Sivana Podcast: Eastern Spirituality, Yoga Philosophy, And Conscious Living

Join us as we dive into using yoga and meditation as a tool to unwind trauma and intense emotional distress. Our two guests are as impressive as they are compassionate in their approach to this important topic:   Judy Weaver is the director of Yoga Styles teacher Training in Florida the primary founder and director for Education For Connected Warriors. She conducts trauma-conscious yoga training based on the latest scientific understanding of the human brain and psychological understanding. She also served on Yoga Alliance’s schools and students advisory board.   Carol Horton, Ph.D., is the author of Yoga Ph.D.: Integrating the Life of the Mind and the Wisdom of the Body (2012) and Race and the Making of American Liberalism (2005). Carol is the Vice President of the Yoga Service Council, an Advisor to the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, and a co-founder of Chicago’s Socially Engaged Yoga Network (SEYN). She completed her foundational yoga teacher training with Ana Forrest, and studied trauma-informed yoga with

Why is it that people speak differently when they’re dying? Lisa Smartt’s father had always been a skeptical and rationalist person. But three days before dying, her father announced, "The angels say only three days left now." He spoke of a "green dimension" and his room crowded with people who were unseen. He also spoke in a poetic and metaphoric language, describing the big art show that was approaching and the boxes he had to carry for his ceramicist wife of 54 years. She listened in awe as she transcribed his final words that not only painted a world unseen but were rich in language patterns that appeared to be unique to the end of life. Formally trained in linguistics, Lisa was deeply curious about the language she witnessed. When she discovered little or no research had been done into people's final words, she established The Final Words Project (2014)  with Dr. Raymond Moody to learn more. Raymond, who coined the term near-death experience, has had a lifelong interest in language and joined Lisa on thi

What exactly are the chemical reactions in the brain that occur during spiritual experiences? What do they do to us, and can they be isolated? This fascinating topic of discussion is talked about at length in this podcast with Dr. Rick Strassman. Dr. Rick Strassman is a board certified psychiatrist at the New Mexico School of Medicine, where he teaches. At UNM, Dr. Strassman performed clinical research investigating the function of the pineal hormone melatonin in which his research group documented the first known role of melatonin in humans. He also began the first new US government approved and funded clinical research with psychedelic drugs in over twenty years. He has published nearly thirty peer-reviewed scientific papers, and has served as a reviewer for several psychiatric research journals. He written groundbreaking books such as DMT: The Spirit Molecule, Inner Paths to Outer Space, and DMT and the Soul of Prophecy.   Special Guest: Dr. Rick Strassman https://www.rickstrassman.com/   Creator & Hos

Mindfulness is great, but how do you find your center in chaotic situations? It certainly isn’t easy. But thankfully, we have a SEAL to help us.   Thom Shea served 23 years with distinguished Valor as a Navy SEAL. During his military career, he served in three wars, ultimately leading a team of Navy SEALs into Afghanistan in 2009 where he earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, Army Commendation with Valor and his second Combat Action Medal. He was hand-selected to serve as Officer In Charge of the famed SEAL Sniper course from 2009 – 2011. He’s also the CEO of Adamantine Alliance, a unique leadership and demanding human performance training organization.   Special Guest: Thom Shea http://adamantinealliance.com/thom-shea/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com

What is Yoga Nidra, really? What happens to us in this very deep state of peace and mindfulness? Join us as we explore this fascinating topic with our special guest, Kamini Desai.   Trained at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health with degrees in Anthropology and Psychology from Smith College and La Salle University, and as daughter of one of the original yoga masters who pioneered yoga in the West, Kamini has served as Director of Wellness at Yarrow, an executive retreat center in Michigan, and on faculty of the Foxhollow Leadership Center. She is now the Education Director and Core Curriculum Developer of the Amrit Yoga Institute -a cutting edge teaching center for advanced studies in eastern philosophy. She is one of three Founding Directors of the International University of Yoga and Ayurveda with Dr. Vijay K Jain, MD and Dr. Shekhar Annambhotla.   Special Guest: Kamini Desai http://www.kaminidesai.com/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn

With a wider acceptance of marijuana quickly gaining in the US, many people are starting to explore the practical uses of this ancient plant. And while the conversation is usually framed around its medicinal qualities, what about its connection to rituals, creativity, and spirituality? Join us with special guest Stephen Gray as we discuss the use of cannabis in both modern and ancient spiritual settings and how it is being used by people to deepen and expand their spiritual experience. Stephen Gray is a teacher, workshop organizer, public speaker and writer on spiritual subjects and sacramental medicines. He has worked extensively with Tibetan Buddhism, the Native American Church, and with entheogenic medicines. He is the author of Returning to the Sacred World: A Spiritual Toolkit for the Emerging Reality and the editor and co-author of Cannabis and Spirituality: An Explorer's Guide to an Ancient Plant Spirit Ally.   Special Guest: Stephen Gray http://www.stephengrayvision.com/ Creator & Host: Ashton

Without a doubt, the Bhagavad Gita is one of the most important texts ever written. But there are very few who truly understand its most important aspects and hidden meanings. Scott Teitsworth is a lifelong student of Indian philosophy and modern science under the tutelage of Nitya Chaitanya Yati, himself a disciple of Nataraja Guru. An editor of books written by these gurus, he and his wife host the Portland branch of the Narayana Gurukula, where they have taught classes on the Bhagavad Gita and Indian philosophy since the 1970s. He’s written The Path to the Guru and Krishna in the Sky with Diamonds, two books that explore profound hidden teachings locked away for ages.   Special Guest: Scott Teitsworth https://www.innertraditions.com/author/scott-teitsworth/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Have you ever thought that maybe the official story of human history seems a little...off? This fascinating interview dives into a different take on history, and gives plenty of food for thought. Susan B. Martinez, Ph.D., is a writer, linguist, teacher, paranormal researcher, and recognized authority on the Oahspe Bible with a doctorate in anthropology from Columbia University. She is the author of Delusions in Science and Spirituality, Time of the Quickening, The Lost History of the Little People, The Mysterious Origins of Hybrid Man, and her recent book, The Lost Continent of Pan.   Special Guest: Susan B. Martinez https://www.innertraditions.com/author/susan-b-martinez-ph-d/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson   www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Who owns yoga? Where does it REALLY come from, and how has it evolved from its origins? We ask these questions and more with our special guest Eric Shaw, who has studied yoga and meditation for 30 years and taught both since 2001. He is the creator of both Prasana Yoga and Yoga Education Through Imagery, a lecture programming that teaches yoga’s traditions through archival imagery and new scholarship. With two degrees in Art, and Masters Degrees in Education, Religious Studies and Asian Studies, the conversation is both fascinating and unique. You don’t want to miss this episode!   Special Guest: Eric Shaw http://prasanayoga.com/   Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Sometimes healing injuries isn’t what you think! In fact, you could be prolonging your healing process by stretching or massaging incorrectly, when your body is really craving to break the pattern that brought about the injury in the first place. That’s where Edan Herari comes in. An authority and educator in the world of health and healing, Edan performs the powerful (but lesser-known) modalities of Ortho-Bionomy and John Barnes Myofascial Release (MFR). These techniques support the body’s natural healing (self- corrective) mechanisms by working with the body, not on it.   Dive into this podcast and learn what it means to truly embrace self-care and listen to your body! Special Guest: Edan Herari http://www.kineticbodytherapy.com/ Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/  

Without a doubt, western civilization harbors some of the most stressed-out people in the world. And what’s worse, instead of turning towards a deeper sense of peace within, we have gotten in the habit of distracting ourselves with electronics.   But Dr. Linda Lehrhaupt believes there is a better way. She is the founder/executive director of The Institute for Mindfulness-Based Approaches (IMA), and for more than 35 years she has been working as an adult educator, helping people beat a wide variety of emotional issues related to challenging circumstances.   Her belief is that the world would be a profoundly different place with just a few of these simple mindfulness-based approaches.   Special Guest: Linda Lehrhaupt   http://www.linda-lehrhaupt.com/   http://www.institute-for-mindfulness.org/   Creator & host: Ashton Szabo   http://www.anatomyofliving.com/   Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper   Producer: Benn Mendelson   www.sivanaspirit.com   www.sivanapodcast.com   Enter to win our weekly contests at:   www.siv

Fascia is a buzz word in most yoga and physical fitness circles these days, but what are people really talking about? Does it change long standing ideas about how the human body operates and moves? What does fascia have to do with how we experience pain? How might all of this give us a deeper understanding of movement and practices like yoga? Join us with special guest, Tom Myers, as we dive into these topics and more to gain a deeper understanding of the human body. Tom Myers, a pioneer of the human body, anatomy expert and author of the now classic text Anatomy Trains has had a huge impact on yogis, body workers, massage therapists, personal trainers, physical therapists and more. Special Guest: Tom Myers www.anatomytraings.com Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Humility is a rare trait in our modern world, yet having more humility can have a wonderfully positive effect on one's life. Is there a science behind humility? What are some skillful ways we can practice it? Join us with special guest, Jason Gregory, as we dive into a richer understanding of humility as part of our spiritual practice. Jason Gregory is a teacher, filmmaker, international speaker and author of multiple books, including the Science and Practice of Humility, Fasting the Mind, and Enlightenment Now. Special Guest: Jason Gregory www.jasongregory.org Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

It's said that ayahuasca has been used in South America as a plant medicine for thousands of years and we see it experiencing a wave of interest and popularity in an underground movement in the United States. Wanting to know more about this indigenous medicine, our guest Rachel Harris, a trained psychologist, questioned hundreds of people about their ayahuasca experiences here in the United States. What she learned confirms many of the benefits we see from other early research being done on ayahuasca and other entheogenic plant medicines. Are there potential medicinal or therapeutic benefits to drinking ayahuasca? What might our society look like if it had a different view of psychedelics? We explore these questions and more! Psychologist Rachel Harris, PhD is the author of multiple books, including the recently released Listening to Ayahuasca published by New World Library. She received a National Institutes of Health New Investigator's award, has published more than forty scientific studies in peer reviewed

