Deepen Your Yoga Practice

Lauren Leduc
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Deepen Your Yoga Practice is a podcast dedicated to helping you explore the many layers of yoga, both on and off the mat. Hosted by Lauren Leduc, founder of True Love Yoga, each episode delves into topics like anatomy, philosophy, meditation, and the deeper spiritual aspects of yoga. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your yoga journey, this podcast offers insightful conversations, expert interviews, and practical guidance to help you enrich and elevate your practice. Join us as we journey together to deepen our understanding and experience of yoga.

  1. 1 day ago

    The Beginner’s Mind: Why the More We Learn About Yoga, the More There Is to Discover

    What does it mean to truly know yoga? When Lauren began her first 200-hour yoga teacher training, she imagined she might finish with a firm grasp on the practice. Instead, the opposite happened: yoga became bigger, the questions became deeper, and the path of learning expanded. In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores the beginner’s mind and the paradox of mastery. The more we learn about yoga, the more we begin to recognize how much remains unknown. She discusses why certificates do not automatically equal wisdom, why advanced yoga is about much more than advanced postures, and how lifelong study can cultivate humility, curiosity, discernment, and openness. This episode is an invitation to release the pressure to arrive and embrace yoga as an unfolding relationship—one that continues to reveal new layers through movement, anatomy, philosophy, meditation, teaching, service, and life itself. Mentioned in This Episode True Love Yoga 300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training Enrollment for the next True Love Yoga 300-hour teacher training opens September 1. This program is designed for 200-hour graduates who want more than another certificate. It offers a place to ask deeper questions, refine teaching skills, expand knowledge, and continue growing within a thoughtful community of dedicated teachers and practitioners. The training is open to graduates of any 200-hour yoga teacher training program. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/yoga-teacher-training/

  2. 10 Aug

    Why Do Yogis Stand on Their Hands? What Arm Balances & Inversions Really Teach Us

    Why do yogis practice arm balances and inversions? Are these postures ancient traditions, modern inventions, or simply social media-worthy poses? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores the fascinating history and deeper purpose of arm balances and inversions in modern yoga. While many of these postures became popular through the influence of gymnastics and physical culture in the 20th century, their value extends far beyond the physical challenge. Lauren discusses how balancing on our hands teaches resilience, patience, body awareness, and self-study. Rather than focusing on mastering impressive shapes, these postures invite us to develop a growth mindset, cultivate courage, and discover the joy of play. Whether you've been practicing inversions for years or your feet have never left the floor, this episode offers a fresh perspective on why the process matters far more than the pose itself. Mentioned in This Episode Abhyāsa Posture Clinic: Balances, Arm Balances & Inversions Sunday, August 16 12:30–2:30 PM True Love Yoga We'll spend two hours exploring balancing postures, arm balances, and inversions through intelligent progressions that help you build strength, confidence, body awareness, and stability—regardless of your experience level. ✨ $30 ✨ TLY Members save $5 with code WORKSHOP ✨ Free for current Yoga Teacher Trainees Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/

  3. 3 Aug

    The Art of Letting Go: Understanding Vairāgya Beyond Detachment

    What if letting go isn't about caring less—but about seeing more clearly? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores vairāgya, one of yoga's most profound teachings. Often translated as non-attachment, vairāgya is frequently misunderstood as detachment or indifference. In reality, it offers a compassionate path toward freedom, acceptance, and inner spaciousness. Drawing from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Lauren explains how abhyāsa (steady practice) and vairāgya (letting go) work together to create balance in both yoga and everyday life. Through stories, philosophy, and practical tools—including yin yoga, myofascial release, calming breathwork, and nervous system regulation—this episode offers a timely invitation to soften your grip, especially during the busy, overstimulating days of late summer. Whether you're carrying physical tension, emotional overwhelm, perfectionism, or simply feeling mentally cluttered, this conversation will help you create space for clarity, peace, and renewal. In this episode you'll learn: What vairāgya really means in yogic philosophy Why non-attachment is different from not caring How practice (abhyāsa) and surrender (vairāgya) work together Why acceptance is more powerful than control The connection between letting go, the nervous system, and fascia Practical yoga practices to cultivate release and restoration Reflection questions to help you identify what you're ready to release Mentioned in this Episode Vairāgya: Cool, Clear & Restore Workshop True Love Yoga Sunday, August 9 12:30–2:00 PM An afternoon of: Myofascial Release Yin Yoga Cooling Breathwork Guided Reflection Yoga Nidra True Love Yoga members receive $5 off with code WORKSHOP. Learn more: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com

