#238 The Rebellion of Yoga: Beyond Āsana into Pratyāhāra

In this episode of the Yoga Inspiration Podcast, we explore what it really means to practice yoga beyond the physical postures. Āsana may be where many of us begin, but it is only one part of the larger Ashtanga Yoga method. Kino looks at the tendency to measure progress through increasingly difficult postures and explains why more āsanas do not necessarily mean deeper practice. Instead, the eight limbs of yoga work together, shaping the way we breathe, pay attention, respond to sensation, and relate to ourselves on the mat. We also explore pratyāhāra, the practice of turning attention inward, and how observing sensation without immediately reacting can change both our physical practice and our relationship to the mind. Rather than forcing the body or judging what appears, yoga asks us to become more attentive to what is actually happening. The episode also considers a question that can remain with us throughout a lifetime of yoga: What actually constitutes practice? As the body, circumstances, and āsanas change, the deeper work is learning how to keep returning with honesty, awareness, and an internal desire to practice. In this episode: • Why āsana is only one part of yoga • The difference between practice and performance • Why more advanced postures do not equal greater spiritual growth • How the eight limbs of yoga work together • Understanding pratyāhāra and turning the senses inward • Learning to observe sensation instead of immediately reacting • Allowing the physical practice to change over time • What it means to ask, "Was that practice?" • Finding the internal motivation to keep coming back to the mat • Why consistency matters more than perfect conditions Practice with us on Omstars.

In this episode of the Yoga Inspiration Podcast, Tim Feldmann explores what it means to live yoga beyond the mat through the Bhagavad Gītā's teachings on yajña, dāna, and tapas. Yoga is sometimes interpreted as a withdrawal from thought, action, and the responsibilities of ordinary life. Tim looks at why the Gītā offers a different perspective: living a yogic life does not mean stepping away from the world, but learning how to participate in it with greater awareness, responsibility, generosity, and discipline. Through everyday examples, Tim breaks down yajña as selfless action or offering, dāna as generosity and giving, and tapas as the discipline and inner effort required to cultivate positive change. These practices are not limited to formal spiritual rituals. They can be expressed through doing our work well, caring for others, sharing our time and knowledge, practicing kindness, and developing the steadiness to respond more skillfully when life challenges us. At the heart of the episode is a simple shift from selfish behavior toward selfless awareness. Tim explores how yajña, dāna, and tapas can reduce inner and outer conflict while helping us live in greater harmony with dharma, bringing the philosophical teachings of yoga directly into daily life. Join Tim every Wednesday for live Pranayama practice on Omstars.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to be ready for Ashtanga Yoga's Intermediate Series. Second Series is often approached through its physical landmarks: deeper backbends, leg-behind-the-head postures, arm balances, inversions, and demanding strength transitions. But the deeper preparation for Nadi Shodhana is not only physical. It is the development of a mind that is steady enough to meet intensity without becoming overwhelmed. We look at the difference between being able to perform an asana and truly integrating it into daily sādhana, why Primary Series and Intermediate Series have different energetic intentions, and how nervous system regulation, mental steadiness, and consistent practice become essential as the work deepens. The episode also explores readiness for Second Series beyond rigid physical benchmarks, the role of Kapotasana, leg-behind-the-head postures, Karandavasana, the seven headstands, and why the closing sequence is such an important part of integrating the intensity of Nadi Shodhana. Ultimately, the question is not simply whether the body can perform the postures, but whether the practitioner can maintain the thread of practice with patience, consistency, steadiness, and compassion. Join us September 1 to 21 for the Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series Challenge on Omstars. Explore Second Series through step-by-step tutorials, targeted drills, counted vinyāsa classes, and guided practices designed to help you understand the method behind the postures. Enter your email on the challenge page to receive a free downloadable Second Series practice chart, get the first three days of the challenge free if you are not already an Omstars member, and enter for a chance to win a one-year Omstars membership. You can also join the challenge on Instagram. Follow @omstarsofficial, @kinoyoga, @lottasebzdayoga, @chandanabhowmickyoga, and @heidikayoga. Share your daily practice, tag the hosts, and use #theworkofsecondseries.

From Gross to Subtle: The Journey of Ashtanga Yoga Practice In this episode, Kino MacGregor and Tim Feldmann explore the two ends of the yoga spectrum: the gross and the subtle, the dynamic and the still, the effortful and the refined. Ashtanga Yoga asks us to inhabit both worlds, jumping through, sweating, moving the body with strong discipline, and then turning inward, softening into breath, subtle sensation, and the quietude of mind. Drawing from Sanskrit roots and classical teachings, Kino and Tim explain how sthūla, gross or dense practice, and sūkṣma, subtle or refined practice, are not opposites but complementary gateways into yoga. They discuss how the foundational tools of the practice, āsana, prāṇāyāma, and dṛṣṭi, can carry practitioners from surface-level sensation toward deeper layers of awareness. The conversation unfolds around Patañjali's timeless definition of yoga, yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ, the stilling of the mind's movements. Kino and Tim share stories, personal reflections, and practical lessons on balancing abhyāsa, steady practice, with vairāgya, letting go. Along the way, they remind us that contentment, santoṣa, is not resignation but a doorway into clarity, and that every choice plants seeds in the soil of karma. Whether through strong postures, subtle meditation, or the quiet discipline of daily practice, this talk invites us to see yoga as both gross and subtle, both active and still, always guiding us toward the inner horizon of awareness. Practice with Kino, Tim, and our global community on Omstars. Explore thousands of yoga classes, in-depth courses, live practices, meditation, prāṇāyāma, and more at Omstars.com.

In this episode we explore one of yoga's most essential lessons: patience. Drawing from Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras 3.6 and 1.12, we reflect on why everything in yoga unfolds in stages and why true progress comes through the twin practices of steady effort, abhyāsa, and non-attachment, vairāgya. Through personal stories, including my struggle with Pincha Mayūrāsana and unexpected ease in Mayūrāsana, we learn how forcing or rushing can lead to harm, while patience and surrender create the conditions for real growth. Yoga, is like tending a garden. Each posture is a seed, and with care, time, and trust, it will bloom in its own season. Tune in for a reflection on why transformation cannot be rushed, on the mat or in life, and how patience itself becomes one of yoga's greatest teachers. Join Omstars to practice and explore yoga in greater depth. Practice with me on Omstars.

In this episode of Yoga Inspiration, Kino answers student questions about the Ashtanga Yoga Intermediate Series, traditionally known as Nāḍī Śodhana. We explore the structure and purpose of Second Series, including its deep backbends, leg-behind-the-head postures, arm balances, inversions, and the seven headstands. Kino also explains how to know when you are ready to begin Intermediate Series, why perfect postures are not the goal, and how consistency in Primary Series creates the foundation for deeper work. The conversation also covers struggle poses, practicing six days a week, balancing Ashtanga Yoga with running or strength training, building the strength needed for Intermediate Series, working with transitions, and finding a teacher who supports dialogue rather than gatekeeping. Beyond physical progress, Kino reflects on the deeper purpose of Nāḍī Śodhana as nervous system cleansing and energetic refinement. The practice asks us to approach each posture with patience, humility, reverence, and respect. Listen in for a practical and honest exploration of Ashtanga Yoga Second Series, readiness, progress, and the inner work of practice. Continue your practice with The Work of Second Series on Omstars, featuring step-by-step tutorials, targeted drills, and guided practice classes with Kino MacGregor.

