The Yoga Frequency

In this episode, I sit down with one of my favorite yoga teachers and long-time friend, Jenn Richardson. Jenn's name kept popping into my head while I was brainstorming who I would be excited about having a conversation with after a fairly long hiatus from the podcast. Hear us talk about her current yoga and martial arts practices; the crazy events 2020 has thrown at us; living with a service mindset; and even communications with the spirit realm. Jenn truly embodies the practice, and I am excited to share our "catch-up" convo with you. Enjoy! Make sure to visit www.jennrichardsonyoga.com to find out when and how to practice with Jenn.

In this episode, Jenny and Mike sit down with MC Yogi and Amanda Giacomini to discuss MC Yogi's newly released book "Spiritual Graffiti" and Amanda's 10,000 Buddhas art initiative (see below for links to both). The group discusses MC Yogi's writing process and what it was like to revisit the past when writing about his life. We talk about some of the topics that stirred difficult memories, including the loss of the couple's dog. The conversation progresses to cover Amanda's achievement of reaching her milestone of painting 10,000 Buddhas and the inspiration that birthed that project. The group also talks about where MC Yogi and Amanda are focusing in terms of their yoga practices; Buddhism; and dogma in the yoga community. As a side note, you'll likely here some music in the background as the interview took place at Bhakti Fest 2017. Not to worry, though, it does not interfere with hearing the conversation. We hope you enjoy! Namaste, Mike and Jenny Purchase your copy of Spiritual Graffiti here: http://www.mcyogi.com/book MC Yogi official website - http://www.mcyogi.com/ Amanda Giacomini official website - http://10000buddhas.com/ Sign up for TYF mailing list - https://www.yogafrequency.com/

In this episode, Mike & Jenny speak with kirtan artist Adam Bauer about the origins of his spiritual practices, which led him to a life of renunciation at an early age. The conversation provides a primer on using mantra as a spiritual practice and some of the challenges that can arise when turning inwards. Adam also discusses the many years he spent playing bass for sacred chant pioneer Krishna Das and Bhakti Yoga legend Shyamdas. In the latter half of the podcast, we discuss how Adam branched out into leading sacred chants and recording two solo albums including his upcoming release Wonderville (available for purchase here - https://iamadambauer.com/wonderville/). Learn more about Adam Bauer here: https://iamadambauer.com/ Enjoyed the talk? Help spread the hi-vibe yoga frequency: iTunes for TYFhttps://www.yogafrequency.com/ Namaste, Mike and Jenny

Mike and Jenny preview the upcoming Bhakti Fest yoga festival. They discuss their past experiences attending workshops; classes; and musical performances at the festival and the events they are looking forward to attending this year. For more information on the festival and event schedule, visit www.bhaktifest.com. Blog Post: https://www.yogafrequency.com/blog/bhakti-fest-2017 Enjoyed the talk? Help spread the hi-vibe yoga frequency: iTunes for TYF Namaste, Mike and Jenny

Mike sits down with Michelle May, founder of Seva Foods and Beinji's Canine Cuisine, to discuss veganism. The discussion covers popular reasons this dietary trend is on the rise and common pitfalls people encounter making the transition to a diet free of animal products. The conversation also includes an examination of the common criticisms of a vegan diet including vitamin deficiencies and caloric efficiency. The episode concludes with discussion about reasons for potentially transitioning pets to a vegan diet as well. Learn about Seva Foods here - http://sevafoods.com/ Learn about Benji's Canine Cuisine here - http://benjiis.com/ Remember to join our mailing list here - https://www.yogafrequency.com/subscribe/ and leave us a review on iTunes. The reviews help us better serve you. Namaste, Mike

This episode begins with an update on the podcast and a new series of class offerings and progresses to anecdotes about the different forms of yoga being taught in the West and the pros and cons of teacher trainings. Mike also discusses common criticisms of modern yoga that he has heard over the years and offers a few rebuttals. In the conclusion, Mike talks about injuries and his own experience recovering from a surgery brought about by overtraining along with the challenges he faced on the...

