Josh & Terry Summers
218 episodes - English - Latest episode: 17 days ago - ★★★★★ - 126 ratingsCreative and functional approach to the spiritual path, weaving insights and practices from Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ancient wisdom traditions
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Episodes
Winter: The Sacred Portal (Episode 67)
December 03, 2019 11:00 - 12 minutes - 21 MBWhen we become stripped of our illusory perceptions of being separate, we can experience two simultaneous feelings. The first is a deep and liberating truth of interconnection and love. But we may also feel a profound sadness and mourning for all the energy invested in protecting and defending a self-image that was never actually there in the first place. The post Winter: The Sacred Portal appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Timothy McCall: A Story of Healing (Episode 66)
November 18, 2019 11:00 - 35 minutes - 52.3 MBDr. Timothy McCall looks at how illness can be a real moment of opening to lots of unfinished business, and we consider all the various levels of healing that can occur when we start to open to things that have been walled off to our conscious minds. The post Dr. Timothy McCall: A Story of Healing appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Timothy McCall: Holism vs. Reductionism in Medicine (Episode 65)
November 04, 2019 11:00 - 38 minutes - 56.2 MBIn this episode, Dr. Timothy McCall speaks about the problems inherent in trying to evaluate the efficacy of alternative therapies from a reductionistic model. He also discusses the problems of implementing alternative therapies with a reductionistic mindset. The post Dr. Timothy McCall: Holism vs. Reductionism in Medicine appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Timothy McCall: Starving Cancer (Episode 64)
October 21, 2019 10:00 - 33 minutes - 49.1 MBIntermittent fasting is a popular fitness trend to improve insulin sensitivity, decrease inflammation, promote cellular autophagy, and help manage weight. But what if fasting can also reduce the chances of getting cancer and help support one through cancer treatment? Dr. Timothy McCall shares his story of fasting through cancer therapy. The post Dr. Timothy McCall: Starving Cancer appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Timothy McCall: When the Doctor Gets Cancer (Episode 63)
October 07, 2019 10:00 - 30 minutes - 45.5 MBIn the first part of my interview with Dr. Timothy McCall, we talk about what it was like for him to receive his cancer diagnosis and how he thought about approaching his treatment, bringing together the very best of Eastern and Western medical modalities. The post Dr. Timothy McCall: When the Doctor Gets Cancer appeared first on Josh Summers.
Matthew Remski: Lighting a Path Forward for Safety and Transparency (Episode 62)
September 30, 2019 10:00 - 27 minutes - 40.8 MBThe themes of power abuse, toxic group dynamics, and victim blaming are important themes for anyone who occupies the space of a yoga mat or a meditation cushion in the modern yoga landscape. Matthew Remski explains what reform might look like as yoga culture moves forward. The post Matthew Remski: Lighting a Path Forward for Safety and Transparency appeared first on Josh Summers.
Matthew Remski: The Dynamics of Deception and Enablement (Episode 61)
September 16, 2019 10:00 - 35 minutes - 52.7 MBThe Jois family held tightly to its narrative of legitimacy until, well, they didn't. And this is what is both eerie and fascinating about the recent developments in the Ashtanga community. Here we see, in real time, the efforts of an organization to "brandwash" its unfortunate history. The post Matthew Remski: The Dynamics of Deception and Enablement appeared first on Josh Summers.
Why Train in Yin Yoga? (Episode 60)
September 09, 2019 10:00 - 13 minutes - 22.4 MBAlthough Yin Yoga looks quite simple, being an effective Yin Yoga teacher is not so simple. There are five primary reasons someone should invest in proper training if they plan to teach others the practice of Yin Yoga. Let's go over each of them individually. The post Why Train in Yin Yoga? appeared first on Josh Summers.
Summer Break: Looking Back, Looking Ahead (Episode 59)
July 29, 2019 10:00 - 7 minutes - 13.7 MBBefore pausing for my summer break in August, I highlight some of the top episodes of the year so far, giving you a distilled recap of some of the conversations to catch up on or review again. I also announce the fall line-up and include suggestions for your summer reading. The post Summer Break: Looking Back, Looking Ahead appeared first on Josh Summers.
Matthew Remski: Exposing Yoga's Culture of Sexual Abuse (Episode 58)
July 15, 2019 10:00 - 34 minutes - 50.9 MBFor over three decades, Pattabhi Jois sexually and physically abused his yoga students, mostly women. This abuse happened in plain sight. To understand how this was possible requires an exploration of toxic group dynamics, methods of deception, and networks of complicity. Matthew Remski explains this all in his book, "Practice and All Is Coming." The post Matthew Remski: Exposing Yoga’s Culture of Sexual Abuse appeared first on Josh Summers.
