In this episode, Kathryn dives into the relentless inner critic we all know too well—the “tyranny of shoulds.” Drawing from personal experience and professional insights, Kathryn explores how modern life amplifies our expectations, often leading to burnout, anxiety, and that nagging sense of never being quite enough. Through gentle storytelling and practical suggestions, this pop up episode encourages us to recognize and soften those harsh self-demands, cultivating a more compassionate and spacious inner world.

Tune in to hear:

• How our “shoulds” have evolved and multiplied in the age of technology and social media.
• Ways to notice and question the expectations we place on ourselves and others.
• Practical steps to experiment with letting go of some of these “shoulds.”
• A guided reflection to help cultivate self-compassion and ease.

Interested in diving deeper?
Check out my upcoming retreat program, Bodymindfulness: Cultivating Awareness through Gentle Care, where we’ll explore practices and reflections to unwind from the pressures of daily life and get to know ourselves at a spiritual and cellular level. The retreat blends yoga and somatic practices, mindfulness, psychology, and Ayurveda, and is the perfect opportunity to nurture yourself in a supportive community. 

Exciting news!
I’m thrilled to announce that a brand-new podcast series is in the works. Stay tuned for more details, where we’ll continue these rich conversations and explore even more ways to live with ease and authenticity.

Journalling Prompts:

1. Reflect on one of your “shoulds” that has been weighing on you. Write down where it came from and what it demands of you. Then, ask yourself: Is this truly necessary? Does it reflect my own values and needs, or is it coming from an external expectation? 

2. Think back to a moment when you felt a sense of ease or peace. Describe the experience in as much sensory detail as you can—what were you doing, feeling, hearing, or seeing? What made that moment stand out as peaceful, and how could you create more moments like it?

3. Consider an expectation you hold for yourself that has never felt fully “satisfied.” Explore what “good enough” might look like for this expectation. What would it mean to redefine success or contentment in this area of your life?

4. Create a list of affirmations to support the Medicine of Enoughness. Examples could be: “I am enough, as I am.” “My efforts are enough.” “I am here” (to cultivate presence without pulling yourself into the future). Repeat them to yourself out loud, noticing any resistance or discomfort. What makes these statements feel true or untrue?

Stay Connected:
If this episode resonated with you, make sure to subscribe and leave a review. You can also follow me on social media @kathrynanneflynn for more updates and content that supports your journey. 

Is Yin Yoga accessible? It can be! Nyk Danu, yin yoga trainer and yoga therapist, joins Kathryn to chat about responsive, inclusive approaches to the quiet practice.

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes:

Nyk Danu Is a Yoga therapist, Yin Yoga teacher trainer and, Yoga business mentor.

She lives in the enchanted city of Victoria on magical Vancouver island, where she teaches Yoga MisFits; Gen Xers (and sometimes y) who don’t feel at home in mainstream Yoga circles, alternative folks, rebels, underdogs, punx, introverts, geeks, and bookworms.

When Nyk is not teaching Yoga, you’ll find her expanding her personal tattoo collection, walking by the ocean, or curled up at home watching Star Trek or immersed in a book.

You can learn more about on her website nykdanu.com/

How to engage with yoga with respect and awareness for its cultural context is the foundation of this discussion with Emmy Chahal. Emmy Chahal is a trauma informed yoga teacher, bodyworker/energy healer and workshop facilitator teaching at the crossroads of business, social justice, and spirituality. She lends her unique perspective to this pillar in the ethical use of yoga. 

Raised as a child with Yoga and Ayurveda, Emmy was introduced to yoga by her mother and grandmother. Through her North Indian heritage, which encompasses the practices of yoga, and an academic education rooted in systems of power, healing from systemic oppression, and embodied pedagogies - she works with clients to facilitate holistic wellness. 

Find her work at www.emmychahal.com

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes

Podcast episode about Yogi Bhajan and other 20th century yogis in North America. Also here.

Kallie Schut https://www.rebelyogatribe.co.uk/

Jessica Barudin (indigenous yoga teacher) https://www.jessicabarudin.com/

The Alchemy of Adversity online workshop through Yoga Outreach

A panel of yogis discusses the regulating (or lack thereof) of yoga, and the role of the Yoga Alliance. A conversation with Daniel Clement, Brea Johnson, and Mona Warner. 

We discuss...

