Podcast

December 1, 2020

The Influence of Myth in the Yoga Practice with Bernie Clark

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Welcome to the #PracticeWithClara Podcast, where Clara and Stephanie discuss philosophy, yoga, and all things related to the practice.

In this episode, we interview yoga teacher and author Bernie Clark to learn more about yin yoga and the power of myth.

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0:50

Introducing Bernie Clark

Meet Bernie Clark, a revered yin yoga teacher from the West Coast and author of several yoga books, including From the Gita to the Grail, a novel on Eastern Mythology.

5:00

What is Yin Yoga, and Why Practice?

Bernie touches on the benefits of a yin yoga practice, the need for balance in a society of ‘Yangsters,’ and the difference in training on the joints between yin and yang styles of yoga.

11:39

Leading Yin Yoga Teacher Training Worldwide

Bernie shares his story of how he taught yin yoga and how he learned from his teachers Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley.

19:00

Tips to Enhance Your Home Practice

Bernie shares his top three tips to enhance a home practice that includes alternative forms of exercise to increase strength, endurance, and mobility, in addition to flexibility.

21:41

Meditation and Inspiration from Thich Nhat Hanh

Bernie sheds insight into how meditation aids his yoga practice, with inspiration from one of his teachers Thich Nhat Hanh.

26:50

Meditation is Choosing to Live With Intention

Clara and Bernie share how meditation has shaped their lives through living with more intention in each moment of the day.

28:30

The Yin Mind, Navel Gazing, and the Brain

The power of daydreaming and what occurs when we stop thinking and slow down; Bernie sheds insight into the neurobiology of the brain and how we heal through REM sleep.

32:06

The Mysticism Associated with Physics

Having come from a physics background, Bernie shares how he came to study comparative religions, mythology, and spirituality and how these concepts relate to physics and psychology.

37:50

Debunking the Myths of Yoga

Bernie comments on some of the global myths of yoga that are unfounded and untrue yet continue to permeate as urban legends.

39:51

From the Gita to the Grail

Bernie shares how he was influenced by Joseph Campbell and the power of mythology and how he came to write his latest book, From the Gita to the Grail.

43:00

What Mythology Adds to the Practice of Yoga

Bernie shares how his teaching yin yoga and study of mythology have provided a landscape to delve deeper into specific topics of interest and learn more about the practice, philosophy, and mythology, which he then gives to his students.