Inquire Within Podcast

If  you wander the lush, green hills surrounding San Francisco, you may be lucky enough to encounter the  hauntingly beautiful music of Lee Ellen Shoemaker, also known as The Tunnel Singer.  Lee Ellen uses abandoned World War I  military tunnels to chant, play Tibetan bowels and create mind-altering music.  She has recorded numerous CD’s and is world renown for her unique vocals. Resources Tunnel Singer Website

There are few issues more vexing than relationships for those wishing to walk a spiritual path—at the same time relationships that are rooted in mindfulness and compassion can be the most rewarding aspects of life.   In this podcast psychotherapist and meditation practitioner Cameron Yarbrough MA, MTFi discusses the intersection between spirituality and relationships and how to begin, mindfully live in and, when appropriate, consciously end relationships. Resources Cameron's Website

For many yogis, music is a natural extension of their practice.  Most focus their attention on Indian style chanting.  Lana Mir’s music is deeply inspired by her passion for yoga but rather than focus on Indian music her songs are reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones and Sinead O’Connor.  The merging of these seemingly different worlds has made her one of the one of the most sought-after artists to come along in years.Lana’s self-titled album has been made her an overnight success worldwide.   Resources Lana Mir on Facebook Lana Mir on iTunes Lana Mir on Amazon   Lana’s Videos I Want to Be Adored Summertime These Days  

  On February 8, 2011 Amrit Desai (Gurudev) spoke to my class at Grace Cathedral to an audience of hundreds of people.  This is a live recording of the chanting and discourse he offered. Amrit Desai was one of the original gurus to come to the United States from India in the 1960s.  He founded the Kripalu Yoga Ashram in Massachusetts—the largest ashram in the West. He, like most gurus, is not without controversy.  Yet in spite of the controversy, he has made an invaluable contribution to modern yoga and to the massive growth of yoga here in the West and he is considered one of the leading authorities on yoga in the world.  He is the author of numerous books on yoga, is a renown musician, lectures worldwide, and is featured in the documentary, Yoga Today: 100 Years of Yoga in America.   Resources Amrit Desai's Website Yoga on the Labyrinth at Grace Cathedral

The colon is one of the most important organs in the body and yet it receives a massive amount of abuse from the abundance of processed food we tend to eat as well as from over the counter and prescription medicines.  Colon Hydrotherapy  is a relaxing and technique for gently detoxifying the colon, improving elimination and strengthening  almost every system in the body.In this interview Shayla Mihaly, owner of the Abundant Health Day Spa in San Francisco, talks about the benefits of colonics and answers some of the most common fears and concerns about the ancient practice of cleansing the colon.Resources Abundant Health Day Spa Find a Therapist Schedule an Appointment Schedule Online By Phone: 415-440-3869 By EmailRecommended Reading The Detox Solution: The Missing Link to Radiant Health, Abundant Energy, Ideal Weight, and Peace of Mind

Kerri was drawn to the grace and compassion of yoga in 1999 after suffering many physical injuries from a lifetime of sports and exercise. Since then, Kerri's personal and professional practice has evolved to embrace yoga as a method of self-regulation and transformation. Kerri has been teaching yoga for six years and continues to explore many styles of yoga to ensure creativity and balance in her classes. She has developed a Yoga for Runners program and teaches cross-training workshops throughout the Bay Area. She is an active ambassador for Off the Mat, Into the World and facilitates leadership programs about yoga and activism. In this podcast, Kerri gives powerful advice on how one can apply yoga principles off the mat by embodying yoga in every moment of our lives. By finding our voices and inspiring others to do the same, yoga is able to change individuals and transform whole communities. Resources Kerri Kelly’s Website Off the Mat, Into the World

