On this episode we check in with my friend Ashton Szabo. I met Ashton on my first trip to Koh Phangon in Southern Thailand for a yoga retreat at Pyramid Yoga in 2009. He was living across the way at the Mountain Hut. He's a great father and provides a wealth of knowledge utilizing classic yogic teachings with his own vibe to students across the globe. Him and his family are moving to Bali to open a Retreat Center. Thanks Ashton for sharing some time with our family. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a collab mantra track with Ashton's vocals of Ganapati mantra and the other guy laying down some supporting beats for a Ganapati & the other guy remix Enjoy everyone! Thank you all, tell your friends and if you have any guest ideas or know someone I should talk to, please send them my way! Having been involved with martial arts since the age of five, Ashton was first introduced to yoga by his Japanese jujitsu instructor, Stephen Copping, at the age of twelve. After a brief time exploring himself in professional mixed martial arts and teaching ju jitsu for two years, in addition to working as a massage therapist for more than six years, he decided to dive deeper into yoga and take his first yoga teacher training with Peri Ness in 2005 at the age of 25. Following a life changing trip to China to study esoteric Taoism, he decided to commit his life fully to yoga and the exploration of consciousness. He bought a one way ticket to Asia and travelled the world for the next six and a half years. After completing a 300 hour yoga training with David Goulet in 2006, he traveled to India to further his studies. Throughout the following years he spent significant time in India, Southeast Asia and South America, studying and practicing with yogis, saints and shamans. He returned to the United States with his family in 2012. Over the years, Ashton has been fortunate enough to study with other teachers like Paul Muller- Ortega (Shaiva Tantra), Mark Dyczkowski (Trika), Hareesh Wallis (Trika), Douglas Brooks (Sri Vidya), Christopher Tompkins (Shaiva Tantra), Acharya Virag Triphathi (Vedanta), Kavitha Chinnaiyan (Sri Vidya), Jules Mitchell (Biomechanics), Leeann Carey (asana), and Maty Ezraty (asana). He has also been heavily influenced by the work of Swami Lakshmanjoo, Alan Watts and Joseph Campbell. Ashton teaches authentic tantric yoga in a way that is accessible to the modern yoga student. His tantric hatha yoga classes introduce students to more profound aspects of yoga and invites them into deep intimacy with their true Self. These classes explore elements of mantra, pranayama, kriya, mudra, bandha, laya, asana and more. He offers additional learning through workshops, retreats, immersions and teacher trainings. He has been guiding yoga teacher trainings for nine years through his own school and has been guest faculty on over one hundred yoga teacher trainings all over the world. In 2021, Ashton will be opening the Alchemy Yoga and Meditation Center in Ubud, Bali.
