FINDING HARMONY PODCAST
What is a spiritual practice? How does it work? How will it improve my life? How will deepening my self-care transform me? What strategies can I use to improve my life, increase my health, and create wellness? How can craft a life that I love?
The Finding Harmony Podcast gets to the root of all these questions. Each episode is full of inspiration, humour, honest observations, and actionable steps that you can integrate to enhance your experience of self-love, develop a connection to Spirit, and create a life you truly love.
Show Notes Below:
Prison Cells to Nordic Retreats: An Unconventional Path of Yoga
We associate aggression and harm with boxing. When we think of yoga we associate peace and harmony. So it might seem counterintuitive that boxing shares some profound similarities with the more popular practice of yoga asana.
Alex's extraordinary journey from boxer to Sanskrit scholar, ballet dancer to Certified Ashtanga yoga teacher, to becoming a lifeline for inmates and addicts, and founder of Nøsen Yoga Retreat in Norway, will leave you in awe of yoga's power to heal and transform.
The Evolving Yoga Practice of a Mother: Surrender, Growth, and Transformation
We’re talking about the ever evolving definition of yoga as it relates to motherhood. We going deep into the journey of learning to let go of perfect to find your true practice, both on and off the mat.
As a dedicated yoga practitioner, I always thought my practice would get "better" with time. More advanced postures, smoother transitions, deeper states of meditation. I had this ideal vision of what my yoga journey should look like. But then came motherhood. Today, we’re talking to Bibi about her journey both on and off the mat, especially when it comes to being a mom.
Introducing Pranayama: A Journey to Inner Peace and Well-Being
When I first started yoga I recall several teachers warning me about the “dangers of pranayama.” The term “breathwork” was non-existent in popular culture. There were barely any books published on pranayama (let alone something called breathwork) and there was little research on the power of breathing, or studies on how the breath is intimately connected to the stress response in both our body and mind!
Boy… Things have sure changed!
JC, Our Own Personal Jesus?
John brings a depth of knowledge and insight that illuminates our discussion on modern yoga, the cult of personality, and the essence of being present in the moment.
In the realm of modern yoga, the boundaries between what's considered “traditional” and what's labeled “contemporary” are often blurred, and we're left to navigate (without much guidance) a complex construct of spirituality, personal wellness, and self-discovery.
The Ashtanga Shift: How to Adapt Your Practice for Life's Transitions
I think we can all agree… Ashtanga Yoga is a beautiful and powerful practice. The structure of the traditional system offers a strong path for making epic possibilities become a reality and increasing positive outcomes for both mind and body.
These benefits are easily felt by everyone while on retreat, but what happens when students go back home? How can we, as teachers, offer students the kind of support and continued learning even after the retreat ends?
This is what I'm talking about today with my guest Elizabeth Ball on the Finding Harmony Podcast!
From Conflict to Harmony: How to Improve Focus with Mindfulness with Paula Vital
In the latest episode of the Finding Harmony Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Paula Vital, a fascinating individual whose life story epitomizes the transformative power of mindfulness and yoga. Paula, once a high-achieving lawyer, turned to mindfulness and yoga therapy during a period of profound personal upheaval. Her journey from the stressful corridors of legal practice to the tranquil realms of mindfulness coaching offers invaluable insights into the universal quest for inner peace and balance.
From Turkish Delights to Yoga Heights: A Unique Finding Harmony Retreat
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Sevket (Recep), whose life story reads like an adventure novel! Sevket’s transition from the high-stakes world of professional tennis to the introspective practice of yoga is a powerful reminder of the transformative potential within all of us.
His story challenges us to rethink our definitions of success and to consider how shifting our focus from external achievements to inner awareness can lead to a more fulfilling life.
Transforming Trauma: How to Embrace Healing and Self-Love After Loss
In the ever-evolving narrative of our lives, we often find ourselves at the crossroads of challenge and change, seeking pathways of healing, understanding, and ultimately, transformation.
The journey towards healing is not linear. It ebbs and flows. We challenged with lessons to build resilience, self-love, and greater awareness. I invite you to join me and my dear friend, Lara Land, on the Finding Harmony Podcast, where we delve deeper into these themes, sharing stories, insights, and practices that illuminate the path towards a more vibrant, fulfilling life.
Amazing Ashtanga: Eye-Opening Insights on Yoga, Teaching, and Life - with Ross Stambaugh
Today we’re chatting with Ross Stambaugh, a travelling yoga teacher, who came to the practice to help him find freedom from the daily stress of working as a fine arts teacher in public schools. The conversation delves into Ross Stambaugh's unique yoga journey, including his choice to practice with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois' daughter, Saraswathi Jois, over making a more conventional choice to practice under her son, R. Sharath Jois.