Designing a Better Relationship with Our Digital Devices (Episode 57)
July 01, 2019 10:00 - 25 minutes - 38.6 MBIn our yoga and meditation practice, we often value the cultivation of attention and awareness. But how might we better design our environment to support the development of attention? How might this redesign reinforce the intentions of our practice? The post 4 Principles for Designing a Better Relationship with Our Digital Devices appeared first on Josh Summers.
Oren Jay Sofer: Trauma, Somatic Experiencing, and Integration (Episode 56)
June 17, 2019 10:00 - 38 minutes - 56.7 MB"Pack your rain gear before you leave home," says meditation teacher Oren Jay Sofer. In this episode, Oren explores how we can "pack" tools of stability, balance, and non-attachment, better preparing us to face the inevitable foul weather of life. The post Oren Jay Sofer: Trauma, Somatic Experiencing, and Integration appeared first on Josh Summers.
Sebastian Pucelle: For the Love of Silence (Episode 55)
June 03, 2019 10:03 - 43 minutes - 62.8 MBTalking shop with Sebastian Pucelle, we roll up our sleeves and discuss potential interpretations of the Sanskrit word "nirodah" and what those interpretations mean for your practice. The post Sebastian Pucelle: For the Love of Silence appeared first on Josh Summers.
Sebastian Pucelle: The Purification of Mind (Episode 54)
May 20, 2019 09:20 - 31 minutes - 46.4 MBSebastian Pucelle describes meditation as a process of purifying the mind. Meditation isn't so much about attaining anything in particular as much as it is a process of letting go of things that distort and disrupt one's life. The post Sebastian Pucelle: The Purification of Mind appeared first on Josh Summers.
Sebastian Pucelle: The Attitude of Stillness (Episode 53)
May 06, 2019 10:06 - 33 minutes - 50 MBOften in meditation, students can get frustrated by their mind's difficulty in following the meditation instructions. Sebastian Pucelle, the wonderful French Yin Yoga teacher, suggests that the two most important aspects of a meditation practice are one's intention and attitude, not the specific technique, per se. The post Sebastian Pucelle: The Attitude of Stillness appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Daniel Keown: Acupuncture and Placebos (Episode 52)
April 22, 2019 09:55 - 33 minutes - 50 MBThe therapeutic encounter between a practitioner and patient is, in many regards, the most important part of a healing relationship. This encounter is another way of referring to the placebo effect. But far from being ineffective, all good healers try to maximize this effect. According to Dr. Daniel Keown, acupuncture is one of the most sublime forms of the therapeutic encounter. The post Dr. Daniel Keown: Acupuncture and Placebos appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Daniel Keown: Jellyfish, Channels, and Qi (Episode 51)
April 08, 2019 09:45 - 27 minutes - 41.4 MBHow alive are you? This isn't a question that Western Medicine frequently asks, but according to Dr. Daniel Keown, this question is at the heart of Traditional Chinese Medicine. And the quality, quantity, and circulation of our Qi determines the potency of our "aliveness." The post Dr. Daniel Keown: Jellyfish, Channels, and Qi appeared first on Josh Summers.
Dr. Daniel Keown: The Channels of Chinese Medicine (Episode 50)
March 25, 2019 09:25 - 26 minutes - 40.2 MBWhat is Qi? What are the channels of Chinese Medicine? What is fascia? These questions and more are taken up by Dr. Daniel Keown, explained with lucid brilliance. For anyone interested in Chinese Medicine, this is a must-listen. The post Dr. Daniel Keown: The Channels of Chinese Medicine appeared first on Josh Summers.
Oren Jay Sofer: On Nonviolent Communication (Episode 49)
March 11, 2019 10:00 - 44 minutes - 64.2 MBTalking about difficult topics is not easy. Often we get trapped in patterns of reactivity and experience a clash of viewpoints. Oren Jay Sofer offers ways to move past through these impasses in learning how to identify the underlying needs being expressed - the needs that connect us to our shared universal human longings. From this sense of connection, collaborative dialogue becomes possible. The post Oren Jay Sofer: On Nonviolent Communication appeared first on Josh Summers.
