The Jewish Yogi with Emily Herzfeld
By Emily Herzfeld
The Jewish Yogi with Emily HerzfeldJan 09, 2022
Rabbi Tara Feldman and Sharon Epstein, authors of Into A Jewish Year With Yoga, A Workbook and Guided Journey for Body, Mind, and Soul, visit with the Jewish yogi
Shalom and welcome to The Jewish Yogi Podcast. In this episode I speak with Rabbi Tara Feldman and Sharon Epstein, of Lev Shalom Yoga and the authors of Into A Jewish Year With Yoga, A Workbook and Guided Journey for Body, Mind, and Soul.
Rabbi Tara Feldman was ordained by Hebrew Union College in 2001. She has served as co-senior rabbi of Temple Beth-el of Great Neck, New Yori, associate rabbi at Temple Israel in Memphis, Tennessee, rabbi educator at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, New York, and as a fellow at Hebrew University’s Melton Senior Educators program in Jerusalem.
Sharon Epstein has an MS in Dance Movement Therapy. She started practicing yoga while in high school. She completed her 200-hour training at the Yoga Polarity Center of Long Island and her 500-hour teacher training at Laughing Lotus in New York City. Sharon holds the credentials E-RYT-500 and YACEP from Yoga Alliance.
After sharing their Jewish and yoga journeys, they discuss their work together and the journey of creating their book. This includes trying to “bring Judaism alive for those who might have chosen the yoga studio – to make it warm and welcoming to share and to bring the tradition more alive”. They speak of the integration vs. compartmentalization of yoga and Judaism and how to use the power of a yoga practice to inspire and strengthen one’s Jewish identity and practice. Jewish prayer as mantra was mentioned, as well as leaders in the field of Jewish themed yoga and meditation.
Please reach out to them at:
https://www.levshalemyoga.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341938916810696
You can find their book on Amazon at:
You can sign up for their online Tu B’shvat program on Saturday, January 15th 2022 4:30 - 5:15, at this link:
A nosh about Parshat Vayera, mindfulness, and Yishuv Hada'at
Shalom,
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Vayeira and the story of Avraham and the Akeidah, when Avraham brings his son as a sacrifice. A significant response in the story helps us to learn the value of mindfulness. Yoga can help us with this.
#parshatvayeira #thejewishyogi #modahjewishyoga #mindfulness #meditation #pranayama #yishuvhadaat #savasana #beherenow #hineni #Avraham
Deb Glassman visits with The Jewish Yogi
Shalom,
This week’s episode of The Jewish yogi welcomes Deb Glassman, the creator of Shabbhakti a yoga practice that weaves the physical practice of yoga, and meditation with Jewish traditions encouraging us to create new ways to connect with G-d, each other, and most profoundly ourselves.
Deb shares her perspectives of yoga and Judaism and how she came to create Sabbhakti. She likes to think of Shabbhakti as a yoga youth group for adults. She stresses the importance of being present and mindful -- particularly about our perceptions.
Her website is:
And she can be reached directly at:
#shabbhakti #debglassman #thejewishyogi #modahjewishyoga #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #prayerinmotion #perception #yogagyouthgroupforadults
A nosh about Noach and Pranayama
Shalom!
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Noach and Pranayama.
In this portion of the Torah we get a glimpse of how God used breath/spirit to impact the world, inspiring us to develop our breath through pranayama.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Torah #yoga #Noach #Noah #Pranayama #Ruach #Nishma
A nosh about Berasheet and Santosha
Shalom,
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Berasheet and Santosha, contentment.
God and his creation of the world is an inspiration and various aspects of yoga are explored in terms of tools to help us in our work towards our contentment.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Torah #yoga #berasheet #santosha #meditation #pranayama #mudra #jnanamudra #gyanmudra #pirkeiavot #bridgepose #niyama
A nosh about Simchat Torah and Mandalas?
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Simchat Torah, mandalas, and circles. Hakafot (walking/dancing in circles), mandalas, and “Iggulim” (Kabbalistic circles) are compared and discussed.
