The Sivana Podcast

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.

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 is daughter of one of the original yoga masters who pioneered yoga in the West.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.