In the yoga tradition, we are taught about the five kleshas, or the five reasons we don't experience ourselves as joyful and connected human beings all the time. This podcast episode outlines these five basic obstacles to bliss and gives some practical spiritual tools for overcoming them.

If you've ever felt anxious about teaching yoga, or guiding people through a transformative experience, then you have suffered from imposter syndrome.

Alanna talks about overcoming your fears and anxiety and ensuring you have everything you need to create the greatest impact possible with your gifts.

Whether you're a yoga teacher, astrologer, tarot reader, reiki master, or any other kind of spiritual leader, make sure you are armed with what you need to step into your full power and potential!

Carrie Montgomery, creative director and somatic stylist for nearly a decade, discusses the empowerment that comes from dressing based on how you need to feel, rather than how society thinks you should look. She talks about the importance of authenticity and agency in our personal brands and how dressing for success is truly an inside job guided by our heart and spirit.

Geneva Montano, a midwife for more than 20 years, discusses the power of putting the authority of pregnancy and birth back into the hands of women and removing the shame around birth. Learn more about the spiritual path of birth, how to connect with baby, and how to step into this work yourself if you feel called to dive into the wisdom of the womb!

As yoga teachers and spiritual leaders, we desire to help everyone ... but can we? The success of our business and the impact we are able to make on the world is contingent on our ability to clearly define exactly who we can help ... and how! In this podcast, Alanna discusses the importance of niching down and getting super clear on the audience you can best serve and the pain points you can best solve in their lives.

It happens to us all ... we become triggered by something life throws at us, and we can't get out of a negative, downward spiral. In this podcast, Alanna reveals the psychology and spirituality behind our negative mental chatter and mindset, and gives a simple, four-step process to turn your attitude around! Gain clarity, stress relief, and the perspective you need to see a way forward.

We all need answers to our biggest questions in life. As a spiritual leader and modern mystic, the best tool we have for getting those answers is with the tarot deck! If you've never considered this powerful method of divination, this podcast will explain why it works so well and help demystify it for you so that you can dig in and get the answers you need.

As spiritual practitioners, we engage in rituals regularly ... but are you aware of how ritual works, and how to make it work even more effectively? Through the power of proper ritual, we can usher our psyches into a new phase of being, creating potent and lasting transformation. Learn the parts of ritual and how to intelligently craft a ritual for the greatest change.

Astrology has been an age-old skill for mystics and spiritual practitioners. Astrology is psychology, and it gives us insights into our patterns, habits, and tendencies. Understanding astrology allows us to emphasize the highest expression of our true nature and manifest our fullest potential. The most important part of our natal charts are the sun, moon, and rising sign. Learn what these mean, and why they are such important elements of what makes you you!

We are more than just a body and mind. We are spirit, too! While modern psychology typically overlooks the spirit, we can reintegrate all the parts of our psyche through a deeper understanding of spiritual psychology. In this podcast, Alanna shares insights into spiritual psychology, the parts of the psyche, the importance of depth psychology, and weaves it together with an understanding of yoga philosophy, and modern alchemy.

More than ever before, yoga teachers and other spiritual practitioners are being called into spiritual leadership. People need guidance, and support on their biggest life questions: Who am I? What is my purpose? Am I on the right path? The spiritual leader is primed to provide this guidance, but proper training is required. Learn more about what skills and training you need, and how to step into your role as a spiritual leader.

In July of 2005, Alanna released her very first podcast. Over the years, this podcast has evolved and grown to serve the needs of the yoga, spiritual, and modern mystic community. Hear Alanna talk about her podcast journey, and the intentions for this new iteration of the program!

Yoga originates in India, and today flourishes in the West. Questions of cultural appropriation often arise within the spiritual community, and there is a great responsibility on the part of yoga teachers to address this. Raj Patra, owner of Yoga for Life Portland, helps us navigate cultural appropriation in yoga with grace and integrity.

In this time of social justice, equality, and inclusion, it is important for us as spiritual leaders to practice good allyship and stand in solidarity with our LGBTQ+ community members. Fellow yoga teacher and social activist, Jase Cannon, gives us great insight and suggestions on how to build more inclusive classes and community.

During this time of social justice and civil upheaval, our ability to practice non-violence in its most fundamental way empowers us to be agents of positive change. Learn how this practice changes your life, as well as those around you and gives you the resilience to always make the best choices for yourself and the world at large.

Abundance is such a buzz word! Does anyone know how to actually get it? The trick may surprise you, and run counter to what you've heard in new-agey circles. Discover the heart of abundance and how you can be a channel for more of it.

January is the perfect time to recommit to your spiritual practice. But, is your practice really working for you? In this podcast, Alanna goes through why your practice may not actually be working, how to make it work better, what it means for it "to work," and she shares the ultimate goal of yoga and spiritual practice. Starting on Jan 9, she leads the 28 day Total Transformation challenge, giving you the opportunity to commit to a practice that works for you and fits into your life! Join her here: https://alannak.securechkout.com/ttchallenge

December is our time for introspection and inquiry into the darkest parts of ourselves...and it's perfect timing because the Winter Solstice is upon us! The winter solstice on December 21st has long been celebrated by ancient people (and mystics!) as an important time both spiritually and psychologically. In this podcast, Alanna illuminates the darkness of this historic tradition, and gives it a modern context. She invites you to celebrate the solstice with her and get ready for the coming of the return to the light!

The holidays are here! Learn Alanna's 3 secrets to prioritizing self-care and surviving the season like a spiritual superstar. Even the mystics and healers forget to heal themselves once in a while, but this is no time of year to slack. It turns out that putting your well-being first actually facilitates your spiritual leadership skills, and allows you to tap in more deeply to your mystical practices!

Have you ever considered how important it is to take time and practice self-care in order to generate creativity and growth for your yoga business?

Alanna was reminded of this on a recent team retreat to Belize, and she wants to share her insights and three actionable tips that will help you shift your mindset and change the game immediately. Whether you are at the beginning of your yoga career, focusing on teaching as many classes per week as possible, or up-leveling your yoga biz to go online, this episode empowers and inspires you to put yourself first and prioritize your self-care for success!

Many teachers are never taught specifically how to develop a confident presence with the voice and use high-level communication skills to present not just movements…but meaning. These are skills we must learn, just like anything else in our practice. Most of us need additional work on our speaking skills.

If this is something we’ve never examined, then we have a tremendous amount to gain by taking a look at how we use our words to deliver the teachings that come from our heart.

In this podcast. Alanna teaches her most powerful and important speaking and cueing techniques that elevate you from good to great as a yoga instructor, and help you establish the kind of expertise necessary to differentiate yourself from the crowd.

Guided Gratitude Meditation!

At this time of division–whether it be the division between us personally, politically, globally, or socially–how do we begin to back out of separation and into connection? How do we let go of our judgments of others, or an us vs. them attitude, or forgive those who have wronged us?

We begin with gratitude. Gratitude alleviates fear. It dissolves painful emotion. It evolves negative thought. It reverses false belief systems. Gratitude is a miracle worker, and you can let it work for you.

This special edition of the Upward Facing Career Podcast features a guided gratitude meditation to elevate our hearts and souls and remind us of what is most important in life...each other.

Did you know that the chakras and astrology go together like peanut butter and jelly?

It turns out that each of our sacred energy centers (chakras) is ruled by a corresponding planet in the astrological system.

This podcast will go through each chakra and the associated planet and illuminate the *true* meaning of hatha yoga...the joining of the sun and the moon!

Listen for deeper insight into the chakras, astrology, yoga psychology, and how to achieve a greater level of health and wellbeing for yourself and your clients.

We chant Om all the time...but do you really know what it means?

Alanna takes you through the history, the mythology, and the power of Om in this podcast. You learn why it works, and why it is such an essential part of yoga practice and spiritual transformation.

We hear the term "alchemy" a lot these days, but what is it really?

The alchemical traditions go back hundreds of years, but they all represented one true aim: to reach the pinnacle of consciousness known as the alchemical opus. Turning lead into gold is the metaphor for transforming our darkened consciousness into enlightenment. Yogis have been endeavoring to do this for millennia!

As it turns out, alchemy is simply a Western form of yoga, one that holds deep mystery and true promise for the modern day spiritual leader.

In this podcast, Alanna reveals the fundamental principles of alchemy, covers its vast history, and provides you with ways to incorporate its practice into your teachings.

We are here to transform our students and ourselves. But, how do we do that?

If you've ever heard of Joseph Campbell, then you know the journey of the hero is a time-honored process by which the hero must pass through certain stages to reach success.

As yogis (and as human beings!), we must also pass through these stages to elevate our psyche and soul. Understanding the psychological journey of this transformative process is key to cultivating the resilience to go through it...start to finish.

This podcast reveals the stages of the journey of the hero, and it's importance in our lives as Modern Mystics and spiritual leaders.

Many of us equate the term "vinyasa" to a flowing series of yoga postures. Is that all it is?

In this podcast, Alanna busts through the misconception that vinyasa just means "flow" and talks about its application to our life and practice as yoga teachers. Modern psychology aids this discussion with its concept of flow state – the most productive and blissful mindstate that any of us can be in at any one time.

How do we, as yoga teachers, facilitate flow? How do we allow our classes to transcend the mundane focus of "vinyasa" on the body to the elevated meaning of vinyasa as a state of mind? Learn all about how to take your yoga classes to the next (flowing!) level with this podcast!

We all have rituals. But, are we conscious of them?

Our yoga classes provide a prime opportunity to create deeply transformational rituals for our students. But, are we doing that properly?

This podcast illuminates the necessary parts of a ritual, why ritual is so important for us right now, and how you can elevate your yoga classes to the level of transformational ritual. It is through ritual that humanity (throughout history) has elevated its consciousness, created community, and processed challenging events. This is something we can facilitate within ourselves and our students if we know the secret ingredients to creating powerful rituals in our classes!

The tarot deck may seem a far-fetched compliment to yoga, but actually, it is one of the best tools we can utilize to get answers for ourselves and our clients NOW.

If your students ask you big questions like, "what should I do about my relationship?" or, "Should I change jobs?" then having a skill like the tarot is perfect for giving your students the confidence they need to pursue their fullest purpose. We, as spiritual leaders, must think outside the box and serve our clients in a different way than traditional medical or mental health practitioners.

Stepping into our power as Modern Mystics necessitates a bigger repertoire -- one that goes beyond asana. This podcast will answer questions that center around how to hone your skills as a spiritual leader, why having a divination tool like the tarot is important, and why being able to serve your clients on a spiritual level is so critical right now.

As yoga teachers, we have a different kind of access to the body than other practitioners. This podcast reveals a new way to look at the body that will serve your clients beyond what they might hear from a traditional doctor or therapist. Learn to dig deeply for the root cause of discomfort or pain, and how our roles as spiritual leaders provide a different pathway to healing for our clients.

What is the mythology of yoga? Why is mythology important to spiritual practice? Our favorite yoga stories, and how to weave them into classes.

How do astrology & yoga go together? why is astrology a perfect compliment to yoga practice? how astrology up levels your career as a yogi, ways to bring astrology into your yoga practice

What is modern mysticism vs. ancient mysticism?, What are mystery schools?, what are mystical practices?, How modern psychology demands mystics to fill an aching need

Why thinking outside the yoga box is so important, Why it is NOT okay to be an impoverished yogi, how the system works against you, 3 things you can do NOW to make cash

What your TT never taught you about the chakras, how they are more than just colors & asanas, how you can use them to heal people on a different level.

What is spiritual leadership? Why you are more than a yoga teacher, what are the responsibilities of a spiritual leader, and is yoga teacher training enough? Join me as we dive deep into becoming a spiritual leader.

After a 10-year hiatus Alanna Kaivalya, the Yoga Doctor, is back. What's happened in the last decade? What can you expect from the new podcast? Learn about why spiritual leadership for yoga teachers is so important. Alanna goes into what she'll be teaching about on the podcast: yoga (of course!), alchemy, astrology, spirituality, ritual, and business. Her goal with this podcast is to provide you a resource that helps you step into your role as a spiritual leader. From actionable business advice, to wisdom on yoga philosophy, she'll be bringing it all right here to this podcast.