David Swenson on Yoga Practice, Impact & Creativity
David Swenson is a man who needs no introduction in the yoga world. If you practice Ashtanga yoga, you’ve likely studied his Ashtanga Yoga practice manual, and he recently wrote another book called Only Dead Fish Go with the Flow. This is his second appearance on the leadership and yoga podcast and his stories are like none other. They will leave you in shock, and sometimes with a laugh, but always with a sense of remembering that anything is possible. This episode is a reminder of what happens when we follow our dreams and when we persevere. It is the purest form of inspiration for us fellow yoga teachers, and a beautiful reminder that we find life‘s purpose in all the little moments that are always moving like a wave beneath us, propelling us forward, sometimes as if by magic. Sign up for Rocket Training @ Yoga East Austin. Code ROCKETSHAWNA for $100 off.https://www.yogaeastaustin.com/events/rocket26 Enter the signed copy of David Swenson’s book giveaway:https://www.shawnakru.com/giveaway Try OfferingTree for free, plus take advantage of the winter sale with my link here. (My sponsor)Follow me on instagram:@shawnkruOwn a copy of the guided journal I created. https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/ time stamps: 00:00 intro05:19 stories are the most powerful tool we have as humans07:19 why create in addition to teaching yoga09:19 samskaras and expectations12:49 confidence built through yoga14:49 the tipping point of confidence in teaching yoga20:19 David’s first classes teaching at 14 years old21:34 getting fired from teaching yoga23:19 self-pity and depression turning point26:49 scraps of paper by his bed30:19 memorization and details33:49 creative process of the famous Ashtanga Yoga Practice Manual36:49 energy for problem solving and figuring things out40:49 confirm our own journey43:49 yoga means trying hard and detaching48:49 can yoga change the world?50:34 yoga can be a selfish endeavor53:49 peacefulness does not mean an absence of difficulty56:19 this energy is a gift, it’s not for me to hoard58:19 what is enlightenment?59:49 David wore a wig for 3 years01:02:49 jesus has long hair. are you a communist?01:08:49 selfless action01:12:49 a yogi is someone who leaves the place nicer01:17:49 ashtanga yoga doesn’t have to evolve01:21:49 landed back on his mat01:26:49 rapid fire
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yoga poetry, a spoken & musical immersion
Poetic, deep inspiration for yoga teachers & those new to yoga. I read a collection of poems about why I fell in love with yoga, how practice becomes a ritual, and why teachers have the power to change the world. I share pieces about presence, impact, acceptance & growth, and finish with three poems that inspired me this month — including “Start Close In,” by David Whyte, and “The Invitation,” by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Whether you teach or simply show up to your mat, this episode is an invitation to stay, with it all.Enter the signed copy of David Swenson’s book giveaway:https://www.shawnakru.com/giveaway Try OfferingTree for free, plus take advantage of the winter sale with my link here. (My sponsor)Enter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway. (My sponsor)https://artoftending.kit.com/shawnaFollow me on instagram:@shawnkruOwn a copy of the guided journal I created. Buy one, get one free, or get a copy for the whole family, 5 for $75. https://www.ritualofwritingjournal.com/ time stamps:00:00 intro - yoga can change the world07:30 giveaways! signed book & ayurveda self-care set11:40 part 1: love poems for yoga20:40 part 2: poems about yoga as a ritual27:00 part 3: poems about yoga changing the world36:00 part 4: acceptance & growth poems about yoga46:00 part 5: poems that inspire me
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mysteriously, things fall into place
Inspired from a moment in an interview I did with Sri Dharma Mittra, I sat down to contemplate my life over coffee as I do most mornings. But on this particular morning, everything I’ve learned from Richard Rudd of the Gene Keys, Frederick Dodson of Levels of Energy and Parallel Universes of Self, and even some Dr. Joe Dispenza organized itself in my head in a new way. The result is the “thought experience” I have prepared for you today.Here’s a divine fractal theory I enjoy thinking about when I wonder why consciousness split itself to experience being human, and why life feels limiting—and what it really means about your power and purpose.Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)Enter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway. (My sponsor)artoftending.kit.com/shawnaFollow me on instagram:@shawnkruOwn a copy of the guided journal I created, code BOGO for 2 journals (receive 2 for price of 1) code BOGOFAMILY for 5 journals for $75.Ritual of Writing Journal Time stamps:00:00 Intro01:00 Sri Dharma Mittra on mysteries03:50 my story of mystery07:30 mysterious money arriving just in time10:50 how to solve problems13:10 giveaway! TEND yourself & a friend15:00 sit back, relax, but also lean in17:00 staying in the energy19:20 THOUGHT EXPERIENCE START33:00 my downfall & recovery & surprise
