Best Kino MacGregor Podcasts (2025)

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Day of the Dead meditation: a celebration of life 16:06

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6d ago16:06

16:06

On the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, we allow ourselves space for our memories and our grief about those we’ve lost — as well as for joy, and even humor, around the continuity between life and death. While many cultures try to tiptoe around death, the rituals of Día de Muertos ask us to look clearly at it, recognize death’s pl…

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#214 The Quiet Turning: Meditation, Yoga, and the Truth of Impermanence 1:05:50

8d ago1:05:50

1:05:50

Podcast notes The Quiet Turning: Meditation, Yoga, and the Truth of Impermanence One of the most frustrating instructions I ever received in a meditation class was deceptively simple: Close your eyes and quiet the mind. I remember thinking, if I could do that, I wouldn't be here learning how to meditate. Like so many others, I was searching for pea…

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Cherishing every moment in time, by Louie Schwartzberg 38:02

13d ago38:02

38:02

During an extended stay in a remote corner of the California coast, award-winning cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg gains a new perspective on the universe. While pioneering techniques for capturing time-lapse and high-speed photography, Louie learns that the human conception of time is very narrow. It’s only by opening himself to the expansivenes…

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Creating my own sanctuary, by Angela Ahrendts 30:21

20d ago30:21

30:21

The strawberry field past the maple tree. A hidden nook beneath the stairs. The magical hour before anyone else is awake. Throughout her life, Angela Ahrendts has sought out sanctuaries – sacred spaces to reconnect and to dream, quiet moments to visualize what her next big decision might lead to, to stay open to the signs that help guide her. Now, …

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#213 Abhyāsa: The Sacred Art of Returning, Practice, Repetition, and Inner Cultivation 1:07:04

23d ago1:07:04

1:07:04

What does it really mean to practice yoga not just once in a while, but again and again, across years, through resistance, joy, boredom, and transformation? In this episode, Kino and Tim explore the deeper meaning of abhyāsa, the Sanskrit word often translated as "practice," but whose roots reveal something far more enduring: the committed, intenti…

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Navigating life in my own skin, by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel 29:59

27d ago29:59

29:59

In precisely chosen words, the writer, artist and Zen priest Zenju Earthlyn Manuel tells a story from her girlhood, a road trip from LA to Louisiana in 1957. While five-year-old Zenju sits in the back seat dreaming of cowboys, her parents navigate an altogether different landscape. From them, from the trip, Zenju now believes she’s learned how to f…

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Through friendship, a better version of myself, by Reid Hoffman 30:00

1M ago30:00

30:00

How do you find joy in your life? For entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author Reid Hoffman, it’s through the act of genuine, honest, and intimate conversations with friends. Once a self-described misfit, in college, Reid finds his place. He connects with people who share not necessarily his interests but his curiosity, and his dedication to as…

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#212 Understanding the Ashtanga Yoga Opening Invocation: Etymology, Meaning & Inner Alchemy 57:08

1M ago57:08

57:08

The yoga community is like one big family, not united by fancy poses but by a shared love for this ancient practice. It doesn't matter what shapes your body can or can't make; what matters is that you keep showing up and giving your best effort. What binds us is presence, not perfection. The practice calls forth a quiet courage and insight within u…

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Calming the mind and body for sleep, by Rohan Gunatillake 12:10

1M ago12:10

12:10

Having trouble quieting your mind at night? Join Rohan for this soothing, nighttime meditation designed to ease your body and mind into a restful sleep. Drawing on the close connection between mindfulness and relaxation, Rohan takes you step by step through the process of turning down your senses until all that remains is the quiet calm of rest. Se…

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Trusting love’s infinite possibilities, by Morgan Saylor 37:43

2M ago37:43

37:43

Morgan Saylor is an actor of stage and screen, best known for her portrayal of the teenage Dana Brody in the series “Homeland.” But, before acting, her first passion was mathematics. Morgan unfolds how math has given her a way to approach the unknown with trust and openness, accepting that each moment and every relationship contains infinite possib…

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#211 A Supported Practice: Finding Balance Between Yoga and Strength Training with Kino MacGregor and Wade Oakley 1:01:42

