Liberating Yoga

Welcome back to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. As we begin season two, I'm delighted to welcome Lama Rod Owens to talk about love, rage, grief, lineage, and spiritual practice during times of upheaval.In this episode, we talk about how people can get through hopelessness about genocides, wars, and oppression by letting heartbreak and grief in, cutting through resistance, and finding support in their ancestors, community, and the natural world. We also discuss guilt and privilege as things that can be shared, freedom as less pain and more balance, and merit as a way to end systems of violence that hurt trans people, Palestinians, Sudanese, Congolese, Haitians, and others.ResourcesLama Rod Owenshttps://www.lamarod.comThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel, my practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Onlinehttps://www.harpindermann.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyogahttps://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyogaLiberating Yoga Bookhttps://www.harpindermann.com/book Work With Mehttps://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Anjali Rao.Why do modern yoga spaces feel so in conflict with the path’s core principles? In this episode of the Liberating Yoga Podcast, I'm in conversation with Teacher, Intersectional Health Advocate, and Space Holder, Anjali Rao.We discuss the absence of history and philosophy in yoga teacher trainings, the damage of unbridled power and privilege in yogic spaces, and all that is possible when we tap into the depth of yoga’s teachings.00:00 - Intro 00:43 - Meeting Anjali Rao01:31 - Meaning Of Yoga04:47 - History Gap In Teacher Trainings07:06 - Colonisation, Capitalism & Asana09:56 - Practitioner Vs Teacher Responsibility13:12 - Reframing 200-Hour Curriculum18:19 - Erasure & Dominant Narratives22:17 - Quantity Over Quality Culture26:17 - Yoga On Happiness & Contentment30:18 - Harms Of Capitalism36:23 - Wholeness, Practice & Patriarchy40:30 - Dating Yoga’s Origins45:35 - Learning Philosophy Paths48:23 - Trauma-Informed Claims Examined51:39 - Interconnectedness Core Teaching58:29 - Living Yoga With Integrity1:00:02 - Power, Privilege & Diverse Voices1:05:17 - Burnout And Staying Grounded1:11:24 - Vision For Future ChangeSubscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work With Me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Dr. Neil Dalal.There is no checklist for avoiding cultural appropriation and honoring yoga’s roots. In a society seeking quick fixes to avoid being “wrong,” this episode is an invitation to think more deeply about how we might connect back to the path’s original intentions with reverence. In this conversation, Dr. Neil Dalal, Researcher and Director of Religious Studies at the University of Alberta, speaks about what it might look like to practice deeply and decolonize the spiritual path of yoga. 00:00 - Intro05:01 - What Yoga Means to Dr. Neil Dal 10:05 - Understanding Moksha in Classical Yoga 15:21 - Yoga as Present-Moment Liberation 20:11 - Modern Yoga Goals vs Classical Intent 25:23 - Structural Shifts in Global Yoga 30:31 - Dangers of Surface-Level Teaching 35:52 - Teacher Trainings & Lack of Depth 41:03 - White Ownership & Cultural Distortion 46:30 - Can Yoga Be Decolonized? 52:03 - Beyond the Checklist Mentality 57:00 - Yoga’s Identity Crisis in the West 1:02:08 - Finding Authentic Yoga Paths 1:07:14 - South Asian Teachers & Tokenism 1:12:17 - Value of Traditional Lineage 1:17:21 - Yoga as Deep Cultural Training 1:22:12 - Dangers of Unsupervised Practices 1:27:05 - Rise & Issues of Modern Kundalini Yoga 1:32:51 - Yoga Nidra, Modern Myths, & Misunderstandings 1:38:01 - History of Asana & Lineage Loss 1:43:06 - Four Aims of Life & Yoga’s Real Goal 1:48:54 - Yoga’s Critique of Capitalism & Desire 1:54:00 - Returning to Wholeness Through Inquiry 2:00:00 - Last Reflections & Integration Subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠⁠⁠⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠⁠⁠⁠Work With Me⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Kendra Coupland.You are divine. What might it look like to embody this truth, while being deeply aware of how oppressive systems impact us in a very real way based on our multi-faceted human