Sivana Podcast: Eastern Spirituality, Yoga Philosophy, And Conscious Living

All of us have character traits or emotions like greed, envy or fear, that we wish we could change. In today’s episode, we embrace the beauty of the darker aspects of our personality. Instead of suppressing these emotions, learn how a technique called Shadow Work can enlighten us by focusing on these darker aspects of ourselves.  Join us for this conversation is Kassandra Reinhardt, one of the world’s leading Yin Yoga instructors online with over 4 million views on Youtube. Her videos have served as the introduction to Yin Yoga - and the motivation - for thousands of people. Her book on Yin Yoga will be published by DK Books this fall.   Special Guest: Kassandra Reinhardt http://www.yogawithkassandra.com/   Host: Brett Larkin http://www.brettlarkin.com/   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper http://zmcmusic.tumblr.com/   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com 

We all want to take our yoga practice beyond the mat, but what does that practically look like? In this conversation with Sivana’s new podcast host, Brett Larkin, you’ll learn how to personalize your practice by “dating” multiple yoga styles, how to create a daily ritual combining yoga, journaling and meditation, and simple tips to integrate yoga philosophy into the mundane moments of daily living. Learn Brett’s detailed process of “Transformation Journaling,” so you can integrate writing and self-development work into your time on the mat. Brett is the founder of Uplifted Yoga, an online yoga and meditation community empowering students to personalize their practice and ignite their best life - on and off the mat. She’s instructed at top studios, companies like Google and Pinterest, and on retreats around the world. Today, she teaches to a social media following of 100K people. Her content on Youtube is streamed for 2 million minutes each month. She’s excited to be coming on board as the next host of the Si

Plant medicine is playing a larger and larger role in the west, but what does that mean? What do we see happening in the community? What are the effects on indigenous cultures that are happening? Join us as we discuss how plant medicine plays an increasingly pivotal role in the world, and all the benefits and dangers they bring. Itzhak Beery is an internationally recognized shamanic teacher, healer, speaker, community activist and author the books the Gift of Shamanism: Visionary Power, Ayahuasca Dreams, and Journeys to Other Realms and Shamanic Transformations: True Stories of the Moment of Awakening.   Special Guest: Itzhak Beery www.itzhakbeery.com   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson   www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

What does it mean to be a man? Or a woman? And how do we bridge these feminine and masculine energies in order to find deeper levels of harmony? Wes Parrish is a clarity junkie, spiritual warrior, and meditation guide. With a long history of being a digital art director (creating cultural movements, branding, and social media marketing), he has an even longer history of blending the universal aspects of Buddhism, Toltec wisdom, warrior mindset, and A Course in Miracles into a modern art of living your essential truth. A truth that may have nothing to do with what current society holds important but has everything to do with leading humanity forward. His weekly podcast series on iTunes, The Obsidian Blade Dharmacast, reaches an ever-growing audience of mindfulness and meditation practitioners who wish to take their liberation game to the next level. You can learn more at http://theobsidianblade.com or listen on iTunes at http://apple.co/1OTAztd   Special Guest: Wes Parrish http://theobsidianblade.com/   Creato

What does it mean to fully embrace our inner sacred feminine and masculine? How do we discover our own personal strengths? Johnny Blackburn is a professional coach, speaker & facilitator who empowers clients, organizations and audiences to discover and then live from their deeper Presence. Residing in San Diego, CA, he is a highly respected authority on human embodiment and professional performance. Blackburn’s original background in Management Consulting, Master’s degree in Psychology and more than 1500 client-coaching hours as a Professionally Certified Coach with the International Coach Federation all combined with extensive professional development training make him a highly sought after guide to greater levels of presence, openness and thriving.   Special Guest: Johnny Blackburn http://www.johnnyblackburn.net/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests

Have you ever experienced having all your dreams come true, only to find they weren’t all that fulfilling? Many people have through history. So what’s the answer? Join us as we explore this important topic with Tricia Huffman. As soon Tricia found out her father had passed, she had an overwhelming urge to do more with her life. She wanted everyone, everywhere, to love the life they are leading, no matter what they are doing and no matter where they are. She didn’t know where life was leading her, but she pursued what made her happy and healthy. She healed and transformed herself during this time and it radiated to her community of family and friends, who were inspired that she listened to herself and took the time to pause my life to take care of herself. This eventually led her to develop her own philosophy of Joyology, something many people have found deeply inspiring throughout the years.   Special Guest: Tricia Huffman http://www.yourjoyologist.com/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.c

