The Eight Limbs of Aerial Yoga

Content Warning: The second part of the episode talks about death and grief

In this episode, Jivana sits down with Jo Stewart, author of the new book Eight Limbs of Aerial Yoga: Adapting Practice for Accessibility, Neurodiversity, and Physical Support. Jo shares how she connects aerial yoga to yoga philosophy, using Patanjali's eight limbs as a framework, and reframes the aerial hammock as an accessibility prop. She and Jivana dig into how the hammock supports pratyahara (sense withdrawal), helps regulate the nervous system for trauma survivors and neurodivergent practitioners, and opens up movement possibilities for older adults and people with chronic pain or mobility differences.

In the second half, Jivana and co-host Deanna Michalopoulos reflect on the conversation with Jo and how a yoga practice creates a foundation of support through life challenges. Then, they turn to a listener voicemail from Nicole, who asks Jivana how the AIDS epidemic shaped his relationship to grief and death, and the role yoga has played in his healing. Jivana shares candidly about his years in ACT UP, his own grief, and finding support through yoga and community.

Topics Include:

Aerial yoga as an accessible practice

Jivana’s foreword to Jo’s book

The history of suspended and prop-based yoga practices

The challenges of getting a book out into the world AI's growing (and troubling) footprint in yoga publishing

The role of relationships in self-care

Consensus-based activism

Yoga as preparation for death

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