The Teaching on When to Walk Away with Oneika Mays

About this episode

Jivana Heyman interviews Oneika Mays about her experiences teaching mindfulness in prison and the importance of self-care in service work.

Join host, Jivana Heyman, as he welcomes Oneika Mays, for an inspiring conversation about her forthcoming book, " Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation ," which details her transformative work at Rikers Island prison in New York City. Oneika shares her journey, the challenges of teaching mindfulness in a prison setting, and her practice and understanding of metta (loving-kindness). Together, Jivana and Oneika discuss the importance of embodied wisdom, the role of storytelling in teaching, and the need for self-compassion and boundaries in service work. Oneika opens up about the vicarious trauma she experienced and how to recognize when to walk away from situations that no longer serve us. The episode also features an exploration of how ancient teachings like Patanjali's Sutras relate to contemporary practice. Jivana and co-host, Deanna Michalopoulos, discuss the paradox of embracing the body fully before learning to release attachment to it, offering practical insights for teachers navigating yoga’s complex philosophies. Topics Include: Processing trauma through writing The importance of supervision and support for service-oriented teachers Balancing service…

People in this episode

Host: Jivana Heyman

Guest: Oneika Mays

Topics covered

• mindfulness
• meditation
• trauma
• self-compassion
• yoga philosophy
• service work

Keywords

• mindfulness
• meditation
• trauma
• self-compassion
• yoga
• Patanjali
• Rikers Island
• embodied wisdom

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Sit with Me : A No BS Journey to Mindfulness and Meditation, Patanjali's Sutras

Places: Rikers Island, New York City

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