Garth McLean was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1996, and with that his life changed in an instant.

Gone were the days of high-intensity exercise, and upon the advice of his doctor, he went to a yoga class. As it happened, an Iyengar Yoga one. Within a couple weeks, he noticed sensation return to his body and he learned to cultivate patience and respect for it, and so embarked on a new way of living.

Inspired by what yoga did for him and could do for others, Garth became a yoga teacher and began teaching others living with diseases like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and muscular dystrophy. A level 3 certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, Garth continues to find inspiration from his teachers, the greatest of whom is MS itself.

Garth will be teaching a workshop at triyoga on 27 + 28 March available for booking here.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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Jo Joseph is the only woman to have ever won DJ Magazine’s coveted DJ of the Year award, and for more than 30 years has been one of the globe’s most successful DJs, playing at Pacha and Space in Ibiza, Fabric in London, and Womb in Tokyo. Yoga became the antidote to the excesses of DJ life, and her study of philosophy, anatomy and sequencing deepened as she became a teacher.

In this triyoga talks podcast, Jo spoke about smashing the glass ceiling as one of the first female DJs to break into a male-dominated world, how to create playlists that elevate the experience of a student in class, and how both music and yoga can be spiritual experiences.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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When you think about it, David Swenson has been distance teaching Ashtanga Yoga for decades with his VHS tapes and books. He recognised long before anyone else that students might not always be fortunate enough to be in the same room as their teacher — whether that was due to geography, personal circumstance or now Covid. Even so, he struggled in the early days to adapt to the technology of teaching online (like most teachers!) and in this triyoga talks podcast he spoke about moving from discomfort to ease and now enjoyment.

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Aisha Nash is an award-winning pastry chef who left behind the high-stress world of Michelin-starred restaurants to become a yoga teacher. As a teacher, however, she did not feel welcome in most modern yoga studios, which she says are not properly reflective of what yoga is, and who it is for.

In this triyoga talks podcast, Aisha spoke about how the word “fat” has unnecessarily become an insult, and how people living in large bodies can feel excluded in a yoga class. She spoke about freeing ourselves from diet culture not just in January but beyond, why weight does not necessarily equate to health, and how the BMI (body mass index) is inherently flawed and racist.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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Matthew Sanford at the age of 13 was paralysed from the chest down in a car accident that killed his father and sister. He spent three months at the Mayo Clinic, a world famous medical facility where paradoxically, the care he received increased his mind-body injury in what he calls corrective violence. Those doctors saved his life, yes, but the hospital experience itself was traumatising and ended up further separating Matthew’s mind from his body.

|t was yoga, an ancient practice from India and not modern Western medicine, that rejoined his mind-body connection to the point where Matthew could feel sensation again. And he has dedicated his life to helping others feel the same. Matthew was certified to teach Iyengar Yoga by BKS Iyengar himself, and teaches yoga to the disabled as well as the abled, and founded MindBody Solutions, a non-profit organisation dedicated to transforming trauma, loss and disability into hope and potential.

In this triyoga talks podcast, Matthew spoke about feeling sensation when his doctors said he couldn’t. About the parallel between patient compliance and student obedience. And about how people with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.

Want to learn more? Join Matthew in an online workshop on Thursday 10th December at 18.00 GMT in which he will teach you to stretch what he calls “the middle-third,” or all aspects of your arms, legs and torso. This workshops is open to all. Come realise your full potential with one of the world’s most inspirational, graceful and funny yoga teachers. Click here for more information.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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Yoga’s roots are generally accepted to be found in India where it has developed over the course of 2,500 years, influenced by the country’s diverse religions and practices. It is now practiced by millions around the world, and can be done in ways that are wholly appreciative and respectful, but unfortunately also in ways that do not acknowledge the source or recognise the essence of yoga.

In this triyoga talks podcast, we sat down with Ayurvedic chef Mira Manek, yoga teacher Savira Gupta and yoga teacher/osteopath Anji Gopal – three British women of Indian heritage to hear their views on the differences between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation in how yoga is taught and practised in the West, and how respectful exchange of tradition and practice ultimately enrich and benefit many.

Spoiler alert – we talk about how to make the perfect Dahl!

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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George Floyd’s brutal murder has sparked outrage on American streets. Many in the yoga community has expressed solidarity with the protests, and in this special triyoga talks podcast, we speak to Canadian yoga teacher and activist Dianne Bondy about the harm caused by spiritual bypassing, about how the yoga community can challenge the racist status quo, and about what being an ally in the Black Lives Matter movement really means. “It’s great to put up your black out on Instagram, but are you actually going to change your behaviour?”

