Yoga is Dead Podcast

24/03/2022

IG Live happening on Monday, March 28th

is hosting Tejal and Jesal for a special conversation about our ebook: The Original Godmothers of Yoga. This book started as an email series, but as we started to compile the stories together for an ebook, we discovered more and more women who's yoga journies we felt just had to be shared.

But don't get us wrong, this isn't some dry herstory book. This book is filled with commentary and questions that ask you to read between the lines; to imagine what choices these women had (if any); and to think critically about how patriarchy influences the retelling of women's stories then and now. It's a book about the struggle for liberation throughout the ages. And we provide a space for you to reflect on your own story along the way.

Join us on Monday, March 28th at 7pm EST as we go live on the and IG accounts. Plus we'll be giving away 2 FREE copies of the book 🙌🏾

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[ID: Poster features headshots of Jesal and Tejal. We are both holding mugs in our hands and looking out a window. Image text reads: abcdyogi presents IG Live; Jesal Parikh, Author; Tejal Patel, Author; Mon, March 28; 7pm EST; @ ]

21/03/2022

Mark your calendar! We're going live with

Next Monday, Tejal and Jesal are going to dive into our ebook: The Original Godmothers of Yoga. We'll be talking about why we wrote the ebook and why we think YOU should read it. This book is for you if you're interested in:

📚 Yoga history & philosophy
📚 Intersectional feminism
📚 Social justice
📚 Poetry
📚 Badass subversive women
📚 Stories that make you think

Join us on Monday, March 28th at 7pm EST as we go live on the and IG accounts. Plus we'll be giving away 2 FREE copies of the book 🙌🏾





[ID: Poster features the cover page of the 'Original Godmothers of Yoga' ebook along with headshots of me and Tejal. Image text reads: IG Live; Yoga is Dead x abcdyogi; Mon, March 28; 4pm PST / 7pm EST; @ ]

15/03/2022

Save the date! Join us as we talk all things Original Godmothers of Yoga e-book together, March 28!

🌟 March book talk and takeovers 🌟

3/15 Sunaina - on the intersection of yoga and modeling/artivism

3/25 - Hope - on yoga and creativity

3/28 We ♥ Books: Original Godmothers of Yoga
4pm PST / 7pm EST

Tejal Patel and Jesal Parikh in conversation about their e-book Original Godmothers of yoga, their experiences being South Asian authors, intersectionality and more.

There will be a live give away of a copy of their e-book! Click the link in our bio to get your reminder email to join us on IG for this chat. We can't wait!

3/30 Trishna - On living and practicing yoga as a part of heritage



glastris.creative

19/01/2022

Hi All,

We're a few days away from our intimate conversation between Wellness with Wambui and Michelle Cassandra Johnson where we'll start to unpack some of the reasons why there is tension and lack of trust between Black and South Asian communities. We'll get into a lot more but of course, you'll need to reserve a ticket to get access.

While this conversation really speaks to what Black and South Asian people have been feeling, we think it also provides a ton of insight to anyone who leads spaces in yoga and needs to be aware of the complex dynamics that can often be present in team work.

Join us on January 24th from 12:30pm - 2:30pm EST for this important and revealing dialogue. We're offering sliding scale pricing for this event:

Discount Tier $35, Community Tier $45, Contributor Tier $55

https://tejalyoga.as.me/BBSolidarity

13/01/2022

Event Alert 🚨

Our first event for 2022 is all about Black and Brown Solidarity in Yoga Land!

We're thrilled to finally be having this conversation publicly because tbh, these conversations have been going on behind the scenes in our communities for a long time. In this intimate conversation between Wambui, Michelle, and the two of us (Jesal and Tejal), we hope to unpack some of the reasons why there is tension and lack of trust between Black and South Asian communities and how we can work to create greater understanding and allyship amongst our people.

Join us alongside on January 24th at 12:30pm EST

We're offering sliding scale pricing for this event:
Discount Tier $35
Community Tier $45
Contributer Tier $55

Link in bio for tix 🎟

[ID: Poster features photos of the four speakers: Tejal Patel, Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Wambui Njuguna and me, Jesal Parikh. Heading reads "Black and Brown Solidarity in Yoga Land." Details at the bottom read "Jan 24, 2022; 12:30-2:30pm EST]

22/12/2021

2021 brought up a lot: opportunities to collaborate, educate, and learn together, reminders for deep rest, awareness of burnout, and the chance to ask for more support from each other. Gratitude comes in many forms, so if you’ve appreciated any of the free education we were able to deliver in such a complex year, drop us a tip in our new “tip jar” here: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/yoga-is-dead-tips
Tips are never expected but always appreciated.

