#188: Yoga and War: Hala Okeili on Holding Space for Peace in Lebanon’s Crisis

As Lebanon endures yet another wave of conflict, Hala speaks candidly about the heartbreak of leaving her homeland to protect her young son while holding fast to her role as a guide and healer for her community. Her journey reminds us that yoga is a practice far beyond the mat – it’s a call to connect, to serve, and to hold space even in the most difficult of times. In this conversation, Hala opens a window into the life of Lebanon’s vibrant, yet fragile, yoga community. She describes the ongoing work of providing meals, essentials, and a compassionate presence for displaced families, emphasizing that real change often begins in taking care of one another. As we listen, Hala’s story invites us to consider our own role in cultivating peace – both within and beyond. This is a powerful reminder of the resilience, compassion, and unwavering hope that yoga can inspire, no matter the circumstances. Share your support: SupportLRC – Donate, Save Lives Hala's Instagram (@yogiinbeirut)  

Yoga is an invitation to meet ourselves just as we are, embracing both the ease of sukha and the discomfort of dukkha with presence and patience. It’s a practice that calls us to observe the fluctuations of the mind – our desire for comfort, our resistance to pain – and, through each cycle of breath, to cultivate a quiet resilience that meets both without reaction. Much like life’s trials, yoga also asks us not to escape struggle but to soften into it; to find calm not by denying difficulty but by welcoming it with grace. Each breath, each moment on the mat, is a reminder of impermanence - a gentle guide urging us to let go of attachment and rest in acceptance. But this journey doesn’t end with our own growth. Each time we come to the mat, we contribute to a shared peace that ripples beyond ourselves, inviting compassion and unity for all beings. So, join us today as we breathe, honoring the timeless connection that we share.   Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.

Perfection is enchanting—but it promises an end destination that doesn’t exist. Yoga, if you listen carefully, asks us to turn inward, embracing tapas - disciplined effort - not as a demand for perfection but as a gentle guide through life's ups and downs.  Let’s be humbled by the reminder that yoga is not a performance after all. It’s a daily ritual that meets us exactly where we are. It’s a letting go of comparisons, whether to others or our past selves. And through the heat of disciplined practice, we burn away our inner obstacles, confront our inertia, and find solace in the simple act of standing on the mat with breath, body, and mind. So without perfection, what does success look like in our practice? It’s through tapas we discover the quiet strength that lies within. This is the heart of yoga—a transformative journey that asks us to meet ourselves every single day.   Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.  

In a world where we often seek certainty, clear answers, and the comfort of knowing, yoga offers a humbling reminder: truth is rarely as simple as it seems. It’s in this awareness of our behavioral patterns we can take the opportunity to question our reality… Or maybe we don’t get a choice. It’s easy to assume that our view of the world is objective but by returning again and again to our mats, the spaciousness we create will show us that our minds are constantly filtering, predicting, and reshaping what we see based on past experiences and ingrained patterns.  So what do we do when the construct of our mind is in question? Satya invites us to step into the uncomfortable space of not knowing—to acknowledge that our perceptions are often skewed and our truths subjective.  Satya can lead us closer to authenticity, greater self-awareness, and a profound connection to the truth that transcends our individual experience. This is not just about practising on the mat but learning to navigate the world with a heart open to all that we don’t yet understand.   Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.  

For many, the allure of yoga is wrapped in ideals of achievement – perfect poses, precise counts, and the polished image of a seasoned yogi. Yet, the heart of the practice invites us to embrace something far deeper. Being a student means showing up with an open mind, being willing to stumble, and finding peace in not knowing the big answers. It means recognizing that every teacher - no matter how experienced - is also a student on an endless path of discovery. Without a hierarchy to climb or a race to win, yoga becomes a refuge where we learn to soften into our imperfections and accept the messiness of our own journey. This episode encourages us to connect with the true purpose of our practice – not to become an expert or to display our abilities, but to heal, grow, and nurture our connection to something greater.  Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.  