Janet Gallin and Tresa Eyres are The Love Letter Squad.  These two inspiring women offer workshops on how to write love letters to friends, family members and lovers.  Their work has inspired hundreds of people to walk across burning bridges to heal old wounds, and to express on paper the love and respect that we feel for those closest to us, yet may not be able to articulate.  In addition to their workshops they also write a regular column for the San Francisco Examiner blog and are the hosts of a popular radio program on KUSF in San Francisco. Resources The Love Letter Squad Website Love Letter Squad Radio Show & Podcast

Healing is a powerful profession whether you are a therapist, bodyworker, practice Ayruveda or another modality.  Yet very few healers are also adept at running a business.  In this podcast, personal coach and founder of Ayurveda-Flow,  Matthew Sloane explores ways in which healers can focus their time and energy to become better business men and women so that they can in turn become better healers.  Even people who are not in the healing profession will find Matthew's insights into balancing goals and ambitions with the push and pull of daily life helpful.Resources Matthew's Website

According the the American Chiropractic Association more than 31 Million Americans experience back pain ranging from mild discomfort to debilitation agony.  In this podcast renown physical therapist and yoga teacher Harvey Deutch talks about the various causes of back pain and offers some powerful advice for practicing yoga safely and in many cases alleviating discomfort.Harvey is the founder of Red Hawk Physical Therapy and a leader in educating exercise professional such as yoga teacher in how to safely support their students. Resources Red Hawk Physical TherapyRead: Back Care Basics by Mary Pullig Schatz

Grieving the loss of a loved one is a healing process that never really ends, but death is not the only occasion to grieve.  The loss of a job, a relationship ending or even the passing from youth to middle age.  Social Worker and yoga teacher Ken Breniman leads workshops in how to use the grieving process as a profound opportunity for spiritual growth and emotional healing.  By combining his years of experience as a teacher and counselor with his own experience of grieving the loss of his mother, Ken has developed tools for working with grief provide a steady keel when the storm of grief threatens to capsize us. Resources Ken's WebsiteGriefShare.orgRecommended Reading Tear Soup  by Pat Schwiebert  When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chordron Start Where You Are At  by Pema Chordron Everett Anderson’s Goodbye by Lucille Clifton  Yoga for a Broken Heart by Michelle Paisley Hicks  

Traditionally most Buddhists have taken a very conservative view of human sexuality.  For the most part, sexuality was reserved for procreation.  Many modern Buddhists have struggled to find ways to take a more liberal approach to sexuality while still being true to the tenets of Buddhism that date back 2,500 years to the Gautama himself.In his new  book,  Sex, Sin and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between,   Brad Warner explores the many facets of human sexuality.  In this podcast he talks about his controversial book and how all Buddhists can be true to their spirituality and their sexuality at the same time.ResourcesBrad's WebsitePurchase: Sex, Sin and Zen: A Buddhist Exploration of Sex from Celibacy to Polyamory and Everything in Between

Karl Erb, one of San Francisco’s senior yoga teachers, learned in May of 2010 that he had cancer.  Rather than retreat from the world, Karl shared his experience; strength and hope via his blog inspiring people the world over. As Karl prepares to return to teaching, he offers his reflections on getting sick, facing his mortality and coming through the other side by turning to his years of yoga practice for strength, courage and inspiration.   Resources Karl’s WebsiteBook: The Empathetic Civilization by Jeremy Rifkin  

  Modern western psychology is fairly new on the healing stage dating back only as far as Sigmund Freud.   Eastern psychology on the other hand dates back thousands of years.  In this interview psychologist and yoga teacher Jeremi McManus talks about growing up in India as a Christian missionary and then coming back to the United States to study western psychology only to find that his yoga practice would swing his attention back to Indian pscychology. ResourcesJeremi on FacebookLaughing Lotus Yoga Center

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects the nervous system by deteriorating the myelin sheath that coats the nerves.  This causes the nerves to short out in much the same way an electrical wire might if the plastic coating surrounding it were damaged.  MS can cause a wide array of challenges ranging from loss of feeling to paralysis and even death. Jane Gould, a San Francisco area yoga teacher was diagnosed with MS and used Tibetan healing and yoga in conjunction with western medicine to a manage the disease and even reverse some of its effects.  She now offers yoga classes for others with MS and has seen the same miraculous results in many of her students.  In this interview Jane tells her own inspiring story and offers hope to others living with MS.   Resources Jane Gould’s Website National MS Socieity Tibetan Acadamy WebMD MS &Yoga Video   Suggested Reading Yoga & MS by Loren Martin Fishman, M.D.

