THE WERK Season 3 Episode 03: Empowered Yoga - Cultivating An Inclusive Community With Felipe Gonzalez from The Werk

THE WERK Season 3 Episode 03: Empowered Yoga - Cultivating An Inclusive Community With Felipe Gonzalez

1 hour 4 minutes Posted May 17, 2022 at 5:00 am.

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Felipe Gonzalez came to the practice 14 years ago when he first moved to New York City. After several years of practice, he took a leap of faith and completed his 200 hour teacher training at Laughing Lotus, NYC. His devotion to music, movement, story telling, and spirituality are embedded in all of his classes. Using the techniques of mythology, mantra, yogic philosophy, asana, and Katonah Yoga® theory, he guides practitioners through an experience of breath, vibration, movement, and reflection.

Felipe is a 500 hour ERYT and Katonah Yoga® teacher based in Santa Monica, CA. He is a founding teacher at GaneshSpace, a community lead organization uplifting marginalized voices and experiences by offering resources and education at the intersections of mindfulness and social justice. He is also an Ambassador for lululemon Santa Monica Store. He is also the co-owner of the LA based Empowered Yoga Studio is open in Venice, CA.

Felipe leads workshops, retreats, and trainings internationally. Drawn to the disciplines of Vinyasa, Bhakti Yoga and Katonah Yoga® theory, he devotes his practice and teaching with an artist’s soul and a healer’s heart.

In This Episode:

Felipe shares what brought him to the practice of yoga and how upon connecting with yoga as a complete practice, he was able to see the connection between personal and collective liberation.
The intersections of Felipe's identity and how it led to him finding the practice of yoga.
Felipe shares some of the red flags he observed in the yoga community that was not aligned with the ethos of yoga.
What can people do to support the culture without appropriation?
How the yoga industry breeds spiritual narcissism.
Felipe shares his experience in opening Empowered yoga studio without any Venture Capitalists and run entirely by teachers.
How to build a healthy, safe and supportive yoga studio.
Why Felipe believes affinity groups are the way to unpack harmful experiences.
Felipe’s perspective on Guru culture in the yoga space.

Full Show Notes:

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