Integral Yoga Podcast

"It’s much easier not to do this work and to remain in ignorance. Our job is to help people see: it’s not easy, but it’s worth it."~ Maya BamfordIn this episode Avi sits down with Maya Bamford, the director of a long-running Integral Yoga center in Spain, to explore the true meaning of healing, self-responsibility, and the powerful role of practices like Hatha Yoga and Reiki.Maya shares her holistic approach to well-being, touching on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of balance. She discusses how practices like Reiki self-healing and the Reiki principles (like "Just for today, I will live with the attitude of gratitude") can transform your life, helping you to step fully into the present moment and cultivate profound self-love.Key Discussion Points:What is Healing? A holistic approach to physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual balance.The Power of Self-Responsibility: Why taking ownership of your well-being is the critical first step in any healing journey.Reiki Self-Healing: Maya explains how she uses this practice daily to maintain energetic balance and cultivate self-love.The Five Reiki Principles: Learning to live in the present and let go of past trauma or future worries.The Mind-Body Connection: How trauma and emotional imbalances surface, and the importance of acceptance for true healing.Cultivating Balance: The continuous journey of balancing energetic systems, including the masculine and feminine energies, often through Hatha Yoga and Pranayama practices.Messages from the Universe: A discussion on synchronicities and how to trust the divine guidance in your life.--Connect with Maya:WebsiteInstagramFacebook

"If you start the day embodying, 'hey, I have more than enough time for everything,' I often find I get more done in less time and still have time left over to enjoy it"~ K. Margaret SolorioDiscover how to reclaim your energy, rethink time as a "squishy" ally, and transform your home into a sanctuary that supports your highest vibe. In this heartfelt conversation, Avi chats with K. Margaret Solorio, an intuitive guide, energy mentor, and creator of the Home Frequency Reset—a transformative service that helps clients clear energetic clutter​ and realign their spaces to support​ personal growth and inner peace.​ Through her podcast Intuitive Wisdom and​ 1:1 offerings, she blends grounded spiritual​ insight with practical energy work to help​ conscious individuals​ create environments​ that match their evolving frequency. Her​ mission is simple: help people feel​ energetically at home—in their space and​ in themselves.K. Margaret shares:Why your energy (not your to-do list) is your true valuePractical tips for "home frequency resets" to clear energetic clutter remotelyMindset shifts on time, gratitude, and co-creating with the universeStories of small changes (like ditching chipped bowls) that yield massive returnsHer journey from scientist to spiritual guide, plus insights on boundaries and relationshipsTimestamps:00:10 - What Matters Most: Energy Over Achievement00:54 - From Survival Mode to Joyful Being02:41 - What is a Home Frequency Reset?04:57 - Introducing Make Easier Vibe & Time as a Human Construct07:17 - Hacking Your Relationship with Time for More Flow11:05 - Internal Magnet: Inside vs. Outside World13:32 - Energetic Anchors & Simple Space Shifts16:31 - Following Intuition for Home Tweaks20:03 - Reframing Cleaning as Play & Momentum-Building23:34 - Cleaning as Meditation: A Family Story24:29 - Margaret's Process: Remote Energy Sessions26:52 - Client Transformations & Her Calling29:19 - The Power of Podcasting for Legacy31:39 - Money, Debt & Energy Blocks33:07 - From Scientist to Spiritual Healer35:15 - Boundaries, Family Shifts & Holding High Vibes38:29 - Yogic Wisdom on Impermanent Relationships41:13 - Self-Compassion & Eckhart Tolle Insights42:01 - Final Wisdom: Anything is PossibleConnect with Margaret:Website & Free Home Energy QuizPodcast: Intuitive Wisdom (on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc.)Book: Make Ease your Vibe - on AmazonHome Frequency Reset Services