“Show up  in a way that is real, every single day,” Dianne said, “Take a long, dark deep dive into who you are and what you believe. Isn’t that the yoga practice?”

Dianne is teaching an online workshop with triyoga on Saturday, 19th September 2020 – ‘creating accessible spaces: taking yoga off the mat + into the community’. Click here for more details.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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In this very special episode of triyoga talks (our first in a while), Yoga Director Genny Wilkinson Priest talks to triyoga founder Jonathan Sattin.

They speak about the difficult days leading up to the closure of our five centres (and our plans to reopen), taking triyoga online, the changing yoga landscape, what the future might hold with social distancing within studio spaces and lots more.

You can listen to the podcast in our usual audio format here and on all our usual iTunes and Android platforms. Plus, we’re bringing this episode to you in glorious video for the first (and probably not the last) time. Click here to find us on YouTube.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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At the height of the HIV/AIDS hysteria of the ’80s, Faith Hunter’s two brothers were diagnosed HIV positive after being treated for Hemophilia with contaminated blood. The experience brought her closer to her family, taught her how to express herself and, ultimately, took her to the mat. Now, she owns her own studio in Washington, D.C and works to help as many people as possible heal their wounds through yoga – whether they be emotional or physical.

This episode Faith goes deep on difficult topics like losing a sibling to AIDS, learning to care for ourselves when we are taught only to care for others and what it means to ‘ghost your feelings’.

We also talked to Faith about being a person of colour in the yoga world, holding more space for those who need it and serving our entire community – not just those who agree with us. It’s a must-listen episode for everyone looking for answers to the tough questions and some inspiration along the way.

Click here to learn more about Faith’s workshop on 20th March – ‘chakra healing: body + soul’.

Click here to learn more about Faith’s workshop on 21st – 22nd March – ‘heart-centre healing: movement, meditation + sound’.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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Just as he was planning to move on to his PhD in Clinical Psychology, Gahl Sasson’s professor stopped him. He refused to write a letter of recommendation. Why? Gahl was simply too creative for the profession. And thank goodness for that: Gahl left to go surfing in California, stumbled on the world of astrology and the rest is history. Now, he is a trusted astrologer, established author and has been teaching workshops on kabbalah, astrology and mysticism around the globe for over a decade.

In this episode of triyoga talks, Gahl answers all our burning astrology questions, like: What is it? Where does it come from? How does it affect us? What should we expect in 2020? And what, really, is Mercury retrograde?

Curious? We’d be surprised if you weren’t. It’s an exclusive look into this age-old practice and the year to come with one of our favourite stargazers. Once you’ve finished the episode, be sure to book your spot in one of his upcoming January workshops.

Click here to learn more about Gahl’s workshop on 17th January 2020 – ‘the astrology of 2020: the dawning of a new age’. 

Click here to learn more about Gahl’s workshop with Laura Day on 18th January 2020 – ‘rise like a phoenix: how to find opportunities in crisis’.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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Lolly Stirk moved to London from South Africa in 1969. Upon arrival, she immediately found herself drawn into the world of yoga and psychoanalysis. She developed her yoga practice under legendary teachers such as Donna Holleman and Vanda Scaravelli, nurturing an intimate connection to her body and breath – both foundational principals of active birth.

The joyful experience of giving birth to her daughter at home is what drove Lolly to start teaching yoga to pregnant women. Hers were among the very first pregnancy yoga classes in London in the early 1980s. Lolly has since dedicated her life to helping women give birth on their own terms. She is one of the pioneers of the active birth movement, a revolution that is changing the way women give birth in this country.

In this episode of triyoga talks, Lolly shares memories from the birth of her daughter and how this powerful experience changed her life. She speaks about why pregnancy yoga should be more than modified poses and how her classes and trainings are created to enhance and support the natural changes happening during pregnancy.

Lolly also discusses reasons why nurturing a close-knit community is so valuable for new mums and mums to be. She says, “This kind of building of community, particularly in a yoga studio is an incredible thing to do. It can become a bit anonymous if they don’t get that human factor of relating to each other and seeing the other person. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Click here to join Lolly at her next active birth and hypnobreathing monthly workshop open to mums and their birthing partners at triyoga Chelsea.

Click here for more information and to book Lolly’s upcoming pregnancy yoga + hypnobreathing immersion with Annabel Hargrave on 8th – 9th February 2020.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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