The Flow Artists Podcast - Yoga, activism and more

In this episode we speak with Marlee Silva, the creator of the 'Tiddas 4 Tiddas' and 'Always Was, Always Will Be our Stories' Podcast, and the author of 'My Tidda, My Sister'. Marlee is a proud Gamilaroi and Dunghutti woman who combines her passion for storytelling and pride in her Aboriginality in her work by sharing stories of strength, resilience and inspiration. She is dedicated to uplifting others and demonstrating the diversity of what success can look like. We were excited to talk to her and learn more! In this episode, Marlee shares her childhood experiences of growing up in a predominantly white beachside town and how she often felt isolated. She shares how she developed a huge Instagram following, sharing Aboriginal Women's stories and achievements on her page 'Tiddas 4 tiddas'. Marlee also shares the dark side of life online and the cyberbullying that she has experienced. Links My Tidda, My Sister Book: https://www.booktopia.com.au/my-tidda-my-sister-marlee-silva/book/9781741177114.html Tiddas for Tiddas Podcast: https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/tiddas-4-tiddas/tiddas-4-tiddas/ Always Was, Always Will be Our stories: https://anchor.fm/marlee-silva War Collective: https://www.instagram.com/warrevolt/ Trading Blak: https://www.instagram.com/tradingblak/ Coming Out Blak: https://www.instagram.com/comingoutblak/ First Nations Fashion Design: https://www.instagram.com/first.nations.fashion.design/ Thrive Northside: https://thrivenorthside.com/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Daisy Catterall is a queer Maori woman living on Gadigal land in Sydney. She is a yoga teacher who has created a wonderfully inclusive community in these challenging pandemic times with her offering Feel Free Yoga. In this conversation, we hear about Daisy's childhood growing up in the Gold Coast before moving to a remote town. She shares how her feelings of being isolated during her younger life encouraged her to use the internet as a powerful tool for creating an online community. Daisy shares her experiences taking her classes online - including how she uses language to create a welcoming and inclusive experience. One of the beautiful aspects of Daisy's teaching is how she weaves acknowledgement of country into the beginning of her classes. She also has sliding scale prices and an invitation for Aboriginal participants to practice for free. We loved hearing about how Daisy has worked to make these practices more accessible for the LGBTQI and BIPOC communities and she has some great advice for other teachers. For more from Daisy, check out her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daisybossybaddy/ and her website: https://www.feelfreeyoga.space/ Find more episodes like this at http://podcast.flowartists.com or support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/flowartistspodcast

Shawnee Thornton Hardy is a Certified Yoga Therapist, Educational/Behavior Consultant and the author of Asanas for Autism and Special Needs. Shawnee specialises in working with neurodiverse children and adults and we were pretty excited to speak with her on this topic - It’s just one of the aspects of yoga we have started to learn more about. In this episode, we learn what neurodiversity means and what drew Shawnee to working with neurodiverse children and adults. We discuss the ways Shawnee structures her classes to accommodate diverse needs and how her techniques can be useful in all yoga classes. One of the things we learned was how much in common Shawnee's approach had with the trauma-informed approach to yoga. This lead to a conversation about what yoga really is. Links Website: https://www.asanasforautismandspecialneeds.com/ Blog: https://asanasforautismandspecialneeds.wordpress.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asanasforautismandspecialneeds/?ref=hl CALMM Yoga toolkit: https://www.asanasforautismandspecialneeds.com/#!product-page/p0o2r/8fe8f05f-951e-1563-b917-88adf8284543 Shawnee's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Asanas-Autism-Special-Needs-Self-regulation/dp/1849059888 Thrive Northside: https://thrivenorthside.com/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Ana Forrest and Jose Calarco need very little introduction. Ana is known as a unique and independent yoga teacher who has forged her own path and educated many prominent teachers along the way. She speaks openly about her past trauma and the healing experiences she has had through living with Native American communities, which she weaves into her teaching today. Jose has also learned from Australian Aboriginal culture which he shares through music and ceremony. Before COVID-19 Jose and Ana travelled the world teaching, now they are living on Orcas Island and about to launch an online training program. They share with passion and humour and are not afraid to laugh at themselves at times. Links Website: https://www.forrest.yoga/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forrestyoga/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Forrest.Yoga/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Mariko B. Ryan is the author of Infinite Threads: 100 Indigenous Maori Insights from Old Maori Manuscripts. "Infinite Threads" is an incredible book which reinterprets the manuscripts of Maori Tohunga (sages) in a way that has incredible relevance today. Rane and Jo both found the book full of wonderful insights which described aspects of Maori culture in a way that parallels mindfulness and yogic practices and philosophy. In this episode, we learn about Mariko's background growing up in Auckland, New Zealand and how Maori culture influenced Mariko's upbringing. We learn about the role of the Tohunga or sage in Maori culture, their oral tradition, and how they came to write down their knowledge to prevent their traditions from being destroyed. Mariko tells us about how it took her many years to find the courage to write the book, and the wonderful reception it has received. She also tells us how she ensured that the book made sense to both Maori and non Maori audiences. Links: Mariko's website: https://www.marikobryan.nz/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Alice Williams is a Yoga Teacher, writer, and the author of "Bad Yogi: The Funniest Self-Help Memoir You'll Ever Read". In this episode, we speak with Alice about her process writing the book as well as her experiences in yoga teacher training. We also learn about how Alice dealt with an eating disorder and the commonalities between her yoga teacher training with the 12 step recovery program. We discuss perfectionism in the yoga world and talk about what being a bad yogi really means. Please be advised that we discuss sexual abuse in the yoga community and an episode of indecent exposure. This content may be triggering for some. Links Website: http://alice-williams.com/bad-yogi/ Book: http://alice-williams.com/bad-yogi/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alice_v_williams/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Cora Geroux is a yoga teacher, former studio owner, and the host of the Teaching Yoga podcast. Cora originally hails from Canada and is now based in Sydney, Australia. Cora has been teaching yoga & leading yoga teacher trainings since 2009. Before which, she obtained a BA in psychology from Simon Fraser University. Cora was also the co-owner of two small yoga studios for 3 years, before she left to create her current business that truly aligned with her values of integrity, inclusivity and accessibility. In this episode, we learn about how Cora discovered yoga and what lead her to become a yoga teacher. We also speak about her work now, mentoring teachers and producing her podcast. We have an important discussion about issues in the yoga industry that devalue teachers and also create challenges for studio owners. We also speak about how the advent of COVID-19 has changed the landscape of the yoga industry. Links Website: https://www.corageroux.com/ Teachers club: https://www.corageroux.com/theteachersclub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corageroux/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Jordan Ashley is a yoga teacher and the founder of Souljourn Yoga. Souljourn Yoga Foundation is a non-profit that raises awareness and funds for girls education in lesser economically developed countries by teaming up with both local and international non-profits. They have hosted retreats in Rwanda, Morocco, Peru and more. Souljourn co-designs retreats with their partner organizations on the ground by weaving in local practices of tradition, meditation, and movement so that it's a culturally contextual experience of equality, not hierarchy. In this episode, we hear about Jordan's childhood growing up in Southern California and how she discovered yoga with her mother. We also hear about her career in journalism and how that informs her worldview today. We learn about the goals and philosophy of Souljourn Yoga and get some insights into running global retreats and working closely with local communities. Finally, we discuss how COVID-19 has affected her life and the Souljourn Yoga project. Links Souljourn Yoga: http://www.souljournyoga.com/ Jordan's TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLXAxOnJs2A This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Cate Peterson is a yoga teacher, activist and the driving force behind LovEarth, YogaHive and Get Off Your Asana. Cate has done a lot of work around building relationships between the yoga community and the Aboriginal community in Australia, helping with projects such as Yoga on Country and the Reciprocity Action Plan group in collaboration with Yoga Australia. In this episode, we hear how Cate discovered yoga, how she became involved in activism and community work. We talk about how yoga and social justice are inextricably linked, and how Cate practices self-care while juggling all of these different projects. Links LovEarth: www.lovearth.com.au How and where to drop off mats: https://www.lovearth.com.au/donationprogram IF you are in Melbourne: Enviroshop phone number: 03 8395 3030. EnviroShop: 253 High St, Northcote. Join YogaHive ! https://www.yogahive.com.au/new_studio_requests/new Join Get Off Your Asana https://www.getoffyourasana.com.au/ Yoga on Country https://www.facebook.com/Yoga-on-Country-108921913921514/ Reciprocity Action Plan: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/about-us/reciprocity-action-plan/ Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/534220424045146/?source_id=210164949003832 This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

We've been seeing all sorts of conspiracy theories posted online lately - from 5g causing coronavirus, to the Plandemic film and more. So we decided to have a chat with Matthew Remski. Matthew Remski is a yoga teacher, a writer and an activist. He has written extensively about cult dynamics in yoga, but recently he has turned his attention to the huge amount of conspiracy discourse that has been spread on Social Media lately. As well as learning about some of the factors that feed into conspiracy discourse, we get Matthew's point of view on the future of the yoga industry post COVID-19. Links: Matthew's Website: http://matthewremski.com/ Article about Qanon: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/06/qanon-nothing-can-stop-what-is-coming/610567/ Conversation between Barbara Cecil & Dahr Jamail: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/last-born-in-the-wilderness-2/e/64642058 Earthrise Podcast conversation with Derek Beres, Julian Walker & Matthew Remski: https://www.earthrisepodcast.com/health/87-conspiracy-theories-cult-dynamics-with-matthew-remski-and-julian-walker/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Ria Tirazona is a yoga facilitator/education and licensed Psychologist from Manila. She manages a branch of a local yoga studio brand, YogaPlus. As a self-confessed emotional eater, Ria struggled with weight issues for most of her life. Through yoga, she found that she deserved to celebrate her body and treat herself with love and compassion. This is what she wants everyone to also discover. Her passion as a yoga facilitator and therapist is to support and empower others in discovering their personal path to wellness through trauma-informed, accessible, mental health aware practices such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness. She likewise wants to let people know that indeed, yoga is for EVERY BODY. Ria draws from her clinical psychology training in working with beginners, the older and less active students, and people with injuries, chronic illnesses, and weight, emotional or mental health concerns. Her nurturing yet playful classes are relaxing yet surprisingly challenging. She emphasizes building strength and functionality in movement while harnessing softness in the body and mind. In this episode, we learn about Ria's background growing up in Manila and what drew her to yoga. We learn about the yoga scene in the Philippines and how it has been affected by COVID-19. Ria fills us in on some of the economic realities of life in Manila and we also learn about how The Philippines has the highest social media engagement in the world! We also talk about how social isolation may lead to emotional eating, toxic productivity and toxic positivity. Links Ria's website: https://yogaplus.ph/ Ria's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biggerbodyyogaph/ Nurturing Yoga and Pilates Video Course: https://www.gardenofyoga.com.au/learn/nurturing-yoga-and-pilates/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

