Whole Life Yoga Podcast

Yoga does not ask us to be anything we are not, but invites us on an unrelenting journey deeper into the heart of who we really are. This journey takes courage, honesty and an ongoing interrogation of our presuppositions, a willingness to explore how our perspectives are tinted and veiled by our particular experiences. When we gather with others in a confidential satsang - one in which we can explore honestly in confidence, without being shackled by fear of ostracisation or hasty ...

Dharma - one of the most foundational principles in yoga and the broader Indic tradition. As a verb: that which supports, holds, sustains As a noun: the essential quality or property of a thing. For example, liquidity, the tendency to flow downwards and follow a path of least resistance, coolness and sweet taste are all dharma-s of water. Luminosity and warmth are dharma-s of fire. For humans: our capacity for self-reflexive awareness, our curiosity and our predilection for beauty are all int...

On congruence and new year's resolutions On being impeccable with our word and cultivating śraddhā - self-trust. Practising congruence between thoughts, speech and actions. How speech - standing at the threshold between thoughts and actions - offers a powerful focus to help cultivate greater congruence, confidence and self trust. With reference to the Sanskṛt subhāṣita 'wise saying': Manasyekam vacasyekam karmaṇyekam mahātmanā | Manasyanyat vacasyanyat karmaṇyanyat durātmanā || One w...

In this fifth conversation with William S Whorton, I ask him about his success in avoiding some of the ways human beings sabotage their own lives that he became keenly aware of as a teenager. I also asked Bill about his marriage. When I worked with Bill at Chulalongkorn University, I was aware how many of the students were so moved and inspired by the way he spoke of his beautiful wife, as I was. During this conversation, Bill also shares lots of practical wisdom and insight around intuition,...

In this fourth conversation with William S Whorton, I ask him about one of the formative experiences of his life that I have had the privilege of reading about, Bill's first encounter with the TRANSCENDENT through the music that came into his life as he walked past the Second Baptist Church one Sunday in his hometown as a teenager. Bill then went on to become the only white member of this church, and to meet spirit through music that took him beyond ordinary consciousness. We also talk about ...

Yoga practice is EVERY DAY As Rabindranath Tagore, translated by William Radice said it: Every day, the dawn Brings a blessing To whatever is still growing Towards the Sun Rabindranath Tagore - Sparks/ Sphuliṅga, 31 Yoga practice is an every day affair. An all day, every day endeavour. A day and night, summer and winter ever new commitment. As Tagore’s words remind us, ‘every day, the dawn brings a blessing to whatever is still growing towards the sun.’ I first encountered this ve...

A fairly freewheeling episode in which I share thoughts on mastery and apprenticeship. In recent weeks I have had the privilege and joy to share in person with several long term colleagues whom I had not seen for some time. More than once this topic came up. It seems in the world today that genuine mastery of a particular art, craft or discipline is perhaps rarer than only a short time ago. In a world that offers endless distractions that never bring lasting satisfaction and perpetuate some l...