Deepen Your Yoga Practice

Lauren Leduc
  • 5.0 (6)
  • FITNESS

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. 16H AGO

    Practicing Without Pedestals: Rethinking Spiritual Authority

    In this tender and nuanced episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores the structure of spiritual leadership — and what happens when charismatic teachers fall from grace. Every few years (or lately, every few days), a spiritual teacher, wellness figure, or thought leader becomes entangled in allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, or ethical breach. When their work has meant something to us, that moment can feel disorienting. This episode is not about amplifying headlines. It’s about examining something deeper and more enduring: Where did the guru–student model originate? How did ancient lineage-based mentorship evolve into modern celebrity spirituality? Why does spiritual authority feel regulating to our nervous systems? What is projection, and how does it distort teacher–student dynamics? What are common red flags in hierarchical spiritual communities? How can non-dual language be weaponized to bypass accountability? What does healthy spiritual leadership actually look like? How do we practice devotion without dependence? Lauren explores the psychology of projection, the risks of pedestal dynamics, and how both teachers and students can become distorted within unchecked hierarchy. She offers six ways to practice yoga without slipping into unhealthy guru culture: Keep your agency Diversify your teachers Trust your nervous system Value community over charisma Separate teachings from personality Maintain critical thinking Yoga has always been about liberation. Mature spiritual practice does not require blind faith — it requires discernment, humility, and the willingness to stay human.

    16 min

  2. MAR 30

    Training Awareness: Interoception, Proprioception & Yoga

    In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores two often-overlooked senses that transform yoga from movement into embodiment: interoception and proprioception. Interoception is your ability to sense what’s happening inside your body — breath, heartbeat, hunger, emotional sensations, effort versus strain. Proprioception is your ability to sense where your body is in space — balance, alignment, movement, orientation. Lauren breaks down: The neuroscience of interoception (insula, emotional awareness, nervous system regulation) How proprioceptors in muscles, fascia, and joints act as your body’s internal GPS Why trauma, stress, and digital overload can disrupt these senses How yoga retrains embodied awareness Why these skills matter for safety, longevity, emotional regulation, and aging well Practical ways to build interoception and proprioception on and off the mat Teaching tips for cueing sensation over shape This episode invites you to pause and ask two simple but profound questions: How do I feel? Where am I? Because yoga is not just about movement. It’s about awareness.

    14 min

  3. MAR 23

    The Kleshas: Yoga’s Map of Human Suffering

    In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores the five kleshas — the root causes of suffering described in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Book II, Sutras 3–9). These ancient psychological insights, compiled around 400 CE and influenced by Samkhya philosophy, offer a powerful framework for understanding why we repeat patterns, cling to identities, avoid discomfort, and fear change. Lauren unpacks: What the kleshas are historically and where they appear in the sutras The five kleshas: Avidya (misperception), Asmita (ego-identification), Raga (attachment), Dvesha (aversion), and Abhinivesha (fear/clinging to life) How they show up in modern life — social media, productivity culture, politics, parenting, wellness culture, and relationships Why the kleshas are not sins, but universal human tendencies How meditation, self-study (svadhyaya), non-attachment (vairagya), and conscious pause help loosen their grip This episode is not about self-judgment. It’s about compassionate awareness. The kleshas are proof you are human — not failing at yoga. Freedom, Lauren reminds us, is not removing suffering from the world. It’s loosening the grip suffering has on your perception.

    16 min

  4. MAR 16

    The Throat Chakra: Speaking with Clarity and Integrity

    n this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores the throat chakra (Vishuddha) — the energetic center of expression, authenticity, and refinement. Rather than approaching the throat chakra as a mystical abstraction, Lauren presents it as a deeply practical bridge between the heart and the mind — where inner truth becomes outer speech. You’ll learn: The traditional symbolism of Vishuddha (ether element, blue color, seed mantra HAM) How the throat chakra relates to the nervous system and vagus nerve Signs of underactive and overactive expression The connection between posture, neck tension, breath, and voice tone The role of mantra, chanting, humming, and sound in regulation Satya (truthfulness) and Right Speech in yogic philosophy On- and off-the-mat practices to cultivate aligned communication Shadow work prompts for authentic self-expression How throat chakra work supports leadership and legacy This episode is an invitation to refine how you speak — not to speak louder, but to speak clearly, kindly, and in alignment with your values.

