A Grateful Life

A Grateful Lifehttp://www.laurentober.comFind out more about our work over at www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com ]]>enMental HealthCopyright Dr Lauren Toberhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/d0c72c54e8f38987a6c6d37c5f7ba460.jpgA Grateful Lifehttp://www.laurentober.comMon, 18 May 2026 02:28:00 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Toberfeeds@spreaker.comJoin Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher Dr Lauren Tober for intimate conversations on yoga, mental health, psychology, spirituality and living a good life with some of the world's best teachers and thought leaders in the world. Find out more about...Find out more about our work over at www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com ]]>falseepisodicOn Losing a Parent and Choosing Life with Bex Tyrerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-losing-a-parent-and-choosing-life-with-bex-tyrer--72041421
I recorded this conversation with Bex Tyrer (she/her) at the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud, exactly one week after her father passed away at the age of 98.

I wasn't sure we were going to do it. We'd been planning this interview for a while, but when I heard about her dad, I thought we'd postpone.

It wasn't until the morning of the recording that Bex said yes, and what unfolded was an incredibly intimate and honest conversation.

Bex is a yoga teacher and facilitator at the Yoga Barn in Ubud, where she's been a resident teacher since 2008. She holds an MPhil from Oxford University, has taught yoga in Bali's largest prison, in refugee camps in Palestine and in women's refuges in Kathmandu, and brings a rare combination of intellectual depth and embodied wisdom to everything she does.

In this episode, we talked about what it's like to grieve a parent you've been saying goodbye to for a decade. About compartmentalisation, and the patterns we carry from childhood loss. About sitting beside someone you love as they slowly leave, and how music and eye contact can reach through when words can't.

Bex shared the story of her father's extraordinary life, from working-class Scotland to the Australian outback to a care home nearly a century later, and the inheritance he left her that had nothing to do with material wealth.

We also talked about death itself. The myth of Eos and the grasshopper. Reincarnation, synchronicity and signs. And how we can hold the closeness of death in order to allow for more life.

This is a tender one.

In this episode, we explore:

Bex's father and his remarkable life, from 1920s Scotland to Australia as a £10 pom
Losing a parent at age 11, and the patterns of compartmentalisation that followed
Not being greedy with your grief and what it means to share grief as an offering rather than keeping it private
The myth of Eos and the grasshopper
What yoga, mindfulness and embodiment practices offered Bex through the grieving process
What might happen after we die
The parallels between the end of life and the beginning
The "dance of life" exercise
Choosing life in the face of loss, the inhale as a yes to life and the exhale as giving life back

Connect with Bex at https://www.instagram.com/bextyreryoga/

Find out more about the Bali Spirit Festival at https://www.balispiritfestival.com/

Join the Yoga Psychology Mentorship starting 28th May 2026 at https://www.yogapsychologymentorship.com

Join the Australian 2026 hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training in September at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance, or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/72041421Mon, 18 May 2026 02:26:39 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWhat does it look like to say yes to life in the very week your father has died? I recorded this conversation with Bex Tyrer (she/her) at the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud, exactly one week after her father passed away at the age of 98. I wasn't...
I recorded this conversation with Bex Tyrer (she/her) at the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud, exactly one week after her father passed away at the age of 98.

I wasn't sure we were going to do it. We'd been planning this interview for a while, but when I heard about her dad, I thought we'd postpone.

It wasn't until the morning of the recording that Bex said yes, and what unfolded was an incredibly intimate and honest conversation.

Bex is a yoga teacher and facilitator at the Yoga Barn in Ubud, where she's been a resident teacher since 2008. She holds an MPhil from Oxford University, has taught yoga in Bali's largest prison, in refugee camps in Palestine and in women's refuges in Kathmandu, and brings a rare combination of intellectual depth and embodied wisdom to everything she does.

In this episode, we talked about what it's like to grieve a parent you've been saying goodbye to for a decade. About compartmentalisation, and the patterns we carry from childhood loss. About sitting beside someone you love as they slowly leave, and how music and eye contact can reach through when words can't.

Bex shared the story of her father's extraordinary life, from working-class Scotland to the Australian outback to a care home nearly a century later, and the inheritance he left her that had nothing to do with material wealth.

We also talked about death itself. The myth of Eos and the grasshopper. Reincarnation, synchronicity and signs. And how we can hold the closeness of death in order to allow for more life.

This is a tender one.

