On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary and 500th episode of the show, J reflects on the state of the yoga profession and industry. He discusses the progression from blog writing to podcasting and his latest post entitled "What I've Learned About Where We Are," the effects of the pandemic on attendance patterns and the role of teachers, myths about marketing and expertise, cravings for connection and immediate gratification, current status of the center J opened a year ago, direction, purpose, and facing grim outlooks with courage and conviction.

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Lora Markova and Katharine Scalora, founders of Earth & Aerial Yoga in Hudson MA, talk with J about the advantages of owning an aerial yoga studio. They discuss Lora's previous career in media and Katharine's background, providing immediate gratification, logistical realities, how Covid killed their traditional classes, prop-specific discipline, remaining grounded in yogic principles, injuries, camaraderie vs competition, enrollment policies, premium offerings, and charting a new path to evolve aerial yoga into more than just a gimmick.

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Pamela Weber, co-founder of NATA Yoga in Paris, talks with J about the uncertain future that independent centers face and the determination that keeps them going. They discuss her life as an academic and moving to Paris, teacher training before 200hr certification, minimalist teaching styles, giving up tenure for yoga, the subversive nature of opening a center, glory times before COVID, managing lock-downs, erratic attendance and rising expenses, researching Swami Kripalu, and holding true to a current of surrender and love.

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Kelli Hansel and Shawn Lindsay, owners of Indigo Yoga in Caldwell NJ, talk to J about taking over a studio and reaching for more than just being OK. They discuss the yoga scene in the rural Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, learning from DVD's and correspondence courses, finding teachers on Instagram, not starting from scratch, adapting to changing habits, filling existing classes vs adding more, business models and teacher-centered policies, small town feels, and prioritizing a shared human experience of connection.

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Josh Thomas and Geoffrey Dugue, hosts of the Love for the Unseen God Podcast, talk with J about opening to transformational grace and a personal relationship with Jesus. They discuss observed experience as a basis for truth, nonduality and a creator, discerning man-made religion, comparing unitarian and trinitarian views, emptiness and being born again, worldviews of connection, Genesis I and III, surrender and salvation, God’s will, Yamas and Niyamas, Shanti and Shalom, and knowing the unmatchable peace of choosing to follow Jesus.

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Check out J's other podcast… J. BROWN YOGA THOUGHTS.

Kevin Flynn, one of the founders of Christians Practicing Yoga, talks with J about the intersection between Yoga and Christ. They discuss the history of the show and how it has led to this topic, benedictine monks, living faith in an embodied fashion, christian ashrams, Patanjali, communion vs union, liberating Christ from Christianity, ways to follow Jesus, demons and the battle for souls, being saved, divine collaboration, finding a magnetic true north, the need for fellowship, and the profound benefit of a personal relationship with God.

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Britta Van Dun, founder of Intuitive Health & Healing, is an old friend of J's and they talk about attuning to the subtle and healing with soul through acupuncture. They discuss exploring healing modalities in the early aughts, intersection of chinese medicine and yoga, consciousness, links between physical and energy bodies, actuality of needles, vehicles of intention, movement of meridians, resting in stillness, learning what your gifts are, authentic caring, and being servant to something much greater than ourselves.

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Chara Caruthers returns to talks with J about the therapeutic value of psychedelics and the questions their use raises. They discuss ineffable experiences, connections between meditation and psychedelics, transpersonal psychology, abuses in plant medicine, preparation, bad trips, ontological shock, effects of intention, intervention vs practice, machine elves, research and legalization, personal/professional ethics, relating to mystery from a grounded field, discerning truth, integration, and the capacity to make meaning of our lives.

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