Best MAOM Podcasts (2024)

1
122 Estrogen Effects on Muscle: Research Roundup 40:45

7d ago40:45

40:45

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss recent research on estrogen’s effects on muscle. This is a hot topic at the moment, so in this episode, we share the importance of understanding the background of our hormones and the effect of estrogen on areas like muscle mass, neuromuscular activation, and recovery. Listen in to learn how the effects of estr…

1
121 Yoga Sutras for Modern Life: Community Conversations with Diane Malaspina PhD 54:34

21d ago54:34

54:34

We all know that yoga is much more than a physical practice; it is underpinned by a framework of philosophy that is centuries old. But as a yoga teacher, you may or may not have incorporated this theoretical understanding into daily action - or helped your students do so. So today we talk about the practical application of some key yoga sutras with…

1
120 Neck Pain Hidden Contributors 45:16

1M ago45:16

45:16

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel talk about the all-too-common complaint of neck pain and its hidden contributors. We discuss local sources of neck tension, explain the importance of the thoracic spine and shoulder complex, and dive into more subtle influences like posture, the nervous system, and even breath mechanics. Listen in to learn a well-roun…

1
119 Body Image in Yoga: Community Conversations with Alison Heilig 1:11:35

2M ago1:11:35

1:11:35

We all deserve to feel good in our bodies, but when we have negative perceptions of how our body looks, feels, or functions that experience can seem impossible. Today host Rachel talks with returning guest Alison Heilig about the sometimes sneaky ways body image manifests in yoga. In this episode, we discuss how body image forms and the different w…

1
118 Pranayama Myths & Misconceptions: Research Roundup 48:36

2M ago48:36

48:36

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja dive into the common misconceptions around breath work and Pranayama. Is breathwork really the new Pranayama? Is deep breathing indeed always better? Does breathwork really need to be intense to work? In this episode, we unpack these and other common misconceptions about Pranayama and breathwork. Listen in to find ways…

1
117 Doing the Hard Work: Community Conversations with Sarah Symons 45:36

3M ago45:36

45:36

Ahimsa or non-harming is a central value of yoga philosophy, but looking at the world around us it’s all too easy to find examples of systemic suffering that seem impossible to solve. Today’s episode tackles one such issue; gender-based violence and sex trafficking. Host Rachel speaks with Sarah Symons, founder of international non-profit Her Futur…

1
116 Yoga for Menopause & Beyond: Community Conversations with Niamh Daly 1:10:51

3M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Perhaps you’ve heard that menopause is having a moment. But while menopause is more present in the media, there’s still a lack of balanced, nuanced, and honest information around this stage of life. In this episode, host Rachel talks with yoga and Pilates teacher and teacher-trainer Niamh Daly about her passion project: yoga for the late reproducti…

1
115 Who is Yin Yoga NOT For? 58:43

4M ago58:43

58:43

Any potent practice carries the potential for adverse effects, and yoga - while comparatively gentle - is no exception. Yin yoga seems to generate especially polarized views, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel unpack its common cautions and contraindications. Listen in as we explore who Yin yoga is best for versus who might invest their time elsewhe…

1
114 Yoga & Religion: Expert Insights with Firdose Moonda MA 1:00:07

4M ago1:00:07

1:00:07

“Is Yoga a religion?” is an often-asked question, and the deeper we delve into the historical and philosophical underpinnings of the practice, the less simple and straightforward the answer becomes. Here to guide us on that complex conversational journey is returning guest Firdose Moonda, who holds an MA in the Traditions of Yoga and Meditation fro…

1
113 Tissue Stiffness - Friend or Foe? 51:41

4M ago51:41

51:41

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss a topic near and dear to Katja: tissue stiffness. Claims about terms like stiffness and tension in the body can be confusing, so our goal with this episode is to clear up some of that confusion as well as leave some space for what we do not know yet. In this episode, we talk about terminology and physiology aro…