identities? Harpinder Kaur Mann is in conversation with Kendra Coupland, Yoga Grandmaster, Mindfulness Coach, and Artist, on this episode of the Liberating Yoga Podcast. They explore the importance of discomfort, harmful patterns in mainstream yoga spaces, and how tantric philosophy can lead us toward collective liberation. Book Launch Eventhttps://www.harpindermann.com/events00:00 - Intro02:06 - Meet Kendra Coupland02:40 - What Yoga Means to Kendra06:17 - Embodiment of Divinity09:11 - Spiritual Bypassing in Yoga12:15 - Yoga and Suffering16:16 - Trauma & Yoga Spaces19:00 - Individualised Practice22:02 - Kendra's Teaching Style25:07 - Limits of the Practice28:42 - Daily Practice Matters33:26 - Emotional Regulation36:09 - Embodying Oneness41:17 - Practices to Decondition45:16 - Seeing the Interconnectedness50:27 - Ancestors & Awareness54:26 - Honoring Lineage57:26 - Yoga & Disconnection59:59 - Entry Points Into Yoga1:02:02 - Equanimity & Observation1:06:03 - Awareness vs. Ignorance1:08:15 - Yoga & Cult-like Trends1:12:30 - Teacher vs. Student First1:16:36 - Warrior Heart Practice1:18:10 - Disrupting Thought Patterns1:20:28 - Where to Find KendraSubscribe⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠⁠⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠⁠⁠Work With Me⁠⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠⁠⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Dr. Shyam Ranganathan. While mainstream American culture limits yoga to a mere fitness class or a “woo-woo” spiritual endeavor that belongs at home, it began as a philosophical commitment toward ethical action and sovereignty. In this episode of the Liberating Yoga Podcast, host Harpinder Kaur Mann is in conversation with Scholar and Historian of Philosophy, Dr. Shyam Ranganathan. Together, they dive deep into the ways yoga’s current definitions have been shaped by Western colonization and how we can reclaim the practice today to fight racism and colonialism. 00:00 - Intro02:19 - What Is Yoga? 03:59 - Yoga as Unity of Self 06:21 - Yoga vs. Fitness 07:22 - Colonialism’s Impact 13:27 - Internalized Colonialism 16:57 - Race, Religion, and History 19:33 - Pre-Colonial Philosophy 23:15 - Ethics & Dharma 26:54 - What Is Pre-Colonial Yoga? 28:14 - Yoga’s Ethical Model 30:42 - Modern Yoga & Colonization 33:26 - Yoga as Decolonial Practice 35:49 - Yoga Studies & White Supremacy 41:01 - Yoga Heals Colonial Trauma 44:43 - Egotism & Power Structures 47:27 - Yoga as Political Action 50:11 - Tokenism in Yoga 55:12 - Diversity vs. Change 57:38 - Lifelong Learning 1:02:05 - Why Only Āsana? 1:05:42 - Big Y vs. Small y Yoga 1:08:09 - Philosophy vs. Industry 1:12:00 - Teaching vs. Selling 1:14:23 - Embracing Change 1:15:06 - Where to Learn More Find Dr. Shyam Ranganathan Online⁠https://yogaphilosophy.com/Subscribe⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠⁠Work With Me⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Tejal Patel.In a sea of yoga spaces that often feel exclusionary, I find myself asking: What does it really take to create an environment that reflects yoga’s deeper purpose—collective liberation and peace?Tejal is the founder of Tejal Yoga, and in this conversation, we explore what it means to build yoga spaces rooted in community, cultural humility, accountability, and justice.00:00 - Intro 01:14 - Speaking on Gaza 02:20 - Meet Tejal Patel04:00 - Yoga and Peace 06:45 - Meditation as Listening 10:51 - Student vs. Teacher Role 14:51 - Challenging Assumptions 18:32 - Harm in Modern Yoga 22:50 - Love & Light Culture 27:20 - Yoga and Collectivism 33:58 - Intentional Communities 37:46 - More Work to Do 42:47 - Inclusive Yoga Spaces 47:05 - Building Brave Spaces 52:04 - Addressing Harm 57:07 - Trust Through Honesty 1:03:16 - Returning Through Yoga 1:06:18 - Closing ThoughtsFind Tejal Onlinehttps://www.tejalyoga.comSubscribe⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠Work With Me⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Reggie Hubbard.Reggie is the founder/chief serving officer of Active Peace LLC. His yogic and meditative practices have served as a sanctuary of peace and perspective while navigating the stresses of being a black man in the world and serving in pressure-filled jobs at the height of US politics. His practices have