2M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

In this insightful episode of the Yoga Inspiration Podcast, Kino MacGregor sits down with longtime Ashtanga practitioner and teacher Wade Oakley to explore the intersection of traditional yoga practice and modern strength training. Wade shares how an early shoulder injury led him to Ashtanga Yoga at the University of Virginia, and how his journey q…

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Diana Nyad: Giving life everything we’ve got 31:55

2M ago31:55

31:55

By the 1980s, Diana Nyad had left competitive swimming behind, embarking on a successful career as a sports broadcaster. But after a meeting with “Superman” actor Christopher Reeve — whose throw from a horse left him paralyzed from the shoulders down — she is reminded of a challenge that fueled her early athletic ambitions, and re-commits to living…

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Reaching our full potential is not a solo act, by Terence Blanchard 35:58

2M ago35:58

35:58

As a legendary Jazz trumpeter, winner of 5 Grammy Awards, and composer of over 60 films including the works of director Spike Lee, it’s easy to assume Terence Blanchard is someone with a lot of confidence. But growing up in New Orleans, he’s just a shy kid with glasses and a lot of uncertainty. In this week’s episode, Terence tells the story of how…

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#210 Living Legacy: Sri Shubha on Krishnamacharya, Yoga, and Teaching from the Heart 54:42

2M ago54:42

54:42

In this rare and heartfelt conversation, Kino MacGregor sits down with Sri Shubha, daughter of the legendary T. Krishnamacharya, to share stories and insights from the man often called the father of modern yoga. Sri Shubha offers a deeply personal glimpse into her upbringing in a household where yoga was not just a practice, but a way of life. She …

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Asking for what we need, by Kathryn Nicolai 35:17

2M ago35:17

35:17

Kathryn Nicolai, creator of the Nothing Much Happens podcast, learns at an early age to diminish her own needs. She never wants to become a problem for other people, so she pretends like she’s always okay. When she gets an opportunity to study abroad in Italy, a difficult experience with her host family causes her to retreat further into herself. I…

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Bonus Episode: The Spiritual Hustle: Build Your Authentic Yoga Business Without Losing Your Soul 30:01

2M ago30:01

30:01

This bonus episode is a gateway into The Spiritual Hustle, an honest, practical, and soul-centered approach to building a yoga or wellness business. The conversation traces the roots of practice, the call to teach, and the leap of faith it takes to create an online presence that stays true to authentic voice. You'll hear about: • The real challenge…

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Building trust in ourselves, by Rohan Gunatillake 17:39

3M ago17:39

17:39

Today’s meditation features a special guest, Rohan’s 7 year-old son, Arne. Letting go can come in stages, or so Rohan experiences on a recent holiday with his family. As his 7 year-old son Arne builds his swimming skills, Rohan realizes he’s gone from an active, hands-on support role, to one of a patient observer. It’s in this letting go that both …

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#209 Roots & Branches: Writing, Teaching, and Living Yoga with David Swenson 1:03:53

3M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

In this warm and inspiring episode, Kino MacGregor welcomes her dear friend and legendary Ashtanga Yoga teacher David Swenson for a conversation about his new book, Only Dead Fish Go With the Flow. David shares what sparked the idea for the book — a collection of stories, reflections, and wisdom from decades of living yoga on and off the mat. He of…

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Loving our living world, by Carl Safina 30:38

3M ago30:38

30:38

We all need to love and be loved, we all want to feel not alone in this world. And this is true for all of the living world, says ecologist and author Carl Safina. Carl has spent his whole life interacting with the wild, from raising pigeons on a Brooklyn rooftop to trekking through the frozen landscape of Antarctica and the vast African savanna. A…

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Discovering the path to honor, by Ghuan Featherstone 31:28

3M ago31:28

31:28

Ghuan Featherstone is determined to go his own way – to live with courage, kindness, and faith in justice. To be a cowboy. But growing up in a neighborhood rife with gang violence, the forces marshaled against him feel beyond his control. After visiting a little-known horse stable in South Central LA, Ghuan discovers a path to honor on the back of …

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#208 The Many Shades of Devotion in Yoga 1:05:48

