Can I Call Myself a Yogi?
In today’s video episode, Dr Lauren Tober is joined by Sunita Baste Patil (she/her), a Yogini, Wellbeing Coach, Mentor, Speaker, Podcaster, Yoga Meditation & Ayurveda Teacher, and writer based in Sydney, Australia.
In this episode, Dr Lauren asks Sunita a question she had been pondering for some time about the appropriateness of referring to yourself as a Yogi or a Yogini.
Listen in to hear Sunita’s own journey in adopting the title Yogini, what her Yoga Teacher told her about the history of this title, the deeper meaning behind it, if it’s appropriate for for Western yoga practitioners to call themselves a Yogi or Yogini, and just for good measure, Dr Lauren asks Sunita about her take on using the word ‘namaste’ at the end of a yoga class!
Such an interesting discussion!
We’re super excited to be planning the next Mental Health and Yoga Summit, starting on the 29th of August 2022, and Sunita is going to be one of the amazing speakers who is joining us to talk about the Bhagavad Gita and Mental Health.
The Summit is for Yoga Teachers who are interested in mental health and Mental Health professionals who are interested in yoga, and we do hope you can join us.
To be the first to hear when registration for this free online five-day Summit opens, head on over to www.mentalhealthandyogasummit.com.
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Starts 16th February 2026.
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Hi, I'm Dr Lauren Tober!
As a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of nearly two decades and the author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, I'm passionate about integrating yoga and psychology on the mat, in the counselling room and in the world.
With the growing interest in mental health and yoga, yoga students are attending yoga classes for the mental health benefits in unprecedented numbers.
In fact, 79.4% of yoga students report practicing yoga for the mental health benefits.
It's important that Yoga Teachers know how to support them.
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