Skillful Means Podcast (2024)

15/09/2023

Jen wraps up her partial series on the Brahma Viharas with Mudita, commonly translated as "sympathetic joy." With Mudita, we're asked to rejoice in the good fortune of others, admittedly not easy.

This is why Jen likes to think of Mudita as "delight," specifically delighting in joy itself whether it's originating from someone else or from within. But, when we are able to delight in other's happiness, it's further solidifies our connection and sense of interconnectedness, helping to ease the suffering of loneliness and isolation.

🎧 @ https://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

15/09/2023

As we continue our summer practice series, Jen's here with another exploration of the Brahma Viharas (The Four Immeasurables), this time looking at Sympathetic Joy (Mudita).

Sympathetic Joy is rejoicing in other people's good fortune, and is designed to help us relax any jealous tendencies we may harbor, however subtle or obvious.

While Jen is not going to present a practice on the fourth Immeasurable, Equanimity (upekkha), check out Annie's practice on Drawing A Line (episode #94) for that.

We hope you've enjoyed this summer series. We're looking forward to being back in conversation soon!

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

01/09/2023

Annie's back with a new meditation!

Have you ever caught yourself (or been caught by someone else) with your head buried in your smartphone while doing something mundane like brushing your teeth or walking through your home?

If so, you can probably relate to the lure of distraction when certain moments don't seem worth our full attention.

In this contemplation, Annie invites us to view these small, ordinary moments during the day as portals to mindfulness that may reveal a hidden treasure of simple awe that awaits our ordinary attention.

🎧 in your favorite podcast app: https://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com/

18/08/2023

Jen is back in our summer series of practices with a continuation of an exploration of the Brahma Viharas, the Four Immeasurables.

Compassion is empathy in action, a heartfelt wish to alleviate the suffering in one's self and others. We do this through several means including cultivating a helpful, non-harming inner orientation.

There are many, many ways to cultivate compassion. This week, Jen shares a practice inspired by Lojong, set of teachings sometimes referred to as "Trainings in Compassion" attributed to the 10th century sage Atisha.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

18/08/2023

Jen's back with the second meditation in her mini-series on the Brahma Viharas, the Four Immeasurables. This time, she offers the Tibetan practice of Tonglen. This training in compassion is an inner alchemy where the practitioner seeks to transmute the suffering of others.

Tonglen teaches us how to grow our hearts beyond the boundaries of those in our in-crowd. It invites us to embrace our common humanity as an extension of our own being.

🎧 at https://www.skillfulmeans.com

04/08/2023

Annie is back with the last in our summer practice series with a focus on equanimity.

Everything in the manifest world is inherently free of value. It's us (people) that determine if something is desirable or not. What we decide (however quick and unconscious) has a big effect on how we react/respond to what comes next.

This week, Annie offers a contemplation on how to develop discernment when facing difficult circumstances.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

21/07/2023

Some of the most treasured and widely-practiced Buddhist Teachings are the Brahma Viharas (The Four Immeasurables). They also appear in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras as one of the many practices that settle mind.

Sometimes referred to as "The Four Faces of Love," these teachings help us to foreground love in all our encounters... with ourselves, loved ones, community members, and even people that we don't particularly like.

As part of our summer series of practices, Jen is going to share 3 of the four "Divine Abodes," starting with metta (loving-kindness). In this practice, we're training up the capacity to tap into our shared humanity and awaken goodwill towards others.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

07/07/2023

This summer, we're taking a hiatus from releasing discussion episodes. Travel plans being what they are, it was going to be a challenge to get together.

But we aren't leaving you hanging! Join us for bi-weekly practices that you can practice wherever you are. No props necessary.

Annie kicks it off with an invitation to use your immediate surroundings - however mundane - to awaken to the present moment.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

23/06/2023

In the last of our series on the less common practices of the First Foundation of Mindfulness (Mindfulness of the Body), Jen shares a practice of contemplating the four elements of the body: earth, water, fire, and air.

Because everything in the manifest world contains these elements, this practice helps us to embody interconnectedness. We're also encouraged to soften our sense of exceptionalism. We are, after all, just this.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

10/06/2023

Could you imagine a yoga class without postures? In fact, millions of dedicated yoga practitioners don't practice asana at all.

In this episode, Annie and Jen discuss ways to engage with the teachings separate from asana, drawing on guidance from the "Bhagavad Gita" and their own experiences.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

30/05/2023

Check our our latest guided practice.

