Shows
Escaping SamsaraKat Ashtanga: Advanced Practice, Motherhood & Spiritual GrowthIn this episode, we sit down with Kat Ashtanga, an advanced practitioner, to explore: ✨ How practice evolves through the different series of poses ✨ Balancing lineage with personal practice ✨ Integrating pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood ✨ The subtle benefits of long term asana practice ✨ How the universal energy of prana is conducted via these poses Whether you're deep in your own Ashtanga journey or just beginning to explore, this conversation offers wisdom and inspiration for yogis at all levels. 🔗 Also listen on Spotify / Apple / Substack 👉 Don't miss exclusive w...
2025-09-301h 17
Escaping SamsaraFour Thoughts That Turn the Mind 4/4 *Death* with Daniel IngramIn the fourth and final episode of our series on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, Nathan sits down with renowned Dharma practitioner and ER physician Daniel Ingram to explore the most confronting and transformative contemplation: death. Drawing from his experience in emergency rooms and deep meditation, Daniel discusses how death can be a powerful catalyst for spiritual urgency, freedom, and insight. They reflect on childhood spirituality, near-death experiences, death rehearsal practices, and the delicate balance between striving and letting go on the path. If you've ever asked yourself what really happens when we...
2025-09-021h 00
Escaping SamsaraThe Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind: *Drawbacks of Samsara* with Robina CourtinThis is episode three in the series on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, contemplations that form the basis of the Buddhist path. In this episode, Ven. Robina Courtin, a Tibetan Buddhist nun with nearly fifty years in the tradition, discusses "The Drawbacks of Samsara". We dive into the nature of suffering in Samsara, the subtle role of attachment, and the practical meaning of the Four Noble Truths. Robina speaks to the balance between devotion and clear-eyed reasoning, showing how both can deepen and stabilize our practice. Our conversation explores the six re...
2025-08-141h 00
Escaping SamsaraFour Thoughts That Turn the Mind: *Precious Human Rebirth* with Joe EvansEpisode 2/4 on The Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind, and this time we are talking about the "precious human rebirth" and pondering the unique opportunity that human beings have to practice the path to awakening. And to discuss this I am joined by Joe Evans, founder of the Rangdröl Foundation and teacher of Dzogchen under the name Jigme Rangdröl. The Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind, also known as the Four Reminders, are a set of Buddhist contemplations that encourage practitioners to turn their minds away from worldly distractions and towards spiritual practice. These thoughts ar...
2025-08-011h 09
Escaping SamsaraFour Thoughts That Turn the Mind: *Karma* (with Ellen Johannesen)In this episode of the Escaping Samsara Podcast, we begin a four-part journey into the Four Thoughts That Turn the Mind—a set of foundational Buddhist contemplations that help orient us toward Dharma. Our focus today is on karma. I'm joined by Ellen Johansson, a long-time Ashtanga teacher and committed Vajrayana practitioner, who brings deep insight into how karma works—not as punishment, but as a mirror of cause and effect, intention and outcome. We explore how karma is understood across Buddhist and yogic traditions, what it means to take responsibility for our actions, and how...
2025-07-071h 13
Escaping SamsaraAnnouncing the Escaping Samsara SubstackIn this short announcement episode, I introduce our new online home: the Escaping Samsara Substack — a space where all our content will now live, including podcasts, written pieces, and weekly reflections. Here's what to expect: 🧘 Weekly Practice Notes Personal insights from my daily practice — exploring themes like working with moon phases in asana and mantra, or extending meditation into the evening hours. It's an honest, ongoing look at what it's like to live a spiritual life in the modern world. 🌀 Longform Articles & Interviews Every week, either a new podcast episode or a deep-dive written pie...
2025-07-0106 min
Escaping SamsaraSusi Sweeney on Ashtanga's Sixth Series, Aging & AuthenticityIn this episode of Escaping Samsara, Nathan Thompson sits down with Susi Sweeney—a lifelong yoga practitioner, teacher, mother, and now grandmother. Her path runs deep through 30 years of practice and cuts across the raw terrain of anxiety, eating disorders, motherhood, and aging. She trained with Pattabhi Jois. She now works through the sixth series. Every movement, she says, pulls something loose—grief, joy, memory. Susie explains how she raised children while maintaining her practice, how her mat held steady through births and breakdowns. Now a grandmother, she reflects on change—not as decline, but as deepe...
2025-06-241h 04Escaping SamsaraCycles Within Cycles: Gregor Meahle ReturnsIn this episode, Nathan sits down with Gregor Maehle to explore the deeper patterns that shape a lifetime of spiritual practice. Rather than focusing on technique or lineage, this conversation travels into the inner terrain—what changes as we mature in our practice, what stays hidden until we're ready to see it, and how we relate to disembodied knowledge and the teachers who carry it. Gregor speaks candidly about moving through different phases of yoga—physical, philosophical, devotional—and the quiet shifts that signal growth. The conversation turns to the Yoga Sutras, not as a rulebook, but as a l...
2025-06-021h 21
Escaping SamsaraSat Inder Khalsa: Going Beyond Yoga Asana into the Depths of Hindu TantraWhat does it mean to walk a path across lifetimes, through lineages, and into the heart of divine practice? In this intimate and powerful episode, we sit down with Sat Inder Khalsa, a teacher of Ashtanga Yoga, student of Tantra, and dedicated seeker who has traveled many spiritual paths—including Wicca, Sikhism, Hinduism, and more—to uncover deeper layers of truth. Sat Inder shares his mission to help others integrate yogic and tantric wisdom into everyday life—guiding students through Sanskrit, philosophy, temple life, and the very human challenges of spiritual growth. With warmth and honest...
