Podcast Episode 30: Harmony Slater
Today’s Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast with Harmony Slater starts with a really special treat – Greg Nardi chanting the Peace Invocation from the NEW Ashtanga Dispatch Magazine #2 – in digital! You see, included in our newest online magazine is an bonus online section with exclusive videos, interviews, chants, and even a guided meditation from teachers featured within the magazine. Including the chant you will listen to at the start of today’s podcast. And I wanted YOU to be the first to hear about it!
Ashtanga Dispatch Magazine #2 Digital
Digital edition of Ashtanga Dispatch Magazine #2, featuring all previously available content PLUS exclusive bonus content: taped video call with Kino MacGregor, interview with David Keil “Hacking the Nervous System”, guided audio meditation from John Churchill, “Asana Kitchen” video with David Garrigues on Ustrasana (Camel Posture) and Second Series video from Jen René focussing on the hips. Even if you already have the print edition of #2, this exclusive digital content isn’t available anywhere else.
Ok … on this next episode with Harmony!
We recorded this episode at my house in Bozeman on the last day of our 5 day Shakti retreat. We started off discussing how it’s different to teach as a woman. No surprise, but we live in a world with still some pretty engrained and apparent gender bias – and yes, even in yoga. In yoga, as in anywhere else, it is still more difficult for women to earn respect. Not spoken as much as a complaint – than as fact. And maybe one reason why Harmony is not (as she says) excited to show off her body. That’s right … you’re not likely to see Harmony practicing in a pair of bootie shorts – not on instagram and not in person either.
In fact, if you follow her instagram – you’ll see that in many of her asana posts, she’s more likely to be wearing sweatpants in the not so exotic locale of her living room – and talking up the philosophical stories behind the shape rather than the typical, how-to. You see, Harmony has a degree in both religious studies and philosophy. And while I didn’t know this before our interview – it certainly does explain a lot.
And actually, one of you had written and asked me to ask Harmony about how the spiritual side of yoga fits in with the asana – or if it does at all. Rather than have me poorly paraphrase Harmony’s brilliant response, lets just go right to our conversation. Here’s Harmony Slater:
The Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast is edited and produced by Chris Lucas – and hosted by me, Peg Mulqueen.
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