Queer Yoga

Join host Jivana Heyman as he talks with Mookaite Jasper (Kite), a queer, trans, non-binary, and autistic yoga teacher from Middlesbrough, England, about their book Queer Yoga: A Guide to Well-Being Through Inclusive and Accessible Yoga. Kite shares their journey from discovering yoga in Thailand, coming out, getting sober, and how the queer community yoga nonprofit they founded eventually inspired their book. Together, Jivana and Kite discuss the concept of masking and the importance of creating safe spaces for marginalized groups and the role of yoga in mental health. In the second part of the episode, Jivana and co-host Deanna Michalopoulos reflect on the parallels between Kite's story and Jivana's own early work teaching yoga to gay men with AIDS. They respond to a listener question from Verna about making ancient yoga texts more accessible, covering Sanskrit translation, the difference between scholarly and interpretive versions, and Jivana's key insight that Patanjali is not asking us to become something new, but to remember who we already are. Topics include: How nonprofit work and service can lead to burnout How Queer Yoga was impacted by Kite’s participation in Accessible Yoga programs Jessamyn Stanley's foreword and her opening line: "Yoga has always been queer" Honoring queer elders Different forms of meditation Rest as resistance: teachings from Tricia Hersey and Evie Muir on burnout and recovery Navigating the Yoga Sutras and Bhagavad Gita: how to find translations that actually land   Check out: Get your copy of Queer Yoga: A Guide to Well-Being Through Inclusive and Accessible Yoga  Julie Shipway's writing course: The Yoga Writer's Handbook Jessamyn Stanley's substack and online studio The Underbelly    **Learn more about the Accessible Yoga Mentorship Program and join today! We look forward to seeing you there.**   We Want to Hear from You! How do you balance self-care and service in your yoga practice and teaching? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!   Connect with Mookaite: Mookaite Jasper, known as Kite (they / them), is a trans non-binary autistic yoga teacher, based in Middlesbrough, UK. They are the author of Queer Yoga. Kite is a member of the Accessible Yoga School mentorship program and trained in yin yoga and yoga for older adults. Their passion is yoga for the LGBTQIA+ community. They work as a freelancer for Proud Allies, delivering inclusion training.  mookaitejasper.com | @mookaitejasper (IG) | @mookaitejasper (Bluesky)    Connect with Jivana: Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman   Thank You to Our Sponsors! beYogi Comprehensive insurance for yoga instructors and wellness practitioners. Get $20 off our annual yoga teacher insurance policy at beyogi.com/jivana. OfferingTree Simplify your yoga business with their all-in-one platform. Visit offeringtree.com/accessibleyoga to save 50% off your first 3 months on a monthly subscription or 15% off an annual subscription.    Credit: Mikus Dharma, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer