The Uplifted Yoga Podcast

Join us with Dr. Kulreet Chaudhary, an Integrative Neurologist and author of the book The Prime, as she explains how the science of Ayurveda can help you optimize your health, increase your brain power and naturally shed excess pounds. Dr. Chaudhary discovered an interesting side effect to the eating and lifestyle tools she was giving her brain patients - they began to shed excess pounds. She offers easy tips and guidelines to help you feel great and lose weight without dieting.

Special Guest: Kulreet Chaudhary, M.D.

www.drkulreetchaudhary.com

www.theprimeclub.com

Host: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

The way we think has a huge impact on how we receive each moment of life. A story originally found in the Mahabarata, the story of Utanka takes us on a journey of self exploration. We follow Utanka from student to wise man, from the protection of his teacher's home, out into the world and even down into the underworld. His experiences provide us with keen insight into how certain thoughts can sabotage our ability to receive the gifts of life, and his journey shows us possible ways to navigate those moments, and even provide hints of an ancient Kundalini Yoga Practice...

Written & Spoken by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Many people are familiar with Sufism because of the popularity of poets like Rumi and Hafiz, but what is Sufism? Why is it considered the path of the heart? How do Sufis use music and dance as part of their spiritual practice? And what can we learn from this rich tradition? Join us as we chat with Tahir Faridhee Qawwal, a sufi, a master musician and teacher, and leader of the Fanna-Fi-Allah Qawwal ensemble, who is currently producing a documentary on the musical traditions in India and Pakistan called Qawwali: Music of the Mystics.

Special Guest: Tahir Far Idi Qawwal

www.tahirqawwal.com

www.fanna-fi-allah.com

Host: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanapsirit.com

In this episode, we explore the story of King Parikshit. A good and noble King, who lets his pride get the best of him. The King makes a series of choices that may eventually lead him to his death... Will he learn his lesson or face certain doom? The story gives us an opportunity to ask ourselves where pride might get int the way of the flow of life. It invites us to look at the choices we make and realize that there is always an opportunity to make a different choice.

Written& Spoken by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Even small feelings of self-criticism, doubt, fear, or perfectionism can cripple us mentally and emotionally, and even prevent us from feeling loved. The Story of Dhruva is one of our inner child, searching for love and acceptance, tormented by self-doubt and fear, and ultimately finding love deep within himself. The love-able and determined Dhruva is a reminder to look within for the love so many seek on the outside. He shows us that once we realize the love within us, we can truly offer our greatest gifts and find our place in the world.

Written& Spoken by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

The power of ritual and ceremony have been lost to many modern cultures, yet most people have daily rituals, whether they are aware of it or not. Join us as we explore a deeper understanding of ceremony and ritual, and how you can create a more fulfilling life with a fresh perspective on your regular every day moments. Our Guest is Tehya Sky. She is metaphysical guide, the author of A Ceremony Called Life: When Your Morning Coffee Is As Sacred as Holy Water, and she offers unique insights into the impact that ritual can have in our modern lives.

Special Guest: Tehya Sky

www.tehyasky.com

Host: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

We communicate all the time, but are we doing it well? Are you aware of your patterns and habits of communication? What is Conscious Communication and how does it differ from regular communication? Join us with our guest Danny Arguetty, author of Six Qualities of Consciousness and Nourishing the Teacher, as we dive into the hidden secrets of becoming more skillful communicators. Through Danny's profound insights, you'll gain new tools in becoming a better communicator and help improve the quality of your life and relationships.

Special Guest: Danny Arguetty

www.dannyarguetty.com

Host: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Inflammation is associated with numerous health issues that affect both mind and body. What causes inflammation? If necessary, can we reduce it? How does stress affect inflammation? What role does your diet play and can yoga help? Join us with nutritionist Julie Daniluk, the host of Healthy Gourmet on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), as we discuss the impact of inflammation on the body. She's the author of Meals That Heal Inflammation and Slimming Meals That Heal, and she joins us today to help us understand the role inflammation plays in our health and lives.

Special Guest: Julie Daniluk

www.juliedaniluk.com

Host: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Amy Ippoliti is a yoga teacher, writer, and philanthropist who is known for her innovative methods to bridge the gap between ancient yoga wisdom and modern day life. An internationally renowned teacher of yoga teachers, she recently co-authored the book: The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga: The Yoga Professional's Guide to a Fulfilling Career. She joins us on the Sivana Podcast to discuss the role of the modern yoga teacher, what makes a yoga teacher successful, what some of the biggest challenges of being a yoga teacher are, how to choose a yoga teacher training and much more! Whether a teacher or student of yoga, you are bound to benefit from Amy's keen insight and experience in the world of yoga.