2025-04-201h 23
Escaping SamsaraMark Darby Discusses the Synergy of Ashtanga, Hatha, and Kriya Yoga Known simply as Darby, his story is one of movement, devotion, and surrender, which led him to India in 1979. There, in Mysore, he met Ashtanga guru Pattabhi Jois and embraced the transformative rigor of the practice. Darby's experiences reflect a deep commitment to both physical and spiritual growth. Today, as a husband, father, and teacher, Darby shares how he balances family responsibilities with his practice, emphasizing surrender as the key to fulfillment. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or new to yoga, this episode offers wisdom on integrating Chinese Medicine, Hatha, and K...
2025-04-041h 19
Escaping SamsaraRemembering the Buddha and Devotional Practice in Buddhism with Kim Allen Kim Allen's journey into Buddhist practice began in 2003, sparked by a period of deep personal change and suffering. Guided by her primary teacher, Gil Fronsdal, she devoted herself to intensive retreat practice, sutta study, and a life aligned with the Eightfold Path. With over 1,000 days of silent retreat, including practice in Sri Lanka and Buddhist centers across Asia, Kim brings a depth of lived experience to her teaching. She has studied with renowned teachers like Shaila Catherine, Bhikkhu Anālayo, and Bhikkhu Bodhi, and now offers teachings on classical texts, sutta study, and t...
2025-03-2153 min
Escaping SamsaraLiving the Dharma in Family Life: a Discussion with Former Monk and Father Richard JosephsonIn this episode we're once again joined by Richard Josephson for a Dharma discussion centred around family life as a vehicle for practicing Buddhist and general liberation teachings. With over 50 years of practice experience both as a monk and a family man, Richard Josephson is perfectly placed to give a wise perspective on how we can best practice, whatever our circumstances. Listen for insights on: Why you should or shouldn't become ordained The challanges of being a monk or nun How to find time in family life to practice well How to cultivate an attitude and find motivation t...
2025-03-1055 min
Escaping SamsaraRichard Freeman and Mary Taylor on Meditation, Happiness, and the Illusion of SelfWhat does it mean to be truly happy? In this episode of Escaping Samsara, I sit down with teachers Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor to explore the deeper layers of practice beyond asana and into meditation and philosophy. Drawing from their decades of experience in spiritual practice, they discuss the subtle intersections of yoga, Buddhism, and embodiment—revealing how happiness is not just an emotion, but a fully integrated state of being. We dive into the challenges of modern yoga, the pitfalls of spiritual ego, and how to navigate tradition without be...
2025-02-281h 21
Escaping SamsaraLive from Varanasi! The Gently Down Project on Talismans, Ritual Objects, and Ashtanga Yoga In the latest episode of Escaping Samsara, I sit down with Spiros Antonopoulos and Barry Silver in person on the banks of the Ganga River in Varanasi to explore their incredible project, Gently Down: Bathed, Beaten, and Blessed — a 20-year journey of artistic and spiritual collaboration rooted in the sacred energies of the Ganga and the Maha Kumbh Mela festival. Spiros and Barry first met as yoga students in New York City, unaware that their paths would intertwine for decades, leading them back—again and again—to the ancient flow of India's most sacred...
2025-02-191h 16Escaping SamsaraAshtanga Vinyasa: Unorthodox Methods with Tiaga Prem In this episode, we discuss the positives and drawbacks of different ways of practising Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Tiaga covers thoughts and perspectives from his diverse backgrounds studying with Ramaswami, Dharma Mittra, and his experience teaching Mysore style for over 20 years. We also cover the core Tristana method, getting into the technique of breath and bandha, and how mudra exploration can enhance a regular asana practice. So if you enjoy Ashtanga or any form of Vinyasa yoga and want a good geek-out with two long-term practitioners...
2025-01-171h 05Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep. 21 Emptiness, Mantra, and Yoga with Ajahn Kovilo and Richard Josephson Ajahn Kovilo joins me from the Clear Mountain Podcast and Richard Josephson - a lay yogi living in a California temple. We discuss the intersection of yoga, Buddhism, and mysticism in general. We cover Emptiness, pranayama, and the different paths of the renunciate and the layperson and how they can both lead to awakening. This is a deep-dive discussion covering the transformative effects of sadhana in the modern world. We wonder what Samsara is and if we escape from it.
2024-11-211h 23Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep. 20 Escaping Samsara Bookclub: 'Chakras, Drugs, And Evolution' This is our 4th Escaping Samsara Bookclub and we are joined by author and teacher Daniel Simpson to discuss Gregor Meahle's "Chakras, Drugs, and Evolution: A Map of Transformative States." Daniel and I discuss our thoughts on Chakras and how they are used in new ways by modern practitioners, our drug experiences and how they affect the spiritual path, and how our subjective experience shapes our practice. Daniel Simpson Daniel makes timeless insights accessible and relevant. He's the author of The...
2024-09-142h 51Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep. 19 Sex, Rajas, and The Yogic Body as Applied to Women, with Tova Olsson (Episode 2/2) This our final episode in our exploration of sex, bindu, rajas, and Brahmacharya and the second of two episodes looking at female practitioners especially. We are joined by Tova Olsson, a scholar of religion, author, and yoga teacher with over 20 years of experience in education. We discuss: The reproductive model of the yogic body vs Kundalini models How Tantra relates to methods of conserving vital energies How female practitioners can understand sexual continence in spiritual practice. She holds a MA in Religious Studies a...
