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modern yoga

Ep. 57 Is the Yoga You’re Doing REALLY Ancient?

Is downward dog really ancient? When did modern day yoga start to take form? In this episode I get into a little bit of the research I’ve been doing around modern postural yoga.

In this episode I discuss:

~What I learned about yoga history

~Where the standing poses of yoga came from

~The beauty of cultural transmigration

~The women behind what became modern day yoga

~The relationship we’ve ALL been in

Books I used for research:

The Great Oom by Robert Love

The Subtle Body by Stefanie Syman

The Science of Yoga by William Broad

The Roots of Yoga by James Mallinson, Mark Singleton

Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice by Mark Singleton

The Northern European creators of "harmonial movement":

Cajzoran Ali

Genevieve Stebbins

Mollie Bagot Stack

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This episode is sponsored by the Ahara Ghee family! They churn their butter in small batches. Use promocode GHEESPOT at checkout for $5 off your order.

Learn more:

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Lineage of Love Community

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes
  3. Share this show with one friend right now!

It’s seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

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Ep. 34 What is Feminine Form Yoga?

I started a conversation last year with the community about yoga and the rise of the feminine in the world. This episode is part of a larger series and conversation I want to have with you about what yoga is, what Shakti is and what the concept of “the feminine” is in relation to a yoga practice. You might want to start with Ep. 23 Why Your Yoga Practice May Need To Die before diving into this one.

In this episode I discuss:

~A reading from Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr

~What is the Rising Feminine actually?

~Student LOVE!

~The longing in your heart to know who you are

~Yoga as an individual practice

~The medicine to an over bloated masculine

~Why we need to understand our primal biomechanics/nervous system

~That point just before death

~Yogic monks vs the feminine

~The control issue

~Lineage of Love Free Trial!

Or Subscribe on iTunes

We love the Ahara Ghee family! Use promocode GHEESPOT at checkout for $5 off your order.

Learn more:

Shakti Ayurveda School

Lineage of Love Community

HELP US SPREAD OUR POD WINGS

This show is a passion project that I produce for the love of sharing. If you enjoy this show and want a free and easy way to help it grow, the most effective way you can help is to:

  1. Subscribe to the show by clicking “subscribe” in iTunes
  2. Write us a review in iTunes
  3. Share this show with one friend right now!

It’s seems simple, but you’d be AMAZED to know how much it helps my little love project reach more people. iTunes’ algorithm uses ratings and reviews to know who to show our show to in their app.

Here’s the link to leave us reviews in iTunes.

From my heart to your screen,

Katie

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Ep. 23 Why Your Yoga Practice May Need to Die

This is an introductory talk on my newest research into the nervous system, yoga in America, women in yoga and more.  I hope it peaks your interest. It's just a little taster. There is more where this came from...

In this episode I discuss:

~Download on Kapha season

~Chill the F Out by ApotheKary! My friends started an ayurvedic wellness store =) use the discount code GHEESPOT10 for 10%

~The American yoga dilemma

~My painful experiences with American yoga

~The power of sharing your storey

~Masculine lineages of Indian yoga

~American yoga is only 100 years old

~Where yoga really comes from… hermit monks that wanted to basically die or transcend this reality

~Viyoga : “separation, elimination, denial, upward transcendance”  vs Samyoga

~Mind Over Matter, The Masculine Approach

~My Nervous system collapse

~The definition of Health

~What many yoga practices do to your nervous system

~The worst of the yoga cues

~The relationship between the structural body and the nervous system

~Horizontal lines  of movement vs vertical in the body

~Fight or flight nervous system

~Anti Anxiety month on Lineage of Love!

~The true Guru

~ Book: The Oxygen Advantage

Or Subscribe on iTunes

We have a new partner in ApotheKary! Our discount code is GHEESPOT10 for 10% off.

 

Learn more:

Shakti Ayurveda School

Lineage of Love Community

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How Real Deal Christians Schooled This Yogini on Love and Forgiveness

Yoga-mat-carrying-chics could learn something from bible-carrying chics. I should know. I got schooled by some sassy, suit-wearing lady-preachers this past year when I moved back down south to Virginia, land of the notorious Bible Belt.

A few months back I had a big ole’ fat case of the poor-me’s. A mind gremlin had actually wrapped her slimy webbed palms around my head and heart. She was ruthless, loudly blaring things into my heart space that made me wanna’ give up on my dreams and get in bed with a box of Chex-mix and a block of cheese.

Luckily, my mama (Vera) was around to pull me out of funk-city, dragging me kicking and screaming to a bible study. The last time I had been to bible class I was wearing MC-hammer pants, braiding friendship bracelets and listing to Toni Braxton. Needless to say, I was less than thrilled at the prospect of revisiting that awkward time of my embodiment.