Oren Jay Sofer: On Mindful Communication (Episode 48)
February 25, 2019 11:00 - 32 minutes - 47.9 MBAll too often, meditation is seen as a panacea for all that ails us. But meditation practice alone is not necessarily enough to smooth out the strife in our interpersonal conflicts. For this we need training in communication strategy - ways to escape the blame game and move towards a deeper understanding of shared needs and goals. In this episode, Oren Jay Sofer lays about a mindful approach to nonviolent communication. The post Oren Jay Sofer: On Mindful Communication appeared first on Josh...
Bernie Clark: Your Sacroiliac Joint (Episode 47)
February 11, 2019 11:00 - 29 minutes - 44.1 MBBernie Clark shares how his thinking about exercise has shifted from an emphasis on mobility to an emphasis on stability. This is important to how we think about what we're doing in all forms of physical yoga. The post Bernie Clark: Your Sacroiliac Joint appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: Developing and Aging Bodies (Episode 46)
January 28, 2019 11:00 - 26 minutes - 40.4 MBIn our youth, we're more Yang and need to work on strength and stability. As we age, we become more Yin, and therefore need to spend more time working on maintaining our mobility. The post Bernie Clark: Developing and Aging Bodies appeared first on Josh Summers.
Reflecting on a Winter's Retreat (Episode 45)
January 14, 2019 11:00 - 31 minutes - 46.1 MBThis retreat inspired me to try a few hacks with regards to my relationship to technology - to make my phone less of the pocket-sized slot-machine that it's become, I've tried to restructure the design of my phone as well as my timeframe around using it. And I invite you to join me on these digital hacks for better well-being. The post Reflecting on a Winter’s Retreat appeared first on Josh Summers.
Winter Is Coming (Episode 44)
December 10, 2018 11:00 - 8 minutes - 178 BytesIn the Season Finale of Everyday Sublime for 2018, I take stock of the past year and look ahead to 2019 - and pay tribute to two of my dearest teachers, Rodney Smith and Jack Engler, who are both retiring from their decades of teaching and service. The post Winter Is Coming appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: Spinal Neutrality, Symmetry, and Asymmetry (Episode 43)
November 26, 2018 11:00 - 20 minutes - 178 BytesIn the second episode of a 4-part series, Yin master Bernie Clark unpacks the important concept of spinal neutrality and he explores how to think about symmetry, functional asymmetry, and dysfunctional asymmetry in the body. The post Bernie Clark: Spinal Neutrality, Symmetry, and Asymmetry appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: Your Spine, Your Yoga (Episode 42)
November 13, 2018 11:00 - 35 minutes - 178 BytesIn the first episode of a 4-part series, I welcome Bernie Clark back to the podcast to discuss his new book, Your Spine, Your Yoga. In it, Bernie talks about the main themes in the book including the importance of stability over mobility in the health of our spines. The post Bernie Clark: Your Spine, Your Yoga appeared first on Josh Summers.
Yin Meditation: The Instructions (Episode 41)
October 29, 2018 10:01 - 21 minutes - 178 BytesRather than trying to domesticate your thought process, Yin Meditation offers a process for refining your understanding of how your inner world works. Approaching your meditation with a receptive attitude is the least intrusive way of getting to know the natural terrain of your inner landscape. The post Yin Meditation: The Instructions appeared first on Josh Summers.
The Role of Remembering on the Path (Episode 40)
October 15, 2018 10:00 - 24 minutes - 178 BytesIn this final installment of my 3-part interview series, we explore tricky Buddhist concepts of anatta (non-self) and nirvana. And we consider that present moment awareness is not sufficient for the development of deeper wisdom and understanding in one's life. For that, memory is required. The post The Role of Remembering on the Path appeared first on Josh Summers.
The Insight of Experience (Episode 39)
October 01, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 178 BytesIn many styles of meditation, if we hold too tightly to meditative instructions, we may unintentionally cut many things out of our meditation practice. In part two of my 3-part interview series, we explore letting more things "in" to your meditation, and not letting go too quickly. The post The Insight of Experience appeared first on Josh Summers.
Thoughts Are Not the Enemy (Episode 38)
September 17, 2018 10:00 - 24 minutes - 178 BytesIn meditation, all too often, people struggle with their thinking, and feel badly that they can't stop their "monkey mind" from thinking so much. Here's a gentler, more compassionate approach to working with one's mind in meditation. The post Thoughts Are Not the Enemy appeared first on Josh Summers.
