers karma yoga (the yoga of action in ordinary life), aparigraha (non-grasping), and svadhyaya (self-study), and makes the case that the unglamorous moments of a full working life are not obstacles to the practice. They are the practice. For early teachers feeling the pressure to go full time. For practitioners who think their regular life disqualifies them. For anyone who's been sold the idea that yoga requires a lifestyle overhaul to count. Yoga Off The Mat is a podcast by Divya Balakrishnan. Follow: @yogaoffthematpodcast | @divyabalaSupport the show: patreon.com/divyabala Work with me: www.divyabala.com

What if your morning skincare routine, your clean apartment, the flowers on your coffee table — what if all of that was actually yoga? Not metaphorically. Philosophically. In this episode, Divya makes the case that beauty and ritual are not in tension with serious yoga practice but rather, they're an expression of it. Drawing on saucha (purity and creating nourishing conditions), santosha (contentment as embodied delight), and the Ayurvedic practice of abhyanga (warm oil self-massage), this episode reframes self-care as something the philosophy has always pointed toward. This one is for the practitioners who love beautiful spaces and sensory rituals but quietly wondered if that made them less serious. It doesn't. It might make you more present than most. Yoga Off The Mat is a podcast by Divya Balakrishnan.Follow: @yogaoffthematpodcast | @divyabalaSupport the show: patreon.com/divyabala

My first episode of 2025 was a message to help you all, especially in the states, prepare for major societal transition using yoga as your toolkit. Unfortunately, a year later the horrors have not let up but only intensified. Humanity has always undergone cycles of destruction and rebirth, suffering and renewal. That doesn't mean we can look away from what's happening not just in America but around the world. How can we moderate our energy output in support of our communities and loved ones while also sustaining enough energy to care for ourselves? Yoga again has a number of solutions for how we methodically approach societal breakage through a lens of compassion, discipline, and duty. I hope this short podcast episode empowers you, equips you and inspires you into aligned action that upholds humanity. Sending love and power. Fundraiser for Keith Porter's daughter: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-franceolas-granddaughters-future Resources to support Minnesotans: www.standwithminnesota.com Script to ask your senators to not fund violence against immigrants: https://indivisible.org/actions/ice-out-senate/ Podcast & Host LinksWebsite:www.divyabala.comInstagram:Host: @divyabalaPodcast: @yogaoffthematpodcastYoutube:Youtube.com/divyabalaPatreon:Patreon.com/divyabala

What a whirlwind 2025 has been. Whether you're reflecting on the past year or planning for the year ahead, it's always worth thinking about how much you have grown. 2025 taught me many things but I wouldn't have gotten through it without my yoga practice. Here are a few lessons I learned - maybe they'll resonate with you.Stay til the end for 3 reflection prompts :) Podcast & Host LinksWebsite:www.divyabala.comInstagram:Host: @divyabalaPodcast: @yogaoffthematpodcastYoutube:Youtube.com/divyabalaPatreon:Patreon.com/divyabala

Allow me to *re*introduce myself! A lot of you have been curious to get to know my journey with yoga, what my practice looks like, my thoughts on the industry, the business of yoga, how to decolonize yoga in the wild...and I got you. This is a short and sweet episode to help you get to know me a bit better, and there are some great tips sprinkled in as well. Timestamps: 01:03 My journey with yoga 02:56 My current yoga practice 06:12 My thoughts on modern yoga 08:06 How to start a yoga practice 09:20 Considerations when practicing asana 12:19 Posture tutorial 12:50 Decolonizing yoga 14:52 Yoga retreats 16:02 Books on yoga 16:44 Becoming a yoga teacher 19:10 Starting a yoga business Podcast & Host Links www.divyabala.com Youtube.com/divyabala Patreon.com/divyabala Instagram: @divyabala @yogaoffthematpodcast

Ashton Hall and Mel Robbins may be trending right now for their...intense...morning routines. But your morning doesn't have to look like that for you to start your day on the best foot. This episode is the first in a seasonal series about how to use the principles of yoga philosophy and its sister science Ayurveda to customize your morning routine - both for your unique needs and for the season. Podcast & Host Links Website: www.divyabala.com Instagram: @divyabala @yogaoffthematpodcast Youtube.com/divyabala Patreon.com/divyabala

Whether or not we like it -- change is in the air. Socially, politically, spiritually. You may not realize it but yoga has prepared you with the mental resilience to face it head on. Here's how. In this episode, I share 5 simple yogic tactics to fortify yourself ahead of major change. Podcast & Host Links Website: www.divyabala.com Instagram: Host: @divyabala Podcast: @yogaoffthematpodcast Youtube: Youtube.com/divyabala Patreon: Patreon.com/divyabala

Some people think it's unethical. Some people think it's essential. Either way, it's a massive industry that's only gaining more and more traction: The Yoga Teacher Training. In this episode, I share the origins of how yoga was passed down and taught, and how that has evolved with the birth of the yoga industry. You'll also get a framework of inquiry to understand your intentions and whether YTT is right for you, PLUS a checklist to help you choose the right training program. Podcast & Host Links Website: www.divyabala.com Instagram: Host: @divyabala Podcast: @yogaoffthematpodcast Youtube: Youtube.com/divyabala

