Eddie Stern: One World Yogis

OMTIMES: The show combines your lessons with commentary from Deepak Chopra about the medical and scientific benefits of yoga. How long have you two worked together in the yogic context?

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Eddie Stern: Deepak and I have been working together for about four years. Our first work together was with Erica Ford, teaching yoga and meditation to her group in Jamaica, Queens, all who had been exposed to devastating loss because of gun violence. After that, we created the Urban Yogi program. As well, I think I am one of Deepak’s many yoga teachers! We’ve been doing all sorts of things over the past four years. I’ve also been speaking at his conference Sages and Scientists for the past couple of years, and will be again this year in September. Both of us have an abiding fascination with where biology and consciousness intersect – or perhaps the non-difference between the two – the study of Vedanta, practice of yoga and meditation, and how science and the findings of the ancient yogis correlate.

OMTIMES: How does this series empower as well as strengthen the people participating in the lessons?

Eddie Stern: One thing we attempted to do with this series was to build from the ground up. The extremely simple and subtle exercises during the first few videos are things that I continue to do for spinal support, and are useful for developing a solid base for more complicated positions and practices. I am basically taking 25 years of practicing a very traditional yoga method, and seeing how it can be presented in an accessible way to a general audience. Ashtanga Yoga is a wonderful practice, but sometimes it is presented to the yoga world as a very daunting and challenging practice. That isn’t necessarily true, you just have to do it in the way that is right for you.

OMTIMES: There is so much intensity happening all over the world and we are now more digitally connected than ever before. What do you think this show, One World Yogis, will give to those of us who are overly connected and looking for a chance to go inward?