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Greg Nardi – Yoga for Change: Breaking Down Barriers

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Greg Nardi is a dedicated yoga professional with over 25 years of experience. He is now a Certified Yoga Therapist and serves as a pivotal figure at Yoga for Change, a nonprofit dedicated to providing trauma-informed yoga to underserved communities such as veterans, incarcerated individuals, and youth. Greg Nardi’s journey in the yoga world began with Ashtanga hence his extensive study in India. Greg is highly regarded for his deep understanding of yoga philosophy and is currently based in South Florida.

Visit Greg at: https://www.y4c.org/

On IG: https://www.instagram.com/gregnardi/?hl=en

Key Takeaways:

  • Personal Evolution: Greg Nardi discusses his journey from an Ashtanga teacher to a certified yoga therapist focused on trauma-informed practices.
  • Yoga for Change: Insight into the nonprofit’s mission to bring trauma-informed yoga to underserved communities and efforts to expand statewide.
  • Professionalization of Yoga: Greg emphasizes the need for professional structures in yoga teaching, drawing on his wide-ranging experiences.
  • Philosophical Perspectives: Exploration of Greg’s interest in yoga philosophy, including modern interpretations of ancient texts.

Embracing Evolution: Greg Nardi’s Journey from Ashtanga Yoga to Yoga Therapy

A compelling journey of transformation, healing, and systemic change. This detailed conversation between Greg Nardi and Todd Mclaughlin unravels how a devoted yoga practitioner and teacher managed to shift his ethos, advancing from traditional Ashtanga roots to a more inclusive, trauma-informed yoga therapy. The discussion delves into intricate themes of yoga’s adaptability and the pivotal role teachers can play in fostering meaningful change through dedication and a reflective understanding of the discipline they impart.

From Ashtanga to Yoga Therapy: A Journey of Transformation

The profound transition Greg Nardi underwent from being deeply rooted in the Ashtanga yoga tradition to exploring the nuanced world of yoga therapy underscores a personal and professional evolution. “I did not intend to become a yoga therapist,” Greg explains, “It just happened through my desire to gain perspectives outside of traditional yoga.” Initially authorized as an Ashtanga teacher, his path took a significant turn as he sought to incorporate trauma-informed methods, motivated by both personal ethical shifts and broader revelations from the counterculture movement.

His decision to resign his authorization in 2018 marked a pivotal moment. The Ashtanga system’s then-lack of trauma awareness pushed him towards alternative practices focused on safety and consent, elements he deemed crucial in contemporary teaching. Greg articulates, “I felt very strongly that if I was going to continue to teach Ashtanga Yoga, I needed to begin teaching differently,” pinpointing the vital importance of adapting practices to be more inclusive and sensitive to trauma survivors’ needs.

Building an Inclusive Yoga Community

One of the underlying themes of this conversation pivots around inclusivity and accessibility within the realm of yoga teaching. Greg’s role with Yoga for Change, a non-profit dedicated to trauma-informed practices, catapults him into a leadership position where he can address the logistics of implementing yoga in underserved communities. “Yoga for Change is just celebrating its 10th year anniversary,” shares Greg, highlighting a decade of efforts dedicated to veterans, first responders, the incarcerated, youth, and those in behavioral health.

Greg’s experiences mirror the broader implications of yoga’s transformative potential beyond individual wellness. Working alongside organizations that cater to justice-impacted individuals and others showcases the broader societal impact that yoga can catalyze. Greg’s approach underscores the importance of meeting individuals where they are: “Sometimes, people come in so overwhelmed that a gentle class is much more beneficial.”

The Role of Professionalization in Yoga

Greg Nardi’s exploration into the professionalization of yoga crystallizes the importance of establishing standards and accountability within the discipline. From the traditional, hierarchical Ashtanga authorization process to the rigorous certification procedures of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT), Greg’s journey encapsulates the significant structural changes necessary for yoga’s recognition as a valid therapeutic modality. He expounds on the vast difference, stating, “The IAYT has a very express mission to have yoga recognized as a viable therapy.”

Emphasizing a standardized approach, complete with evidence-based practices, helps elevate yoga to new heights within health and wellness contexts. Greg’s involvement points to the trajectory yoga takes towards being acknowledged within integrative health circles, intertwining ancient wisdom with modern therapeutic methods. Greg’s advocacy further serves to professionalize teaching careers, supporting yoga teachers in developing a sustainable occupation around their passion. “I’ve always had a strong kind of devotional practice,” he affirms, underscoring the shift from solely physical to holistic approaches in yoga experience.

A New Era in Yoga Practice and Teaching

As the conversation progresses, it becomes evident that Greg’s multifaceted approach towards yoga signifies a fresh era of practice and teaching. Unraveling how traditional practices can seamlessly blend with modern, individualized approaches suggests a broader spectrum of adaptability in yoga. His continued devotion to philosophical inquiries and staying aligned with a personal yet fluid understanding of yoga marks a notable paradigm shift.

Greg’s exploration of Shyam Ranganathan’s translation of the Yoga Sutras exemplifies this dual approach: one where philosophical grounding aligns with practical, actionable will in the world. Discussing Ishvara’s role, he elucidates, “We actually see that one of the qualities listed for Ishvara is that Ishvara has will, has volition…part of yoga is to enhance our will.”

Ultimately, Greg’s story depicts yoga as a living, breathing tradition, learning from the past to inform a more inclusive, accessible future. It’s about cultivating will—often ignited through personal evolution—and channeling it towards fostering harmony over chaos. His narrative serves as an inspiring blueprint for yoga professionals and enthusiasts alike, prompting a reexamination of impact, inclusivity, and the unyielding potential for personal and societal transformation through mindful practice and intentional leadership.

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Thank you Bryce Allyn for the show tunes. Check out Bryce’s website: bryceallynband.comand sign up on his newsletter to stay in touch. Listen here to his original music from his bands Boxelder, B-Liminal and Bryce Allyn Band on Spotify.

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Michael Johnson ~ Discovering the Timeless “Now” in Yoga Practice

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Michael Johnson is a prominent yoga and philosophy instructor based in Asheville, North Carolina. He is the founder of Clear Light Yoga and a respected teacher at both the Asheville Yoga Center and the Ayurvedic Institute. With over 20 years of experience, Michael specializes in yoga philosophy, Sanskrit, and meditation. Through his 200-hour yoga philosophy teacher training program, Michael inspires students to delve deep into the ancient texts and principles of yoga, making these complex ideas accessible and applicable to modern life.

Visit Michael on his website: https://www.clearlightyoga.com/

Key Takeaways:

  • The Essence of Yoga: Yoga is about controlling the mental activities to avoid being controlled by them. This is a path to self-control and understanding one’s true nature.
  • Philosophical Integration: Understanding Sanskrit and the Yoga Sutras is crucial to grasping yoga philosophy. Different translations can lead to varied interpretations and levels of understanding.
  • Non-Theistic Bhakti: Bhakti Yoga, traditionally theistic, can also be practiced in a non-theistic manner, focusing on devotion to ideals rather than deities.
  • Practical Application: Michael shares real-life applications of yoga philosophy, from daily interpersonal interactions to handling extreme situations like cyber threats.

Expanding Your Yoga Journey: A Comprehensive Insight into Yoga Philosophy with Michael Johnson

The world of yoga extends far beyond physical postures and breath control. In this insightful dialog from the Native Yoga Toddcast, seasoned yoga philosopher Michael Johnson delves into the depths of yoga philosophy, painting a vivid picture of its profound impact on personal growth and self-awareness. Through exploring the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the nuances of Sanskrit, and the integration of Ayurveda, Johnson provides a masterclass in the foundational principles that underpin yoga’s philosophical teachings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding Yoga Sutras: Delving into Yoga Sutra 1.2, “Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha,” offers varied interpretations—both as the cessation and control of mental fluctuations.
  • Real-world Application: Johnson shares personal anecdotes demonstrating the practical application of bhakti yoga and maintaining integrity in challenging times.
  • Non-theistic Bhakti Yoga: Johnson presents a unique perspective on practicing non-theistic bhakti yoga, encouraging humility and ongoing learning.