One of the questions I get asked most frequently is "How do I build a yoga practice from scratch?" In this episode, I offer a 5-step framework to help you build a yoga practice of your own - and you might be surprised at how simple it is! You'll incorporate elements from the 8-limbed path and integrate your practice into your life, both on and off the mat. Yoga doesn't have to be hard or scary - it just needs dedication, compassion and a little discipline. Podcast & Host Linkswww.divyabala.comHost: @divyabalaPodcast: @yogaoffthematpodcastYoutube.com/divyabala

Learn about an essential element of yoga, Prana - your vital life energy. We unpack what it is, how to sense it, practices that enhance or deplete it, and how to optimize it to improve your quality of life. The episode ends with a short pranayama practice so you can experience the sensation firsthand. In this episode we discuss: What is that indescribable feeling yoga gives us? Where does it come from? What is energy, as it pertains to yoga? Yoga and it’s effects on our energy How our body and breath are conduits of this energy What is subtle energy? What are bandhas? How do they impact our energy? How does asana affect Prana? How do you apply these practrices to in a holistically engage your Prana? Resources and references Books Integral Yoga by Sri Aurobindo Light on Yoga by BKS Iyegar Mind Your Breathing by Sundar Balasubramanian Articles: ‘Understanding Prana’ by David Frawley https://yogainternational.com/article/view/understanding-prana/ Perception of Subtle Energy “Prana”, and Its Effects During Biofield Practices: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10498708/ 'Secrets of the five pranas' by Vamadeva Shastri https://www.vedanet.com/the-secrets-of-the-five-pranas/ Podcast & Host Links Website: (changing soon!) www.hidivya.com Instagram: Host: @divyabala Podcast: @yogaoffthematpodcast Youtube: Youtube.com/divyabala

In this episode we discuss: The context of oppression and systemic violence The yogic definition of ahimsa versus himsa Modern interpretations of ahimsa Active versus non-active ahimsa Why Performative Activism doesnt work Ceasefire as ahimsa Reference Links A history of Al-Nakba https://remix.aljazeera.com/aje/PalestineRemix/al-nakba.html#/17 The Balfour Declaration https://www.britannica.com/event/Balfour-Declaration How to get started in activism for Palestine: https://www.pcrf.net/information-you-should-know/how-to-help-palestine.html#:~:text=This can include writing to,to bring about positive change. Books: Applied Ethics Primer by Letitia Meynell and Clarisse Paron Yoga - Anticolonial Philosophy by Dr Shyam Ranganathan The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by Sri Swami Satchidananda Podcasts: The Genocide of Palestinians: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jPGgYybr0lrmIHcpQlj93?si=726d2ccd8a3343f5 Eelam Tamil history: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6dvVVja3BaGopbh59GTIwV?si=EOqa273hSXOIMC8MRMCW7g The war in Sudan: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xbzCipOMQPeKQoD3FuyFh?si=S8FxtD8ERqaWN9rV4JbdFA The civil war in DR Congo: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7svK7nxRct2LIx35onbEml?si=ttIXo8O-RKGf2M0w7QOKcg Credible social media sources to follow: @red_maat @sbeih.jpg @wizard_bisan1 @varathas @letstalkpalestine Podcast & Host Links www.hidivya.com Instagram: Host: @divyabala Podcast: @yogaoffthematpodcast Youtube.com/divyabala

In the second episode of this podcast, I give you an overview of the vast landscape of Yoga and go deeper into just one of those forms of yoga that has been taken the west by storm - the 8 limbed path of Ashtanga yoga. Topics discussed: - The four major categories of yoga - The 8 limbed path of ashtanga yoga - 3 Journal prompts to help you begin your exploration of self Journal Prompts: 1. What was my first introduction to Yoga, and how did it shape my understanding of this practice? 2. How have I recently practiced one of the five Yamas (External ethics) in my day to day life? 3. What hobbies or activities make me feel like I'm in a state of Dhyana (meditation)? Yoga Off The Mat (YOTM) is available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify & Apple podcasts. If you enjoyed the episode and look forward to more, consider supporting my work on Patreon (@divyabala). Be sure to follow the podcast on all platforms below and leave me a rating! :) Resources: Instagram: @yogaoffthematpodcast & @divyabala Youtube.com/divyabala Patreon.com/divyabala Website: www.hidivya.com

Welcome to Yoga Off The Mat, the podcast! I’m your host, Divya - an E-RYT 200 yoga teacher, content creator, activist, writer and speaker (among other things). Whether you’re brand new to yoga and seeking to build a foundation, or maybe you’re a seasoned practitioner who wants to deepen your knowledge, here you’ll learn how to apply yoga on and off the mat as a tool for personal growth and social change. In this pilot episode, I’ll share my personal journey with yoga spanning 20 years and the moments of revelation that led me to this moment. I’ll also give you an idea of what you can expect from future episodes. This episode covers: - What you can expect from Yoga Off The Mat Podcast - My personal journey with yoga and what led to this project - What you can expect from future podcast episodes Yoga Off The Mat (YOTM) is available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify & Apple podcasts. If you enjoyed the episode and look forward to more, be sure to follow the podcast on all platforms below and leave me a rating! Resources: Instagram: @yogaoffthematpodcast & @divyabala Youtube.com/divyabala Patreon.com/divyabala Website: www.hidivya.com