8 Limb Life; A Yoga Podcast

Andra with Sun Studios
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

8 Limb Life is a podcast about living The Eight Limbs of Yoga in the reality of everyday life. It is designed as a companion for yoga teachers-in-training who are studying yoga philosophy, but it's wisdom meets you whether you’re an experienced yoga teacher, a student, or someone simply trying to live with more awareness and intention. Each episode explores one aspect of the path—not just what it means, but how it shows up in conversations, relationships, habits, and most importantly, in the way we meet ourselves.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    A Practice of Yoga Nidra

    Yoga Nidra is often translated as "yogic sleep," but it is truly a practice of conscious rest—a chance to relax the body while remaining gently aware. In a world that constantly asks us to do more, this guided practice offers something different: permission to simply be. Over the course of twenty-five minutes, you'll be guided through a traditional Yoga Nidra practice using breath awareness and a rotation of consciousness through the body. Whether you're looking to reduce stress, support deep relaxation, improve sleep, or simply reconnect with yourself, this practice invites you to slow down and return to the stillness that has always been within you. Find a comfortable place where you won't be disturbed, settle in, and allow yourself to be held by the practice. No experience is necessary—only a willingness to rest.

    25 min

  2. 6d ago

    Tapas

    Tapas is often translated as discipline or effort - or simply heat. It is the quiet, steady fire that transforms us—not through force, but through consistent practice. In this episode of 8 Limb Life, we explore the deeper meaning of tapas as the sacred heat that supports awakening. Together we'll look at the ancient alchemical metaphor of turning lead into gold, the role of sadhana (daily spiritual practice), and why real transformation rarely comes from dramatic moments, but from the small choices we make every day. If you've ever struggled to stay committed to what matters, wondered why change can feel uncomfortable, or longed to become more fully yourself, this conversation offers a compassionate perspective on the fire that shapes a meaningful life. Because tapas isn't about becoming someone new. It's about allowing the fire of practice to reveal who you've been all along.

    16 min

  3. Jun 28

    Santosha

    In this episode of 8 Limb Life, we explore Santosha, the yogic principle of contentment. In a world that continually encourages us to strive for more, Santosha invites us to pause and discover the possibility of enoughness right here, in the midst of ordinary life. Through stories, reflections, and wisdom from teachers and poets such as Ram Dass and Mary Oliver, we'll consider what it means to be fully present for our lives—meeting both joy and disappointment with openness, gratitude, and grace. Santosha is not about settling or pretending that life is always easy. Rather, it is the practice of making peace with this moment, just as it is, while remaining open to life's unfolding. Join us as we explore how contentment may not be something we find someday in the future, but something quietly waiting for us in this moment.

    18 min

  4. Jun 22

    Saucha

    We often think of cleanliness as something external—a clean kitchen, a freshly swept floor, a shower at the end of the day. But the yogic practice of Saucha points to something deeper. In this episode of 8 Limb Life, we explore how the spaces around us often mirror the state of our inner world, and how simple acts of care can become opportunities to return to the present moment. We consider what happens when cleaning becomes a meditation, when we stop rushing through daily rituals, and when we begin to notice the subtle ways clutter accumulates not only in our homes, but also in our minds. Saucha is not about creating a spotless life. It is about gently clearing away what obscures our natural steadiness and peace. Like polishing a mirror or washing dust from a window, the practice helps us see more clearly what has been there all along.

    13 min

  5. Jun 14

    Meditation Inspired by The Yamas

    Welcome to a guided meditation inspired by the wisdom of The Yamas. Allow yourself to be guided through a simple practice of breathing in and breathing out. Nothing to do. No one to become. Simply resting in awareness.

    12 min

  6. Jun 14

    The Niyamas

    The Niyamas are five personal observances from the yogic tradition that offer a path toward greater clarity, contentment, and self-understanding. While often presented as ancient philosophical concepts, their real power lies in how they shape everyday life. In this episode, we explore the five Niyamas—Saucha (purity or cleanliness), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (discipline or heat), Svadhyaya (self-study), and Ishvara Pranidhana (surrender)—through stories, practical examples, and reflections on modern living. From clearing physical and mental clutter to cultivating gratitude, building healthy habits, examining our patterns, and learning to let go of what we cannot control, these teachings invite us into a more intentional way of being. Poem: The Guest House from The Essential Rumi; translated by Coleman Barks The Guest House This being human is a guest house.Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness,some momentary awareness comesas an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all!Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,who violently sweep your houseempty of its furniture,still, treat each guest honorably.He may be clearing you outfor some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice,meet them at the door laughing,and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes,because each has been sentas a guide from beyond.