Yoga Philosophy Unveiled: Insights from Michael Johnson

Mastering the Yoga Sutras: Unpacking “Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha”

Understanding the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali requires delving deeply into its Sanskrit roots. In the conversation, Michael Johnson describes how he first encountered Yoga Sutra 1.2: “Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha”. This critical sutra, often translated in myriad ways, reveals that yoga is about either the cessation or the control of the fluctuations of the mind. Johnson explains:

“Many people will translate ‘Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha’ as ‘yoga is the cessation of mental activities,’ leading to the assumption that the mind’s fluctuations must stop for yoga to be practiced.”

Johnson, however, brings attention to an alternative interpretation:

“Another way to translate that would be ‘yoga is controlling the mental activities,’ suggesting that Purusha (pure consciousness) isn’t independently available to perceive but actually requires mental activities to experience knowing and being.”

The distinction, though seemingly subtle, drastically changes one’s approach to yoga. Instead of striving for a seemingly impossible cessation of thoughts, practitioners can focus on learning to harness and control these thoughts, thus optimizing their practice and making yoga more accessible.

Integrating Philosophy into Practice: Real-life Application

Johnson’s discussion goes beyond theory, illustrating how these ancient teachings can be applied in contemporary settings. He underscores the importance of staying authentic and true to one’s values, even amidst threats and challenges. He shares a personal incident where someone threatened him and how he coped:

“Someone using cyberthreats threatened to hunt me down and kill me. Though going through legal routes felt unsatisfying, I had to detach from the outcome and focus on my integrity and actions. By abiding in my true form, I could navigate this threat without being overcome by fear or anger.”

This anecdote exemplifies the practical application of bhakti yoga in sustaining personal integrity and emotional health. It underscores yoga philosophy’s potential to provide not just a spiritual but a practical framework for dealing with life’s trials.

Embracing Non-Theistic Bhakti Yoga

Johnson’s fresh perspective on bhakti yoga deviates from traditional theistic approaches, presenting a non-theistic pathway that aligns with scientific reasoning and inclusivity. He elaborates:

“Ishwara is described in the Yoga Sutra as an absence of mental afflictions, not as a deity you surrender to but as an ideal you can approximate in your life.”

By focusing on bhakti as devotion to higher ideals rather than deities, Johnson makes yoga philosophy more approachable for a diverse audience. In his teachings, he emphasizes principles like humility, continuous learning, and authentic practice, liberating yoga from rigid doctrinal confines.

“I might be a rare example of bhakti yoga in the world, a non-theistic approach to bhakti that inspires me. It allows me to be transparent and scientific in my approach, while not being hostile to theistic practitioners.”

This perspective not only diversifies yoga’s appeal but also fosters a more inclusive environment where individuals from various backgrounds can find meaning and solace.

Expanding Horizons: Enriching Your Yoga Practice with Philosophy

Michael Johnson’s approach to yoga philosophy is a testament to the depth and versatility of yoga itself. His insights emphasize that yoga is not just a set of physical exercises but a holistic practice encompassing mental discipline, ethical living, and personal growth. By understanding key sutras, applying philosophical principles to real-life situations, and embracing non-theistic approaches to bhakti, practitioners can profoundly enrich their yoga journey.

In teaching philosophy-focused trainings, Johnson aims to bridge the gap between traditional teachings and modern-day relevance. His teachings highlight the importance of continuous learning, humility, and inclusivity in the quest for self-control and personal integrity.

By integrating these profound narratives and philosophical insights, yoga practitioners can deepen their understanding and appreciation of yoga, making it a powerful tool not just for personal transformation but also for navigating life’s inevitable challenges.

In bringing these themes together, Johnson not only honors the rich, historical context of yoga philosophy but also paves the way for its practical and inclusive modern application. His teachings inspire and challenge us to look beyond the surface, urging a deep-seated, authentic exploration of what it truly means to practice and live yoga.

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Thank you Bryce Allyn for the show tunes. Check out Bryce’s website: bryceallynband.comand sign up on his newsletter to stay in touch. Listen here to his original music from his bands Boxelder, B-Liminal and Bryce Allyn Band on Spotify.

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogacenter.com

Enjoy new Native Yoga Center classes uploaded everyday on our online learning hub. Use code FIRSTMONTHFREE at checkout. https://nativeyogacenter.teachable.com/p/today-s-community-class

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Nona Mileva – Tapping into the Yoga Well

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Check out this discussion I had with Nona Mileva. Visit Nona at her website wellyoga.net. Nona is a Certified Life, Wellness and Health Coach, Yoga Teacher and Educator, based in Jupiter, FL, United States. She works with a wide range of clients, from variuos backgrounds and age, via in person,  phone or Zoom sessions. Her coaching is holistic. It entails all aspects of the client’s life – emotional, psychological, physical, spiritual , as it authentically reflects the most important human needs. She focuses on the therapeutic modalities and applications of Yoga as a practice and discipline that enhances health and wellbeing. 

You can listen to the full podcast episode for free here.

Todd McLaughlin 

I’m so happy to have Nona Mileva here visiting in Native Yoga Center. We get to do an in person podcast! Nona, How are you doing today?

Nona Mileva

I am good. Thank you so much for having me. Good to see you.

TM

Same as well, I got to meet you, Nona, because you came into Native Yoga Center very enthusiastically inquiring about yoga teacher training a few years ago. You completed our 300 hour Yoga Teacher Training which brought you into like the RYT 500. realm. And you also are involved in teaching in Stuart at a place called District 108, in Stuart, Florida. Also at the Powerhouse Gym in Stuart. You also teach therapeutic yoga in some of the local retirement communities. You have recently completed getting your PhD in health psychology. And you’re currently working toward Yoga Therapy Certification. Which you said will be completed in December 2022. So you’ve been very busy…. And that’s something that I really admire about you is you love to study. You put a lot of time and energy into reading and studying. And you’re you’ve expressed a lot of interest and enthusiasm for the history and the philosophy of yoga. And so that’s why I’m really excited to have you here today. Because I can just pick your brain a bit and see what kind of like “Top hits” have made it onto your playlist for yoga philosophy and yoga history. And so on that note, what is something that you have read about and or practiced or studied recently that’s caught your attention that you’re excited about?

NM

How I love how you you’re beginning this conversation? Thank you for the intro firstly. Yes, I have been busy. And this is just, what can I say, my mode of functioning, learning, being always curious about things and topics. So my latest educational conquests, so to speak, or interests have been since COVID. Which, as you know, was to some extent, a traumatic experience. Then from a different perspective, it opened new doors. It made us more creative, looking for opportunities to keep doing what we love doing, which for us is yoga, obviously if we are talking about it. I have begun studying and doing a yoga philosophy course, of course is online, with Professor Edwin Bryant. He’s one of the most renowned names among Hindu researchers and philosophers and translators in the field. He’s at Rutgers University in…. I think it’s New Jersey or New York. So what he started doing is to record all his lectures, and then putting them up online for free. 

TM

Wow!

NM

Absolutely amazing, isn’t it? 

TM

Yeah. 

NM

Yeah. It always amazes me when people share their knowledge with such immense generosity. So that got me into the groove of daily or twice a week. Sit down through those lectures or just doing my thing and listening to them. And pretty much it’s all the six directionals, the schools of various philosophical discourse and the man is a very knowledgeable teacher and scholar. He knows a lot about everything. His focus is bhakti. He is initiated in this tradition. 

TM

So can you explain bhakti to us?