Chag sameach and shalom!
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #simchattorah #hakafot #mandala #meditation #connectionwiththedivine #iggulim
Haris Lender and Evan Cohn visit with the Jewish Yogo
Shalom,
This week’s episode of The Jewish yogi welcomes Harris Lender and Evan Cohn, the couple that created and run the wonderful course "Yoga Yeladim", the only Jewish Kids Yoga program in the country! It is the ultimate fusion of Jewish learning, body awareness and spiritual understanding all rolled up into a Yoga mat. It provides teachers tools to incorporate Yoga and meditation with a Jewish curriculum. Yoga Yeladim is a program that branched out of Kidding around yoga, an incredible comprehensive children’s yoga teacher training that is through the Satchiananda lineage.
These are 2 great training programs that I highly recommend.
Kidding Around Yoga was founded in 2009 by Haris “Harini” Lender (AKA Momma KAY). Haris is a certified Integral Yoga teacher at the 500 level. She has also been certified in Prenatal, Raja, Children’s, and Stress Management. She spent 11 years running Camp Yogaville and for the last 9 years at her own summer sleepover yoga camp in Florida.
Haris is extremely grateful to her teacher Swami Satchidananda, and to all of the Swamis, friends, and teachers at Yogaville that have helped guide her over the years. She is also thankful for her parents who gave her the insanely creative ability to write songs and invent lots of fun activities for the kids, and her husband Evan… AKA POPPA KAY, who is right there by her side helping her with ALL THINGS KAY!
Haris and Evan discuss creating the business and making a program that is authentic yoga while being kosher for Jewish children. Haris also shares about her father, Murray Lender (yes of Lender's Bagels"), and visiting Yogaville for a weekend of The Swami, The Rabbi, ad the Bagel Baker.
Enjoy
Emily
Please explore these two possibilities at these websites.
Please feel free to like, follow, and share. Please feel free to reach out at thejewishyogi@gmail.com or @thejewishyoge on Instagram.
https://kiddingaroundyoga.com/online-yoga-yeladim/
https://learn.kiddingaroundyoga.com/
#thejewishyoga #modahjewishyoga #yogagal #kiddingaroundyoga #yogayeladim
Enjoy,
Emily
A nosh about Rosh Hashana and Sankalpas (setting intentions)
Shalom!
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Rosh Hashana and Sankalpas, the yogic idea of setting an intention for bettering yourself, the world and the coming year.
Sharing some insight into Sankalpas and its connection to the Jewish idea of repentance, this episode also explores a little bit about another way Rosh Hashana can be understood and how this can be useful with the help of twists, inversions, meditation, and the Sankalpa mudra.
Shana tova everyone and have a wonderful new year!
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #roshhashana #roshhashanah #sankalpa #meditation #sankalpamudra #twists #inversions #teshuva #resolution #intention
A nosh about the haftorah for Parshat Ki Tavo and the Divine light
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on the Haftorah for Parshat Ki Tavo. It speaks a lot about God’s light that is there for us. Chapter 1, sutra 36 in The Yoga Sutra speaks about connecting to the Divine light within us. Meditations and mantras are explored for helping us to access the Divine light within us.
Please feel free to download, follow, and share. Please feel free to reach out at thejewishyogi@gmail.com and on Instagram @thejewishyogi
#parshatkitavo #thejewishyogi #modahjewishyoga #JYOTISMATI #TRATAKA #theyogasutras #meditation #mantra #divinelight #warriorposes #jewishyoga
A nosh about Parshat Ki Teitzei
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Ki Teitzei. This parsha discusses a few instances of being kind to others and this learning is related to the first Yama of Ahimsa, nonharming. Various techniques on the mat that support Ahimsa are discussed like Warrior 1, backbends and Padma Mudra.
