Live Like You Love Yourself

Maria and Chara sit down with yoga teacher and podcaster J. Brown to talk about his work, motivations and what he’s managed to learn in his time on the planet, thus far. We talk about how yoga informs J’s politics and parenting, why he started a podcast, and the not so silent influence that provides the balance he needs to engage in the business of yoga.

Social justice is ultimately everyone’s responsibility. Yoga philosophy and practice can be a foundation for seeing and advocating for a more just world. Chara and Maria talk with Michelle C. Johnson, a yoga teacher, clinical social worker and dismantling racism educator about the unique challenges for people of color in the current global uprising related to the Black Lives Matter movement. We unpack terms like “spiritual bypassing” and “cultural appropriation” and talk about the personal and collective tools we’ll need to keep this vital conversation moving in the direction of change.

Maria and Chara talk about the Ayurvedic approach to healthy eating along with Chara's book on the subject.

We explore:

• Why Chara wrote her book after initially resisting the pull to focus her Ayurvedic teaching around food
• How organising the book in seasons allowed Chara to address both the Ayurvedic approach to food and the application of ayurvedic Principles to people’s daily life
• How the sister sciences of ayurveda and yoga differ in their intentions and approaches to eating.

We’ve been getting questions from students and clients about the coronavirus. What’s the best thing to do? What should be avoided or embraced? So we decided to sit down and talk about what we know, what we don’t know, and what we’re doing to navigate the choppy water of this pandemic as it ripples through our lives and our communities.

Chara and Maria talk about their “tools” for living a good life! Influenced by yoga, ayurveda and many bright and beautiful teachers, the two discuss the values and emotional qualities that have helped them navigte the bumps in the road to becoming their best selves.

SHOW NOTES:

Principles and practices that help Chara and Maria navigate life.

Yamas and Niyamas: Donna Farhi writes beautifully about the first two limbs of yoga in her book Yoga Mind Body Spirit :

https://www.donnafarhi.co.nz/product/yoga-mind-body-spirita-return-to-wholeness-amazon/

They can be accessed here: https://healthy.net/2005/07/13/the-ten-living-principles-yamas-and-niyamas/

Honesty, Truth, Satya, the second yama: A nice read on Yoga International here:

https://yogainternational.com/article/view/satya-a-practice-of-truthfulness

Judith Lasater, “the truth is such a relief”: read how she talks about satya here: https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/to-tell-the-truth

Alice Walker on truth: https://www.brainpickings.org/2015/10/06/alice-walker-lying-eleanor-wachtel-interview/

Adrienne Rich on truth: https://www.brainpickings.org/2014/11/13/adrienne-rich-women-honor-lying/

Sam Harris on lying: https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/08/03/sam-harris-lying/

Simplicity/Elimination: when you are unwell, not asking what do I need, instead asking what I can I let go of. Some quotes to inspire simplicity: https://www.doyouyoga.com/yoga-formula-15-quotes-inspire-simplicity/

Jack Kornfield on letting go: “To let go does not mean to get rid of. To let go means to let be. When we let be with compassion, things come and go on their own.” – Jack Kornfield

Nice little piece on letting go: https://www.madeirabeachyoga.com/2018/12/04/what-are-you-carrying/

Courage: to step out of security and into possibility - to be guided by your inner compass

Brene Brown on courage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVynHlI1fac

Brene Brown on vulnerability: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability?language=en

The courage to teach yoga: https://yogainternational.com/article/view/5-things-ive-learned-as-a-new-yoga-teacher-so-far

Compassion:

Brene Brown asks, “Do you think that people are doing the best they can?

Great conversation with Russel Brand on his podcast, Under the Skin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5TkA7d7eTw

“I know my life is better when I work from the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can.” – Brené Brown, Dare to Lead

Stephen Porges on the connection between the vagus nerve and compassion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kntgKn54jX4

“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”Brad Meltzer

Obstacles to Connection: Avidya: forgetting that we are all manifestations of the same essential life force.

Comprehensive definition of avidya: http://www.adishakti.org/_/avidya.htm

Karma: fast karma helps...