Not Just Āsana

THE MIDDLE PATH: what is extreme?

EPISODE 32
Keith shares a beautiful reading from Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and a discussion follows surrounding the Middle Path and what is considered extreme.
 
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches in Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Sandy teaching in Sydney in December:
Sat 6th - Hatha Yoga Pradipika Workshop at Bija Yoga, PenrithSun 7th - Jivamukti Class at Scout, St. Peters
Stay connected via Instagram:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga
Let us know if you want to come to India with us in 2026!
 

SATSANG: your spiritual community

EPISODE 31
Is this episode recorded in Thailand...? You'll have to listen to find out.
Sandy and Keith discuss the meaning of satsang and reflect on the importance of hanging out with like-minded individuals, especially during the early stages of spiritual growth.
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches in Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Sandy teaching in Sydney in December:
Sat 6th - Hatha Yoga Pradipika Workshop at Bija Yoga, PenrithSun 7th - Jivamukti Class at Scout, St. Peters
Stay connected via Instagram:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga
Let us know if you want to come to India with us in 2026!
 

BUDDHISM: spiritual bypassing + the four noble truths

EPISODE 30
Keith is in Thailand!
Sandy and Keith bust myths about Buddhism (not boo-dism), break down spiritual bypassing, and explore the foundation of Buddhist teachings - the four noble truths.
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches in Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Stay connected via Instagram:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga
 

LONGEVITY: nothing you do is a waste of time

EPISODE 29
In this episode, Sandy and Keith explore the nature of practice over time — how yoga deepens not through grand milestones, but through quiet consistency. Returning to Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra and a timeless Bhagavad Gītā teaching, they reflect on what it means to stay the course, even when life pulls in many directions.
Together, they unpack the idea that not everything needs to be “productive.” Through the lens of creative curiosity and the “multipotentialite” — one who thrives in many fields — they discuss how diverse interests can nourish rather than distract from the path of yoga.
Keith shares insights from teaching outside his usual subject matter, while Sandy reflects on how practice, when approached with sincerity and care, compounds over time — becoming a steady ground beneath whatever life brings.
SŪTRA:sa tu dīrgha kāla nairantarya satkārā sevito dṛḍha bhūmiḥ || 1.14 ||“Your practice gains firm ground when cultivated for a long time, without interruption, and with sincerity.”
ŚLOKA:nehābhikrama-nāśo ’sti pratyavāyo na vidyatesvalpam apy asya dharmasya trāyate mahato bhayāt || 2.40 ||“On this path, no effort is ever wasted, no gain is ever reversed. Even a little of this practice will shlter you from great sorrow.”
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches in Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Stay connected:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga

ŚASTRA: the sacred texts of yoga

EPISODE 28
In an episode that is slightly different, Sandy and Keith discuss their go-to books for yoga philosophy. These are the books discussed and read from:
 
Be Here Now - Ram Dass
Spiritual Survival and the City - Katie Spiers
An Offering of Leaves and Sweeping The Dust - Ruth Lauer-Manenti
Jivamukti Yoga - Sharon Gannon and David Life
A Garland of Forest Flowers - Swami Nirmalananda
When Things Fall Apart - Pema Chödrön
The Body Keeps The Score - Bessel van der Kolk
 
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches in Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
 
Stay connected:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga

BHAKTI: the yoga of love

EPISODE 27
In this episode, Sandy and Keith return to Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtra and dive into the theme of samādhi — the state of enlightenment, or being “same as the highest.” From this point of stillness and union, they turn toward Bhakti, the yoga of love and devotion, exploring what it means to truly surrender.
Through the lens of the eight limbs of yoga, the conversation opens into the heart of Bhakti: Who or what are we surrendering to? What does surrender look like in daily life? And how can something as simple as an altar become a mirror of our deepest devotion?
Sandy and Keith share how Bhakti shows up in their own practice — through chanting, reverence, and the quiet moments of offering that shape a life of yoga. Together, they reflect on the power of love as a path to liberation, and the idea that our personal practice can ripple outward, contributing to the collective freedom of all beings.
Whether you’re curious about the philosophy behind Bhakti or simply seeking a more heart-centered approach to yoga, this episode invites you to soften, listen, and reconnect with what you hold in the highest regard.
 
SŪTRA:
samādhisiddhir īśvarapraṇidhānāt || 2.45 ||
From Īśvarapraṇidhāna (devotion to the Lord), there is the perfection of Samādhi.
 
