In this episode, I speak with Kristin Leal. Kristin Leal is a NYC based teacher, lecturer and body worker who travels the world with her MetaAnatomy trainings, passionately sharing about the miracle of the human body and the liberating potential of movement and stillness. She is the author of the The Yoga Fan and MetaAnatomy and is currently writing her next book on the poetic energy body. Kristin and I have taught together for years and it’s a treat to get to chat about things we find important...
Feb 13, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 31
In today's episode, I speak about trauma-informed yoga with Tara Tonini, who recently led a training at ISHTA Yoga. Tara is the founder of Bloom Healing Yoga & Wellness. A lover of movement, color and creativity, she is a yoga teacher, doula, Reiki Master and acupuncture student with a passion for women's health. Tara currently serves as Director of Curriculum Development & Mentorship for Exhale to Inhale, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering those affected by domestic viole...
Feb 06, 2018•57 min•Season 2Ep. 30
It's the morning of the second women's march and I take you to class! I share a lecture about the nature of us as co-creators of the universe. Then I describe how yogis use OM or AUM to reconnect and become whole. This brings us wisdom and inspiration in living. There's a meditation practice at the end of the episode, so you can try it for yourself! Then come see me for meditation class at ISHTA Yoga . Only a few days remain to get the reward of a yoga nidra recording on Patreon . Sign up by Feb...
Jan 30, 2018•55 min•Season 2Ep. 28
In today’s episode, I’m stepping out, from our kitchen to the living room, to talk to my wife Wendy Newton about the fine line between the kinds of practices we use in yoga and their similarities and differences from religion. In case you’re new to the podcast, Wendy Newton is a yogiraj, or master, at ISHTA Yoga, as well as having a profound knowledge of polarity therapy and other bodies of wisdom. She works privately with students as a yoga therapist and polarity therapist (contact her at wendy...
Jan 23, 2018•55 min•Season 2Ep. 27
In this episode, I take a moment in honor of Martin Luther King Day. I mention that I have a tradition of listening to his historic "I Have a Dream" speech, which can be found here . I mention this week's New Yorker cover, which can be seen here . I then head to Times Square in Manhattan, to the office of Thijs Beuming, a professional scientist who wanted to deepen his yoga practice, so took 500-hours of yoga teacher training. Thijs has a love of yoga, but has some resistance to the way yoga tea...
Jan 15, 2018•47 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Today's episode starts with a Cappuccino Q&A session about yoga asana — postures — and the importance of the whole of yoga practice. I then have an enlightening talk with Nat Ma. Nat is a spiritual adventurer. He spent more than a decade in the marketing world, rising to enviable corporate heights, but he wasn’t happy — in fact, he was the opposite. His attempts to figure out what felt so wrong brought him to ISHTA Yoga, where he began a meditation practice. He then began to rethink his life...
Jan 08, 2018•51 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Happy Solstice, Kwanza, Hanukkah, Christmas, or whatever you appreciate this time of year! The holidays around this time celebrate light, and today’s podcast is about light’s energy: vibration. Here’s a link to a video that shows you how vibrations move matter in beautiful ways. I head over to visit my student and kirtan co-conspirator Lindsay Sanwald where we talk about mantras and kirtan. But before I head out, I wanted to share something from Oprah’s Supersoul podcast , which Lindsay turned m...
Dec 23, 2017•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Today on the podcast, I speak with Wendy Newton, my wife and a yoga master. Listeners have commented how much you like our breakfast table chats. I hope you like this one, too. I learned some fun new things about Wendy myself in this one as she shared her story of coming to yoga as a teenager! We mention Wendy's teachers Alan Finger and Heather Principe . Then, I catch up with Jenny Bloom, and we talk about the #metoo moment in light of yoga insights. I hope you enjoy it. I’m very excited to ann...
Dec 12, 2017•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Today's episode begins with a monolog about deities in mantra. In it, I mention a Polish theatre production. The director's name is Jarosław Fret and the production that involved using ancient components of a mass was The Triptych Then Rina Deshpande (bio below) joins me to talk first about the Indian cultural aspects of yoga; and then, about scientific research on yoga. Rina talks about growing up Indian in America. We muse about the pros and cons of the way yoga is reaching people today severe...
Dec 03, 2017•49 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Happy Thanksgiving! In this episode, I offer advice for deepening a holiday that often veers far from gratitude. Then I speak with a dear student of mine who has a lot of yoga training and a practice that she uses to find happiness in her professional life. Elizabeth Chubbuck is a New York City business professional with a long-standing yoga practice. After studying at Trinity College in CT, she spent 4 years working for Hearst Magazines at Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. Her side interest i...