also helped him navigate complicated emotions (anger, grief, disappointment) to find and nurture peace of mind and ease of spirit, which is why he now seeks to share them widely for the well-being of all. He has extensively studied with leading teachers such as Faith Hunter, Amy Ippoliti, Yogarupa Rod Stryker and Sri Dharma Mittra and countless other amazing teachers he has encountered along the way – always remembering that the best teacher is an eternal student. He is a graduate of the 2023 MMTCP (Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program) cohort, led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. Find Reggiehttps://activepeaceyoga.comhttps://www.instagram.com/oreggieglobal00:00 - Intro02:54 - Yoga & Activism05:05 - Burnout & Awakening08:11 - Starting the Path10:55 - Merging Practice & Politics14:54 - Healing Retreat for Black Men17:14 - Refuge, Not Retreat20:25 - Representation Matters22:09 - Why Black-Only Spaces24:07 - Community Healing26:06 - Listening to the Call30:06 - Teaching with Compassion34:02 - Listen with the Heart36:26 - Identity & Teaching41:10 - Teaching Philosophy44:03 - Collective Healing47:02 - Healing Through Grief51:03 - Wisdom in Community54:33 - Radical Self-Love57:44 - From Despair to Action1:01:02 - Generational Burnout1:05:00 - Rest in Retreat1:08:59 - Fast Connection1:13:00 - Gong Meditation & CloseSubscribe⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠Work With Me⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Leah Saliter (she/her). Leah is a Death Doula, Digital Creator, Yoga enthusiast, and certified Yoga-Asana instructor who teaches Yoga as a source of healing for Black and Brown, abundant bodies. She is the founder of Unity in Healing, an organization that creates safe spaces where folks can experience the power of healing in community through movement practice, tarot, divination work, and ancestral practices. Leah's mission is to create accessible healing communities that support the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual exploration of self. Find Leahhttps://www.joywork.onlinehttps://www.instagram.com/leahlaughed00:00 - Intro01:17 - Meeting Leah Saliter02:52 - What Yoga Means to Leah04:02 - The Importance of Safety in Community07:46 - Profit-Driven Wellness Spaces vs. Authentic Healing10:04 - Reducing Yoga to Fitness13:27 - Discovering Yoga as a Path to Survival and Peace17:03 - Teaching Tools and Encouragement for Students20:02 - Reconnecting to Accessibility in Yoga24:05 - Teaching Restorative Yoga Amid Studio Resistance29:00 - Letting Go of Capitalist Measures of Success in Yoga33:00 - Body Acceptance and Embracing What Is37:42 - The Violence of Beauty Standards 40:54 - Practising Ahimsa (Nonviolence) with Ourselves43:04 - Speaking Kindly to Ourselves 47:04 - More Ways Fatphobia Shows Up in Yoga49:01 - Disordered Eating "Perfect" Bodies52:30 - Yoga as Stillness, Listening, and Deep Work56:01 - The Challenge and Rewards of the Inner Work01:02:51 - What Led Leah to Reach Out01:08:56 - Working Together in Community, Not Hierarchy01:10:49 - How to Connect with Leah and Unity & Healing 01:12:29 - OutroSubscribehttps://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Onlinehttps://www.harpindermann.comhttps://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyogaLiberating Yoga Bookhttps://www.harpindermann.com/book Work With Mehttps://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. My guest today is Yoga Teacher & Social Justice Advocate Susanna Barkataki. Today’s mainstream yoga culture is steeped in capitalism, exclusivity, and cultural appropriation. How did we get here, and how can we protect the wholeness of the practice for future generations? In this episode we discuss the nuances of yoga’s history, accountability for yoga professionals, and decolonization in practice. 