#parshatteitzei #thejewishyogi #modahjewishyoga #Ahimsa ##warrior1 #backbends #padmamudra
Lisa Levine spends some time with the Jewish Yogi
Cantor Lisa Levine is a nationally renowned composer, recording artist, author, poet, and worship leader. She was ordained with a Master’s Degree in Sacred Music from Hebrew Union College in 1989. Cantor Levine has served congregations around the country as a full time Reform cantor for 30 years and as a guest artist and artist in residence. She received her Doctorate in Sacred Music after 25 years of service to the Jewish people in 2014. She was ordained as a rabbinic pastor from Aleph Alliance for Jewish Renewal in 2018. She serves as a JSSA (Jewish Social Services) Chaplain and Chaplain of Riderwood Jewish Community in Silver Spring, MD.
She is a certified Yoga Teacher and is currently offering Yoga Shalom classes via zoom! Lisa is the creator and author of Yoga Shalom, a unique book/CD/DVD prayer embodiment practice and a featured artist in Hebrew in Harmony with Behrman House Books. She is the author of the book, Heart of Light. Poems of Longing, Loss, and Life.
In our interview, we discuss her experience of the focus and movement of yoga and incorporating it into prayer and worship, as well as song and chanting. She speaks of the embodiment of prayer and the spiritual concepts of opening the heart, the chakras, the sefirot, and pranayama.
“Chant is a musical dristi”
Lisa also shares about the power of music and to use it for healing. She also speaks about how the yamas and niyamas tie into mussar and how the mat and prayer are mirrors for us and compares it to our own private mishkan.
Please feel free to reach her at CantorLisaLevine@yahoo.com
Please find her on the web at https://cantorlisalevine.com/
Please feel free to reach The Jewish Yogi at thejewishyogi@gmail.com and @thejewishyogi on instagram.
Please feel free to follow, comment, and share.
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjerwishyoga #Lisalevine #yogaandjudaism #chanting #yoga #Yogashalom #musicalhealing
Enjoy and Shalom
A nosh about Rosh Chodesh Elul
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Rosh Chodesh Elul (The beginning of the Jewish month of Elul), the month before Rosh Hashana. Self reflection and Svadyaya (the third Niyama), Shofar and tingsha bells/Tibetan singing bowls, meditation and tshuva, and setting intentions in both the realm of Judaism and Yoga are all explored to help us get ready for the new Jewish year.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Elul #Roshchodesh #roshchodeshelul #yoga # #meditation #selfstudy #tshuva #shofar. #svadyaya #intention #settingintention
A nosh about Parshat Eikev and Bhakti Yoga
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Eikev when Moshe continues to speak to Israel and tells us to cling to God. Through looking at the text, as well as the Bhagavad Gita, we see a connection between devekut and bhakti yoga. This includes prayer, meditation, study, and concentration.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Eikev #bhaktiyoga #bhagavadgita #yoga # #meditation #study #prayer #bhagavadgita. #pranayama #parshateikev
A nosh about Shabbat Nachamu and yoga philosophy and technique
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Shabbat Nachamu. Through looking at Tanach, The Yoga Sutras, and Rashi, we learn about how having different thoughts can be consoling and how yoga philosophy and techniques can support this in various ways.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #shabbatnachamu # #yogasutras #yoga #machshavahacheret #Niyamas #svadhyaya #meditation #pranayama #pratipakshabhavana #consolation #inversions #yishiyahu #isaiah
Dani Antman spends some time with the Jewish Yogi
Dani Antman is the author of the fascinating book, Wired for God: Adventures of a Jewish Yogi. She has been at the forefront of energy medicine and healing since 1992, when she graduated from the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. Today, she has a one-on-one healing and counseling practice in Santa Barbara, California, and also works via phone and online with clients from around the world.
Dani was a senior teacher at The School for Nondual Healing and Awakening for over nine years, and has led workshops at the Esalen Institute, La Casa de Maria, and The Lionheart Institute for Transpersonal Energy Healing. She is certified in Somatic Experiencing, a gentle body-based method used to heal the symptoms of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Her spiritual path has emerged from three traditions: Yogic Science, Kundalini Science and Jewish Mystical Kabbalah. In her awakening journey, she persevered through a challenging 12-year Kundalini process, experiencing many physical, emotional and mental trials. Now she is dedicated to helping others progress on their spiritual path.