Season Finale - Summers' Break (Episode 37)
July 09, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 157 MBThis episode is the season finale of The Everyday Sublime, before I close up shop for the summer. I give a preview of what's to come in September, and a quick look back at some of the highlights from the past few months. The post Season Finale – Summers’ Break appeared first on Josh Summers.
David Lesondak: All Things Fascia (Episode 36)
June 25, 2018 10:00 - 1 hour - 157 MBI talk with David Lesondak about his new book, Fascia: What it is and why it matters. David is rapidly becoming a rock star in the fascial world, having extensive work in structural integration, as well as having attended and presented at many of the Fascial Congresses. The post David Lesondak: All Things Fascia appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: The Organs, or Zang-Fu (Episode 35)
June 11, 2018 10:00 - 16 minutes - 42 MBChinese language tends to describe the Organs and their functions in poetic terms. Their language is metaphorical, often drawing on images from nature and human governance to describe the various processes of human health. The post Chinese Medicine: The Organs, or Zang-Fu appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: Understanding Yin Yoga (Episode 34)
May 28, 2018 10:00 - 20 minutes - 51.4 MBHere, Bernie Clark talks about the fascial concepts of dynaments and creep. He discusses some misunderstandings of Yin Yoga, as well as how to think about propping and assisting in Yin Yoga. The post Bernie Clark: Understanding Yin Yoga appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: What Is Essence? (Episode 33)
May 14, 2018 10:00 - 15 minutes - 38.8 MB"The best way to affect positively one's Essence is by striving for balance in one's life activities: balance between work and rest, restraint in sexual activity and balanced diet. Any irregularity or excess in these spheres is bound to diminish the Essence. A direct way to positively influence one's Essence is through breathing exercises and such exercises as Tai Ji Quan and Qi Gong." - Maciocia The post Chinese Medicine: What is Essence? appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: The Science of Yin Yoga (Episode 32)
April 30, 2018 10:00 - 32 minutes - 77.2 MBListen to Bernie Clark discuss: antifragility, confusion between correlation and causation, the four levels evidence in science, piezoelectricity, and Yin and Yang stress on our tissues. Essential listening for Yin Yoga teachers. The post Bernie Clark: The Science of Yin Yoga appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: What is Blood? (Episode 31)
April 16, 2018 10:00 - 17 minutes - 44.3 MBThe second big function of the Blood in Chinese Medicine is that Blood is said to have the function of 'moistening' tissues. Strong Blood prevents things from drying out. Healthy Blood keeps the tissues moist, keeps the eyes from feeling dry, keeps the sinews (or tendons) lubricated, and moistens the skin, nails and hair, preventing all from becoming dry, cracked, and brittle. The post Chinese Medicine: What is Blood? appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: Hypermobility and Hyperextension (Episode 30)
April 02, 2018 10:00 - 17 minutes - 44.1 MBMany people express concern about issues of hypermobility and hyperextension in Yin Yoga. Here Bernie Clark explores these concerns and logically defends Yin Yoga. Essential listening for Yin Yoga teachers. The post Bernie Clark: Hypermobility and Hyperextension appeared first on Josh Summers.
Bernie Clark: The Mindset of a Teacher (Episode 29)
March 19, 2018 10:00 - 15 minutes - 39 MBFor yoga teachers, it can be a challenging process to unlearn rigid rules of alignment and to adapt their teaching to the unique experience of their students. Here, Bernie Clark will walk you through how to think about and teach functional alignment in Yin Yoga and beyond. The post Bernie Clark: The Mindset of a Teacher appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: The Sources and Functions of Qi (Episode 28)
March 05, 2018 11:00 - 14 minutes - 36 MBAs with everything in Chinese Medicine, all entities - whether they be a type of energy, an organ, or a meridian - tend to be defined by the functions they perform. And the concept of Qi is no different. It's classification as a type of energy is defined by what functions it performs, and for Qi there are Five Primary Functions. The post Chinese Medicine: The Sources and Functions of Qi appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: The Meridians (Episode 27)
February 19, 2018 11:05 - 13 minutes - 22 MBOne way of thinking of the Meridians of Chinese Medicine is that they are, generally speaking, channels of communication within the organism along which subtle informational signals are transmitted. The post Chinese Medicine: The Meridians appeared first on Josh Summers.
