On this episode, we’re joined by Vytas, a seasoned yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in Los Angeles and online.
Giana has taken his classes many times throughout her travels to LA and has always been curious about his journey, especially during the heyday of sweaty, packed vinyasa classes that defined a certain golden era of yoga in the city. Vytas shares a raw and powerful story that brought him to the mat, including his struggles with heroin addiction as a teen, time in prison, and the pivotal moment when friends pushed him toward yoga.
He found a mentor in Bryan Kest, whose approachable style resonated deeply, and eventually began teaching at Power Yoga in Santa Monica. Vytas walks us through his transition into teaching, staying rooted in one studio for two decades, and opens up about the Power Yoga studio split. Oh yes, we got some tea.
True to form, Vytas keeps it real. He’s blunt, direct, and totally unfiltered, which had us both jaw-dropped and cracking up. His intense teaching style even earned him the nickname “The Punisher.” But we also loved hearing how fatherhood, sobriety, and stepping into his 40s have softened him in surprising ways. Along the way, we dive into the culture of mirrors in yoga studios, the struggle with mouth breathing, the importance of diversifying your income as a teacher, and a few of the wildest stories we’ve ever heard- one involving pushing a student too far, and another that ended in a full-blown attack.
You don’t want to miss this one.
Find Vytas on the FitOn app or in person at Power Yoga East and Open.
Thanks for listening!
Find Vytas Online:
IG: @vytasyoga
WEB: vytasyoga.com
🌊 Upcoming Retreats in Nicaragua
• 2026 Starved Rock Retreat- June 12-14, 2026
• Yoga Teachers Retreat – February & March 2026
📚 Read the Podcast Blog:
The Funny Thing About Yoga on Substack
📲 Follow Us
Podcast: @thefunnythingaboutyoga
School: @cayayogaschool
Hosts: @gianagambino & @bradshawwish
🌐 More Links
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.