Kelly DiNardo is a Yoga teacher, studio owner, podcaster, writer and author of the book Living The Sutras. Living the Sutras is an accessible and fun guide to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The sutras contain teachings on how to deal with loss, pain, dissatisfaction, and alienation as well as providing guidance on how to cultivate joy and lead a healthy, happy, fulfilling life. We feel that they are more important than ever. As well as learning about Kelly's background growing up in New York, we hear how she discovered yoga, how she became a writer and what inspired her to write Living the Sutras. We also discuss Kelly's book 'Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique', a fascinating biography of burlesque performer Lili St. Cyr. Links Kelly's website: https://kellydinardo.com/ Living the Sutras: https://kellydinardo.com/books/living-the-sutras/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

In this episode, we speak to the amazing Aleisha Leonard about kirtan, yoga, trauma-informed practice and LGBTIQ+ Leadership. A lot has changed since we originally spoke to Aleisha for the podcast, so we begin the episode with a quick check-in from her current residence in London. We learn how Aleisha found a love of yoga despite initially finding it boring. We hear how she discovered kirtan and talk about the process of leading a sound meditation. We also learn about her participation in Victoria's LGBTIQ+ Leadership program and how she made lifelong friends during that time. We also announce our Mentoring and support program - learn more about it here: https://www.gardenofyoga.com.au/learn/mentoring-and-support/ This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ Links Homesong's Website: https://www.homesong.love/ Homesong on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesong.love/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

In this episode we speak to Dr Gail Parker. Gail Parker is a psychologist and a certified yoga therapist. She is a nationally and internationally renowned media personality, educator, author, and thought leader.   Dr. Parker is the author of the upcoming book Restorative Yoga for Ethnic and Race-Based Stress and Trauma, and current president of the Black Yoga Teachers Alliance (BYTA) Board of Directors. Her broad expertise in behavioural health and wellness includes forty years as a practising psychotherapist. We speak to her about how she weaves together knowledge from these different fields in her book, the parallels between her psychology practice and restorative yoga teaching, and how she appeared on the Oprah show seven times! Dr. Parker is a lifelong practitioner of yoga and is well known for her pioneering efforts to blend psychology, yoga, and meditation as effective self-care strategies that can enhance emotional balance, and contribute to the overall health and well-being of practitioners. This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ Links Gail's Website: https://www.drgailparker.com/ Gail's Book: https://www.drgailparker.com/book The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.

What is the first image that comes to mind when you think of aerial yoga? Is it a thin young woman, lithely moving about in an aerial hammock, maybe dangling upside down in some weird pretzel shape that barely resembles anything with the name yoga attached to it? Is it something more akin to a circus performance, with tricks and flips and a silk fabric digging into god knows where? To borrow a phrase from Morpheus of the matrix films, what if I were to tell you, that everything you know about aerial yoga is wrong? Well perhaps not wrong, but just not the full picture. This is why we were so excited to speak with Renae Stevens for this episode. Renae is a senior yoga teacher with Yoga Australia, a certified yoga therapist and holds her master's degree in art therapy. In our opinion, she is the foremost aerial yoga teacher in Australia. She helped bring aerial yoga to Australia way back in 2011, being a senior trainer for antigravity - the organisation founded by Christopher Harrison. This episode is sponsored by Yoga Australia: https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au/ https://www.instagram.com/yogaaustralia/ Links Aerial Yoga Workshop: Break Free from Your Chair: https://www.gardenofyoga.com.au/workshops/aerial-yoga-workshop/ Aerial Yoga Therapeutics Foundations Training: https://www.gardenofyoga.com.au/workshops/aerial-therapeutics/ Renae's website: https://www.creativebodyflow.com/aerial-therapeutics/ The opinions expressed in this podcast do not reflect the view and opinions of the sponsor.