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Meghan Bay on Writing Poetry, Creativity as a Spiritual Practice, and Appreciating Every Version of Yourself
In this episode, poet Meghan Bay reveals how writing poetry is a way to practice presence. She shares how creativity can be seen as a gift from the Creator and how to create space to invite in more creative ideas. Meghan also shares the importance of honoring every version of yourself as you grow and evolve, allowing your journey of transformation to be uniquely your own.Follow Meghan on Instagram: @meghan.bay And find her writing: Meghan’s SubstackEnter the TEND yourself & a friend self-care giveaway Try OfferingTree for free, plus 50% off your first three months or 15% off your first year with my link here. (My sponsor)Download your free SEO Checklist for yoga instructors & entrepreneursFollow me on instagram:@shawnkruCome on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat Time Stamps:00:00 intro03:42 “the fool’s hunt” - poem by Meghan Bay05:24 How do you know when you’ve written something that’s really true?07:00 morning pages & digital journaling 08:53 Meghan's story: growing up Christian, moving to Australia, getting into writing16:04 letting yourself be seen: sharing on social media19:56 the process of writing a book: capturing poems when they arrive22:11 creativity as a gift from the Creator to help shape this world25:41 are you actually giving yourself what you need?27:31 morning routine & a meditation practice31:58 the discipline of a writing practice 33:06 creating space to invite creativity to land34:06 Meghan's mission: creating a space for people to expand into themselves36:10 let yourself move slowly, one small step at a time39:04: how can we shift from a focus on the outcome to a focus on presence?40:38 reality creation: fate or free will?42:46 sending love to past or future versions of yourself 43:53 why are we here?47:37 the path to transformation & liberation will be uniquely yours52:42 appreciating the contrast of emotions & experiences 54:46 qualities of an exceptional leader57:08 the billboard question
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grow your yoga business & moral ambition as a yoga teacher
In this episode, I break down the four steps every yoga teacher needs to grow a business with moral ambition. Let's talk about why your mission is your most valuable business asset, why your systems determine your sustainability, how to face numbers, pricing, and fees without shrinking, and how “minimum viable structure” can change your whole life. I walk you through the ONE symbolic action you can take today—something you might look back on years from now as the exact moment everything began to change. If you’ve ever felt behind, overwhelmed, or “not business-minded enough,” this is for you. Your dream isn’t meant for someone richer, older, more experienced, or more confident. It’s meant for you—and the world needs what you're building. This episode includes a tour of OfferingTree, my sponsor. Try OfferingTree for free with my link here. (My sponsor)Follow me on instagram:@shawnkruOwn a copy of the guided journal I created, code POD for $33.Ritual of Writing Journal One spot left. Come on my Costa Rica yoga retreat in January 2026:https://www.shawnakru.com/sweet-simplicity-retreat YouTube social media video I mentioned:https://youtu.be/h_yQswsXwhY?si=SXLofxnBfWuwziIO Time stamps:00:00 setting the mood07:50 animation10:00 luck is when opportunity meets preparation11:40 agenda for today & offeringtree15:47 part 1: how to make actual progress20:00 David Swenson example23:30 part 2: creating offers29:00 gene key 26 & divine pride31:00 part 3: money33:40 rates teaching yoga34:00 social media income38:00 courses and yoga retreats40:00 part 4: systems & offeringtree45:00 cost of systems & software 54:00 personal use & podcasting software55:00 take notes on students56:00 homework57:00 inspirational send off :)
Here we talk creativity, confidence, and presence through conversations with inspiring teachers and spiritual leaders who walk the path ahead of us. You’ll hear my personal stories—woven with poetry, storytelling, and even musical episodes—all rooted in a spirit of reconnecting with the magic of life and inspiring you to remember that your dreams are made for people like you. Above all, this is a space for discovering what it means to live with deeper awareness, to bring yoga into leadership, and leadership into yoga. Here’s to feeling at home in the unknown. -@shawnakru
Ireland