“I demand it,” she said. “You are coming with me to my ‘little’ bible study.”

My mom always calls it her “little” bible study. Its as if by adding a diminutive qualifier to the whole charade she can somehow fool all the other non-Christians into overlooking what clearly proved to be a Jesusy-Tantrik, Christ-Worshipin’, Lady-Witch gathering, complete with scented oils, speaking in tongues and the laying of hands.

Little, my ass. There is nothing little about my mamas bible study. Not only are most of the women buxom and juicy, but the unapologetic spiritual dexterity and prayer-filled dedication of these Jesus-loving ladies made me wonder if we yogini gals had a few things to learn from them.

Let me explain….

About half-way through the study’s lesson on faith and surrender, it became obvious to the group that I wasn’t sharing much (an oddity for me in any lady-group circle, let me assure you). With much trepidation, I admitted to the group of women that I didn’t feel comfortable sharing and connecting with them because I could feel myself holding so much pain and anger against the Christian church.

“What are you angry about,” said the leader-lady, a no-nonsense woman with a loving matriarchal tone.

“Well, Im angry that a bunch of middle aged southern men made me feel so bad for being a sexual, sensual creature. Im angry that at the age of 13 I had to sign a “promise” stating that I would never have sex before marriage. I am angry that I was subjected to lock-ins at the age 14 where me and my Jewish friends were shown graphic low-fi videos depicting non-Christians’ eventual resting place – the fiery lakes of Satan’s, teeth-gnashing hot wonderland. I was angry that I was stuffed full of Krispee Creme donuts and Mr. Pibb throughout the night, and at a hazy, sugar-drugged 3 AM, asked whether or not I wanted to be a child of God or not. I was so angry, and even sadder, that the single most intimate aspects of myself –  my body, my sexuality and my connection to the Divine Creator of the Universe was co-opted by a patriarchal religious system that was so afraid of my vagina that they wanted to keep it on lock-down through prepubescent pseudo-contracts and fattening me up with donut creme".

As I finished my tear-stained rant, the preacher-woman stood up and came over by my side. She put her hands on my head and I closed my eyes as she entered into some sort of Christ-loving lady-trance.

“Lord,” she proclaimed, “Free Katie from this burden she is carrying, oh Divine One. Lord, may all the thoughts inside Katie that were placed into her by these men in bad suits and bad hair cuts, be removed from her right here and right now. We know Lord, that she is your sacred jewel, your most beloved possession. Lord, we know that she was created by you, in perfection. May all these thoughts and feelings she has inside of her that tell her she is damaged, that she is dirty, that she is shamed, be removed from her right here and right now, Oh Lord. This child of God is a light for your love. This is how you see her, Oh Lord, and let her see herself in this way from here on out.”

As she continued praying and laying hands over me, I felt the store house of years of 13-year old-girl-sadness and angst leave my body. I felt relief, knowing that there was a group of people that embodied Christ’s nonjudgmental love and acceptance. With my eyes closed, I saw my whole body fill up with light, tears streaming down my face, as I let this woman of God midwife the exorcism of the thought-forms that the southern Baptist charade had mistakenly planted into my body.

Slowly, each of the ten women came over and put their hands on me. I felt safe, knowing that these women loved me for exactly who I was as they cried out Amen and whispered “Yes, Jesus.” I felt healed. I was being healed by the MAMAS of the Christian realms. I felt the whole wily band of Christ’s cheerleaders placing their loving mama-hands on the wounds that had wrapped themselves on my heart like tentacles.

But Jesus wasn’t done with me yet…

The leader-mama actually got down under the tall table, on hands and knees, in her sleek black lady-suit, and anointed my feet with oil, just like in old-school Bible times. She freaking anointed me with oil. She was fearless. She put it on my feet, praying that I may be protected wherever I walked.

She put it on my hands, saying that my hands would act as servants of love in the world. She put it on my forehead, saying that my mind would be a clear vessel for Christ. Finally she looked up at me and said, “Now Katie, do you FORGIVE them? Do you forgive those men in suits? Do you forgive the church?”

Oh hot damn. She was asking ME to be the forgiving one. Not the men in the suits or the church, but ME. She was asking me to do what Jesus Christ would have done. She was skilled at her craft and I was ready. “Yes,” I whispered.  And I did forgive. And forgiveness washed through me like a cool river. Like love.

These women, acting on behalf of the love of Christ, saved me. 

I got saved – saved for the second time. Not like the first time, out of fear-coercion and childish innocence, but saved out of love and forgiveness.  I was saved from the memories that lived in me of how bad Christianity had been to me. I was saved from all the anger that I was carrying around. I was saved from myself and my own limited view of what it means to be on the real-deal spiritual path. I was saved from that limited sense of self that told me that I knew what I needed. I got saved.