Here’s a brief recap of the year!

⭐We went to The Afterlife, where we broke down all of Season One with 6 amazing guest hosts
⭐We offered our Act Against Appropriation workshop to even more groups and on-demand participants. And took part in trainings with Return Yoga, Mindful Strength, and Susanna Barkataki
⭐We created and distributed our first ever eBook (link is still in our bio if you want to send one as a gift!)
⭐We provided lots of free public education via our series here on IG and in our Newsletter
⭐We worked in partnership to provide even MORE free public education that you can find on our website. Some of these partnerships were:
WUNC
Invisible India
Business Insider
The Cut
2BGTAE (2 Black Girls Talk About Everything)

If you want to read more about our year, we'll be detailing it in our next newsletter here: https://yogaisdead.ck.page

Happy Holidays and Happy New year til then!

21/12/2021

One thing that Tejal and I were reflecting on was how much HAPPENED this year, even while we prioritized rest, taking time off, and working at a sustainable pace. We saw a lot of change with the ongoing pandemic, our evolving online businesses and teaching platforms, and everything else in our personal lives, during 2021.

One of these changes was with new Yoga Is Dead Team members this past year! WE really believe that if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

So, from the whole team, we want to take some time to thank you for staying with us this whole time.

You can read more about our past year by signing up for our newsletter:
https://yogaisdead.ck.page

And if you want to send us gratitude in the form of our tip jar:
https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/yoga-is-dead-tips
Tips are never expected, but always appreciated for the work of this year and the year to come.

-Jesal

20/12/2021

As Jesal and I are reflecting on this past year, we’re sending you GRATITUDE!
When we started the Yoga is Dead Podcast (2019 was when now?), we wanted to jumpstart critical conversations, elevate oppressed voices and perspectives and expose issues of cultural appropriation.

We were tired of talking about all this behind closed doors while continuing to experience harm in the yoga industry.

After White Women Killed Yoga came out, we didn’t know who would listen. YOU did. As we reflect on all that’s gone down since our first ep launch, we want to thank you for supporting, listening, sharing, and acting on the messages.

Our 2021 reflections and more will be in the next newsletter:
https://yogaisdead.ck.page

Ooh and gratitude comes in many ways, you can now leave us a tip in our new “Tip Jar”-- tips are appreciated but never expected.
https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/yoga-is-dead-tips

-Tejal

05/11/2021

📚🔑 Quality work takes time. The Original Godmothers of Yoga are on their way!

We've been back in our writing nook to put the finishing touches on our first ever eBook. This has meant:

✳️ Spending more time on South Asian representation (both ethnically and geographically, as well as across yoga lineages)
✳️ Making sure that our sources are cited more clearly
✳️ Ensuring that the book meets our accessibility standards
✳️ Bulking up our reflection questions
✳️ And including close to 90 pages rather than our original 30 as we are expanding this content!!

Don't miss out on your pre-order! Secure your copy here today: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

01/11/2021

Sharada Devi, another OG BOSS. She’s a complicated one there’s so much for you to learn about!

🩸 Sharada Devi busted myths and prejudices that menstruation was considered ‘ashuchi’ or impure, prejudices that were observed in almost every household of India. She protested these taboos and wouldn’t abide by them in her own life and practice.

We’re still combatting these untruths: 😍 ICON 😍 nailed it when she said-- “Why are girls in some parts of the world still missing school because of their menstrual cycles, or made to feel that a woman’s menstruation and sexuality are unacceptable?” -Michelle Obama

You can learn more about period stigma in the exceptional Oscar winning documentary:

Read more about Sharada Devi in the OG Godmothers of Yoga e-Book out soon.
https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order



[Image ID: The image contains a black and white photo of Sarada, seated in all white. She is framed in a hot pink background with collage style letters underneath her, spelling her name.]

29/10/2021

Godmothers of Yoga are still living today. Our new eBook may jump back centuries, but the spirit of yoga is alive in women like whose powerful composition and voice sings out loud and clear as she unfurls the story of Janabai-- an OG Godmother you can read more about in our first ever eBook.

