by Marzena Wojcik, January 2019

If you’re not listening to the following 5 yoga podcasts, where have you been?! I think they are must adds to your listening yoga needs, as they are inspiring and educational.

Since, I’m an avid listener I’d thought I’d share with you this list, so you too can enjoy all the great content out there!

You may be thinking, what makes me qualified to suggest which yoga podcasts are worth listening to?!

Firstly, I love podcasts as I’ve been listening to them for the last 3 years, which has given me plenty of time to observe what is actually worth your precious time to listen to. Secondly, I consider myself to be a weekly podcast junkie, as I listen to podcasts frequently, including on my walks to work, or when I’m working on simple tasks, cooking, driving or generally when I don’t feel like listening to music and want to absorb new ideas and information. I average about 25-30hrs of podcast listening on a weekly basis, that’s an average 5hrs per day. I love learning on the go and hearing differing perspectives and how we can just listen to information, or be guided through a meditation for any mood. Truly sharing ideas, information and learning in the process via audio recordings.

What I look for in podcasts when assessing the overall quality, is both the valuable content, topics discussed and overall sound quality.

For content I consider if the information shared is valuable in some way, for example, are the episodes educational, fun, inspiring and keep me curious and wanting more. If the host doesn’t know something they admit it and seek expertise on the subject. I also think what makes a great podcast is when they do both solo episodes and have guests on where they interview the experts. For sound I look for things like, is the volume consistent, is there any background noise and/or how is the podcaster’s voice/tone/volume. Is the voice clear, same level volume, especially if there are two or more people speaking and even in the manner someone speaks, are there limited filler words, is the message concise, when trying to keep an audience captivated and engaged these are also key.

The podcasts I recommend below I’ve been listening to them, for the last year or so, excluding #5, whom are just on their first season and new as they launched the season 1 episodes as of this month (January 2019). Truly all the podcasts I recommend are amazing, worth your time, and they all upload new episodes quite regularly to keep you engaged and anticipating more.

My podcast recommendations are based on the following criteria: sound quality, quality of content shared - is the information they are sharing valuable to me in some way (fun, inspiring, motivating, educational), yoga topics discusssed, if there is a range of topics and guests (excluding the daily meditation one), on the episodes, and of course sometimes having solo episodes.

My Top 5 Yoga podcasts to listen to - the list:

My top 5 yoga podcast to listen to, not in any particular order as they’re all great listens! Click on the image for the direct link to the podcast at the bottom so this post (Links for Podcasts App for iTunes).

1. Curious Monki with Veronica Thai!

   This one is fun, fresh and exciting, Veronica always captures my attention with great people she interviews, fun topics like following your dreams, mindfulness, confidence building, self love, motivational stories, and lots on current YOGA topics ranging from meditation, yoga philosophy, yoga nidra and much more. She also has topics for teachers who teach yoga and adds some business sense into the mix. I also love this podcast because Veronica is Calgary, Alberta based like me, and she interviews teachers I have taken classes with, and/or have done trainings with. Maybe this makes me a little bias, but I think it’s still worth checking out. Excited what the next season in 2019 has in store.

2. Everyday Sublime with Josh Summers.

   When this podcast started I was so thrilled as I am so passionate about Yin yoga and I love how Josh brings in the elements of Chinese Medicine and the meridians to a whole other level. Podcast episode topics range from Yin yoga, Chinese medicine/meridian lines and meditation focused topics.

   The explanations about yang and yin mediation is also fascinating. Josh also has in his episodes interviews with teachers like Bernie Clark, the yin yoga master and author of, “The Complete Guide to Yoga”, “Your spine, Your Yoga” and “Your Body, Your Yoga”. I’ve also had the pleasure of doing my yin yoga training under Bernie, and I love to hear him be interviewed by another yin yoga teacher.

   If you love Yin yoga as much as I do, this one is a must listen! Even if you don’t teach yoga, you learn a lot about Chinese medicine.

3. The Daily Meditation podcast (by Sip and Om)

   If you’re either new to meditation or want guided meditations this one is for you. I love to listen to the short meditations before bed to get me relaxed. The podcast has meditation episodes ranging from topics to gain clarity, affirmations, staying motivated, awareness (one of my faves), and calming breathing techniques and so much more. The episodes are anywhere from 5-12mins. If you need to chill and escape the monkey mind, have a listen, it will help tame it. The podcast episodes are short and sweet, easy to incorpoate into your morning, day or night routines.

   Guided meditations are sometimes easier too, instead of self guided meditation. Try it out, leave a comment below if you do! 

4. Yoga Land with Andrea Ferreti.

   Andrea always has the most interesting topics ranging from yoga teaching, to yoga philosophy, yoga as self care (which is one of my fave topics!), and even controversy in the yoga teaching world. Andrea also does joint episodes with her husband Jason Crandell who is a well recognized yoga teacher, whom is also knowledgeable about many yoga topics, ranging from anatomy, yoga sequencing, yoga poses and philosophy and the two paired together make for a great entertainment, fun energy and educational discussions! This one is a must listen,

   Andrea consistently produces quality episodes and regularly, uploading pretty much weekly. Andrea used to work for Yoga Journal and it shows in the sense of trends she shares in the yoga world and again topics she chooses to discuss on yoga changing and being such a powerful force in western society. There is no stopping Andrea’s impact in the podcast yoga world, both Andrea and Jason. Truly inspirational and educational at the same time.

5. Interview with the Yogi - with Cora Geroux.

   Podcasts interviews range from Sarah Powers to Bernie Clark leave me excited to see what this podcast is going to do next. Quality interview and sound I’m anticipating and excited to see who else gets interviewed on her podcast. Just on their first season but already I am craving more. Interview with the yogi captured my attention with the teachers they interview and now I’m still listening as the quality is great.

   Note I may be biased as I love any podcast that has teachers that talk about yin yoga, and blending psychology with yoga, like Sarah Powers does with her Insights Yoga. It’s great to hear her be interviewed and hear perspectives outside of reading Sarah’s books. Spreading the knowledge more broadly.

This blog is a piece of my heart…

If you’re still reading this, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I look forward to sharing more.

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Until next time my readers and yogis…
Namaste,

Marzena

#yogamindfulurban