City of Hope is one of the leading treatment and research facilities for Cancer, HIV and diabetes in the world.  Their unique approach to addressing live threatening illnesses by looking at the whole person has resulted many treatments that are being used today around the world and the research they are doing today holds promise for more effective and less invasive treatments in the future. Yoga for Hope uses the passion people feel for yoga raise money for this important work.  In this interview Mindy Finkelstein talk about this nation-wide fundraiser and talks about how you can get involved. Resources Yoga For Hope Benefit- Get Involved City of Hope  

  Every culture and tribe has a creation myth to explain the origins of life and the human condition in which we find ourselves.  While these myths may have little to do with modern science, they do tell us a lot about ourselves.  In her book, In the Beginning, Creation Myths from Around the World, Carolyn North gathers and retells some of these powerful stories.  In this podcast she explains the differences and striking similarities between these myths.   Resources Carolyn's Website Purchase In the Beginning, Creation Myths from Around the World

  Being a vegetarian has never been easier but finding restaurants, especially when traveling can be a challenge.  That is where the “Happy Cow” website can help.  This handy website was started by Eric Brent as a way to find healthy food choices when dining out.    In this podcast Eric share his thoughts on creating a healthy, plant-based diet and finding restaurants menus that offer vegetarians something other than salad.  Whether you are a vegetarian already, thinking of becoming one or simply want to reduce the amount of meat in your diet, this episode will be inspiring and helpful! Resources Happy Cow Website Veg Out iPhone App

Millions of men and woman each year try to lose weight and get back in shape and yet that goal can seem very elusive.  Some are able to take weight of for a time but have difficulty keeping the pounds off while others dread the hunger pains and cravings that seem to accompany so many diets.             Wanda Pierce, a San Francisco based massage therapist shares her struggles and ultimate success in losing weight and keeping the weight off by taking a mindful approach that included a variety of healthy and satisfying foods, moderate exercise and regular bodywork.  Her story is inspiring and uplifting for anyone who wants to improve their health. Resources Wanda’s Website Weight Watcher’s Website iPhone  Weight Watchers App  

  In spite of all the scientific evidence to the contrary there are numerous groups that provide so-called ex-gay therapy to help homosexuals overcome their same sex desires and lead “normal” lives.  Not only do these treatment centers fail in their attempts to change sexual orientation, participants in these programs almost always come out the other side psychologically and emotionally traumatized.  In this interview Jallen Rix returns to Inquire Within to discuss his new book, Ex Gay, No Way. By sharing his experience and wisdom Jallen offers a hope for all people, gay and straight, who have fallen victim to religious abuse.   Resources Jallen on Facebook Jallen’s Website Purchase Ex Gay, No Way Healing from Ex-gay Therapy (Jallen’s previous interview)      

  The Rev. Martin Luther King is best known for his work on civil rights and for advocating non-violent resistance.  Few people, however, know about his religious convictions and what he preached from the pulpit. Be Scofield a San Francisco based spiritual activist has done extensive research into King’s theology and has uncovered some surprising information about King’s beliefs beyond that of civil rights. Be holds a B.A. in Psychology/Philosophy from Warren Wilson College, has done graduate coursework in Postcolonial Anthropology and is currently pursuing a Master's of Divinity at Starr King School for the Ministry in the Unitarian Universalist tradition with an emphasis in women’s studies and counter oppression. His website God Bless the Whole World is a free online educational resource that provides tools for personal and social transformation. The site feature hundreds of videos, audio files, articles and courses on social justice, spiritual activism, counter oppression, environmentalism and self care am