Interview with Ranju Roy and David Charlton Was Patanjali a Yoga Therapist? & Do We Need A Teacher?

In today’s episode, Amy chats with Ranju Roy and David Charlton. Ranju has been practicing yoga since the mid-1980s. Ranju has taught many yoga classes, retreats, and workshops in the UK. He has taught at the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) Congress, Association for Yoga Studies (aYs) Conventions, and many In-Service Trainings. David has been studying yoga since 1987. He also has an MA in Eastern Philosophy and a particular interest in Sanskrit, Vedic chanting, and yoga philosophy. Both Ranju and David train teachers through the organization Sādhana Mālā Yoga Training. Amy talks with Ranju Roy and Dave Charlton about yoga tradition, what is yoga vs. yoga therapy, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, the nature of suffering in the mind and how we can move forward with our yoga communities/ sangha. Ranju and Dave have worked together in the UK for several decades creating workshops, teacher trainings and practicing as yoga therapists. They bring a refreshing viewpoint in that they have been committed to a tradition long-term, but they each remembered the goal of yoga was to become more authentically themselves. The path has lead each of them to understand with clarity what it means to be self-directed, to observe the patterns of their own minds and to continue to show up with an open heart and discriminating mind. They talk about the following:What does it mean to be in a yoga lineage or tradition?What are the benefits of being in the TK Tradition?What does it mean to take personal responsibility for your life?How can we spiritually mature and embody our own life?The difficulties in finding a teacherHow sangha can become our spiritual pathWhat is Yoga Therapy?Is Yoga different than Yoga Therapy?Was Patanjali a yoga therapist?Isn’t all yoga therapeutic in nature?What was Desikachar’s take on therapy?The guṇa and therapy If you would like to receive the free infographics and handouts that correspond to each episode on the Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast, please subscribe to our segmented email list. You will have the opportunity to determine the Infographic Topics that you would like to receive. When The Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast has a topic that corresponds to your choices, then you will receive an email for that week with the PDF’s for download.Topics you can choose from include:• Yoga Therapy & Mental Health• Yoga Therapy & Physical Health• Social Justice in yoga & Yoga Therapy• Yoga/Ayurveda Toolbox• Yoga & Indian Philosophy• Global & Trending Yoga Therapy TopicsClick the link below to subscribe. It takes 10 seconds total.https://amywheeler.com/subscribe Today’s podcasts is sponsored by: Optimal State We have all benefitted from the ancient wisdom of India and her people, so it feels really great to be able to serve in this way. The Optimal State family has pledged on-going support of $250 per month, to go directly to KYM Mitra (www.kym.org). We will collect the monies and gift them each month. Please consider a recurring monthly payment to the fund. Even a small gift or intention makes a difference! If we make more than $250 in any given month, it will roll into the following month’s payment. The hope is that we can contribute for many years to come. If you even lose the link to donate, it is at the top of the homepage at www.amywheeler.com also. I will be reporting on the website the progress; how much money is coming in at any given time and where we are in the process of getting this project off the ground.Here is the link for you to get started with your donation. We are so happy that you have decided to join us. We thank you for the bottom of our hearts!Link to click in the description: http://Paypal.me/KymMitraDonation The Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Podcast also has a Patreon page. We now have 5 staff that help us product the audio and video versions of the podcast. Please consider donating to help us keep this good work for the field of yoga therapy going. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/yogatherapyhourThe new You Tube Channel for this podcast is: YouTube: AmyWheelerPhd    https://www.youtube.com/c/AmyWheelerphdCheck out Amy's websiteFeel free to use download our free eBook and mobile App by going to the websites below.www.OptimalStateApp.comwww.GoldZoneBook.com Facebook: Optimal State by Amy Wheeler     https://www.facebook.com/OptimalStatebyAmyWheelerTwitter: Optimal State of Living with Dr. AmyTikTok: Dr. Amy@OptimalStateofLivingInstagram: Optimal State by Amy Wheeler   Pinterest: TheOptimalState    https://www.pinterest.com/TheOptimalStateTo checkout their offeringshttps://www.sadhanamala.com Books mentioned in the podcastEmbodying the Yoga Sutrahttps://www.amazon.com/Embodying-Yoga-Sutra-Support-Direction/dp/1578636884