2024-09-091h 13Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep. 18 Sex, Bindu, and The Yogic Body as Applied to Women, with Ruth Westoby (Episode 1/2) This is the first of two episodes expanding the previous topic of Sex, Semen Retention, and Brahmacharya as it may or may not apply to women. Female practitioners of yoga don't show up in the old texts but there have been many female-specific physical practices through the ages. And who better to explain how to practice with these archaic information than Ruth Westoby. Ruth Westoby is a yoga practitioner and academic researcher in yoga studies. Ruth Westoby holds a PhD from SOAS University of London on 'The b...
2024-08-201h 04Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep. 17 3/3 Richard Freeman - Sex, Semen Retention, and Brahmacharya (Mini Series)This series has been quite popular. In our climactic (pun intended) episode, we speak to Richard Freeman about sex and Brahmacharya. The context of Brahmacharya within Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga system Specific yoga poses and mudras that move sexual energy The use of mula bandha in using sexual energy to reinvigorate your body and mind How yoga can be used in all stages and spaces of life
2024-08-011h 20Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.16 2/3 Simon Borg Olivier - Sex, Semen Retention, and Brahmacharya (MiniSeries)We are happy to welcome back to the podcast Simon Borg-Olivier who has been practicing semen retention for over 30 years. We discuss how semen retention, loving relationships, and mindful sex can enhance health and spiritual practice. From Simon's bio: "I have been studying traditional forms of posture, movement, breathing and mental control for more than 50 years. Over this time I have worked as a research-based scientist, exercise-based physiotherapist and a university lecturer in several science fields. My passion for these subjects has led me to understand that the world is a very connected...
2024-07-191h 25Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.15, 1/3 Tyson Adams - Sex, Semen Retention, and Brahmacharya (Mini Series) This is the start of a three-episode exploration into one of yoga's least understood, but possibly most important topics: Brahmacharya or as we might term it, semen retention. Through loss of semen (bindu), [his] lifespan is diminished and he becomes weak. .... Through constant retention of semen, a fine odour arises in the body of the yogin, (-) so the yogin should make every effort to preserve his semen. (Dattātreya's Discourse on Yoga, trans. James Mallinson) This is just one of many similar instructions in yo...
2024-07-101h 09Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.14 Ayurveda, Yoga, and Daily Life with Amy LandryIn this episode, we explore the intersection of yoga and Ayurveda with Amy Landry. Amy, a global yoga teacher, mentor, and Ayurvedic practitioner, has shared her wisdom through renowned publications and sold-out retreats. She has focused on integrating Indian wisdom traditions into her daily life and we find out how she manages this balancing act. Join us as we dive into her journey, her approach to living yoga, and the blend of yoga and Ayurveda that shapes her practice. https://amyelandry.com/
2024-06-061h 02Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.13 Eddie Stern on Life After Ashtanga In today's episode, we dive into the transformative journey of renowned yoga teacher Eddie Stern. Over the last three years, Eddie has radically altered his approach to practicing asanas, moving away from the Ashtanga practice that defined his teaching to embrace a path of growth and exploration. He embarked on a journey of incorporating new asanas and adjusting sequences, eventually leaving behind old structures entirely in favor of his own asana and pranayama experiments. We speak to about his new realization: that he no longer practices or desires to...
2024-03-291h 23Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.12 Escaping Samsara Bookclub: 'Near Enemies of the Truth' by Christopher Wallis, with guest Oliver Crossley The latest bookclub episode from Escaping Samsara podcast. This time Nathan is joined by Oliver Crossley A.K.A the Yogic Physio (@yogicphysio on Instagram) to discuss Christopher Wallis' book "Near Enemies of the Truth." Join us as we dissect key themes, share reflections, and discuss Wallis' take on watered down spirituality and lame platitudes. Whether you're reading along for the first time or revisiting the book with fresh eyes, this episode is a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly seek a the Truth.
2024-02-281h 18Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.11 Yogacharya Craig Williams on Yoga, Magick, and Esoteric Badassery One of my favorite episodes so far! In which we discussed many of my favorite subjects: perennialism and blending traditions, issues with exporting Asian traditions to the west, diet, esoteric yoga, and how magick forms an enriching part of both our practices. Our guest is Yogacharya Craig Williams, practitioner of Ayurvedic Medicine, Vedic Sciences, Gnostic Spirituality, and Martial Arts. He is also the author of Entering the Desert, Cult of Golgotha, and Tantric Physics Vol. I & 2, as well as numerous articles on health, martial arts, and authentic initiation in the Kali Yuga. ...
2024-02-131h 18Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.10 Theravada vs. Mahayana: A Monk's Insight with Ven. Sampanno In this enlightening new episode, we delve deep into Buddhism. Join us as we welcome Ven. Sampanno, a long-term Buddhist monk, for an insightful discussion on the differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism. In this episode, Ven. Sampanno will shed light on the unique philosophies, practices, and historical contexts of these two major Buddhist traditions. Understand the nuanced perspectives each brings to the spiritual path and how they shape the practice and beliefs of their followers. Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding of Buddhism with Ven. Sampanno...
2024-01-261h 06Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.9 Bookclub 2: "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle Nathan is joined by Marc Kate and Chad Lott from "Scary Thoughts Podcast" to discuss Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now." Unless you've been stuck in a Twitter flame war for the last 20 years, you will know about Tolle's bestselling spiritual treatise. But is it a classic or a self-help rip off? We discuss the book, it's flaws and strengths and come to some new conclusions. We also discover Marc and Chad's meditation practices, the effect of nihilism and find out what Eckhart Tolle and Charles Manson have in c...
