The Mychal Bryan Podcast

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 11 --  After a long hiatus, we are back! With the popularity of yoga in the world today, people tend to focus more on the goal of becoming a yoga teacher rather than deepening their yoga studentship. I was truly pleased to speak to Gloria Goldberg, one of the most senior teachers in America, about her journey in Iyengar Yoga. We also spoke about what she looks for in students during the Iyengar Yoga assessment process which was a very illuminating part of our conversation. Please tell us how you felt about our conversation below!  #GloriaGoldberg #IyengarYoga

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 09 -- Different people have had different experiences of what Iyengar Yoga is, and who BKS Iyengar was. For Patricia Walden, when she met Guruji, she knew automatically that he was her teacher and that studying Iyengar Yoga was her path. Over 40 years later, Patricia is now the most senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher in America and still dedicated to her powerful practice. Tune into this conversation to learn how Patricia used Iyengar Yoga to heal her depression, how she teaches others to do the same, and also how she uses her platform as a teacher not just to teach the asana and pranayama component of this practice, but how she also infuses the rich spiritual philosophical writings of BKS Iyengar into  every class she teaches.

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 07 -- The systematic approach with which Iyengar Yoga has been built creates confidence, security, and the clear light of intelligence within practitioners. However, in Iyengar Yoga being disseminated around the world, it has gone through changes and interpretations that don't always reflect the reality of these teachings as they are taught in Pune. This week, we are going to the Iyengar Yoga Motherland in Pune, India and speaking with Gulnaaz Dashti who had the opportunity to study with BKS Iyengar for her entire life and is one of the teachers at RIMYI. In this interview, Gulnaaz shares her story, what Iyengar Yoga means to her, and how much of her role as an Iyengar Yoga Teacher is in cleaning up the misconceptions that people have about what Iyengar Yoga practice actually is.

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 06 -- Within any teacher/student relationship there is often the tendency on the part of the student to emulate both the teachings and the teacher they represent. This is something many of us who practice Iyengar Yoga find ourselves faced with - whether through emulating our mentors or wanting to teach in the spirit of Mr. Iyengar himself. Advanced Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher and founder of Unity Woods John Schumacher spoke with me about his journey to finding his own voice, his own softness, and ultimately himself through his over 40 years as a yoga teacher. Tune in to our conversation to learn how you can begin to do the same.

Discipline is one of the key hallmarks of Iyengar Yoga. However, underneath that discipline is a deep fire of compassion that continues to lead us down the path of unbroken practice, self-discovery, and dedication. Tune into this conversation with Uday Bhosale and I as we dive into the heart of Iyengar Yoga practice. We discuss the balance of discipline and compassion within teaching Iyengar Yoga and how we can better serve our community and the world through this practice.

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 04 -- Surrender tends to be a difficult concept for many of us in the West. However, within the practice of Iyengar Yoga it's something that we have to face time and time again if we truly intend to progress along this path as both teachers and practitioners. Tune into this conversation with Senior Iyengar Yoga Teacher Peter Scott and I as we dive deep into the heart of what it means to surrender while on the path of Iyengar Yoga, the ways in which previous knowledge can get in the way, and the Grand Canyon of possibility that awaits us all when we choose to dig our heels into one tradition and continue to dig deeper from there.

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 03 --  Constant study is one of the hallmarks of Iyengar Yoga that attracted me so deeply to this practice. That's why getting to speak with Gabriella Giubilaro was such a treat. After 50 years of practice and teaching, Gabriella still prioritizes her study and studentship in Iyengar Yoga, and she is still learning new things through her practice today. Find out where a lifetime of unbroken practice, curiosity, and devotion has led Gabriella this week on The Mychal Bryan Podcast.

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 02 --  On this week's episode, I get to interview my own GrandMaMa - Senior Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher, and author Jaki Nett on her life with Iyengar Yoga. Join us as we go on the fascinating journey through Jaki's childhood, how she began the exciting adventure of becoming a Playboy Bunny, and how she ultimately found herself firmly planeted on the path of Iyengar Yoga. Find out Jaki's thoughts about how her practice has changed with time, what advice she has for teachers today, and how she has navigated being a strong black woman in an often strange and wonderful world.

IYENGAR YOGA -- EP. 01 --  Serendipity brought my Iyengar Yoga teacher and mentor Lois Steinberg into my life. Years later, I've travelled with her, studied with her, and have had the opportunity to experience the living heart of Iyengar Yoga under her guidance. Because of everything I've gained from her, I wanted to dedicate the first episode of The Mychal Bryan Podcast to her life and her unbroken, dedicated practice of Iyengar Yoga. In this episode, we explore how Lois came to Iyengar Yoga, what led her into the specific therapeutic areas of this practice that she is so renowned for,  and how she feels the changing landscape of the wider Yoga industry is impacting the integrity of Iyengar Yoga knowledge and teachings. We discuss her famous "We Do Not Know How To Teach" article, and end with a vision of the future of Iyengar Yoga that she personally received from Mr. Iyengar during his final years of life. Join us as we take this journey into the constantly evolving heart of Iyengar Yoga.