About | Yoga Scussion: Yoga Philosophy, Culture & Mindful Living Podcast

Yoga Scussion: Yoga Philosophy, Culture & Mindful Living Podcast

Hosted by

About the Show

Yoga Scussion: Yoga culture, philosophy, mindful living, and wellness podcast for modern practitioners and yogis. Hosts Gina Clingerman and Brendon Orr explore yoga's past, present and future through authentic conversations with yoga teachers, wellness practitioners, wisdom keepers, authors, and conscious entrepreneurs. We dive deep into:

• Yoga philosophy & the Ashtanga system (beyond the poses)
• Pranayama, meditation techniques & mindfulness tools for anxiety/stress
• Trauma-informed yoga, therapeutic applications & nervous system regulation
• Yoga teacher training, studio ownership & building inclusive communities
• Yoga's history and evolution
• Cultural appropriation, honoring yoga's roots & decolonizing practice
• Personal transformation, spiritual growth & yogic tools for life challenges
• Asana alignment insights: Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Kundalini

For yoga teachers, mindfulness practitioners, wellness seekers, and anyone curious about yoga's depth. Thoughtful discussion that honors tradition while embracing contemporary practice.

New episodes every other Wednesday.

Circle members get episodes 5 days early, ad-free listening, live recording invites & support honest yoga conversations. Join the Circle: yogascussion.podmasana.com/support

Meet our Hosts

Brendon Orr

I have been regularly teaching yoga for over 11 years. I sincerely believe that it is the best thing that humans have come up with and that it will play a crucial role in the future evolution of humanity. I came to yoga somewhat awkwardly, grunting my way through group classes while struggling to connect with my inner self. However, after experiencing the profound physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits of a regular yoga practice, I witnessed my own transformation. This inspired me to delve deeper into the practice and become an instructor. Now, I view yoga as a vital tool for harnessing human potential, believing it to be the greatest ‘thing’ humanity has created. I received my 200+ hour certification in 2014 and have been teaching regularly ever since. My journey has taken me domestically and abroad to various classes, trainings, and workshops, including the Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado, where I had the honor of learning from renowned teachers like Richard Freeman and Mary Taylor, as well as communities in Mysore and Bangalore, India. In my classes, I strive to create a welcoming environment that encourages students to disengage from auto-pilot consciousness (samskara) and connect with a state of timeless awareness (dhyana) and selfless awareness (samadhi). I approach each session with authenticity, care, and focus, drawing inspiration from my ongoing yoga practice, the study of various Eastern spiritualities and philosophies, and my own life experiences. Through the application of yoga’s eight limbs, I endeavor to help individuals discover and cultivate their own potential and connect with their true Selves and the divine energy that permeates the universe. My goal is to empower students to lead more awake, balanced, and healthy lives and learn to act as their own spiritual guides. I teach a weekly online class as well as private sessions in addition to teaching group classes at a couple of studios in the KC Metro area. If we haven't met yet, I hope to meet you in the present moment soon.

Gina Clingerman

My journey with yoga began in my late teens, through borrowed VHS tapes from friends and finds from the local library. In college, I was fortunate to study under a gifted instructor whose teaching deeply reshaped my connection to the practice. I couldn’t have known then that years later, I’d return to train with her and her colleagues in a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) that would change my life. That training came at a time when I was navigating a profound and growing depression. I didn’t initially set out to become a yoga teacher—my hope was simply to find steadier ground within myself. The 200-hour training unfolded over eight months, one intensive weekend at a time, with assignments and practice in between. It was equal parts illuminating and challenging—much like life itself. I found myself teaching unexpectedly, when my favorite class at a local studio was about to be cancelled. I volunteered to step in, and what began as a small, supportive class of fellow practitioners turned into something that’s now been part of my life for over 12 years. Over that time, I’ve grown, evolved, and continually deepened my relationship with yoga. I received my 200-hour certification from Blossom Yoga Studio in Laramie, WY in 2013, with a primary focus on Vinyasa Flow, complemented by modules in Restorative and Yin Yoga. In 2019, I completed a 50-hour in-person Yin Yoga training with Bernie Clark and Diana Batts. Since then, my studies have centered around trauma-informed yoga, polyvagal theory in somatic practice, and inner practices such as meditation and mantra. I’ve been honored to learn from incredible teachers including Scott Moore, Paisley Anne Close, Bhavani Maki, Hala Khouri, Douglas Brooks, and Janet Stone. During the pandemic, the shift to online learning opened doors to trainings and classes I would never have otherwise accessed—an unexpected gift in a difficult time. I’m proud to be the first in my family to attend college. In 2006, I earned an Associate of Arts in English Literature with an emphasis on Native American Literature. In 2009, I completed a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Anthropology (with a focus on Archaeology) and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. At my core, I am an inquisitive person driven by curiosity and a desire to experience life fully. My teaching is often shaped by whatever I’m currently exploring—whether through books, conversations, or inner reflection. Living in a complex and sometimes overwhelming world, I’ve found my yoga practice to be a place of refuge, a space where I can soften, release judgment, and meet myself with compassion. My intention is to offer students a space where they too can pause, breathe, and reconnect. A space to let go of external expectations and drop into a deeper sense of presence and awareness. I don’t claim to have the answers but I believe in the healing potential of simply being with what is, together.