On the Stories Behind the Poses with Dr Raj Balkaran
Pull up a cushion, pour yourself a chai and join Dr Raj Balkaran and I around the virtual fire for storytime.
Raj is a scholar of Sanskrit narrative literature, wisdom teacher and online educator. He’s the founder of The Indian Wisdom School, author of the book The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures and runs a thriving one-on-one spiritual guidance practice.
In our discussion today, Raj shares about the importance of stories to impart and receive wisdom, and why understanding the stories behind the yoga asanas we know and love gives our practice a new depth.
While Raj has written a book about the stories behind the poses, the yoga tradition is actually an oral one, handed down verbally from teacher to student. And so in the second half of the episode, Raj takes us on a storytelling journey, and shares a few of the stories from his book, including Pranāmāsana (Reverence Pose), Sūrya Namaskārā (Sun Salutations) and Vīrabhadrāsana (Warrior Poses).
While I had read these stories in Raj’s book already, there was something profound about hearing them spoken, and I already know that my yoga practice is going to feel different as a result.
Listen in right to the end where Raj does a little giveaway!
Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, opening for registration today
Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community
LISTEN ON APPLE PODCASTS, SPOTIFY + EVERY WHERE YOU FIND GREAT PODCASTS
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.
FOR THE SEEKERS
COMMUNITY
FREE EBOOK
The information provided on this blog is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice.
The views expressed by our guest authors and speakers are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Mental Health Aware Yoga and the Yoga Psychology Institute.
JOIN US TODAY
Registration for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training is now open!
Refine your skills in the growing field of yoga and mental health, and empower real transformation as you deeply support your yoga students experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and trauma.
Early bird ends on the 31st August 2024.
MORE BLOG POSTS
The Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell, mythology expert and philosopher, studied many of the great myths of the world and found that there...
My Strongholds for Mental Health
I’m a mother with two teenage boys who have autism. In the early days of their diagnoses and succeeding years of...
On Finding Authentic Yoga in India with Amy Landry
Have you ever wanted to go to India to experience authentic yoga and Ayurveda, but not sure where to start? Let me...
BLOG CATEGORIES
Western Psychology
Yoga Psychology
Safe Container
Therapeutic Skills
Yoga Practices
Mental Health Crisis
JOIN OUR ONLINE SANGA
Are you on Facebook?
Awesome, so are we!
Come and join our brilliant community of like-mind Yoga Teachers and tune into (mostly) weekly video episodes with our founder Dr Lauren Tober.
It's all happening over in our FREE Facebook group.
JOIN OUR ONLINE SANGA
Are you on Facebook?
Awesome, so are we!
Come and join our brilliant community of like-mind Yoga Teachers and tune into (mostly) weekly video episodes with our founder Dr Lauren Tober.
It's all happening over in our FREE Facebook group.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
Hi, I'm Dr Lauren Tober!
As a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of nearly two decades, 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.
I'm glad you're here.
LET'S STAY CONNECTED
Be the first to hear about online and world wide in-person trainings BEFORE registration opens
Receive your invitation to join our closed Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook group for teachers
Download the Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober