Show Notes
In this episode, Jivana Heyman sits down with his longtime friend and Accessible Yoga collaborator, Rodrigo Souza, to explore the season's central theme of balancing self-care with service. Rodrigo, who lives with a complete spinal cord injury, shares candidly about managing limited energy, letting go of guilt around rest, and learning to stop measuring his worth by how much he produces.
Together, they reflect on what it really means to show up for others and why setting boundaries isn't selfish but essential. In the second part of the episode, Jivana is joined by Deanna Michalopoulos to unpack the philosophical heart of the discussion: karma yoga, seva, and what the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras teach about selfless service. They explore why genuine service has to come from a place of fullness rather than lack and why self-love might be one of the most radical practices of all.
Topics include:
Brahmacharya as conscious management of time, energy, and boundaries
Representation and visibility of disabled practitioners and teachers
Yoga tools for anxiety management Imposter syndrome and challenges of teaching in a capitalist society
Teaching what you need to learn
Rodrigo’s involvement in Accessible Yoga Mentorship Program and current online series Yoga on Neurological Conditions
We Want to Hear from You!
How do you balance self-care and service in your yoga practice and teaching? Submit your answer or any other questions you have for Jivana via Google Form: https://forms.gle/NtijeM82dSgU5jVD7 or leave a voice message here (90 second maximum): https://www.speakpipe.com/AccessibleYoga
Selected responses may be featured in future episodes!
Connect with Rodrigo:
Rodrigo Souza (he/him) is an Adaptive and Accessible Yoga teacher with experience in instructing folks who have endured trauma and disability.
After suffering a traumatic injury which left him paralysed from the chest down, Rodrigo recognised the significance of taking care of his own recovery to enhance his long-term well-being.
This journey inspired him to become a yoga teacher, where he aims to share his personal insights into discovering joy in movement and rest.
www.allihopayoga.com | @allihopayoga (IG)
Connect with Jivana:
Check out Jivana’s books, Accessible Yoga, Yoga Revolution, and The Teacher’s Guide to Accessible Yoga, and get more information about Accessible Yoga at accessibleyoga.org
www.jivanaheyman.com | @jivanaheyman | facebook.com/jivanaheyman
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Credit: Mikus Dharma, AYP Podcast Sound Engineer
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