In this second episode of a series of five on the Mindful Strength Podcast relating to body image, accessibility, diet and cultural perceptions of “health,” we welcome Jivana Heyman.
Jivana is the founder and director of non-profit education and advocacy organization, Accessible Yoga. He is also co-owner of the Santa Barbara Yoga Center and an Integral Yoga Minister. With over twenty-five years of training and teaching in the Integral Yoga tradition, Jivana has specialized in teaching yoga to people with disabilities with an emphasis on social engagement. Today he chats with Kathryn on a range of subjects as they apply to accessibility, what that term really means in the context of yoga and what efforts can be made towards people feeling comfortable in any given environment. They talk about accessibility as a spectrum, the difference between having open or all levels classes versus classes tailored to specific needs, and the integration required in these spaces. Additional conversations topics include: the physicalities vs spiritual nature of a yoga practice and how such vast practice can become abused; reclamation of the practices following commercialization of yoga; creating equitable societies based on inclusivity and integration; disability, yoga therapy, accessible yoga and trauma informed instruction; competition and perceived value on “advanced” adaptations of movement and posture; student-teacher relationships; empowerment and injury; as well as the application of hands on adjustments or touch in classes, use of language, and of course, the notion of balance.
Jivana and his community of exceptional humans are bringing the Accessible Yoga Conference to Toronto in June and Europe later in the year. Fine information links and more details below in our Show Notes. We hope you enjoy this episode!
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In this episode…
Jivana Heyman \\ Accessible Yoga
Accessible Yoga is an international non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Accessible Yoga offers two Conferences per year, which focus on community-building and education, as well as a popular Ambassador program, and Accessible Yoga Trainings.
Accessible Yoga Conference \\ Toronto, ON June 22-24
The Accessible Yoga Conference has a mission to provide a forum where the Yoga community can come together to connect, share, and support those who wish to expand access to the practices of Yoga for people with disabilities, chronic illness, seniors, and for anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable in a regular yoga class.
The Conference will have some live online participation available during the Toronto weekend and will be in Europe October 19-21!
Yoga Injuries \\ Study
In our chat with Jivana, he refers to a study published regarding the increased rate of yoga injuries in recent times.
Dianne Bondy \\ Yoga for All
Dianne Bondy is a member of the Accessible Yoga advocacy team as well as a contributing team member of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition. Dianne delivers positive and essential messages and teachings. She regularly offers workshops in Canada and will be among the Accessible Yoga Conference facilitators in June.
Melanie Klein \\ Yoga and Body Image Coalition
Melanie Klein is a professor of Sociology and Women’s Studies and the co-founder of the Yoga and Body Image Coalition, with a commitment to communal collaboration, raising consciousness, media literacy education, facilitating the healing of distorted body images and promoting positive body relationships.
We are extremely excited to announce that Melanie is one of our upcoming guests in this unique podcast series – stay tuned!
Mary-Jo Fetterly \\ mary-jo.com
Mary-Jo Fetterly is a yoga pioneer with a passion for conscious human movement. She is a member of the Accessible Yoga advocacy team and you can catch her at the Accessible Yoga Conference in Toronto! Check out AY’s interview with Mary-Jo here.
Dean Ornish \\ Lifestyle Medicine
Jnani Chapman \\ Yoga Therapy in Cancer & Chronic Illness
For details on where and when Kathryn is teaching Worldwide in 2018, visit the Workshops page.