    19 min

  7. Jun 7

    Aparigraha

    What if the things weighing us down aren't just the possessions we own, but the stories we carry about who we are? In this episode, we explore Aparigraha, the yogic principle of non-grasping, and how attachment can show up in surprising ways—not only through material things, but through identities, expectations, achievements, and old narratives about ourselves. Together, we'll examine why the mind clings so tightly, what yoga teaches about the ego's search for certainty, and how the wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita invites us to loosen our attachment to the fruits of our actions. Through stories, reflection, and practical examples from modern life, we'll consider what becomes possible when we stop trying to hold everything so tightly. Perhaps the practice of letting go is not about losing anything at all, but about discovering what remains when our grip softens. A quiet invitation to release, trust, and return to the freedom that has been there all along.

    16 min

  8. May 31

    Brahmacharya

    In this episode, we explore brahmacharya beyond the common idea of celibacy or restraint, and into its deeper meaning: the wise use of energy. Through stories, yogic philosophy, and reflections on the nervous system, we look at what happens when we live too far from our natural rhythm — and how practices like rest, awareness, and discernment help bring us back into balance. We also explore the Buddha’s teaching of the Middle Path: a way of living that avoids both excess and harsh self-denial. Rather than suppressing desire or withdrawing from life, this episode asks a quieter question: how do we stay connected to ourselves while fully participating in the world? Together, we reflect on overstimulation, vitality, boundaries, the vagus nerve, and the difference between depletion and devotion. Whether your energy tends to move outward like fire or inward like a quiet flame, this conversation is an invitation to listen more carefully to the rhythms that sustain you

    20 min

  9. May 24

    Asteya

    What does it really mean to steal? In this episode, we explore Asteya, the yogic principle of non-stealing — not just in the obvious sense, but in the subtle ways it shows up in modern life. It is human to compare, envy, copy and seek approval, however if we never shine the light of awareness on these strategies, we never have a chance to heal them. Through stories, reflection, and everyday examples, this episode looks at how Asteya invites us back to contentment, integrity, and trust in our own path. Because often, the urge to take from others comes from the fear that we are not enough.

    22 min

  10. May 17

    Satya

    What does it mean to live truthfully in a world built on performing?In this episode, we explore Satya — the yogic principle of truthfulness — not as harsh truth, but as a deep alignment between what we feel, what we say, and how we live. We explore the themes of people-pleasing, grief, loneliness, and the stories we tell ourselves to stay comfortable. This conversation looks at the subtle ways we abandon truth in order to belong. Satya invites us back to what is real — imperfect, human, and deeply alive.

    18 min

  11. May 10

    Ahimsa

    Ahimsa, often translated as non-violence, is more than just avoiding harm—it’s a way of being in relationship with ourselves and the world. In this episode, we explore how ahimsa shows up in everyday moments: in our thoughts, our words, and our choices. This is a gentle invitation to notice where we might be causing harm, even unintentionally, and how small shifts toward compassion can ripple outward. Excerpt Shared From: The Eight Limbs of Yoga; A Handbook for Living Yoga Philosophy by Ray Sarbacker and Kevin Kimple Poem Following the Episode: Poem of the One World by Mary Oliver Additional Reading: The Yamas and Niyamas; Exploring Yoga's Ethical Practice by Deborah Adele

    19 min

  12. May 3

    The Yamas

    This episode explores The Yamas, the ethical foundation of Yoga philosophy, as a set of practical, lived principles rather than abstract ideals—guiding how we speak, act, and show up in relationship with others. Through real-life examples and honest reflection, it looks at what it means to practice non-harm, truthfulness, integrity, moderation, and non-grasping in everyday moments—especially when it’s uncomfortable—and how these choices quietly shape the kind of person we become.

    18 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

8 Limb Life is a podcast about living The Eight Limbs of Yoga in the reality of everyday life. It is designed as a companion for yoga teachers-in-training who are studying yoga philosophy, but it's wisdom meets you whether you’re an experienced yoga teacher, a student, or someone simply trying to live with more awareness and intention. Each episode explores one aspect of the path—not just what it means, but how it shows up in conversations, relationships, habits, and most importantly, in the way we meet ourselves.

Information

  • Creator
    Andra with Sun Studios
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Andra with Sun Studios
  • Show Website
    8 Limb Life; A Yoga Podcast