In this enlightening podcast, Paul Olko, a practitioner of Taoism and Chinese medicine, shares his passion with Avi for introspective personal healing. He explores health through the lens of the five elements—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and financial—emphasizing balance and living in harmony with nature. Paul discusses the importance of cultivating oneself like a garden, using practices like Taoist meditation and the I Ching to foster self-awareness and gratitude. He highlights the power of simplicity, moderation, and embracing paradoxes, such as letting go of the need to know to gain true wisdom. Paul also reflects on building community, setting boundaries, and the transformative impact of aligning with one’s authentic self.

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Paul is a naturopath, herbalist, and Asian bodywork therapist. He has been associated with the Ni Family Traditional practices since 1989, and travels each year to study with the family to advance his own practice. He is certified by the Chi Health Institute of the College of Tao in the Ni Family's 18 and 28 Step Harmony-Style Tai Chi, Taoist meditation, Tai Chi staff, and 8 Treasures Qi Gong. He has been a Yoga teacher since 1972. He lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he has an active practice in the healing arts and teaches Taoist movement arts on a regular basis.

For more information about Paul and his practice in Charlottesville, Virginia: https://greenlakehealing.com/

Keywords: Taoism, Chinese Medicine, Holistic Health, Personal Healing, Five Elements, Meditation, I Ching, Self-Cultivation, Gratitude, Spiritual Wellness, Nature Connection, Balance and Harmony, Community Building, Mindfulness, Simplicity

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In this profound podcast episode, Krishna Das, the renowned kirtan singer, sits down with Integral Yoga director Avi Gordon to share insights on navigating the subjective nature of reality, the power of spiritual practice, and the art of letting go of ego. From exploring the influence of his Guru to embracing life’s challenges with presence, Krishna Das offers wisdom on cultivating inner peace and compassion. He reflects on the interconnectedness of all beings, the importance of daily practice, and how suffering can be a motivator for transformation. This conversation is a heartfelt invitation to live with gratitude and awareness, perfect for anyone seeking deeper meaning and connection.

"Practice is the most important thing. It's dropping an anchor into the ocean. And then when the winds blow you this way and that way, you're not blown around too much.”

~ Krishna Das

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Few figures in modern spirituality, particularly in the West, have impacted the hearts and minds of contemporary seekers as Krishna Das has. A devotee of the North Indian Saint, Neem Karoli Baba (Maharajji), Krishna Das has played an enormous role in popularizing the traditional practice of kirtan in the West, taking the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and temples and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling western chant artist of all time. In a career spanning more than two decades, KD has released 16 acclaimed full-length albums, his music serving as an easily approachable gateway to the devotional traditions of the East. Along the way, he has evolved into an accessible if somewhat reluctant teacher, and a spiritual friend to many. He travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and stories of his life on the Path, of Maharajiji, and advocates for bringing regular spiritual practice into our lives through retreats and workshops. During COVID times he has chanted online every week for the worldwide satsang.

More information on KrishnaDas.com.

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Join Swami Ramananda, a renowned Integral Yoga teacher, as he shares profound insights on finding peace in chaotic times through spiritual practice. From his Kentucky roots to his transformative journey with Swami Satchidananda, discover how yoga, meditation, and karma yoga cultivate resilience amid global challenges like injustice and political unrest.

🕉️ Key Wisdom from Swami Ramananda:

“A regular habitual spiritual practice on a daily basis is a great foundation for dealing with anything that comes up in life.”

“Make peace in your heart first and then you can be a presence for that.”

“The universe isn’t interested in smooth sailing, the universe is interested in challenging us to make us wake up.”

“Even when I’m meditating, when I’m practicing, that energy, hopefully a very peaceful loving energy, is radiating out into the world. So it’s not even that that is not doing anything.”

Explore the power of community, selfless service, and inner balance in this inspiring conversation. Like, share, and subscribe for more spiritual wisdom!

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction

00:55 Spirituality in a Chaotic World

06:12 Daily Spiritual Practice

11:53 Karma Yoga Explained

18:59 Swami Ramananda’s Early Life

43:49 Meeting Swami Satchidananda

1:05:40 Lessons in Karma Yoga

1:08:26 Aging and Spiritual Community

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Swami Ramananda, C-IAYT, E-RYT 500, is the Executive Director of the Integral Yoga Institute in San Francisco, C-IAYT, and a greatly respected senior teacher in the Integral Yoga tradition who has been practicing Yoga for over 45 years. Ramananda offers practical methods of integrating the timeless teachings and practices of Yoga into daily life and transforming the painful aspects of human experience into steps toward realizing one’s full potential.

He leads beginner, intermediate and advanced-level Yoga teacher training programs in San Francisco and offers a variety of programs in many locations in the U.S., Europe and South America. Ramananda co-developed the Stress Management Teacher Training program with Swami Vidyananda, has trained many teachers to bring Yoga into corporate, hospital and medical settings, and has taught mind/body wellness programs in many locations. He is a certified Yoga therapist and founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, a national registry that supports and promotes yoga teachers as professionals. He co-founded The Spiritual Action Initiative (SAI), which brings together individuals committed to working for social justice for all beings and for the care and healing of our natural world. His warmth, wisdom and sense of humor have endeared him to many.

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