Special Guest: Amy Ippoliti

www.90monkeys.com

www.amyippoliti.com

Host: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

From the sublime and serious to the ridiculous and funny, JP Sears has affected millions of people through his widely popular YouTube and Facebook videos. Although many know him from his comedy routines, JP is a deeply introspective and cultivated being who plays with humor as a means of exploring life and the ego. In this episode, we consider what it means to live a spiritual life, discuss the importance of humor on the spiritual path, offer thoughts on authenticity and much more! There is a lot to enjoy in this episode filled with both insight and laughter.

Special Guest: JP Sears

www.awakenwithjp.com

Hosted by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced by: Benn Mendelsohn

www.sivanaspirit.com

Ann Purcell is an award winning author and musician who has been teaching Transcendental Meditation for over forty years. She joins the Sivana Podcast to discuss meditation, how it relates to creativity and the power of silence. Ann's exuberance and wisdom are evident as she speaks, and whether you are a seasoned meditator or have never practiced before, there is a lot to learn and enjoy in this episode.

Special Guest: Ann Purcell

http://www.enlightenmentforeveryone.com/

Hosted by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced by: Benn Mendelson

https://www.sivanaspirit.com

Living in an egocentric culture, it's easy to fall into pride. In this episode, we'll explore how feelings of pride allow an opportunity to examine the deepest motivations behind our actions and come to learn how pride can become an agent of our downfall or an opportunity for growth and deeper connection. We'll examine the importance of having perspective in one's life and its necessity in navigating pride, as we dive into the story of the sometimes wild, but always beloved, monkey deity: Hanuman.

Written by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced by: Benn Mendelsohn

www.sivanaspirit.com

Today we talk about the role of motherhood on the spiritual path with Kimberly Ann Johnson, founder of Magamama, a community and resource hub for new moms who want natural empowering solutions to the challenges that can accompany childbirth. Kimberly speaks with immense passion about motherhood and the importance of ritual along the path. What are some of the biggest challenges that face new mothers? What is circle practice and how can it help shift how we experience parenthood, personally and as a community? How can we support new mothers? We'll explore these questions and a lot more...

Special Guest: Kimberly Ann Johnson

www.magamama.com

Hosted by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced by: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

What is your Inner Guidance System (IGS) and how does it work? How is it different from intuition? Can it help you live a more fulfilled life? In this episode, we chat with internationally renowned author, teacher and speaker, Zen Cryar DeBrucke, who wrote the book Your Inner GPS: Follow Your Internal Guidance to Optimal Health, Happiness, and Satisfaction. She'll introduce us to the workings of our IGS, teach us practices on how to connect with this deep wisdom inside us and ultimately share how we can use this inner wisdom to transform our lives.

Special Guest: Zen Cryar DeBrucke

www.zeninamoment.com

Hosted by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced by: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Wealth, power and other aspects of the material world can often be viewed as barriers to living a spiritual life. In this episode, we'll explore a story of the Goddess Lakshmi as well as her Eight Aspects to help us better understand our relationship with the material world. We'll ask basic questions of whether or not it's necessary to give up all material possessions in order to live a spiritual life. These stories will help us look at our relationship to money and its place in our lives, as Lakshmi invites us to look into the deepest motivations behind our actions. Join us on an exploration of what it means to live abundantly in the world.

Written by: Ashton Szabo

Narrated by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced by: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Join us with Cara Bradley, author of On the Verge, as we discuss the ways in which we can engage the world and thrive no matter what we find ourselves doing, while still remaining connected to spirit. What are some of the likely roadblocks on the path? What is the difference between active and passive attention, and how can they affect our ability to thrive? In this episode, we'll learn helpful tips and practices on how to remain present, how to show up in our lives, and thrive!

Special Guest: Cara Bradley

Cara Bradley is the author of On the Verge: Wake Up, Show Up, and Shine. She is a passionate teacher of yoga, meditation, and fitness who has been in the trenches of personal transformation as a "mental strength coach" for over three decades at her Verge Yoga Center, retreats, corporate training sessions, and with teams such as Villanova University and Penn State. She lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Visit her online at www.carabradley.net

Hosted by: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced By: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

How does one deal with grief? What would you do if you lost someone you love? Our guest for this episode is Alexandria Romero. At the age of thirty, mother of a two year old and six weeks pregnant with her next child, she was finishing up her masters in transpersonal psychology when her husband suddenly died. Alexandria shares her struggles and the things she did to not just simply overcome the grief she felt from her husband's passing, but integrate it into her life. Join us as we journey towards a greater understanding of how grief is part of our spiritual path.

