On the Ocean of Yoga with Amy Landry
Most of us come to yoga through the body.
But at some point, many practitioners begin to sense that yoga is much deeper than the postures.
In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by yoga teacher and author Amy Landry to explore the philosophical and spiritual teachings that sit beneath modern yoga practice.
Amy’s new book, The Ocean of Yoga, offers a thoughtful guide for anyone who feels curious about the deeper layers of yoga. In our conversation, we explore yoga as more than a set of techniques. Amy describes āsana as a doorway into the temple of yoga. A place many of us begin, but not where the journey ends.
We also explore two powerful yogic frameworks that can help guide our lives: the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa) and the four stages of life (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsa).
If you’ve ever wondered what yoga is really pointing toward, this conversation offers a beautiful place to begin.
In this episode, we explore:
- What yoga really means beyond the postures
- Why āsana can be understood as the doorway to deeper practice
- The role of sādhana, or committed spiritual practice
- The four aims of life and how they guide a meaningful life
- The four stages of life and the householder path
- What it really means to be a yoga teacher
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Dr Lauren Tober (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, Yoga Teacher, founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute, host of the A Grateful Life podcast and author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers.
Lauren developed the Mental Health Aware Yoga training to help yoga teachers make their classes safe, nourishing and transformative for all.
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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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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.
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