Ep. 29: Seán Johnson

In many ways, Seán is the reason Curious Hearts exists. He was my first yoga teacher, and he led my teacher training, and has been a mentor and now a friend for many years. His commitment to anti-dogmatic practice is imprinted on everything I do, and without that north star, I would not be doing what I do today.In this episode, Seán and I talk about singing a lot. Like, a lot. Kirtan — the traditional Indian practice of singing the divine names of God — and it’s American spin-offs have been central to my personal practice for years.“The soul is in the voice,” is a quote I heard years ago on On Being with Krista Tippett. And that has been my experience. The voice is a pathway to Spirit, and our spirit, faster than almost anything else I know.It would be impossible for us to have this conversation without talking about grief. Seán has known too much of it, but his take on how it creates a deeper inner-space was tremendously soothing for me to hear.If you’ve ever practiced with Seán, you know he’ll often leave you thinking for a while after class about just one tiny thing he said. This interview is no different.I hope you enjoy!00:00 Welcome and Sean’s spiritual roots03:00 Growing up anti-dogma and wary of spiritual authority10:00 Love, heartbreak, and choosing a heart-led life18:30 Discovering yoga, Bhakti, and creative healing24:45 Singing as a spiritual practice31:30 Grief, loss, and the expansion of the inner life41:00 Aging, seasoning, and earned wisdom49:00 Voice, vulnerability, and communal singing57:00 Devotion as a lifelong experimentConnect with Seán:If you’ve never had the pleasure of singing with Seán and the band, check out their website to get a taste: https://seanjohnsonandthewildlotusband.com/Read more about his teaching and explore the Asheville Yoga Center: https://youryoga.com/blog/teacher-feature-sean-johnson/Get jealous of the line-up at the Ayurprana Listening Room: https://ayurpranalisteningroom.com/Or explore the courses at Ayurprana Plus: https://liveayurprana.com/Connect with me:If you’re curious about Kirtan or practicing Bhakti yoga, I’d love to have you in class anytime. Kirtan is the first Monday of every month, and you can see my class schedule at Wild Lotus Yoga: https://wildlotusyoga.com/If you’re yearning for more meaningful work, I’d love to help you find it. When our outer life is in sync with our inner life, it’s a truly magical experience. I believe each of us have a Divine Call, and I’d love to help you hear and follow it. Find a time to chat here: https://veralester.as.me/Coaching-DiscoveryIf you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe! Rate the podcast, or share it with a friend. Your support and participation is essential to Curious Hearts, and I'm so grateful for it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit veralester.substack.com/subscribe