In this variation of Body Scanning, Jen shares a mindful exploration of the Skin, Flesh, & Bones of the body.

This practice, appearing in the Buddha's First Foundation of Mindfulness, helps us to become less attached to idealized versions of our body, ushering an acceptance of change that is inevitable in the body.

🎧 http://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com

12/05/2023

We are thrilled to welcome Sarah Powers, author and co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, back to the show to talk about embodying the qualities of love and compassion.

Sarah was the perfect guest for this topic as compassion is such a central theme in her teachings. Throughout the sweeping conversation, Sarah helps trace the line between formal practice and love and compassion as an orientation towards living life.

Notable touchpoints include:

~ why starting a practice with self-compassion sets the mood for what's to come
~ an attitude of wonder vs imposing a strict structure on our practice
~ yoga practice as a container for meeting our full selves
~ getting comfortable with discomfort
~ the pressure to perform our best selves
~ are we practicing for ourselves or others?
~ how to be in touch with others' pain without attempting to carry it for them
~ being with the tumult in our world without drowning in it

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/41z6HvL

03/03/2023

Well, that was unexpected! We had a few setbacks in our offline lives that kicked our fresh, New Year scheduling efforts out the door. But we are still here and are excited to get back on track with you.

Fresh off the presses for March is Jen's new guided practice series on explorations of Mindfulness of the Body. Pulled from teachings in the Buddha's Four Foundations of Mindfulness, our hope is that cultivating mindfulness through the body will help you to find grounded stability and continuity in your connection to the present moment.

In this first of five practices, you'll explore Mindfulness of Body Posture, a teaching that can be transferred to any shape whether you're standing, sitting, lying on the beach, or even in a yoga posture. Jen uses Half Butterfly, a simple and accessible Yin Yoga posture in this meditation.

Let us know what you think!

🎧 http://bit.ly/3KYyrFp

06/02/2023

Have you heard the latest guided practice from Annie {} yet?

In this brief and potent meditation, learn to gently return to a centered place no matter how unchecked your mind may feel.

🎧 now on your fav app: http://bit.ly/3X6u9OS

Make sure to subscribe to get all our discussion episodes and guided practices. Jen's {} on deck for the next series of practices.

06/01/2023

We are back from a hiatus to bring you a perfectly-timed guided practice for the New Year with Annie {}.

Annie was inspired by the recent breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology and beautifully makes the connection between how focus (somewhat paradoxically) creates expansive radiance.

We're back this new year with our more normal cadence of publishing every two weeks where one week is a practice and the other a conversation with Annie and Jen ().

Don't forget to subscribe on your fav podcast app: https://bit.ly/3vMEMLw

23/11/2022

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US, a day that kicks off a long holiday season that ends in January for some. It's a time of celebratory gatherings with loved ones and friends. And, sometimes, we find ourselves in the company of people whose values and beliefs don't match ours. Or among people who we find emotionally activating.

Whether you're here in the US or around the world, we hope this practice of making room for others with Annie helps you root yourself in the present moment while inviting spacious, peaceful presence to guide you.

🎧 on your favorite app: http://bit.ly/3VjrwZt

11/11/2022

In our continued exploration of the embodied qualities of yoga practice, Annie {} and Jen {.yoga} explore the nuances of Courage and how that fuels Practice.

We also share our hibernation practices in the run-up to winter.

🎧 Listen on your favorite app: http://bit.ly/3USrbNb

14/10/2022

Even though we dropped our conversation episode a little late this month, we didn't want you to have to wait for the next guided meditation. Here ya go, a wonderful gift from Annie {}

This month, reframe distracting thoughts by laying a simple and straightforward path back to simple breath.

🎧 Listen on your favorite app: https://bit.ly/3CwgyrH

13/10/2022

We're back from a short hiatus with a look at quiet and attention, two of Annie's 12 Embodiments of Yoga.

We cover a lot of ground from inner spaciousness, meeting emotions with compassion, quietude in relationship, beginners mind, and what is quality attention. We also raise an important question: is hanging out at a coffeeshop doing nothing creepy?

🎧 Listen on your favorite app: https://bit.ly/3TgvLUD

15/09/2022

Annie Moyer is back with with a new practice! This is a soothing and skillful exploration of how the body feels sound through the language of subtle vibration.

Get comfy and hit play.

🎧 on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/3dmtgk7

01/09/2022

We're excited about the latest episode as we examine the latest buzz word in the movement and self-development world: embodiment.

Is this just a trend? We look at what embodiment means through the lenses of spirituality, philosophy, and psychology with the hope that we can all better scrutinize how this term is getting worked into different offerings.

Curious what you think? Is "embodiment" getting diluted in the way "mindfulness" has? What are you seeing out there where you are?

Listen to this episode and more on your fav app: https://bit.ly/3COHXqs

18/08/2022

In our fifth and final yin short, Jen () shares offers some relief for the upper back, a common area of tension.

This practice also offers much-needed support for the lungs while calling on the harmonious qualities of the metal element including: courage, confidence, and perseverance.

Throughout the practice, she'll also help you mindfully attend to your breath as a way of gathering and calming the mind.

🎧 on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/3mK6jss

04/08/2022

In this month's conversation, Annie and Jen are exploring the question: who's the real teacher in the yoga room? To put another way, how do we balance listening to our own inner guidance with that of the person standing at the front of the room?

The discussion spans a range or themes around agency, autonomy and what's the purpose of the teacher in spiritual life and practice.

We hope you enjoy and please let us know what you think about the relationship between student and teacher.

🎧 on your favorite app: https://bit.ly/3zTGmxV

21/07/2022

In our fourth Yin Short, Jen skillfully and tenderly guides you through a sequence of postures for the thighs and back. Because the thighs, in particular, can be a challenging target area, she also offers nervous system support with gentle breath work and visualization.

This practices calls on the qualities of the earth element (connected to spleen and stomach) such as: stability, centeredness, and coherence.

🎧 on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/3tzfHTk

08/07/2022

How do we stay safe while practicing asana? Follow closely to alignment principles or follow the why of the pose?

Jen () and Annie have a different educational foundation which we hope invites an interesting and nuanced discussion on this decade-long debate. They also dive into deeper questions around the overall purpose of asana and how Instagram yogis are impacting that understanding.

🎧 on your favorite app: https://bit.ly/3P9neRT

23/06/2022

Check out Jen's () third Yin Short, this one for the upper chest and arms.

Physically, this is a great antidote to desk posture, Energetically, this practices supports the heart, which oversees the inner workingss of the whole body-mind. When the heart is harmonious, inner peacefulness, connection, and good mental faculties are are more possible.

Jen also offers some mindful guidance into the emotional domain of the heart , encouraging you to become more familiar with the feelings that arise when we practice, holding whatever arises in a compassionate container.

🎧 on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/3OdqgDs

09/06/2022

Check out our latest episode where we ~ Annie Moyer () and Jen O'Sullivan () ~ unpack sutra 2.33 from the "Yoga Sutras of Patanjali."

This sutra often serves as the basis for many yoga class truisms we take at face value such as practicing the poses we hate or leaving negativity at the door.

But what does this sutra really tell us about transforming our thinking? Is it even possible to just think you way out of negativity?

The answer is, as always, somewhere in the middle. We hope this conversation gets you thinking not only about how you approach your practice but also how nuanced the pithy statements in the Yoga Sutras can be.

🎧 on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/3MzOaYS

26/05/2022

Jen's back with a nice and sweet practice for the inner and outer thighs. Even if these aren't usually stiff areas for you, the energetic benefits are worth taking a look at.

Whenever you target the inner thighs, you're touching on all three lower body Yin channels - super nourishing for kidneys, liver, and spleen. The outer hip is the domain of the gall bladder, which makes this whole set nourishing for the wood element.

🎧 on your favorite app: https://bit.ly/3sTE4L5

For a timelapse video of this sequence, check out our IG profile: https://www.instagram.com/skillfulmeanspodcast/

12/05/2022

Up now on the pod: Jen and Annie explore the friction between consciousness and form and how to balance the needs of a physical body with the higher spiritual pursuits of our practice. Are we too enamored with the body or occupied by transcendence?

🎧 on your favorite podcast app: https://bit.ly/3yDRKOl

Skillful Means Podcast

15/09/2023

15/09/2023

01/09/2023

18/08/2023

18/08/2023

04/08/2023

21/07/2023

07/07/2023

23/06/2023

10/06/2023

30/05/2023

12/05/2023

03/03/2023

06/02/2023

06/01/2023

23/11/2022

11/11/2022

14/10/2022

13/10/2022

15/09/2022

01/09/2022

18/08/2022

04/08/2022

21/07/2022

08/07/2022

23/06/2022

09/06/2022

26/05/2022

12/05/2022

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