Episode 66 Part 1 How the AIDS/HIV epidemic started my journey to Accessible Yoga with Jivana Heyman

In this episode, Jivana Heyman shares his transformative journey with yoga and why he became a passionate advocate for accessibility within the practice. Discover:

• How the AIDS epidemic and personal loss ignited Jivana’s path to making yoga inclusive for all.
• Why Jivana believes the traditional, rigid approach to yoga alienates people and misses the essence of the practice.
• Controversial question: Is mainstream yoga more about appearance than genuine connection?
• The challenges he faced in teacher training, and why he thinks accessible yoga is actually the most advanced form of practice.

This conversation dives into yoga’s role in supporting people facing life’s toughest battles, like illness and grief, and challenges what many think of as "real" yoga. Tune in for a thought-provoking look at what true inclusivity in yoga really means.

Learn more about Jivana

Jivana Heyman, C-IAYT, E-RYT500, is the founder and director of Accessible Yoga, an organization dedicated to increasing access to the yoga teachings and supporting yoga teachers. 

He’s the author of Accessible Yoga: Poses and Practices for Every Body; Yoga Revolution: Building a Practice of Courage & Compassion; and The Teacher's Guide to Accessible Yoga: Best Practices for Sharing Yoga with Every Body. 

His books, classes, and trainings support yoga teachers and yoga therapists in finding ways to bring creativity and collaboration into their teaching while still respecting the ancient yoga tradition. Learn more at jivanaheyman.com

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