Resources I love
Although I contemplated sending out meditation videos this month, it occurred to me it might be better to share some on the online resources and teachers who’ve been sustaining me the last few years. I decided to choose the blogs and podcasts with more of a mental health or philosophical orientation, and to only include sources I personally listen to/read. By no means is this an exhaustive list…just a few favorites I return to over and over. Here we go (in no particular order):
The Awake in the World Podcast
Even though my teacher, Michael, passed away almost five years ago, I still find listening to his recorded teachings helpful and inspiring. The community library on his website has a huge number of talks, freely available (donations encouraged but not required). The majority of them are more directed to mindfulness than yoga, and most of them reflect Michael’s commitment to being engaged with the world versus withdrawing into a nice quiet guru cave. They are often funny, very human, and challenging to the ego (in the best way). He also had a few recorded workshops on You Tube (free) and some “pay-what-you-can” courses on the website including Big Heart Powers, a course dedicated to working with fear and anxiety.
This blog provides accessible, medically-vetted information on a wide variety of topics, including mental health, dealing with grief and so on. All eight limbs of yoga get covered, and there’s no icky sales pressure to buy accessories, products or the wellness-trend-of-the-month. Safe, reliable information presented with generosity and clarity, it’s one of my go to’s when I need to research.
I first stumbled across this Podcast when I picked up Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics by Toronto meditation teacher Jeff Warren and Dan Harris, formerly of ABC News. I’m hard-pressed to say exactly why I like it so much, other than it has some intellectual rigor, a wide variety of guests, and an entertaining host with good interviewing skills. I found this particular episode unusually moving.
How do I meditate when there’s a war going on? with Claude Anshin Thomas
Psychotherapist and Buddhist teacher Tara Brach is an expert at dealing with difficult mind-states. She offers a number of online courses that are free and/or reasonably priced. I recently took her mindfulness for anxiety and sleep course (link below) because although I have lots of tools for dealing with insomnia there are always more to learn. And also, I love being a student as much as I love teaching.
https://courses.tarabrach.com/courses/mindfulness-for-anxiety-and-sleep
And another (random) interesting podcast about dealing with anxiety here:
Anxiety and what to do about it with Bruce Tift.
The Conspirituality Podcast with Matt Remski, Derek Beres and Julian Walker.
I have known Matt Remski as an acquaintance for dog’s years. He used to run a beautiful studio in Cabbagetown called Renaissance Yoga. Matt is probably the smartest person I’ve ever met, and he’s been taking his critical eye to the yoga and wellness worlds for years. His career has transitioned from yoga and Ayurveda teacher (and Buddhist cult survivor) to journalist, and he is now a subject expert on cult dynamics, conspiracy theories, and sexual abuse in the yoga and alternative healing worlds. I listen quite intermittently (it’s depressing) but I think these topics are of supreme importance to anyone with a spiritual inclination. Some of the newer podcasts are only available via Patreon (a subscription service) but many are still free. Here’s a sample.
The Embodied Philosophy Podcast
I hesitated to include this one, because it’s a bit esoteric. It will appeal more to yoga teachers, academics and the nerdy set (i.e. me). The range of guests is vast, although most are university professors or famous yoga teachers, and the interviews are long, so it’s probably not for the casual listener. But if you’d like a deep dive into philosophy this is the best source I’m aware of.
Katie Bowman is a biomechanist and movement guru who has been an inspiration to me. She has a website full of good information and a podcast about how to put natural movement back into your life and spend more time away from screens. She’s also quite funny and quick with a pun. I had a hard time deciding whether to include her on this list because she doesn’t address mental health specifically, but she frequently interrogates the way we are living our lives and makes suggestions that are holistic and healthy.
I have only recently discovered this Toronto-based Hindu studies teacher, and I am currently taking a course with him on the mythologies behind the poses. His depth of knowledge is quite astounding, and he’s been able to explain the myths in a deeply relevant and psychological context. He has a raft of online courses to choose from as well as some very esoteric academic work.
I hope that you enjoy these resources. It’s certainly not an exhaustive list (I’ve left out many) but these are the ones that have been most interesting to me. Let me know if you do get a chance to check them out. All the best!
Elaine
