Integral Yoga Podcast

Join Nina Rao, acclaimed kirtan artist and devotee in the lineage of Neem Karoli Baba, in this heartfelt conversation with host Avi Gordon at Yogaville. Nina shares her journey from cultural rituals in India to discovering the depth of sadhana (spiritual practice) in New York through yoga, Krishna Das, and her guru Sri Siddhi Ma. Explore how consistent practice—through chanting, prayer, and mindfulness—fosters unconditional love, e...

Join Kelly Smith, a passionate meditation teacher, as she shares her unique approach to leading guided meditations and weaving mindfulness into yoga classes. In this insightful podcast, Kelly discusses how she incorporates diverse meditation techniques to support students with ADHD, dyslexia, or busy minds, helping them find calm and connect with their authentic selves. Learn practical tips for adding mini-meditations to yoga seque...

In this enlightening podcast, Paul Olko, a practitioner of Taoism and Chinese medicine, shares his passion with Avi for introspective personal healing. He explores health through the lens of the five elements—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial—emphasizing balance and living in harmony with nature. Paul discusses the importance of cultivating oneself like a garden, using practices like Taoist meditation and the I ...

In this profound podcast episode, Krishna Das, the renowned kirtan singer, sits down with Integral Yoga director Avi Gordon to share insights on navigating the subjective nature of reality, the power of spiritual practice, and the art of letting go of ego. From exploring the influence of his Guru to embracing life’s challenges with presence, Krishna Das offers wisdom on cultivating inner peace and compassion. He reflects on the int...

Join Swami Ramananda, a renowned Integral Yoga teacher, as he shares profound insights on finding peace in chaotic times through spiritual practice. From his Kentucky roots to his transformative journey with Swami Satchidananda, discover how yoga, meditation, and karma yoga cultivate resilience amid global challenges like injustice and political unrest.

🕉️ Key Wisdom from Swami Ramananda:

“A regular habitual spiritual practi...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Andrew Singer, owner of Flying Tree Yoga in Medellín, Colombia, and a yoga teacher trainer specializing in alignment-based yoga flow. Andrew shares his transformative journey from teaching languages worldwide to spreading yoga’s teachings across Latin America since 2014. He dives into how yoga, rooted in tantric philosophy and Anusara yoga, fosters joy, community, and a connection to the ...

In this podcast episode, Karen Fabian, a seasoned yoga teacher with over 22 years of experience, discusses imposter syndrome and its impact on yoga instructors. She describes imposter syndrome as a feeling of inadequacy or self-doubt, where teachers feel they are "faking it" or not qualified enough, despite their training and expertise. This often stems from the pressure of public speaking, the deep responsibility of guiding studen...

In this episode, Erin shares her motivation for her diverse endeavors, emphasizing balance as both her personal practice and a guiding principle for supporting others. She discusses her journey from a driven, goal-oriented mindset as a collegiate athlete to embracing a practice of presence and acceptance, where balance is a dynamic state of flow rather than a fixed goal. 

Erin highlights practical strategies for cultivating...

In this heartfelt episode Jeremy shares how his deep dive into Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and spiritual practice transformed his life, offering insights into the power of letting go, embracing grace, and finding bliss through consistent practice. From navigating the awkward stages of yoga to exploring profound concepts like rigorous honesty, the role of pain as a motivator, and even touching on his fascination with UAPs (unidentified ae...

In this podcast, Hannah Levin discusses her mission to alleviate unnecessary suffering through Ayurveda and yoga, drawing from her personal health crisis with high-grade cervical dysplasia. She explains how Western medicine offered surgery as the only option, but discovering Ayurveda helped her heal and inspired her to guide others toward conscious, health-supportive choices.

Levin emphasizes that much of our suffering comes fr...

This conversation explores the importance of simplicity and authenticity in spiritual practice, emphasizing the value of honoring diverse paths while staying true to one’s own. It touches on balancing technology with awareness, fostering meaningful dialogue across traditions, and speaking truth with love. The discussion highlights how creativity can deepen spiritual growth and the role of discernment in navigating new ideas and soc...

In this episode, Kansas Carradine explores the balance between personal spiritual practices—like yoga, meditation, and retreats—and the call to engage with the world’s needs. She shares insights on cultivating inner stillness, self-compassion, and mindful presence as essential ways to recharge and show up more fully in service to others. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, traveler, and equestrian, Kansas emphasizes how small...

In this episode, Avi speaks with Cathy Woods, a lifelong yogini, equestrian, and creator of "Body, Mind, Equine," a program that blends yoga and horsemanship. Cathy shares how yoga principles—breath, body awareness, and mindfulness—enhance the rider’s connection with their horse, improving communication and overall experience in the saddle. She discusses the deeper parallels between yoga and riding, emphasizing presence, energy awa...

In this heartfelt and reflective conversation, Swami Asokananda shares his incredible life journey—from his Brooklyn upbringing in a non-religious Jewish family to his path of spiritual awakening and leadership. He recounts transformative moments, including early struggles with identity, his experiences with yoga and meditation, and the pivotal influences of mentors and life-changing practices. Swami Asokananda opens up about vulne...

Freddy Jackson, founder of the Love No Ego Foundation, shares his mission to help youth aged 10-18 develop self-awareness and emotional resilience by overcoming societal pressures and the influence of ego. Freddy explores the distinction between thinking less of oneself and thinking of oneself less, advocating for a balance between self-awareness and selflessness. Freddy also discusses the importance of embracing fear and surrende...

In this episode, Tara Eschenroeder delves into the concept of "rewilding" as a return to our natural, instinctual state of being. She defines rewilding as reconnecting with the innate wisdom within us, much like how trees grow or fireflies communicate effortlessly. Tara shares her practices for rediscovering this inner compass, including journaling, movement, discussion, and time in nature, all aimed at peeling back layers of socie...

In this episode Līlā Śakti Mayī, and Avi dive into the profound connection between humility, self-care, and the power of Sanskrit. The discussion focuses on how language can embody intention and emotion, highlighting that every language carries sacredness. They emphasize that true humility is about recognizing one's inherent value without harsh self-criticism or rigid expectations. This self-awareness cultivates compassion, allowin...

In this insightful episode, Swami Karunananda reflects on her extraordinary life journey, beginning with her childhood in Brooklyn where she demonstrated remarkable early abilities, such as speaking at six months old and reading at three. She shares a pivotal moment from her sixth grade when she asked herself what she wanted to do with her life, deciding then to help others relieve their suffering. Her path led her from a focus on ...

In this podcast episode, Carroll Ann Friedmann shares the story behind her book "Practicing the Yoga Sutras," which stemmed from a decade-long journey of chanting and studying the sutras. Friedmann recounts her initial inspiration in India, where she was taught the art of chanting. This practice continued back home in Charlottesville, where she formed a dedicated chanting group with her students. Through regular discussio...