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches in Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
 
Stay connected:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga

THE CAKRAS: part 2 - compassion, self-love, teachers + cosmic consciousness

EPISODE 26
In the second half of this cakra deep dive, Sandy and Keith journey into the higher centres of compassion, self-love, teachers, and cosmic consciousness. These cakras invite us into subtler, more expansive territory — from the walls we build around our hearts to the possibility of flipping our entire worldview.
The conversation moves through forgiveness, self-esteem, and the ways practice can both support and challenge us. Why do Jivamukti classes traditionally include three wheels? Why might shoulder stand not be everyone’s friend — and what’s Sandy’s “bougie” shoulder stand setup all about? Keith also shares his ongoing struggles with child’s pose, reminding us that even the simplest shapes can hold profound lessons.
As the discussion opens toward the crown cakra, cosmic consciousness comes into view: the possibility of dissolving separateness and feeling the vastness of connection. Throughout, Sandy and Keith reflect on how these teachings weave naturally into āsana practice, making the subtle body something we can experience, not just study.
Whether you’re exploring forgiveness, searching for more compassion, or simply curious about how the cakras inform yoga practice, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight.
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches at Folde Yoga, Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Retreats & offerings:Our Thai Yoga Holiday has officially filled up, but we may be able to squeeze you in if you reeeeally want to be there with us. Details here → sandyking.com.au/thai-yoga-holiday
Stay connected:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga

THE CAKRAS: part 1 - money, sex + power

EPISODE 25
In this two-part series, Sandy and Keith turn their attention to the subtle body, beginning with the first three cakras. These energy centers are more than just symbolic: they influence how we relate to safety, creativity, power, and our sense of belonging in the world.
Together they explore the colours, bija mantras, corresponding asanas, senses, and elements associated with each cakra, while weaving in the broader map of subtle body 101: the three principle nāḍīs, the seven energy wheels, and the mysterious journey of kuṇḍalinī rising.
Drawing from the Jivamukti Yoga tradition, rooted in Haṭha Yoga, this episode is both a practical and philosophical dive into how energy moves through the body — and how “the body keeps the score.” On the mat, we’re given permission to feel and to work things out somatically, transforming knowledge into lived experience.
Whether you’re brand new to the cakra system or revisiting familiar ground, this episode invites you to see how ancient teachings can illuminate everyday life.
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches at Folde Yoga, Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Retreats & offerings:Our Thai Yoga Holiday has officially filled up, but we may be able to squeeze you in if you reeeeally want to be there with us. Details here → sandyking.com.au/thai-yoga-holiday
Stay connected:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga

EDUCATION: never stop learning

EPISODE 24
In this wide-ranging conversation, Sandy and Keith explore the value of education — not just in formal settings, but in every corner of life. From Sandy’s adventures with snowboarding (and other “adult hobbies”) to Keith’s reflections on the eve of launching a new teacher training, they consider what it means to keep learning, experimenting, and staying curious.
They unpack the secret ingredient of patience, the role of compassion in teaching, and how different learning styles shape both students and teachers. Along the way, the guru mantra weaves through their discussion as a reminder that true education is less about gaining certificates and more about continued curiosity.
Whether you’re a teacher, a lifelong learner, or someone who’s ever wondered why we stop learning as adults, this episode is an invitation to rediscover the joy of education — and to celebrate the best parts of being both student and teacher.
Invocation from the Kaṭha + Taittirīya Upaniṣad
oṃ saha nāv-avatusaha nau bhunaktusaha vīryaṃ karavāvahaitejasvi nāv-adhītam astumā vidviṣāvahai
“May we both be protected in our togetherness. May we both be nourished in togetherness. May we both work in togetherness with great energy. May our study be vigorous, and our meetings be effective to strengthen our togetherness. May we not hate each other; destroying our togetherness.”
Where to find us:Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, PenrithSandy teaches at Folde Yoga, Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.auLearn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Retreats & offerings:Our Thai Yoga Holiday has officially filled up, but we may be able to squeeze you in if you reeeeally want to be there with us. Details here → sandyking.com.au/thai-yoga-holiday
Stay connected:Keith → @bija_yogaSandy → @sandykingyoga

THE END: chanting OM in śavāsana

EPISODE 23
In this episode, Sandy and Keith take their second deep dive into the mysterious world of śavāsana — exploring how the “corpse pose” is both a physical rest and a rehearsal for dying. They reflect on the symbolism of a yoga class as a microcosm of life itself, with śavāsana as its closing chapter, and how teachers can thoughtfully approach the themes of death, stillness, and release.
From the “travel-size version of the guru mantra” to Sandy’s supreme śavāsana setup, they share practical tips, variations, and personal stories of surrendering to stillness. Along the way, they touch on life elongation, leaving the body with intention, and the importance of trauma-informed and restorative approaches.
Whether you’re a teacher looking for new ways to guide students, or someone who has ever wondered why eye pillows are (actually) for the eyes — this conversation is an invitation and reminder to always stay for śavāsana.
 
Bhagavad Gītā 8.13“Uttering the one-syllable OM, which is Brahman, meditating on me (Śri Krsna), he moves forward, renouncing the body, and realises the supreme goal.”
Where to find us:
Keith’s studio: Bija Yoga, Penrith
Sandy teaches at Folde Yoga, Nipaluna/Hobart and offers online classes at sandyking.com.au
Learn more about Sandy’s Golden Yoga School Teacher Training 2026 → sandyking.com.au/tt
Retreats & offerings:Our Thai Yoga Holiday has officially filled up, but we may be able to squeeze you in if you reeeeally want to be there with us. Details here → sandyking.com.au/thai-yoga-holiday
Stay connected:
Keith → @bija_yoga
Sandy → @sandykingyoga