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Robbie Wood 6/18/26 Robbie Wood 6/18/26

Build Community by Seeing the Divine in Yourself and Others

Using Namaste, “I bow to the divine in you,” as a touchstone, Jeremy David Engels shows how recognizing the divine in ourselves and others is a powerful principle for building connection and community.

Dr. Jeremy David Engels is Liberal Arts Professor of Communication and Ethics at Pennsylvania State University. He is also a longtime teacher of mindfulness, meditation, and yoga, having studied in both India and the United States. He is an award-winning scholar, and has published numerous books and articles about democracy, community building, deliberation, and peace, including including On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World, and the book we are discussing today, Living Namaste: A Practical Guide to Mindfulness, Yoga, and Building Community.

🔗 Learn more about Jeremy and his work: JeremyDavidEngels.com

🎧 Listen to Jeremy’s recent episode on The Yoga Hour: Mindful Democracy: Declaring Our Interdependence

Dr. Trujillo’s Comments

“This episode with Jeremy David Engels focused on Namaste, the Sanskrit word that means ‘I bow to the divine in you’ in a discussion that explored how to live Namaste rather than just have it as a saying in a yoga class. We discussed Namaste as a practice: how to recognize the divine within ourselves; how to also recognize it in others, even those who are not part of our tribe; and how to bring this practice forward to build community and connection. Our conversation ranged from mindfulness meditation, cultural appropriation, and appreciating the miracles of life to how to build beloved community. I recommend this episode for those who are looking to bring their yoga practice off the mat and into the world.”

The Yoga Hour Team Comments

“I feel this podcast with Jeremy David Engels and Dr. Laurel Trujillo is very timely in the climate of the world today. Jeremy begins with the concept of living Namaste as a practice of honor. Seeing the divine in ourselves and others builds community and connection. The discussion continues exploring how yoga is a practice of mindfulness – being into any moment in your life. I love the vision Jeremy presented of Miracle Gazing: noticing the miracle of this existence and waking up to the large and small miracles in our lives. This is definitely a podcast listeners won’t want to miss. It promises hope through our connections with other people and community.”

Robbie Wood 6/6/26 Robbie Wood 6/6/26

Explore the Inner Path: Kriya Yoga for Turbulent Times

Can peace be found amidst chaos? Senior Kriya Yoga teacher Ann Hayes discusses the inner path of Kriya Yoga as a refuge of light, steadiness, and soul guidance. Return to the center where true clarity and strength reside.

Rev. Ann Hayes is an ordained minister, meditation teacher, and spiritual counselor. She offers classes and retreats focusing on spiritual awakening. Ann has been studying in the Kriya Yoga tradition since 1998 and was ordained to teach in 2007 by her guru, Yogacharya Ellen Grace O’Brian. Ann serves on the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment board of directors, is a retired nurse and former executive director and COO of several health-related nonprofit organizations. With her husband Rev. Jeff Collins, she is the co-founder of the CSE affiliate center, Santa Rosa Kriya Yoga Meditation Group which offers weekly online meditation to people locally, nationally, and internationally. The group was established in 2014. Ann also served as an assistant producer of The Yoga Hour from 2016 until earlier this year.

🧘 Meditate with Ann and learn more: https://www.santarosameditation.org/

🔗 Discover the upcoming Kriya Yoga retreat with Yogacharya O’Brian at Center for Spiritual Enlightenment (in-person or online)

Dr. Trujillo’s Comments

“My conversation with Rev. Ann Hayes is an excellent overview of the teachings of Kriya Yoga and how they can be helpful to us in turbulent times. We introduced listeners to the long history of Kriya Yoga as a spiritual path that is experiential, time-tested, and effective in helping us to experience our true nature. Our conversation focused on essential practices of Kriya Yoga as set forth in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, such as meditation, self-discipline, self-study, and self-surrender. We also gave an overview of the four F’s of meditation: Foster, Focus, Flow, and Finish. This is an episode that will be helpful to all in understanding more about Kriya Yoga and the peace that it can bring to us in challenging times.”