As Shruthi says in her description, “A Janabai abhang that deeply touched me when I first read it many months ago. Janabai talks about Vitthal coming softly behind her, and helping her grind grain, erasing dualities as she finds a companion in him.” Shruthi specializes in Nirguni, Bhakti and Sufi Music

🔎 Learn more about Janabai at the eBook purchase link: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

[Image ID: Shruthi and Vedanth sit near the ground with a blue and orange sky in the background as they sing and play]

28/10/2021

For today’s , and in honor of Janabai, Sant Soyarabai, Muktabai, Mirabai-- the Bhakti women in our OG Godmothers of Yoga eBook-- we want to jump back to an article Jesal wrote with called “You’ve Heard of Kirtan, but Have you Heard of Bhajan?” They talk about the phenomenon of they refer to as “Bhaktiland” where all things Indian become cool… unless Indian people are doing them. They also bring us back to the real meaning of Bhakti Yoga:

“Bhakti encouraged individuals to take back their spiritual agency by worshipping in their own languages and in their own ways...It was a vibrant example of yoga as social justice.”

What do you think is the greatest superpower of the women of Bhakti? Spiritual transcendence? Resistance of caste and gender? Or are they one in the same?

Read the full article, and pre-order our eBook to read so much more about the power of the women of the Bhakti movement.

[Image ID of preview pages: A Yoga Journal article page says “You’ve heard of Kirtan, but have you heard of Bhajan?” The second page is an image of 3 Sikh women-- elders-- singing holy hymns, in procession on the birthday of Guru Nanak on November 2, 2017 in Hyderabad. They are in orange, heads covered, and one holds a microphone.]

https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/kirtan-bhajan-bhakti-yoga/

These devotional gatherings—tied to Bhakti Yoga—bring family and friends together. Learn their history, significance (and how not to appropriate them).

27/10/2021

Our FIRST EVER E-BOOK is over 90 pages of Badass, Brown yoga history that you didn't learn in your colonized teacher training program... complete with stories, images, reflection questions, and links to more reading and resources!

And because we got such a great response to our FREE gift offer last week, we want to give you a chance to pre-order today and receive our Spotify Podcast Interviews playlist. It’s over 30 hours of our various podcast appearances since 2019! We share so many behind the scenes stories and experiences only available on that playlist!

🎧HEAD TO THE LINK HERE to get the Interview playlist gift: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/the-original-godmothers-of-yoga-plus-the-play

.

26/10/2021

Inspired by our release of the OG Godmothers of Yoga e-Book, you answered our question: “What do you see when you imagine a world that uplifts Black and Brown practitioners of yoga?” Here are just some of the replies... Hit up the link in our bio to preorder your copy of the e-Book and receive more of our reflection questions to consider.

25/10/2021

We asked... you answered. The numbers for our Instagram poll say it all. This is one reason why we are writing our e-Book! Get your copy at the link in our bio!!

24/10/2021

One of the most exciting things about creating and producing our own eBook was that we knew we needed to make space for YOU! That’s why we filled out the pages of the book with space for reflections, thoughts and commentary. !

📝 Some of the questions and reflection topics include:
-Times when WOC have been dismissed
-Reflecting on internal vs. external accomplishments
-Expanding your definition of “matriarch”
-Noticing your Western bias creeping in as you read the book (if it does!

Join our network for svadhyaya/self-study by visiting the link in our bio-- get the eBook delivered to your inbox today!

[Image ID: 2 white boxes with mint framing each have a reflection question above them. The first asks: Where might you expand your definition of Matriarchy? The second asks: What practices might you invite into your life that examine our roles in society, or that even smash the patriarchy?]

22/10/2021

In honor of our first eBook, The OG Godmothers of Yoga, we want to hear from YOU now. Let us know below:

✅ ❌✅
--Did you learn about Indra Devi from your yoga teacher training or community? YES/NO
--Did you learn about any of the South Asian godmothers in your yoga teacher training or community? YES/NO
--What do you imagine when you see a world that uplifts South Asian Godmothers of yoga, and the Black and Brown practitioners of today?

Have you pre-ordered your copy of the eBook yet?? Visit here to pre-order: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

[Image ID: On a blue background are the words “Do you want to take our poll?” 1% say no. and 99% say yes, as indicated by pink % bars 😊 )

21/10/2021

Maybe you read some of our Matriarchs+ posts or emails ( if you’re feeling nostalgic and want to look back.) That was then… but NOW the eBook will include even more OG women like Lal Ded, Andal, Ardha-Tryambaka, and Akka Mahadevi. Part of what led us here was checking our own blind spots-- who were we not including within the diverse array of South Asian Godmothers from various yoga lineages??

We could have gone on and on with the learning and sharing-- there are just so many under-represented Yoga women throughout the years and an e-Book (even if it’s nearly 90 pages in length now!!) can only scratch the surface.

