Today my guest is Astrid Pickup, a Yoga Teacher and President of the International Yoga Teachers Association. In this episode we explore the ancient practice of yoga and its place within contemporary western culture. Astrid reflects on her early enthusiasm for physical activities and outdoor sports such as hockey, cross-country skiing, canyoning and rock climbing, which lead to the physical techniques and practice of yoga. From this perspective, Astrid brings a practical and down-to-earth approach to yoga’s mental, emotional and energetic aspects. We explore Astrid’s experiences in training to be a yoga teacher, including knowledge and practice of the five integrated energy bodies: physical, energetic (or breath), mental, intuitive, and the ultimate, often elusive goal of bliss (that is, realisation: to become one with everything around us). During our conversation, Astrid briefly guides us through a simple technique: Humming Bee breathing, beneficial in calming the nervous system and cutting out mental chatter. Links: http://gaiayoga.com.au/ https://iyta.com.au/