The dedicated yogi and founder of the Schoolof.yoga Joan Hyman discusses the foundation of her interest in yoga and her lifelong spiritual journey with Out of the Cloud’s host Anne V Mühlethaler.
First Joan shares her background growing up in Philadelphia and her journey into yoga, which she first encountered while pursuing a dance career. She discusses the importance of finding her voice as a teacher and the role of lineages and traditions in yoga. Joan also explains the yoga concept of Tapas and reaching the edge in one’s practice.
Joan has built a following worldwide, as she’s been travelling to offer teacher training since 2010, and she reflects on the challenges and rewards of teaching internationally. She tells Anne about the creation of her Schoolof.yoga and her vision for its future, as well as her hopes for the future of yoga as a whole, including the importance of having great teachers continuing to teach and keep the lineage alive.
Joan also talks about her new 300h teacher training program, and how she came to collaborate with world-renowned teachers, including Lisa Walford, Annie Carpenter, and many others.Together they have developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers various aspects of yoga, including pranayama and how the practice changes along with the practitioner’s age.
Joan also highlights the importance of incorporating healing modalities into yoga, such as trauma-informed practices. She explains how trauma affects the nervous system and emphasises the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in healing.
To end, Joan shares her favourite yoga sutra, Pradipaksha Bhavanam, which encourages replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. Wanting to end on the importance of slowing down and enjoying life, she also tells Anne about the impact of India on her spiritual journey and how travel has opened up her mind ‘like an umbrella’.
A warm and inspiring interview with a master teacher. Happy listening!
Takeaways
Finding one’s voice as a yoga teacher is an important aspect of teaching.
Lineages and traditions in yoga provide a foundation of proven practices that have been passed down over time.
Tapas, the willingness to endure and create a sense of purification, is an essential element of yoga practice.
Meditation is a valuable practice in yoga that can be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Teaching yoga to different cultures requires adaptability and understanding of their unique needs and preferences.
The School of Yoga aims to preserve the lineage and provide high-quality teacher trainings.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
03:02 Joan Hyman’s Background and Journey
12:04 Finding Her Voice as a Teacher
17:46 Religion and Spirituality in Joan’s Life
20:37 The Importance of Lineages and Traditions in Yoga
27:10 Understanding Tapas and Reaching the Edge in Yoga
30:41 Joan’s Journey in Meditation
35:01 Teaching Yoga Around the World and the School of Yoga
44:18 Teaching Different Cultures and Adapting to Students
47:34 The Future of the School of Yoga and Yoga Itself
48:57 Cultivating Excellence in Yoga Education
52:20 Yoga for Healing and Trauma
55:46 Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System
56:32 The Wholeness of Shavasana
59:00 Upcoming Trainings and Retreats
01:00:26 Favorite Yoga Sutra: Pradipaksha Bhavanam
01:01:52 Grounding Rituals: Cooking and Nature
01:02:51 Favorite Word: Adaptability
01:03:35 Connection as Source and Authenticity
01:04:03 Favorite Song: Wild World by Cat Stevens
01:04:32 Secret Superpower: Overcoming Drug Use
01:05:02 Favorite Book: The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer
01:06:06 Impactful Place: India
01:06:34 Advice from Future Self: Slow Down and Enjoy Life
01:07:08 What Brings Happiness: Being Grounded and with Loved Ones
Selected links from episode
You can find Joan on Instagram @JoanHymanSchoolofyoga
Her yoga school is Schoolof.Yoga
Her upcoming offerings including her Bali retreat are available here: https://www.schoolof.yoga/events
Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar
Ali MacGraw and Eric Shiffman Yoga video on Youtube
Yoga Nidra or yogic sleep
Pratipakshabhavanam, Joan’s favorite yoga sutra – 2. 33, when negative thoughts arise, think the opposite.
Wild World by Cat Stevens
The Out of the Clouds playlist on Spotify
The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer