Learn the story behind dancer's pose (natarajasana) as well as the warrior poses (virabhadrasana), inspired by stories from the Shiva Purana about the original meditator and teacher of yoga, Shiva. The divine masculine Shiva is said to bring about destruction of all the is no longer serving--closing doors and opening new ones--endings and new beginnings, all in a dance of bliss. Join our 200hr YTT in Bali January 8-31st, or join the 6-day Gods of Yoga Retreat March 4-9th, 2024!

Learn about the goddess Saraswati, the story of the universe's creation through the sound AUM (Om), and divine knowledge of our souls' origin. These stories can be found in texts such as the Brahma Purana and the Yoga Vasistha (Megan really likes Swami Venkatesananda's translation, "The Concise Yoga Vasistha"). You might invoke Saraswati in a yoga class by inviting in asanas that are free flowing for the spine, like the water element, awakening the sacral chakra energy. Join Megan in Bali this winter for a 200hr Yoga Teacher Training, beginning at the retreat center of her priestess, January 8-31st, 2024. If you're already a yoga teacher, you're invited to a 6-day Gods of Yoga Retreat in Bali to learn the stories of the gods and goddesses, practice their ceremonies, and learn to chant mantras and lead kirtan this March. All info and applications can be found at yogatrotter.com.

In this episode, Megan explores the "goal" of yoga, and spoiler alert, it's not about what asanas you can or cannot do! In seeking the intention or the purpose of a yoga practice, she reviews the 8 Limbs of Yoga from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and what "calming the fluctuations of the mind" means for a modern lifestyle.

In this episode, while driving to her yoga studio, Megan discusses the 5 Vayus or "winds" of energy, and some of the yoga poses that help us experience those movements of energy. Prana Vayu : the movement of energy from outside to inside, especially as in the inhale Apana Vayu : the "waste elimination" movement of energy, and "letting go" Samana Vayu : the "digesting" and "integrating" movement of energy Udana Vayu : the "upward lifting" movement of energy, and Vyana Vayu : the "outward radiating" movement of energy

Understanding reincarnation provides an unwavering peace amidst the fluctuations of life. Have you ever wondered about your past lives, and how they may still be affecting you today? This gentle, peaceful meditation guides you safely on a journey of the memory, to discover any lingering past life lessons your soul is meant to work through. Have an open mind as you enter this meditation, but most importantly, trust that you're meant to see that which is of value for you--nothing more, nothing less.  Om asatoma sad gamaya Tamasoma jyotir gamaya Mrityorma amritam gamaya To learn more about reincarnation and past lives, and to learn about the deities for whom the yoga poses are named, check out The Gods of Yoga online course here: https://academy.yogatrotter.com/p/godsofyoga

The chakras, wheels of energy within the body, affect our emotions, hormones, and well-being. Through positive affirmation, this chakra scanning meditation allows you to bring the chakras into better balance for overall peace and harmony.

Our bodies are the sacred vessels that carry our souls, and we are capable of feeling our body on a much deeper level than we normally try to do. Through this vipassana-inspired body scanning meditation, you'll begin to find union between body, mind, and spirit, for greater harmony within your being.

Sometimes, it’s useful to boost your imagination and creative powers the old-fashioned way, through visualization. If you’re stuck with your writing, using visualization in meditation can help switch on more novel and unique lines of thinking in your brain. This meditation turns on the ajna (third eye) chakra to help you see beyond reality and into your imagination. Let your story take shape in whatever way it chooses to manifest itself.

Of our five senses, the sense of “hearing” is rarely the one that dominates when we’re in the writing flow. By flipping the “on” switch for that sense and focusing our meditative concentration (dharana) on the sound of music, we give our analytical minds a rest and let our emotional minds take over. This can help greatly in becoming a more empathetic fiction writer, or a more empathetic person in general.

Energy and blood pool and stagnate in our bodies when we sit still for too long. In the same way, our thoughts can also stagnate in our minds when we are without movement. This meditation gets the body mindfully moving around the room to awaken new ideas and perspectives. The key is to be MINDFUL—to remain present with the movement, and with your breath.