Nov 19, 2017•55 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Yogiraj Wendy Newton and I talk about the nature of love and how to find it! Jenny Bloom and I start today's episode. I ask Jenny to share her experience after I gave her a personal mantra – just like you can if you subscribe at Patreon at the Mantra level. (You should subscribe at any level!) Then, Wendy and I have a deep conversation about finding and staying in love. We discuss the book Yoga of the Nine Emotions, by Peter Marchand, where he talks about love and beauty, or shingara in Sanskrit...
Nov 12, 2017•48 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In today’s episode, I have a delightful conversation with Rachel Zinman and John Weddepohl, two teachers from the other side of the world, both of whom have a rich connection to ISHTA Yoga as well as other yoga practices. Rachel has turned her attention lately to helping people with diabetes through yoga and a new book. I begin with Cappuccino Q&A, where I answer questions from subscribers on Patreon . Today's question is a follow-up to Episode 16 about how to know how much you should do to ...
Nov 05, 2017•59 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Today, I talk to regular podcast contributor Jenny Bloom, who is an ISHTA Yoga teacher and a strategic brand consultant. We discuss finding peaceful relationship with your self, with others, and with the world; and we talk about Peace Pilgrim , an activist who walked across America between 1951 and 1981 spreading a message of personal and world peace. Please rate this podcast, to help spread the word. On your iPhone, you can scroll down to ratings from the main Show page (the one with all the ep...
Oct 29, 2017•44 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In today’s episode, I speak to Trina Morris . Trina wears many hats. I knew her first as a yoga teacher who studied at ISHTA, but before that, she studied public relations in school and had a career with major fashion brands. Over the past decade, she transitioned to being a self-employed consultant, professor, and coach with her company Style Root . Her project Breathe Bro brings yoga to black men. In today’s podcast, we get to talk about yoga, business, and racial tension in America. I begin w...
Oct 22, 2017•50 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In today's episode, I tackle the onslaught of bad news. I start with an essay I wrote in response to a frustrated yoga teacher's blog. (You can find the essay here ). Then I talk with ISHTA yoga teacher, strategic brand consultant, and regular podcast contributor Jenny Bloom about all the topics in this month's news. Plus we touch on dealing with lousy bosses, not-quite-right romances, and people on the other end of the political spectrum from you. You can post comments or ask me questions under...
Oct 09, 2017•59 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Today we start the podcast with Cappuccino Q&A, the segment where a patrons from Patreon gets a question answered. Today our question is about dealing with emotional upset. Then, I chat with artist and yogi Amanda Shafran about the similarities and synergies between yoga and art, for makers and enjoyers of the arts. Amanda is a freelance artist, maker, and theatrical designer based in New York City. She is also a yoga teacher who trained at ISHTA Yoga , and studied Trauma-Informed Yoga with ...
Sep 30, 2017•50 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this Episode, we talk about the physical. I inaugurate the Cappuccino Q&A segment, where I answer questions posed by my supporters on Patreon . Today, I answer a "cappuccino-level" patron's question about how practices lead to the goals of Tantra yoga: expansion of the sense of self, and how that leads to actual happiness. I mention Mark Whitwell's book Yoga of Heart and Krista Tippet's interview with Junot Diaz in On Being . I continue the topic of the physical in a conversation with my ...
Sep 22, 2017•36 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In today’s episode, we discuss purpose, happiness, apprenticeship, and making choices. In our first segment, Jenny and I talk about the tradition of learning from a master, like craftspeople traditionally have done. In our second segment, Jenny and I consider the challenges of knowing what to do for work. We touch on the difference between wanting something from the “me” center versus finding what you love at your essence. We also discuss what you can do, based on the nuances of dharma and karma...
Sep 15, 2017•53 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Today I speak with Cyndie Spiegel , the founder of the Collective of Us , an incubator for women’s small businesses. I've had the pleasure to teach Cyndie yoga for many years, beginning during the time that she was a full-time executive for a major fashion brand. In today’s episode, Cyndie and I work to map the fine line between wishful thinking and setting goals; between working hard to get what you want and trusting the universe to reveal your path. Cyndie's mission is to help women create bol...
Sep 01, 2017•42 min•Season 1Ep. 12
My wife, Wendy Newton and I just finished leading teacher training courses. We compare notes on how one learns and applies training to find real yoga. We discuss the Yoga Sutras description of the three components of practice: Tapas (purification and discipline) Svadyaya (Self-study) Ishvara pranidhana (surrender to the ways of Nature) As a special treat, Mica makes a guest appearance, barking her comments about finding your teacher! I'm leading a training at ISHTA Yoga in Manhattan starting in ...