🖼️ 🎧📜

We’re also now including other new elements-- stories, images, links, poems and more-- that are giving us life as we share about the OG Godmothers of Yoga! We can’t wait to share with you. What are you waiting for? Visit the link here to reserve your copy: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

[Image ID: A picture of Lal Ded, a Kashmiri mystic of the Kashmir Shaivism school. In the illustration, she sits in her brown robe,holding a lotus flower in front of a tree and a body of water.]

20/10/2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zf5u8oGIo94

Godmothers of Yoga are still living today. Our eBook may jump back centuries, but the spirit of yoga is alive in women like whose powerful composition and voice sings out loud and clear as she unfurls the story of Janabai-- an OG Godmother you can read more about in our first ever eBook.

As Shruthi says in her description, “A Janabai abhang that deeply touched me when I first read it many months ago. Janabai talks about Vitthal coming softly behind her, and helping her grind grain, erasing dualities as she finds a companion in him.” Shruthi specializes in Nirguni, Bhakti and Sufi Music: http://www.shruthivishwanath.com/

🔎 Learn more about Janabai at the eBook purchase link here: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

[Image ID: Shruthi and Vedanth sit near the ground with a blue and orange sky in the background as they sing and play]

A Janabai abhang that deeply touched me when I first read it many months ago. Janabai talks about Vitthal coming softly behind her, and helping her grind gra...

13/10/2021

YOU’RE INVITED! Join Tejal for a read-aloud from our OG Godmothers of Yoga e-Book on IGTV Friday, October 15 at 11am ET! Do you have questions you hope that she’ll answer? Comment here so Tejal can answer on Friday the 15th.

[IMAGE ID: The first slide has a mint background and words “FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15th at 11a ET / 8a PST / 4p BST / 10:30p IST on IGTV: Tejal’s read-aloud & Q&A from our first ever eBook, The OG Godmothers of Yoga”. Our pink, round, Yoga is Dead circle logo is in the bottom corner. The second slide is also mint, with a picture of a smiling Tejal in a mint colored shirt and her long, black hair worn down.]

12/10/2021

Tejal’s on IGTV reading from the eBook!! The whole point of our OG Godmothers work is to continue critical conversations. These conversations include topics from our podcast, but really, we’re sharing from the days of Mirabai, Gosha, Chudala, Muktabai, and other South Asian women throughout history.

These powerful female-centered conversations are...
🤔Critiques about inequity and erasure!
🥳 Celebrations of unique voices!
🧑🏿‍🤝‍🧑🏿Conversations for everyone to hear!
AND we are sharing directly from the book this week. Save the date 10/15 at 11a ET / 8a PST / 4p BST / 10:30p IST and be sure to order your eBook before then!!
Order here: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

07/10/2021

Did you know there’s a grayscale/accessible printable version of The Godmothers of Yoga? For all purchasers, the e-Book will be sent out as digital download in BOTH a full color and a BW printer-friendly version, made with people with low-visibility in mind.

Our text will be high contrast, magnifiable and in a large, easy-to-read font. For those with Kindle, email the e-Book pdf to your Kindle email address:
➡️ On the Kindle mobile app, tap the "More"
➡️ Click "Settings" next to the gear icon
➡️ Look for "Send-to-Kindle Email Address"

Pre-order your copy/copies here: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

[Image ID: a white background contains an image of a cartoon woman with long black hair lunging in the corner of our eBook cover. It also includes the title, “THE ORIGINAL GODMOTHERS OF YOGA” in bold, black lettering in the center and the phrase “A Yoga Is Dead eBook” in white lettering over a black bar the upper right corner.”]

06/10/2021

Have you heard? For the next 24 hours, the Yoga Is Dead team is going to send out a Spotify playlist of our appearances on various podcasts since 2019! 🎧 Click here to get the gift: https://app.convertkit.com/products/22521/edit

*the playlist goes to all new and current eBook purchasers until end of tomorrow, Thursday 10/7. .

👂🏽After your ears get their fill, be on the lookout 👀 for the lesser-told stories of the OG yoga women who are giving us life ✨
Our FIRST EVER E-BOOK is over 40 pages of Badass, Brown yoga history stories that you didn't learn in your colonized teacher training program... complete with images, reflection questions, and links to more reading and resources! Reserve your copy today at the link in bio.

[IMAGE ID: A video scrolls through a playlist of podcasts featuring Tejal & Jesal, the including , .ca, and ]

05/10/2021

"I’M SPEAKING…" OK, so who are these bada@@ Original “Godmothers of Yoga” in our first ever Yoga Is Dead eBook?

