Yoga Matters Podcast
Join an experienced yoga teacher and her skeptical yet curious husband as they explore the fascinating world of yoga philosophy and principles. This lighthearted yet deeply insightful podcast bridges ancient wisdom with modern life, through playful banter, relatable stories, and thought-provoking discussions. Emma and Andy aim to tackle a wide range of life affecting topics as well as the deeper meaning behind yoga — all while keeping it fun, engaging, and accessible for everyone, skeptics included! Perfect for couples looking to connect, learn, and laugh together.
Episodes
82 episodes
081 Mantra
In this week's episode we discuss mantra, one of the most ancient tools in the yogic tradition, and one of the most misunderstood. The word itself quite literally translates as "a tool for the mind". Not a magic spell, not a religious ritual - ...
080 Ganesh's Story
In this week’s episode, we explore the fascinating story of Ganesh, the beloved Hindu deity with the body of a man and the head of an elephant. We delve into the dramatic family incident that led to his unique appearance, uncover the reasons be...
079 the Yoga Sutras
In this episode, we discuss the Sutras - one of the most important texts in yoga philosophy. We introduce what the Sutras are, where they come from, and why they still matter. We look at how the text is structured across its four 'books', and w...
078 Four Seasons
This episode looks at the principle of the "four seasons" as a way of understanding every aspect of your life... A series of repeating cycles we move through in every aspect of our existence. Spring is where ideas take shape and seeds get plant...
077 Ojas (Ayervedic Vitality Immunity and Consciousness)
In this episode, we explore Ojas — the subtle essence of vitality in Ayurvedic practices, said to govern immunity, resilience, and clarity of mind. We look at what Ojas actually is, how it's said to be cultivated or depleted, and why it's consi...
076 Intro to the Ayurvedic Doshas
In this episode we take our first steps into the world of Ayurveda, one of the oldest systems of health and wellbeing on the planet... We discuss what are called the three doshas: kapha, pitta, and vata, which according to Ayurveda philosophy a...
075 Sleep Story - The Long Way Home
So this is a complete departure from our normal format... In this episode, Emma takes us on a gentle walking journey with a woman navigating the quiet chaos of a busy life — and what she discovers along the way about letting go, slowing down, a...
074 The Vayus (An introduction)
In this episode we discuss the five vayus, the directions of energy (or ‘winds’) that yogic philosophy says influence everything from your digestion to your sense of direction in life. We take a brief look at all five — prana, apana, samana, ud...
073 Abhinivesha (5 Kleshas)
In this episode, we tackle abhinivesha — the deepest and most primal of the five kleshas — and it might well be the one that hits hardest. This is the klesha of clinging to life (or the existence of something), the white-knuckle grip we have on...
072 Dvesha (5 Kleshas)
In this episode, we wade into the fourth of the five kleshas — dvesha - or aversion... From the emails you don't want to open to the people you silently avoid, you realise dvesha is everywhere once you start looking for it. We unpack what the y...
071 Raga (5 Kleshas)
This is the third of our five-part series on the kleshas — the afflictions Patanjali identified in the Yoga Sutras as the root causes of human suffering. Today we're looking at Raga — often translated as 'attachment', but also craving or graspi...
070 Asmita (5 Kleshas)
In this week's podcast we discuss Asmita, the second of the five Kleshas. Often translated as ego, and arguably the subtlest troublemaker of the bunch, it's the deeply human habit of confusing who we truly are with the roles, labels and stories...
069 Avidya (5 Kleshas)
This is the first of our five-part series on the kleshas — the afflictions that Patanjali identified in the Yoga Sutras as the root causes of human suffering. We're starting with avidya — often translated as ignorance, but more precisely: wrong...
068 Sattva (3 Gunas)
This is the final stop on our tour of the three Gunas, and we've saved the best until last... Sattva is the quality of clarity, lightness, and calm — think fresh air, a clear mind, and that rare feeling where everything just flows. But as with ...
067 Rajas (3 Gunas)
In this episode, we discuss Rajas, the second of the Gunas (the three fundamental qualities that, according to yoga philosophy, make up all of nature). Rajas is the quality of motion, drive, restlessness, passion and energy. If you ever find yo...
066 Tamas (3 Gunas)
Ever feel stuck, foggy, or like you just can't get moving? That might be Tamas at work. The Gunas are the three fundamental qualities that, according to yoga philosophy, make up all of nature — including our bodies, minds, and moods. In the fir...
065 Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss body)
This week we've reached the fifth and innermost layer: Anandamaya Kosha, the bliss body. This is pure joy, deep contentment, and connection to something bigger - and no, this isn't airy-fairy nonsense. This is what you touch in rare moments whe...
064 Vijnanamaya Kosha (the Wisdom Mind)
We're into the fourth layer of the 5 Koshas: Vijnanamaya Kosha, the wisdom mind (or body). This is intuition, deeper knowing, and that quiet inner voice that knows the answer before your thinking mind finishes arguing with itself. While Manomay...
063 Manomaya Kosha
This week we're diving into the third Kosha layer: Manomaya Kosha, the mental and emotional body (sometimes also referred to as the Monkey mind or Puppy mind). This layer represents your thoughts, feelings, memories, and that constant internal ...
062 Pranamaya Kosha
This week we're peeling back the second layer of the Koshas: Pranamaya - This is your vital energy layer, the invisible life force that animates your body (if your physical body (Annamaya Kosha) is the lightbulb, the Pranamaya Kosha is the elec...
061 Annamaya Kosha
Over the next five podcasts, we're diving deeper into the five Koshas - the five layers of being that yoga philosophy says make up who we are. This week we're starting with the outermost layer: Annamaya Kosha, the physical body. This is everyth...
060 Yoga Journeys
Breaking from our normal format for this one! Recorded live at our Costa Rica retreat, this episode features two retreat attendees sharing their personal journeys to discovering yoga. We explore how they found their practice, what kept them com...
059 Sahasrara (Crown Chakra)
In this episode we explore Sahasrara, the crown centre, which represents our sense of purpose, meaning, and connection to something greater than ourselves. From a psychological perspective, this is about how we find meaning in life, experience ...
058 Ajna (3rd Eye Chakra)
In this episode, we discuss Ajna, the third eye chakra, which is thought to be your centre of intuition, wisdom, inner knowing... and your sixth sense. Whether you view this as a spiritual concept or simply as your capacity for insight and self...
057 Vishuddha (Throat Chakra)
In this episode, we explore the throat chakra, Vishuddha, which is thought to be the energy centre of communication and self-expression. We dive into how this area of psychology governs not just how we speak, but how we listen and connect with ...