    13 min

  5. MAR 9

    Spring Cleaning for the Energetic Body

    In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores what it means to “spring clean” the energetic body — in a way that is philosophically grounded, nervous system informed, practical, and free from magical thinking. Spring is traditionally associated with renewal, circulation, and momentum. In Ayurveda, it is kapha season — characterized by heaviness, dampness, and stagnation. In yoga philosophy, it is a time to invite renewed prana flow. Lauren unpacks: What the subtle or energetic body includes (prana, nadis, chakras, koshas) A modern interpretation of energetic health (nervous system tone, emotional residue, digital overstimulation, thought loops) Signs your energy body may need clearing Five practical ways to “spring clean” your energy: Clearing physical stagnation through movement Breathwork for energetic reset (Kapalabhati, Bhastrika, Ujjayi, long exhale breathing) Emotional composting (shadow work and integration) Attention hygiene (digital and cognitive detox) Ritual and intention reset (saucha and sankalpa) You’ll also hear chakra-specific spring reset ideas for those following the chakra series. Spring cleaning isn’t about becoming someone new. It’s about removing what blocks who you already are.

    16 min

  6. MAR 2

    What Does “Engage Your Core” Really Mean?

    In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc breaks down what it actually means to “engage your core” in yoga. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about abs or holding your breath. Lauren walks you through: What muscles make up the core (hint: it’s not just your six-pack) The difference between bracing vs. hollowing Breath-friendly strategies for core engagement How and when to use Uddiyana and Mula Bandha Why breath retention = strain, not yoga Core cues for common yoga poses Red flags for gripping, bracing, or over-cueing Special considerations for pelvic floor, pregnancy, low back pain, and more This is a must-listen for yoga teachers and curious students who want to move with more intention, stability, and breath. You’ll leave with clearer language, deeper understanding, and core strategies that support long-term practice.

    22 min

  7. FEB 23

    Is Modern Yoga “Real” Yoga?

    In this solo episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc explores five of the most commonly repeated myths about yoga history—and offers a clearer, more honest perspective in their place. Drawing inspiration from Doug Keller’s Yoga History course, Lauren dives into the real roots of yoga, from Vedic texts and Śramaṇa traditions to modern postural yoga. She explains how yoga evolved over centuries as a diverse family of practices—not a single, unchanging system—and how understanding its historical complexity deepens our personal and teaching practices. If you’ve ever wondered where yoga really comes from, or questioned how modern vinyasa fits into an ancient lineage, this episode will challenge, inspire, and expand your view. Sources  Mark Singleton, Yoga Body: The Origins of Modern Posture Practice (OUP).  James Mallinson & Mark Singleton, Roots of Yoga (primary sourcebook).  Geoffrey Samuel, The Origins of Yoga and Tantra (Cambridge).

    15 min

  8. FEB 16

    The Science of Stretching: Flexibility, Function & Fascia

    In this episode of Deepen Your Yoga Practice, Lauren Leduc breaks down the science of stretching—what it is, how it works, and how to make it safer and more effective within your yoga practice. Learn about the role of your nervous system, fascia, and five key types of stretching (static, dynamic, active, passive, and resistance/PNF), and walk away with tools to stretch mindfully and intelligently. Lauren also addresses common myths (like “more flexibility is always better”) and explores how strength supports long-term flexibility and joint stability. Whether you're a yoga teacher or curious practitioner, this episode offers valuable insight to support a sustainable, well-rounded practice. What You’ll Learn: The role of the nervous system in stretching What fascia is and how to support it Five major types of stretching (and how to use them) How stretching helps (and doesn’t help) prevent injury Why strength is essential for flexibility Hypermobile bodies and how to support them Why yoga is more than stretching Reflection Questions: Where might strength support your flexibility? Where do you feel safe to soften? Mentioned: Yoga Sutra 2.46: Sthira Sukham Asanam PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) Fascia hydration and load adaptation Nervous system tools for safe mobility Listen now: https://deepen-your-practice.castos.com Explore More: Learn about Lauren’s 300-hour YTT at True Love Yoga Follow Lauren on Instagram: @laurenleduc Check out Lauren’s book: Embody Your Inner Goddess

    13 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

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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