Category: Yoga & Movement

Living Yoga

Tami Simon speaks with Richard Freeman, an author, teacher, and founder of The Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, which is also the location of Sounds True’s studio. His background includes Sufism, Zen, and vipassana Buddhist practices. He’s also a practitioner of bhakti, hatha, and Iyengar yoga, and is an internationally respected instructor of ashtanga yoga. Richard is the author of The Mirror of Yoga, and has created many audio learning programs with Sounds True, including The Yoga Matrix, Yoga Breathing, Yoga Chants, and the DVD series The Ashtanga Yoga Collection. Richard speaks about the paradox of self-reference, the discovery and breaking down of samskaras, and how yoga unites the opposing patterns in the body. (54 minutes)

Yoga Nidra—The Sleep Yoga

Tami Simon speaks with Richard Miller, a master of yoga and meditation who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology. He is recognized as a leading authority on the practice of yoga nidra, and is currently teaching iRest, a healing technique he developed based on deep relaxation and meditative inquiry. Richard has worked with Sounds True to create an integrated book-and-audio learning program called Yoga Nidra. Richard discusses the stages of yoga nidra, how the practice is a path to realization and self-inquiry, the nature of paradoxical sleep, and his ongoing work with soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder through the practice of yoga nidra. (61 minutes)

Running and Walking as Spiritual Practice

Tami Simon speaks with Danny Dreyer, a marathon runner, esteemed running coach, and a student of t’ai chi master George Xu. He’s the author of two books; ChiRunning and ChiWalking, as well as the Sounds True audio programs of the same name. Danny discusses finding stillness in the midst of action and the importance of incorporating chi into all aspects of our lives, what Danny calls “creating the conditions for energy to flow.” Danny also offers a practice intended to help us move and live from our center. (51 minutes)

The Power and Bliss of Qi

Tami Simon speaks with Lee Holden, an internationally recognized qi gong master and Chinese medicine doctor. He is also the cofounder of the Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine and Chi Center. Lee has published dozens of books on topics ranging from t’ai chi to stress management. With Sounds True, Lee has created the audio learning series Taoist Sexual Secrets as well as a series on Your Body of Light, and a new home study course and online course Qi Gong for Health and Healing. Lee discusses the self-healing qualities of qi gong, the “secret” qi gong practices that relate to sexuality, in addition to a breathing exercise called “the cleansing breath.” (47 minutes)

Riding the Waves

Tami Simon speaks with Shiva Rea, an internationally renowned vinyasa-flow yoga teacher, and one of the most innovative and pioneering yoga teachers today. With Sounds True, Shiva has created more than a dozen teaching programs, including the award-winning DVD Yoga Shakti, and several audio teaching programs, including Yoga Trance Dance and Yoga Chant, as well as several music compilations that are designed for yoga practice. Shiva discusses fluidity, our bodies, and how to be fluid in our life, even during difficult times. (58 minutes)

The Wisdom of the Yoga Sutras

Tami Simon speaks with Nicolai Bachman who has been studying and teaching Sanskrit, Ayurveda, and yoga-related topics for 15 years. He is the author of the Sounds True book The Language of Yoga and a new home study course The Yoga Sutras. In this episode, Nicolai introduces the Yoga Sutras written over 2,000 years ago by Patañjali and speaks about the essence of yoga and how to incorporate the messages of the Yoga Sutras into our life. (48 minutes)