We find ourselves at an amazing intersection of history. The cross pollination of worldwide ideas, methods, and research for altered and optimal states of consciousness seems to finally be at a tipping point where we can understand more about these states, free from the dogmatic thinking that used to accompany them. Scientists are talking to yogis, extreme athletes, shamans, high powered executives, musicians, and more to find out what they do to achieve these states and how these states effect their lives. Our guest, Steven Kotler, has been on the cutting edge of this revolution for years and leads a new worldwide wave of people seeking to understand these various states of consciousness and the limits of human performance. Steven Kotler is a New York Times-bestselling author, an award-winning journalist and the cofounder/director of research for the Flow Genome Project. He is one of the world’s leading experts on ultimate human performance. His book include Rise of Superman, Bold, Abundance, Small Furry Pra

People in the West often think that karma is an impersonal force of judging good and evil. The assumption being that if you do good things, good things will happen to you, and if you do bad things, bad things will happen. But is that what karma really is? Where does reincarnation fit into the conversation? Join us with return guest Vanamali Mataji as we explore the Laws of Karma and Reincarnation. Vanamali has written numerous books on the gods of the Hindu pantheon, including Hanuman, Shiva, Shakti, The Complete Life of Krishna and more! She is the founder and president of Vanamali Gita Yoga Ashram, dedicated to sharing the wisdom of Sanatana Dharma and charitable service too children. She lives at the Vanamali ashram in Rishikesh, India. Special Guest: Vanamali Mataji www.vanamaliashram.org Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

What might health care look like if Modern Western Medicine included other healing modalities from around the world? How might practices like Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Reiki, Yoga and Massage compliment Western Medicine and what would the world look like if these approaches and insights were more commonly added to western allopathic medicine? Join us with our guest, Dr. Rose Kumar, as we discuss some of the health problems facing people today, and how a more integrative approach to medicine could help millions of people achieve fuller and more optimal health. Dr. Rose Kumar is Board-Certified in Internal Medicine. She graduated from Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City, completed an internship at UC San Francisco, and a residency at Stanford University in Internal Medicine. She is the Founder and Director of the Ommani Center of Integrative Medicine in Pewaukee, Wisconsin and the author of Becoming Real: Reclaiming Your Health in Midlife. Special Guest: Dr. Rose Kumar www.ommanicenter.com Creato

People today are more curious about shamanic cultures and practices than any other time in modern history. What do we have to learn from these cultures and are there dangers that come with this new rise in popularity? What role do various plant medicines like ayahuasca play in self realization? Join us with guest Itzhak Beery, as we explore what it means to be a modern shamanic practitioner. Itzhak Beery is an internationally recognized shamanic teacher, healer, speaker, community activist and author the books the Gift of Shamanism: Visionary Power, Ayahuasca Dreams, and Journeys to Other Realms and Shamanic Transformations: True Stories of the Moment of Awakening. Special Guest: Itzhak Beery www.itzhakbeery.com Creator & Host: Ashton Szabo www.anatomyofliving.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com www.sivanapodcast.com Enter to win our weekly contests at: www.sivanaspirit.com/contest/

Integrating western science with mystical ideas helps to give us a fuller understanding of how to use gemstones and crystals in healing work and in our daily lives. It's work that our guest, Nicholas Pearson has devoted his life to. In this episode we'll discuss how various gemstones and crystals can be used in relationship to the Chakra systems that so many are familiar with in our current day and age.  Nicholas Pearson has been immersed in all aspects of the mineral kingdom for more than 20 years. He began teaching crystal workshops in high school, later studying mineral science at Stetson University while pursuing a degree in music. He worked for several years at the Gillespie Museum, home to the largest mineral collection in the southern United States. A certified teacher and practitioner of Usui Reiki Ryoho, he teaches crystal and Reiki classes throughout the United States. He is the author of The Seven Archetypal Stones and the recently released Crystals for Karmic Healing both of which are available an

The United States is reaching a new threshold of acceptance for cannabis with recent legislation in numerous states allowing medicinal and, in some cases, recreational use of the plant depending on the state. It seems as though the US is moving towards national legalization, in large part due to recognition of marijuana's medicinal benefits and to it becoming more socially accepted by people all over the country. While the conversation is usually framed around its medicinal qualities, what about its connection to spiritual traditions? Join us with special guest Stephen Gray as we discuss the use of cannabis in both modern and ancient spiritual settings and how it is being used by people to deepen and expand their spiritual experience. Stephen Gray is a teacher, workshop organizer, public speaker and writer on spiritual subjects and sacramental medicines. He has worked extensively with Tibetan Buddhism, the Native American Church, and with entheogenic medicines. He is the author of Returning to the Sacred Worl