One of them is Gargi -- the OG Godmother who may as well have said “I’m Speaking” ala at at the 2020 Vice Presidential debates. Gargi stood at a mostly-male debate stage at King Janaka’s celebratory/sacrificial bonfire in the Vedic era among MAJOR (male) egos. Even Yajnavalkya was there -- someone so entitled that he ordered one of his disciples to start taking the debate prize before the competition even began!

Neither Kamala ( ) nor Gargi’s experiences were the first… nor will it be the last time a WOC has had to assert her right to speak. It still feels like our voices are rarely heard, our presence is erased, and it feels like the weight of the world just to show up. But this is all the more reason we wanted to produce this book.

📚🐛Get the e-Book to learn more about Gargi and the other “Godmothers” at this link:
https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

[Image ID: VP Kamala Harris smiles while nodding her head many times and mouthing the words “I’m speaking” as she faces her unseen debate opponent at the 2020 VP debates. The second slide is an artist's depiction of Gargi, in profile, pouring a jug of water with trees in the background]

04/10/2021

We can't believe how many people have already pre-ordered our first eBook, THE ORIGINAL GODMOTHERS OF YOGA and are now going to have access to our writing. We hope we’ve covered our gratitude in our dedication 💖Join us by purchasing The Original Godmothers of Yoga at this link: https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order

✨We dedicate this e-book to the Black and Brown women decolonizing wellness in all the ways, especially right now, when it still feels like our voices are rarely heard, our presence is erased, and it feels like the weight of the world just to show up. We hear you. We see you. We continue to learn from you and walk alongside you. To all our readers and listeners, we hope that what we've compiled and shared here can inspire you on the path of equity, justice and honor in yoga. With this book, we aim to highlight the rich spiritual tradition and culturally rooted practice that has always been and will continue to be. ✨

[IMAGE ID: One a mint colored background, blue text expresses the following: “We dedicate this e-book to the Black and Brown women decolonizing wellness in all the ways, especially right now, when it still feels like our voices are rarely heard, our presence is erased, and it feels like the weight of the world just to show up. We hear you. We see you. We continue to learn from you and walk alongside you. To all our readers and listeners, we hope that what we've compiled and shared here can inspire you on the path of equity, justice and honor in yoga. With this book, we aim to highlight the rich spiritual tradition and culturally rooted practice that has always been and will continue to be.”]

28/09/2021

Huge trigger warning before you swipe or read any further: this content pertains to emotional and psychological abuse, cultural appropriation, and unethical personal/professional boundaries.

We posted about this in our stories and so many of you related, that we wanted to reshare here in our feed. Thank you for your vulnerability in naming the harm that this person has caused in various ways.

Head to Tatum’s page to read the whole article and see comments.

Repost
・・・
This feels really scary to do, but it's been a long time coming. Elena Brower spiritually and emotionally abused me. This is not a call out or a call in. I'm not even seeking accountability because I know better. I'm sharing this story for two reasons.

First, I want to find connection with other people who have been harmed by her. I know you're out there and I want you to know that what she did was wrong and you're not alone.

Secondly, if there is anyone who is new to Elena's circle, you should know what she's capable of. You deserve a better leader.

That being said, I don't want to be a leader in a movement of any kind because I'm not qualified to do that. I just want to live in Minneapolis and be an acupuncturist who leads super small workshops sometimes. If this reaches 10 people who feel seen or decide to divest from Elena's work after reading it, I will feel like I have done something good with the pain I have felt.

If you'd like to read the rest of this letter, the link is in my bio. Please make sure you have a safe place to read about this spiritual and emotional abuse.

I have her blocked on this platform because my mental health comes first, but I know she has people who look out for her and will likely come for me. I ask those of you who know me and believe me to hold me close if this blows up because I'm just one human and I'm doing my best to move through this. Thank you.

31/08/2021

🚨 Today is the last day to order🚨 the Original Godmothers of Yoga at half-off! Click the lInk below to access the presale order form!

We cannot wait to share more about these empowering matriarchs of yoga with you. And we want to hear from you too, what badass south asian women are empowering you and your practice these days?

https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order?promo=IGFOLLOWER

27/08/2021

Yoga books are just getting better and better don’t you think? We love to see it! You’ll find us on the growing list of authors sharing on how to dismantle supremacy culture in yoga.

We’re so excited to hear what you think about our first e-book: the Original Godmothers of Yoga. Presale is happening now and secures you a copy at half-off.

Act fast before August ends, cuz that’s when the price goes up!

https://yogaisdead.ck.page/products/original-godmothers-of-yoga-e-book-pre-order?promo=IGFOLLOWER