NM

In the discourse of yoga, bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion. It’s the kind of yoga that is being practiced as a devotional yoga. Practitioners direct their attention, their energy towards a benevolent worship of a deity. In this case, usually Krishna is the the subject of the affection. There is lots of mantra and chanting. There’s lots of dancing and singing, praising, praising the Bhagavan. So think of the Bhagavata Purana, those ancient texts. All the Krishna stories, by the way, they’re amazing, amazingly entertaining and interesting stories. If anyone really wants to learn more about them, just go read them. They’re with tremendous sense of humor also created so many years ago. Yeah, so we would sit through those, he would just open the texts, and to about 300 people there, either live or from the recorded lectures will be listening and then following the stories, he would stop you with comments. And this, this goes for every subject. Whether you want to learn about like Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, whether you want to learn about Vedanta sutras, or Nyaya but more the stories of Krishna. So that’s what I kept doing for about a year, then he started doing live svadhyaya sessions every Friday. 

TM

I’m imagining that there might be someone listening that doesn’t know any of the Sanskrit terms. So that’s why it might just stop you every now and again and let you define some of the words. So if someone’s listening, that’s like a brand new listener slash just coming into the yoga fold. There’s a lot of Sanskrit terms that once you start to learn them, it gets easier and easier. Once you learn one, you learn another and before you know it, you can listen to these really in depth conversations about the yoga history and philosophy and know exactly what’s going on. But in the beginning, it’s really common to feel like a “fish out of water,” or have no idea what they’re talking about. So on that note, can you define what svadhyaya is to keep everyone up to speed?

NM

Yes and once you get to actually work with those terms, it becomes kind of a second nature. And you don’t think that yes, there are people who still haven’t gotten there. So apologies again. So the idea is the concept of studying. So it could be defined as a studying about the self. That’s the obtaining of self knowledge through a variety of practices. But it is it does become by itself a practice. It could be even a spiritual practice. So you get to define it as for example, spending time with the sacred texts. So you sit down and you study, you read the text from the Upanishads, or from the later Puranas, or you open Patanjali yoga sutras and this is your weekend. Yeah, this is your weekend. What are you doing? I’m doing yoga psychology, how I’m just staring at Patanjali, sutra number, whatever. Trying to figure it out to study is that concept of the bhaktis. For the wisdom, another, I’m drawing attention. I’m throwing another Sanskrit word in Sangha, which means pretty much your social group. Yeah. What is your community? Yeah, let’s hang together with like minded people. Yep. And do our thing. What is our thing? We’re reading the scriptures. Yeah. Or in my case, I’m listening to someone much more knowledgeable. And they read it. And he’s reading the scriptures. He’s commenting on them, we get to ask questions.

TM

Was that the difference? So actually, let me back up a little bit. Is that something that anyone listening can go to Edwin Bryant’s

Website. And by the way, at the end of the podcast, I will be happy to provide you with all the resources and links and the names that I’m throwing in here. So you can post it through your audience and I’ll be so happy for people actually go there and look up at this stuff because there’s so much available in the way of information out there that we just are not aware of. Yeah. So EdwinBryant.org, very cool website. It’s connected to the Rutgers University. As a matter of fact, the last study I did with him was on the Bhagavad Gita. I think it was… I forgot which ones, my memories also don’ serve me always. But starting four weeks from now, we are he’s doing a six week or an eight week course on Bhagavata Purana. He loves the back story. So that kind of yoga, devotional yoga, the yoga of love there. There’s a lot of kindness and love and compassion about this concept. I just was even listening to someone who has devoted pretty much his life and passion to that. Yeah, I think it’s amazing.

TM

It is amazing. 

NM

It obviously takes cultivating it over a long period of time. Little by little before you know it, you understand these stories a little better. It makes sense. And that’s cool. 

TM

So it sounds like the interaction process with that particular training method you enjoyed. Was that the first way you started listening to his philosophy teachings not interactive? And then that the svadhyaya ones was where you could maybe type in questions into the chat box. Is that how that was going down?

