In this conversation, Tamika and Ashley dive into discourse with author, yoga educator and practitioner, Anjali Rao who delves into yoga as a form of embodied resistance, the intersection of academia and practice, and the importance of feminist history in yoga. This conversation traverses the historical and cultural contexts of yoga, exploring the roles of caste, gender, and colonialism in shaping yoga practices and narratives. Tamika, Ashley, and Anjali discuss the importance of feminist perspectives in understanding yoga history, the need for authentic relationships in yoga communities, and the complexities of cultural appropriation versus appreciation. They emphasize the significance of trust and solidarity in addressing these issues and the necessity of acknowledging the contributions of marginalized voices in yoga.

Buy Anjali's new book -- Yoga as Embodied Resistance-- a must read for any yoga practitioner and curious human.

In this conversation, Tamika and Ashley discuss the importance of Self-care, boundaries, and the work involved in collective liberation with Lama Rod Owens. The dialogue explores the intersection of activism and spirituality, the significance of ancestral connections, and the complexities of freedom. Tamika, Ashley, and Lama Rod reflect on the labor involved in healing and the necessity of setting boundaries to create conditions for growth and collective liberation.

Subscribe to Lama Rod's newsletter for wisdom delivered to your inbox.

Lama Rod's Books:

In this between the seasons episode, Ashley and Tamika chat about practical application of yoga philosophy and TCM to navigate today's challenges, the changing body, and knowing when to STFU and mind your business.

References: Ayurveda, Five Element Theory from Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Nelly Furtado / Serena Williams drama, Buddhist concept of empathetic joy vs. jealousy, and John Kabat-Zinn's Wherever You Go, There You Are.

Ashley and Tamika sit down with priest and friend, Rev. Ryan Hawthorne to discuss how to take care of oneself in extraordinary, challenging times, especially when you're in the business of spaceholding for others.

Although Ryan spent some time at a small school called Princeton to explore and obtain her divinity degree, ​The Rev. Ryan Hawthorne is a lifelong Texan that revels in the great joy of raising Noelle, a super cool middle schooler. Ryan loves exploring ministry and theology on the edge and at the intersections of race, class, and gender/sexuality. In her free time Ryan enjoys exploring Houston and any activity involving water.

Books & authors mentioned: All About Love by Bell Hooks, the Parable series by Octavia E. Butler

**CONTENT WARNING** This episode of This Is Not Tea contains discussions of drug addiction, disordered eating and body dysmorphia. Please take care while listening.

This week, Ashley and Tamika are thrilled to welcome long-time friend and ally, Sarah Ezrin to the podcast! Sarah is a prominent figure in the yoga and wellness community, and author of the book ‘The Yoga of Parenting’.

In this conversation, Tamika and Ashley sit down with Sarah to find out what fueled Sarah with the necessary audacity to come out and talk openly about her unpolished life and mental health realities.

They also unpack some of the unfair weighted (literally) expectations placed on yoga teachers, what happens when they decide to challenge that expectation and how they’re combating the toxic body image messages that are rampant in Yogalandia.

Find all things Sarah Ezrin at her website SarahEzrinYoga.com and on Instagram @sarahezrinyoga

Buy her book The Yoga of Parenting

And snag her FREE Yoga of Parenting Toolkit

Follow Ashley and Tamika, as well as the podcast on Instagram and YouTube.

Visit Yoga with Ashley

Tamika's Substack: Soul Garden

High gratitude to Pixel Punisher for the intro beats. Outtro beats: Back in to the Toxic by Joint C Beat Laboratory Free Music Archive Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)

This week Tamika and Ashley are flying solo and exploring the complexities of the Ego, the value of learning from an experienced teacher, and the downsides to assuming that “all folk are kinfolk”. They also discuss the idea that Peace is resilient and doesn’t require us to be in a particular Place to achieve it — rather it’s a state of being.

Follow Ashley and Tamika, as well as the podcast on Instagram and YouTube.

Yoga with Ashley website Tamika's Substack: Soul Garden

High gratitude to Pixel Punisher for the beats.

In this episode, Tamika and Ashley welcome to the show welcome to the show the incomparable radiant rest queen, teacher and founder of Empowered Life Circle, Tracee Stanley.

Tracee Stanley is the author of the bestselling book Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity and The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices & Rituals to Remember Who You Are (Shambhala Publications). Tracee is the founder of Empowered Life Circle, a sacred community and portal of practices, rituals, and Tantric teachings inspired by more than 28 years of studentship in Sri Vidya Tantra and the teachings of the Himalayan Masters. As a post-lineage teacher, Tracee is devoted to sharing the wisdom of yoga nidra, rest, meditation, self-inquiry, nature as a teacher, and ancestor reverence. Tracee holds certificates from Pacifica Graduate Institute in Advanced Eco-Therapy, New Thinking, Best Practices, and Emerging Modalities and a certificate in Advanced Ecopsychology. Tracee is gifted in illuminating the magic and power found in liminal space and weaving devotion and practice into daily life. Learn more at traceestanley.com.

Tamika, Ashley and Tracee get candid about their personal experiences in the Yoga community and explore the concepts of radiant rest, self-care, and community engagement, particularly within the context of Black women and femmes.

Tracee also shares paradigm-shifting wisdom from her bestselling books Radiant Rest: Yoga Nidra for Deep Relaxation and Awakened Clarity and The Luminous Self: Sacred Yogic Practices & Rituals to Remember Who You Are.

Mentioned in the episode:

Favorite teas that offer calming and restful effects: blue lotus, chamomile, Gateway to Spirit livingtea.net

Free yoga nidra practices with Tracee may be found here. Find all things Tracee Stanley at her website Traceestanley.com and on Instagram @tracee_stanley

Buy her books: The Luminous Self and Radiant Rest

Follow Ashley and Tamika, as well as the This is Not Tea Pod on Instagram and YouTube.

Yoga with Ashley website Tamika's Substack: Soul Garden

High gratitude to Pixel Punisher for the beats.

In this conversation with sound therapist and yoga educator, Shawn J. Moore, Tamika and Ashley delve into cultural identity, healing practices, and sound therapies while navigating exoticism, tokenism, and appropriation. They also discuss recontextualizing healing practices, and the importance of understanding the roles of representation, privilege, and intersectionality within the healing spaces.

Dive into this honest conversation to explore collective expansion, and self-actualization, and more.

Find all things Shawn Moore at his website ShawnJMoore.com and on Instagram.

Buy his new book, Sound is my Sanctuary to go beyond the surface of sound healing.

Follow Ashley and Tamika, as well as the This is Not Tea Pod on Instagram and YouTube.

Yoga with Ashley website Tamika's Substack: Soul Garden

High gratitude to Pixel Punisher for the beats.