Let's Talk Yoga

About this podcast

Arundhati is an immigrant Indian yoga teacher, living in the US. She's grown a 6 figure yoga business singlehandedly. Self-taught, hardworking, and passionate, she's changing the yoga conversation to include more Indian yoga teachers. This podcast covers topics like cultural appropriation of yoga, yoga teacher training, practicing yoga in business, and much more...Whether you're a student or a teacher, you'll find valuable insight, strategies, free downloads, and raw conversations. Tune in every Tuesday for a new episode! More good stuff on our website - letstalk.yoga.

Let's Talk Yoga

Episodes

2021
Non-violent Communication for Yoga Teachers with Judith Hanson Lasater
Communication is central to our life. As yoga teachers, we communicate constantly through our words, actions & bodies. Yoga philosophy often shows us how to communicate compassionately. But in today's world of social media & cancel culture it can be very challenging. There's a gap between silent & spoken communication. The 'tone' of how we communicate seems to be getting increasingly hostile online & the yoga world isn't immune to this. On the show today, I chat with repeat guest, Judith Hanson Lasater about all things non-violent communication. With 50 years of teaching experience, Judith needs no introduction to people in the yoga world. I had the pleasure of chatting with her about her book, "What we say matters, practicing non-violent communication" co-authored with her husband, Ike Lasater. In this interview, we keep a specific focus on NVC for yoga teachers. As a student of NVC & yoga, Judith packs a lot of wisdom about the art of nonviolent communication with grace & humility. Episode Highlights... What is non-violent communication? Is NVC more significant for yoga teachers? NVC is not for others but for us How to engage with empathy? Who is NVC for? Where does violence start in communication? Cancel culture in the yoga world Should we respond to cancel culture in the yoga world? NVC exercise live on the podcast about cancel culture What are we giving our presence to? Why it matters? How to ground ourselves & act from empathy Difference between feeling & judgments Clarity of intension Updates about Judith's latest book Whether you teach yoga or not, you will get a lot out of this episode. Hit play if you're keen on learning to communicate clearly & compassionately. Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga Join our mailing list: https://www.aham.yoga/instagram-2021 for all episodes. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/
March 1, 2021
47 min
Mind Your Breathing with Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian
Pranayama is the yogic art of breathing. Ancient yogis knew the power & potential of our breath. They gifted us this wisdom through the practice of pranayama. But in the modern asana dominant world we sometimes don't think of pranayama beyond inhales, exhales & ujjayi breathing. But it is SO much more... My guest today is Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian, a researcher at the Medical University of South Carolina studying cancer biology, and Yoga. His research provides evidence for how Pranayama could promote wellbeing in health and disease. He is the Founder/Director of PranaScience Institute and was a speaker at TEDx Charleston 2015. He has published several articles, book chapters, audio albums, and books including “PranaScience: Decoding Yoga Breathing”, and “Mind Your Breathing: A Yogi’s Handbook with 37 Pranayama Exercises” Tune into this episode if you've ever wondered... What is pranayama? What are the benefits of pranayama How does saliva and pranayama connect Latest Pranayama research Women doing pranayama Pranayama & pregnancy When should you do pranayama? Is asana required before pranayama Upcoming new research for 2021 Join our mailing list: https://www.aham.yoga/instagram-2021 You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
February 22, 2021
46 min
COVID-19 & What We Can Do as Yoga Teachers (Respiratory health & immunity focus)
As yoga teachers, we have access to amazing tools in yoga to help in this fight against COVID19. There's so much we can offer our students and ourselves in terms of respiratory health well-being & immunity boosting. Doing a special solo episode sharing some of my best advice for this pandemic that seems neverending. Whether you teach or do yoga, today we’re talking about practical tips to improve or restore respiratory health. Episode highlights... What poses are best to boost immunity? What poses are best for respiratory health? How often to do these yoga poses? What pranayama is best for immunity & respiratory health? What kriya is best for immunity & respiratory health? What to do if you have yoga students who have recovered from COVID19? Sequences & resources mentioned in the episode available in show notes Join our mailing list: https://www.aham.yoga/instagram-2021 for all episodes. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
February 15, 2021
39 min
What is Zero Waste Living & How is it Yoga with Stephanie Lentz
