It's All Yoga with Jacqui: Recent Episodes
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Join me as I share my perception of the teachings of Yoga and how they can be adapted to life as we know it today. I riff a lot and it's always from the heart!
The Bhagavad Gita teaches about our dharma, our duty in life. In this episode I share how it shifted my perspective regarding the repetitive chore of doing laundry!
New Episode! we pick up where we left off with our look into the Power of Myth with Joseph Campbell.
The Buddha taught that there can be complete cessation of suffering. In this episode we will unpack that Noble Truth or friendly fun fact as Bob Thurman calls them!
The 2nd Noble Truth, as taught by the Buddha, is all about the causes of suffering. Hint, it has to do with separation of Self & Other.
Surprise! Life is Suffering. In this episode we unpack that friendly fact (so named by Professor Thurman) and see what we find.
Let's embark on a journey together! I'd like to share the teachings of the Buddha, most notably, the 4 Noble Truths & the 8 Fold Path. Here we go!
I met Green Tara on September 25th, 2006. In this episode, I share my journey into Buddhism and my "accidental" kundalini awakening. I'm happy I didn't choose to go Fall boot shopping that day!
In this episode I share the introduction from Mirabai Starr's translation of the Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avila
I love the story of Buddha inviting Mara, the Demon God, to tea. Mara represents lust, greed, anger, doubt, etc. When Mara would visit the Buddha to tempt him the Buddha would pour two cups of tea and sit with him and say "I see you Mara".
Forgiveness, resentment, bitterness go together. If we hold on to the pain in a way that makes us unable to forgive, we shackle our own hearts. Bitterness blocks us from the awe and wonder of our own lives. What if we were to Let It Be? Not let it go, but release the pain through forgiveness and see what the event is there to teach us.
Looking at sutra 1.33 (again) we see the four keys and locks. Patanjali shows us that there are four kinds of people, happy, unhappy, virtuous and wicked. How we engage with these people determines our own inner happiness.
Dreams leave a residue on us and in us whether we recall them or not. We know that we are discharging our conscious experiences (known or unknown) when we practice Yoga asana but what about our unconscious or subconscious experiences? We look at sutras 1.33 and 1.38 from Patanjali to see why it's important to discharge all the residue and begin again.
I have a favorite Upanishad that tells the story of two birds, two sweet friends, who dwell in the same self tree. This teachings reminds us that we are both, the one that is busy partaking in all the fruits of life (bitter and sweet) and the witness to all that is actually our higher Self.
In part two of my conversation with Maria, we talk a little more about EMDR and how necessary it is to have a safe place and supportive people to assist us on our journey of healing. Please be advised that the topics of mental health and suicide are discussed in this episode
I am very excited to share with you my conversation with Maria Cassano, author and Yogini. Maria and I discuss therapy, her recent memoir and her very real experience with EMDR. Please be advised that this episode contains topics of mental health, trauma and suicide.
In this final episode on The Four Agreements, written by Don Miguel Ruiz, we discuss the 4th agreement Always Do Your Best!
You know how the rest of that saying goes, right? In this episode we unpack Agreement Number 3 from the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz "don't make assumptions".
In this episode I begin to share some excerpts from The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We will begin with the first, be impeccable with your word.
In this episode I share an excerpt from Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes.
When I heard the line "bitterness is amplified self-pity" it stopped me in my tracks. Listen in as I riff on this idea and share the antidote to self-pity.
Slow & Steady is the best way to build new habits. The behaviors that get in the way of achieving your goals did not happen overnight, they won't change that quickly either!
What is your happiness quota? Do you trigger self sabotaging behaviours when you get close to a desired goal or achievement. Hello Resistance!
In sutras 1.13 and 1.14 of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, he discusses the importance of practice. We are taught to engage in a continuous, uninterrupted practice that has the characteristics of stability, devotion, effort, etc. In this episode we discuss the challenges and benefits of continuous practice.
The power of squats and the importance of creating a purifying heat in the body in order to be reminded of our true nature.
Joseph Campbell taught us to slay our dragons and follow our bliss. First we have to identify our dragons and know what brings us joy.
Let's take a look at a few more sutras from the first chapter of Patanjalis Yoga Sutras. We are exploring the calming of the twists and turns of the mind and the obstacles that can occur on the path.
In this episode I offer an overview of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The sutras (aphorisms) teach us how our mind works and how to reach a state of calm abiding.
Vipassana Meditation is a practice that assists us in connecting to our real sense of self, my "Jacquiness" if you will. In this episode we look at how we can connect with the physical reaction to being falsely accused of something and how that makes us feel and react. It's ok to be real, it's when we think we are REALLY REAL that we get in trouble!
