Ep 133: Autumn Yoga for Yoga Teachers: Aparigraha, Vata & Grounded Balance 90 mins

Ep 133: Autumn Yoga for Yoga Teachers: Aparigraha, Vata & Grounded Balance 90 mins

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey while keeping their teaching skills sharp? This 90‑minute class-style episode is designed especially for yoga teachers who want space for their own practice as well as ideas for their students. Led by Morven Hamilton, the session is framed around autumn, Ayurveda’s vata season, and the yogic principle of aparigraha (non‑grasping).

You’ll hear Morven describe vata as light, cool and airy – a time that can be "really creative and energizing" but also "a little bit manic" – and she keeps returning to grounded, practical ways to stay steady when life feels busy or transitional. The practice itself is detailed and methodical, moving from seated work and breath into kidneys, through core activation, standing poses, balances and half moon, all the way to twists and restorative shapes on the floor.

Throughout, Morven keeps linking every movement back to clear pathways in the body: "draw a line from your sitting bones all the way down to your heels" becomes a repeated cue to build strong, reliable foundations. For teachers, the tone is like being in a mentoring circle: Morven openly says the class is "aimed at you to nurture your growth and your practice as a teacher" and offers it as inspiration for future lesson plans.

There’s plenty of language you can lift straight into your own classes, such as the simple sankalpa: "I take a breath and return to my heart." Stylistically, it’s calm, descriptive and gently humorous (there’s even a "floating camel"), with an emphasis on listening to the body rather than pushing into shapes. If you’re a teacher who’s juggling recovery, work and care for others, this slow, grounding practice might feel like a much‑needed reset.

So, how might your own teaching shift if you truly let go of grasping and keep returning to your heart?