1
112 Autoimmune Conditions & Yoga: Expert Insights with Dr. Nikki Tugnet 55:21

5M ago55:21

55:21

As yoga teachers, most of us will either have an autoimmune condition, or teach students who do. Yoga is uniquely suited to work alongside conventional medical treatment to help manage these disorders and address the symptoms that impact most on quality of life. Today host Rachel speaks with Dr. Nikki Tugnet - a UK-trained physician, board-certifie…

1
111 Answering Student Questions: Teacher's Series 55:05

5M ago55:05

55:05

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the topic of student questions and share their thoughts on how to answer them. Student questions can be intimidating, prompting anxiety around whether we will be able to answer “correctly”, but so many positives can come from opening a dialogue with students actively seeking more information. We talk about w…

1
110 Fascia Science Meets Acupuncture 41:25

6M ago41:25

41:25

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja are looking at where the fascia and acupuncture worlds collide. There is a lot of info out there on possible mechanisms behind acupuncture, and while research is great, we really need to look into the details for answers. In this episode, we talk about the relationship between fascia and Traditional Chinese Medicine. W…

1
109 Teaching Yoga One-on-One: Community Conversations with Dana Diament 57:46

6M ago57:46

57:46

If you haven’t had or taught a one-on-one yoga session, it might feel like a secret club that you’re locked out of. Today host Rachel demystifies the whole process with returning guest and Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist Dana Diament. In this episode, we talk about the therapeutic benefits of being seen and heard and the importance of helping …

1
108 Integrating New Tools in your Teaching: Teacher's Series 35:36

7M ago35:36

35:36

Coming home from another yoga teacher training, full of new information and techniques to utilize, can be exciting…and also overwhelming. In today’s episode, hosts Tiffany and Rachel talk about how to integrate all the tools you learn in training in a way that is meaningful for your students. In this episode, we stress the importance of a slow and …

1
107 Beat Burnout 37:25

7M ago37:25

37:25

Burnout is becoming a more common experience than ever, in the yoga world and beyond, so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the varied experiences of and solutions to this problem. We discuss three common precursors to burnout and how challenging it can be to generate the energy required to recognize and resolve it. We also share the role yog…

1
106 Exercise Oncology, Yoga, and Fascia with Dr. Stephanie Otto 34:12

8M ago34:12

34:12

Today host Katja talks with Dr. Stephanie Otto about exercise oncology, exercise, and fascia. We discuss the biological foundations of cancer and the research link between fascia and cancer. We also talk about therapeutic interventions related to cancer exercise and fascia and explain what distinguishes healthy tissue from cancerous tissue. Listen …

1
105 Tackling Sacroiliac Joint Pain: Community Conversations with Kelsea Wright 1:05:34

8M ago1:05:34

1:05:34

It’s common knowledge that the vast majority of us will experience low back pain at some point in our lives. Today we hone in on an aspect of low back pain that is less commonly considered and discussed: pain in or around the sacroiliac joints. Rachel Land hosts yoga studio owner, YACEP, Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, and 1000-hour teacher K…

1
104 Safe or Fun? Teacher’s Series 44:53

9M ago44:53

44:53

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel discuss a question many yoga teachers grapple with: should we aim to make our classes safe or fun? Is it possible to do both? In this episode, we talk about the challenges teachers face when balancing these two aims in all-levels classes. We offer tips on how to keep safety in mind as you plan and teach yoga classes, …

1
103 Teacher Training Myths: Community Conversations with Dana Diament 58:02

9M ago58:02

58:02

The mention of yoga teacher training conjures up a bundle of images and ideas, many of which are inaccurate or at least incomplete. So today host Rachel talks with returning guest Dana Diament, lead teacher of the Yoga Medicine 200hr Teacher Training, about common misconceptions and misunderstandings about yoga training. In this episode, we discuss…

