#021: Taylor Hunt | Recovery Through Yoga

Stillpoints: A Podcast with Scott Johnson

Scott talks to Ashtanga yoga teacher Taylor Hunt about how Ashtanga yoga has helped him through his recovery from addiction and how he now helps others using the same inspiring outlook.

We’d like to invite you to join our growing Stillpoint Online Ashtanga Yoga and Mindfulness community. We live stream beginner classes, Ashtanga Yoga assisted self practice and guided classes with evening mindfulness sessions over 6 days with Scott Johnson and the Stillpoint teaching faculty. It’s a beautiful way to navigate these times…

Taylor Hunt is a devoted practitioner of Ashtanga yoga and a passionate teacher of the traditional method. He was granted Level 2 authorisation in 2013 by his teacher Sharath Jois who he studies with in Mysore every year.

His is a story of personal transformation. His book ‘A Way From Darkness’ is an inspiring account of his journey from addiction to health. He is director of the Trini Foundation, which shares the practice of Ashtanga with those suffering from addiction.

Ashtanga yoga has been deeply healing in his life and he is dedicated to sharing the benefits with others. He teaches daily Mysore classes Ashtanga Yoga Columbus, where he supports the community of practitioners in their practice and their daily lives. He also offers workshops around the world.

You can find out more about Taylor’s teaching schedule here.

You can also contact the Trini Foundation if you are interested in learning more about their inspiring work.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues brought up in this conversation and need help you contact Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous (please note these links are UK based organisations).

Recovery Through Yoga – Taylor Hunt

In this honest and powerful conversation Scott and Taylor share intimate details about how their lives have been affected by addiction. Taylor has come such a long way in his sobriety and Scott from growing up in an alcoholic family. Their unique perspectives, particularly Taylor on how he has navigated his own recovery, is powerful and honest.

In this moving conversation Taylor shares:

• What it means to be running a Mysore shala during the covid pandemic, and his decision to immediately hold classes online so he could carry on supporting his community

• About his book – Away from the Darkness, in which he writes about his journey from addiction to health.

• How he was convinced by his sponsor into taking his second yoga class after finding his first deeply uncomfortable because of everything it brought up.

• How he heard God speaking to him in savasana after that second class, telling, saying ‘you’re perfect, just the way you are’. He’d been sober for six months, and it was the first time he’d felt compassion and love for himself. He’s practised six days a week ever since.

• How sobriety rekindled his relationship with God.

• The relationship between being a Twelve Step sponsor and an Ashtanga teacher – the elements of coaching, accountability, and support.

• The daily work involved in staying sober, how he has to show up consistently in the program and on the mat.

• His reason for practising – that has to show up for sake of sobriety – means it’s life or death for him, as well as for a lot of people that he teaches, which is why he’s so passionate about showing up.

• The impact of his addiction on his family.

• The clarity after suffering he felt when his ex-wife took him for the treatment he needed.

• His deep gratitude for the second chance he’s been given

• That his first Ashtanga teacher was Laruga Glaser, who he practised with every day

• How he’s seen the practise help people, how it offers hope for escaping our samskaras.

• His belief in a higher power, whether it’s Jesus, Buddha, Vishnu, Shiva, Moses… they represent the same universal truths and inspire him in the same way, that his practice is like a prayer, a surrender to this higher power.

• The importance of being open with his children about his addiction.

• His work with the Trini Foundation, and how Ashtanga can help people in recovery

• The blessings in his life; his wife and his children

• That for him, living a contemplative life means showing up, and living a simple, uncomplicated life.

‘’Talking to Taylor was something I've wanted to do since I started the podcast. I’ve been personally affected by addiction from a young age, through my family, so to talk to Taylor about his recovery and how yoga has helped his sobriety felt deeply important top me. I was so deeply grateful at how honest Taylor was. I hope this helps others feel like they are not alone. Like Zephyr’s, its one of the most important and personal conversations I’ve had yet…

Scott Johnson – November 2020

If you enjoyed this podcast then you might also enjoy Scott’s conversations with Zephyr Wildman.