SPIRIT OF YOGA: WISDOM IN MOTION

How Meditation Changes the Brain (EEG, MRI & Neurochemistry Explained)

Can meditation create measurable changes in the brain?
 
What do EEG meditation readings actually show during practice?
 
And how does neuroplasticity relate to the inner experience of awareness?
 
In this solo episode of The Spirit of Yoga, host Burkhard explores what modern research suggests about meditation and the nervous system: shifts in neurotransmitters and hormones, changes in brain activity observed through EEG and MRI, and longer-term structural changes that can appear with consistent practice.
 
From there, the episode opens into the inner landscape: the relationship between brain and mind, the way conditioning shapes our thoughts, and why consciousness is still deeply misunderstood from both the scientific “outside view” and the lived “inside view.”
You’ll also hear a contemplative perspective drawn from yoga and meditation traditions: the softening of the separate self, the felt sense of dissolving the “bubble-mind,” and moments of pure awareness described as a merging of individual consciousness with a wider field of presence.
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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How to Open Your Heart & See the Infinite Beauty Around You

Have you been looking at life, but not truly seeing it?
What changes when you meet the world with an open heart instead of a guarded mind?
Could a simple gratitude practice help you notice the infinite beauty that is already here?
 
In this episode of The Spirit of Yoga Podcast, Burkhard reflects on William Blake’s insight that if the “doors of perception” were cleansed, life would appear as it is: infinite. Through the lens of yoga, he explores how mindfulness refines our perception and softens the heart, so we can recognize beauty not only in the obvious moments of nature, but also in the ordinary details of daily life.
 
This is a gentle reminder that presence is an art. When we slow down, become receptive, and return to a grounded gratitude practice, life often feels more supportive, more alive, and more connected.
 
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Online Yin Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our Feminine Wisdom for Holistic Wellbeing
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Yoga for Depression Relief: Simple Tools to Ground, Elevate & Heal

Yoga for Depression Relief: Simple Tools to Ground, Elevate & HealThe Spirit of Yoga with Burkhard
 
What helps us stay steady when sadness or heaviness rises? How can yoga teacher training principles support emotional balance in everyday life? And which mindfulness yoga practices genuinely shift our inner state rather than just offering temporary comfort?
In this episode of The Spirit of Yoga, Burkhard explores practical, embodiment-based tools that can help counterbalance depressive tendencies. Rather than focusing on theory, this session offers hands-on techniques that can be cultivated during calm, grounded periods—so they become reliable resources when difficult emotions appear.
 
We look at the role of the root chakra and its connection to stability, safety, and vitality. Burkhard explains how a lack of grounding can contribute to fear, heaviness, and emotional stagnation, and how forward bends and root-activating practices help rebuild inner support.
 
From gentle inversions such as legs up the wall to more active posture variations, you will learn how specific yoga techniques can mobilize stagnant energy, awaken the fire element, and guide it upward through the body. These practices support not only the physical system but also the psychological and emotional layers that influence how we meet challenging moments.
 
This episode is an invitation to understand depression through a yogic lens and to develop simple, accessible methods that strengthen resilience, uplift the mind, and deepen inner stability. It is relevant for practitioners, teachers, and anyone interested in mindful healing and the deeper dimensions of yoga.
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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Stop the Inner Fight: How to Heal Pain, Trust Love & Live Abundantly

Stop the Inner Fight: How to Heal Pain, Trust Love & Live Abundantly
 
Are you feeling stuck in an inner struggle? Is pain taking over your life? In this episode of The Spirit of Yoga, Burkhard explores how we can move beyond pain, stop resisting life, and start trusting the power of love. Drawing from his own experience, he shares practical tools for healing pain and embracing the abundance life offers.
 
In a world that often focuses on what's wrong, Burkhard offers a refreshing perspective on how to shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance. Learn how to heal from within, embrace the present moment, and allow yourself to receive the gifts that life has to offer. Whether you’re a yoga teacher in training or someone looking to cultivate more peace in your life, this episode will help you overcome resistance and live with more openness, love, and joy.
 
Key Takeaways:
 
Why pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.
How to stop fighting against life and start receiving its gifts.
Practical insights on cultivating a mindset of abundance and healing pain.
How yoga and mindfulness can help shift your perspective and help you live with less resistance and more peace.
Tune in for a deeper exploration of how shifting your heart and mind can transform your life.
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Online Yin Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our Feminine Wisdom for Holistic Wellbeing
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► Join our Kundalini Awakening Retreat in India
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Feeling Sad for No Reason? How to Break the Negative Spiral Before It Starts

Why do emotional lows feel stronger during certain seasons?
Why do we sometimes find ourselves feeling sad for no reason?
And what simple mood reset tools actually work when the spiral begins?
 
In this episode of The Spirit of Yoga, Burkhard explores the subtle and physical factors behind seasonal depression and emotional dips—especially during the darker months in the northern hemisphere. Instead of waiting for the low to deepen, he offers practical ways to recognize the early signs and return to stable ground.
 
We look at how breath, posture, and environment can interrupt the downward pull, and why changing surroundings or stepping into nature makes a real difference. The conversation also touches on the growing research around the gut–brain connection and how digestive imbalances, microbiome disruption, or past antibiotics can influence mood just as much as life circumstances.
 