From Injuries to Insights: Navigating Healing in the Yoga World - with Dan Fanthorpe
Join us on an epic journey with our guest, Dan Fanthorpe, (an experienced Osteopath and Ashtanga yoga teacher) and we venture into the realms of yoga, healing, and the transformative power of community as we navigate the ups + downs of injuries in yoga.
This insightful conversation goes far beyond a discussion of physical injuries to explore the spiritual and emotional dimensions of the practice.
Body Autonomy Is Punk: Breaking Free From Disordered Eating
Aimee began her career not as a Yoga teacher but a punk rock singer, recording several albums and touring the world with her band theSTART and performing guest vocals for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Garbage, Teddybears and so many more. With complete candor, she shares how she has struggled with body image and disordered eating off and on throughout her life and the steps she’s taken to reframe her relationship with food and her body.
Unlocking the Mental Benefits of Yoga: A Scientific Perspective with Jean Bryne
Join us as we sit down with our dear friend and distinguished guest, Jean Bryne, to discuss the depths of yoga's impact on mental health. With her extensive background in both traditional practice and modern scientific research, Jean offers a rare and insightful perspective on the mental benefits of yoga, explored through a scientific lens.
Tantra Flow with Jeanne Heileman
When Jeanne Heileman became a yoga teacher in 1996, there was no career for this field. She had the intention to teach once a week as a work supplement in the non-profit arts world to pay off her graduate school student debt.
In this episode, we’re talking about what makes a good yoga teacher and some of the insights Jeanne has gained through her years of practicing under the guidance of many different teachers. Experience bring wisdom and Jeanne has a depth of perspective that is rare in teachers today.
Gopi Kallayil: The Happy Human
Gopi Kallayil is the Chief Evangelist, head of Digital Transformation and Strategy at Google. What that exactly means… We’re going to unpack it inside this episode!
He is the author of two books, “The Happy Human” and “The Internet to the Inner-net,” published by Hay House.
He has released three music albums titled “Kirtan Lounge.”
Sunshine Nights with Amy Priya
Amy talks us through her childhood as an immigrant to this country from the Philippines to upstate NY, becoming found (or possibly losing herself) in the state of flow through her early years of dance. Becoming a yoga student in NY in the 90’s and then taking up music and forming a band.
She became a follower and a devotee of Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma), “the Hugging Saint.” There couldn’t be a better metaphor for how nice Amy Priya is… We’re sure you’ll feel her energetic hug over the airwaves.
Kerri Kelly: American Detox
What we understand to be wellness now, has become divorced from it’s origin, commodified, and sold as a luxury items that even the 99% struggle to afford.
Wellness isn’t just self-care rituals, like yoga or meditation, but it’s a living wage, a home, food, and basic human needs. It’s not just what you buy in lululemon, it’s all the ways we fight and advocate for healthy living conditions, so that all can get what they truly need.
“The myth of wellness is a lie. And until we learn to confront and dismantle its toxic systems, we can’t ever be well.” -Kerri Kelly
Marie Forleo is A time Genius… How About You?
We’re living in a world full of constant pressure and distractions with a zeitgeist that reinforces “more, more, more!”
In this episode of Finding Harmony, I’m talking with author, entrepreneur, business coach and thought leader for a new generation, Marie Forleo, about how she manages time, what self-care practices she personally prioritizes, and how she balances creativity and structure to optimize her innate sense of flow.
If I told you that you could decrease your stress in only 5 days, that you can feel better and cut your stress levels in half, would you drop everything to learn how?
Kintsugi with Mae Yoshikawa
We dive into a discussion of what feminine spirituality looks like. Just as her inspiration, the late guru Sri Anandamayi Ma, our guest today, Mae Yoshikawa, also embodies this eternal nature of divine joy. Late in today’s episode, Mae speaks about her status as a widow and what that means for her as well (be sure to listen all the way… so not to miss both the beautiful and tragic events that broke her heart wide open).
Back To The Future with Krista Shirley
Krista is really is special. She is a voracious learner and she takes this infectious energy, AAA-type personality, to her whole life, business, motherhood, and Ashtanga yoga practice. If it can be said of anyone, it has never been more true when it comes to Krista: She embodies the energy of Wonder Woman… It’s always a shock for a lady like this to be confronted with a truly obliterating obstacle.
Kaitlyn Rose: Somatic Alchemy & Healing Trauma
Kaitlyn Rose Holsapple believes that the body is our most sacred guide. Her work now is focused on helping others integrate their past pains so these hidden shadows no longer subconsciously drive the choices in life. As a Somatic Yoga Therapist, she helps clients connect with the innate, intuitive wisdom of the body. This wisdom is present in “every” body, and helps up to organically move stages of healing.