00:00 - Intro01:25 - What Yoga Means to Us03:17 - Interconnectedness in Yoga and Daily Life05:58 - Moving Beyond the Mat: Everyday Practice of Yoga07:14 - Harmful Norms in Modern/Postural Yoga10:00 - How Oppressive Systems Show Up in Yoga Spaces13:07 - Hierarchy in Yoga Studios 15:04 - Yoga’s Resilience and Power Despite Appropriation16:03 - The “At Least They’re Moving” Narrative20:07 - Teachers' Responsibility to Go Deeper25:04 - Internalised Oppression 27:06 - Desire to Learn and Practice with Respect29:00 - The Emotional Toll of Appropriation31:01 - Capitalism and Commercialisation in Yoga34:59 - Historical Context of Yoga37:02 - Modern-Day Capitalist Exploitation in Yoga40:00 - Teachers Navigating Capitalism with Integrity42:27 - Representation, Reparations, and Platform Inequity48:03 - Mutual Support vs. Competition 52:23 - Humanizing the Experience: Healing Through Yoga55:11 - Importance of Internal Validation56:56 - How to Begin the Work of Decolonizing Yoga58:59 - Move Slowly and Consistently with the Work01:00:03 - Building Relationships with Stewards01:03:04 - Ask Hard Questions to Institutions01:05:47 - Reflections on Slowing Down 01:08:05 - Be Yoga, Not Just Do Yoga01:10:01 - Uplifting Each Other 01:12:39 - OutroSubscribe⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠⁠Work With Me⁠⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga Podcast. In this first episode, I'm in conversation with Yoga & Resilience Educator Prasad Rangnekar.In this episode, we discuss yoga’s many definitions and margas while unpacking all that is lost in a society that narrows its abundance down to a commercialised brand of asana. We also explore the differences between traditional yoga and the version that is popular today, and why the commodification of yoga strips its rich ecosystem of vital history, ethical frameworks, and cultural roots. 00:00 - Intro01:31 - Meeting Prasad Rangnekar05:01 - Yoga as a Life Skill 07:00 - Traditional Goals of Yoga10:00 - Beyond Asana: Acknowledging Yoga’s Full Scope13:00 - Cultural Roots of Yoga 16:00 - The Complexity of Yoga’s History 20:27 - You Don’t Have to Know Everything24:00 - Problem of Overconsumption in Yoga Education27:48 - Traditional vs. Popular Yoga: Key Differences36:08 - Responsibilities of Practitioners40:25 - Lack of History & Philosophy in Modern Yoga 43:07 - Vastness of Yogic History 47:02 - The Eight Limbs Are Not the Whole of Yoga51:01 - What Makes a Sincere Yoga Student or Teacher?54:04 - Performing Yoga vs. Living Yoga56:56 - Different Margas (Paths) of Yoga & Their Relevance01:03:04 - Raja Yoga: Symbolism and Mental Refinement01:07:05 - Refinement of the Mind 01:12:10 - Letting Go & The Path to Freedom01:17:05 - Uncovering the Self Through Shedding Layers01:20:02 - Importance of Critical Thinking 01:27:04 - Reconciling Science and Spirituality in Yoga01:33:05 - Yoga Sutra: Beyond Yama and Niyama01:37:27 - OutroSubscribe⁠https://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyoga?sub_confirmation=1⁠ResourcesThank you for watching this video and checking out the channel. My practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Online⁠https://www.harpindermann.com⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyoga⁠Liberating Yoga Book⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/book ⁠Work With Me⁠https://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me⁠#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration

Welcome to the Liberating Yoga podcast. A space to explore yoga as a practice and path of healing, resistance, and deep connection.I'm Harpinder Kaur Mann, a yoga educator, writer, and seeker, here to dive into the roots of yoga, dismantle appropriation, and uplift practices that honor collective liberation while making yoga accessible.These conversations were recorded two years ago as part of my research and interviews for my upcoming book, Liberating Yoga: From Appropriation to Healing.Now, I'm sharing them with you - unedited and in full. This is Liberating Yoga - where we honor yoga's past and shape its future.ResourcesThank you for checking out this episode of Liberating Yoga, my practice is rooted in my spiritual background of Sikhism and Buddhism and ancestral roots in Panjab, India - this informs my desire to teach yoga authentically as a spiritual practice. To learn more, please find all of our resources below. Onlinehttps://www.harpindermann.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@harpindermannyogahttps://www.facebook.com/harpindermannyoga https://www.linkedin.com/in/mannharpinder https://www.instagram.com/harpindermannyogaLiberating Yoga Bookhttps://www.harpindermann.com/book Work With Mehttps://www.harpindermann.com/work-with-me#yoga #yogapractice #yogainspiration