Dialed In Podcast 017 ~ Healing, Accessibility in Yoga and Protecting Your Energy with Kevin Naidoo

In this episode with Dial in with Kevin Naidoo, a seasoned and exceptional teacher of traditional Hatha Yoga and Shamanic traditions, we learn about the importance of doing the work necessary to open up to one's truest self. We discuss accessibility in yoga, what a yogic practice "doesn't" have to look like, and how to protect one's self from negative energies. We finish with Kevin reminding everyone that "You are Loved, Celebrate You for who You are."

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

Kevin starts out by telling us about his story of healing. His story is both tragic and heartwarming, it is a story that we can all take pieces from to learn from. Kevin shows his strength by sharing his story. He talks warmly about his mother and the great impact that she has had on him. It was the words in a letter from his mother, “I Believe In You Kevin, You’ve Got This”, that started out Kevin’s journey in yoga. Two days later he was on a plane to India to spend over a month at an Ashram.
He talks to us about “doing the work”, the power of chanting and mantra, and the power that Yoga has to bring up emotions that need to be released.
He talks about the power of trust, self-worth, and doing the work along the way.
He talks about the importance of not losing oneself in the midst of things in the yogic world. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the Ego, even in the yogic world, he stresses the importance of staying true to one’s self and remembering what he learned in India.
He talks about his teaching experience, holding space in studio in both Vancouver and Saskatoon.
He then takes us through is experience of almost instantaneous Glaucoma and the lessons learned through adversity.
He talks about the importance of walking away from things that do not serve you, that are no longer in alignment with your truest self.
We then have a wonderful discussion regarding accessibility. There is a lot of division in the yoga community, whether people want to talk about it or not. Kevin thus created a TV series that is available for visually impaired people. He did this to show that Yoga is available for all of us. Regardless if we can see, hear, or are in a wheelchair. A practice doesn’t have to look like anything, a practice is taking 5 minutes to connect with “you” everyday. Taking time to feel. Yoga gives this safety net to take it inside. He talks about how this has helped him to be a better teacher. “When I had no eyes, I was still practicing every day, it didn’t look like how I used to practice, but I was still practicing.”
“Accessibility to me is allowing yourself to feel what you need every day.” Some days you might need a 60 minute practice, some days it night be chanting or taking a walk in nature, or having a kitchen dance party and finding a source of play.”
Energy is everything and everywhere. He also shares with us how important it is to protect one’s self against outside energies and gives us some tips on doing this. He shares things you can do to both protect yourself and your space. He emphasizes the importance of also using nature to clear things out. “Why is nature so powerful? Because we are nature!”
He then gives us many useful tips to deal with stress. We get to hear a couple of Kevin’s favorite chants.
He finishes be telling us to remember that you are loved just for being you. Celebrate you for who you are.

I hope you all enjoyed this episode as much as I did, thank you so much Kevin for sharing your wisdom with us!

ABOUT KEVIN

Kevin’s offerings are filled with devotion, ceremony and ritual and are shared with the intention of reclaiming our power, cultivating self-love and finding forgiveness in order to heal. His teachings pay homage to the sadhus, rishis and mystics and honour the tradition and ritualistic nature of the practice, gracefully reminding us all that we are part of something sacred, timeless and much greater than we know.

Blessed with the opportunity to study classical Hatha with the Sivananda lineage in India, as well as the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya through Vinyasa with Ryan Leier, Vinyasa Krama with Srivatsa Ramaswami, Ashtanga under the guidance of Danny Paradise, andTantra with Sianna Sherman. Kevin set foot onto the path of Sadhana. Now, with great respect and reverence for his teachers and the vast collective wisdom of Yoga, Kevin shares the ancient Yogic and Shamanic traditions he’s learned in a non-dogmatic, accessible way that speaks to the modern Yogi. Kevin believes that this practice can be for everyone and shares practical tools, insight and guidance to help us overcome obstacles in order to grow into the brightest, fullest and most authentic expressions of ourselves.

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