Let's Talk Yoga

Hosted by Arundhati Baitmangalkar

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Episodes

249

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Let’s Talk Yoga is the podcast for yoga teachers, teacher trainers, and total yoga nerds who are ready to go way beyond the surface of this practice. Every week, host Arundhati Baitmangalkar — studio owner, teacher trainer, and one of Yoga Journal’s top 8 yoga teachers to watch in 2026 — digs into the real stuff: teaching methodology and sequencing, yoga philosophy and the Yoga Sutras, pranayama, restorative yoga, teacher training, and the yoga business conversations nobody else is willing to have. Arundhati has trained thousands of teachers around the world through her online school, and her teaching is rooted in the Indian tradition — specific, authentic, and built to actually last. That same depth and honesty shows up in every episode. Whether you just taught your first class or you’ve been on the mat for decades, there’s something here for you. Come for the yoga. Stay for the community. Subscribe and join thousands of teachers and students who are sincere about living this practice — not just doing it.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 1, 2026Episode 2401 hr 6 min

Is Yoga Alliance’s Era Ending? The CEO of the American Yoga Council Weighs In with Andrew Tanner

Is the yoga industry ready for a new kind of professional organization? Aru welcomes Andrew Tanner, CEO of the American Yoga Council, for an honest conversation about Yoga Alliance’s revised 2027 standards, competency-based credentials, cultural appropriation, and the challenges yoga teachers face in making a living. They also explore business support, mentorship, teacher retirement, and the future of yoga leadership. Episode Highlights: Andrew Tanner’s Journey with Yoga Alliance Building Trust in Yoga Organizations The Next Generation of Yoga Leadership Social Media and Yoga Influencers American Yoga Council’s Vision and Mission Competency-Based Yoga Teacher Credentials Yoga Standards vs. Standardization Cultural Appropriation in the Yoga Industry Professional Ethics and Accountability Challenges Facing Yoga Teachers Building a Sustainable Yoga Career Yoga Business and Studio Ownership Teacher Training and Yoga Specialization Yoga Alliance’s Revised 2027 Standards National Exams and Teacher Certification Financial Transparency and Giving Back Mentorship and Revenue Sharing Retirement Support for Yoga Teachers The Future of Global Yoga Organizations Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

October 25, 2026Episode 23946 min

Understanding Prana As A Practice of Body, Mind, and Breath with Prasad Rangnekar

What is prana beyond the breath? Aru welcomes yoga teacher and author Prasad Rangnekar back to Let’s Talk Yoga to explore his book, Prana: The Practice of Body, Mind, and Breath. They discuss prana as a lived experience rooted in Indian culture, the relationship between the individual and the cosmos, and how prana connects with the mind, sound, and everyday life. Prasad also explains Chitta Shuddhi, Prana Dharana, and the importance of cultivating aliveness before jumping into breathing techniques. Discover simple ways to connect with prana and bring a deeper, more experiential understanding to your yoga practice. Episode Highlights: Etic and Emic Approaches to Yoga Prana as a Lived Cultural Tradition Pinda Brahmanda Siddhanta and the Cosmos The Indian Worldview of Space and Time Connecting with Prana Beyond Breath Developing a Relationship with Prana Everyday Ways to Cultivate Prana Sound, Chanting, and Pranic Energy Chitta Shuddhi and Mental Purification The Mind as a Mirror Prana and Emotional Resolution Pranayama and Cultivating Prana Breath Communication Beyond Breathwork Prana Dharana and Energy Flow Prana, Apana, and Hatha Yoga Aliveness as a Practice of Prana Recognizing Energy Blocks Through Aliveness Thriving in Prana Before Technique Prana as a Sacred Relationship Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

October 18, 2026Episode 23829 min

A Confession and 5 Things That Make A Pose Truly Restorative

What makes a yoga pose truly restorative? Aru shares her journey from chasing challenging asanas to discovering the importance of deep rest. She explores the origins of restorative yoga, its roots in the Iyengar tradition, and the five qualities that make a pose restorative: support, stillness, warmth, silence, and darkness. Learn how these elements help the nervous system settle, why Mauna and sensory withdrawal matter, and how restorative yoga prepares us for unsupported Shavasana and a deeper experience of rest. Episode Highlights: Confessions of a Yogaholic Movement and the Goal of Stillness Understanding Restorative Yoga Restorative Yoga’s Iyengar Roots The Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Responses Support and Intelligent Prop Use Stillness and Proprioception Warmth and Nervous System Regulation Mauna and the Practice of Silence Pratyahara and Sensory Withdrawal Darkness and the Oculocardiac Reflex Restorative Yoga and the Five Koshas The Goal of Unsupported Shavasana From Doing Shavasana to Being in Shavasana Restorative Yoga Teacher Training Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

October 11, 2026Episode 23737 min

Munch, Sangha and How Communities Support Your Yoga

What exactly is a Sangha, and why does community matter so much in yoga? Aru explores the meaning and origins of Sangha, its relationship to Satsang, and the many traditional forms of community that have supported yoga over time. She also looks at what makes a genuine Sangha, what it is not, the shadow side of spiritual communities, and the importance of boundaries, agency, accountability, and sustained relationships in modern yoga. Episode Highlights: Defining Sangha and its origins Sangha, Satsang, and yoga Characteristics and purpose of Sangha Recognizing genuine Sangha Traditional forms of yoga community Guru Shishya Parampara and living transmission Kula, ashrams, and Gurukula Bhakti communities and spiritual practice Accountability, belonging, and collective knowledge What Sangha is not The shadow side of spiritual communities Teacher and student responsibilities Boundaries, agency, and discernment The Three Jewels and modern yoga Rebuilding meaningful community in yoga Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

September 27, 2026Episode 23653 min

Prenatal Yoga: What’s Safe, What Changes and What Actually Helps with Aparna Ramesh

What actually changes during pregnancy, and how should yoga teachers adapt their teaching? Aru talks with Aparna Ramesh about prenatal yoga across all three trimesters, balancing effort and rest, modifications, props, pranayama, sound, visualization, and the tools that can support a healthy and empowering pregnancy practice. Episode Highlights: Prenatal yoga intensity and effort Balancing effort and rest, and teaching beyond “listen to your body” The prenatal talk test Normalizing breaks in practice First trimester yoga practice Trimester changes and teaching considerations Second trimester strengthening Third trimester physical changes Heat and hot yoga risks First trimester practice focus Second trimester practice focus Third trimester practice focus Prenatal yoga in mixed classes Strengthening for pregnancy and motherhood Pelvic floor education and practice Third trimester modifications Props and creative modifications Lying on the back during pregnancy Prana and pregnancy Prenatal pranayama practices Prenatal chanting and sound Visualization during pregnancy and labor Yoga Nidra and sankalpa Teaching prenatal yoga with confidence Functional and non-ego-driven practice Building sustainable self-practice Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

September 20, 2026Episode 23547 min

What Yin Yoga Is Really Doing to Your Body with Vinay Jesta

What exactly is Yin Yoga, and how is it different from restorative yoga? Aru gets nerdy with Vinay Jesta about sensation, stillness, connective tissue, the meridian system, emotional awareness, and finding the right balance between Yin and Yang. They also discuss common teaching mistakes, practicing Yin online, and what to look for in a good Yin Yoga training. Episode Highlights: What Yin Yoga is and its place in the yoga tradition Yin Yoga vs. restorative yoga Sensation, stillness, and finding the appropriate edge Props, modifications, and working with different bodies Yin practice length, sequencing, and connective tissue Tension vs. compression and recognizing harmful sensations The role of verbal guidance in Yin The meridian system and Traditional Chinese Medicine Meridians, nadis, emotions, and the psychological aspects of Yin Stillness, self-observation, and meditation in Yin poses Yin poses, gravity, and different ways to practice Yin for injuries, pregnancy, and hypermobility Balancing Yin with Yang-oriented practices Common misconceptions and mistakes in teaching Yin Music in Yin classes Practicing Yin through online videos vs. with a teacher What to look for in a Yin Yoga training Balancing anatomy, skeletal variations, and energetic approaches in Yin Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

September 13, 2026Episode 23443 min

What Exactly Is Authentic Yoga? Here’s A Checklist

What does authentic yoga actually look like? Aru shares her personal checklist for examining the depth, roots, and transmission of your yoga practice and teaching. From lineage and Hinduism to pranic experience, sadhana, primary sources, and knowing what you don’t know, this episode explores why sincerity alone isn’t enough—and how we can move closer to authenticity. Episode Highlights: Feeling authentic versus being authentic Westernization and cultural drift Authenticity beyond Indian identity Hinduism and yoga literacy Origin versus transmission Social media as a red flag Platform size versus teaching depth Reach versus depth in yoga The content creator economy When content becomes teaching Churn in yoga offerings Social media versus real knowledge Adhikara and authentic transmission Knowing and tracing your lineage Guru Shishya Parampara and transmission Lineage versus compiled yoga Hinduism as working yoga literacy Sanatana Dharma and yoga roots Yoga texts and traditions Experiencing the pranic body Prana versus nervous system knowledge Pranayama and pranic understanding The pranic body in Hatha Yoga Deep study with teachers Having primary yoga teachers Sadhana beyond asana Personal practice beyond physical yoga Yoga practice versus transactional teaching Marketing culture and yoga communities Learning from primary sources Long-form study and contemplation Knowing the limits of knowledge Honesty about what you know Relationship with the sacred Non-instrumental spiritual practice Sincerity versus authenticity Closing the gap through practice Earning the right to transmit Self-reflection and authentic yoga Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

September 6, 2026Episode 23337 min

Lakshmi Maxxing: The Goddess of Wealth, Beauty & Abundance

A closer look at Lakshmi, Saraswati, Durga, Kali, and Parvati—and why these Hindu goddesses cannot be reduced to modern wellness trends, aesthetics, or manifestation tools. Aru explores cultural appropriation, Shakti, devotion, ritual, and what it means to engage with these traditions with greater depth and respect. Episode Highlights: The viral Lakshmi Maxxing trend Cultural appropriation in modern yoga Hindu goddesses and their symbolism Female goddesses and divine identity Understanding Shakti beyond feminine energy The goddess as divine reality Lakshmi beyond abundance and beauty The eight forms of Lakshmi Lakshmi and auspiciousness Lakshmi’s relationship with prosperity Prosperity within a dharmic framework Using wealth responsibly and ethically Saraswati and true knowledge Knowledge, discernment, and Viveka Durga and extraordinary divine power Durga beyond warrior woman stereotypes The power of feminine strength Kali, destruction, and transformation Kali and the dissolution of ego Kali, impermanence, and liberation Parvati and sustained devotion Parvati as practitioner and ascetic Living with Hindu goddesses Devotion versus transactional worship Offerings, gratitude, surrender, and ritual Everyday Hindu practices and reverence When sacred traditions become aesthetics Understanding cultural appropriation with discernment Learning from authentic sources What Lakshmi teaches beyond accumulation What Saraswati teaches about discernment Finding courage through Durga Transformation through Kali Embodying Parvati’s qualities The divine feminine beyond manifestation Approaching Hindu traditions with respect Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

August 16, 2026Episode 23254 min

Sankalpa: The Missing Piece in Your Yoga with Medha Bhaskar

What exactly is a sankalpa, and how is it different from an affirmation, intention, or goal? Medha Bhaskar joins me to explore the deeper meaning of sankalpa, how to discover one that truly resonates, and how it can become a guiding direction for our lives. Episode Highlights: Sankalpa’s meaning and place in yoga Sankalpa versus affirmations and intentions Sankalpa versus manifestation and goals Understanding SMART goals Discovering a deeper sankalpa Having one or multiple sankalpas Sharing a sankalpa publicly Sankalpa as a personal mantra Cultivating the feeling of sankalpa Different types of sankalpas Personal versus universal sankalpas Choosing the right sankalpa focus Moving beyond selfish sankalpas Measuring sankalpa progress Working through disappointment Using sankalpa with difficult intentions Finding and taking a sankalpa Using self-inquiry to discover sankalpa Writing, repeating, and wording sankalpa Choosing the right sankalpa language Using positive sankalpa statements Sankalpa as a healing practice Spiritual versus personal sankalpas Recognizing fear-driven sankalpas Do’s and don’ts of sankalpa Avoiding control and obsession Using universally applicable sankalpas Allowing sankalpa to evolve Using a single-word sankalpa Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!

August 9, 2026Episode 23153 min

Bandhas 101 - What Yoga Teachers Need to Know with Sandra Anderson

What are the bandhas, and why do they play such an important role in Hatha Yoga? Sandra Anderson joins me to explore the physical, energetic, and meditative purpose of Mula Bandha, Uddiyana Bandha, Jalandhara Bandha, and Maha Bandha, along with practical guidance for yoga teachers. Episode Highlights: Meaning and purpose of bandhas Bandhas in asana, pranayama, and meditation Understanding Mula Bandha Male and female differences in Mula Bandha Contraindications for Mula Bandha Understanding Uddiyana Bandha Avoiding excessive muscular effort Preparing the body for bandhas Teaching bandhas without labels Signs of effective bandha practice Understanding Jalandhara Bandha Jalandhara Bandha in pranayama Understanding Maha Bandha Yoga practice without bandhas Presenting energetic practices responsibly Teaching advice for yoga teachers Sandra's courses and resources Join our mailing list Find all the resources mentioned in this episode Follow Let's Talk Yoga on Instagram Connect with Aru on Instagram Subscribe to Aham Yoga on YouTube Let’s Talk Yoga Podcast on YouTube Leave us a review and share this podcast with your friends!