In this episode, we explore:

Bex's father and his remarkable life, from 1920s Scotland to Australia as a £10 pom
Losing a parent at age 11, and the patterns of compartmentalisation that followed
Not being greedy with your grief and what it means to share grief as an offering rather than keeping it private
The myth of Eos and the grasshopper
What yoga, mindfulness and embodiment practices offered Bex through the grieving process
What might happen after we die
The parallels between the end of life and the beginning
The "dance of life" exercise
Choosing life in the face of loss, the inhale as a yes to life and the exhale as giving life back

Connect with Bex at https://www.instagram.com/bextyreryoga/

Find out more about the Bali Spirit Festival at https://www.balispiritfestival.com/

Join the Yoga Psychology Mentorship starting 28th May 2026 at https://www.yogapsychologymentorship.com

Join the Australian 2026 hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training in September at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance, or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3636bali,death,grief,psychology,yogafalsefullOn Motherhood and Menopause on the Road with Janet Stonehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-motherhood-and-menopause-on-the-road-with-janet-stone--71662352
Janet is an internationally recognised yoga teacher who has spent decades travelling the world with her two daughters, teaching and practising and building a life that looks nothing like the conventional path.

What I didn't expect was how openly Janet would speak about her experience of perimenopause, and specifically what happened when the practices that had sustained her for years simply stopped working.

As someone in the yoga and wellness world, she had all the tools - meditation, prāṇāyāma, sādhana, supplements, tinctures, all of it. And none of it was enough.

What followed was years of not understanding what was happening in her own body, until an OB-GYN who'd been practising in her classes quietly said, "Why don't you come see me in my office?"

And everything changed from there.

This is a conversation about what happens when the spiritual toolkit isn't enough, and the courage it takes to say so.

In this episode, we explore:

What it's like to raise children on the road as a globally travelling yoga teacher
The profound free fall of the empty nest
The intersection of menopause and spiritual practice, and why ‘just meditate more’ isn't always the answer
Janet's honest experience with HRT and why she believes we need to move beyond the pro and anti camps
Yoga nidrā as digestion, not just of food, but of undigested emotional experience, trauma and grief
Her new book, Stories of Our Lives, and using mythology to see beyond our own inner narrative

Connect with Janet Stone at https://www.janetstoneyoga.com

Find out more about the Bali Spirit Festival at https://www.balispiritfestival.com/

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/71662352Mon, 27 Apr 2026 02:20:10 +0000Dr Lauren ToberI met Janet Stone at the Bali Spirit Festival in Ubud last week, where we sat down together between workshops to have this conversation. Janet is an internationally recognised yoga teacher who has spent decades travelling the world with her two...
Janet is an internationally recognised yoga teacher who has spent decades travelling the world with her two daughters, teaching and practising and building a life that looks nothing like the conventional path.

What I didn't expect was how openly Janet would speak about her experience of perimenopause, and specifically what happened when the practices that had sustained her for years simply stopped working.

As someone in the yoga and wellness world, she had all the tools - meditation, prāṇāyāma, sādhana, supplements, tinctures, all of it. And none of it was enough.

What followed was years of not understanding what was happening in her own body, until an OB-GYN who'd been practising in her classes quietly said, "Why don't you come see me in my office?"

And everything changed from there.

This is a conversation about what happens when the spiritual toolkit isn't enough, and the courage it takes to say so.

In this episode, we explore:

What it's like to raise children on the road as a globally travelling yoga teacher
The profound free fall of the empty nest
The intersection of menopause and spiritual practice, and why ‘just meditate more’ isn't always the answer
Janet's honest experience with HRT and why she believes we need to move beyond the pro and anti camps
Yoga nidrā as digestion, not just of food, but of undigested emotional experience, trauma and grief
Her new book, Stories of Our Lives, and using mythology to see beyond our own inner narrative

Connect with Janet Stone at https://www.janetstoneyoga.com

Find out more about the Bali Spirit Festival at https://www.balispiritfestival.com/

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>2363menopause,mentalhealth,perimenopause,psychology,womenshealth,yoga,yoganidrafalsefullOn the Wisdom of Psychosis with Anneke Sipshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/on-the-wisdom-of-psychosis-with-anneke-sips--71273356
Anneke Sips and I were supposed to record this episode together in India. But when her Emirates flight was cancelled, our plans unravelled, the internet failed us twice, and we finally ended up recording from opposite sides of the world, me in Bali, Anneke in the Netherlands, hoping the connection would hold. It did. And what followed was one of the most honest and expansive conversations I've had on this podcast.

