What exactly is a Sangha, and why does community matter so much in yoga? Aru explores the meaning and origins of Sangha, its relationship to Satsang, and the many traditional forms of community that have supported yoga over time. She also looks at what makes a genuine Sangha, what it is not, the shadow side of spiritual communities, and the importance of boundaries, agency, accountability, and sustained relationships in modern yoga.

Episode Highlights:

• Defining Sangha and its origins
• Sangha, Satsang, and yoga
• Characteristics and purpose of Sangha
• Recognizing genuine Sangha
• Traditional forms of yoga community
• Guru Shishya Parampara and living transmission
• Kula, ashrams, and Gurukula
• Bhakti communities and spiritual practice
• Accountability, belonging, and collective knowledge
• What Sangha is not
• The shadow side of spiritual communities
• Teacher and student responsibilities
• Boundaries, agency, and discernment
• The Three Jewels and modern yoga
• Rebuilding meaningful community in yoga

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Online

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What actually changes during pregnancy, and how should yoga teachers adapt their teaching? Aru talks with Aparna Ramesh about prenatal yoga across all three trimesters, balancing effort and rest, modifications, props, pranayama, sound, visualization, and the tools that can support a healthy and empowering pregnancy practice.

Episode Highlights:

• Prenatal yoga intensity and effort
• Balancing effort and rest, and teaching beyond “listen to your body”
• The prenatal talk test
• Normalizing breaks in practice
• First trimester yoga practice
• Trimester changes and teaching considerations
• Second trimester strengthening
• Third trimester physical changes
• Heat and hot yoga risks
• First trimester practice focus
• Second trimester practice focus
• Third trimester practice focus
• Prenatal yoga in mixed classes
• Strengthening for pregnancy and motherhood
• Pelvic floor education and practice
• Third trimester modifications
• Props and creative modifications
• Lying on the back during pregnancy
• Prana and pregnancy
• Prenatal pranayama practices
• Prenatal chanting and sound
• Visualization during pregnancy and labor
• Yoga Nidra and sankalpa
• Teaching prenatal yoga with confidence
• Functional and non-ego-driven practice
• Building sustainable self-practice

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Online

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What exactly is Yin Yoga, and how is it different from restorative yoga? Aru gets nerdy with Vinay Jesta about sensation, stillness, connective tissue, the meridian system, emotional awareness, and finding the right balance between Yin and Yang. They also discuss common teaching mistakes, practicing Yin online, and what to look for in a good Yin Yoga training.

Episode Highlights:

• What Yin Yoga is and its place in the yoga tradition
• Yin Yoga vs. restorative yoga
• Sensation, stillness, and finding the appropriate edge
• Props, modifications, and working with different bodies
• Yin practice length, sequencing, and connective tissue
• Tension vs. compression and recognizing harmful sensations
• The role of verbal guidance in Yin
• The meridian system and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Meridians, nadis, emotions, and the psychological aspects of Yin
• Stillness, self-observation, and meditation in Yin poses
• Yin poses, gravity, and different ways to practice
• Yin for injuries, pregnancy, and hypermobility
• Balancing Yin with Yang-oriented practices
• Common misconceptions and mistakes in teaching Yin
• Music in Yin classes
• Practicing Yin through online videos vs. with a teacher
• What to look for in a Yin Yoga training
• Balancing anatomy, skeletal variations, and energetic approaches in Yin

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Online

Prana & Presence: An Immersive Week of Yoga, Stillness & Soulful Study in Southern Italy

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