  4. 27 July

    The Spiritual Practice of Doing Nothing

    Why is it so difficult to rest—even when we're exhausted? In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren explores one of the greatest challenges of modern life: learning how to truly rest. Many of us have been conditioned to believe that our worth is tied to our productivity. We fill every quiet moment, struggle to slow down, and often wait until burnout forces us to stop. Yoga offers another way. Drawing from yoga philosophy, nervous system science, and the wisdom of the three gunas, Lauren explores why rest can feel so uncomfortable, how chronic hypervigilance keeps us trapped in "doing," and why true rest is a practice—not something we have to earn. This episode is an invitation to reconnect with your inherent worth, cultivate greater balance, and discover the profound practice of simply being. What You'll Learn Why resting feels so difficult for many people How productivity culture shapes our sense of worth The relationship between hypervigilance and burnout What yoga teaches about inherent worthiness The role of the three gunas in rest and balance Why rest is a practice rather than a reward Practical ways to begin cultivating intentional rest Reflection questions for slowing down with compassion In This Episode Productivity culture and self-worth Sat-Chit-Ananda Nervous system regulation Hypervigilance and chronic stress Burnout and recovery The gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas Abhyasa (consistent practice) Restorative yoga Meditation Intentional rest Spiritual practice of being Reflection Questions What stories do I tell myself about productivity? Do I believe I have to earn rest? What happens when I stop doing? Who am I when I'm not accomplishing? What would one small act of intentional rest look like today? Call to Action If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who may need permission to slow down. If you'd like to deepen your understanding of yoga philosophy, nervous system regulation, meditation, and embodied practice, learn more about our classes and teacher trainings at True Love Yoga. https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Listen to more episodes of Deepen Your Yoga Practice: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

  5. 20 July

    Why Your Energy Changes: Understanding the Three Gunas

    Why do some days feel calm and clear while others feel anxious, restless, or completely unmotivated? According to yoga philosophy, these shifting experiences aren't random—they're expressions of the three gunas, the fundamental qualities of nature described in the ancient Samkhya tradition. In this episode, Lauren explores one of yoga's most practical philosophical frameworks and explains how the gunas can help us better understand our energy, emotions, motivation, and patterns without judgment. Rather than seeing ourselves as "lazy," "anxious," or "unproductive," the gunas invite us to view our inner experience as changing weather patterns that can be observed with awareness and responded to skillfully. You'll learn how cultivating awareness—not perfection—can transform the way you relate to yourself. What You'll Learn What the three gunas are The origins of the gunas in Samkhya philosophy The relationship between Purusha and Prakriti How sattva, rajas, and tamas influence everyday life Why none of the gunas are "good" or "bad" Practical ways to balance excess rajas and tamas Why awareness matters more than optimization How yoga helps us witness changing internal states with compassion In This Episode The history of the gunas Samkhya philosophy Purusha vs. Prakriti Sattva: clarity, harmony & wisdom Rajas: energy, ambition & restlessness Tamas: stability, recovery & inertia Burnout through the lens of yoga Nervous system regulation Self-compassion instead of self-judgment Applying the gunas in everyday life Reflection Questions Which guna feels strongest in me today? Am I experiencing clarity, restlessness, or heaviness? What does my nervous system actually need right now? Can I observe my experience without identifying with it? What small practice would move me toward greater balance? Call to Action If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love to hear from you! Leave a review, share this episode with a friend, or send me a message about which yoga philosophy topics you'd like to explore next. If you're ready to dive even deeper into yoga philosophy, anatomy, meditation, and teaching, learn more about our 200-hour and 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs at True Love Yoga. https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Listen to more episodes: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

  6. 13 July

    What Your Yoga Teacher Wishes You Knew

    In this very special 100th episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc reflects on the heart of yoga after years of conversations exploring philosophy, anatomy, nervous system science, meditation, ethics, spirituality, teacher training, and more. To celebrate this milestone, Lauren asked True Love Yoga teachers and 300-hour trainees one simple question: “What is something you wish your students knew?” The answers were deeply aligned and beautifully human. In this episode, Lauren explores themes of belonging, self-acceptance, autonomy, breath, nervous system awareness, compassion, and the reminder that yoga is not about becoming perfect — it’s about becoming more honest, aware, and connected while fully inside your humanity. This episode is a love letter to students, teachers, community, and the evolving practice of yoga itself. In This Episode: Why you already belong in yoga spaces The importance of autonomy and modifying practices Self-acceptance as the practice itself Learning to listen to your body Why breath matters more than you think Yoga beyond perfectionism and productivity culture Consistency over intensity Compassion, awareness, and being beautifully human Mentioned in This Episode: Ahimsa (non-harm) Aparigraha (non-grasping/non-attachment) Ujjayi breath The Eight Limbs of Yoga True Love Yoga Teacher Trainings Practice Reflection Questions: What would it feel like to believe I already belong? Where can I practice more compassion toward myself? What is my body communicating to me lately? Am I approaching yoga as performance or relationship? What happens when I allow myself to be imperfectly human? Learn more about Lauren, classes, trainings, and retreats at: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Listen to more episodes of Deepen Your Yoga Practice: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

