For this episode, I sat down with J.Brown. J is a yoga teacher, writer, and podcaster. He is at the forefront of a quiet yoga revolution, based in healing, that seeks to change the dialogue and direction of yoga practice in the west. His writing has been featured in Yoga Therapy Today, the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, and across the yoga blogosphere. His podcast is internationally renowned for raising the level of conversation around the practice.

Listen to the full episode here:

MY 5 BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE

1. The point to do one-on-one is to adapt the practice to the needs of the students. In a group class, if you use simplicity and repetition in the sequence, students get to know what is coming and if you offer tools so students learn how to individualize the practice, you can as a teacher walk around, and help in a way that the group practice becomes closer to a personal, one-on-one practice.
2. Less is more. Simple breathing and simple movement can have a huge impact. They teach you sustained attention, and that connects you to how you feel, it builds your awareness and clears your perception of what is happening in your life.
3. Sometimes we need to do something, so we can stop doing, and find wonder, awe, and harmony. In there lies healing.
4. When you decide that your practice is not about the poses, the practice becomes about the breath. “Attention to breath and body to that” instead of making the breath follow the movements. When you lose breath, pull back on the movement. Use the breath as a stabilizer in the movement, and operate from a place of awareness. Let the breath be your boundary.
5. The relationship teacher-student is at the core of the practice. Depth of relationship is better on many levels than wider reach.

QUESTIONS HE ANSWERED DURING THIS EPISODE

• Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your yoga journey?
• How do you bring the main principles of a personal practice into a group practice?
• What’s the value of self-practice in your opinion?
• What is yoga for you? What’s your experience of yoga?
• What do you wish teachers and students alike would understand better about the breath?
• How can more gentle be more advanced?
• Why did you start the podcast? Is there any episode that was particularly impactful to you?

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Thank you so much for listening and being part of our 61st episode! If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe, rate and review anywhere you listen. As always, I really appreciate your support with this podcast whether it’s through reviews or through Patreon. I have just added 2 new tiers to the premium memberships. As before, with a small donation of $5/month you can get access to more content, exclusive episodes, tutorials, guided meditations. Last month you got a 30 min Hatha Flow. Now you can also have access to some or all the classes we’ve recorded on zoom and continue to record during this shelter-in-place. If you’d like to have access to all this and/or support me in the creation of this podcast, please visit www.patreon.com/onandoffyourmat and become a PREMIUM member on the tier of your choice.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

J. Brown is a yoga teacher, writer, and podcaster. He is at the forefront of a quiet yoga revolution, based in healing, that seeks to change the dialogue and direction of yoga practice in the west. His writing has been featured in Yoga Therapy Today, the International Journal of Yoga Therapy, and across the yoga blogosphere. His podcast is internationally renowned for raising the level of conversation.

Visit his website at jbrownyoga.com