Keen on Yoga Podcast

Adam explores the complex topic of whether yoga can be considered a cult, examining warning signs, cultural influences, and the importance of open dialogue in the yoga community.
Key  topics
·       Definition of cults and their characteristics
·       The role of charismatic leaders in yoga
·       Control and coercion in yoga practices
·       Cultural and religious influences in yoga
·       The importance of transparency and dialogue in yoga communities
       Connect with Adam
Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga
Website: www.keenonyoga.com
Follow Adam:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga
Retreats with Adam: https://www.keenonyoga.com/ashtanga-yoga-retreats/
Support: Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf

Magdalena discusses how perceptions of prana, pranayama, and breathing techniques have evolved across Indian traditions and Western influences, shedding light on often overlooked aspects of yogic breathing.
Buy the Book: Yoga Breath: Prana and Pranayama in Early Modern Yoga 
Support the Podcast: Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf
Main Topics:
·       The historical development of breath practices from Vedic to contemporary yoga
·       The distinction between breath and life force (prana) in traditional and modern contexts
·       Western influence on yoga breathing techniques from the 1850s onward
·       Scientific explorations and experimental approaches to measuring breath and prana
·       Cultural and nationalist implications of prana and breath in Indian and global contexts
·       Integration of sound, voice, mantra, and rhythm in pranayama
·       The role of breathing in modern body-mind practices like Feldenkrais and Yogira approach
In this episode:
·       Magdalena highlights the transition from breath being part of rituals in ancient India to a focused yogic technique
·       Discussion on the significance of kumbhaka and how it differs from casual breath control
·       Exploration of how Western practices like deep breathing, hypnotherapy, and scientific measurements influenced yoga in the 19th and 20th centuries
·       The influence of theosophists and occult sciences on the conceptualization of prana as cosmic life energy
·       The cultural nationalism attached to controlling prana for spiritual and political sovereignty
·       Connections between sound, mantra, and breath, including practices like Ujjayi and seed syllables
·       Personal reflections on how playing wind instruments and singing deepened the research and understanding of breath
Connect with Magdalena Kraler:
·       Research Profile
·       Twitter
Connect with Keen on Yoga
Website: http://www.keenonyoga.com/
Instagram:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga
Retreats with Adam: https://www.keenonyoga.com/ashtanga-yoga-retreats
Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Magdalena Kraler and her comprehensive exploration of yoga breathing
02:30 - Traditional Indian perspectives on breath in pre-modern yoga
06:00 - The evolution of pranayama from Vedic to early modern yoga
10:00 - Western influence on yoga breath practices in the 1850s and beyond
13:00 - Methods of deep breathing introduced into yoga in the late 19th century
17:00 - Theosophical interpretations and the cosmic scope of prana
21:00 - The scientific approach: experiments measuring Kumbhaka and breath chemistry
25:00 - The nationalism of breath: yoga as a symbol of spiritual sovereignty
30:00 - Sound, mantra, and the role of voice in breath control practices
35:00 - Modern influences: Delsarte, vocal techniques, and rhythmic breathing
40:00 - The subtlety of sound and breath in Tantric practices and modern yoga
44:00 - Prana beyond breath: life force, cosmic energy, and natural sciences
48:00 - Prana's location in the body: Heart, mouth, and subtle channels
52:00 - Personal influences: Magdalena's background as a musician and wind instrument player
55:00 - The ongoing journey of exploring breath: personal insights and future research
 
 
LISTEN
Apple podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keen-on-yoga-podcast/id1509303411
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iM9lcw52JskHUZ2eFvVxN
WATCH
https://www.youtube.com/@keenonyoga

In this episode, Adam Keen explores the profound relationship between yoga and trauma healing, emphasizing the somatic, emotional, and energetic dimensions of the practice. Discover how yoga goes beyond relaxation to facilitate catharsis, integration, and genuine recovery from unresolved trauma.
Key topics covered:
·       The role of trauma and karma in the body and mind
·       How yoga acts as a cathartic process for emotional release
·       The importance of ritual and framing in yoga practice for healing
·       The connection between spinal movement and emotional release
·       Managing the stimulating effects of asana to avoid overstimulation
·       The significance of touch, visualization, and nervous system regulation
·       How to build a stable framework for safe emotional processing during practice
·       The potential risks of using yoga to numb or suppress issues
·       Diaphragmatic breathing techniques to release trapped tension
·       The neck as a vulnerable area storing trauma and its release
Resources & Links:
·       Peter Levine on the Keen on Yoga Podcast
·       Bessel van der Kolk on the Keen on Yoga Podcast
·       The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
·       Waking the Tiger by Peter Levine
·       Peter Levine - Somatic Experiencing
 
Connect with Adam
Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga
Website: www.keenonyoga.com
Follow Adam:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga
Retreats with Adam: https://www.keenonyoga.com/ashtanga-yoga-retreats/
Support: Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf
LISTEN
Apple podcast:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keen-on-yoga-podcast/id1509303411
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iM9lcw52JskHUZ2eFvVxN
WATCH
https://www.youtube.com/@keenonyoga

Leslie Howard and Richard Rosen discuss with Adam the profound topics of death, Savasana, and their intersection with yoga philosophy. They explore the history, practice, and spiritual significance of Savasana, as well as the importance of facing mortality to enrich life.
Buy the Book: Savasana, Between Breath and Death
Support the Podcast: Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf
Lesley and Richard Share
·      History of Savasana in Yoga
·      Differences in Savasana practices among teachers
·      The role of death doulas and legacy planning
·      The philosophical significance of facing death
·      Practical tips for deepening Savasana practice
 
Find Leslie
Instagram: @lesliehowardyoga
Website: https://lesliehowardyoga.com/
 
Find Richard
Instagram: @richardrosenyoga
Keen on Yoga
Website: http://www.keenonyoga.com/
Instagram:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga
Retreats with Adam: https://www.keenonyoga.com/ashtanga-yoga-retreats
Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga

Adam explores the challenges faced by modern yoga teachers, including lack of professionalism, support, and societal recognition. He discusses the differences between traditional and modern yoga, the impact of societal structures, and the importance of establishing a professional framework for yoga teaching.
Adam Shares
·      Differences between traditional and modern yoga
·      Challenges faced by modern yoga teachers
·      Lack of professional standards and support
·      Societal perception of yoga teachers
·      The role of yoga in society and capitalism
Keen on Yoga
Become a Patron: https://www.keenonyoga.com/patrons/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Keenonyoga
Website: www.keenonyoga.com
Follow Adam:  @keen_on_yoga | @adam_keen_ashtanga
Retreats with Adam: https://www.keenonyoga.com/ashtanga-yoga-retreats/
Support: Buy us a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/infoRf
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Modern Yoga Teaching Challenges
05:55 Yoga vs. Modern Wellness: A Philosophical Divide
12:45 Professionalism and Standards in Yoga Teaching
20:59 Teaching in a Commercialized Yoga Environment
30:43 Friendship vs. Professionalism in Yoga Teaching