In this episode of "The Jewish Yogi" Dani speaks about the following among other things,
* Kabbalistic healing
* How to experience the chakras
* The tree of life -- to go from no thing to something
* “Letting go of identity is part of opening to spirit”
* “In your brokenness you’re divine”
* Meditations on the Hebrew letters
* Intention of practice
Please reach out to Dani Antman and her information at the following link:
daniantman.com/
Please feel free to reach The Jewish Yogi at thejewishyogi@gmail.com and @thejewishyogi on instagram.
Please feel free to follow, comment, and share.
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjerwishyoga #Daniantman #yogaandjudaism #kabbalah #yoga #kabbalistichealing #wiredforgod
Enjoy and Shalom
Israel inspiration and Jewish themed yoga
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on my inspirations of a trip to Israel and Jewish themed yoga. Three qualities of Israelis and The State of Israel that embodied my trip were endurance, gratitude and kindness. The podcast learning discusses these while highlighting Jewish history, asanas, yoga sutras, Pirkei Avot, a tefilah (Jewish prayer) meditation, and certain niyamas, yamas, and mudras.
#jewishyoga #yamas #niyamas #yogasutras #modehani #tefila #Israel #sabra #pirkeiavot #ahimsa #santosha #ishvarapranidhana #endurance #gratitude #kindness #meditation #rabbitarfon
A nosh about Parshat Balak, a donkey, and breathing meditation
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Balak, the story of a prophet, and a donkey. Through looking at the text, a play on words, and Rabbi Sam Feinsmit we learn the value of breathing meditation and the Yama of Ahima, the Niyama of Isvara Pranidhana.
#parshatbalak #thejewishyogi #modahjewishyoga #breathingmeditation #meditation #pranayama #dyana #dharana
A nosh about Parsha Chukat, fiery snakes, sticks, and visual meditations
Shalom.
*** new episode of The Jewish Yogi Podcast ***
on most platforms.
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Chukat and the story of poisonous snakes and a fiery snake on a stick. Through looking at the text, Rashi, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and Rabbi DovBer Pinson we learn the value of visual meditation, known as Trataka and a candle meditation based on a text from the Zohar.
#parshatchukat #thejewishyogi #modahjewishyoga #visualmeditation #meditation #hathayogapradipika #dyana #dharana
Linda Hoffman spends some time with The Jewish Yogi
Linda Hoffman is the author of the book Parsha and Yoga. She has been teaching yoga and parsha for over 25 years. She teaches at synagogues as a contribution to the community.
In this delightful interview with Linda Hoffman, she discusses the story of Beresheet, the creation story, and compares Noach and Avraham. She speaks of the union between yoga and Torah. She explores the ideas of living like a Jew as an authentic person, and the connection between responsibilities and consequences.
Her wisdom is deep:
- “Sit through the itchiness”
- “You extend it, you become one with it.”
- “Life is not what happens to you, it’s what you do with it.”
Please like, comment, follow, and share
Please feel free to reach The Jewish Yogi at thejewishyogi@gmail.com and @thejewishyogi on Instagram.
#thejewishyogi #parshaandyoga #parsha #yoga #LindaHoffman
Enjoy and Shalom
A nosh about Parshat Shalach, spies, and Ishvara Pranidhana
This week's Parsha is Parshat Shelach. It begins with the story of the spies going into the land of Israel to scope it out to prepare to enter it. It occurs in Sefer Bamidbar (The 4th book of the Torah, The Book of Numbers), the thirteenth chapter starting at sentence 27 through the third sentence in the fourteenth chapter.
Ramban spoke about the problem with the spies in the following way. While it’s ok to spy to prepare for military operations so that bnei Yisrael could conquer the land that God promised them, the 10 spies went beyond this. They presented and editorialized beyond just reporting what they observed. They said in Pasuk 39, “It is too strong for us!”. They were only thinking of their own capabilities without any mindfulness of God leading them and making sure that the Jews were successful, even if it seemed to occur through natural means like through battle rather than a supernatural miracle. This brings to mind the 5th Niyama (ethical principles towards ourselves), called Ishvara Pranidhana, known as surrendering to God, devotion to a higher power, and recognizing the source. Nicolai Bachman, in his book The Path of Yoga, says that this Niyama (Ishvara Pranidhana) implies HUMILITY, of suppressing the ego in the presence of something higher. The story of the spies is an important lesson of Ishvara Pranidhana. Rolf Gates states in his book Meditations from the Mat, “Act as if you trust in God” and when the 10 spies forgot to do this and let their egos create fear while forgetting about God, they had to pay the consequences and live out their lives in the desert until the next generation was ready to enter the land.
Ishvara Pranidhana is mentioned in the Yoga Sutras in a few places, first being mentioned in chapter 1, sutra 23. As we get caught up in our day to day lives, we often lose our mindfulness of God’s presence. One way to try and hold onto this mindfulness is through Tefila, prayer. When we wake up first thing in the morning and we say Modeh Ani “I thank you, living and enduring King, for You have graciously returned my soul within me. Great is your faithfulness.” When we go to bed at night, we say the nighttime Shema, which begins with, “Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G‑d, the L-rd is One.” Before we get out of bed in the morning we are mindful of God and when we crawl into bed at night we are mindful of God. Throughout the day we can say other Tefilot (prayers) and Brachot (blessings) to continue to bring the idea of God to the forefront of our minds. Maintaining a gratitude journal is another way to help keep a view of the bigger picture and the Divine.
On the mat, there are a number of ways to surrender to the Divine. There is Anjali mudra, prayer pose for the hands, where the hands are held palm to palm, often at the heart. This can be done in a number of poses like mountain, tree, chair, warrior 1, squat, and even locust pose. There is of course Prayer pose where we lie on our belly, similar to locust pose. The forehead is on the floor and the elbows bend while staying on the ground so that the hands come up and together into prayer above the head. With yoga Nidra also known as “The Creative Surrender”, it’s another wonderful choice to work on Ishvara Pranidhana, and surrendering to the Divine.
As we think about the spies and how most of them couldn’t keep their trust in God, how might you go through your yoga practice, on or off the mat to keep God in the forefront of your mind? And trusting and surrendering to God?
Please feel free to follow, comment, and share
@thejewishyogi thejewishyogi@gmail.com
A nosh about Parsha Baha'alotcha, quail, and Aparigraha
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Parshat Beha’alotcha and the story of the quails. Looking at the text, as well as the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita, we can understand the story of the quails as a lesson of Aparigraha, non-grasping, non-greed, and non-attachment. This includes Ganesh Mudra, Noose pose, Kumbakaya Pranayama, as well as off the mat.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Behaalotcha #aparigraha #yogasutras #yoga # #yamas #kumbakaya #kumbakayapranayama #bhagavadgita. #ganeshmudra #pranayama #diyanu
A nosh about Shavuot and the tradition of learning all night
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on the holiday of Shavuot, where we celebrate receiving the Torah after counting seven weeks from the holiday of Pesach.
Exploring the connection of the custom of studying all night on Shavuot and the fourth Niyama of Svadhyaya, the value of studying sacred texts and self study is presented.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #shavuot #tikkunleilshavuot #yogasutras #yoga #svadhyaya #niyamas #selfstudy #studyofsacredtexts. #dhyanamudra #meditation #journaling
Part 2 -- Steven J. Gold spends some time with the Jewish Yogi
In this episode, Steven J. Gold shares fascinating ideas like;
- Avraham sending his children to the East with gifts that became the Vedic teachings
- Connections between the beginning of our Torah (Beresheet - in the beginning) and the beginning of the Vedas (Agni - fire)
- The power of Mantra
- “You do not do mantra, mantra does you.”
- “Turn your inner being into your inner ear.”
- “Meditation isn’t doing. Meditation is undoing.”
Steven J. Gold, BA, Philosophy and Religion; JD Emory Law School, is the founder/director of Torah-Veda (formerly Yoga and Judaism Center) in Atlanta, GA. He is an initiate and practitioner for more than 40 years in the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters, as propagated in the West by the late Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas. He is a graduate of the Karin Kabalah Center course on Kabalah: A Process of Awakening. He has studied with Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, Rabbi Yoel Glick, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Rabbi Marcia Prager, Rabbi Gedalia Fleer, Rabbi Elyahu Schusterman, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Rabbi Phyliss Berman, and Zev ben Shinon Halevi.
Steven is the author of several books, including Om Shalom: Yoga and Judaism, IVRI: The Essence of Hebrew Spirituality, Torah Portion Summaries: With Insights from the Perspective of a Jewish Yogi, Dimensions: Navigating the Spiritual Spectrum, Basic Spiritual Principles, Contributor and Editor of Breaking the Silence: Poems of Spiritual Luminescence, and The Book About Always Being at Home (a Children’s book). He has been teaching meditation and related classes on Indian and Jewish mysticism for many years and is an administrator and facilitator of an ongoing Interspiritual Contemplative Group. He is on the Board of Directors of Zeigest/The Spirit of Now, an Atlanta-based Interspiritual Organization providing training for Spiritual Directors and other course offerings.
Please reach out to Steven J. Gold and his information at the following links:
Torah-Veda Website: www.yajcenter.blogspot.com
Torah-Veda Meditation: www.torahvedameditation.blogspot.com
Zeitgeist: www.zgatl.org
Please feel free to reach The Jewish Yogi at thejewishyogi@gmail.com and @thejewishyogi on Instagram.
Please feel free to follow, comment, and share.
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjerwishyoga #StevenJGold #yogaandjudaism #Torahveda #Omshalom #yoga #mantra #avraham #beresheet #Veda
Enjoy and Shalom
A Nosh about Yesod, the sixth week of the Omer
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on the sixth week of the Omer, YESOD -- foundation. Yesod is the foundation of the emotional sefirot and is the connection between those sefirot (the Godly realm) and Malkut, the human realm. Brahmacharya (responsible creative energy) in one avenue to generate positive energy up to God through Yesod. Prana mudra, self reflection and knowledge, meditation, studying scriptures, and creating a strong foundation in our yoga practice on and off the mat are valuable vehicles for developing brahmacharya.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Omer #countingtheomer #sefirot #Yesod #pranamudra #brahmacharya #meditation #mishli
A nosh about Hod and the fifth week of the Omer
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on the fifth week of the Omer, HOD -- splendor, humility, empathy, acknowledgment, admission, and gratitude.
Focusing on the humility and gratitude aspects of HOD, we learn a little from Aaron the Kohen Gadol, as well as from the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita about the value of humility and surrending to God. On the mat, Anjuli mudra and poses that have us fold forward help us to explore this physically.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Omer #countingtheomer #sefirot #Hod #yogasutras #yoga #bhagvadgita #forwardfolds #anjulimudra
A nosh about Netzach and the fourth week of the Omer
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on the fourth week of the Omer, Netzach -- endurance, fortitude, and perseverance.
With examples from Jewish history, and guidance from the Yoga Sutras and the Bhagvad Gita we discuss how to grow these important traits. Standing poses and Ujjayi breath are valuable yoga tools to help build endurance, that can be applied off the mat as well.
Feel free to reach out on Instagram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #Omer #countingtheomer #sefirot #netzach #yogasutras #yoga #bhagvadgita #ujjayibreath
Steven J. Gold spends some time with The Jewish Yogi
This episode of The Jewish Yogi is Part 1 of my interview with Steven J. Gold. Steven J. Gold, BA, Philosophy and Religion; JD Emory Law School, is the founder/director of Torah-Veda (formerly Yoga and Judaism Center) in Atlanta, GA. He is an initiate and practitioner for more than 40 years in the Tradition of the Himalayan Masters, as propagated in the West by the late Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas. He is a graduate of the Karin Kabalah Center course on Kabalah: A Process of Awakening. He has studied with Rabbi Joseph Gelberman, Rabbi Yoel Glick, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Rabbi Marcia Prager, Rabbi Gedalia Fleer, Rabbi Elyahu Schusterman, Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Rabbi Phyliss Berman, and Zev ben Shinon Halevi.
Steven is the author of several books, including Om Shalom: Yoga and Judaism, IVRI: The Essence of Hebrew Spirituality, Torah Portion Summaries: With Insights from the Perspective of a Jewish Yogi, Dimensions: Navigating the Spiritual Spectrum, Basic Spiritual Principles, Contributor and Editor of Breaking the Silence: Poems of Spiritual Luminescence, and The Book About Always Being at Home (a Children’s book). He has been teaching meditation and related classes on Indian and Jewish mysticism for many years and is an administrator and facilitator of an ongoing Interspiritual Contemplative Group. He is on the Board of Directors of Zeigest/The Spirit of Now, an Atlanta-based Interspiritual Organization providing training for Spiritual Directors and other course offerings.
In this episode, Steven J. Gold shares about his background and learning in the Jewish themed yoga world with his introduction to Siddhartha in high school, Transcendental meditation in college, Kabbalah author Zev Shimon Halevi, Artscroll, Aryeh Kaplan, Renewal Judaism, and Audi Gozlan.
Steven speaks about the circumcised heart and Jewish healing meditation, like Ruach El Saddai and the “breath of balance”. He also discusses the connection and influence of the Torah and Judaism, and the Veda and Hinduism.
Please reach out to him and his information at the following links:
Torah-Veda Website: www.yajcenter.blogspot.com
Torah-Veda Meditation: www.torahvedameditation.blogspot.com
Zeitgeist: www.zgatl.org
Please feel free to reach The Jewish Yogi at thejewishyogi@gmail.com and @thejewishyogi on instagram.
Please feel free to follow, comment, and share.
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjewishyoga #stevenjgold #yogaandjudaism #Torahveda #Torah #veda #omshalom #yoga
Thanks and Shalom
A nosh about Gevura and the second week of the Omer
Shalom.
Welcome to The Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on the second week of the Omer, Gevura, and using the restraint, discipline, judgment, and strength of Gevurah to build our body with Asanas, better empty our mind as per the guidance of The Yoga Sutras, and develop a more disciplined yoga practice and ethical practice towards ourselves and others.
Feel free to reach out on Instragram @thejewishyogi or through email at thejewishyogi@gmail.com
#thejewishyogi #jewishyoga #jewishyogagirl #modahjerwishyoga #Omer #countingtheomer #sefirot #gevura #gevurah #yogasutras #nirodha #nirodhaparinama #yitzchak #yoga
A Nosh about Sefirat Haomer, the first week and Chesed
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld.
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on beginning to count the Omer, the sefirot, the sefirah of CHESED, and bringing more loving kindness into the world through yoga.
Thanks for listening. Remember to follow, comment, and share.
#Thejewishyogi #Jewishyoga #Jewishyogagirl #Modahjewishyoga #Omer #countingtheomer #sefirot #Chesed #karmayoga #backbends #heartopeners #padmamudra
A Nosh about Passover and freedom
Shalom.
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld
This week's nosh of an episode focuses on Pesach, freedom, yoga, Moksha, the idea of non-duality, and our relationship to God. Happy Pesach!
Thanks for listening. Remember to follow, comment, and share
#Thejewishyogi #Jewishyoga #Jewishyogagirl #Modahjewishyoga #Passover #Pesach #Moksha #nonduality
Shelly Dembe spends some time with The Jewish Yogi, Emily Herzfeld
Shalom and welcome to The Jewish Yogi Podcast. In this episode I speak with Shelly Dembe the author of Wrestling with Yoga, a registered nurse, an ACSM American College of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer, an E-RYT 500 Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, a lifeforce yoga practitioner for anxiety and depression, a Kripalu certified YogaDance instructor and founder of Soulstir. Shelly inspires others toward optimum physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Her book, Wrestling with Yoga, Journey of a Jewish Soul, helps others navigate the controversial elements of yoga while maintaining a physical practice that is safe for the Jewish soul.
With over 35 years of life and professional experience as a registered nurse and health coach, Shelly inspires and entertains with her honest story of a journey out of ashrams and into life as an evolving Jew.
Shelly travels worldwide to communities as the founder and facilitator of Soulstir, a form of movement that awakens the soul. Based on the Kabbalistic sefirot, this dance form welcomes all women into the circle of dance, creating community, joy, and well-being. She can be reached at https://shellydembe.com/ and @shellydembe on instagram.
Our discussion explores her experience of being an evolving Jew in the yoga world, working towards integration both internally and between her Jewish identity and yogi identity. This includes the value of “Being within while staying above.” As well, she shares about her development and teaching Soulstir, sefirot based dance.
Please feel free to follow, comment, and share. Reach out to me at thejewisyogi@gmail.com and @thejewishyogi on instagram.
A Nosh about Shabbat Hachodesh and reNEWal with the Jewish Yogi
Welcome to the Jewish Yogi podcast with Emily Herzfeld
This week’s episode focuses on Shabbat Chodesh
This coming Shabbat is Shabbat Hachodesh where we read the portion of the Torah where God tells Moshe and Aaron about this month, being the first month of the year. With the Hebrew word for month coming from the Hebrew word for new, the message of newness and renewal is a strong one for this time of year. Yin yoga and Restorative yoga can be explored to support refueling and renewing oneself.
Thanks for listening. Remember to follow and share.
#Thejewishyogi #Jewishyoga #Shabbatchodesh #Jewishyogagirl
The Jewish Yogi shares a nosh about Shabbat Parah and the red cow/heifer
The Shabbat after Purim is known as Shabbat Parah and we read about the Red Heifer. The ashes of the red cow make someone pure while the person who makes the ashes becomes impure. So this very peculiar item, which is not clear to understand, has the dual effect of purity and impurity. Come and learn in this Jewish Yogi nosh of a lesson about what Parsha Parah and the red cow have to do with yoga, balance poses, karma yoga, and faith.
The Jewish Yogi shares about Purim/Shabbat Zachor mini episode
Today’s mini share is a short lesson of how the ‘flipping it upside down” concept of Purim is intertwined with yoga and inversions.
Please find more information at https://modahjewishyoga.wordpress.com/ and feel free to contact Emily, The Jewish Yogi, at thejewishyogi@gmail.com. Emily teaches Jewish themed yoga and regular yoga to people of all ages from ages 3 and up.
The Jewish Yogi with Emily Herzfeld interviews Marcus J. Freed 1/27/21
In today’s episode of The Jewish Yogi, we speak with Marcus J. Freed, the president of the Jewish Yoga Network and the author of :
- The Kosher Sutras: A Yogi’s Guide to the Torah
- The Festive Sutras: A Yogi’s Guide to Shabbat and Jewish Festivals, and
- The Kabbalah Sutras: A Yogi’s Guide to Counting the Omer
He received semicha from Rabbi Dovid Ostroff of Yeshivas Iyun Halacha, and Rav u’Manhig certification from Yeshivat Pirkei Shoshanim.
He has yoga teacher training qualifications from Tripsichore Yoga and the School of Purna Yoga.
We speak with him about his Jewish Yogi journey, kabbalistic concepts that are found in yoga, the value of humility, and more.
He can be reached at:
- www.marcusjfreed.com and
- Social networks @marcusjfreed
Reach out to the Jewish yoga community at
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