Asana Kitchen Podcast

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**Asana Kitchen Podcast**

Ashtanga yoga teacher certified by founder, 1996. Creator of Asana Kitchen. Author of Ashtanga Yoga Pradipika — launching June 21, 2026. www.ashtangarevolution.com

Latest Episodes:

Kleshas: Overcoming the 5 Causes of Pain Jan 21, 2023

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Kleshas: Overcoming the 5 Causes of Pain by David Garrigues

Discovering Your Self Beyond Thought Sep 26, 2022

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In this podcast you will hear some creative perspectives on the Yoga Sutras: -YS 1, 2 Yoga Citta Vrtti Niroda--Union arrives when the field of the mind is cleared of thoughts -YS 1,3 Tada Drastuh Svarupe Avastham--Then the yogi finds his own peculiar way of seeing the world in its sacred entirety *Classic and alternative definitions of each individual word of the above Sutras. *Discussion of the important progression: vrtti—pravrrti—nirvrrti—in other words I discuss the necessity to use the intermediate step of Pravrtti or higher thoughts to go from the ordinary thinking mind (Vrtti) to a state of where all thought ceases (Nirodha) *Using a poem from the Bauls of Bengal (Gypsy Poets of India), I discuss learning to let go of needing to have it all and embrace your small, yet vital station in life *With a poem of Kabir, I discuss the necessity to trust the greater cosmic forces of the universe that are beyond your control *A small reading from James Hillman pertaining the concept of Svarupa—Intrinsic Essence *Discuss the connection between growing psychologically as an individual and attaining a more universal, all-inclusive spiritual perspective on your life. *A few pithy lines from the Yoga Vashistha on the importance of Self effort in charting your path through your life

Equanimity Aug 08, 2022

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Equanimity by David Garrigues

How are Yoga and Fitness Related? Jun 22, 2022

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In this lively, informative podcast I discuss the connection between fitness and yoga. Topics include: 1)The idea that doing physical exercise is detrimental to or has nothing to do with yoga 2) The idea that pure movement or pure sport or pure physicality of any kind can reach up the spiritual. 3) The idea from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika that Hatha yoga (ie doing poses, breathing exercises, and bandhas) is designed to be a support for those who are constantly engaged in the practice of yoga–and how this theme relates to the practice of hatha yoga and fitness 4) The relationship between these 3 things: A) The deepest consciousness that yoga is all about B) Hatha yoga (practice of postures etc) C) Physical Fitness 5) The possibility that there is a necessity to engage in supplemental fitness practices in order to support an intense practice of asanas. I also discuss the following quotes from the sacred texts in terms of their relevant to the subject of the connections between yoga, hatha yoga, and physical fitness: "Self is… “the breathing behind breathing, the sight behind sight, the hearing behind hearing, the thinking behind thinking --the first – the ancient.” Brhadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4. 23 “With the mind alone one must behold it— Here, there is nothing diverse at all! from death to death he goes, who sees here any kind of diversity. As just singular must one behold it— immeasurable and immovable. The Self is spotless and beyond space, unborn, immense, and immovable. By knowing that Cosmic Person, a wise Yogi should obtain insight for himself. But, let him not ponder over a lot of words; it just tires the voice!” Svetasvatara Upanishad ch 2, verse 5 “When she keeps her body straight, with the three sections erect, and draws the senses together with the mind into her heart, a wise woman shall cross all the frightful rivers with the boat consisting of the fully realized vision of Self.” Yoga Vashista Ch 6

My 10 Day Rice Fast Apr 29, 2022

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You can’t become complacent about any aspect of your life if you want to remain at your best. It’s so easy to slip into habits in the routine things you do, like your diet, practice and the thoughts you think. It’s common to ignore signs of sickness and become complacent. In this podcast David discusses that when you finally face you’re in pain and you’re suffering that’s when you need to simplify, break your habits, and embrace constant change and the unknown. The challenge of constantly pushing forward, learning, growing, and engaging in the evolution of yourself means sacrifice is needed. You have to give up things you become familiar with and attached to. And that process needs to continue for your whole life. That’s the recipe for health.

Hatha Yoga and Bhakti Poetry, A Great Duo Feb 19, 2022

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In this Podcast you’ll find the following themes • I discuss the inspirational and insightful relationship that exists between Hatha yoga and Bhakti (Devotional) poetry. • I talk about the connections that I’ve made between my practice and poetry throughout my yoga journey from the beginning and all along the way up to the present. • I recite poems from my new book entitled: Ecstatic Discipline, 57 Poems for Lovers of Hatha Yoga, and also from my favorite Bhakti Poets including: Kabir, Lalla, and Baul Poets • I talk about different ways that the physical asana practice, poetry, and yoga philosophy come together and compliment each other.

