Let's Talk Yoga

Discover the history, traditions, and deeper yoga significance of Diwali with Aru on this special festival deep dive. Explore the different stories behind Diwali, its five days of celebrations, traditional rituals, and the yogic principles of saucha, asteya, dharma, and dana. Aru also shares what it's like to celebrate Diwali outside India and offers thoughtful ways for everyone, including non-Hindus, to take part in the festival.
Episode Highlights:
Diwali and the Meaning of Deepawali
Diwali’s Origins and Significance
Rama’s Return to Ayodhya
The Journey from Darkness to Light
Lakshmi and the Churning of the Ocean
Krishna’s Victory Over Narakasura
The Story of Bali and Vamana
The Five Days of Diwali
Dhanteras and Settling Old Debts
Naraka Chaturdashi and Abhyanga
Lakshmi and Ganesha Puja
Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj
Jain and Sikh Diwali Traditions
Kali Puja and Regional Celebrations
Saucha and Purifying the Home
Diyas, Rangoli, and Traditional Rituals
Diwali Sweets, Gifts, and Firecrackers
Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya
Diya Lighting and Trataka Practice
Asteya and Performative Celebrations
Lakshmi, Dharma, and Abundance
Dana and the Practice of Giving
Celebrating Diwali Outside India
Finding Community and Cultural Connection
Celebrating Diwali as a Non-Hindu
Simple and Respectful Ways to Participate
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Is the yoga industry ready for a new kind of professional organization? Aru welcomes Andrew Tanner, CEO of the American Yoga Council, for an honest conversation about Yoga Alliance’s revised 2027 standards, competency-based credentials, cultural appropriation, and the challenges yoga teachers face in making a living. They also explore business support, mentorship, teacher retirement, and the future of yoga leadership.
Episode Highlights:
Andrew Tanner’s Journey with Yoga Alliance
Building Trust in Yoga Organizations
The Next Generation of Yoga Leadership
Social Media and Yoga Influencers
American Yoga Council’s Vision and Mission
Competency-Based Yoga Teacher Credentials
Yoga Standards vs. Standardization
Cultural Appropriation in the Yoga Industry
Professional Ethics and Accountability
Challenges Facing Yoga Teachers
Building a Sustainable Yoga Career
Yoga Business and Studio Ownership
Teacher Training and Yoga Specialization
Yoga Alliance’s Revised 2027 Standards
National Exams and Teacher Certification
Financial Transparency and Giving Back
Mentorship and Revenue Sharing
Retirement Support for Yoga Teachers
The Future of Global Yoga Organizations
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What is prana beyond the breath? Aru welcomes yoga teacher and author Prasad Rangnekar back to Let’s Talk Yoga to explore his book, Prana: The Practice of Body, Mind, and Breath. They discuss prana as a lived experience rooted in Indian culture, the relationship between the individual and the cosmos, and how prana connects with the mind, sound, and everyday life. Prasad also explains Chitta Shuddhi, Prana Dharana, and the importance of cultivating aliveness before jumping into breathing techniques. Discover simple ways to connect with prana and bring a deeper, more experiential understanding to your yoga practice.
Episode Highlights:
Etic and Emic Approaches to Yoga
Prana as a Lived Cultural Tradition
Pinda Brahmanda Siddhanta and the Cosmos
The Indian Worldview of Space and Time
Connecting with Prana Beyond Breath
Developing a Relationship with Prana
Everyday Ways to Cultivate Prana
Sound, Chanting, and Pranic Energy
Chitta Shuddhi and Mental Purification
The Mind as a Mirror
Prana and Emotional Resolution
Pranayama and Cultivating Prana
Breath Communication Beyond Breathwork
Prana Dharana and Energy Flow
Prana, Apana, and Hatha Yoga
Aliveness as a Practice of Prana
Recognizing Energy Blocks Through Aliveness
Thriving in Prana Before Technique
Prana as a Sacred Relationship
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What makes a yoga pose truly restorative? Aru shares her journey from chasing challenging asanas to discovering the importance of deep rest. She explores the origins of restorative yoga, its roots in the Iyengar tradition, and the five qualities that make a pose restorative: support, stillness, warmth, silence, and darkness. Learn how these elements help the nervous system settle, why Mauna and sensory withdrawal matter, and how restorative yoga prepares us for unsupported Shavasana and a deeper experience of rest.
Episode Highlights:
Confessions of a Yogaholic
Movement and the Goal of Stillness
Understanding Restorative Yoga
Restorative Yoga’s Iyengar Roots
The Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Responses
Support and Intelligent Prop Use
Stillness and Proprioception
Warmth and Nervous System Regulation
Mauna and the Practice of Silence
Pratyahara and Sensory Withdrawal
Darkness and the Oculocardiac Reflex
Restorative Yoga and the Five Koshas
The Goal of Unsupported Shavasana
From Doing Shavasana to Being in Shavasana
Restorative Yoga Teacher Training
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What exactly is a Sangha, and why does community matter so much in yoga? Aru explores the meaning and origins of Sangha, its relationship to Satsang, and the many traditional forms of community that have supported yoga over time. She also looks at what makes a genuine Sangha, what it is not, the shadow side of spiritual communities, and the importance of boundaries, agency, accountability, and sustained relationships in modern yoga.
Episode Highlights:
Defining Sangha and its origins
Sangha, Satsang, and yoga
Characteristics and purpose of Sangha
Recognizing genuine Sangha
Traditional forms of yoga community
Guru Shishya Parampara and living transmission
Kula, ashrams, and Gurukula
Bhakti communities and spiritual practice
Accountability, belonging, and collective knowledge
What Sangha is not
The shadow side of spiritual communities
Teacher and student responsibilities
Boundaries, agency, and discernment
The Three Jewels and modern yoga
Rebuilding meaningful community in yoga
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