Exploring the connection between zero waste living & yoga on the podcast today! Like many of you, I’m big on being a conscious consumer, reducing my carbon footprint, living a low waste lifestyle & most importantly, living my yoga in areas of my life off the yoga mat… For me, there’s no point in doing all the yoga if you can’t take it with you - into different areas of your life every day. And to be honest, I’m not perfect at doing this. But it’s a start. I hope today’s conversation gives you some insight on how you can get to a low waste lifestyle too. My guest today is Stephanie Lentz, owner of Scoop Market Place, a zero-waste grocery store eliminating the need for disposable packaging & significantly reduces the overall environmental impact of our community. Stephanie took a particular interest in how her family's daily habits were impacting the planet after she became a mom and decided to make some drastic lifestyle changes. Today she’s educating others who want to get started on their zero-waste grocery store dreams and much more. I’m really excited to have her chat with us about what it means to live this lifestyle & practical things you could start doing today…with zero fuss and very little effort. In this conversation, you’ll hear us talk about… How I connect yoga & zero waste living What is a zero-waste lifestyle? Who is it for? Where does one start? Does it cost money to live this way? The reality of recycling Easy ways to cut waste in different areas of your home Mistakes to avoid Adopting the hassle-free approach Understanding what it means to consume mindfully Easy swops for your kitchen Easy swops for cleaning products Women’s menstrual health Oral care swops Zero waste for kids Stephanie’s personal story What low waste living is like in other places? There’s so much in this conversation. I really hope you listen & share this with others. There are plenty of resources too. We highlight how doing zero waste living imperfectly is better than a few of us trying to do it perfectly. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Join our mailing list: https://www.aham.yoga/instagram-2021 for all episodes. Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga #yoga #yogapodcast #yogateachers #zerowasteliving
February 8, 2021
60 min
Unpacking What Yoga Philosophy Means in its Truest Sense with Dr. Shyam Ranganathan
I’m delighted to share my podcast guest today. Dr. Shyam Ranganathan is a field-changing researcher, scholar, author, and teacher of philosophy, and an expert in the neglected traditions of Indian moral philosophy, including Yoga. He’s also a trained scholar, researcher of philosophy, and an author, editor, and translator of over 50 peer-reviewed, scholarly works. If you’re a yoga teacher trying to get a grasp over what is yoga philosophy, hit play now. Here are some of the highlights of our conversation… 💥What all are we referring to when we say yoga philosophy? 💥The dangers of interpretations vs explication. When nonexperts act as experts. 💥What’s the end goal of learning yoga philosophy? 💥How do we measure whether we are making true progress? 💥Dr.Shyam’s story & his definition of yoga 💥What’s the start point in studying yoga philosophy for a yoga teacher? 💥Are South Asian yoga teachers & Sanskrit scholar works a pre-requisite in studying philosophy 💥His interest in Patanjali’s yoga sutras 💥What is Hinduism? 💥How are yoga & Hinduism connected? …. & much more. If you enjoy the content we put out, get on our newsletter by clicking the link below. And if you're a super fan, please review and share this podcast with your yoga friends. Sign up for our email list here https://www.aham.yoga/instagram-2021 You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
February 1, 2021
49 min
Why Content is Your Superpower with Andrea Ferretti
My guest today needs no introduction. Andrea Ferretti & her podcast, Yogaland are beloved names in the yoga industry. Standing at 4 million downloads Andrea is the queen of content creation in the industry. Recently, she launched her own content creation course to help yoga teachers understand and navigate the world of content creation. In our conversation today, Andrea shares her insight on the nitty-gritty of what it means to develop content. Free content versus paid content, where to get started, what to focus on, social media versus email newsletter, what needs to go into a newsletter, where to start, what holds teachers back, taking the long view of the goal of content creation, important statistics & more. If you're a yoga teacher, Andrea wants you to get started today! Happy Listening. Sign up for my email newsletter here https://www.aham.yoga/instagram-2021 You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
January 25, 2021
54 min
Unleashing the Power & Potential of Restorative Yoga with Adelene Cheong
Restorative yoga is a hidden gem of modern yoga Adelene Cheong, a London-based senior yoga teacher who specializes in restorative yoga. When I met Adelene in a recent training I instantly knew that I wanted to have her chat with you about all things restorative yoga as she's steeped in it from years of experience. This conversation weaves through many layers of restorative yoga. Bringing you clarity & a deep understanding of the impact of the practice. We cover a wide range of questions in this episode including the new world of teaching restorative yoga online and exploring a "propless" practice. Whether you teach or practice yoga - this episode will enlighten you about rest & rejuvenation in the most simple yet profound way. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga #restorativeyoga #letstalkyoga #yogapodcast
January 18, 2021
59 min
Is Meditation the Answer for Everything? With Anusha Wijeyakumar
In this episode, I talk to Anusha Wijeyakumar, the founder of Shanti Within Wellness. Anusha Wijeyakumar is an author and a motivational speaker with areas of expertise in the science of mindfulness and meditation. Anusha is among the few South Asian women in the yoga industry making a real difference with her work every day. Meditation is a big part of her life and she just launched her first book this January. We chat about meditation, the benefits, the impact, the "best" kind of meditation, her new book and much more in this episode. Whether you're looking for meditation for beginners or a seasoned meditator. There's something in this for everyone. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
