What happens when the center of your practice—the teacher, the lineage, the external validation—suddenly disappears? In this deeply engaging conversation, hosts Harmony Slater and Russell Case sit down with Meghan Marshall, longtime Ashtanga teacher and founder of Mysore Yoga Philadelphia, to explore the evolving landscape of practice in a post-guru era.
Meghan, affectionately known in South Philly as the “benevolent Ashtanga overlord,” shares how a stroke mid-practice in 2019 altered her perspective on yoga and opened the door to Pilates. Together, they discuss the parallels between Pilates and Ashtanga, the cultural dynamics of lineage, and the emotional upheaval many practitioners feel as the Ashtanga community shifts.
This episode weaves humor, honesty, and deep inquiry into what it means to keep practicing—not out of obligation, but as a living, adaptive, personal commitment.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why so many practitioners are reevaluating their relationship to Ashtanga.
- How Pilates can illuminate blind spots in yoga practice.
- The difference between “quiet quitting” and making a public exit.
- How tradition evolves when the guru is gone.
- What it means to root practice in self-inquiry rather than external approval.
Guest Bio: Meghan Marshall
Meghan Marshall has been teaching Ashtanga yoga for over 15 years. A Canadian by birth, she now calls Philadelphia home, where she runs Mysore Yoga Philadelphia, a thriving Mysore-style studio. Known for her humor, honesty, and supportive teaching style, Meghan blends the rigor of Ashtanga with insights from her Pilates training, helping students connect to their bodies with clarity and compassion.
Links & Resources:
- https://mysoreyogaphiladelphia.com/https://mysoreyogaphiladelphia.com/
- https://www.instagram.com/mysoreyogaphilly/
- Earlier episode with Meghan: A Stroke of Insight (July 16, 2023): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/finding-harmony-podcast/id1508928138?i=1000621286211
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