Ashish Arora on Teaching Yoga in the West and Honoring Yoga’s Roots

Ashish Arora is a yoga teacher based in Seattle, Washington, originally from Delhi, India, and currently leading teacher trainings and retreats around the world. In this episode we delve into the art of teaching, what tradition actually means in the context of yoga, yoga philosophy, and navigating cultural appropriation as a yoga teacher. Ashish also shares tips for remembering your students' names and finding your teachers. If you're a yoga teacher thinking deeply about why you teach, where the practice comes from, or how to bring more joy into the practice, this episode is for you!

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Time Stamps: 

00:00 intro

01:40 OfferingTree

3:41 presence while teaching

5:33 tips for remembering your students’ names

10:06 growing up in India

15:01 laughter breathwork

17:11 the vastness of yoga

19:20 peacock pose & joy

23:45 finding your teachers

28:16 tradition in yoga

37:40 breath & energy

42:22 what is your definition of a yogi?

46:32 cultural-appropriation in yoga

55:57 what is our responsibility as yoga teachers?

59:55 rapid fire questions 

01:03:17 billboard question