On God and Navigating Abuse in Spiritual Communities with J. Brown
In today’s podcast episode, Dr Lauren Tober (she/her) had intended to ask J. Brown about topics that many of us know him for, like gentle is the new advanced and slower is stronger.
But in this interview they ended up talking about how as a 16 year old J grappled with his mother’s cancer diagnosis, the promise he made to her before she died, what it means to receive a message or a download that guides your life, and where that message actually comes from.
They talk about God, Christianity, the abuse in both Christianity and in yoga communities, if it’s possible to separate the teachings from the teacher when there’s been abuse in our lineage, and how important it is to engage in a non-hierarchical way as a teacher and with your teacher.
They ask a lot of questions, and don’t necessarily have all the answers, but it’s this asking and exploring that we find so important, and so interesting.
Listen to Dr Lauren Tober speak on J. Brown’s Yoga Talks podcast
Sign up to the free How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop on the 15th March 2024
Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024
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The information provided on this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs for professional training.
Any statements, claims or endorsements expressed by our guest authors, speakers and podcast sponsors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Mental Health Aware Yoga and the Yoga Psychology Institute.
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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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