Inquire Within Podcast

If you turn on the evening news or think back to the attacks of 9/11, your impressions of Islam and the Muslims who practice it are probably a bit slanted.  It is often-times difficult for us to understand the true nature of Islam when our only exposure to it is the radical Islamic fundamentalism espoused by Osama bin Laden.    In this podcast, I am speaking with Sameena Usman about Islam in an effort to better understand the fastest growing religion in the world today.  Sameena was born and raised in San Diego, CA, graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Political Science, minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Communication from San Jose State University.  She is currently the Public Relations Coordinator for the Northern California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). Sync This Podcast With Your iPod Email Sameena Show Notes Understanding Islam by Thomas W. LippmanAmerican Public Opinion Poll (PDF)Hate Crime StatsFatwa Against Terrorism (PDF)Condemnation Against TerrorExplore the Li

Jen Zias had struggled with her weight since she was a child.  After trying just about every diet she could find without lasting success, she found yoga and through this practice has been able to manage her weight in a safe and effective way.  Now a yoga teacher herself, she has developed a class for larger folks called, Yoga At Large.  In this podcast, Jen and I discuss the benefits of yoga for people who are overweight.  Be sure to visit Jen's Website and email her with your questions and comments.  Also check out Jen's amazing new CD, Take Me With YouShow NotesA Gentle Way YogaBig YogaYoga At Large (Seattle)Big Ass Yoga Sync this Podcast with your iPod

In this talk Darren explains the Bhagavad Gita, a book at the very heart of yoga philosophy to students in training to become yoga teachers.  The talk is then followed with a lively discussion based on questions asked by the students.Read The Message of the Gita by Mohandas K. GandhiTranslations of the Bhagavad GitaThe Bhagavad Gita  translated by Stephen MitchellThe Bhagavad Gita  translated by Eknath EaswaranAutomatically download this talk into your iPod- Click Here

In this talk Darren explains the basic tenets of yoga philosophy to students in training to become yoga teachers. Topics such as Atman, Maya, The Yoga Sutras and much more are covered. The talk is then followed with a lively discussion based on questions asked by the students.

In early 1990, I stumbled into my first yoga class with a woman named Ellie Brown. That fateful day changed the course of my life. In this podcast I sit down with my first yoga teacher and talk with her about the early days of yoga in the United States as well as her own journey of healing and self discovery which led from yoga to various forms of bodywork. Ellie is one of several people in my life to whom I owe so much of what I have today. In this podcast, I'm sure you will see why! SHOW NOTES: If you would like to contact Ellie Brown, you can email her or call her office at 860-599-3373. Her yoga studio and healing center is located in South Eastern Connecticut. During the interview, the following teachers and healers were discussed: Patricia Walden (yoga teacher) Judith Hanson Lasater (yoga teacher) Bonnie Pruden and her book on Myotherapy John Upledger and CranioSacral Therapy Barbara Brennan and her book, Hands of Light.

Meditation has been promoted by every spiritual tradition throughout history, and now modern science is talking it up as an important and effective tool for mental and physical health.  In this interview, I ask Jonathan Reynolds, author of the just published book, Learning to Listen, about the practice of meditation and how it can be used as a powerful tool for transformation and healing. SHOW NOTES  During the interview, the following people and books were mentioned. Charles Timm-Ballard The Path of Least Resistance by Robert Fritz The Bhagavad-Gita Mahabharata Jen Burk Einstein Kashmir Shaivism Spirit Rock Green Gulch Esalen

Yoga and Pilates are two forms of movement therapy that are taking western culture by storm.  In this interview, I ask well-known yoga and Pilates teacher Michael Watson about the ways in which these two disciplines differ as well as how they can complement each other for greater overall health.    To learn more about Michaelâs work you can visit his website.  Michael and I are also part of The Yoga Intensive where you can learn to deepen your yoga and work toward teacher certification.

In this interview with actress Jeri Lynn Cohen, we explore her use of yoga to complement conventional cancer treatments with great success.  Jerri Lynn welcomes your emails. You can also visit her website.

In life it is easy to lose faith when things get dark, but all the great spiritual stories from East to West remind us that the dark times are necessary for us to be reborn in a new and more evolved way. By looking at three great stories from the Yogic, Jewish and Christian traditions, Darren explores the concept of spiritual rebirth in a new way that is applicable for our modern times.

Understanding one's purpose in life is the key to finding health and happiness. It is also how a spiritual seeker can fulfill his or her role in the healing of the world. In this talk, Darren explores the process of listening to that inner voice in order to find one's own personal path.

Spiritual practice is difficult even on a yoga mat or a meditation cushion; keeping the mind quiet and the heart open within the context of human relationships can seem impossible. There is no area of life where our spiritual practice is more important than in that of our interactions with each other. In this talk, Darren explores human relationships from a yogic point of view and looks at ways that we can make them a spiritual practice in and of themselves.

God is a very touchy subject for many in the yoga world. Many of us have found our way to the yoga mat because the religion of our childhood left a bad aftertaste. Although yoga is not a religion, it does encourage a relationship with a higher power. In this talk, Darren explores the nature of God through the lens of Hindu mythology. By looking at the concept of God in a new way, old patterns and beliefs can be replaced by healthy and well-adjusted ones.

In this talk Darren explores the idea that everyday people living in the modern world can live a mystical and deeply spiritual life by using ancient techniques such as yoga in a more modern way. The talk is based loosely on his second book, Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic.