Yoga Beyond Poses – Mary Richards

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit ancientfutures.substack.comWhat might yoga look like if it we weren't making shapes? As Mary Richards explains in Teach People, Not Poses, the purpose of practice is self-inquiry, so one way to start is by getting more familiar with physical form, instead of contorting to follow instructions.Mary’s approach is down-to-earth, yet shaped by decades of study. A self-described “anatomy nerd”, she’s also guided by philosophy, having first encountered yoga via the Bhagavad Gītā as a teenager. Among other topics, our conversation explores:* The extent to which everyone’s body is different* How a fixation on postural alignment causes injury* Why many modern classes teach unhelpful methods* Which specific āsanas might be worth abandoning* Whether one-to-one teaching makes most sense* How physical practice unwinds mental issues* What it means to be the “Sith Lord of Yoga”Mary’s book is published by Shambhala, and she’s offering a webinar via Yogacampus (on January 26) that shares some techniques for getting grounded in gravity...I like how Mary call herself a facilitator. I’m doing more facilitation too – in the form of a men’s group that starts on Sunday, and a philosophy immersion in February.If you enjoy the conversation, and would like to fuel more, please consider subscribing or buy me a coffee... All donations are greatly appreciated!

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