Today we have a 3-man episode, with two friends of the show joining me to go beyond downward dog and dive into the more philosophical and contemplative side of yoga.  The subject is dharma: what it means to us, why it’s so important, and how to pursue it alongside other guys who share similar values.  Put simply, dharma is about maintaining a practice or a program that grounds you in the present and keeps you focused on what’s actually important to you. And in my experience, yoga is an extremely powerful tool do just that. Richard and Johnny also talk about: What brought them to yo ..read more

Ever wondered why I’m so motivated to spread the good word about the benefits of yoga to guys everywhere? This episode lays it all out. That’s because today the mic is turned on me, as I’m interviewed by my good friend Larry Milburn, on his excellent podcast Roadie Free Radio.  I share how it all started with an injury to a muscle I barely knew existed, which led to a lot of physical and mental pain. That’s when things got interesting… I also talk about: The injury that led me down a path of loss and growth Making the decision to take responsibility for my own recovery My early expe ..read more

Ed Harrold is a health and performance coach, yoga teacher, and the author of Life with Breath.  In this episode, he shares how he came to yoga and breathwork as a stressed-out, “broken” middle-aged guy battling physical and psychological demons; how those practices have completely transformed his health and fitness; and how you can start down the same path today. Ed also talks about: The science of breath and the dangers of shallow breathing The anatomy of the the psoas, diaphragm, lungs, and ribcage Where to start if you want to change the way you breathe How he gained flexibility stri ..read more

We’ve heard from a lot of guys about how yoga has helped ease their back pain, work through stress, or improve their relationships. Today’s episode has those elements, but it’s also something else entirely: the story of Darnell “Moe” Washington, a former gang member who found yoga while serving a sentence of 35 years to life in prison. It’s the third and final episode in our Prison Yoga Project series, and it’s one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show. You’ll learn how Moe connected with former GTY guest James Fox while at San Quentin; the mental and physical capabilities h ..read more

The pandemic highlighted the accessibility of online yoga as the practice became one of the few options for those remaking their basements into fitness rooms during the lockdown. In this conversation, James Simboli, a coach and teacher at an all-boys boarding school in upstate Connecticut, shares how the pandemic forced him to consider yoga and how his appreciation resulted in the formation of a student-led yoga club that has jumpstarted the practice of many on campus ..read more

Chelsea Duke, the owner of Glow Yoga of Eugene, has been leading a range of yoga instruction and training with the athletic department of the University of Oregon since 2013. In our conversation, Chelsea shares how she’s incorporated a style of yoga focused on joint mobility, injury prevention and restorative practices to help men’s teams dominate their game and lives, on and off the track, field, court, and course ..read more

Bill Brown was 41 years old when he took his first yoga class, and the experience moved him to tears.  You’ll hear why in this conversation, as well as how Bill wound up directing an organization that brings yoga to thousands of incarcerated men and women around the world. This is the second of three conversations in our Prison Yoga Project series; Bill expands on the group’s work (discussed last episode with founder James Fox) as well as his own compelling personal story. Bill also talks about: How yoga can help people with trauma and dissociation Gaining trust when facilitating yoga ..read more

James Fox is the Founding Director of Prison Yoga Project, which he started in San Quentin and grew to 17 states and beyond. In part one of a three-part series on prison yoga, James tells Derek about the program's origins (he started in a single juvenile detention center); the unique challenges and opportunities involved; and the story of a participant whose rehabilitation and parole was inextricably linked with the yoga practice he learned while behind bars. James also talks about: How yoga helped him get over back pain from running How Prison Yoga Project scaled through word of mouth, teache ..read more

Friend of the show Johnny Gillespie joins Derek to talk about the men's yoga retreat he's hosting in February, called "The Way of the Empowered Man." Johnny is a certified meditation and yoga teacher and the founder of Empowered Wellness Studio. He's also run about 30 retreats in his career. Johnny and Derek talk about: The value of retreats and why there aren't many yoga retreats for men The activities and schedule at a yoga retreat How yoga can complement weightlifting and other fitness regimens rather than replacing them The concept of the "Empowered Man" The Kripalu Yoga Center in Weste ..read more

In this episode, Derek talks yoga with two of the most impactful college lacrosse players to emerge from upstate New York in the 1990s: his former teammate and good friend, Todd Burnham – a two-time All-American and 1993 National Champion at Hobart College; and Casey Powell, a four-time All-American and 1995 National Champion at Syracuse University. Todd Burnham is an expert litigator, entrepreneur, author, and leadership coach who is a founding partner of Burnham Law – an elite litigation firm in Colorado with a team of top-rated experienced associates and paralegals focusing on family law, c ..read more