Guys Talking Yoga Derek Vanderwarker

Ever wondered what it would be like to roll out a yoga mat on your lunch break and check in with your body? Today’s show was recorded at Triangle Manufacturing, a company that encourages just that.

My friend and former guest Larry Milburn was brought in to start a yoga program at this medical device manufacturing firm, and today he introduces us to two company leaders who made it happen: CEO Dax Strohmeyer and VP of Finance Jeff Simon.

In a way, Triangle is the perfect case study for yoga in the workplace because their team includes both people who are on their feet all day doing physical work, as well as people who work mostly seated at desks.

As you’ll learn in this episode, both types of employees crave movement. And both have experienced profound benefits from these twice-weekly sessions with Larry. Triangle’s yoga program contributes to a “culture of wellness,” and it’s a model other companies would be wise to consider.



The guys also talk about:


How and why the company brought in Larry to teach yoga
What yoga has done for workplace camaraderie
Dax’s experience with yoga as a former professional football player
Jeff’s experience as a newcomer to yoga
How yoga and mindfulness make Dax a better leader

Links: 


Triangle Manufacturing: https://www.trianglemfg.com/
Larry’s episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5MwCEEmXeWFMjEb5R35boY
The Kula Collective, where Larry teaches: https://www.thekulacollective.org/
Dax’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dax-strohmeyer-6a5b171b5/
Jeff’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-simon-b077b350
All Guys Talking Yoga episodes: https://gtypodcast.com/

Casey McBride is a longtime yoga practitioner and teacher who specializes in working with men and young male athletes.

She joins us to talk about how she found her way to that niche; common themes she sees among yoga-curious men; using props; and how yoga helps her athletes gain strength and avoid (and recover from) injuries.

Casey also talks about:


The “underground revolution” of young athletes using yoga to gain strength and mobility
Her advice for guys just starting out with yoga
Why your ego is the enemy of a great yoga practice
Why physical therapy alone often doesn’t do the job
The meaning of her mantra “do just enough” and how that mindset helps her students stay healthy

Links:


Casey’s Instagram
Kaia Yoga (Casey teaches at New Canaan and Darien)

Today we have a 3-man episode, with two friends of the show joining me to go beyond downward dog and dive into the more philosophical and contemplative side of yoga. 

The subject is dharma: what it means to us, why it’s so important, and how to pursue it alongside other guys who share similar values. 

Put simply, dharma is about maintaining a practice or a program that grounds you in the present and keeps you focused on what’s actually important to you. And in my experience, yoga is an extremely powerful tool do just that.

Richard and Johnny also talk about:


What brought them to yoga and mindfulness
“Dharma bombs”: sudden moments of awareness
Bringing yourself back to the moment when you’re lost in thought
Kinship and camaraderie among guys pursuing similar spiritual paths

Links: 


Episode 19 with Johnny Gillespie
Episode 38 with Richard Driscoll
Empowered Wellness Studio, Johnny’s yoga studio

Ever wondered why I’m so motivated to spread the good word about the benefits of yoga to guys everywhere? This episode lays it all out.

That’s because today the mic is turned on me, as I’m interviewed by my good friend Larry Milburn, on his excellent podcast Roadie Free Radio. 

I share how it all started with an injury to a muscle I barely knew existed, which led to a lot of physical and mental pain. That’s when things got interesting…

I also talk about:


The injury that led me down a path of loss and growth
Making the decision to take responsibility for my own recovery
My early experiences with Bikram yoga
How injuries from decades ago come back to haunt us guys
Getting started with Iyengar yoga
Training with Alison West at Yoga Union
My advice for getting started with yoga
The mat and props I recommend

Links:


⁠Jade Yoga mat⁠
⁠Yoga Union⁠
Man Flow Yoga⁠
Yoga with Adriene⁠
Dark Star - Live at the Fillmore by Grateful Dead⁠⁠
One Simple Thing: A New Look at the Science of Yoga and How It Can Transform Your Life⁠ by Eddie Stern
Roadie Free Radio⁠, which is currently on pause – but I encourage you to check out Larry’s previous episodes, which feature stories from the people working behind the scenes in the film and music industries.

Ed Harrold is a health and performance coach, yoga teacher, and the author of Life with Breath. 

In this episode, he shares how he came to yoga and breathwork as a stressed-out, “broken” middle-aged guy battling physical and psychological demons; how those practices have completely transformed his health and fitness; and how you can start down the same path today.

Ed also talks about:


The science of breath and the dangers of shallow breathing
The anatomy of the the psoas, diaphragm, lungs, and ribcage
Where to start if you want to change the way you breathe
How he gained flexibility strictly through breathing exercises
Managing your energy throughout the day through mindful breathing

Connect with Ed: 


Website: www.edharrold.com
Ed’s book, Life with Breath: IQ + EQ = New You
Ed’s Breath AS Medicine Trainings (Use code “Stream” for 20% OFF): https://www.edharrold.com/breath-medicine-elearning-trainings 
A Year Of Breathing (Same promo code): https://edharrold.inspire360.com/edharrold/a-year-of-breathing
The Breath Source App: https://thebreathsource.app/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ed_harrold/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edharrold/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edharroldgobegreat/
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmYrluRdfY_Tw52C9MqlQxA

We’ve heard from a lot of guys about how yoga has helped ease their back pain, work through stress, or improve their relationships.

Today’s episode has those elements, but it’s also something else entirely: the story of Darnell “Moe” Washington, a former gang member who found yoga while serving a sentence of 35 years to life in prison.

It’s the third and final episode in our Prison Yoga Project series, and it’s one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show.

You’ll learn how Moe connected with former GTY guest James Fox while at San Quentin; the mental and physical capabilities he developed through his practice; and how yoga and mindfulness helped him gain his freedom and prepare for the rest of his life.

Links: 


Prison Yoga Project
Donate to the Prison Yoga Project
Listen to Part 1 of our Prison Yoga Series with James Fox here Bill Brown here