My Christianity may never look like my parents’ version, the Church’s version, or even that wild group of Christian lady-witches’ version. But what I do know is that I am a Guardian of Love, chosen by Christ to continue to forgive and love, forgive and love, forgive and love. Thats how Jesus is alive in me.

And that was how my mama’s ‘little’ bible study went down.

To conclude, here is what I learned from real-deal Christian mamas:

i. They aren’t impressed with the political and economic use of Christianity – they are impressed by acts of great trust and love.

ii. Lots of cool Christian women (and men I assume) are NOT happy with the way things have been going down in the Christian church. That real-deal preacher woman told me that oftentimes it is the very leaders of religion that are closest to “the devil” himself. I knew that, but to have a preacher woman SAY it. Word.

iii. Prayer is something Christians go to – like everyday – to help support one another and themselves. These ladies are praying for each other ON THE DAILY. When was the last time you sat your hot yoga-toned bootie down and PRAYED for your friends? Maybe we could start being fearless enough to do that for ourselves and selfless enough to do it for one another.

iv. Circles are good for study. These women get together weekly to deeply study their sacred text – the Bible. When was the last time you got together with your yoga mates to dig deep into the Sutras or Rumi or a rad Tantric text? We can learn so much from these mamas. Gather in circles. Talk to one another. Not in your “yoga voice,” but in your most vulnerable, real-deal voice. You know, the voice that your friends from high school would recognize as you. Bring the spiritual book of your choice, it doesn’t matter. The bible says that when 2 or more are gathered in “my name,” Love appears.

v. Real-deal Christians are doing the same thing that real-deal yogis or Buddhists or Hindus or Jews are doing. Call yourself whatever you want – the end game is the same for all of us. Its love. L-O-V-E, love.

What lessons have you learned from unlikely places that change how you practice yoga – on the mat, and in life?

~Katie

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Finished the free audio meditations from the book Finished the free audio meditations from the book this morning! Ok, I am officially DONE with the book and ready to party/play. Make sure to get on our mailing list to be the first to get FIFTEEN audio energy and body-based practices! 🦄🌈💡✨link in the bio
We are throwing two LIVE book launch parties in Vi We are throwing two LIVE book launch parties in Virginia. Author talk + community fall intention ritual + the sweet sounds of @djcopavida DANCE shakedown…Featuring @common__house @djcopavida @bluebirdandco @bluebirdbookstop 🥳shoot us a line if you are coming - it’s filling up ❤️🍁🩵🍁
What if… you could come celebrate my new book Gl What if… you could come celebrate my new book Glow-Worthy with me AND bring your bestie AND possibly win a spot for BOTH OF YOU in Ayurveda School Level 1!!?✨✨✨⁣
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(yes, if you have already signed up for our 2024 class you can still win this spot)…⁣
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In celebration of the official release of my new book, Glow-Worthy, we are inviting you to a special 2-hour FREE love-event: ⁣
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✨ A Morning of Glow ✨⁣
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It’s part workshop, part party 🎈And 100% for you. ⁣
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Yes, we are gonna’ confetti you all with a TON of abundance gifts in celebration of the birth of this little book baby 🎉🎉🎉⁣
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This online party is a straight-up Godmother Oprah giveaway.⁣
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Check out all this beautiful stuff we’re giving away for the people who come LIVE👇🏼👇🏼⁣
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✨2 FREE SPOTS TO LEVEL 1 AYURVEDA SCHOOL! ⁣
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Bring your bestie and stay for the whole event where the winners will be announced! We will also send you Glow-Worthy, Healthy Happy Sexy, the beautiful bound copy of our color-printed manual AND the textbook for class. (That’s 4 books!)⁣
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✨1 WINNER will get a free private coaching session with Katie, where we can dive into your life, career and meditative practice goals and dreams as well as how to approach perceived roadblocks and emotional obstacles. Katie currently does not see private clients, so this is a rare opportunity to connect with her on a one-on-one level. ⁣
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✨3 WINNERS will get a personalized love note and signed copy of Glow-Worthy sent to your door. ⁣
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✨3 WINNERS will get Katie’s Winter Skin and Sleep Kit ⁣
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✨EVERYONE! The recorded audio meditations from Glow-Worthy with Katie ⁣
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Tag your bestie below and then get on our email list ASAP for the invite (linked in bio)! 💌💌💌
Hey beauties- 🍂🍁🍃join me for the time-tes Hey beauties- 🍂🍁🍃join me for the time-tested secrets to a fabulous fall. We will go into some of the basics of Ayurvedic fall routine- but you know me - we are going to take it deep! How can we use the portal of fall, where the veil begins to thin, to enter into a deeper relationship with SOUL loving and living? Register to attend! Links in bio 🍂🍃🍂🍁

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