January 12, 2021
52 min
What Your Dosha Says About Your Gut Health with Dr. Ram Tamang
What Ayurveda has to say about your GUT-HEALTH? One of my intentions in 2021 is to take better care of my digestive health. Like so many of you, when it comes to living holistically, I first turn to Yoga & Ayurveda for answers. In this episode, I chat with Dr. Ram Tamang, an Ayurvedic doctor (& also my doctor) with 20 years of experience. Born & raised in the hills of Nepal & now practicing Ayurvedic medicine in Orange County. Dr. Ram helps us understand what are doshas are. How to find our doshas & should we pay attention to them only if we’re out of balance? Or when something goes wrong? We dig deep into how doshas are related to our gut health. As well as what does Ayurvedic wisdom tell us about gut health in today’s episode. Special Bonus 🎉- Dr. Ram also offered a special $30 off for any of the podcast listeners who want to get a personalized consult with him. All details in the show notes. Enjoy this episode. Link in bio. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here : https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
January 5, 2021
49 min
2020
A Year End Message from Me to You
As we wrap up the year, I’d like to thank you for tuning into the show, leaving reviews, and for all the kind words! I'm also grateful to all the amazing guests that we had on the show. It's amazing how much Let's Talk Yoga has grown over a short period of time! Wish you a joyful, safe, peaceful holiday season to all of our listeners and we're looking forward to more exciting shows with exciting guests in the year ahead!
December 29, 2020
3 min
Body Positive Yoga and Setting a Shame Free New Year’s Resolution with Amber Karnes
Can fat people do yoga? Oftentimes, larger-body people experience hostility in fitness environments. Amber Karnes certainly remembers how nervous she was when she first joined a yoga class. Nevertheless, her body figure and all the constant negative self-talk didn’t stop her and eventually, she got hooked on practicing yoga. She originally started to practice yoga in an effort to change her body but later realized that yoga taught her how to be in her body instead. Now, Amber teaches yoga full time and is an industry thought leader & an inspiration to many. Get inspired as Amber shares her yoga journey, she talks about how she learned that bigger bodies can also do yoga - not just a cop-out child's pose but also hardcore asana and all other aspects of yoga. She also shares some tips on setting up a shame-free goal for the New Year's resolution. As well as important language dos & don't for yoga teachers. I’m truly inspired by her work which is really important, needed & missing in modern yoga culture. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
December 22, 2020
51 min
BONUS_ My story on Yogaland
Since some of our listeners have been curious about my yoga journey, I thought that this would be the perfect time to drop a bonus episode. I’m sharing with you an interview that I did with Andrea Ferretti of Yogaland Podcast earlier this summer. Andrea Ferretti is the well-known host of the long-running Yogaland podcast & wife of Jason Crandell, an internationally renowned yoga teacher who was my guest for Episode 4 of the Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast. In this chat we go into my story as well as some aspects of yoga that are culturally appropriated over the years. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
December 15, 2020
44 min
All things OM, Origins of Sanskrit and the Role of Mantras in Yoga with Sunita Baste Patil
When I thought about the perfect guest to talk about OM, Sanskrit language, as well as mantra and meditation, I thought of Sunita Baste Patil. She shares her vast knowledge & experience in today's podcast. If you've ever wondered about the origins of OM, the meaning, the significance, the pronunciation - you'll discover those answers in today's conversation. We also chat about the Sanskrit language, the mispronunciations as well as the significance of Sanskrit in yoga. We also chat about mantras, using mantras as a tool for meditation. And if you've wondered what the difference between mantra, japa & kirtans are we go into that and more in today's episode. Sunita has over 20 years of teaching experience & wisdom that she so graciously shares with us today! You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
December 8, 2020
48 min
Everyday Ayurvedic Self-Care Rituals You Didn’t Know About with Indu Arora
Indu Arora is back on the podcast again! This time we geek out about all things self-care from the rich & deep wisdom of Ayurveda. Indu just released her 3rd book, SOMA 100 heritage recipes for self-care. This conversation is woven around self-care rituals detailed in her latest e-book. If you've been looking to go beyond trendy self-care & invest your limited time, energy, & money into really wholesome, simple & effective self-care. This episode is for you. Indu shares recipes & rituals passed on to her by her family and other important people in her life. 2020 has been a difficult year for everybody, and self-care is very significant at this time. Especially self-care that nourishes from within. If you’re like me who loves anything DIY and self-care, you will find this episode very insightful. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
December 1, 2020
65 min