Emerging From Hibernation (Episode 26)
February 05, 2018 11:00 - 10 minutes - 17.7 MBBack from the Yin phase of Winter Hibernation, I'm excited to tell you about what's in store for Season 2 of Everyday Sublime. I have a couple of quick updates about the Summers School of Yin Yoga, and a line-up of superstar interviews for 2018. We're off to a great start this year, and I'm looking forward to connecting again. The post Emerging From Hibernation appeared first on Josh Summers.
Winter is the Most Yin Time of Year (Episode 25)
December 04, 2017 12:34 - 20 minutes - 32.1 MBIn 2018, the Summers School of Yin Yoga will be unrolling a unique way study Yin Yoga with a modular curriculum, as well as a way to earn a 200hr or 300hr certification in Yin Yoga, if you're interested. Each of the core modules of the school will include an online component (taken prior to attending the session) and a live four-day immersion. This will allow us to start at a much higher level when we come together live, and will provide a much richer learning experience overall. The post Win...
Chinese Medicine: What Is Qi? (Episode 24)
November 27, 2017 12:07 - 14 minutes - 23.1 MBQi is "perceived functionally, by what it does," is critical to remember. Entities in Chinese Medicine are almost unanimously "perceived functionally," that is, defined by what they do. We'll see this affirmed again and again when we look at the meridian system. Meridians are defined by what they do, functionally - the organ system - organs are defined by what they do, functionally - and the Vital Substances of the body - which again are defined by what they do, functionally for the whole org...
Chinese Medicine: Mastering the Relationship (Episode 23)
November 13, 2017 10:48 - 20 minutes - 31.2 MBA point that many authors and practitioners of Chinese Medicine often reiterate is that as qualities of change, Yin and Yang are in a constant process of controlling and balancing one another. A static, unchanging balance is never achieved. What is observed and assisted, however -- both by the skilled yoga practitioner and practitioner of Chinese Medicine -- is a smooth process of balancing The post Chinese Medicine: Mastering the Relationship appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: The Flow of Yin and Yang (Episode 22)
November 06, 2017 10:38 - 12 minutes - 19.8 MBBy observing Yin and Yang dynamics both in the macrocosm and within the microcosm, the overarching intention was always one of promoting harmony. When honored, observed and respected, Yin and Yang describe processes of change that can be fluid, harmonious and balanced. Of course, if neglected or disregarded, the ceaseless process of change between Yin and Yang can break down and no longer be a smooth, harmonizing process of balance, but rather turn into a disruptive, chaotic, and jarring dyna...
Chinese Medicine: Taoist Origins (Episode 21)
October 23, 2017 11:30 - 17 minutes - 26.8 MBTaoists observed how the play of cycles in Nature would manifest in parallel within their internal experience. Understanding and attuning to the world outside facilitated an ability to bring the internal microcosm into harmony with its world, and vice versa, where greater understanding of the microcosm - especially through meditative insight - supported this harmonization with the external environment or macrocosm. The post Chinese Medicine: Taoist Origins appeared first on Josh Summers.
Chinese Medicine: A Holistic Paradigm (Episode 20)
October 16, 2017 10:00 - 17 minutes - 27.6 MBA holistic approach to medicine will formulate a diagnosis of a patient's condition by taking into consideration the complex dynamic of everything going on internally with that patient, as well as external influences of interpersonal relationship, work, and climate. Whereas a more conventional approach to medicine will try to identify a singular causative factor that generates illness and which needs to be eliminated or suppressed. The post Chinese Medicine: A Holistic Paradigm appeared firs...
The Jazz Session: Ode to Aaron Goldberg (Episode 19)
October 09, 2017 10:00 - 16 minutes - 26.7 MBI find Aaron's trios are the settings where his personality and voice shine brightest. In my interview Aaron, he talked about the depth of connection that forms between jazz musicians when they've played together for years and years and years, and it's that level of connection and interpersonal knowing that facilitates the kind of expression and improvisation that is so charged and captivating. It's that depth of familiarity which facilitates the sublime. The post The Jazz Session: Ode to Aar...
Yin Meditation: A Creative And Functional Approach To Meditation (Episode 18)
October 02, 2017 07:36 - 16 minutes - 26.1 MBIn a Yin approach to meditation, you encounter the raw materials of your life: sensations of the body, perceptions, ideas, thoughts, views, and opinions. And in coming to know these elements more directly, you can shape and make of them what you will. How you act, think, speak, work, and rest are all of one process that you examine and develop in the workshop of your meditation practice. You are both the artist and the creative subject. The post Yin Meditation: A Creative And Functional App...