It's the fifth and final niyama - ishvara pranidhana. The translation is "surrender to god," and today we'll explore how we can navigate the seemingly negative connotations of the word "surrender" and the sometimes tricky concept of a western god. In the end, this niyama asks us to trust that we are part of a larger consciousness and that we are always where we need to be for the next step on our path. Surrendering is learning how to give away the things that are causing us unnecessary suffering...
Dec 06, 2021•20 min
Happy Episode 100! This feels like such a huge milestone to me and I simply could not have done it without every person who has ever listened to even one episode of the show. I appreciate you so much! In honor of Thanksgiving week (here in the US) and this occasion, we'll spend today working through the chakras one by one and exploring the gratitude we have within each one. I know it can be tough to focus on the good in an energy center, especially if it's an area we feel imbalanced in, but the ...
Nov 26, 2021•15 min
Continuing our studies of the niyamas (guidelines for internal work) we really start to dig deep into what it means to reflect on ourselves and our connection to the world and to the universe. The fourth niyama is svadhyaya - self-study - and it's here that the work can start to get really interesting and, at times, really intense. What would it mean to take a deep, honest look at who you are? At your thoughts, at your stories, at what might be holding you back from where you want to be? We'll t...
Nov 19, 2021•23 min
The third niyama on this inner journey is tapas - heat. The kind of heat that changes us and transforms us into the highest versions of ourselves, even when it is sometimes a little painful. Tapas is part of the Ashtanga Yoga system, an eight-limbed path that leads us toward spiritual growth, and this niyama is all about practices we can include in our lives that burn away the things that aren't working anymore. That might be old ideas, poor physical health, or simple mind clutter. Tapas are the...
Nov 12, 2021•21 min
It's time for the second niyama - santosha. Santosha is the practice of living contentedly, with a sense of inner peace. It doesn't mean that we can't ever change or grow or improve, only that we have the opportunity to act from a strong, measured center. Santosha allows us to feel secure moving through an insecure world. We'll talk about some of the biggest obstacles to contentment and some practices we can develop that can lead us closer to peace. Each week, we'll continue to learn tools and i...
Nov 05, 2021•25 min
Today we begin our series on the niyamas. If the yamas are ethical guidelines on how to interact with the world, the niyamas are ethical guidelines with a more internal focus. The first is Saucha, which translates to purity, or cleanliness. Of course, we recognize the importance of keeping our physical bodies clean, and we'll also look at how this practice relates to inside our bodies, as well as emotional and mental "cleaning house." Practicing purity of body and mind creates space for us to gr...
Oct 29, 2021•21 min
Today we explore the fifth and final yama - aparigraha. The translation is non-possessiveness, or non-clinging, which in the chakra system we might experience as the act of letting go. In the Buddhist traditions, it's often said that clinging or grasping is the cause of unnecessary suffering and it is only when we learn to let go that we can find peace. Aparigraha, in the Ashtanga Yoga tradition, invites us to incorporate that practice into our lives every day to help us find our true nature, or...
Oct 22, 2021•26 min
This week we explore the fourth yama - brahmacharya. I find it a little trickier to understand than the others, so we'll really break it down into what it means for people living today, in the modern world. The literal translation of this yama is "walk with god," which can be confusing and even off-putting. No worries - we'll figure it out together! Join me as we explore this ethical practice, guiding us to find our true nature and lighting our spiritual path. If you're interested in learning mo...
Oct 15, 2021•22 min
It's a little diversion from the chakras, but one I think you'll find very interesting! Today I interview Psychic Medium Drew Cali and learn three ways to connect with our spirit guides. This is outside my realm of expertise, so we start with the basics - what are spirit guides? What is a psychic? What's the difference between a psychic and a medium? Then we explore ways to connect to these beings and why it might be helpful for us on our varying paths. If you've ever wondered who your spirit gu...
Oct 08, 2021•1 hr 7 min
If you're not sure what steps to take on your path of spiritual or personal growth, allow me to introduce you to the third yama from the Ashtanga yogic system - asteya. Asteya translates to non-stealing, but it's so much more than simply not taking things that don't belong to you. We'll talk about how we unknowingly steal our own happiness and opportunities and how a deep practice of asteya can help us become the people we want to be. Non-stealing shows itself particularly in the root, sacral, a...