Join Naren Schreiner, devoted disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda and bhajan chanter, for a soul-stirring exploration of devotion—from high school choir to the heart of Indian chanting. Why does God, with infinite power and wisdom, seek our freely given love? How does Divine Mother embody unconditional embrace? Discover practical wisdom for loving meditation, taming ego in community, and surrendering like a child.Recorded at Yogaville, this episode weaves personal stories with Yogananda's teachings on Autobiography of a Yogi, Kriya Yoga, and bhakti. Naren shares:His awakening to Amma's devotional circle and the magic of 1993 chants.Guru-disciple bonds and Yogananda's poetic emphasis on Divine Mother (from Kali to formless love).Antidotes to "competitive humility": "You won't feel left out if you're right within."Chanting as vulnerable gateway to unconditioned love and inner child healing.Balancing yielding love with discipline in sadhana, parenting, and teaching.Ends with a serene Shiva chant for Shravan—pure upliftment!"The soul loves to meditate, because that's communion with the divine. So if I'm resisting, it's not the soul resisting, it's something else. - Naren K. Schreiner.Timestamps:00:00 Intro & Welcome03:00 Discovering Indian Chanting & Devotion07:00 Becoming Yogananda's Disciple at 1412:00 Sacred Privacy: Keeping Spirituality Intimate16:00 Ego & "Competitive Humility" in Community23:00 Divine Mother: Unconditional Love & Forms32:00 Loving Meditation: Discipline Meets Surrender39:00 Self-Parenting: Balance of Comfort & Strength47:00 Teacher-Student Bonds: Humility Over Hierarchy58:00 Closing Prayer: Shiva Chant in Shravan--Naren (Kamalakanta) Schreiner has been a disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda for over thirty years. After living as a brahmachari yogi (monk) in the SRF Ashram for fourteen years, he continued his religious vocation of service and spiritual support to individuals, families and communities throughout the US and Mexico. He lived at the Kali Mandir for ten years and was ordained as a Hindu priest (archaka) in 2012. He has received the blessing of diksha and instruction that enable him to serve the Indian community and the tradition of Sanatana Dharma through puja, yajna, weddings and other rituals. He helped establish Mexico's first Hanuman Mandir and Ram Mandir, and serves as a spiritual advisor to organizations. Sacred music is an important part of his life and worship; after receiving classical India vocal training here and in India, he recorded five albums, much loved by devotees worldwide, available on all music platforms under his name. Naren's offers his services through www.avahana.net and music through www.sangitayoga.comIf this sparks your practice, subscribe, rate 5 stars, and share a key takeaway in reviews.#Yogananda #DivineMother #BhaktiYoga #Meditation

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Michael Plasha, a dedicated yoga teacher and mindfulness coach, as he shares his transformative journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a beacon of mindfulness and yoga. Discover how nature, meditation, and pivotal life moments shaped his path, leading him to teach yoga in Erie, Pennsylvania, and beyond. Michael discusses his experiences with family, spirituality, and the power of intuition, offering insights into living a mindful life amidst busyness. Perfect for anyone interested in yoga, mindfulness, or personal growth.--Michael Plasha, E-RYT 500, YACEP, RPYT, is a seasoned yoga teacher with over 20,000 hours of teaching experience across 14,000+ classes. For over 20 years, he ran an award-winning yoga studio in Erie, PA, before relocating to Savannah, GA. Michael specializes in adapting yoga for conditions like back pain, MS, Parkinson’s, and cancer, with his hospital-based rehabilitation work featured in Yoga Journal. Certified in Ayurveda, Prenatal Yoga, and Yoga for the Heart, he draws from Integral Yoga, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Kripalu, and Viniyoga traditions.Michael offers tailored private and group classes, blending alignment-focused Hatha, Vinyasa, restorative, and gentle chair yoga, informed by Ayurveda for holistic balance. As a Mindfulness and Stress Management Consultant, he serves Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and schools, with trainings approved by NASW. Praised by Integral Yoga leaders, Michael’s innovative approach is seen as a future standard for yoga in America.🔗 Connect with Michael:🔔 If you enjoyed this conversation, please like, share, and subscribe for more inspiring stories!#Mindfulness #Yoga #PersonalGrowth #Spirituality #NatureHealing