2024-01-091h 17Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.8 Shandor Remete (Sundernath) - Advanced Yoga Q&A Welcome to the realm of real Hatha Yoga, where yogis use the body as a tool to transcend the body. For this episode, we're honored to introduce Shandor Remete, also known as Sundernath, a master practitioner whose life has been steeped in yoga from his earliest days in Hungary. An initiate of the revered Kanpatha Hatha Yogins, Shandor embodies the legacy of yoga luminaries Sri Gorakhnath and Sri Matsyendranath. Today, he stands as a custodian of Tantrik Hatha Yoga, imparting the wisdom that traces back to the earliest forms...
2023-12-111h 14Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.7 - Unraveling the Layers: Reading 'Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism' with Ty Landrum Welcome to a special bookclub episode of Escaping Samsara, where we delve into the profound teachings of Chogyam Trungpa's classic, "Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism." In this episode, we're thrilled to host Ty Landrum, an esteemed yoga teacher known for his insightful and deeply rooted understanding of Eastern and Western philosophy. We discuss the concept of spiritual materialism, the tendency to see spirituality as a means to enhance our ego rather than to dissolve it. And Ty discusses how to apply these teachings on the mat and in daily life, helping us to navigate...
2023-11-2958 minEscaping Samsara#39 Gregor Maehle - Let's Talk Details. In-depth Q&A Session (ep.2) Lovers of technical yoga talk rejoice! In this extraordinarily geeky interview Gregor sheds light on nuances of pranayama and meditation practices described in great detail in his books. We also talk about his most recent book about the Map of Transformative States and get a glimpse into the upcoming work with a fascinating discussion on mudras. This is a great interview for everyone going deeper into the higher limbs of Ashtanga Yoga. Show notes On Stanislav Grof and Aldous Huxley Chakras and brain circuits On Nadi Shodhana and types of...
2023-10-221h 21Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.6 Marriage as a Spiritual Practice With Mark Usher It's easy to get caught up in the intellectual debates of spirituality, or spending hours creating exalted states of consciousness, but the actual effects of all this practice are borne out in your everyday life and nowhere is that more apparent then in your intimate relationships. Marriage is an interesting thing from a spiritual perspective. It could be an excuse to end your practice and focus on "real life". Or it could be something you use your practice to escape from. Both of these pitfalls deny the chance to use "relationship yoga" as a...
2023-10-041h 08Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.5 David Garrigues - Can Yoga Asana Be a Full Spiritual Path? David Garrigues has been practicing Hatha Yoga, specializing in advanced Ashtanga Vinyasa for about 30 years. Few people understand the rigors and challenges of long-term asanas practices as deeply. As a fellow vinyasa enthusiast, and keen meditator, I've long been fascinated by the overlap between the two and how much asana practice can be considered a meditation in and of itself -- and not just a preparation. In our discussion, we look closely at the integration between medieval Hatha Yoga and its modern forms, how long-term practice challenges your faith...
2023-09-071h 02Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.4 Practice, Pregnancy, and Parenthood with Harmony Slater and Tina Bock This is a companion episode to our "Ashtanga and Fatherhood" episode. We're talking about how yoga practice changes for women after pregnancy and in the years of child-rearing. We talk about the challenges of physical recovery and the requirements of emotional labor. How time is the essential factor, and how we witness time can change everything.
2023-08-2256 minEscaping SamsaraS2, Ep.3 From Mysore to a Zen Monastery: Rich Ray on Modern PracticeToday, we sit down with Rich Ray, a seasoned practitioner of meditation and director of Ashtanga Yoga Portland Maine (and also creator of some dope Instagram visuals @richrayyoga) With over 25 years of Zen and Ashtanga experience, Rich's commitment to self-discovery and inner peace led him on a transformative path as a resident monk at a silent monastery four years. During this profound period of self-reflection, he cultivated profound insights that continue to influence his life and teachings. As well as founding his studio, Rich also taught yoga and meditation at state prisons in California and New Hampshire an...
2023-07-171h 12Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.2 Is Buddhist and Yoga Samadhi the Same? Gregor Maehle and Leigh Brasington. In this episode, we try to find out if the yogis and the Buddhists are describing the same thing when they talk about Samadhi. Are the paths aiming at the same experience but using different language to talk about it? Or are there deeper differences? To find out, we host a conversation between Gregor Maehle and Leigh Brasington who practice and teach deep Samadhi meditations from the yogic and Buddhist schools, respectively.
2023-06-071h 11Escaping SamsaraS2, Ep.1 MC Owens - Comparing Yogic and Buddhist Teachings MC Owens is a Buddhist teacher, translator, and author who uses a sutra-based curriculum to teach the history, philosophy, and practices of Buddhism. He has taught in universities, colleges, monasteries, and a variety of unique venues including museums, teahouses and nightclubs. Through Lotus Underground, MC Owens offers courses and private study, and is building the Lotus Underground School of Buddhism, which will combine traditional methods with immersive technologies to provide resources and develop innovative approaches to the study of Buddhism. He is also a teacher for the San Francisco D...
2023-05-161h 05Escaping Samsara#38 - Russell Case: Yoga Raconteur A little Ashtanga episode for your ear holes! Nothing I like better than a fine and geeky Ashtanga-based chat and what a privilege to do so with the raconteur himself, Russell Case. Russell has been practicing and teaching Ashtanga yoga for more than 25 years. A humble and refined teacher, he was given Authorization by Pattabhi Jois in 2005. Case is known for his joking spirit, and his perpetual eye toward social justice work. When Pattabhi Jois invited him to his pranayama class in 2007, he considered this distinction to be the highest grade.