Oct 01, 2021•18 min
This week we look at the second yama in the Ashtanga Yoga system: satya or truthfulness. We can think of this system and its components as a guidebook or roadmap to our highest selves. We'll explore how truthful behavior is far more than not telling a simple lie, how and why truth - both personal and universal truth - affects your chakras, and of course, some ideas on how to practice satya in our daily lives. Each week, we'll continue to learn tools and ideas that we can use to move closer to ou...
Sep 24, 2021•17 min
We're always talking about our "highest self" - what is that even? And how do we even begin to get there? Today we'll discuss what your highest self might look like and also dive deep into one step you can take to get there. Ancient yogis left us a roadmap, if you will, of some things we can do (or not do!) to lead us closer to our highest selves. The first one, and the topic of today's show is the first of the yamas: ahimsa, non-violence. It's a broader, more nuanced topic that we might expect ...
Sep 17, 2021•19 min
I hear it all the time - people who are so overwhelmed by current events, division, and discord that they're not sure they'll ever find balance again. It can be in the world or in their personal lives, but the pain can be consuming. Today we're talking about how the news and social media are affecting your chakras and how imbalances can be created by a constant stream of information. There are very good reasons you feel out of sorts energetically! We'll also talk about where each of us can start...
Sep 10, 2021•25 min
Are you accidentally holding on to the the things holding you back? Is an imbalance in your chakras serving some purpose? These are tough questions, and the subject of our podcast today. We'll talk about what it means to create an identity around an imbalance or trauma and why we might do it (spoiler: we all do it, it's okay!). We'll also talk a little about how to start letting our old identities go and start creating new ones that are more in line with our highest selves. Each week, we'll cont...
Sep 03, 2021•16 min
In our chakra work, we often use affirmations - phrases that connect us to the essence of each energy center. Sometimes these are called mantras, but this week we talk about how mantra and affirmations are different from one another. They work differently and they do different things. We'll discuss what each is, how to know when to use which one for the result we're looking for, and end with both affirmations and mantras that you can practice with! Each week, we'll continue to learn tools and id...
Aug 27, 2021•19 min
Anxiety is incredibly widespread right now - maybe it always is - and we're all looking for ways to manage and reduce it. This week we explore the chakras that can hold anxiety (spoiler alert: it isn't *just* the Root Chakra!), how it might show itself in your life, and how you can tailor your chakra work to address your specific needs. You can connect with me on Facebook and Instagram , and if this show is helping you in your life, consider joining the Patreon page for bonus content (meditation...
Aug 20, 2021•19 min
Today we combine the philosophy of the chakra system with the Zodiac to learn more about how their associated elements impact our lives, behaviors, and energetic balance. Knowing where we might be likely to have a chakra block can help us be aware of the signs. I'll also offer several ideas for each elemental Zodiac sign about how to re-balance the affected chakra and lead you toward a happier, more peaceful life. Astrology and the chakras are bound through the four earthly elements of earth, wa...
Aug 13, 2021•22 min
While we usually talk about the seven main chakras, today we're going beyond the basics - quite literally beyond - to the first of the chakras that lies completely outside the body! We'll learn what it is, what it does, and why it's important to our work on the spiritual path. If you're struggling or feel lost, this episode may shine a little light on the steps in front of you. We'll learn how to hear, receive, and process messages from our highest selves - the parts of us that are connected to ...
Aug 06, 2021•16 min
Everyone knows someone who is a little more...challenging to engage with than is truly comfortable. Sometimes, we call those people and the relationships we have with them toxic. That's what we're talking about today - how those relationships are affecting all your chakras, but specifically your throat and sacral chakras. More importantly, we'll discuss some strategies for changing these relationships and the energetic impact they have on us. You can connect with me on Facebook and Instagram , a...
Jul 30, 2021•28 min
Positive thinking! Sunshine and rainbows! What could be wrong with that? Well, that's what we're talking about this week. The dark side of always being positive and how that's affecting your chakra energy and your health. We'll explore the topic of "toxic positivity," where it lies in your energetic chain, and how it might be hurting you to always look on the bright side. Let's learn how to be truthful in our positive thinking while still acknowledging that sometimes life hurts. You can connect ...
