The Yoga Sutras name 5 hidden blocks to your inner peace — and 3 kriya practices to dissolve them. Akshay Bhat makes Patanjali simple.

What if the joy you keep chasing is already inside you, and only five hidden blocks stand in the way?

This conversation goes deep into the second chapter of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The guest, who started studying the Yoga Sutras at just 11 years old, makes this ancient text simple and easy to follow.

He begins with the three habits Patanjali names before any real practice: discipline (tapas), self-study (svadhyaya), and surrender (ishvara pranidhana). Together these form kriya yoga, the inner preparation. Without them, even strong practices can push your energy the wrong way.

From there he opens the five kleshas, the inner blocks that hide our natural joy: forgetting who we really are, getting stuck in the ego, chasing pleasure, pushing away what we dislike, and the fear of death. Using everyday examples — a morning coffee habit, a stuck elevator, a frightening mountain drive in Nepal — he shows how the kleshas shape daily life, and how to loosen their grip.

Still inside the Yoga Sutras, he explains the difference between Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga (the king of yogic practice), how to clear the energy channels (nadis), and shares the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra for meeting the fear of death.

If your life looks fine on paper but you still feel lost, the Yoga Sutras offer a clear map. This episode is your starting point, and the doorway to the kriyas themselves.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:01 What Are the Yoga Sutras?

00:02:11 The Four Chapters of Patanjali

00:03:48 The Second Chapter & Kriya Yoga

00:04:18 Tapas, Svadhyaya & Ishvara Pranidhana

00:09:49 What Are Kriyas?

00:11:59 Cleansing the Nadis: Ida, Pingala, Sushumna

00:14:55 Hatha Yoga vs Raja Yoga

00:16:27 Building a Daily Practice

00:21:01 The Five Kleshas, Introduced

00:23:13 Avidya: Forgetting Your True Self

00:26:30 Impermanence & Growth

00:35:03 Asmita: The False Ego

00:41:40 Raga: Attachment & Desire

00:45:21 Dvesha: Aversion & Resistance

00:48:44 Abhinivesha: The Fear of Death

00:54:23 The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra

01:00:48 The Eight Limbs of Yoga

01:03:09 Posture for Meditation

01:07:02 Recap: The Five Kleshas

01:09:41 Closing & What's Next

Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram

• Akshay Bhat’s Instagram

• The IN Movement Instagram

• • Texts: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (196 sutras, four chapters — Samadhi Pada, Sadhana Pada, Vibhuti Pada, Kaivalya Pada); Bhagavad Gita (Krishna on sukha and dukkha; sitting straight for meditation)
  • Teachers / lineage: Thich Nhat Hanh (impermanence — the flower growing from the earth); the Buddha (desire as the root of suffering); Mahavatar Babaji (Kriya yoga lineage)
  • Practices / concepts: Mahamrityunjaya Mantra; Shambhavi mudra; the three nadis (Ida, Pingala, Sushumna); the eight limbs; Vipassana
  • Places: Annapurna Circuit, Nepal (the mountain-drive story); Uluwatu, Bali
  • Prior / upcoming episodes: earlier episode with Akshay on mantras (referenced — link it for topical authority per Practice 3); next episode teased on Raja Yoga, "the king of yoga"

What if the most powerful tool to change your life has been right under your nose this whole time — literally?

This guest spent his twenties as a high-stress TV producer in New York. On paper, life looked great. Inside, he felt empty and burned out. Getting fired became his turning point. Yoga, meditation, and breathwork pulled him out, and he built a career leading wellness retreats around the world.

Now in his 40s, he shares an honest story about change. After a serious back injury forced him to stop teaching yoga, he had to slow down, heal, and rethink everything. He talks about dropping his "masks," saying no to what no longer serves him, and treating your time and energy like a careful investment.

His big message is simple: real change starts inside you. Feeling safe in your own body comes first. The breath is the doorway. You don't need apps or gadgets — just a few quiet minutes a day.

He also explains why you can't force others to change, and why even difficult people teach us something. The episode ends with a short, calming breathwork practice you can follow along with.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:03:04 Who Is the Guest

00:08:29 Reflecting on Change and Evolution

00:12:32 The Psychology of Aging

00:14:14 Energy as an Investment Strategy

00:18:19 Instagram, Dopamine, and Earning Rest

00:23:45 Swapping Habits Instead of Quitting

00:26:38 Lessons From Retreats: Self-Limiting Beliefs

00:28:02 Why Feeling Safe Comes First

00:31:06 The Excuse of "No Time"

00:36:55 The Guest's North Star

00:38:11 Breathwork: The Tool Under Your Nose

00:47:49 Simplicity Over Data and Gadgets

00:48:55 A Renaissance? Technology, Generations, and Alcohol

00:56:26 You Are Responsible for You

01:02:32 Why You Can't Force Others to Change

01:12:00 The Pebble and the Ripple Effect

01:14:02 Finding Gratitude in Hard Lessons

01:16:57 Guided Breathwork Practice

01:23:03 Closing

Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• John Quirk’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johnquirk_/

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/
  

• James Nestor — Breath (book; guest says he's read it three times)

• Joe Dispenza (breathwork influence)

• Wim Hof Method (breathwork influence)

• Andrew Huberman (podcast mentioned re: dopamine)

• Michael Singer (author referenced by the guest)

• Morgan Freeman ("don't let the old man in" quote, raised by the host)

Tags: breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, personal growth, self-development, nervous system, healing journey, burnout recovery, back injury, habit change, dopamine, authenticity, retreats, wellness, mental health, presence, somatic practice, stillness, self-awareness, energy management, yoga, inner work, spirituality, life transformation

A single yoga class made him question everything he thought success was supposed to look like.

In this episode, Marc Laws shares the unexpected path that took him from professional soccer and sports therapy into a much deeper exploration of yoga, purpose, and human connection. What began as physical training slowly became something far more personal after witnessing burnout, pressure, and disconnection in the people around him, and in himself.

He speaks about the moment yoga stopped being just movement, the teacher who completely shifted his perspective, and why he believes slowing down may be one of the most powerful things a person can do. The conversation moves through fatherhood, play, community, spirituality, and the strange way life keeps pulling us back toward what feels true.

If you have ever felt successful on the outside but disconnected underneath, this episode will leave you thinking long after it ends.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:01:20 From the UK to Professional Soccer

00:02:11 Sports Therapy and Burnout

00:02:50 The Yoga Class That Changed Him

00:04:03 Ego, Handstands, and Self Inquiry

00:05:01 Leaving the Clinic Life

00:05:23 Arriving in Bali

00:08:12 Soccer as a Philosophy Teacher

00:09:50 Yoga, Community, and Dharma

00:11:10 Favorite Yoga Poses

00:13:25 Teaching Style and Stillness

00:15:58 Fatherhood as Spiritual Practice

00:17:30 What Kids Really Want

00:18:14 Why Life Should Include Play

00:19:46 Three Words for His Teaching

00:21:29 “How to Make Love” Class Story

00:22:34 Dharma Talks and Storytelling

00:24:00 Building Community Through Purpose

00:27:34 What He’s Nerding Out On

00:28:41 Jungle Keeper Book Mention

00:31:01 How to Connect

Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• Marc Law’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marclawsii/

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/
  

• Book: Jungle Keeper by Paul Rosolie

• Teacher mentioned: Stuart Gilchrist

• Platform mentioned: Glo

Tags: yoga, mindfulness, burnout, purpose, community, fatherhood, spirituality, dharma, soccer, sports therapy, Bali, self inquiry, playfulness, awareness, embodiment, stillness, vinyasa, philosophy, conscious living

She walked into her first yoga class, cried on the floor, and didn't go back for two years. Then everything changed.

Erin Hayes is a former actress, corporate professional, and now one of the most uniquely gifted teachers joining the IN Movement studio. Born in London, her path to yoga was anything but direct — it was forged through burnout, a life-altering reckoning, and a deep sensitivity to energy she's carried since childhood. From Bikram yoga in her teens to Reiki Grandmaster, Angelic Reiki Master Teacher, and yoga facilitator, Erin has spent years learning to get out of her own way so something greater can come through. Her teaching is built on three things: love, capacity, and transformation. She doesn't just hold space — she holds a lot of it. This episode is a compelling introduction to a teacher, a healer, and a human who has walked through the fire and come out the other side ready to help others do the same.

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Episode Chapters:

00:00:29 Introduction

00:01:06 Erin's Background — London, Acting, and Corporate Life

00:01:50 First Experience with Yoga: Bikram and the Floor in Tears

00:04:08 Going Back Two Years Later — The Rules That Changed Everything

00:07:03 Yoga as a Mirror — Becoming Aware of Misalignment

00:09:04 When Did It Become More Than Personal Practice?

00:09:29 The Stage, the Channel, and the Feeling of Something Coming Through

00:10:38 A Life That Looked Fine But Wasn't — The Low Hum of Misalignment

00:11:24 The Reckoning — When Everything Falls Apart at Once

00:13:23 Energy Work: A Lifelong Sensitivity That Finally Had a Name

00:15:07 Reiki Trainings — From Level One to Grandmaster

00:16:37 Angelic Reiki and Why It Felt Different

00:18:31 The Moment Teaching Became a Calling

00:20:32 Channeling, Surrender, and Getting Out of Your Own Way

00:26:00 Teaching Style: Love, Capacity, and Transformation

00:28:24 Favourite Pose: Camel — The Heart Opener That Shows Everything

00:30:08 What Students Feel Walking Out of Class

00:33:17 What Erin Is Exploring Right Now — The Word of the Year

00:34:47 The Shaman Story — Putting Out the World's Fire From Within

00:36:35 Upcoming Workshops, Retreats, and What's Next

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Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• Erin Hayes’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misserinhayes

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/
  

• Practices and modalities referenced:

• • Bikram Yoga (Ghosh lineage — referenced in Ep. 198 with Laila)

  • Reiki (levels 1 through Grandmaster)

  • Angelic Reiki (levels 1–4, Master, Master Teacher)

  • Sound healing

  • Talk therapy

  • IN Movement Empowerment Work (Byron's methodology)

• Podcast / media referenced:

• • Emma Watson interview with Jay Shetty — referenced quote: "Yoga and meditation aren't there to help you stay in a life that's out of alignment. They are tools to bring you to the truth."

• Concepts explored:

• • Dark night of the soul / soul reckoning

  • Channeling as facilitation

  • Human Design (sacral authority — referenced briefly)

  • Shamanic story: the shaman who goes within to put out the fire

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Tags: yoga teacher, energy healing, Reiki, angelic Reiki, Bikram yoga, channeling, surrender, empowerment, transformation, London, Bali, yoga philosophy, inner work, dark night of the soul, healing journey, nervous system, breathwork, spiritual growth, self-inquiry, yoga community, Ubud, stage fright, holding space, personal growth

What if the most important thing in your life is the one you can't see?

This milestone episode introduces two ancient Balinese concepts that are now the beating heart of the studio itself — Sekala (the seen) and Niskala (the unseen). Through an unscripted, thoughtful conversation, the episode explores what runs our lives beneath the surface: thoughts, intuition, gut feelings, spiritual energy, and the invisible forces shaping every decision we make. From ignoring your gut to the discomfort of saying yes when you mean no, from the breath inside a yoga pose to the love inside a home-cooked meal — the seen and the unseen are always working together. The Balinese don't treat one as more real than the other. Most of the modern world does. This episode is an invitation to tend to both — and to ask yourself honestly which one you've been neglecting.

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Episode Chapters:

00:00:29 Introduction

00:01:31 What's Invisible in Your Life Right Now?

00:02:41 Thoughts, Feelings, and the Ethereal Plane

00:04:31 How Much Energy Do You Spend on How You Look vs. How You Feel?

00:07:00 When Did You Ignore Your Gut — and What Did It Cost?

00:13:45 Saying Yes When You Mean No — Intuition and Boundaries

00:18:43 Revealing the Topic: Sekala and Niskala Explained

00:20:00 Balinese Culture and Why It Draws People to Bali

00:22:11 The Two Studio Shalas — Niskala Upstairs, Sekala Downstairs

00:23:44 How Much Do You Tend the Seen vs. the Unseen?

00:25:08 The Unseen in Yoga Poses, Mastery, and Creativity

00:31:34 The Unseen in Other People — Compassion and Empathy

00:33:03 When Someone Called Self-Reflection a Waste of Time

00:34:36 What Western Society Gets Wrong — and What Bali Gets Right

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Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/
• Byron de Marsé’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronyoga/
• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/

Balinese concepts explored:

• Sekala — the seen, physical, tangible world

• Niskala — the unseen, spiritual, energetic realm

Yoga concepts referenced:

• Prana Vayus (winds of energy within the body)

• Yamas and Niyamas (ethical guidelines, not rules)

Frameworks mentioned:

• Human Design — sacral authority and splenic authority

• Manifestation (101 level overview)

Cultural references:

• Andrew Tate — referenced briefly as an example of extreme seen-world thinking

• The Beatles — referenced as an example of unseen creative mastery

Studio context:

• Niskala Shala — upstairs daily practice room

• Sekala Shala — downstairs training/learning space

• Studio naming informed by Kimberly (half-Balinese teacher)

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Tags: Sekala, Niskala, Balinese culture, seen and unseen, intuition, yoga philosophy, spirituality, mindfulness, self-reflection, inner world, human design, manifestation, prana, yoga studio, Bali, grounding, consciousness, empathy, compassion, personal growth, inner work, yoga, energy, milestone episode

One bad morning. A package, a canceled massage, and a spiral — here's what it taught.

This short solo episode is a real, unfiltered snapshot of a difficult morning — a disappointing delivery, a canceled plan, and the subtle but familiar feeling of a day already going sideways before it even starts. Rather than glossing over it, the episode sits with it honestly: why do small frustrations hit so hard? Why does negativity stick when positivity slips away? Drawing on a lesson from Vipassana meditation — that humans are the creators of their own suffering — the episode explores how our expectations and desires quietly run the show. It's a gentle but honest reminder that not every day needs to feel like your best, that emotions move in waves, and that coming back to love, breath, and the present moment is always available — even on the hard ones. Short, human, and quietly powerful.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:29 Introduction

00:01:09 The Morning It All Went Wrong

00:03:44 We Are the Creators of Our Own Suffering

00:04:36 Expectations, Desires, and Where Pain Comes From

00:05:33 Not Every Day Needs to Be Your Best

00:06:36 How to Keep Moving Forward Anyway

00:07:51 Being Witnessed — And Why It Helps

00:08:15 Coming Back to Breath, Body, and Earth

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Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/

Practices referenced:

• Vipassana meditation (10-day silent retreat — completed by Christina a few months prior)

• Breathwork and grounding as a reset tool

Concepts explored:

• Buddhist principle: humans as creators of their own suffering

• The role of desire and expectation in emotional suffering

• The power of being witnessed as a grounding tool

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Tags: solo episode, personal story, grounding, root chakra, home, self-awareness, suffering, Vipassana, meditation, expectations, disappointment, mindfulness, emotional regulation, nervous system, yoga philosophy, presence, breath, inner work, mental wellness, real talk, motivation, acceptance, daily practice

She quit architecture, burned everything down, and found herself — through yoga and the subconscious mind.

Laila El Idrissi grew up in Morocco, discovered yoga at 17 through YouTube videos, and within weeks was teaching her high school classmates. What began as curiosity grew into a calling that eventually pulled her away from a career in architecture and led her to Bali, where she now teaches full time. But the real turning point wasn't a teacher training — it was a burnout that stripped everything away: the job, the relationship, the life she thought she wanted. Through hypnotherapy and yoga, Laila began clearing the beliefs and stories keeping her stuck, learning to return to her authentic essence rather than chasing what she thought she should want. She trained at an ashram in Rishikesh, studied with teachers Byron, Talia Sutra, and Thai Landrum, and developed a style she describes as grounded, intentional, and a little challenging. She also recently qualified as a hypnotherapist. Her goal in every class is simple: help people feel a sense of belonging and inherent self-worth — no matter where they are in their practice.