3M ago1:05:48

1:05:48

Join Kino MacGregor, Tim Feldmann, Wade Oakley and Chandana Bhowmick as they discuss what devotion means for each of them. Finding the fuel of devotion in their practice is more sustainable than the fuel of ambition. Hear how they each found the student's heart of love in their relationship with their teachers and how they carry the flame of the pr…

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Let your body be the guide, by Andrea Gibson 37:49

3M ago37:49

37:49

What do you do when your own body feels like the enemy? Spoken word artist and activist Andrea Gibson (You Better Be Lightning) spends years struggling with chronic illness, feeling as if their body is at odds with their anxious mind. It’s only when they learn to surrender control and embrace their physical sensations that they allow their body to …

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Stay open to find belonging, by Tami Simon 35:10

3M ago35:10

35:10

Tami Simon, founder of the spiritual wisdom publishing house Sounds True, goes through much of her life feeling like an alien. Often misunderstood, Tami yearns to discover where she fits in. In today’s episode, she shares the story of how an otherworldly experience teaches her that she can tune into the frequency of finding belonging. Each episode …

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#207 How Yoga Teaches Us to Stand Up for Justice Without Losing Our Peace 59:39

4M ago59:39

59:39

In a world filled with conflict, injustice, and harm, how do we respond as yogis? In this episode, Kino explores the powerful yogic concept of *kṣānti*—forbearance, patience, and compassionate endurance—through scriptural sources including the Bhagavad Gītā, the Bodhicaryāvatāra, and the Yoga Sutras. We talk about how yogic activism is possible—and…

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Creative potential is everywhere, by Jon Foreman 35:23

4M ago35:23

35:23

Jon Foreman is a land artist who uses the raw materials of the environment to create breathtaking ephemeral pieces. His ability to see creative potential all around him is his superpower, but when his life presents him with the unexpected, he has to become more narrowly focused on his responsibilities. In today’s episode, Jon tells the story of how…

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What kindness means to us 10:18

4M ago10:18

10:18

At a time when it feels like the world needs kindness more than ever, Rohan and the Meditative Story team share a unique, immersive exploration of the ways kindness can show up in all of our lives, featuring contributions from the Meditative Story community. This purposefully crafted pause from the rigors of daily life is an invitation to cultivate…

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#206: Dharma Talk: Why We Think It's Important to Keep Practicing Ashtanga Yoga with Kino and Tim 1:00:35

4M ago1:00:35

1:00:35

Why We Think It's Important to Keep Practicing Ashtanga Yoga and Why We Hope You Keep Practicing Too Dedicated Ashtanga Yoga practice is a powerful journey worth pursuing, even decades after your first class. Reflecting on more than 25 years of practice, we've discovered profound reasons to stay committed, which we captured in a recent series on wh…

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There’s nobody like you, by Eddie Huang 33:07

4M ago33:07

33:07

In 2009, Eddie Huang, author of the acclaimed memoir Fresh Off the Boat, opens Baohaus, his first Taiwanese restaurant on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. It’s a wild, chaotic gamble that exemplifies Eddie’s spirit. But as the restaurant’s success grows, Eddie is faced with the challenge of either sticking to his principles or living someone else’s dre…

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Letting go of the need to do it all, by Meredith Goldstein 37:18

4M ago37:18

37:18

Meredith Goldstein writes the wildly popular Love Letters column in the Boston Globe, but for much of her life, she’s viewed romantic relationships as a trap. Meredith grows up seeing the limitations of her mom’s insular life, and knows she wants more for herself. It’s only when the pandemic forces her to slow down that she realizes the beauty in g…

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#205: Dharma Talk: The Discerning Eye of the Yogin — Becoming Connoisseurs of Spiritual Knowledge 1:09:21

5M ago1:09:21

1:09:21

We are, by nature, discriminating beings. We develop taste — for art, food, fashion, architecture. We learn to tell what is real from what is imitation, what is durable from what is fleeting. We become connoisseurs of culture, cuisine, aesthetics. So what happens when that same discriminating capacity is turned inward? This is what yogic philosophy…

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Experiencing the world through my senses, by Fred Minnick 38:54

5M ago38:54

38:54

When Fred Minnick returns from his military service as a photographer documenting the war in Iraq, he finds himself haunted by what he saw through the lens of his camera. Trauma, as a result of the battlefield and his childhood, holds a grip on him until a bag of barbecue potato chips unlocks something in his brain. An untapped talent — he was born…

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Standing in my own truth, by Moj Mahdara 26:40

5M ago26:40

26:40

No boys. No dresses. As a teen, Moj Mahdara, founder of the fashion media company Beautycon, knows she’s different. And growing up in a traditional Iranian household, she struggles to reveal her own true identity. When two long-term houseguests descend — her grandmothers — Moj is shocked to learn that each woman has a surprising story of identity o…

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#204: Dharma Talk: The Grace of the Guru 1:40:40

5M ago1:40:40

1:40:40

In the sacred journey of yoga, the figure of the guru—the teacher, the revealer—is not merely someone who instructs us in techniques. The guru is the light that removes darkness, the presence that dispels confusion, and the voice that calls us back to the Self. The Sanskrit word guru itself is formed from gu, meaning darkness, and ru, meaning remov…

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Show up for yourself to show up for others, by Jefferson Fisher 38:03

5M ago38:03

38:03

Lawyer and master communicator Jefferson Fisher loves taking care of other people. You can feel this in the supportive videos he posts on his wildly popular social media channels. Again and again he puts the wants and needs of others ahead of his own. In his story this week, Jefferson discovers the power of showing up for himself, and when he does,…

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Giving birth to a wiser self, by Elizabeth Lesser 31:45

5M ago31:45

31:45

One icy morning on a Vermont farm, Elizabeth Lesser is witness to a miraculous thing: the birth of a bleary, bleating baby lamb. Years later, as a midwife, she is still filled with this sense of awe and wonder at every birth. It’s through that process of coaching new life into the world, she learns how to sit through the difficult – even the painfu…

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Three love stories, by Rohan Gunatillake 15:42

6M ago15:42

15:42

Love sneaks up on us. It’s a sudden awakening from the mundane. It’s divinity in the everyday. In this special episode, Rohan shares a trio of stories about his love, Lucy. The childlike purity and sweeping hold of love will wash over you in this intimate listening experience from Meditative Story’s very own Rohan. Each episode of Meditative Story …

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#203: An Ocean of Grace, Saumanasya - The Cheerful Disposition of the Yogi's Mind 51:05

6M ago51:05

51:05

Many of us come to yoga seeking relief. Relief from pain, from restlessness, from uncertainty. And sometimes we find it. But over time, what we discover is more lasting than relief. We discover presence. We discover steadiness. We discover a kind of joy that doesn't have to shout. It only has to be. So we practice. Not to get rid of pain, but to kn…

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The joy of being an unwilling traveler through life, by Maya Shankar 30:51

6M ago30:51

30:51

Maya Shankar is a cognitive neuroscientist and host of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans. As a girl, she struggles with taking things too seriously: herself, the sufferings of others, the hypothetical misfortunes she imagines for the future. She turns to her father for perspective — and he takes her on a memorable walk, one that he…

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Outside the Box with Maverick Teachers Harmony Slater, David Garrigues, and Ty Landrum 1:35:40

6M ago1:35:40

1:35:40

A maverick is someone who is unconventional and thinks for themselves and today's guests are certainly that. Harmony Slater, David Garrigues, and Ty Landrum are all part of the same Ashtanga yoga tradition, and yet, they look almost nothing alike. Each offer their own unique perspective and approach that is in ways, totally opposite. On one end the…

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Mud, sweat, and tears, by Shani Tran 33:49

6M ago33:49

33:49

Midway through a grueling, muddy obstacle course, Shani Tran is so grateful for the support of her father, her teammate, who cheers her on and pulls her through. But in other parts of life, she knows, he’s just not there for her in the same way. And that’s ... okay. She shares three stories — with humor, and with honesty — that build to a lifelong …

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#202: How Yoga Grows a Heart of Unconditional Compassion 59:42

