In this episode of The Chai Sessions I’m talking to friend and fellow Ashtanga teacher Scott Johnson. This is our fourth conversation so I feel we can now say he’s a regular here on the podcast!

For many of you he needs no introduction, but for those of you who haven’t met Scott yet he’s been practising yoga since 1998, and teaching Ashtanga yoga since 2004. He’s been the director and senior teacher at Stillpoint Yoga London since it was founded in 2009.

Scott’s teaching integrates the practice of yoga and embodied mindfulness. He teaches this mindful approach to Ashtanga yoga nationally and internationally, and he’s been visiting us here at MCY since way back in 2018.

I start our conversation by asking Scott about a recent Instagram reel he posted that went off the charts in terms of response. It led with the bold words “This is how Ashtanga works”.

We chat about how we talk about what it is that we do, what we choose to share and why and about Scott’s personal approach to both social posts and teaching Ashtanga where he encourages people to stop and think about what’s behind making the shapes of the postures.

Scott shares his love/hate relationship with social media, and how creativity is key for him.

We talk about the purpose and outcomes of practising yoga and Scott says that his own yoga practice helps him connect more with himself, fosters becoming a better person in the world and gives him the confidence to be able to say, this is what's meaningful to me.

We talk about the power of words, the way we share and the apparent contradiction of relationship and intimacy within the Ashtanga practice and understanding the space between us.

He suggests that our yoga practice becomes about the experience of movement and stillness and presence, rather than how the posture is looking in a certain shape.

Scott says,

“…this is how Ashtanga yoga works, for me at that moment was to say, it helps you over time to become still. And it's true. That's the heart of yoga, the heart of it all. Yoga wants us to be able to find something within us that's still, away from all the stuff that turns.”

I don’t think I needed to worry about running out of conversation with Scott! I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did…

Scott and I spoke here ahead of his next visit to Merchant City Yoga, 7-9 March 2025. He’s sharing three mornings of Mysore style assisted self practice, workshops exploring mindful patterns in Ashtanga yoga on Saturday & Sunday afternoon and a very special workshop for teachers on the Friday - The Art of Mindful Yoga Adjustments: Empowering Teachers Through Safe & Effective Hands-on Assists.

You’ll find all the details and booking for Scott’s visit to MCY in March HERE

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Until next time, thank you so much for listening!

Judi x

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