NM

Yeah. So you can do either, you can buy the pre recorded lectures, the lectures for students. We are a neutral audience, we have no access to the direct communication, we watch the recordings. But because the content is all out there, you can watch it at any time you want to watch it. The Friday sessions are live sessions, but he also records them and then post them online. So if you miss a Friday because you really want to go for that happy hour Friday, then you can watch it or listen to it the next day.

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A Day of Rest and Reflection

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Today is Saturday and our day of rest from asana practice. One thing that I really love about the Ashtanga method is that it is recommended to take at least one day off per week and to not practice on the new or full moon. Sometimes people can get obsessed with the asana practice and perhaps if this rule was not in place some people would hammer out an intense practice every single day. Personally that would not be an issue for me. The fact that there is a prescribed 6 day a week practice schedule is something that takes a lot of time to really cultivate and maintain. I also think that no practice on moon days, the new and full moon, is the best invention since sliced bread. I adhere to the Saturday off idea mainly because that is what I learned from Guruji and Tim, but it is good to note that you can make that day any day you choose. Yet still the 6 days, “you do!”
When Tamara and I went to Mysore we asked the assistance of someone to help us find a room to rent while we were there. The gentle Indian man said “I can’t help you tomorrow because it is moon day, yet the following day I can.” In this case he was not an “asana” practitioner (I don’t think) but he took moon days off from work anyhow. This blew our mind. We had never come across this concept before. When we were practicing Bikram yoga never once was this notion mentioned, nor was there any talk of breathing either but that is an entirely different story. I have to admit that right away I thought that moon days were a brilliant concept regardless that it was a foreign idea. Now as a 6 day a week practitioner (as best I can as a family man), I think moon days are incredible. Now every two weeks, you get a day to rest your body as well as the Saturday. I think that the element of the fixed day off one day per week, combined with the extra two moon days off on alternating intervals, creates a variation of change within a consistent structure. 
If you don’t adhere to this rule you probably are thinking, “Todd is getting a little out there.” I promise though that if you try this it will seem like the most remarkable concept ever created. That is little background story of why then, today we took the morning off to rest. We had Teacher Training session today from 1 PM to 6 PM yet Tim still honored this tradition by giving us a five hour tour of the third chapter of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. It was remarkable as those of you who have met Tim can imagine. In his First and Second Series Teacher Trainings he covers the first and second chapters of the Yoga Sutras. So this was the first time I have had the privilege of having him go sutra by sutra and take the time to allow us to share our thoughts about what they could potentially mean. Reading the Yoga Sutras can be a lifetime of study because they are challenging to decipher. The Sanskrit language allows multiple translations for every word so that over the years many translators have given different meanings for each sutra. There is usually a fairly common thread amongst most meanings, non the less, they can be quite confusing to contemplate at first glance. That is what it is so interesting to have someone who has been contemplating this over for some thirty years to give their take on their meaning. Since meeting Tim and having been inspired to try this myself. I have enjoyed this process even though sometimes it just seems so perplexing. The cool thing is that the theory informs the practice and the practice informs the theory. How I viewed the Yoga Sutras and their interpretations has changed radically over the years. As I learn a new concept from them I try to apply it to my yoga and meditation practice. As my yoga and meditation practice evolves my understanding of the meaning behind the words also transforms. 
We covered a lot today yet there was one that I particularly enjoyed. Sutra III.27 states Bhuvana jnanam surye samyamat. It can be translated as: By samyama on the Sun comes knowledge of the entire universe. The word samyama means the “catch-all” process of concentration, meditation and absorption (dharana, dhyana and samadhi). Tim stated, “The sun is the eye of the world. If we become one with the eye of the world we can see all things.” I really liked this view point. The concept of the sun being the eye of the world reminds me of the idea that stars are just the holes to heaven (Jack Johnson fans will catch that one). To keep this practical I feel this sutra is beneficial because it encourages us to open our minds to greater possibility. There is the potential that we can learn from the Yoga Sutras and experience for ourselves the liberation that the great sages have been trying to verbalize and describe for eons.