6M ago59:42

59:42

In the closing prayer of the Ashtanga practice, we chant: svasti prajābhyaḥ pari-pālayantāṁ, nyāyena mārgena mahīṁ mahīśāḥ, gobrāhmaṇebhyaḥ śubham astu nityaṁ, lokāḥ samastāḥ sukhino bhavantu. These ancient words are an offering — a prayer for all beings to be protected, for the rulers of the earth to walk the path of righteousness, for all sacred …

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Learning to heal by learning to feel, by Niall Breslin 39:53

6M ago39:53

39:53

From the outside, Niall Breslin — known by legions of Irish fans as Bressie — appears to have led a charmed life. He’s had a professional Rugby career, achieved national stardom as a musician, and been a coach on The Voice of Ireland. But behind all those achievements lies Niall’s struggle with repressed emotions and generations of unresolved pain.…

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#201: Tears of the Path: Saṁvega and the Ocean Within — A Reflection on Feeling Deeply, Seeing Clearly, and Walking the Path with Urgency 48:20

6M ago48:20

48:20

As we go deeper on the spiritual path—whether through yoga, meditation, or self-inquiry—we often discover a paradox: We feel more peace… but we also feel more pain. The highs become transcendent. The lows, unbearable. We start to feel everything more intensely. This intensity is not a mistake. It is the heart of the path. The Buddha says: you have …

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Rewrite your inner monologue, by Kim Fields 21:58

6M ago21:58

21:58

When the way we talk about our own bodies becomes negative and self-deprecating, it’s time to rewrite that inner monologue. Actress and director Kim Fields, star of The Facts of Life, Living Single, and the Netflix series The Upshaws, leads us through a process of reevaluating the words we say to ourselves. It’s an invitation to send love to every …

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Is Ashtanga Right for Everyone? With David Keil, Scott Johnson, and Jen René 58:01

6M ago58:01

58:01

In this episode of the Ashtanga Dispatch Podcast, David Keil, Jen René and Scott Johnson join me to explore the question of whether Ashtanga yoga is suitable for everyone, not just as teachers but as students, ourselves with our own challenges and needs. We talk about the importance of context, adaptation, and the need be critical thinkers. But lik…

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Joseph Goldstein: It's ok not to know 39:53

7M ago39:53

39:53

Co-founder of Insight Meditation Society (IMS) and author of several popular books on Buddhism, Joseph Goldstein has been a legend in the world of mindfulness for nearly half a century. But when he returned to US from India in the early ‘70s, penniless and without a job prospect, he had no way of knowing what his future held. This week, Joseph tell…

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Finding possibility in life’s forced pauses, by AD 34:38

7M ago34:38

34:38

As a WNBA player, AD is used to saying, “I’m good” as an automatic response, no matter the injury. It’s what allows them to be a successful athlete, and to wrap their whole self around that identity. But when basketball is fully stripped away from them, they have to look inward to explore who they are — and the full range of identity available to t…

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#200: The Benefits of Strong Practice in Cultivating Tapas 1:07:08

7M ago1:07:08

1:07:08

Sometimes we may not understand why it is necessary to engage in strong practice. This talk dives into how the effects we put into asana practice cultivate a powerful internal fire of purification. This was a talk given after a 4 day immersion with Kino and Tim in Bangkok. Practice LIVE with me exclusively on Omstars! Start your journey today with …

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Staying insightful, playful, and alert, by Rohan Gunatillake 16:06

7M ago16:06

16:06

This April Fool’s Day, Rohan embraces the sense of play that exists in all of us, designing a unique meditation to foster a feeling of alertness on this day of pranks. He then invites you to take on the mantle of the wise fool, that all-seeing court jester who upends convention and ensures that we all see the world through a brighter lens. If this …

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#199: Honoring the Lineage and Understanding Merit in Ashtanga Yoga 1:42:36

7M ago1:42:36

1:42:36

Kino and Tim discuss how to honor the lineage in the absence of our teachers. They further dive into the definition of what constitutes merit in the practice of Yoga. Ending with a Q&A that captures the spirit of the conclusion of their first week of teaching in Bali Practice LIVE with me exclusively on Omstars! Start your journey today with a 7-da…