Chants
Chants
Chanting and mantra recitation have accompanied yoga practice for thousands of years. Chanting is of course both the in-toning of the rich vibratory sounds and the simultaneous listening to them. The concentrated in-toning of sound vibrates all along the axis of the body from the perineum up through the head, giving access to subtle and deep sensation and feeling. The deep listening naturally suspends the normal movement of the discursive mind and allows contemplation of the patterns of sensation, emotion, and imagination.
Chants have meanings, which are to be contemplated. Some express a truth directly; others use images, metaphors, and myths; while still others are deliberately free of meaning or reference to anything except the whole of reality. The meanings are designed to return the chanter to the direct experience of the sound vibration, making the experience of that sound and eventually all sound and all forms and patterns of vibration sacred.
Richard walks us through the myriad paths of yoga as described in The Bhagavad Gita, with Adrian Baker on Hacking the Self.
February 1, 2018 - 1 hour 18 minutes
Mary talks about self-transformation, paradox, ritual, etc., with Adrian Baker on Hacking the Self.
January 25, 2018 - 1 hour 26 minutes
This podcast gives us a behind-the-scenes look into the making of The Art of Vinyasa, Richard and Mary’s new book. We also talk about visualization; the nature of vinyasa and what it means; and how we can truly integrate a practice of letting go into our lives.
December 27, 2016 - 56 minutes
Cross-training, science and mythology, and sexual assault are some of the topics Richard discusses with Kathryn Bruni-Young on Mindful Strength.
January 11, 2018 - 57 minutes
Interviewing Mary during this hour was very smooth and full of insight. I was grateful to be at Richard’s home for the second time, interviewing Mary in her small personal practice room on the top floor of their home. She pours wisdom from each sentence shared, allowing us to stretch and ponder over new perspectives and ideals found in the Yoga practice.
February 25, 2017 - 1 hour 3 minutes
And so we began. I interviewed Richard Freeman, Soaking up an hour of embodied wisdom as he has studied and enveloped himself in this way of life, in a mindfulness practice that dives far beyond the single facet of asana.
Richard has been different from the beginning, he shares. You could consider Richard a Black Sheep in the Ashtanga Community. However, we won’t tell anyone that he uses props; keeping the postures a little more tailored to the individual.
Listen to this podcast to hear from a true student in the practice, an example for us all to continue our studies, no matter if we teach or not. Plus, you will get a few tips for the natural experience of plateauing in Yoga.
February 18, 2016 - 58 minutes