  7. 6 July

    Breath & Internal Power: A Conversation with Dr. Auburn Ellis

    In this episode, Lauren sits down with Dr. Auburn Ellis—an E-RYT 500, educator, and founder of Soul Yoga Fest KC—to explore the roots and power of Kemetic Yoga, breathwork, and inclusive practice. Together, they unpack how yoga evolves across a lifetime, how cultural lineage shapes practice, and how breath becomes a source of true internal power—on and off the mat. Dr. Auburn shares her journey from Chicago Public Schools teacher to yoga educator, her deep connection to Kemetic Yoga (rooted in ancient Egyptian traditions), and how her work bridges movement, history, art, and community care. This conversation is both grounding and expansive—inviting us to deepen our practice through awareness, curiosity, and connection. ✨ In This Episode, We Explore: What Kemetic Yoga is and where it comes from The role of geometry, breath, and alignment in this lineage How yoga evolves through different phases of life The meaning of internal power beyond physical strength Yoga as a global, evolving tradition Creating inclusive and accessible yoga spaces How to integrate yoga into everyday life (especially busy seasons) Upcoming Workshop with Dr. Auburn Ellis Breath & Internal Power: A Kemetic Yoga Workshop July 18 | 2:00–3:30 PM True Love Yoga (In-Person + Virtual) 1.5 CE Hours (Yoga Alliance Eligible) In this 90-minute experience, you’ll explore: Kemetic yoga postures + flow Breathwork (rule of four breathing) Journaling + reflection The connection between art, science, and the body ✨ Beginner-friendly | All levels welcome Sign up: https://www.trueloveyogakc.com/ Connect with Dr. Auburn Ellis Instagram: @dr_auburn Soul Yoga Fest KC – August 9 Teaching at True Love Yoga + YTT Continue Your Practice This episode invites you to ask: What does internal power mean in this phase of my life? How can I integrate breath into my everyday moments? Where can I expand my understanding of yoga’s roots? Listen + explore more: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com/

  8. 29 June

    Why Does Yoga Work? A Big Picture Exploration

    Why does yoga work? Not in the sense of magical claims or wellness hype—but genuinely, why do so many people feel better when they practice consistently? In this episode, Lauren explores the deeper mechanisms behind yoga’s transformative power through the lenses of nervous system regulation, breath, embodiment, ritual, movement variability, interoception, community, and spirituality. This conversation bridges modern physiology with ancient yogic wisdom and asks a larger question: What is it about yoga that continues to resonate so deeply across thousands of years and countless evolving forms? Lauren reflects on how yoga transformed her own life—not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, relationally, and spiritually—and unpacks why the practice continues to help so many people reconnect with themselves. ✨ In This Episode, We Explore: Yoga and nervous system regulation Breath as a bridge between body and mind Interoception and self-awareness Movement variability and embodiment Ritual, repetition, and meaning Community and co-regulation Spirituality, awe, and transcendence Why yoga is more than flexibility The modern relevance of yoga practice Why yoga creates lasting transformation for so many people Key Themes Nervous system regulation Breathwork and pranayama Embodiment and mindfulness Ritual and sacred practice Yoga philosophy and modern science Community healing Spiritual connection and awe Movement and emotional resilience ‍♀️ Mentioned in This Episode Lauren discusses: Yoga as a tool for regulation rather than perfection Interoception and emotional resilience The importance of ritual and predictability Co-regulation in yoga communities Why yoga is not “magic,” but still deeply powerful How awe and spirituality shape human experience Reflection Questions How does yoga work for you personally? What shifts when you slow down enough to listen inwardly? What parts of yoga help you feel most connected? Where in your life do you most need regulation, ritual, or community right now? Continue Your Practice Explore more episodes of Deepen Your Yoga Practice: Deepen Your Yoga Practice Podcast Learn more about classes, workshops, retreats, and trainings at: True Love Yoga

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About

Deepen Your Yoga Practice is a podcast dedicated to helping you explore the many layers of yoga, both on and off the mat. Hosted by Lauren Leduc, founder of True Love Yoga, each episode delves into topics like anatomy, philosophy, meditation, and the deeper spiritual aspects of yoga. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your yoga journey, this podcast offers insightful conversations, expert interviews, and practical guidance to help you enrich and elevate your practice. Join us as we journey together to deepen our understanding and experience of yoga.

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