How to use props, modify, and customize your practice Jan 14, 2022

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In this Podcast I discuss the following positive facts about using props and modifying: 1) Props (modifying) helps you build strength and flexibility by enabling you to specifically target desirable actions, movements, or position 2) Props (modifying) help you better align your skeleton 3) Props (modifying) help you stay in poses longer with more ease 5) Props (modifying) help you work more safely and protect your body. 6) Props (modifying) help you break difficult poses into smaller, logical steps so you can progress in your own way on your timeline. 7) Props (modifying) help you pinpoint what has value in doing a pose and strive for excellence where it really counts. 8) Props (modifying) help you learn more about how to do a pose and open yourself up to its many possibilities for creative expression. I also briefly address Ashtanga Yoga's unfortunate taboo against props or modifying and point out some of the wrong ideas commonly embraced within the culture of Ashtanga concerning props. The list of untruths about props discussed include; 1) If you use props or modify you aren’t doing real Ashtanga. 2) Using a prop or modifying is a sign that you are weak or stiff or lack skill or are incapable. 3) You only use a prop or modify because you can’t do a pose 4) A prop is a crutch and becoming dependent upon it makes your practice worse over time. 5) Only older or injured or incapable students benefit from using props or modifying. 6) Props or modifications aren’t needed to practice hard poses safely or to protect your body from harm-- short and long term. 7) The ideal student doesn’t use props or the less the better. 8) The advanced student doesn’t use props or modify, but rather strictly follows all the poses and Vinyasas of each series without deviation.

Dear DG, Question and Answer Nov 19, 2021

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In this podcast, David answers students questions. 2:20 - I've got a question about pranayama. I've done your Ashtanga Pranayama Sequence video course, and I just want to clarify things with the Jalandhara Bandha position? 5:42 - Practicing with scoliosis or disc problems. 13:44 - Dear david, i feel fear when I attempt backbends like Kapotasana and drop backs. Through practice it has gotten better, and I wonder if I could further work with the fear by using any type of visualization or mantra to help to get through that fearful state and trust that I’ll be okay. 17:26 - What’s your yoga advice for mid 50s practitioner that’s currently spending more time with sitting meditation. I do get on my mat but with shorter asana practices for the time being and only full practice on the weekends. It feels right but I do want to keep a minimum maintenance asana practice, not worrying, and keep doing what feels right at the time. 22:58 - How do you recommend taking responsibility for your practice without having a studio or a teacher in person? 26:18 - The process when you feel extreme inertia in practice, what do you do? 34:00 - May I chant like a martial artist does during a strike right before executing a vinyasa to help me address my near end of practice inertia? 36:25 - A question about fasting. 38:25 - David, do you practice at the same time everyday? 39:20 - David, do you practice first thing in the morning? 39:50 - David, do you practice more than once a day? 44:44 - David, how long do you typically practice? David ends the podcast with poems.

Do Your Practice and All Is Coming??? Oct 13, 2021

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In this podcast I discuss the often misinterpreted Ashtanga saying: “Do your practice and all is coming”. I go into detail about the different important meanings of Abhyasa, the Sanskrit word for practice, and probe into how to derive optimal physical and spiritual benefits from your daily efforts. TOPICS I DISCUSS INCLUDE:  *deliberate practice vs how just practicing a lot is not effective in developing skills or mastery. *10 years as a possible minimum number of years to become fully established in an effective practice. *how natural ability (talent or physical ability) doesn’t account for success in practice or in yoga *the most important skill that can be taught by the teacher is HOW to practice, how to set manageable and appropriate goals, to identify steps in a progression, and to monitor the success or otherwise of the practice strategies. *How at home practice is most successful if the teacher gives specific instructions about what needs to be worked on, how to do it, and what the results should be like. *How systematic approaches yield better results than free practice. *to the question “what to practice?” One answer is to repeat a difficult passage many times until mastery is achieved. This means learning to work on a series in shorter fragments (called fragmenting or chunking) rather than just doing an entire series all the way through with 5 breaths in each pose everyday. *Concept of metacognition. The quality of practice can be gauged by the level of self regulation and ‘metacognition’. Self awareness includes not only technical knowledge of the poses but also of issues related to the learning itself, such as concentration, planning, monitoring, and evaluation. Self monitoring includes reflecting on what you are doing, how you’re doing it, and having the ingenuity to consider alternative approaches. *Intensity in practice is related to the student’s personal interest in a particular pose or aspect of practice. Self initiative as a main driver of one’s practice is essential for motivation and enthusiasm. You determine what to focus on based on your interests and tastes; this is at least as important as following a prescribed syllabus or strictly following external rules because ‘that’s the way it's done’. SPIRITUAL MEANINGS *Discussion of the following spiritual meanings of the word practice in yoga: 1) Effort of the mind to remain in its unmodified condition of purity, or 2) Inculcation of a truth conveyed in the sacred writings by means of repeating the same word or the same passage. SACRED TEXTS *I cite two little exchanges between teacher and student that come from sacred texts (see below) and discuss possible connections between your daily practice and the spiritual teachings found in the texts.

New Ideas for Adjustments in Ashtanga Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

In this podcast I speak how, in Ashtanga yoga, physical adjustments have been the exclusive means of correcting a pose whereas giving verbal cues or using props to adjust have been tabooed or discouraged. Experience has shown that significant harm or imbalance results from giving only physical adjustments and that is why I discuss the need for a new paradigm of adjustments that calls for the teacher to have skill enough to work with a balanced combination of all three of these excellent means (physical, verbal, and props) of altering or changing a pose.

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