On a recent trip to Belize, Jenny and Mike had a chance to sit down with MC Yogi and his wife Amanda to pick their brains on MC Yogi's music and a range of yoga-related topics. We discuss MC Yogi's early exposure to hip hop music and perspectives on individuality. The interview also includes discussion about the positive influence of yoga in the couple's lives; their experience practicing with power yoga pioneer Larry Schultz; dealing with physical injuries; and staying the course with your yoga practice through challenging times. We hope you enjoy this talk with these two amazing teachers. Learn more about MC Yogi here - http://www.mcyogi.com/yoga/ Special thanks to Michelle Williams of Om Shanti, Belize for graciously hosting us at the first annual International Yoga Festival. Learn more here - http://www.omshantibelize.com/ Remember to join our mailing list here - https://www.yogafrequency.com/subscribe/ and leave us a review on iTunes. The reviews help us better serve you, not to mention we love connecting. Namaste, Mike & Jenny

Hayden Gerson is an entrepreneur, solar energy evangelist, motorcycle racer, and yogi, among other things. In this episode, Mike and Jenny talk with Hayden about how to work through fear and step into a more rewarding and passionate life. Hayden shares his views on personal limitations, the importance of failure, inspiration, and success. The discussion also covers how yoga fits into these topics and contemplates how best to learn and integrate aspects of the practice into one’s journey. We...

In the midst of a dire economic crisis, the citizens of Venezuela are enduring rampant shortages of food and basic goods. Because Venezuela imports a majority of these staple goods from other countries, hyperinflation has set in as its currency, the bolivar, has collapsed. Prices have risen so much that paying in physical currency has become arduous. At best, citizens face long waits and empty shelves at the supermarket. At worst, looting and theft rule the day. The worst aspect of the crisis is that the Venezuelan government has refused to accept humanitarian aid, leaving citizens isolated and unable to access much needed assistance. In this episode, Jenny and Mike interview Belsay Gonzalez, a Venezuelan native and Florida-based activist that has raised over $7,000 for the crisis through gofundme.com. Hear what motivated Belsay to get active and how she circumvented government controls to provide relief to family and friends in the region. Mike and Jenny intro the episode with a discussion of community-based giving and some food for thought about how you approach your charitable donations. If you would like to donate to help send food to Venezuela, you can access Belsay’s gofundme.com campaign here - https://www.gofundme.com/FoodtoVenezuela. Remember to join our mailing list here - https://www.yogafrequency.com/subscribe/ and leave us a review on iTunes. The reviews help us better serve you, not to mention we love connecting. Namaste, Mike & Jenny

In this episode, Mike and Jenny discuss their experience going through couple’s therapy to protect and support their relationship. They discuss their initial reservations about surrendering to the therapeutic process and what ultimately swayed them to jump in with both feet. The conversation then turns towards the pros and cons of working through their personal issues as a team and a description of the tools they are using to build solid communication with each other. This is a great episode...

In this episode, Mike talks about how yoga has worked in his life through a process known as svadhyaya, or self-study. Mike shares several stories of how the seeds of yoga actually took root and branched out into other aspects of his life. The discussion also provides a description of the Ashtanga and Bikram methods of yoga and how certain aspects of the eight limbs of yoga are conveyed in each system. This episode is great for those looking to learn a little bit more about Mike and be...

Ashton Szabo is a yoga teacher, educator, story teller, martial artist, and full blown anatomy geek. He currently hosts The Sivana Podcast: Eastern Spirituality, Yoga Philosophy, and Conscious Living. Ashton has been studying and practicing yoga for more than twenty years, having first been introduced to the practice when he was twelve years old by his Japanese Ju Jitsu Sensei, Steve Copping. His martial arts training began even earlier, at the ripe young age of five. Ashton's natural curiosity and drive for understanding has lead him to various spiritual art forms from traditions all over the world. Near the end of 2005, Ashton gave away most of his belongings, packed the rest into storage, and bought a one way ticket to Asia. He spent the next six and a half years based on a small island in Thailand, but traveled all over the world. He spent extensive time in India and Peru, but also journeyed to countries like Nepal, China, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Bolivia, as well as traveling all over the US and Canada. He studied with yogis, shamans, scholars, doctors, saints and sages. In 2011, he met his partner, Kristi, and they fell instantly in love. They had a child (their daughter, Sequoia) not too long after and decided to move back to the United States, where they now live in California. Ashton teaches a wide range of styles of yoga from asana based yoga like hatha, vinyasa, chakra and yin yoga, in addition to kundalini yoga, pranayama, meditation, yogic and tantric philosophy (jnana yoga) and more. When not teaching yoga, you’re likely to find Ashton with his daughter, in the water surfing, on the practice mat or with a book in hand. He lives and breathes his practices and is committed to a life of service and sharing the gifts of yoga. Asthon's website - http://yogawithashton.com/about/about-ashton/