2023-04-221h 43Escaping Samsara#37 Shaila Catherine on Jhanas and Awakening Shaila Catherine is the founder of Insight Meditation South Bay, a meditation group in Silicon Valley, and also Bodhi Courses, an online Buddhist classroom. She has been practicing meditation since 1980, with more than nine years of accumulated silent retreat experience. She has taught since 1996 in the USA, and internationally. Shaila studied with several Asian masters in India, Thailand, and Nepal, including H. W. L. Poonja, Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, and Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, in addition to the founders of several western meditation centers including Christopher Titmuss and Joseph Goldstein. She completed a one-year intensive meditation retreat with the fo...
2023-03-221h 27Escaping Samsara#36 Yoga Anatomy Q&A with Stu Girling Stu Girling is a yoga teacher, anatomy expert and author. He runs Love Yoga Anatomy online and on Youtube, and is the author of Illustrated Yoga Anatomy book. Thanks to everyone who sent in questions about yoga, ashtanga, avoiding injury and maintaining healthy bodies. We asked questions such as: How to return to yoga practice after pregnancy? How to do yoga asana with sciatica? Avoding ankle pain in lotus pose Why should spiritual yogis care about anatomy? How crosstraining can stop you getting injured What's with Setu Bandhasana? Find mo...
2023-03-201h 10Escaping Samsara#35 Ashtanga Yoga and Fatherhood with Mark Robberds, Prem Carlisi and Scott Johnson There's been a lot said and written about the changes female yogis go through when they become mothers. Now, for the first time, we discuss Ashtanga Yoga and fatherhood. Our guests, Mark Robberds, Prem Carlisi, and Scott Johnson have about 80 years of practice and teaching experience between them, close to 100 if you include me. Mark and I are new fathers, Scott Johnson's kids are teenagers, and Prem is a grandfather. It was really special to sit with a group of men and learn about realising the goals of yoga in family life. ...
2023-03-191h 23Escaping Samsara#34 Ben Goresky - Addiction, Masculinity and Relationship Yoga Ben Goresky is a counsellor, coach, and explorer of consciousness. He is involved in addiction recovery and working with men as part of the Samurai Brotherhood. He also teaches counscious relationship training, a modern take on the old yoga of coupling. Show notes Nathan and Ben are both recovered addicts and share deeply about abuse, drug addiction, and recovery. They delve into the spiritual practices that have helped Ben and Nathan on their journey to recovery and get into the spiritual...
2023-03-181h 18Escaping Samsara#33 Ash Hope - All Things Ashtanga Ash Hope is a Brisbane-based Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga teacher and a student of Nancy Gilgoff. Her fascination about the body's self-healing abilities led her to study CranioSacral therapy with the Upledger Institute in Singapore. Ash explores the practice of meditation in the Zen tradition and teaches traditional Mysore style classes in her shala in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane. Show notes Spiritual longing: From Eastern Germany to India Discovering Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga system after an injuiry On synergetic relationship of Primary and Intermediate series Weekly sequencing - thoughts on rotation of...
2023-03-171h 16Escaping Samsara#32 Michael Taft - Deconstructing Yourself Michael W. Taft is a meditation teacher, bestselling author, and the host of Deconstructing Yourself podcast. From Zen temples in Japan to yogi caves in India, Michael has been meditating for over thirty five years and has extensive experience in both Buddhist Vipassana and Hindu Tantric practice. Michael authored several books, including "The Mindful Geek, Nondualism: A Brief History of a Timeless Concept", and Ego (which he co-authored). Show notes Switching between incompatible models of reality Taking it too far Buddhist modernism Mahayana's critique of Theravada tradition Emptiness and the...
2023-03-161h 40Escaping Samsara#31 Phil Mistlberger - On Osho, Dark Night of the Soul and "Reality Tunnels"Phil Mistlberger is an explorer of world's philosophic and esoteric traditions, transpersonal therapist, international seminar and workshop facilitator, and author with over thirty years of experience. Phil has written 7 books looking from different angles on wide variety of teachings and teachers. He has co-founded and founded schools and communities of inner work like Samurai Brotherhood, and traveled around the world to study and teach numerous courses and workshops. Show notes Spiritual experiences and Perennial philosophy Moving from one tradition to another 21st century destructed mind's dark night of the soul problem 3 Dangerous Magi...
2023-02-271h 35Escaping Samsara#30 Was Aleister Crowley the First Western Yoga Teacher? With Thomas Van BredaThomas Van Breda is a scholar of religion specialising in the western esoteric tradition. He joins us to discuss notorious occultist Aleister Crowley and his contribution to the evolution of modern yoga. In 1901, Crowley travelled to Sri Lanka and studied what seems to be a mixture of Ashtanga and Shaivite Yoga. When he returned to the UK he started teaching. Is it possible that he was one of the first western yoga teachers ever? Or did his bombastic and strange personality only obscure the teachings? Show Notes We discuss the occult and...
2023-02-261h 25Escaping Samsara#29 Maggi Nimmo – Your body is a machine that says 'yes!' Show Notes Maggi's artworks especially sacred symbols and geometry What kingons and vedic concepts of gunas have in common Pattabhi Jois and Bikram back in the day A non dual experience slipping into a river How the warrior poses are the same as walking 70s Hairstyles and the subtle body How "The body accepts whatever practice you choose" Different catagories of healing The wisdom of working with the moon Pranic and apanic breathing and moon days Ashtanga and aging http://magginimmo.com/ Want to support the show...