Self study offers a bridge between practice and self-understanding, yet in a world where achievement is often measured by what we know or what we can do, Swadhyaya gently redirects us toward a more introspective path. Here, memorization becomes an act of devotion - a way to internalize the teachings, grounding our practice in respect and humility. But humility in yoga isn’t about diminishing ourselves; it’s about creating space to truly learn. When we approach the practice with an open heart, we honor the lineage of those who have come before us, allowing their wisdom to guide us. It’s this active engagement with respect that transforms our practice into a mirror, reflecting our deepest truths. As we move through sequences, Swadhyaya encourages us to look beyond the physical and into the self too. Because the real work begins when the physical falls away—when the ease of youth gives way to the challenges of age or injury. It’s in these moments that yoga truly becomes a mirror, showing us who we are when external measures of success no longer apply.   Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.  

Life has a way of challenging us - pushing us to the edge of our comfort zones - and it’s in those moments that we often find our true strength. Ashtanga yoga practice mirrors this perfectly, presenting us with both physical and emotional hurdles that test our discipline and resolve.  It’s time to delve into the heart of what it means to engage with tapas and accept that it's not about forcing ourselves beyond our limits, but rather about embracing the challenges we encounter with a steady and balanced approach. It’s this inner fire that’s cultivated through consistent practice where we learn to face discomfort with grace, using each struggle as a stepping stone toward deeper self-awareness and growth. In this episode, we explore the lessons of tapas—the disciplined effort that fuels transformation. By meeting challenges with a harmonious mindset, we not only advance in our practice but also navigate life’s difficulties with greater ease. Whether it’s the burn of a difficult asana or the heat of an emotional challenge, the lessons of tapas remind us that true growth is born from facing our struggles with patience, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to our path.   Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.

From the first step onto the mat to the deeper journey inward, Ashtanga offers more than just physical transformation. It introduces us to the yamas, the ethical principles that lay the foundation for a truly holistic practice. These yamas - non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, ethical conduct, and non-attachment - invite us to reflect on our actions, thoughts, and interactions both on and off the mat. In this episode, we explore how these principles plant seeds of mindfulness, nurturing our path towards inner peace and clarity. By embracing the yamas, we uncover opportunities for self-compassion, introspection, and connection with the deeper essence of yoga. It's in these moments of ethical living that we meet the real essence of our practice, transcending beyond physical postures. How present are the yamas in your daily life? Together let’s explore how living with integrity and compassion not only enhances our experience in the shala but also leads us toward a more enlightened existence.  Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.

How often do we consider the profound impact of consistency in our yoga practice? Because it’s in moments of resistance and wavering minds that we can witness the full loving force of yoga. It is here where we receive an invitation. And every time we RSVP “yes”, we open up our capacity for growth… We start to see that Ashtanga invites us to move beyond the physical into a journey with spiritual essence and how each session on the mat becomes a mirror. And as reflections of our strengths and vulnerabilities surface, we’re again met with another opportunity to give up and succumb to our comfort zones.  Yet let us not forget that the striving for self realization is enormous pressure to put onto our practice too. Feeling out of balance? Cue our yoga teachers’ wisdom–the kind of wisdom that while challenging, is essential for our growth…   Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.

Walk far enough down the yogic path and it will soon become clear that the guidance of a teacher and the support of our communities is invaluable. On Guru Purnima Day, we pause to reflect on the profound impact of our gurus and mentors who illuminate our journey.  Yet, while this path is often illuminated by such wisdom, it is not without its challenges. Personal struggles—whether physical, emotional, or circumstantial—are intrinsic to the journey. These hurdles, when met with the right guidance, transform into profound opportunities for growth and deeper understanding. Which mentors have inspired you to sustain the light of yoga in your life? Through shared stories and reflections, we celebrate the interconnectedness of our practice and the timeless wisdom passed down through generations. So join us and tune in to pay tribute to the teachers who have illuminated our paths, the lineage that grounds us, and the unwavering effort required to keep the flame of yoga alive.  Start the journey now with your free 30-day membership on Omstars.com. Use code: PODCAST. Keep up with us online @omstarsofficial or follow me on Instagram @kinoyoga. Visit my blog at Kinoyoga.com to learn more.   Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at [email protected]. If you want to share what you’ve learned on your yoga journey, you could be invited to guest spot on The Yoga Inspiration Podcast.