This episode encourages a simple, honest approach: noticing the wave early, responding before it grows, and understanding that these sensations are not a personal failure. From using light therapy to reaching out for support, from movement to nature immersion, Burkhard shares grounded methods to navigate emotional heaviness with clarity and responsibility.
 
A gentle, realistic exploration for anyone moving through the season, seeking steadiness, or wanting to better understand the link between body, mind, and mood.
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Online Yin Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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How to Build a Powerful Network. Stop Networking the Wrong Way: Do This Instead

Do you ever feel like you’re doing everything alone?
Do you struggle to meet the right people or build meaningful connections?
Have you ever wondered why authentic networking feels so rare today?
 
In this conversation, Burkhard and global networking expert Gil Petersil explore the deeper art of human connection. Together, they uncover why most people network the wrong way—and how to build a powerful network by approaching relationships through presence, service, and heart.
 
This episode offers networking tips, guidance on authentic networking, and practical ways to understand how to build a network that uplifts both your mission and your inner growth. Instead of transactional exchanges, the focus shifts to service, synergy, and the spiritual foundations of human connection.
 
Gil shares decades of experience connecting with influential leaders—from Tony Robbins to Eckhart Tolle to Jay Abraham—and explains how true networking begins with planting seeds of service, showing up with value, and nurturing relationships the way we tend to a living garden.
 
Through stories, insights, and lived experience, this fireside-style dialogue explores:
 
• Why the “solopreneur” mindset creates isolation• How to move beyond transactional networking into genuine connection• Why service is the most powerful way to build strong relationships• The spiritual dimension of networking through presence and intention• How to cross-pollinate across different communities and industries• Why growth requires stepping out of familiar circles• The power of tea rituals as a modern hack for human connection• How to find mentors, allies, and people who elevate your purpose• Why community is essential for both personal and spiritual evolution• The deeper invitation to ask: “How can I be of service?”
 
This episode bridges ancient wisdom with practical tools, offering a grounded approach to building the kind of connections that align with your life, your purpose, and your values.
It is a warm, thoughtful exploration of what it means to network with authenticity—beyond hustle culture, beyond performance, and beyond the need to prove ourselves.
 
The Spirit of Yoga brings you this heartfelt conversation to inspire deeper relationships, meaningful community, and a more human way of moving forward—together.
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Online Yin Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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How to Find the Light When Life Feels Dark | Yogic Tools for Depression

Do you ever feel like you’re walking through a long, dark tunnel with no end in sight?
Have you wondered what the “emergency exit” is when life feels heavy and you’re close to giving up?
Can yoga and Kundalini wisdom really help when you are facing depression and self-doubt?
 
In this solo episode of The Spirit of Yoga, Burkhard speaks honestly about failure, overwhelm, and the moments when life simply does not go as planned. He shares the story of running a travel-based yoga school in Bali, watching it drop to zero participants during the pandemic, and facing the very real questions of how to pay staff, honor responsibilities, and still stay true to the path of yoga.
 
From this lived experience, he explores how classical yoga and Kundalini teachings can offer practical tools in dark times:
 
Seeing challenges as invitations to grow, rather than proof that you are broken
Finding “emergency exits” instead of endlessly walking toward a distant light at the end of the tunnel
Reaching out for support and allowing sincere, transparent connection with trusted friends
Shifting from self-pity to compassion by widening your perspective and seeing that others struggle too
Cultivating daily gratitude practices that gently rewire the mind toward appreciation and trust
Throughout the conversation, Burkhard returns to simple anchors: the breath, the heart, and the quiet recognition “I am here.” He reflects on how yoga, including the understanding of Kundalini as a living current of life, can remind us that we are never completely alone, even in seasons of depression.
This episode does not replace professional mental health support, but offers a grounded yogic perspective for anyone moving through heaviness, doubt, or emotional turbulence—and longing to remember the subtle light that is still present within.
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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What Is Kundalini Energy? The Real Meaning of Kundalini Yoga (Not What You Think!)

What is Kundalini energy—and what does Kundalini Yoga truly mean?
Is it an ancient science of awakening, or a modern movement misunderstood by many?
 
In this episode of The Spirit of Yoga, Burkhard explores the deeper essence of Kundalini, the vital life force known in yogic tradition as Shakti—the serpent power that rests at the base of the spine and rises through the chakras toward spiritual awakening.
 
Drawing from classical Hatha Yoga scriptures and centuries of practice, this conversation reveals:
 
The ancient origins of Kundalini Yoga and its connection to traditional Hatha Yoga
How purification and breathwork prepare the body for the awakening of energy
The contrast between classical and modern interpretations of Kundalini
The real purpose of awakening—beyond energy experiences or sensation
This episode invites you to look beyond the popularized image of Kundalini Yoga and rediscover its original meaning as a sacred pathway to higher consciousness.
 
 
 
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► Join our 80-Hour Online Yin Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Meditation Online Yoga Teacher Training
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► Join our 80-Hour Advanced Hatha & Pranayama Online Yoga Teacher Training
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