Join Nina Rao, acclaimed kirtan artist and devotee in the lineage of Neem Karoli Baba, in this heartfelt conversation with host Avi Gordon at Yogaville. Nina shares her journey from cultural rituals in India to discovering the depth of sadhana (spiritual practice) in New York through yoga, Krishna Das, and her guru Sri Siddhi Ma. Explore how consistent practice—through chanting, prayer, and mindfulness—fosters unconditional love, equanimity, and compassion in daily life. Topics include integrating practice into parenting, overcoming negativity, and remembering our interconnectedness.Nina Rao first learned sacred chants as a young girl from her grandfather in south India, and the chants stayed quietly with her until she rediscovered this powerful practice with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Since then she has been KD’s business manager and accompanies him musically. In 1998 she met her guru, Sri Siddhi Ma, in the foothills of the Himalayas and spent time with her regularly for 19 years, while Ma was in the body. Nina has been chanting regularly as her main practice, has recorded albums that are widely streamed and played around the world, leads chant events, studies and shares Veda chanting and, spiritual texts, is a hospice volunteer, is a podcast host for Be Here Now Network, goes on yatra/pilgrimage, and is a wildlife conservationist as chairperson for Saving Wild Tigers, and hopes that everyone will make a Homegrown National Park in their home by planting native species. Along with the 21 Taras Collective she has released a new album of 7 mantras in 2025. Nina co-hosted and released along with 10 women wisdom leaders, the audio course and program “Sita’s Gems”, lifting Sita Devi from victim to heroine of the Ramayana.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Origins of Practice01:12 - Growing Up with Cultural Rituals02:35 - Discovering Sadhana in Adulthood03:42 - Unconditional Love and Inner Peace05:06 - Chanting as a Child and Adult Insights06:24 - Meeting Sidima at Maharaji's Ashram08:45 - Prayer as Daily Practice10:27 - Awareness of Obscurations and Honesty12:02 - Building the Practice Muscle13:28 - Practice for Enlightenment and Less Harm14:52 - Digging a Deep Well (Sidima's Advice)16:12 - Making Everyday Activities Sacred18:15 - Allegiance to Practice and Remembering19:22 - Practice for Compassion and Service21:39 - Aspiration and Dedication in Practice23:20 - Understanding Hearts and Self-Worth25:06 - Acceptance and the Long Road26:56 - Oneness Amid Separation27:41 - Trusting Life's University28:43 - Reflecting on Changes from Practice30:02 - Evolving Family Relationships32:31 - Vulnerability in Parenting34:19 - Purpose, Mistakes, and Gratitude35:58 - Negativity Bias and Sacred Life37:18 - Precious Human Life and Interconnectedness38:58 - Discovery Process in Gratitude and Parenting40:03 - Allowing Children Their Own Path41:31 - Nina's Recent Trip to India with Family42:50 - Parenting with Honor and Acceptance43:43 - Closing and ThanksSubscribe for more inspiring talks on yoga, spirituality, and personal growth. #SpiritualPractice #Kirtan #NinaRaoIf you enjoyed this, check out Nina Rao's website and music: NinaRaoChant.com

Join Kelly Smith, a passionate meditation teacher, as she shares her unique approach to leading guided meditations and weaving mindfulness into yoga classes. In this insightful podcast, Kelly discusses how she incorporates diverse meditation techniques to support students with ADHD, dyslexia, or busy minds, helping them find calm and connect with their authentic selves. Learn practical tips for adding mini-meditations to yoga sequences, debunking meditation myths, and rediscovering your true self for a richer, more fulfilling life. Perfect for yoga teachers, meditation enthusiasts, or anyone seeking inner peace in a fast-paced world.--Kelly Smith is a global yoga and meditation teacher, author, E-RYT 500/ YACEP, founder of Yoga For You and the host of the iTunes chart topping podcasts Mindful in Minutes and Meditation Mama. Kelly believes that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to yoga and meditation and encourages her students to find their own personal practice, listen to their bodies, and find inner joy by accessing their most authentic selves. Kelly is best known for her guided meditation, yoga nidra, and restorative yoga practices that she has been sharing since 2016 on her podcasts and books.To connect and find out more about Kelly:www.yogaforyouonline.comKelly on Instagram