2023-02-251h 25Escaping Samsara#28 Ty Landrum – Vinyasas of Thought and Postures of Mind While his words are often like poetry and his photos stun you with their raw aesthetics, it is that space beyond the form and beyond the mind that Ty invites us to discover and out which his reflections are generously springing from. He is the wizard of most intricate thought castles, the faqir juggling heavy philosophical constructs with lightness and innocence of a child, while his fascination for exploring the ways of embodiment of the creative principle that animates all life is like a magnet that draws you deeper into inquiry in your own practice. We are...
2023-02-101h 33Escaping Samsara#27 Deepa Rao – On Yoga, Meditation and Life in India Mumbai-based yoga practitioner and teacher, Deepa Rao shares her experience on Yoga and Meditation with us. Show notes Deepa's first spiritual recollections Amulets, yantras and experience growing up in a Brahmin familiy Goenka's Vipassana, practice and studies, aleviation of the fear of darkness Equanimity and challenges of daily life The story behind Trivikramasana How knowledge of mythology can help unravel deeper layers in your asana practice Using mantras, themes and affirmations in your practice On Ayurveda and diet, prana and apana vayu Yoga in modern day India Practicing with an...
2023-02-091h 21Escaping Samsara#26 Swami Jaya Devi – The Breath of KarmaSwami Jaya Devi Bhagavati is the Founder and Spiritual Director of Kashi Atlanta, a nonprofit urban yoga ashram that has served Atlanta for 21 years. She is an urban yoga monk, working to inspire people to live deeply, loving everyone along the way. Swami has studied yoga, pranayama (yogic breath), meditation, and healing in-depth since 1985. She took her monastic vows in the Saraswati lineage of Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati and was given the title Yoga Acharya (master teacher of yoga) in 2007. She taught at the 2004 Parliament of World Religions in Barcelona, Spain, and was Grand Marshal...
2023-02-081h 17Escaping Samsara#25 Sebene Selassie – You Belong!Sebene Selassie is an African American Buddhist teacher. She has been studying Buddhism for 30 years and teaching for 10. She has worked extensively for not-for-profit organisations everywhere from the Tenderloin in San Francisco to refugee camps in Guinea, West Africa. This year, she published her first book via HarperOne titled You Belong: A Call for Connection. In this enriching conversation we tackle the kind of tough subjects that we all think about but need to talk about more. Why have women been sidelined in Buddhist lineages? How can the Dharma respond to racial strife and injustice? And how w...
2023-02-071h 10Escaping Samsara#24 Robert Moses – Exploring the Depth Of Yogic Practices Robert Moses has 50 years' experience as a teacher of yoga and advaita vedanta. Robert served in the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers for 22 years. He is a founder and co-publisher of Namarupa – Categories of Indian thoughts, a magazine about the philosophies and arts of India. He is leading annual pilgrimages to sacred places of India and offering classes on Pranayama, Bandhas, Kriyas, Mudras as well as exploration of Hatha Yoga Pradipika online. Show notes First glimpses beyond the physical plain of existence Intense yoga practice, meditation and fasting Hi...
2023-01-191h 26Escaping Samsara#23 Erik Davis - The Chaos Path Dr. Erik Davis is an American writer, scholar, journalist and public speaker whose writings have ranged from rock criticism to cultural analysis to creative explorations of mysticism. Few people are able to talk about the spirituality with a precision and accuracy born of a commitment to always remain open to the Mystery. Erik shares his own path, describing how he maintains scientific viewpoint while also embracing the weird and unknown aspects in all religions, especially Christianity and Buddhism. We talk in detail about "the psychonaut"scientifically minded explorers who us...
2023-01-151h 13Escaping Samsara#22 Leigh Brasington - Deep Dive into Buddhist Meditation (ep.2)Leigh has been practicing meditation since 1985. He is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema. He began teaching retreats in Europe and North America in 1997, and is the author of the book "Right Concentration - A Practical Guide to the Jhanas". This is first part of our in-depth exploration of different aspects of Buddhist teachings that Leigh generously took time and energy for. Episode 2 Show Notes Studying Buddhist suttas and commentaries, Visuddhimagga and Abhidhamma Stream entry, interpretation, importance and application of buddhist models Pulling out mile markers Long-term practice...
2023-01-091h 03Escaping Samsara#21 Leigh Brasington - Deep Dive into Buddhist Meditation (ep.1) Leigh has been practicing meditation since 1985. He is the senior American student of the late Ven. Ayya Khema. He began teaching retreats in Europe and North America in 1997, and is the author of the book "Right Concentration - A Practical Guide to the Jhanas". This is first part of our in-depth exploration of different aspects of Buddhist teachings that Leigh generously took time and energy for. Episode 1 Show notes The falling of the veil, spiritual hedonism and world trip The story of Theravada nun Ayya Khema Ways to look at...
2023-01-081h 19Escaping Samsara#20 Ellen Johannesen - Between Yogic and Buddhist PerspectivesNorway-born, Kathmandu-based KPJAYI authorised level 2 Ashtanga yoga teacher, co-founder of the first Ashtanga studio In Oslo, buddhist practitioner and scholar of Himalayan languages and Tibetan philology - Ellen Johannesen shares with us her fascinating life story as we change between buddhist and yogic perspectives exploring the path to liberation. Show notes From contemporary dance to yoga Movement patterns, innate animal logic and asana The act of balancing or playing with the forces outside of you Yogic Yamas & Niyamas vs. Buddhist Paramis Regaining subtle body awareness through asana Relocating to Nepal and studying...
2023-01-071h 18Escaping Samsara#19 Forrest Knutson - The Process of Yogic MeditationA lover of the ancient and obscure, Forrest Knutson is a yogi householder, writer and meditation teacher. He offers many great video instructions on Kriya Yoga and meditation on his YouTube channel, as well as through his courses and trainings. Show notes Search for Truth, "Hamsa" meditation and first spiritual experience Joining monastic community Lahiri Mahasaya and Babaji Wondering up in the hills Kriya Enlightenment equasion, samadhi, layman vs monastic practice "Remedial teacher", heart rate variability and "3 cordial rules" Kechari Mudra Analogies with buddhist Jhana practice 7 Kriyas of Lahiri, buddhist 5 breath states
2023-01-061h 11Escaping Samsara#18 Mark Robberds & Deepika Mehta - Beyond SequenceWe are beyond excited to kick off the new year with these 2 beautiful guests - Deepika Mehta and Mark Robberds. Yoga couple, Ashtanga practitioners and movement specialists, teachers and successful Instagramers, humble and curious beings on the spiritual path - which of these labels come close to who they really are? Listen in! Show notes Deepika's path to spirituality Relationships, practice and parenthood Pareto principle in Mark's approach to maintaining the practice Aging: Flexibility means fragility? Movement exploration rooted in the yogic tristana Benefits of a set sequence and creativity, yoga and...
2023-01-051h 13Escaping Samsara#17 Gregor Maehle - Yogic Inquiry. The Science of 8-limbed Yoga (ep. 1) We are very happy to present to you this interview with Gregor Maehle that was recorded around a year ago. Gregor's path is a remarkable example of limitless determination to find the Truth. While not attempting to gain popularity and fame his ideas and views can be polarizing, provoking and challenging. He dismisses authorities, hierarchies, guru worship and other unhealthy group dynamics. By doing so he is not only living out authentically one of the fundamental yogic attitudes of willing to know, rather than to believe, but also plays an extremely important social role that is becoming more...
2023-01-041h 16Escaping Samsara#16 Harmony Slater - Ashtanga in Practice Harmony Slater is Ashtanga Yoga practitioner and teacher based in Calgary, Canada. Her search for meaning led her from ballet dancing to studying philosophy, religion and psychology, travelling to China to learn Buddhist meditation and eventually meeting Sri. K Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. In this lively conversation we talk about her path and discuss many other topics: Entranced by Sri Yantra - first mystical experiences Different internal drishtis during asana practice and the meditative aspect of it Harmony's study of the mind in academical and practical setting Darkness, addiction and the light of...
2023-01-031h 07Escaping Samsara#15 Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor - Buddhism Meets Yoga in the Heart of Modern Practice, Part 2This is a second interview in our two-part special with yoga teachers Mary Taylor and Richard Freeman. In our first conversation we were primarily focusing on different aspects of the Yoga practice. Now in this episode we explore the relationship between Yoga and Buddhism. We look closely at the content of both teachings to understand how they intersect, whether they are talking about same or similar things just under different angles, what is the reason between different emphasis of those, as well as how both traditions can support each other if you bring enough curiosity and create a space...
2022-12-221h 19Escaping Samsara#14 Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor - Yogic Musings, Part IOur hearts are filled with joy and gratitude, and we are honoured to bring you a very special series of conversations with a yogic couple, who have influenced the world of modern yoga probably more than anyone else. Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor dedicated their lives to practice and study of the spiritual traditions of the East and are sharing the knowledge revealed to them humbly and graciously with their students. Show notes Mary's reflections on her first spiritual experiences Groundedness, embodiment and the connection to the environment Dropping of the breath...
2022-12-221h 35Escaping Samsara#13 Bhante Panna: Brother on the PathBhante Panna is an American monk living in a forest monestry near Bangkok. He has a popular Instagram (@bronthepath} where he shares his life of contemplation. In this conversation we address monkhood, spiritual powers, communing with nature, ending racism, and liberation. I know you're going to like this one! Show Notes 2.50 Bhante's spiritual awakening while climbing a mountain 11.40 The spirituality of Thailand 14.00 Bhante's daily routine and life as a monk 24.00 How celibacy has given Bhante a new sense of freedom 27.00 The roots of African spirituality 32.30 Discussing siddhis or extra-normal powers associated with me...
2022-12-221h 03Escaping Samsara#12 Anthony "Prem" Carlisi on Astral Travel, Grief and GurusAnthony "Prem" Carlisi has been practicing and teaching Ashtanga yoga for over 40 years. He learned directly from Pattabhi Jois in 1978 for several months in Southern California. In 1979, he was amongst the first small group of Western students to study with Jois in his home town of Mysore, India. He is considered one of the American pioneers of Ashtanga yoga, along with David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, David Swenson and Tim Miller. Prem was certified to teach the primary, intermediate and advanced series of Ashtanga yoga in 1994. He also completed a four-year course of ayurvedic study in 1984 with Dr...
2022-12-221h 11Escaping Samsara#11 Oliver Crossley from Yogic Physio - Yoga and Injuries - Q&A Session In this episdoe we talk to Oliver Crossley from Yogic Physio. Oliver is a Registered Physiotherapist, Yoga and Meditation Teacher. He is a long-term practitioner of Zen Buddhism, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Vinyasa Krama Yoga in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. He is a passionate proponent of evidence-based rehabilitation and person-centred care and loves helping people get back to moving at their best. This is a different kind of episode. This time we gathered questions of our listeners on different social media platforms and asked Oliver about h...
2022-12-091h 19Escaping Samsara#10 Rumana Afroze - In The Deluge Of The One The shrine has a mosque-like roof, white as a meringue. People, some in robes, walk in-between evergreen trees laden with jackfruit. It's the rainy season in Bangladesh and everything is hot and wet. Muhammed Ali fixes us with a calm gaze beneath authoritarian eyebrows. Behind him, a woman sweeps around the grave of saint Lalon Shah and that of his mother. The two six-foot-long prisms are covered with patterned material and spicy smokes threads through latticed burners. Lalon's main disciples are buried outside the small mausoleum. Ali points out one of the...