Can yoga history be fun? A conversation with Colin Hall
Usually, when we think of history, we think of it as boring. But as I was looking for someone to help weave the journey of yoga in North America, I stumbled upon Colin Hall’s show called the Yoga History Podcast that was made in collaboration with Yoga International. It really surprised me as Colin has this amazing sense of humor while providing great information about yoga history so I decided to have him on the show. Join our fun conversation as we trace the journey of yoga in North America! You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here : https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
November 24, 2020
54 min
A New Approach & Updated Guidelines for Online Yoga Teacher Trainings by Yoga Alliance -an interview with Dr. Christa Kuberry
Yoga Alliance, whether you love them or despise them, this episode will shed light on how they’ve evolved into a progressive, community-driven platform in the past 2 years. I chatted with Dr. Christa Kuberry, the VP of Yoga Alliance Standards, about the new, revised guidelines for 2021 for studios & teacher trainings. What happens after 2021, as well as the new direction Yoga Alliance, is undertaking as an organization. We chat about the cultural appropriation of yoga & whether there are more opportunities to work at Yoga Alliance since so many yoga teachers are currently unemployed and more. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here : https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
November 17, 2020
42 min
Questions I've been asked about poses over the past decade
I’m back with a solo episode answering the most commonly asked asana questions over the past (almost) a decade of teaching yoga. While most of you know me through my guest interviews, I actually teach a lot of asana at my yoga studio. It’s not every day that you see an Indian immigrant yoga teacher talking about the physical practice of yoga, is it? Somehow that’s often been left to my white counterparts…many of whom are brilliant at what they do. But I did this episode as I know there are so many teachers out there who would have gotten the same questions as I have over the years. You can find all the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes at https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here : https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
November 10, 2020
45 min
Do props have a purpose with Zain Syed
We’re exploring the purpose of props in today’s episode with international yoga teacher, Zain Syed. Zain’s videos on social media have inspired many around the world to explore creative and fun ways to practice yoga poses. With many years of training from senior Iyengar Yoga teachers, as well as studying and learning from his mentor and dear friend, Carrie Owerko, he brings a dynamic blend of power, precision and play into his practice and teaching. Before the pandemic Zain was a traveling teacher and visited over 20+ countries to share practice with diverse communities overseas. We explore the role of a prop, how it can assist or hold someone back, vinyasa yoga versus prop based yoga, the role of the yoga student & teacher & more in this conversation. At the end of the episode, Zain shares some of his favorite teachers and resources to help yoga teachers elevate their practice & awareness with props. Show notes here: https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here : https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
November 3, 2020
46 min
True Yoga is Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman
My guest today is the face of the Accessible yoga movement. Jivana Heyman, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings. He’s the co-founder of the Accessible Yoga Training School, and the author of the book, Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body (Shambhala Publications), and the upcoming book, Rainbow Mind. Jivana has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities and out of this work, the Accessible Yoga organization was created to support education, training, and advocacy with the mission of shifting the public perception of yoga. We chat about accessible yoga, what’s at stake if we don’t make yoga accessible, social justice & yoga, how to train as teachers, how to get involved in the non profit & so much more. Happy listening! If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Show notes here: https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here : https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
October 27, 2020
44 min
The Pelvis is Everything with Judith Hanson Lasater
My guest today has been teaching yoga for almost 50 years. Let that sink in - 50 years. Judith Hanson Lasater is a teacher's teacher, an author, and a world-renowned yoga teacher highly respected for her experience in the yoga world. She has authored many yoga books - her latest one being "Yoga Myths" that just came out several weeks ago. In this book, she talks about some of the common myths when it comes to alignment, movement & things yoga teachers say. A great read for any long time yoga students, anatomy geeks & teachers. In this episode, we talk about her new book, her vast teaching experience, restorative yoga, and the recent wildfires in California and so much more. I'm always inspired by Judith and her body of work. I hope you enjoy this episode. Show notes here: https://letstalk.yoga/ Connect with us on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/arundhati_baitmangalkar/ Join our exclusive Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/letstalkyoga
October 13, 2020
55 min