Special Guest: Alexandria Romero

www.alexandriaromero.com

Hosted By: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced By: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

What IS a magical life? Do you create it or is it revealed to you? Is a magical life all about rainbows and puppy dogs, love and light, or does it allow for the full range of human experience? How do we find magic in the more difficult moments? Join us as we chat with Alana Sheeren, a writer, intuitive life coach, and the host of the Create Your Magical Life Podcast, as we explore ways to navigate the turbulence of life. Special Guest: Alana Sheeren www.alanasheeren.com Hosted by: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced by: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com

How do we live a fulfilled life while engaging in loving relationships? What are some of the myths we hold onto about love, and how do they impact our capacities for loving relationships? Join us with Linda Bloom, psychotherapist, educator, author and relationship counselor, as we dive into a conversation about relationship. We'll explore how relationships can become our greatest spiritual practice, and learn some of the possible road blocks and difficulties we're likely to encounter along the way. Special Guest: Linda Bloom www.bloomwork.com Hosted by: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced by: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com

The Story of Viveka is both a tale of yoga itself as well as our own spiritual journey. Join us in a story that takes us from the beyond, back into the every-day world. We'll meet teachers that represent various spiritual attitudes and understandings, and learn what role they might play in our personal evolution and growth. Finally, Viveka's journey will invite us to look back into our embodied relationships and find the ways we can best contribute to the world and society. Written by: Ashton Szabo Narrated by: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced By: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com

One of the biggest challenges we all face in life is learning to accept life as it is, instead of how we think it should be. In part two of our mini-series on Accepting Life As It Is, we dive into a story of Shiva, an old woman, and a strange guest. The story shows us all the opportunities we have to close our selves off to what life is offering, and how we can learn to stay open in those moments. We'll also look at how we treat strangers in our western culture, and how that contrasts many cultures of the world that welcome the stranger in as God him/herself. If you struggle with accepting difficult moments of life, this story will give you inspiration and insight into how to more skillfully and lovingly accept life as it comes.

Written by: Ashton Szabo Narrated by: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelsohn www.sivanaspirit.com

Where did tea come from? What can the tea ceremony teach us about ourselves? The world is wild about tea, with it holding a prominent place in cultures across time. Join us as we chat with Ganga Nath, a practitioner of Cha Tao, the Way of Tea, and learn things about tea that you never knew before. Learn how he went from a casual, social relationship with tea, to tea becoming his main spiritual practice. How is tea a spiritual practice? Listen to this podcast and find out!

Special Guest: Ganga Nath www.emptycloudzen.com Host: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Producer: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

One of the biggest challenges in life is learning how to accept life as it is, instead of how we think it should be. In this podcast, the first of a two part series, we'll explore how the fear of death inhibits our ability to accept life. We'll dive into the story of Nachiketas and Yama (the Lord of Death) from the Katha Upanishad to learn the secrets of death and the true meaning of life.

Written by: Ashton Szabo Narrated by: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced by: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com

Consciousness is a word we hear often these days, but what does it mean to have a conscious relationship? How do we relate to ourselves and the world around us? Join us with Katie Vessel, a writer, yoga student and teacher, and holistic health coach, as we chat about what it means to be in a conscious relationship.

Special Guest: Katie Vessel

www.katievessel.com

Hosted By: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced By: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

Stories are an essential way in which we translate our experience of life and the world. They become even more important in helping the human mind comprehend the beyond. India realized this with the writings of the Puranas, ancient stories that give the form to the formless. These stories help to convey essential truths in a way that is more digestible by the human mind.

Written By: Ashton Szabo Spoken By: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced By: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

What are the Six Qualities of Consciousness? How can learning about these qualities enrich your life? Join us as we chat with author and teacher, Danny Arguetty as we discover new insights and perspectives on living life to the fullest.

www.sivanaspirit.com

What is the difference between knowledge, understanding, and wisdom? What does it have to do with success and prosperity, and our purpose in life? Join us for the final installment of our three part mini-series about wealth, success, and purpose, following stories of Ganesha, the beloved elephant headed deity. In this final episode of the mini-series, we'll hear of Ganesha' trip around the universe, and learn how applying knowledge into our lives brings forth success and prosperity, without their usual trappings and temptations.