2022-12-0836 minEscaping Samsara#9 Ajahn Achalo - A Generous Talk With Thai Forest Monk Ajahn Achalo an Australian buddhist monk and current abbot of Anandagiri Forest Monastery in North Thailand. He was born in Brisbane and ordained in the lineage of Ajahn Chah in 1996. In recent times he has created some extensive online teachings that are proving popular on meditation apps, Spotify and the like. You can find his writings and Dharma talks on the website of the monastery. In this conversation, Ajahn Achalo generously shared his thoughts on many intricate aspects of Buddhist practice. The ease and open-heartedness with which he engaged in conversation with us...
2022-12-081h 42Escaping Samsara#8 Lisa Sharon Harper: My Spirituality Is Only As Powerful As I Allow It To Engage With the World Around Me From Ferguson to New York, and from Germany and South Africa to Australia and Brazil, Lisa Sharon Harper leads trainings that increase clergy and community leaders' capacity to organize people of faith toward a just world. A prolific speaker, writer and activist, Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action. Show notes Lisa's Podcast about social justice and activism Milk, donuts and...
2022-12-081h 13Escaping Samsara#7 Ajahn Succito: If you won't create your own life - the world will create it for you On this episode we talk to Ajahan Succito a british-born Buddhist monk and former abbot of Cittaviveka monestry in the UK. I became aware of Ajahn Succito when my teacher gave a series of talks on the Paramis – the Buddhist virtues – based on his book on the subject. I hadn't heard of the Paramis or Succito but my teacher was so enthused by his presentation of the subject I couldn't help but get a copy which turned out to be easy as all his books are freely available here. I wo...
2022-12-081h 20Escaping Samsara#6 Monica Gauci - Sweet Fruits of Lifelong SādhanāTo us Monica is an embodiment of the yogic way of living. With around 40 years of spiritual practice she is also a Doctor of Chiropractic , Yoga Therapist and co-author of "Ashtanga Yoga, Practice and Philosophy" and "Ashtanga Yoga, The Intermediate Series". Her passion for teaching yogic anatomy unlocks this uneasy subjects to many of her students. In intensive immersions that she offers together with her husband, Gregor Maehle, Monica is also teaching chanting. Her devotion and love for the practice helps students to tap into the world of infinite beauty the moment the first OM together is chanted. We...
2022-11-221h 01Escaping Samsara#5 Simon Borg-Olivier – Yogic Kaleidoscope Talking to Simon Borg-Olivier is like going snorkelling with Jacque Yve Cousteau - you suddenly find yourself in a bathyscaphe at the bottom of the ocean exploring its depth and multifacetedness of creatures you never knew existed, although in our case it's the ocean of Yoga and the creatures are different angles to view mudras, kriyas, asanas, yogic breathing and the concept of movement itself. In this fascinating talk Simon takes us on a wild ride through many different angles to view the common things - from questioning the validity of the most basic instructions like lifting you...
2022-11-221h 43Escaping Samsara#4 Lorraine Cavanagh - The Currents of Joy Lorraine Cavanagh is an Anglican priest, theologian and a sincere practitioner of Christian path. Her journey is about cultivating and helping others to establish personal relationship with God, outside of any dogmatic concept or structure. It's about spirituality, and not about church. She is also a writer and a podcast host. In this interview Lorraine shares with us her thoughts on the problems of modern Christian religion, the common misunderstandings about major Christian concepts and helps us better understand some fundamental metaphors of Christianity. We speak about the practice of prayer and the...
2022-11-191h 04Escaping Samsara#3 Mark Togni – The Intersection. Zen Monk practicing 4th Series of Ashtanga Vinyasa YogaMark Togni is a Zen monk, advanced Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practitioner and teacher. In this geeky interview Mark shared with us his insights on intersection of great amount of different practices and traditions. Differences in effects of Vipassana, Zen and Yogic chakra and Kundalini raising meditation techniques. Interdependent co-arising in Zen, self-inquiry approach of Advaita Vedanta and Patanjali's Yoga Sutra philosophy. Breathing waves, bandhas and energetic patterns of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga's sequences. These are just a few things we discuss in this over an hour long interview with Mark Togni. What makes this conversation so...
2022-11-161h 21Escaping Samsara#2 Nicky Knoff – Be Here NowNicky Knoff has an incredible life story and a yoga journey that stretches over more than 50 years. Being 82 at the time when we recorded this interview, she is vibrant, full of life and excited about teaching yoga to her students. Nicky shares the story of her life with us – from growing up in a prisoner's camp in Indonesia, discovering yoga and meeting many inspirational teachers to her philosophy and approach to teaching that aims to integrate higher limbs of yoga in a holistic and balanced practice. Show notes Be here now – Nicky's childhood memories of prisoner's camp...
2022-11-151h 17Escaping Samsara#1 Matthew Sweeney – Modern Look at Higher Limbs of YogaIn this episode we interview Matthew Sweeney, a long-term yoga practitioner and teacher. Matthew's path of self-inquiry is a remarkable journey through different systems and approaches, from Martial Arts and Zen Shiatsu to Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. A long-term absorption in yogic practices together with open-mindedness an interest in Meditation, Tantra, Gestalt Therapy, Transpersonal Therapy, Transforming Cellular Memory, Buddhism and Advaita Vedanta helped him to crystallise his understanding and develop his own authentic and honest approach to teaching. He has written several books and created DVD teaching programs, as well as many great reflections in form or free art...
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