Join us as we dive into using yoga and meditation as a tool to unwind trauma and intense emotional distress. Our two guests are as impressive as they are compassionate in their approach to this important topic:   Judy Weaver is the director of Yoga Styles teacher Training in Florida the primary founder and director for Education For Connected Warriors. She conducts trauma-conscious yoga training based on the latest scientific understanding of the human brain and psychological understanding. She also served on Yoga Alliance’s schools and students advisory board.   Carol Horton, Ph.D., is the author of Yoga Ph.D.: Integrating the Life of the Mind and the Wisdom of the Body (2012) and Race and the Making of American Liberalism (2005). Carol is the Vice President of the Yoga Service Council, an Advisor to the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, and a co-founder of Chicago’s Socially Engaged Yoga Network (SEYN). She completed her foundational yoga teacher training with Ana Forrest, and studied trauma-informed yoga with

Why is it that people speak differently when they’re dying? Lisa Smartt’s father had always been a skeptical and rationalist person. But three days before dying, her father announced, "The angels say only three days left now." He spoke of a "green dimension" and his room crowded with people who were unseen. He also spoke in a poetic and metaphoric language, describing the big art show that was approaching and the boxes he had to carry for his ceramicist wife of 54 years. She listened in awe as she transcribed his final words that not only painted a world unseen but were rich in language patterns that appeared to be unique to the end of life. Formally trained in linguistics, Lisa was deeply curious about the language she witnessed. When she discovered little or no research had been done into people's final words, she established The Final Words Project (2014)  with Dr. Raymond Moody to learn more. Raymond, who coined the term near-death experience, has had a lifelong interest in language and joined Lisa on thi

What exactly are the chemical reactions in the brain that occur during spiritual experiences? What do they do to us, and can they be isolated? This fascinating topic of discussion is talked about at length in this podcast with Dr. Rick Strassman. Dr. Rick Strassman is a board certified psychiatrist at the New Mexico School of Medicine, where he teaches. At UNM, Dr. Strassman performed clinical research investigating the function of the pineal hormone melatonin in which his research group documented the first known role of melatonin in humans. He also began the first new US government approved and funded clinical research with psychedelic drugs in over twenty years. He has published nearly thirty peer-reviewed scientific papers, and has served as a reviewer for several psychiatric research journals. He written groundbreaking books such as DMT: The Spirit Molecule, Inner Paths to Outer Space, and DMT and the Soul of Prophecy.   Special Guest: Dr. Rick Strassman https://www.rickstrassman.com/   Creator & Hos

Mindfulness is great, but how do you find your center in chaotic situations? It certainly isn’t easy. But thankfully, we have a SEAL to help us.   Thom Shea served 23 years with distinguished Valor as a Navy SEAL. During his military career, he served in three wars, ultimately leading a team of Navy SEALs into Afghanistan in 2009 where he earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, Army Commendation with Valor and his second Combat Action Medal. He was hand-selected to serve as Officer In Charge of the famed SEAL Sniper course from 2009 – 2011. He’s also the CEO of Adamantine Alliance, a unique leadership and demanding human performance training organization.   Special Guest: Thom Shea http://adamantinealliance.com/thom-shea/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com

What is Yoga Nidra, really? What happens to us in this very deep state of peace and mindfulness? Join us as we explore this fascinating topic with our special guest, Kamini Desai.   Trained at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health with degrees in Anthropology and Psychology from Smith College and La Salle University, and as daughter of one of the original yoga masters who pioneered yoga in the West, Kamini has served as Director of Wellness at Yarrow, an executive retreat center in Michigan, and on faculty of the Foxhollow Leadership Center. She is now the Education Director and Core Curriculum Developer of the Amrit Yoga Institute -a cutting edge teaching center for advanced studies in eastern philosophy. She is one of three Founding Directors of the International University of Yoga and Ayurveda with Dr. Vijay K Jain, MD and Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla.   Special Guest: Kamini Desai http://www.kaminidesai.com/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn

With a wider acceptance of marijuana quickly gaining in the US, many people are starting to explore the practical uses of this ancient plant. And while the conversation is usually framed around its medicinal qualities, what about its connection to rituals, creativity, and spirituality? Join us with special guest Stephen Gray as we discuss the use of cannabis in both modern and ancient spiritual settings and how it is being used by people to deepen and expand their spiritual experience. Stephen Gray is a teacher, workshop organizer, public speaker and writer on spiritual subjects and sacramental medicines. He has worked extensively with Tibetan Buddhism, the Native American Church, and with entheogenic medicines. He is the author of Returning to the Sacred World: A Spiritual Toolkit for the Emerging Reality and the editor and co-author of Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer's Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally.   Special Guest: Stephen Gray http://www.stephengrayvision.com/ Creator & Host: Ashton