ABOUT DONNA With a string of best-selling and much-loved albums—including Bliss (2000), In the Glow (2003), The Lover and The Beloved (2004), Sky is Open (2006), Sanctuary (2008),Remixes (2010), The Unchanging (2013), and Universal Light: Remixes from The Unchanging + Bonus Tracks (2015) —Donna De Lory has become one of the reigning queens of world devotional music. Before dedicating her life to singing sacred mantras and lyrics of spiritual aspiration, De Lory traveled the globe for 20 years as an accompanying vocalist and dancer for Madonna, appearing in the iconic documentary film Truth or Dare and on stage with the pop icon during numerous legendary tours. De Lory’s own music combines sparkling pop savvy with a deeply felt sense of spirituality, and has won her a strong fan base in the yoga/conscious living community and beyond. Embracing styles as diverse as Rhythm & Blues, Middle Eastern, Indian classical and contemporary electronica, De Lory’s musical perspective is as wide as the world itself. Donna’s latest release, Live From Kula Space, is a collection of live recordings from 2009-2013. “The 14 song collection…gives the listener the sense of being in the room during one of De Lory’s soaring live shows, complete with uplifting soul jams, mantras, and songs…” ~LA Yoga Message From Donna: I am so grateful for you and the support you have given to me on my musical path over the years. Please enjoy this music and share with your friends. “We are energy Universal light with one destination, to the one divine” -Donna Donna's website: www.donnadelory.com

Are you overwhelmed with the volume of yoga philosophy texts and not sure where to start your reading? On our recent trip to Bhaktifest, Jenny and I had a chance to sit down with Jeffrey Armstrong, a former monk and vedic astrologer. Jeffrey is a master of Eastern wisdom and counts a long-running translation of the Bhagavad Gita among his many accomplishments. Jeffrey's experience is unique in that he entered an ashram at a young age and subsequently launched a successful career working with top performing companies such as Apple. Who better to learn from than someone who has integrated the teachings of yoga into everyday life like most of us are trying to do. Trust us, this is an interview you don't want to miss. By the way, Jeffrey offers online courses and coaching on a wide array of yoga-related topics via his website - www.jeffreyarmstrong.com. Enjoy! Jeffrey's website: http://www.jeffreyarmstrong.com/

Have you turned to yoga to overcome a traumatic experience? Yoga can complement traditional talk therapies if approached properly with a qualified instructor. One of the best aspects of incorporating yoga to heal is that it incorporates your physicality. This is important because a growing body of evidence supports the idea that, as well as affecting the mind, trauma is stored in the body. This week I had a chance to speak with Paisley Close and Monique Minahan, two senior yoga instructors well-versed in using yoga and other alternative healing practices for trauma recovery. I hope you enjoy! And, if it moves you, please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review to let us know how we're doing. Resources Paisley Close Website - https://paisleyanne.com/ Yoga Teacher Mentoring - https://paisleyanne.com/mentor/ Yoga eBooks - https://paisleyanne.com/store/ Podcasts (including gentle yoga for trauma) - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/yoga-with-paisley/id1012721570 Monique Minahan Website - https://moniqueminahan.com/ Memory Cards - https://moniqueminahan.com/memory-cards/ Books - https://moniqueminahan.com/thebook/

Before heading out for Bhakti Fest, we had a chance to sit down with the Founder, Sridhar Steven Silberfein. Sridhar has a wealth of yoga and life experience that stretches back to the late sixties and spans all the great teachers that brought yoga to the west. He is a contemporary and friend of Ram Das, and student of Satchidananda. He shares about letting go, the best way to forgive, how to not live in fear, spiritual ego, and much more. Enjoy and see you next week at the festival!

In this episode, Mike and Jenny discuss Mike's recent vipassana experience and his shocking discovery of underlying hidden emotions held within the body. How it affected him before, during, and after the experience. We also discuss the book, "Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender" by MD. PHD. David R. Hawkins and PhD Peter Lownds. We hope you enjoy this episode. Remember to join our mailing list: https://www.yogafrequency.com/subscribe/ and leave us a review on iTunes. The reviews help us...

The Yoga Frequency is a yoga-centric podcast dedicated to shining light on extraordinary individuals spreading positive energy and providing inspiration to raise our collective awareness to a higher level. Check out our sponsor BuddhiBox and use coupon code YF2016 for 10% off a subscription and 15% off at their store! https://buddhiboxes.com/

The Yoga Frequency is a yoga-centric podcast dedicated to shining light on extraordinary individuals spreading positive energy and providing inspiration to raise our collective awareness to a higher level. Check out our sponsor BuddhiBox and use coupon code YF2016 for 10% off a subscription and 15% off at their store! https://buddhiboxes.com/ Lauren's website - http://runalivesd.wix.com/runalivesd Five Minute Journal - http://www.fiveminutejournal.com/

The Yoga Frequency is a yoga-centric podcast dedicated to shining light on extraordinary individuals spreading positive energy and providing inspiration to raise our collective awareness to a higher level. Check out our sponsor BuddhiBox and use coupon code YF2016 for 10% off a subscription and 15% off at their store! https://buddhiboxes.com/ The Motivation Manifesto -...