Episode 36 of We are Open Circle’s Beyond Listening Podcast saw James Boag come onto the show to talk about his journey from an English upbringing, to immersing himself in yogic philosophies and finding his animating spirit.
How yoga and other practices can help us to tap into our inherent capacity for change.
The philosophies, songs and experiences in life that awake James’ animating spirit.
Why studying language has been such a powerful tool in his journey through life.
James Boag is a yoga practitioner and teacher whose style is rooted in the classical yoga teachings of Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra-s, the Bhagavad Gītā, and the Purāṇa-s/Indian Mythology. A passionate student of life, James devotes himself to embracing traditions from all over the world.
Here are some of the key insights from the conversation...
Truly fulfilling education is about empowerment.
”Education means to draw out what is inside. Real education is about empowering you and bringing forth the gifts that are waiting to blossom within.”
Through trust, communication and respect we foster communal wisdom.
“When we gather in circle, if in the middle of the circle is something called truth, something called a bigger picture - we can only each see a little bit of it, but when we listen to each other, maybe we will see and hear and come to a recognition of a slightly fuller picture. And some of our blind spots can be illumined and we can help each other move forwards in a way that is actually more true because it's more in keeping with the magnificent roundness and wholeness of the womb of existence, of mother divine.”
Yoga leads us on a path of transformation!
”Yoga is a school of re-education or rehabilitation. It's a school for the rebel, you might say. The one who's going to muster the courage to face down the reality that I have allowed myself to adhere and get connected, joined to ideas that are actually impeding the expression of who I really am. And so, it's now up to me to break through those ideas in a non-violent way. To dissolve them by inviting myself into a way that allows the expression of more of myself. But when I do that, it is joyful. It does bring beauty... and it anneals me and fortifies me then, to deal with the pain and the loss and the suffering of life, a little bit more easily.”