At first glance, Ashtanga Yoga may look like a simple sequence of postures. But beneath the surface lies a subtle framework that carries the entire method: Tristhāna, the threefold support of breath, posture, and gaze. In this episode, Kino and Tim explore the deeper meaning of Tristhāna. The word comes from Sanskrit, with tri meaning "three" and sthāna meaning "place" or "support." These three abodes are not just techniques. They are thresholds that guide the practitioner from gross sensation into subtle awareness. Breath is the golden thread linking body and mind. Posture is the seat that establishes presence. Gaze is the discipline that steadies perception. Together, they guide us inward, moving us from the visible body into the subtle body, from surface sensation into deeper stillness. Kino and Tim also reflect on how these pillars extend beyond the mat. Breath becomes a refuge, posture teaches resilience, and gaze becomes discernment. To practice Ashtanga is to realize that we are never not practicing. Yoga becomes alive in every moment of our lives. Listen in to explore how the three pillars of Tristhāna support the movement from external to internal, from gross to subtle, and discover how yoga is not just something you do, but something you live. Practice with Kino, Tim, and the Omstars community at Omstars.com, where you'll find guided Ashtanga Yoga classes, philosophy, meditation, and practice support for every stage of your path.

What does it really mean to be a yogi? In this episode, Kino explores the heart of yogic life beyond postures and performance. A yogi, she reminds us, is someone sincerely committed to realizing the Self and who understands that cultivating sattva (clarity, harmony, and balance) is an essential step along the path. Drawing from Patañjali's Yoga Sūtra and the teachings of the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, and tamas), Kino examines how our daily choices, from the food we eat to the words we speak and the actions we take, either cloud the mind or orient it toward truth. She also explores the eight limbs of yoga (aṣṭāṅga) as a practical framework for living a yogic life, demonstrating how each limb supports the cultivation of sattva. This episode is a reminder that being a yogi is not about perfection. It is about showing up with sincerity, choosing clarity over confusion, and returning to the practice again and again. In that sincere effort lies the heart of yoga. Ready to deepen your practice? Explore thousands of classes, courses, workshops, and guided programs with Kino and our community of world-class teachers on Omstars. Practice with us at Omstars.com.

What does it take to build a successful yoga business while staying true to your values? In this episode, Kino MacGregor sits down with business leader and longtime mentor Bruce Barkus to explore the intersection of yoga, entrepreneurship, leadership, and service. Drawing on decades of executive experience leading global companies and years of dedicated Ashtanga Yoga practice, Bruce shares practical insights for yoga teachers, studio owners, and wellness entrepreneurs looking to build sustainable businesses. Together, Kino and Bruce discuss the realities of running a yoga business, from creating business plans and understanding financial metrics to building strong teams, developing company culture, and making strategic decisions for long-term growth. They also reflect on the lessons learned through Miami Life Center and Omstars, and the importance of balancing authentic practice with the demands of business ownership. In this episode: Why yoga teachers need to think like business owners The importance of business plans, KPIs, and financial awareness Common blind spots that hold yoga businesses back Building community before opening your doors Leadership lessons from both yoga and business How to hire the right people and create a values-based culture Balancing service, purpose, and profitability Marketing, growth, and sustainable business practices Staying connected to your own practice while running a business Why success is built through relationships, mentorship, and support Whether you're teaching classes, running a studio, building an online platform, or dreaming of turning your passion into a profession, this conversation offers practical guidance for creating a business that can support both your livelihood and your values. Practice with Kino and worldclass master teachers on Omstars.

Yoga is more than flexibility or physical strength. At its essence, yoga is the training of the mind. In this episode, Kino MacGregor explores how yoga philosophy, breath, and daily practice help steady the mind, re-pattern habitual thinking, and cultivate inner awareness. Drawing from the Bhagavad Gītā, the Yoga Sūtra, and the teachings of K. Pattabhi Jois, Kino reflects on the deeper purpose of practice beyond physical achievement. Learn how yoga helps us work with fear, emotional patterns, distraction, and the fluctuations of the mind while cultivating steadiness through breath, movement, and concentration. As Pattabhi Jois often said, "Do your practice and think about God." In this episode: • Why yoga is a training of the mind • How practice reveals subconscious thought patterns • The relationship between breath, body, and awareness • What the Bhagavad Gītā and Yoga Sūtra teach about steadiness • How yoga prepares us for challenge, change, and letting go • Why the inner work of practice matters more than physical achievement Practice with Kino on Omstars and explore guided classes, philosophy teachings, workshops, and live sessions designed to support a consistent and sustainable yoga practice. Start practicing on Omstars.