1
102 Fascia & Pain, A Deeper Discussion 57:43

10M ago57:43

57:43

Today's hosts Tiffany and Katja return for a deeper discussion of fascia and pain. Recently, fascia is being more generally acknowledged as a pain generator, especially of one specific type of pain: myofascial pain. In this episode, Tiffany and Katja discuss the mobility of fascia, look at fascia as a sensory organ, and explain the influence of fas…

1
101 Comfort, Challenge & Compassion: Community Conversations with Aisha Fakhro 31:57

10M ago31:57

31:57

In the yoga world, as elsewhere, opinions seem more polarized than ever. Today we’re making space to explore one popular all-or-nothing topic in the wellness sphere: whether our practice is intended to create comfort or offer challenge. Host Rachel explores the delicate balance yoga teachers seek between challenge and comfort and the compassion req…

1
100 Yoga, Politics & History: Expert Insights with Firdose Moonda, MA 58:07

11M ago58:07

58:07

Many yoga students and teachers feel part of a culture and tradition we don't fully understand, leading to the necessity for open, honest, and potentially uncomfortable conversations about the wider context our practice exists within - including its long and complicated history and its intersections with culture, commerce, and politics. Today host …

1
99 Dynamic Stretching: Research Roundup 47:51

11M ago47:51

47:51

Today hosts Katja and Tiffany dive into the importance of dynamic mobility training and its broader applications. Stretching is always a loaded topic. There are lots of different opinions and broad research available, with new research being released regularly. In this episode, we talk about the newer research on dynamic stretching and how it relat…

1
98 The Pros & Cons of Using Anatomy in Yoga 48:08

12M ago48:08

48:08

There is no shortage of strong opinions on what areas of study are appropriate for yoga teachers and students. The study of anatomy is one that, at times, inspires controversy - so today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the pros and cons of using anatomy in yoga. We discuss the challenges of using anatomical language and the risk that a simplifie…

1
97 New Perspective on Athletic Performance in the Menstrual Cycle: Research Roundup 37:57

12M ago37:57

37:57

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja talk about a topic that always draws a lot of interest: the female menstrual cycle. The pair discuss new research around athletic performance throughout the cycle, offering new angles that go beyond the fluctuations of female sex hormones. They focus on new findings that consider the importance of psychological aspects…

1
96 Creating Change: Community Conversations with Alison Heilig 1:14:16

1y ago1:14:16

1:14:16

Most of us have experienced the all-too-familiar gap between wanting to change something in our lives and actually doing it. In today’s episode, returning guest Alison Heilig breaks down the most common barriers to behaviour change with host Rachel. Alison shares how behaviour change is not about self-control or lack of, and is instead a set of lea…

1
95 Smarter Not Harder: Creative Sequencing 1:13:59

1y ago1:13:59

1:13:59

Feel pressured to make your classes new and exciting? More complex? More demanding? Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel offer tips for yoga teachers who are ready to work smarter, not harder, when crafting class sequences. In this episode, we talk about the importance of starting with a clear focal point and a base class template, and the benefits of re…

1
94 The Magic of Mythology: Community Conversations with Steph Wall 40:47

1y ago40:47

40:47

In communication, stories and symbols have the capacity to reach us in ways that facts and figures do not. So today host Rachel dips her toes into Hindu mythology with returning guest Steph Wall. In this episode, we talk about the importance of mythology and its links to many of the poses we know and practice. Steph also offers advice on how to int…

1
93 Calm Under Pressure: Research Roundup 44:59

1y ago44:59

44:59

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja talk tips for keeping calm under pressure. This episode is all about choking up or freezing under pressure, which can apply to so many different situations whether you’re a yoga teacher, a presenter, or an athlete. We talk about the mechanisms behind choking under high-pressure situations and offer tools that you can u…

1
92 Right Brain Skills for Yoga Teachers: Community Conversations with Sandy Raper 1:01:01