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Episode Chapters:

00:00:29 Introduction

00:01:06 Laila's Background and Journey to Bali

00:02:17 First Experience with Yoga

00:05:00 Teacher Training and the Road to Bali

00:07:28 Studying with Inner Dimension and Key Teachers

00:09:31 Influential Teachers: Byron, Talia Sutra, Thai Landrum

00:16:13 Teaching Style: Grounded, Intentional, Challenging

00:18:04 Favourite Pose and What Laila Brings to the Studio

00:20:00 What Students Feel Walking Out of Class

00:24:03 Hypnotherapy: The Practice That Changed Everything

00:26:38 The Burnout That Stripped Everything Away

00:28:58 Letter to Her 16-Year-Old Self

00:29:55 How to Connect with Laila

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Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• Laila El iDrissi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lailaelidrissi_/

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/

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Teachers referenced:

• Yoga with Adriene (YouTube)

• Kino MacGregor

• Pattabhi Jois

• Byron (Inner Dimension TV)

• Travis (Inner Dimension TV)

• Paul (Inner Dimension TV)

• Talia Sutra (Ghosh/Ashtanga lineage)

• Thai Landrum — course on Energetics of Sequencing

Schools / Centres:

• Heal Center, Canggu, Bali (hypnotherapy training with Steph)

• East-West (Laila's 200hr teacher training, Bali)

Practice / Method mentioned:

• TBM (To Be Magnetic)

Upcoming:

• Retreat — October, Morocco, oceanside. 6 days. Yoga + hypnotherapy.

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Tags: yoga, yoga teacher, hypnotherapy, subconscious mind, personal transformation, burnout recovery, Morocco, Bali, yoga philosophy, teacher training, Rishikesh, ashram, manifestation, self-worth, authentic living, yoga sequencing, energetics, career change, mindset, inner work, healing, yoga journey, belonging, yoga community, intentional living

What if “home” is not a place, but a feeling your body can learn again?

This episode is a deep, unscripted conversation about what it really means to feel at home — not the place you live, but the feeling of being safe, grounded, and fully yourself. Drawing on the energy of the root chakra, the discussion explores why so many people feel disconnected from their foundations — and what it actually takes to come back. From the nervous system and ancestral fear patterns to the surprising power of eye contact, nature, and silence, the conversation is honest, playful, and thought-provoking. It asks the questions most people never stop long enough to ask themselves: Where do I feel safe? What am I afraid of? Do I have enough — and what does enough even mean? If you've ever felt unmoored, ungrounded, or like you're living someone else's version of home, this one's for you.

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Episode Chapters:

00:00:29 Introduction

00:01:56 What Does Home Actually Mean?

00:03:18 Belonging — The Etymology and the Feeling

00:06:27 Basic Needs, the Nervous System, and Why We Feel Unsafe

00:07:51 Root Chakra, Fear, and the Urge to Control

00:10:55 Why We're All a Little Bit Broken — And That's Okay

00:17:51 How Do We Become Whole Again?

00:19:30 What Is Grounding, Really?

00:21:20 Nature as a Nervous System Reset

00:26:54 People as a Grounding Force — Eye Gazing and Human Connection

00:31:05 The Most Important Questions to Ask Yourself

00:34:03 Stillness, Silence, and Slowing Down

00:35:55 Speed Up to Slow Down — The Case for Doing Both

00:38:37 Directing Awareness and Giving to the Earth

00:39:13 A Bird, a Meditation, and a Full Circle Moment

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Mentions & Resources:

• Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/

• Byron de Marsé’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronyoga/

• The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/

Practices referenced:

• Kapalabhati (Breath of Fire)

• Eye gazing (witnessing practice)

• Meditation and movement for nervous system regulation

• Earthing / grounding devices (mentioned briefly)

Yoga poses mentioned:

• Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose) — noted as one of Byron's top three poses

Concepts explored:

• Root Chakra (Muladhara) and its development from womb to one year old

• Generational / ancestral fear patterns

• Scarcity vs. abundance inventory exercise

• "Speed up to slow down" nervous system technique

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Tags: root chakra, grounding, home, safety, nervous system, fear, belonging, yoga philosophy, chakras, ancestral trauma, inner work, trust, abundance, scarcity, mindfulness, breathwork, nature connection, presence, stillness, self-inquiry, meditation, yoga, personal growth, community, mental wellness