The Yoga Hour Listener Comments

“I really appreciated this episode for the clarity it brings about Kriya Yoga to seekers of an inner path. The dialogue with Rev. Ann Sarasvati Hayes begins by clarifying that Kriya Yoga is not a religion but a deeper knowing of God or Supreme Consciousness as our center, a guide in life. Kriya = actions. Yoga = Wholeness/Union. Kriya Yoga = Conscious Living. This is a perfect episode to share with those curious about Kriya Yoga and/or contemplating joining a Kriya Yoga retreat. It is also a wonderful reminder for those of us on the path for many years of how these ancient teachings are still relevant today.”

Robbie Wood 4/11/26 Robbie Wood 4/11/26

Welcome the Abundance of the Sacred Feminine

Erica Bassani takes us on a journey into the sacred through the voices of women across spiritual traditions. Through these intimate conversations we explore devotion, resilience, and the balance of strength and surrender in modern life.

Erica Bassani is a writer based in Italy. A graduate of the Academy of Storytelling in Turin, she spent a year living in a Theravadan Buddhist monastery at the age of 23. Since then, she has turned to female spiritual teachers from diverse traditions to help her navigate her inner journey. She created the Women Awakening Project—an initiative that highlights the wisdom of female spiritual role models and explores spiritual practice through the lens of women’s experiences—to share their wisdom and create a bridge between generations of seekers.

📚 Read the book discussed in this episode: Women in Love with the Divine

🔗 Learn more about Erica: https://www.womenawakeningproject.com/

✨ Discover Erica’s work on Facebook and Instagram

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: This conversation with Erica Bassani about her book Women in Love with the Divine will enrich listeners understanding of the divine feminine and bring wisdom to all, regardless of gender. We discussed her interviews with women leaders from Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, and Jewish traditions, illuminating the importance of balance between our masculine and feminine sides as illustrated by the Taoist symbol for the balance between yin and yang. We discussed that in Buddhism, wisdom is feminine, and that there can be real strength in softness. I found this conversation to be rich and thought provoking, and recommend it to listeners.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This conversation really flowed well and allowed Dr. Trujillo and Erica Bassani to discuss a number of beliefs and practices related to the role of the feminine in spiritual wisdom and awakening. So many great takeaways for any gender.

Robbie Wood 3/27/26 Robbie Wood 3/27/26

Discover the Vast Ocean of Yoga

Amy Landry, author of The Ocean of Yoga, shares how the teachings of Yoga are much more than sequences of postures. With insight and compassion, she honors the sacred, ancient philosophy while opening up the living wisdom of Yoga.

Amy Landry is a registered senior yoga teacher, ayurvedic practitioner, mentor, podcast host, and founder of Shruti School of Yoga. She is known for her sold-out international retreats and has contributed extensively to Australian Yoga Journal, OM Yoga & Lifestyle magazine, YOGA magazine UK, and Nature & Health magazine. Amy has presented across Australia at Wanderlust, Evolve Yoga festival, Byron Spirit Fest, and Ekam Yoga festival.

Learn more about Amy Landry at her website: amylandry.com

Follow Amy Landry on social media: Facebook and Instagram

Find the book discussed in this episode: The Ocean of Yoga

DR. TRUJILLO’S COMMENTS: My conversation with Amy Landry, author of the new book The Ocean of Yoga: A Complete Guide to Living the Teachings, Tradition, and Practice dove deeply into the ocean that is yoga. We discussed some history of yoga, the importance of prana, the five maya koshas, and how we can deepen our practice through our understanding of these more subtle aspects of ourselves. As Amy writes in her book: “Yoga can teach us to constantly experience an awe toward life, both the physical and subtle.” I particularly appreciated Amy’s advice to have patience, and to approach our practice lovingly. Listen in to this episode, and dive more deeply into your practice of yoga.

THE YOGA HOUR TEAM COMMENTS: This conversation with Amy Landry highlighted for me the depth of yoga that is more than the physical asana yoga practice. Yoga is so much more and the clarity about practices are helpful. The pancha koshas are discussed in detail, and for me, one of the helpful topics was on sadhana or daily spiritual practice. We can incorporate meditation, mantra, japa, puja and pranayama to daily practice while honoring the seasons of the year, the elements and the vedic calendar for festivities and worship. The encouragement to practice, whether you are new to yoga or a long time practitioner, will inspire.