Aug 25, 2017•50 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In today’s episode, we talk about work. What it is, what’s happening in the work world, work in the Bhagavad Gita, and the future of work. Joining me, during my recent visit to Berlin, is Julia von Winterfeldt , of the consulting firm called Soulworx . Her bio describers her as a Digital Expert, Change Evangelist, Consultant, Coach, Yogini and founder. I had the pleasure of being her teacher during ISHTA Teacher trainings in 2010. Julia arranged for me to be the guest at a Soulworx lecture and m...
Aug 18, 2017•40 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Be a fly on the wall as Jenny and I discuss the background of several yoga techniques and the treasure that comes from practicing them. We talk about the way Tantra describes our limited universe and how life becomes like a card game that can be rewarding as well as challenging. We mention a practice called arohan-awarohan and how it balances the the gunas of nature, rajas and tamas, to help you maintain sattva, or graceful living. There, you can experience life like you're floating on an inflat...
Aug 11, 2017•40 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, I am live from Stockholm, where I speak with fellow ISHTA Yogiraj, writer/editor, creative coach, and educator Ulrica Norberg . Ulrica and I talk about what it means to bring yoga into the way that we live in the world. We cover that topic from a few perspectives, including the balance between work and personal time, how we tackle new challenges, and whether it's possible to follow the advice of the Bhagavad Gita to act without attachment to the outcome. We mention a couple yoga...
Aug 04, 2017•51 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This month I'm teaching abroad, so I've arranged for a special episode of Peter's Podcast for people missing my classes in New York. In this episode, we have a live recording of a full meditation practice, with an explanatory lecture beforehand. You can just listen to the lecture, or try the meditation, too. The lecture begins with a description of Tantra, which is a foundation of ISHTA Yoga . We then cover the practice, which uses mantra — or sound vibration — to create a shift in your state of...
Jul 28, 2017•59 min
In this episode, I’m coming to you live from Helsinki, Finland where I’m teaching in a yoga teacher training with Aino Siren and Mikaela Soldan . They created both an ISHTA teacher training and a pop-up yoga studio for the summer. They are both ISHTA Yoga teachers, whom I had the pleasure to have as students. We talk about the training and the pop-up that Aino and Mikaela created. We also talk a lot about real yoga, and the relationship between asana, philosophy, and life's challenges. There are...
Jul 28, 2017•34 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In today's episode, I discuss a yogic approach to political realities with Wendy Newton and Jenny Bloom. We tackle how to be concerned about what's going on while operating from a place of balance. We touch on some current events, like the travel ban and this summer's controversial Julius Caesar. We also try to clarify the distinction between the nature of the universe to oscillate between action and withdrawal and our role as the conscious actors within those oscillations. I decided not to inte...
Jul 21, 2017•39 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode, I chat with Lindsay Sanwald. Known to her music fans as Idgy Dean , I know Lindsay as a yoga teacher and as part of a kirtan project, where we join forces to put a psych-rock vibe to traditional Sanskrit mantra. We cover a lot of ground between the arts and yoga, including the way both serve as a "way" to help find one's purpose, or ISHTA devata — the energy that helps you experience the whole of who you really are. We mention several artists in the episode, including: Singer Mi...
Jul 14, 2017•51 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In today's episode, I chat with Jenny Bloom about what the Yoga Sutras describe as keys to staying balanced when confronted by challenges with the people you encounter. These could be people who are out to harm you, but we also have trouble staying contented around people who are happy, sad, or successful. Jenny and I also discuss what it means to be a yogi; what karma is — and why it's not good or bad; and how looking for happiness in things outside you is a mind trick. I decided not to interru...
Jul 07, 2017•48 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Today’s guest is Wendy Newton. She is a yogiraj, or master of ISHTA yoga and a practitioner of Polarity Therapy, a yoga-based wellness system developed by Randolph Stone. She’s also my wife! Today we invite you into our morning breakfast conversation, which is always about yoga and life. We broach the topic of deep living, which is one of the areas I want to explore via this podcast. We talk about living the way — like the Tao — of yoga, the challenges of dealing with political realities, and ho...
Jun 30, 2017•44 min•Season 1Ep. 2
This is our inaugural episode, where we introduce the broader scope of yoga and meditation. I am joined by yogini Jenny Bloom, a student of mine who is now a teacher. We discuss santosha , a yoga concept that defines happiness as contentment with what is. Jenny notes that my line about happiness could make a good tattoo, so we're going to make that a Patreon reward! We go deeply into how you can be okay with what is while being deeply engaged with life. We also talk about where happiness comes f...
Jun 20, 2017•36 min•Season 1Ep. 1
