From Injuries to Insights: Navigating Healing in the Yoga World - with Dan Fanthorpe
Join us on an epic journey with our guest, Dan Fanthorpe, (an experienced Osteopath and Ashtanga yoga teacher) and we venture into the realms of yoga, healing, and the transformative power of community as we navigate the ups + downs of injuries in yoga.
This insightful conversation goes far beyond a discussion of physical injuries to explore the spiritual and emotional dimensions of the practice. Dan is an old friend from New Zealand, who we met in Mysore, India many years ago.
Of course due to his extensive background in the practice of yoga, he has special interest in treating back pain, postural problems, and those repetitive strain injuries we often develop from doing the same movements over and over again.
We explore the transformative impact of injuries, the emotional challenges practitioners face, and the evolution of yoga teaching. Russell (of course) shares his personal journey dealing with a hamstring injury, while Dan provides valuable insights into the holistic aspects of healing.
A highlight for me is when our conversation moves beyond the body and Dan inquires about our personal experience with "spiritual injuries." Those invisible wounds we carry when a teacher disappoints, a community fractures, and we're left to pick up the pieces of what we've made sacred, or leave them behind and heal what's left.
Some highlights from the episode:
15:45: What happens when we lose purpose in our practice? Russell discusses the mental shift after losing a significant practice motivator… his physical prowess and ability to achieve more difficult asanas.
28:12: Moving beyond the physical when it comes to healing and rebuilding: Dan emphasizes the importance of spiritual healing alongside physical recovery.
40:18: How has teaching yoga changed or evolved over the years? We explore the changing landscape of yoga teaching and its impact on students as well as teachers and our own personal practice.
Have you ever faced a spiritual injury or transformative moment in your yoga journey?
Let us know in the comments below or on Spotify.
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Connect with Russell
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The Finding Harmony Podcast is hosted and produced by Harmony Slater and co-hosted by Russell Case.
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