1y ago1:01:01

1:01:01

Yoga teachers love a good training. When in doubt, many of us tend to look for more technical skills – more evidence, more information, more protocols and strategies. But what if the true magic of the teacher-student relationship lies elsewhere: not in perfection, but in presence. Today’s episode hones in on right brain or relational teaching skill…

1
91 Balance Myths Busted: Community Conversations with Sava Papos 1:03:56

1y ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Today we are busting balance myths with two people who are passionate about balance and standing stability. Host Rachel talks to Sava Papos, is a long-time yoga teacher and Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, now immersed in a degree in Exercise and Sport Physiology. In this episode, we discuss balance as a trainable skill and a key aspect of phy…

1
90 Leadership in Yoga 59:03

1y ago59:03

59:03

Today’s media landscape - which equates leadership with certainty of opinion, popularity, or charisma - can be challenging for yoga teachers to navigate. So today, hosts Tiffany and Rachel explore what leadership can look like in the yoga world. We discuss the importance of humility and vulnerability, the challenge of balancing evidence-based with …

1
89 "Core" Myths and Misconceptions: Community Conversations with Jenni Tarma 1:07:01

1y ago1:07:01

1:07:01

Most of us have loaded beliefs related to the core and core strength. While most hold a grain of truth, plenty of these preconceptions are inaccurate, incomplete, or just plain unhelpful when it comes to our individual yoga and movement practices. Today host Rachel and returning guest Jenni Tarma unpack the most common core myths and misconceptions…

1
88 Social Media Marketing Made Easy: Community Conversations with Dana Diament 1:03:32

1y ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Most of us have a complicated relationship with social media, but it can be a powerful business tool if we learn how to harness it effectively. Today host Rachel talks social media marketing with returning guest Dana Diament, a yoga teacher and graphic designer with years of experience in branding. Dana creates clarity around social media communica…

1
87 The Science of Breathing Less: Research Roundup 35:15

1y ago35:15

35:15

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja hone in on another topic related to pranayama: the science of breathing less. In this episode, we talk about the natural fear of retention of the breath and what we can do to combat this fear. We also connect the dots between concepts like intermittent hypoxic training, breathing less volume, and voluntary hypoventilat…

1
86 Back to School Yoga Tips for Kids: Expert Insights with Alice Blunden 54:12

1y ago54:12

54:12

Today host Rachel speaks with returning guest Alice Blunden – a Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, schoolteacher, and creator of The Yoga Project UK – about accessible ways we can translate yoga tools and techniques for children as they navigate the potentially challenging transition back to school. In this episode, Alice shares a handful of her…

1
85 Research Roundup: A Stroll Through the Breathwork Landscape 50:36

1y ago50:36

50:36

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja take you on a stroll through the breathwork landscape. In this episode, the pair gives an overview of the origins of different breathing practices - covering Eastern traditions from India to China, techniques founded by "psychedelic" transformational and scientific communities as well as practices stemming from Eastern…

1
84 Yoga Philosophy, Focus & Performance with Dr. Daya Grant 53:05

1+ y ago53:05

53:05

Whether we are athletes or not, we all have areas in our lives where we want to perform well. Today host Rachel speaks with returning guest Dr. Daya Grant about how aspects of yoga philosophy can help us do that - by improving our focus and concentration. Dr. Grant helps athletes and other high performers train their brains with the same care they …

1
83 Research Roundup: Updates on Polyvagal Theory 52:43

1+ y ago52:43

52:43

Today’s topic is an interesting one that comes up a lot in the yoga world. In this episode, hosts Tiffany and Katja talk about the latest research and newest findings on the Polyvagal Theory. They discuss the evolutionary biology that Polyvagal Theory is based around, the neuroanatomy that’s involved, and assumptions that have been made about this …

