What does it really mean to be a good yoga student? In this conversation, I sit down with Medha Bhaskar to explore the framework described in the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika for cultivating a meaningful yoga practice. We talk about the importance of understanding the principle before the process and how the mindset we bring to our practice shapes what we learn from it.

Medha walks us through the Badhaka Tattvas (the habits that weaken a practice) and the Sadhaka Tattvas (the qualities that strengthen it), while reflecting on how these classical teachings apply to modern yoga students and teachers. From boundaries and energy management to perseverance and self-awareness, this conversation offers a grounded look at what it means to truly grow through yoga.

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika, its historical context, and its role as a practical manual within the broader body of classical yoga texts.
• Understanding the difference between principle and process in yoga practice, and why focusing only on techniques can lead to a narrow understanding of yoga.
• Exploring the mindset of a yoga student and why self-awareness and intention matter more than simply showing up to practice.
• The Badhaka Tattvas and the six behaviors described in the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika that diminish practice, beginning with overconsumption and excess sensory input.
• How overexertion and constant striving can weaken a practitioner’s energy and lead to imbalance.
• The impact of excessive talking and scattered communication on focus, clarity, and the integration of learning.
• Why rigid rule-following without reflection can create guilt, imbalance, and disconnection from the purpose of practice.
• The role of over-socialization and lack of boundaries, including how modern lifestyles and digital engagement affect a practitioner’s focus and energy.
• The final diminishing factor: inner instability and scattered attention, and how it can lead to burnout, confusion, and lack of direction in practice.
• Shifting to the Sadhaka Tattvas, the qualities that nourish and strengthen a yoga practice.
• The importance of enthusiasm and genuine interest in sustaining long-term engagement with yoga.
• Why courage and perseverance are necessary when confronting personal limitations and challenges on the mat and in life.
• Developing discernment and clarity in understanding the deeper principles behind yoga practices.
• Cultivating commitment and steady resolve to remain engaged in the process of self-inquiry and growth.
• The role of mindful association and supportive community, while still maintaining independence and personal responsibility for one’s path.
• Reflecting on how yoga evolves from something we do into something we become, shifting from practice as action to practice as a way of being.

Prana & Presence: An Immersive Week of Yoga, Stillness & Soulful Study in Southern Italy
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Teaching mixed level classes can feel overwhelming, especially when your students are all at different stages in their practice. In this episode, I share simple, practical ways to structure your classes, offer options, and create a more inclusive and confident teaching experience.

Episode Highlights:

• Mixed-level classes are the norm and should be approached with that mindset
• The distinction between mixed-level and all-level classes
• The importance of shifting from sequence-focused to student-focused teaching
• Building sequences that include a variety of pose categories
• Why full-body sequencing works better than peak pose sequencing in mixed classes
• Including standing poses, balances, backbends, twists, seated, supine, and inversions
• Using progression and regression options for every pose
• Maintaining a middle path that supports both beginners and experienced students
• Why themed sequencing is more effective than peak pose sequencing
• The importance of developing strong pose literacy
• Offering benefit-based alternatives when poses are not accessible
• Setting expectations at the beginning of class to normalize options and autonomy
• Encouraging students to move at their own pace and take ownership of their practice
• Using props as an essential teaching tool for accessibility and adaptability
• How mixed-level classes can build trust, community, and long-term student engagement

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Are we actually studying yoga, or just consuming it? In this episode, I explore the traditional frameworks that shaped authentic yogic learning and why modern education often skips the foundations. If you’re serious about deepening your practice beyond certifications, this conversation will shift your perspective.

Episode Highlights:

• The difference between modern yoga education and traditional teacher-student learning
• Why student qualification (Adhikari Bheda) mattered before receiving teachings
• The method of progressive revelation (Arundhati Darshana Nyaya)
• Traditional classifications of yoga students in Hatha Yoga
• The threefold process of learning: listening, reflection, and deep assimilation
• The three valid means of knowledge outlined in the Yoga Sutras
• The four foundational qualifications for serious spiritual study
• The structure and progression of the four chapters of the Yoga Sutras
• Kriya Yoga as a practical framework for disciplined study
• Why slowing down and refining your approach changes everything

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