Let's Talk Yoga

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

Let's Talk Yoga

Episodes

Non-violent Communication for Yoga Teachers with Judith Hanson Lasater

Mind Your Breathing with Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian

COVID-19 & What We Can Do as Yoga Teachers (Respiratory health & immunity focus)

What is Zero Waste Living & How is it Yoga with Stephanie Lentz

Unpacking What Yoga Philosophy Means in its Truest Sense with Dr. Shyam Ranganathan

Why Content is Your Superpower with Andrea Ferretti

Unleashing the Power & Potential of Restorative Yoga with Adelene Cheong

Is Meditation the Answer for Everything? With Anusha Wijeyakumar

What Your Dosha Says About Your Gut Health with Dr. Ram Tamang

A Year End Message from Me to You

Body Positive Yoga and Setting a Shame Free New Year’s Resolution with Amber Karnes

BONUS_ My story on Yogaland

All things OM, Origins of Sanskrit and the Role of Mantras in Yoga with Sunita Baste Patil

Everyday Ayurvedic Self-Care Rituals You Didn’t Know About with Indu Arora

Can yoga history be fun? A conversation with Colin Hall

A New Approach & Updated Guidelines for Online Yoga Teacher Trainings by Yoga Alliance -an interview with Dr. Christa Kuberry

Questions I've been asked about poses over the past decade

Do props have a purpose with Zain Syed

True Yoga is Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

The Pelvis is Everything with Judith Hanson Lasater