• what aspects of the yoga experience could be regulated and the difficulties of such a diverse field
• what is the Yoga Alliance, and what it is not
• experiences and frustrations with the Yoga Alliance, including the membership fees which are the same for an individual to an organization
• is there an alternative to the Yoga Alliance?

Find our guests today...

Daniel Clement

Brea Johnson

Mona Warner

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes:

A conversation sensing into the practice of accountability and repair with Mitzi Melaine Wilson. We discuss racism,  wisdom on the resourcing power of yoga, as well as exclusive spaces in yoga. We also arrive at the exclusionary space of yoga's social media, which is how we got here initially....

Mitzi Melaine Wilson is a yoga teacher and consultant for non-profits with leadeship roles in behavioural health, community development, criminal justice and youth and young adult development. She is also a self described mystic. She loves observing life and all the magic the universe holds. The practices she shares are inspired by her own personal growth and healing experiences. Her goal is to be a healer by helping people in communities reconcile psyche and soul. 

After posting about "where theories of power and oppression meet policy" on social media, someone I mutually followed (Mitzi) initially "Liked" the post and disconnected from me on social media. Wanting to check in and own the possible impact of my post, I reached out to Mitzi and offered to chat, if she was interested. That was all - to connect and discuss what happened - but the potential for our conversation was evident. We decided to record the conversation and then decide if it would become a podcast. 

We wanted to share that yoga and its practices can cultivate the skillfulness to talk about racism, and as Mitzi shares toward the end of our chat, this is the beginning of ongoing conversations.

Mitzi also wanted to share that she "honours Michelle Cassandra Johnson and her book Skill in Action.  I also acknowledge my mentor/teacher Linda Sama Karl, as well as all the teachers that saw me and were a part of my journey. I also acknowledge and honor my father and all my ancestors so presently with me. 

As well as Sonya Renee Taylor, I have been greatly influenced by her work.  In addition, the work Healing Justice frame shared by Prentis Hemphill. There are many more and I extend gratitude and appreciation for all who resource me with the words and wisdom known and unknown."

Links

Mitzi Melaine Wilson on Instagram

The BIPOC Project

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For more information about Kathryn Flynn, go to www.intelligentedge.yoga

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes:

Megan Marie Gates is a queer sound practitioner, movement teacher and creative artist who uses crystal bowls, vocal toning, and other instrumentation to create sound meditations and experiences. We discuss the "sound" field and Megan helps us navigate some of the trickiness when you call it sound healing.

We also discuss the difficulty of aligning bowls with chakras, and Megan encourages us to trust our own intuition and be observers of our experience when it comes to sound. 

Megan offers trainings to help yoga practitioners and any one else interested in offering sound experiences! Her upcoming training is online - May 28-31, register here. 

You can find more of Megan's work on her website here.

Half of the first Ayurveda Foundations lecture, including an introduction to the medic to the gods - Dhanvantari - and his origin story. 

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

A few animal tales and what we learn from them - keeping it light! An introduction to the Panchatantra - moral tales from ancient India - and Jataka tales, their evolution into stories about the Buddha. A hilarious story about a dog from Hyperbole and a Half makes an appearance, as does Ludacris.

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Links:

Masters of Love (four ways of responding) 

Do Animals Overeat?

When the Elephant Was a Buddha by Mark McGinnis

Ganesha Goes to Lunch by Kamla Kapur

Hyperbole and a Half (book)

Hyperbole and a Half (blog)

A sleep-specific approach to yoga nidra - guided meditation - sweetly designed to help you settle. Whether you are napping, supported on your yoga mat with props, or falling asleep in bed, the binaural beats of the background music gently lull, while you are guided through a rotation of awareness.

The last 5 minutes are the background music slowly tapering off. 

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes: 

A specific response to the coronavirus crisis and practice during this time. A little talk on moving your work online and other suggestions for this time, as well as shaping a personal practice for this season/situation, coping with anxiety in meditation, and some guidelines for right speech and "right social sharing". 

As promised:

Mr. Music bit from John Mulaney's Sack Lunch Bunch on Netflix

Letting Go of Control - a talk from Michael Stone

The intelligent edge yoga podcast was produced by Kathryn Anne Flynn; author of Teach Kind, Clear Yoga: A Guide for Practitioners and Teachers. To learn more about Kathryn, practice online, or find retreats and training opportunities, visit kathrynanneflynn.com

Show Notes:

The evening yoga nidra from the autumn retreat - 30 minutes of guided meditation for you. Choose a comfortable position; the closing music is absent for this episode so your closing is gentle.