It's Spring! Yay we made it through Winter and are ready to shed our cloak of slumber. In this episode we talk about pacing ourselves during this transitional season dominated by Kapha.
Hope & Fear are two sides to the same coin according to Pema Chodron. In this episode I share some passages from Pema's book When Things Fall Apart that relate to hope and fear.
Most of us are familar with the quote from Viktor E. Frankel regarding the space between stimulus and response. In this episode I look at how we can focus our attention on the stimulus as opposed to the space between.
In this episode we look at friendships and how they are a form of Yoga. The definition of friendship is "a state of enduring affection, esteem, intimacy, and trust between two people"
In this episode we discuss the two ducks fighting in a pond story from Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth.
Join me as I share the highlights of the most recent Om Tara Yoga Book Club selection, Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
What is ambiguous loss and where does it show up in our relationships? Ambiguous loss is a term that was developed by Pauline Boss who is a pioneer in the interdisciplinary study of family stress management.
Dipa Ma was a meditation teacher from India. In this episode I share some background on Dipa Ma as well as an excerpt from The Hidden Lamp.
Am I having the chai or is the chai having me? What are our habits that we use to distract ourselves from what is? Even when we are unaware of the cause of discomfort, we reach for something to take us out of the present moment. Meditation can help.
Studies have shown that the practice of offering Lovingkindness to yourself helps to boost self esteem and reduce negative self talk.
May You Be Happy
In this episode we discuss dvesa which is defined as aversion and clinging to painful experiences. We uncover the necessity of being able to face our triggers and see how resilient we already are.
Who doesn't want to experience pleasure?! We all do! More chocolate please! But attachment to pleasure is an affliction and raga is the klesa most strongly attributed to habitual patterns of behaviour.
Asmita is defined as pride, ego, a rigid sense of self and is the second klesa or affliction.
The Vagus Nerve wanders from the brain stem down to the front of the abdomen touching most of the vital organs. It is responsible for activating Rest & Digest and moving away from Fight/Flight/Freeze, etc.
The F word, Forgiveness is tough for so many. It's never about condoning the behavior of others, it's about releasing you from their actions.
We continue our discussion on how to best set up our lives in accordance with Ayurveda.
The third dosha, Kapha, is governed by the elements of Earth & Water. A very loyal, stable, grounding energy.
In this episode I share about a recent event in my life along with excerpts from the book Beauty by John O'Donohue
Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga. It is defined as The Wisdom of Life. We all have a blueprint from birth that due to life circumstances and choices we move further and further away from. This brings instability and unnecessary challenges. Ayurveda brings us back to home base.
The properties of Nature, the Gunas, show up in our life in so many ways. The foods we eat, the weather we experience, our sleep and work patterns. All of it and more. In this episode I offer a quick overview of the Gunas, sattva, raja and tamas.
The great meditation teacher Sylvia Boorstein is famous for saying Happiness is an Inside Job. In this episode I talk about sutra 2.33 which shows how we can benefit from the practice of switching a negative thought with a positive one.
That expression Grist for the Mill came to me this week and I began to unpack it. Join me as I discuss how all the things that occur in our lives are food for the Spiritual Path. And what the heck is a Spiritual Path anyway?!
There are 4 keys (and locks) described by Patanjali that once observed can help us to maintain serenity in the face of others behaviors and attitudes.
The obstacles on the path of Yoga are associated with 4 side effects. In this episode we discuss the side effects and the benefits of chanting.
The nine obstacles as presented by Patanjali are discussed in this episode. We finish up with a reading from The Power of Myth where Joseph Campbell explains the meaning of AUM (OM).
Samadhi is defined as complete absorption. Interestingly enough, I found this one hard to describe. Somethings cannot be put into words, so I hope in this episode I was able to offer examples of Samadhi that you can observe in your own life. Enjoy!
Dhyana, the 7th limb of Yoga is defined as meditation. Meditation is not only a daily practice, it is also a state of Being. All that you engage in throughout your day can be done with a meditative state of awareness, thus bringing more balance and serenity to your life.
Dharana, the sixth limb of Yoga is defined as concentration. Not just any concentration, but a whole body experience free from muscular tension that offers an extraordinary element of psychic depth which invites the creative inner work to unfold.
Pratyahara - the 5th limb of Yoga is defined as withdrawal of the senses, sense restraint. It is also defined as opposed to ingestion. Think about all the info we take in all day, that which we are actively aware of and all that we are not. This is sometimes called the forgotten limb of Yoga, but it is essential to a peace of mind and any experience we wish to have of serenity.
Pranayama, the 4th limb of Yoga. Prana is life force energy; Anayama means stretch, extension, regulation, retraint. Breathe awareness practices help to calm the mind and the nervous system, moving from fight/flight to rest/digest.
Asana is the third limb of Yoga and is defined as seat, posture, poses. In this episode I share about the importance of alignment and the benefits of asana.
Surrender the fruits of your actions to a higher source, a greater good. Ishvara Pranidhana is the last Niyama (personal observance) and guides us towards non attachment and faith
Self-study, study of sacred texts this is the definition of the 4th Niyama, Svadhyaya. As we uncover this personal observance the take away is self love, self care and making time to get to know the single most important person in your life, YOU!
Tapas, the 3rd Niyama is defined as burning zeal, heat, fire, glow, discipline. We discuss the importance of burning away our impurities in order to return to the truth of who we are
Contentment is a state of being. In this episode we look at the second Niyama (personal observance) Santosha. Excerpt from Seane Corn's book Revolution of the Soul, Awaken to Love Through Raw Truth, Radical Healing, and Conscious Action.
This is the intro to the 2nd limb of Yoga, the Niyamas. Niyamas are self observances, personal self care practices. In this episode we explore saucha (cleanliness, purity). Saucha is practiced in our body, minds, hearts, environments, etc. It's how we keep our personal space as well as our body temple free of toxicity, clutter and the like.
One of the most cringe worthy lines in a movie is from Jerry McGuire. Renee Zelwegger says to Tom Cruise "You complete me". Ugh. The very act of believing that someone or something outside of yourself can complete you is the essence of the 5th Yama, aparigraha (non-hoarding). We grasp at external items, people, experiences to a degree that blocks us from truly cultivating a relations with the Self. Join me as we unpack the final Yama.
Practicing moderation, brahmacharya, helps us to lead a balanced and harmonious life. In this episode we take a look at the 4th Yama (moral restraint) and how excess shows up in our life.
Do you taste the grapes in the supermarket before you buy them? Guess what, that's stealing! This episode is all about asteya, non-stealing, the 3rd Yama in the 8 limbed path of Yoga. You might be suprised to see where stealing shows up in our lives.
Truthfulness, satya. The second Yama (moral restraint) deals with lies and truth telling. To lie is exhausting, the truth shall set you free.
Ahimsa, the first Yama (moral restraint) of the 8 fold path of Yoga, is defined as non-harming. Listen to your thoughts, are they hurtful, derogatory, bullying? Most likely they can be at times. The practice of recognizing when our thoughts, words & actions are harmful and shifting to a place of kindness and compassion leads us to love ourselves and others more fully. This is Yoga.
Let's climb the Tree of Yoga together! The Eight Fold Path of Yoga consists of Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana & Samadhi. What the heck does that all mean?! In this episode we will explore the 8 limbs of Yoga as a tool for harnessing the mind and being able to calm the fluctuations. This is an overview of Ashtanga Yoga as put forth by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.
Part 2 of my Yoga Journey. In this episode I share my first big T trauma and how that led me to Yoga. My experience with Yoga teacher training and the opening of the first Yoga studio in Massapequa, Om Tara Yoga Studio.
I have been a seeker since a very young age. In this episode I share a bit of my story and talk about the importance of embracing our past in order to help heal the present. I also mention some books that were very influential to me at the start of my journey: Are you there god, it's me Margaret by Judy Blume; You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay; My Mother/My Self by Nancy Friday; The Path Not Chosen by M. Scott Peck and Whole Child/Whole Parent by Polly Berrien Berends.
You can Meditate! This episode is about the practice of meditation and how we can demystify it and bring it into our daily lives. Meditation is about being mindful, noticing when our minds become distracted and honing the skills of concentration. You can do this when you are washing dishes, waiting on line at a store or hearing your phone ring. Peace is in every moment once we learn how to still our minds and be fully present, even if for a second. This is Yoga!
Lovingkindness meditation is a powerful practice of placing our focus on phrases that are blessings or offerings to ourselves and others. This form of meditation practice is a wonderful tool for stilling the mind and calming anxiety.
Learning to calm our chattering minds and decide which thoughts lead us to peace and which ones cause us suffering.
In this episode we look a little deeper at what causes us to be reactive and experience emotional highs and lows (vrittis).
In this episode we explore a brief history of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and discuss sutras 1.1 & 1.2.
In this first episode we explore the question, What is Yoga. We will look at traditional definitions and how Yoga shows up in our day to day. Readings from The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by BKS Iyengar and Meditations From the Mat by Rolf Gates will help to round out our unpacking of our understanding of Yoga.
In this episode I share an excerpt from The Path of the Yoga Sutras by Nicolai Bachman and talk about the unconscious patterns that keep us from experiencing a happy life.