Without a doubt, the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important texts ever written. But there are very few who truly understand its most important aspects and hidden meanings. Scott Teitsworth is a lifelong student of Indian philosophy and modern science under the tutelage of Nitya Chaitanya Yati, himself a disciple of Nataraja Guru. An editor of books written by these gurus, he and his wife host the Portland branch of the Narayana Gurukula, where they have taught classes on the Bhagavad Gita and Indian philosophy since the 1970s. He’s written The Path to the Guru and Krishna in the Sky with Diamonds, two books that explore profound hidden teachings locked away for ages.   Special Guest: Scott Teitsworth https://www.innertraditions.com/author/scott-teitsworth/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Have you ever thought that maybe the official story of human history seems a little...off? This fascinating interview dives into a different take on history, and gives plenty of food for thought. Susan B. Martinez, Ph.D., is a writer, linguist, teacher, paranormal researcher, and recognized authority on the Oahspe Bible with a doctorate in anthropology from Columbia University. She is the author of Delusions in Science and Spirituality, Time of the Quickening, The Lost History of the Little People, The Mysterious Origins of Hybrid Man, and her recent book, The Lost Continent of Pan.   Special Guest: Susan B. Martinez https://www.innertraditions.com/author/susan-b-martinez-ph-d/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson   www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Who owns yoga? Where does it REALLY come from, and how has it evolved from its origins? We ask these questions and more with our special guest Eric Shaw, who has studied yoga and meditation for 30 years and taught both since 2001. He is the creator of both Prasana Yoga and Yoga Education Through Imagery, a lecture programming that teaches yoga’s traditions through archival imagery and new scholarship. With two degrees in Art, and Masters Degrees in Education, Religious Studies and Asian Studies, the conversation is both fascinating and unique. You don’t want to miss this episode!   Special Guest: Eric Shaw http://prasanayoga.com/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Sometimes healing injuries isn’t what you think! In fact, you could be prolonging your healing process by stretching or massaging incorrectly, when your body is really craving to break the pattern that brought about the injury in the first place. That’s where Edan Herari comes in. An authority and educator in the world of health and healing, Edan performs the powerful (but lesser-known) modalities of Ortho-Bionomy and John Barnes Myofascial Release (MFR). These techniques support the body’s natural healing (self- corrective) mechanisms by working with the body, not on it.   Dive into this podcast and learn what it means to truly embrace self-care and listen to your body! Special Guest: Edan Herari http://www.kineticbodytherapy.com/ Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/  

Without a doubt, western civilization harbors some of the most stressed-out people in the world. And what’s worse, instead of turning towards a deeper sense of peace within, we have gotten in the habit of distracting ourselves with electronics.   But Dr. Linda Lehrhaupt believes there is a better way. She is the founder/executive director of The Institute for Mindfulness-Based Approaches (IMA), and for more than 35 years she has been working as an adult educator, helping people beat a wide variety of emotional issues related to challenging circumstances.   Her belief is that the world would be a profoundly different place with just a few of these simple mindfulness-based approaches.   Special Guest: Linda Lehrhaupt   http://www.linda-lehrhaupt.com/   http://www.institute-for-mindfulness.org/   Creator & host: Ashton Szabo   http://www.anatomyofliving.com/   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson   www.sivanaspirit.com   www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at:   www.siv

Fascia is a buzz word in most yoga and physical fitness circles these days, but what are people really talking about? Does it change long standing ideas about how the human body operates and moves? What does fascia have to do with how we experience pain? How might all of this give us a deeper understanding of movement and practices like yoga? Join us with special guest, Tom Myers, as we dive into these topics and more to gain a deeper understanding of the human body. Tom Myers, a pioneer of the human body, anatomy expert and author of the now classic text Anatomy Trains has had a huge impact on yogis, body workers, massage therapists, personal trainers, physical therapists and more. Special Guest: Tom Myers www.anatomytraings.com Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Humility is a rare trait in our modern world, yet having more humility can have a wonderfully positive effect on one's life. Is there a science behind humility? What are some skillful ways we can practice it? Join us with special guest, Jason Gregory, as we dive into a richer understanding of humility as part of our spiritual practice. Jason Gregory is a teacher, filmmaker, international speaker and author of multiple books, including the Science and Practice of Humility, Fasting the Mind, and Enlightenment Now. Special Guest: Jason Gregory www.jasongregory.org Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

It's said that ayahuasca has been used in South America as a plant medicine for thousands of years and we see it experiencing a wave of interest and popularity in an underground movement in the United States. Wanting to know more about this indigenous medicine, our guest Rachel Harris, a trained psychologist, questioned hundreds of people about their ayahuasca experiences here in the United States. What she learned confirms many of the benefits we see from other early research being done on ayahuasca and other entheogenic plant medicines. Are there potential medicinal or therapeutic benefits to drinking ayahuasca? What might our society look like if it had a different view of psychedelics? We explore these questions and more! Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD is the author of multiple books, including the recently released Listening to Ayahuasca published by New World Library. She received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator's award, has published more than forty scientific studies in peer reviewed