Jul 23, 2021•17 min
Everything you ever wanted to know about reiki! What is it? Where does it come from? Who does it? How does it work? What can I expect? If you've ever been curious about this energy healing technique, this episode is for you. We'll cover the what, why, and how of reiki and also spend time discussing the benefits of it for each chakra. We'll talk about the emotional and mental aspects of each chakra and how reiki can support healing there, as well as the kinds of physical problems that might occur...
Jul 16, 2021•21 min
How has your life changed since you began your chakra work? Your spiritual journey? If you're like most people, the answer is that life has changed quite a bit - and not all of it feels like it's for the better. And one place we really notice the change is in our relationships. In this week's episode, we're talking about how spiritual and energy work can affect your relationship and why. And, of course, how you can manage the changes that are happening both inside and out. You can connect with m...
Jul 09, 2021•17 min
Today we explore how what's happening in your Root and Sacral Chakras can affect your relationship - from feelings of insecurity to feeling no feelings at all. It's easy to think that if we can just change the environment, the person, or the relationship that all our problems will be solved, but in this episode, we learn how our own energy, our own chakra blocks and imbalances can be healed to help heal a struggling relationship. If you find yourself feeling insecure in your relationship, I'll p...
Jul 02, 2021•21 min
It's the question I get most - how do I know if I have a block in my chakras? And then the follow up: how do I get rid of it? When energy isn't flowing freely through our energetic channels, we don't feel quite right. Like something is off. And generally, that means we need to release some of the low vibrations in our energy centers. Today we talk about what those low vibrations might look like in your life, how you might feel if you're experiencing them in one or more chakras, and then we finis...
Jun 25, 2021•15 min
In the conclusion of our foods for the chakras series, we talk about the third eye and crown chakras. While there are some foods here that are good for nourishment, these uppermost chakras are more energetically minded so we focus on how foods affect our bodies and even the possibility that eating NO food for a while might be helpful! I also talk about chronic inflammation: what it is, how it develops, why it's hard on our bodies, and how to help reduce it. As always, practicing gratitude and be...
Jun 18, 2021•16 min
The series on foods for the chakras continues with the heart and throat! As we move into the gateway chakras, new flavors are present and preparation takes on a whole new significance. We also talk about how environment can change the qualities of food!
Jun 11, 2021•18 min
Taking a quick break from our series to share this interview with you! I was recently a guest on the Hello, Next Level podcast where hosts Taylor and Kirsten invited me to share some chakra knowledge with their listeners. It was focused on personal growth and how to use the chakras to move your life toward where you want to be. We talk basics, but also get deep into development and what it's like to have blocks and imbalances in the energy centers. Starting June 13, I'm offering my FREE Chakra M...
Jun 04, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Join me as I talk about foods for the solar plexus chakra and how these foods can also help other chakras. After discussing foods for the root and sacral chakras from the last episode, we continue this series and move to the next one – the solar plexus chakra. In this episode, I will share which specific foods can benefit the solar plexus chakra and the physiology governed by this chakra. The Solar Plexus Chakra Located a few inches above your navel, the solar plexus chakra is associated with th...
May 28, 2021•14 min
Join me as I talk about foods for the chakras, specifically the root and sacral chakras. After learning the holistic approach and the importance of nutrition on Ayurveda from the last episode, we continue the conversation by talking about foods that will help you keep your chakras balanced. In this episode, I share which particular foods are best for the first two chakras and what nutrients they contain that directly benefit the areas that these chakras govern physically and energetically. Foods...
May 21, 2021•14 min
Victor Briere, A.D., and I discuss what Ayurveda is about, its application to health and wellness, and its connection to chakras. To perform spiritual practices in yoga efficiently, one has to have a healthy body. As a holistic science, Ayurveda treats the body and the mind as a whole. In this episode, Victor sheds some light on how Ayurveda can help improve overall health. Ayurveda Explained While yoga is about finding life’s spiritual aspects, Ayurveda is a holistic science that promotes good ...
May 14, 2021•36 min
