Out of the Clouds
February 18, 2024, Anne V Muhlethaler

Joan Hyman

on her dharma, teaching around the world and designing the School of Yoga

Yoga teacher and founder of School of yoga Joan Hyman talks to Anne Muhlethaler on the Out of the Clouds podcast

The dedicated yogi and founder of the Schoolof.yoga Joan Hyman discusses the foundation of her interest in yoga and her lifelong spiritual journey with Out of the Cloud’s host Anne V Mühlethaler. 

First Joan shares her background growing up in Philadelphia and her journey into yoga, which she first encountered while pursuing a dance career. She discusses the importance of finding her voice as a teacher and the role of lineages and traditions in yoga. Joan also explains the yoga concept of Tapas and reaching the edge in one’s practice. 

Joan has built a following worldwide, as she’s been travelling to offer teacher training since 2010, and she reflects on the challenges and rewards of teaching internationally. She tells Anne about the creation of her Schoolof.yoga and her vision for its future, as well as her hopes for the future of yoga as a whole, including the importance of having great teachers continuing to teach and keep the lineage alive. 

Joan also talks about her new 300h teacher training program, and how she came to collaborate with world-renowned teachers, including Lisa Walford, Annie Carpenter, and many others.Together they have developed a comprehensive curriculum that covers various aspects of yoga, including pranayama and how the practice changes along with the practitioner’s age. 

Joan also highlights the importance of incorporating healing modalities into yoga, such as trauma-informed practices. She explains how trauma affects the nervous system and emphasises the role of the parasympathetic nervous system in healing. 

To end, Joan shares her favourite yoga sutra, Pradipaksha Bhavanam, which encourages replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. Wanting to end on the importance of slowing down and enjoying life, she also tells Anne about the impact of India on her spiritual journey and how travel has opened up her mind ‘like an umbrella’.

A warm and inspiring interview with a master teacher. Happy listening!

Takeaways

Finding one’s voice as a yoga teacher is an important aspect of teaching.

Lineages and traditions in yoga provide a foundation of proven practices that have been passed down over time.

Tapas, the willingness to endure and create a sense of purification, is an essential element of yoga practice.

Meditation is a valuable practice in yoga that can be challenging but ultimately rewarding.

Teaching yoga to different cultures requires adaptability and understanding of their unique needs and preferences.

The School of Yoga aims to preserve the lineage and provide high-quality teacher trainings.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

03:02 Joan Hyman’s Background and Journey

12:04 Finding Her Voice as a Teacher

17:46 Religion and Spirituality in Joan’s Life

20:37 The Importance of Lineages and Traditions in Yoga

27:10 Understanding Tapas and Reaching the Edge in Yoga

30:41 Joan’s Journey in Meditation

35:01 Teaching Yoga Around the World and the School of Yoga

44:18 Teaching Different Cultures and Adapting to Students

47:34 The Future of the School of Yoga and Yoga Itself

48:57 Cultivating Excellence in Yoga Education

52:20 Yoga for Healing and Trauma

55:46 Activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System

56:32 The Wholeness of Shavasana

59:00 Upcoming Trainings and Retreats

01:00:26 Favorite Yoga Sutra: Pradipaksha Bhavanam

01:01:52 Grounding Rituals: Cooking and Nature

01:02:51 Favorite Word: Adaptability

01:03:35 Connection as Source and Authenticity

01:04:03 Favorite Song: Wild World by Cat Stevens

01:04:32 Secret Superpower: Overcoming Drug Use

01:05:02 Favorite Book: The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer

01:06:06 Impactful Place: India

01:06:34 Advice from Future Self: Slow Down and Enjoy Life

01:07:08 What Brings Happiness: Being Grounded and with Loved Ones

Selected links from episode

You can find Joan on Instagram @JoanHymanSchoolofyoga

On Youtube

Her yoga school is Schoolof.Yoga

Her upcoming offerings including her Bali retreat are available here: https://www.schoolof.yoga/events

Jivamukti Yoga

Maty Ezraty

Lisa Walford

Marla Apt

Cristina Holopainen

Annie Carpenter

Yogaworks

Mysore Yoga

Abhyasa

Tapas 

Utthita Trikonasana

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Krya yoga

Sean Corn

Jean Heileman

K. Pattabhi Jois

Krishnamacharya

Pranayama

Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar

The Vagus nerve

Drishti

Ali MacGraw and Eric Shiffman Yoga video on Youtube

Viparita Karani

Yoga Nidra or yogic sleep

Pratipakshabhavanam, Joan’s favorite yoga sutra  – 2. 33, when negative thoughts arise, think the opposite.

Wild World by Cat Stevens

The Out of the Clouds playlist on Spotify

The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer