The Heart of Yoga

Mar 14 2024 6

The Heart of Yoga Podcast artwork

Mark Whitwell and friends present heartfelt conversations from the heart of yoga. “Indeed a soft message for a hard time. Please listen to Mark Whitwell. God is in this moment. God is as close as your own breath. So be here now! Mark will show you an easy way.” — Ram Dass on Mark’s book ‘The Promise’ In the spirit of yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ, we offer this podcast as a tool to direct attention towards relationship, intimacy with our experience, and the sublime beauty of our human situation. Ever since he met his yoga teachers TKV Desikachar and his father Tirumalai Krishnamacharya in Madras / Chennai in 1973, Mark has been sharing the tools of intimacy with body and breath through asana, pranayama and meditation, the practical method of response to grace in our life. The influence of J and UG Krishnamurti has clarified Yoga for all time as a practice of participation in the given reality, not a struggle towards a future result. "If you can breathe, you can do Yoga!" Join us for an experience of union / Yoga (not just more knowledge about it), resolution of spiritual confusions, insight from decades of teaching experience, stories from the diverse sangha of practitioners, practical relationship discussion, and the application of Yoga to every aspect of our everyday life. To find out more about teachings, retreats, online yoga classes, and our in-depth online yoga courses for both beginner and advanced practitioners, please visit www.heartofyoga.org.

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Andrew Raba: Keeping Safe with Psychics and Seers

Mar 14 2024 52 mins

In this week's episode of the Heart of Yoga Podcast, Mark and Andy Raba explore the world of psychics, seers, shamans and sages. As director of the Yoga Education in Schools Charitable Trust in New Zealand, Andy leads initiatives to bring yoga-based health programs to young people in NZ and abroad.With a Master's degree and over a decade of experience fostering literacy in NZ scho

Ep. 56 |No Such Thing as A Thoughtless State: Embracing Presence Over Ideals in Yoga with Eva Košćak

Nov 27 2023 64 mins

In this episode, Mark interviews Eva about her journey discovering Yoga and music. Eva shares how she was classically trained in cello as a child but hated the competitive pressure. She dropped music for 18 years until finding Yoga, which helped her rediscover enjoyment and presence. A few years into Yoga, Eva spontaneously picked up guitar and started playing purely for pleasure,

Ep. 55 | From Recognition to Embodiment: A Yogi's Journey | Irina Esposito

Nov 13 2023 47 mins

In this episode of the Heart of Yoga podcast, Mark has an insightful conversation with his student Irina Esposito about her journey with Yoga. The cosmos and everything in the cosmos is obviously a pure intelligence, energy and an intrinsic harmony. In religious language of ancient India it is Shiva Shakti… or all that is, and there are no problems. This was Irina’s sudden rea

Breathing, Unity, and Healing: On The Yoga Bus with Joseph Lauricella (#54)

Oct 23 2023 63 mins

In this episode, I'm joined by Joseph Lauricella. We dive into Joseph's journey on The Yoga Bus, making yoga accessible to everyone. It is truly inspiring. We talk about the power of yoga for newcomers and the limitations of the popular styles. Joseph shares his motivation behind his book, "Miracle of Body Wisdom," and his vision for authentic yoga education for all. We discuss the

Kurtis Goodwolf x Mark Whitwell: A Voyage to India, Mark's First Steps (#53)

Sep 07 2023 42 mins

In this episode, we dive deep into Mark's transformative journey to India. Mark shares his personal experiences and first impressions upon arriving in this vibrant and diverse country. He discusses how The Beatles' presence in Rishikesh influenced his interest in Indian wisdom traditions, making it a global phenomenon. Mark reflects on the powerful impact of rock music from England

Yoga Adapted to Cultural Context: Japan with Minami Takashima (#52)

Jul 06 2023 40 mins

Our guest today is our wonderful collaborator in Japan, Minami Takashima. Minami is a yogini and heart of Yôga teacher, teaching in the traditions of the hathayoga non dual Tantra. She has written the introduction to the Japanese second edition of Mark Whitwell’s Yôga Heart and teaches throughout Japan and the world. Born in Sapporo, Japan, she found that early life spiritual

Clayton Joseph Scott Talks of Music, Addiction, Seeking and Surrender (#51)

Jun 16 2023 99 mins

Clayton Joseph Scott is a singer, songwriter and master Yoga Teacher. Born in Los Angeles, California, he attended Santa Monica High School. Clayton lived most of his life as a street hustling native of Venice Ca. He was raised in the culture of musicians and pioneers of the counter culture. Clayton speaks clearly about over coming addiction of every kind. He was in his own words,

What is a Yogini? Liliana Lakshmi : From India to the Americas and Bali to Berlin (#50)

Mar 28 2023 50 mins

Liliana Lakshmi and her husband Satya are renowned yoga teachers, whose influence extends from India to the Americas, and from Berlin to Bali. Liliana, born into tribal culture of indigenous shamans of Colombia was quickly able to understand the shamanic cultures of ancient India, their yogas of participation and the profound realization of their ancient cultures, both of India and

A Yogini Amidst Unspeakable Love and Pain (#49)

Mar 01 2023 51 mins

Ernessa Bergman is a world-travelling Yogini, Mother and Biosynthesis / Somatic Body Psychotherapist who is currently living and working in Tel Aviv, Israel. She reflects on her long friendship with Mark at trainings around the world and her life as a mother and yoga teacher. In this episode you will hear... '' ...you torture yourself with the insanity of trying to get enlightened

The Yoga Confessions - Mark interviews Rosalind Atkinson (#48)

Feb 14 2023 72 mins

Mark Whitwell interviews Rosalind Atkinson about her life with yoga and realisations. In particular, Mark asks about her academic studies of english literature, especially the mystic poet William Blake, and the relevance of these studies to her life in yoga. This episode will be of interest to anyone with a mixed experience in academia or poetry, who is interested in the yogic proc