1
82 Building a Healthy Relationship with Social Media 1:07:11

1+ y ago1:07:11

1:07:11

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel talk about building a healthy relationship with social media. These platforms have become a ubiquitous facet of our lives, so in this episode, we examine the way we use social media as yoga students and teachers. We discuss the pros of social media, like its capacity to help us connect with other people, the sense of …

1
81 Post-Traumatic Growth for Veterans & First Responders with Dr. Nicole McKenna 1:05:15

1+ y ago1:05:15

1:05:15

Military personnel and first responders show up to other people’s worst day, every day. Exposed to workplace experiences the rest of us can’t imagine, some experience post-traumatic stress, and some work through that experience to demonstrate post-traumatic growth. Can yoga play a part in biasing these populations toward growth? Today’s guest, Dr. …

1
80 Common Challenges of Yin Yoga: Community Conversations with Shannon Stephens 1:09:42

1+ y ago1:09:42

1:09:42

The practice of Yin yoga is unusual in that it asks us to do the opposite of what we do in the rest of our lives. That contrast is powerful, but adjusting to it can bring up challenges. In this episode, returning guest Shannon Stephens is back to talk to host Rachel about the common challenges of Yin Yoga for both students and teachers and shares h…

1
79 The Neuroscience of Resilience: Expert Insights with Valerie Knopik PhD 1:00:34

1+ y ago1:00:34

1:00:34

After traumatic life events, some people experience negative mental and physical health outcomes, while others not only survive but thrive. There’s a growing body of research on the strategies that prime our potential for resilience to adverse events, but less understanding of the neural pathways that underpin them. Today guest Valerie Knopik Ph.D.…

1
78 Pain Science Insights on Performance: Expert Insights with Marnie Hartman 1:07:04

1+ y ago1:07:04

1:07:04

We don’t all strive for elite physical performance, but we do all place demands on our bodies. Some of the internal signals that we receive as a result could be interpreted as pain, so how do we know when we should push through and when we should pull back? We have talked in previous episodes about the complex phenomenon of pain, and how deeply enm…

1
77 Restorative Yoga Essentials 57:03

1+ y ago57:03

57:03

In our busy lives, it can be challenging to allow ourselves to truly rest, but there are potent benefits to be gained when we do. So today hosts Tiffany and Rachel dive into the stillness and quiet of restorative yoga. In this episode, we outline the key characteristics of restorative yoga and how they work to soothe the nervous system and offer an…

1
76 Hypermobility in Yoga: Community Conversations with Jenni Tarma 57:43

1+ y ago57:43

57:43

Today host Rachel speaks with returning guest Jenni Tarma about hypermobility disorders, which appear more often in yoga students than in the general population. In this episode, Jenni describes the wide range of symptoms linked to hypermobility, some of the challenges yoga teachers face when working with students on this spectrum, as well as how y…

1
75 Research Roundup: Fascia & Immune System 45:30

1+ y ago45:30

45:30

Today hosts Tiffany and Katja discuss fascia and the immune system. In this episode, learn what role the fascia plays in the immune system and which less obvious components of fascia contribute to this relationship. We also cover why fibroblasts are dynamic participants of immune processes, and how fluid flow versus stagnation play into immune func…

1
74 Yoga for All: Community Conversations with Elena Cheung 1:04:26

1+ y ago1:04:26

1:04:26

Often it’s the details that make our experience; in the context of a yoga class, it’s not just about the poses and practices we teach but the WAY we teach them that determines whether our class feels welcoming. Today host Rachel speaks with Yoga Medicine therapeutic specialist Elena Cheung. Elena shares her tips for creating impactful all-level cla…

1
73 Unpacking Overhead Shoulder Pain 48:58

1+ y ago48:58

48:58

Today hosts Tiffany and Rachel explore one of the more common challenges yoga students face: shoulder pain when arms are overhead. We shed some light on this common issue, unpacking the anatomical structures involved, and discussing possible triggers. Given how often we take our arms overhead – in yoga, sport, and daily life – we are likely to come…

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