Healing Church Hurt: Troy Hadeed on Yoga & Christ

How does a fourteen-year-old get sent to detention and come out the other side an international yoga teacher? Simple: a teacher hands him a book on yoga as a joke (punishment, supposedly) and the kid keeps sneaking back to detention every lunchtime to read more. (For the record, I logged some detention hours myself. We're just being honest around here.) Fast forward: Troy Hadeed, raised Catholic in Trinidad and a former hemp-store owner ("not a head shop," he'd like you to know), now teaches yoga around the world and holds a view of Christ that may stretch you, comfort you, or both. If you're carrying church hurt, wrestling with forgiveness, or quietly wondering why the Jesus you met in scripture doesn't always resemble the one at the pulpit, this conversation was recorded for you. We dig into the difference between "I am God" and "God within me," why "born a sinner" can quietly become a hiding place from responsibility, and Troy's question that will reframe every relationship you have, including the hard ones. Don't ask if it's love. Ask what is being loved. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DKgtsFBSyw In this episode How a "punishment" in detention accidentally set a fourteen-year-old on the path to becoming a yoga teacher Why Troy sees Jesus as one of the greatest practitioners who ever lived, and what that has to do with the word "namaste" The real difference between saying "I am God" and "God is within me" Why the idea that we're "born sinners" can quietly become an excuse to avoid taking responsibility How to spot when organized religion drifts from Christ's own teaching of unconditional, inclusive love Troy's reframe for every relationship in your life: instead of asking "is this love," ask "what is being loved?" Timestamps (00:01) Welcome to Phoenix and Flame, and Troy's background growing up in Trinidad (01:33) The detention story: how a "punishment" led a fourteen-year-old to yoga (06:38) Why Troy calls Jesus one of the greatest practitioners to ever walk the planet (07:54) "I am God" vs. "God within me": is there a difference? (14:57) Rethinking original sin, responsibility, and the real message behind Christ's teachings (21:39) The Christ you don't always see represented in church (24:05) Troy calls out the exclusivity taught by a lot of organized religion (29:22) Building your own unique relationship with God (31:17) Why conditioning, not divinity, explains our differences (37:21) The question that changes everything: what is being loved? (39:52) Applying "what is being loved" to abuse and codependency (42:19) Troy's book, Popcorn in My Pocket (45:01) Where to find Troy online About Troy Hadeed Troy Hadeed is an international yoga teacher, public speaker, and author based in Trinidad. He discovered yoga at fourteen after a teacher handed him a book on yoga as a joke during detention; Troy kept coming back on his own to read more. He went on to run a hemp store and a waste-cooking-oil recycling business for years before selling them to dedicate his life to studying and teaching yoga full-time. He's the author of the book Popcorn in My Pocket and also works one-on-one with students on their own journeys. Learn more and sign up for his newsletter at troyhadeed.com, or find him on Instagram. Quotes worth sitting with "I am putting up with that—that is not loving them. That is me loving what they provide me." —Troy Hadeed "I have this beautiful tattoo that says 'ignore the story, see the soul.'" —Troy Hadeed Resources mentioned Troy Hadeed's website and newsletter: troyhadeed.com Troy's book, Popcorn in My Pocket Troy on Instagram Enjoyed this episode? If this conversation moved you, follow Phoenix and Flame so you never miss an episode: all apps in one place, or jump straight to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or YouTube, and leave a review; it helps other listeners find these conversations. Know someone wrestling with church hurt or forgiveness who needs to hear this one? Copy the link and text it, email it, or share it on social media, and help us grow the Phoenix and Flame community. Curious where your own boundaries stand? Take my free Work Boundaries Quiz: danaskaggs.com/quiz