In this enlightening podcast, Paul Olko, a practitioner of Taoism and Chinese medicine, shares his passion with Avi for introspective personal healing. He explores health through the lens of the five elements—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial—emphasizing balance and living in harmony with nature. Paul discusses the importance of cultivating oneself like a garden, using practices like Taoist meditation and the I Ching to foster self-awareness and gratitude. He highlights the power of simplicity, moderation, and embracing paradoxes, such as letting go of the need to know to gain true wisdom. Paul also reflects on building community, setting boundaries, and the transformative impact of aligning with one’s authentic self.--Paul is a naturopath, herbalist, and Asian bodywork therapist. He has been associated with the Ni Family Traditional practices since 1989, and travels each year to study with the family to advance his own practice. He is certified by the Chi Health Institute of the College of Tao in the Ni Family's 18 and 28 Step Harmony-Style Tai Chi, Taoist meditation, Tai Chi staff, and 8 Treasures Qi Gong. He has been a Yoga teacher since 1972. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he has an active practice in the healing arts and teaches Taoist movement arts on a regular basis.For more information about Paul and his practice in Charlottesville, Virginia: https://greenlakehealing.com/Keywords: Taoism, Chinese Medicine, Holistic Health, Personal Healing, Five Elements, Meditation, I Ching, Self-Cultivation, Gratitude, Spiritual Wellness, Nature Connection, Balance and Harmony, Community Building, Mindfulness, Simplicity

In this profound podcast episode, Krishna Das, the renowned kirtan singer, sits down with Integral Yoga director Avi Gordon to share insights on navigating the subjective nature of reality, the power of spiritual practice, and the art of letting go of ego. From exploring the influence of his Guru to embracing life’s challenges with presence, Krishna Das offers wisdom on cultivating inner peace and compassion. He reflects on the interconnectedness of all beings, the importance of daily practice, and how suffering can be a motivator for transformation. This conversation is a heartfelt invitation to live with gratitude and awareness, perfect for anyone seeking deeper meaning and connection."Practice is the most important thing. It's dropping an anchor into the ocean. And then when the winds blow you this way and that way, you're not blown around too much.”~ Krishna Das--Few figures in modern spirituality, particularly in the West, have impacted the hearts and minds of contemporary seekers as Krishna Das has. A devotee of the North Indian Saint, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji), Krishna Das has played an enormous role in popularizing the traditional practice of kirtan in the West, taking the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and temples and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time. In a career spanning more than two decades, KD has released 16 acclaimed full-length albums, his music serving as an easily approachable gateway to the devotional traditions of the East. Along the way, he has evolved into an accessible if somewhat reluctant teacher, and a spiritual friend to many. He travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and stories of his life on the Path, of Maharajiji, and advocates for bringing regular spiritual practice into our lives through retreats and workshops. During COVID times he has chanted online every week for the worldwide satsang. More information on KrishnaDas.com.

Join Swami Ramananda, a renowned Integral Yoga teacher, as he shares profound insights on finding peace in chaotic times through spiritual practice. From his Kentucky roots to his transformative journey with Swami Satchidananda, discover how yoga, meditation, and karma yoga cultivate resilience amid global challenges like injustice and political unrest.🕉️ Key Wisdom from Swami Ramananda:“A regular habitual spiritual practice on a daily basis is a great foundation for dealing with anything that comes up in life.”“Make peace in your heart first and then you can be a presence for that.”“The universe isn’t interested in smooth sailing, the universe is interested in challenging us to make us wake up.”“Even when I’m meditating, when I’m practicing, that energy, hopefully a very peaceful loving energy, is radiating out into the world. So it’s not even that that is not doing anything.”Explore the power of community, selfless service, and inner balance in this inspiring conversation. Like, share, and subscribe for more spiritual wisdom!Timestamps:00:00 Introduction00:55 Spirituality in a Chaotic World06:12 Daily Spiritual Practice11:53 Karma Yoga Explained18:59 Swami Ramananda’s Early Life43:49 Meeting Swami Satchidananda1:05:40 Lessons in Karma Yoga1:08:26 Aging and Spiritual Community---Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.