Integral Yoga Podcast

Laksmi Scalise talks with Avi Gordon about "mind science", the joy of not knowing, getting to "that magic spot" of total acceptance, gurus and more.

Reverend Laksmi Scalise, IYM, RYT 500, is an Integral Yoga minister and teaches Beginners,Intermediate and Advanced Hatha Yoga. In 1977 she began studying Yoga under Swami Bua Maharaj, whose students she taught whenever he traveled. She studies with Grand Gong Master Do...

Chandra discusses her introduction to Integral Yoga, balancing priorities in life, letting go of "being right" and recognizing what's important, and introducing others to Yoga.

Chandra/Jo Sgammato is a certified Integral Yoga instructor who served for twenty years at the Integral Yoga Institute of New York in many capacities, mostly as general manager. She founded the Yoga At School program to bring the benefits of Yoga ...

Avi and vegan author Meenakshi Angel Honig discuss Swami Satchidananda, the idea of ahimsa (non-violence) as applied to our diet, talking to people about veganism, the connection between ahimsa and happiness, and her new book "The Solution: 10 Compelling Reasons to Choose a Plant-based Diet & Lifestyle - The Why & The How".

Meenakshi Angel Honig is dedicated to peace & lovingkindness. She has studied with the wor...

Avi and Rabbi Rami discuss Shabbos, play, freedom of belief, tribalism, silence, gratitude practice, changing the world without antagonism and the divine feminine.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro is an award–winning author of over thirty-six books on religion and spirituality. He received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PH.D. in religion from Union Graduate School. A rabbinic chaplain ...

Avi Gordon and Victoria Moran discuss veganism, yoga, ahimsa and being a good example.

Featured twice on Oprah and listed by VegNews magazine among the Top 10 Living Vegetarian Authors, Victoria Moran has written thirteen books including Creating a Charmed Life and Main Street Vegan. Her Integral Yoga training started in the early 1970s, and she is an RYT-200. Victoria is founder of Main Street Vegan Academy, training vegan lifestyl...

Avi Gordon in conversation with Rev. Kumari de Sachy.

Rev. Kumari has been a devotee of Sri Swami Satchidananda since 1981 and has lived and served in many capacities at Satchidananda Ashram–Yogaville since 1986, including as editor of the Integral Yoga Magazine, Publications Manager, LYT and Ashram Yogi Manager, Resident Services Director, Vidyalayam (Yogaville school) teacher, Yoga teacher. She has taught IY in prison and in colle...

Avi Gordon in conversation with James Knight, the creator of Gentle Somatic Yoga.

James is one of the early pioneers to bridge yoga and Somatics. Gentle Somatic Yoga® (GSY) is the culmination of his life’s work as an experienced yoga teacher, certified Hanna Somatic Educator, body-oriented psychotherapist, movement educator, and author. James trains and certifies yoga teachers, yoga therapists, bodyworkers and other healthcare profe...

How many of us can say that we grew up in a yogic household, going to a yogic school, living at an ashram, surrounded by the grace of the Guru? Radha Metro-Midkiff can. Radha shares about her childhood, her current service, and her special relationship with Swami Satchidananda.

Radha Metro-Midkiff, Executive Director for the Integral Yoga Institute New York, brings a lifetime worth of experience in yoga and business to the organizat...

This conversation between Kelley and Avi addresses a multitude of social issues and how they relate to the world of yoga. Is there a place for shame and guilt within the human experience? Why does it seem so challenging sometimes for people to take the right action? Should every human have their basic needs met, and what are those basic needs? What part does our education system play in all of this? These questions answered and muc...

Witness to World War II in Austria, Benedictine monk for the last 66 years, friend to Swami Satchidananda, and internationally-recognized practitioner of gratitude Brother David Steindl-Rast sits down to talk with Avi Gordon of the Integral Yoga Teachers Association. The discussion covers prayer and meditation, Swami Satchidananda, gratitude, fear and trust, the remembrance of death, joy, and other topics.

Network for Grateful Livi...

What would you say if you could whisper into the ear of every person on the planet? Uma and Avi explore the answer to this question as well as many others. Is it beneficial to zoom out and recognize that we have less control over our lives than we really think? What is the cultural impression of yoga for Italians? Can I spend more time in the space of emotions and less time in the space of thoughts?

Short Bio:

Born in Teramo, Central...

Mukunda and Avi unfold the importance of acceptance on the path to better health, and the obstacles that often get in the way. Mukunda shares about his story of transformation, the importance of connecting to your passions, and his love for the city of San Francisco. A rich and heart opening conversation.

Mukunda is certified in Integral Yoga's Hatha, Raja, Stress management and soon to complete the Meditation Teacher Training P...

Michael begins by telling his story of a near death experience changing the trajectory of his life. Is an intense crisis necessary for an awakening, or is it possible to redirect your life by listening to your intuition and learning from the experiences of others? Avi and Michael discuss this as many other topics including letting go of what we don’t control, cultivating a love for silence, how to be more gentle with ourselves, and...

Haris Lender is the creator of Kidding Around Yoga. A 500 hour Integral Yoga®. teacher certified in: Raja Yoga, Children’s Yoga, Stress Management and Prenatal Yoga.

For 11 years at Yogaville and 8 years with KAY, Haris was the director of Yoga sleepover camps. Haris loves to lead Kirtans all over the world, Haris has created her own DVD, “Yoga with Haris” and all the KAY music which continue to bring the joy of yoga to children all...

Mandee and Avi discuss the difference between "natural" and "normal." The conversation flows naturally from discussion about honesty, freedom, and relaxation, to the importance of not taking ourselves to seriously. What's the difference between knowing something in the mind and feeling it in my being? What is the relationship I want to have with my mind? These questions answered and so much more.

Bio:

Mandee Label...

Eat well. Move more. Stress less. Love more.

I grew up hearing about Dean Ornish, and heard more about him when I came to Satchidananda Ashram because he was a successful healthcare leader who’d been a student of Swami Satchidananda. He's said that “all of [his] work is based on what [he] learned from [Swami Satchidananda]” - work that seeks to show it's possible to reverse illnesses like heart disease with simple tools like...

Ramakrishna and Avi dive into a conversation about the nature of God, of answering difficult questions at a young age. Ramakrishna shares about his experience meeting Swami Satchidananda and being an early pioneer of Integral Yoga. A builder, inventor, yoga teacher, mountaineer, dancer, poet and grandfather. There is a wealth of life experience and value to unpack.

Ramakrishna began to study yoga in 1968, was a founding member of th...

Prema Mayi and Avi discuss the emotional connection and release that music allows for, the effects of believing in reincarnation on our quality of life, how we are able to connect to the divine nature of life, and much more. Prema Mayi shares some music to begin and close out the episode.

Prema Mayi has been practicing bhakti yoga for 44 years. Her upbringing was in ashrams where she learned the vedic arts of music, dance and drama...

Trace Sahaja and Avi discuss the evolution of Yoga, the evolution of the personal self. How does “showing up” and “letting it be” lead to growth? How can I accept the dis-ease and pain in my life in order to find freedom and liberation on the other side? How can I view myself and my life through the lens of curiosity?

Trace Sahaja Bonner is the Founder and Director of Holy Cow Yoga Center. She began her practice more than 27 years ...