Written By: Ashton Szabo

Narrated By: Ashton Szabo

Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper

Produced By: Benn Mendelson www.sivanaspirit.com

Art finds a way to touch us all deeply as beings and carries with it the potential to transform our lives. Join us in this conversation with a sacred artist whose work is heavily inspired by his spiritual practice, Abhishek Singh, as we explore how art is linked to our most basic and profound human experiences. How can art tell a story and convey mystical ideas? What can art teach us about our deepest selves? Abhishek offers keen insight into art's influence on eastern philosophy and how art can lead us into deeper spiritual understanding. Whether you consider yourself and artist or not, you are sure to look at art with entirely new eyes after listening our latest episode of the Sivana Podcast.

Host: Ashton Szabo Special Guest: Abhishek Singh www.abhishekart.com Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced by: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

What is the source of fulfillment? Does it come from finally getting that thing you've always wanted? The new job, the new house, new car, new relationship? In Part Two of our three part mini-series on life's purpose and the temptations of wealth and success, we'll explore the story of Ganesha and Kubera, the King of Gold. We'll see what happens when you get caught up in the materialism of the world, always putting off your happiness until some time in the future once you've finally gotten that "thing", and how this saps joy and fulfillment from your life. This is a great episode for you if you've ever found yourself thinking that once you get this thing or that thing, that you'll finally be happy, only to then realize afterwards that you still feel unfulfilled.

Written By: Ashton Szabo Spoken By: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced By: Benn Mendelson

www.sivanaspirit.com

What is Ayurveda? And how can this ancient form of medicine help you live up to your fullest potential. Join us as we chat with Britt Barret, an Ayurvedic Counselor and founder of Daily Ayurveda. She offers up some Ayurvedic Life Hacks so you can bring Ayurvedic concepts into your life to optimize your health and strengthen your immune system.

Join us for Part One of a three part mini-series as we explore how to live purposefully and abundantly in the world, without succumbing to the temptations of success, wealth and fame. Through various stories of the popular elephant headed deity, Ganesha, we will learn to navigate obstacles on the path of life. Is life all about work and money? Fame and success? Does being successful mean you have to sell your soul? Do you have to give up all your possessions and renounce money to be "spiritual"? Find out, by listening to this engaging three part mini-series.

Written By: Ashton Szabo Spoken By: Ashton Szabo Sound Engineer: Zach Cooper Produced By: Benn Mendelsohn www.sivanaspirit.com

Join us on a conversation with Peter Rader, the producer of the highly acclaimed documentary on the life of Pramahansa Yogananda, Awake: The Life of Yogananda. Peter shares some behind the scenes stories about making the movie, how making the movie changed his life, and some interesting stories about Yogananda himself!

Are you feeling disconnected from the divine, separate from people and the world around you? Through this story of the birth of Ganesh and the decision of Shiva to take form as Hanuman, we'll explore how living a life of service can connect us to the divine and everything around us.

What is Mantra? Cultures all across the world, from all time periods have practices (both social and private) that encourage the repetition of certain words or sounds. In these two stories, we'll explore examples of how to use mantra in our lives to help us overcome our subconscious desires and distractions in order to achieve our greatest goals.

Learn how to decode sacred images! Join us as we sit down with my good friend, the incredible sacred artist and author, Ekabhumi Ellik. Ekabhumi lives a life immersed in his sacred art, and recently added his own contribution to the Adult Coloring craze by releasing the Shakti Coloring Book. In this podcast we discuss mystical symbols and how we can begin to "read" sacred images by understanding basic concepts of what certain symbols mean. Why does this deity carry a sword but that one an mace? What does it tell us when a deity is holding a lotus flower? With this basic understanding, you can begin to look at sacred images in a whole new light!

What does it mean to live a spiritual life? Do you have to give up all your possessions and live off in a cave? Can you live in the world, with bills, a family and responsibility, and still live a spiritual life? In this podcast, we dive into a story of the goddess Kali to learn about living a spiritual life while living fully in the world. Moving away from the idea that a spiritual life is the life of an ascetic or monk, we'll explore a tradition that encourages us to live fully immerse into the 'every day' experience of life.

How can meditation help you focus and achieve your goals? In this story about Hanuman and the Golden Mango, we?ll explore how the breath and meditation can help direct our focus and energy into the goals and tasks we want to achieve in life.

What is tantra? Is it synonymous with sex? In this interview with renowned author and scholar, Hareesh Wallis, we'll set the record straight and clear up any confusion about tantric yoga and sex.

What is blocking you from reaching your fullest potential? Sharing this story of the Goddess Maha Saraswati, we'll explore means with which you can overcome your demons and achieve your fullest potential.

A brief introduction on what to expect from the Sivana Podcast! Together, we'll explore stories and interview interesting guests that focus on the topics you want to know about: yogic lifestyle, healing living, eastern philosophy, and more!