Shows
Catalyst145. Your dreams require SELF-STUDY"Svadhyaya is the yoga of self-study. By peeling back the layers of our ego through internal reflection we expose the reality underneath and begin to uncover who we are at our essence." — Divya Balakrishnan I'm moving to New York City! Back home to my roots. And I'm bringing you with me through the big milestones, and especially through the in-between moments - because that is where we truly grow. In this mini-sode, I bring you with me through the experience of travelling back home to NYC and the reflections along the way. My in...2025-07-2511 min
Yoga Off The MatI'm Finally Answering Your Burning Questions About YogaAllow me to *re*introduce myself! A lot of you have been curious to get to know my journey with yoga, what my practice looks like, my thoughts on the industry, the business of yoga, how to decolonize yoga in the wild...and I got you. This is a short and sweet episode to help you get to know me a bit better, and there are some great tips sprinkled in as well.Timestamps:01:03 My journey with yoga02:56 My current yoga practice06:12 My thoughts on modern yoga08:06 How to...2025-07-1021 minYoga Off The MatBuild Your Ideal Spring Morning Routine Using Yogic Wisdom | Yoga Off the Mat Podcast | Divya BalaAshton Hall and Mel Robbins may be trending right now for their...intense...morning routines. But your morning doesn't have to look like that for you to start your day on the best foot. This episode is the first in a seasonal series about how to use the principles of yoga philosophy and its sister science Ayurveda to customize your morning routine - both for your unique needs and for the season.Podcast & Host Links Website: www.divyabala.comInstagram: @divyabala @yogaoffthematpodcastYoutube.com/divyabalaPatreon.com/divyabala2025-04-1412 minYoga Off The MatYoga Has Mentally Prepared You For Major Societal TransitionWhether or not we like it -- change is in the air. Socially, politically, spiritually. You may not realize it but yoga has prepared you with the mental resilience to face it head on. Here's how.In this episode, I share 5 simple yogic tactics to fortify yourself ahead of major change.Podcast & Host LinksWebsite: www.divyabala.comInstagram: Host: @divyabala Podcast: @yogaoffthematpodcastYoutube: Youtube.com/divyabalaPatreon: Patreon.com/divyabala2025-02-1715 min
Out Of Focus - MediaOneOut Of Focus Full | 24 January 20251. പരിധി വിട്ടോ പത്രങ്ങൾ?2. 'ശത്രു സ്വത്തിൽ' കുടുങ്ങുമോ?3. വന്യം, രോഷംPanel: Venu Balakrishnan, SA Ajims, Divya Divakaran2025-01-2447 minYoga Off The MatHow to Choose the Right Yoga Teacher Training Program: Key Factors To ConsiderSome people think it's unethical. Some people think it's essential.
Either way, it's a massive industry that's only gaining more and more traction: The Yoga Teacher Training.
In this episode, I share the origins of how yoga was passed down and taught, and how that has evolved with the birth of the yoga industry.
You'll also get a framework of inquiry to understand your intentions and whether YTT is right for you, PLUS a checklist to help you choose the right training program.
Podcast & Host Links
Website:
www.divyabala.com
...2024-12-2722 minYoga Off The MatThe Surprising Truth About Building a Yoga Practice Nobody Tells YouOne of the questions I get asked most frequently is "How do I build a yoga practice from scratch?"In this episode, I offer a 5-step framework to help you build a yoga practice of your own - and you might be surprised at how simple it is! You'll incorporate elements from the 8-limbed path and integrate your practice into your life, both on and off the mat. Yoga doesn't have to be hard or scary - it just needs dedication, compassion and a little discipline.Podcast & Host Linkswww...2024-10-1409 minYoga Off The MatPrana: How To Harness Your Vital Energy And Boost Your Quality Of LifeLearn about an essential element of yoga, Prana - your vital life energy. We unpack what it is, how to sense it, practices that enhance or deplete it, and how to optimize it to improve your quality of life. The episode ends with a short pranayama practice so you can experience the sensation firsthand.
In this episode we discuss:
What is that indescribable feeling yoga gives us? Where does it come from?
What is energy, as it pertains to yoga?
Yoga and it’s effects on our energy
How our body and breath are conduits of th...2024-08-1219 minYoga Off The MatCeasefire Is Ahimsa: A Yogic Perspective On Systemic ViolenceIn this episode we discuss:
The context of oppression and systemic violence
The yogic definition of ahimsa versus himsa
Modern interpretations of ahimsa
Active versus non-active ahimsa
Why Performative Activism doesnt work
Ceasefire as ahimsa
Reference Links
A history of Al-Nakba
https://remix.aljazeera.com/aje/PalestineRemix/al-nakba.html#/17
The Balfour Declaration
https://www.britannica.com/event/Balfour-Declaration
How to get started in activism for Palestine:
https://www.pcrf.net/information-you-should-know/how-to-help-palestine.html#:~:text=This can include writing to,to bring about positive change.
2024-05-2013 minYoga Off The MatThe Four Types Of Yoga You Didn't Know About & The 8 Limbs of Ashtanga YogaIn the second episode of this podcast, I give you an overview of the vast landscape of Yoga and go deeper into just one of those forms of yoga that has been taken the west by storm - the 8 limbed path of Ashtanga yoga.
Topics discussed:
- The four major categories of yoga
- The 8 limbed path of ashtanga yoga
- 3 Journal prompts to help you begin your exploration of self
Journal Prompts:
1. What was my first introduction to Yoga, and how did it shape my understanding of this practice?
2. How have I recently practiced one of the five...2024-04-1508 minYoga Off The MatPilot: It's Time To Get Off Your Mat And Do Some YogaWelcome to Yoga Off The Mat, the podcast!
I’m your host, Divya - an E-RYT 200 yoga teacher, content creator, activist, writer and speaker (among other things).
Whether you’re brand new to yoga and seeking to build a foundation, or maybe you’re a seasoned practitioner who wants to deepen your knowledge, here you’ll learn how to apply yoga on and off the mat as a tool for personal growth and social change.
In this pilot episode, I’ll share my personal journey with yoga spanning 20 years and the moments of revelat...2024-03-3007 min
IT'S FINE. with Rachel Varkey039: Creating Body Values from Within (Decolonizing Yoga) with Divya BalakrishnanToday, I am chatting with Divya Balakrishnan, a yoga educator, and lifestyle blogger.
On this episode, we’ll talk about:
Changing our physical practice from outcomes driven to internal motivation
How our body ideals and ways to change are often layered with Western ideals and how to challenge those beliefs
How to challenge yourself to build internal values around your health and wellness2023-10-1733 min
The Glo Podcast30 Minutes with Divya Balakrishnan: How to Reframe Your Relationship to Movement Through YogaDivya shares with Derik Mills about how she has reframed her relationship to movement through yoga. In the conversation, Divya tells the story of her journey into yoga as a Tamil-American who did not see herself represented in the yoga industry born out of her own culture. She shares her thoughts about how to decolonize yoga by creating diverse, inclusive spaces and furthering collective wellness as a form of social justice. Divya breaks down yogic techniques in a way that are transferable off the mat, turning a practice into a lifestyle.Links:Divya’s Website...2023-04-0935 min
Fit LiterateThe Yoga With Adriene Episode (ft. Divya Bala)In this week's episode, Laura and Carolyn do a deep(ish) dive into the internet's favorite Yoga teacher, Adriene Mischler and chat with Fit Literate's FIRST EVER GUEST! Huge thank you to Divya Balakrishnan for sitting down to talk with us about the current state of yoga on the internet, how yoga fits into a balanced movement practice, and the importance of supporting South Asian practitioners in an industry that has been continuously whitewashed for white, western sensibilities.
Please leave a 5 star review if you enjoy the show!
Support Fit Literate on Patreon
C...2023-02-021h 26
The PlaygroundAncestral Wisdom, Yoga Mythology, and Diversity in Wellness with Divya BalakrishnanIn this episode I'm chatting with Divya Balakrishnan about the ongoing topics of appropriation, inclusion, and diversity in wellness. As two South Asians in a space that can feel erased, we chat about our role as budding practitioners. Divya is a Tamil-American yoga teacher, art activist and user researcher. Her cross-cultural identity is inextricable from her approach to advocating wellness and social justice. Having grown up with Sanatana Dharma, seeing it appropriated for modern consumption stirred her to reclaim this ancestral wisdom. Her yoga classes incorporate philosophy, Indian martial arts, and prānāyāma to help stu...2022-01-2551 min
Inside the minds of great yogis with Swathi SathyaseelanInside the minds of great yogi's ft. Divya BalakrishnanAs a Tamil-American yoga teacher brought up around the world, Divya's cross-cultural identity is inextricable from her approach to teaching wellness practices and advocating for social justice. Her classes incorporate philosophical teachings, martial techniques, prānāyāma (breath work), āsana (movement) and much more. Divya is fiercely passionate about celebrating diversity and uplifting BIPOC voices in all that she does. Hear Divya's perspective & how yoga helped her to heal! 💚2021-08-1731 min
What’s On Your Mind?STFS: Yoga and Gratitude Journaling with Divya BalakrishnanDivya Balakrishnan is an artist, yoga teacher and user behavior enthusiast currently based in the Bay Area. Divya shares her own mental health journey and how gratitude journaling and yoga have played a major role in her emotional and physical healing. Today's episode contains content around body image.
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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/woympodcast/support2020-12-2130 min
ALL THINGS CANDIDEpisode 10- ATC x THE BLOBThis special episode is a collaboration with The Blob. Pujarini chats with founders Saaniya Sharma and Divya Balakrishnan who have been in the fashion industry over 5 years. In this episode, all three of them get candid about their experiences and have an honest conversation about their journeys in the fashion industry so far, the various challenges they have faced along with all victories and woes that come along. The conversation sheds light on the expectation vs reality of being a part of this daunting industry. Expect a detailed discussion on what the future of fashion industry looks like.
2020-09-2545 min