Anneke is a psychiatric nurse, yoga therapist, and author of a brand new book, The Wisdom of Psychosis, seven years in the making and just now landing in the world. In it, she bridges Western psychiatry and yogic philosophy to offer a completely different way of understanding psychotic experiences, not as something broken, but as something deeply human.

In our discussion, you’ll hear Anneke go out on a limb and be critical of both the psychiatric system she was trained in and the spiritual communities she belongs to. She shares her own psychotic-like experiences with remarkable vulnerability, and what she says about the relationship between connection and healing will stay with you.

In this episode, we explore:

A spectrum of experience from ordinary to extraordinary - normal altered states, everyday psychotic-like experiences, spiritual emergence, spiritual emergency, trauma-induced altered states, psychotic episodes and mystical experiences
Why trying to convince someone their beliefs aren't real destroys the therapeutic relationship, and what to do instead
Anneke's own extraordinary experiences, shared with disarming honesty
The difference between informed consent and engineered consent in psychiatric care
Where medication fits, and why ‘you'll need this forever’ deserves questioning

A spectrum of experience from ordinary to extraordinary - normal altered states, everyday psychotic-like experiences, spiritual emergence, spiritual emergency, trauma-induced altered states, psychotic episodes and mystical experiences
Why trying to convince someone their beliefs aren't real destroys the therapeutic relationship, and what to do instead
Anneke's own extraordinary experiences, shared with disarming honesty
The difference between informed consent and engineered consent in psychiatric care
Where medication fits, and why ‘you'll need this forever’ deserves questioning

If you stay to the end, you'll hear Anneke's message to anyone who has experienced psychosis, and her words about resonance as both gift and challenge are quietly powerful.

Anneke Sips is a community psychiatric nurse, trauma therapist and yoga therapist based in the Netherlands. With over 25 years of experience in psychiatry, she specialises in childhood and religious trauma and in supporting people through extraordinary and spiritually profound experiences. Anneke founded Network Yoga Therapy in 2010, organised The Yoga Therapy Conference in 2015, and is a founding member of the Global Consortium of Yoga Therapy. Her new book, The Wisdom of Psychosis, is available now.

Connect with Anneke at https://www.annekesips.com

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3646emergence,psychiatry,psychology,psychosis,spirituality,yogafalsefullDr Sreejit - On Panchakarma in Indiahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-sreejit-on-panchakarma-in-india--70808727
Before I came to Kerala, I had a vague sense that it would be nourishing, restorative… maybe even a little luxurious.

And while there were moments of deep care and tenderness, what I’ve experienced here is something quite different.

More disciplined.

More confronting.

And, in many ways, more transformative.

In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by Dr Sreejit, Chief Physician at Athreya Ayurvedic Centre in Kerala, where I’ve been immersed in Panchakarma for two weeks.

Together, we explore what Ayurveda actually is beyond the Western wellness lens, what Panchakarma really involves (and why it’s not a spa experience), and how this ancient system understands healing across body, mind, and what we might call soul.

Dr Sreejit brings over two decades of clinical experience, grounded in a lineage-based Ayurvedic tradition, alongside a refreshingly honest and pragmatic perspective on both the power and the limits of any healing system.

In this conversation, we explore:

✨ What Ayurveda is, beyond doshas and food lists
✨ The difference between curing disease and cultivating health
✨ Why Panchakarma is not designed to be relaxing
✨ What’s actually happening during detoxification and why it can feel intense
✨ The role of digestion in physical and mental health
✨ How Ayurveda understands anxiety, depression, and psychological suffering
✨ The importance of preparation, expectation, and commitment in healing
✨ Who Panchakarma is for and when it may not be appropriate
✨ How trauma can surface during body-based treatments, and how it’s supported
✨ Integrating Ayurveda with Western medicine, especially in complex conditions like cancer
✨ Simple ways to bring Ayurvedic principles into everyday life
✨ Why sleep may be one of the most important foundations of health

If you’re curious about Panchakarma in India, this episode will give you a grounded, honest insight into what it is and what it isn’t.

Connect with Dr Sreejit at https://www.theathreya.com/

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70808727Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:42:39 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWhat does it really mean to go to India for Panchakarma? Before I came to Kerala, I had a vague sense that it would be nourishing, restorative… maybe even a little luxurious. And while there were moments of deep care and tenderness, what I’ve...
Before I came to Kerala, I had a vague sense that it would be nourishing, restorative… maybe even a little luxurious.

And while there were moments of deep care and tenderness, what I’ve experienced here is something quite different.

More disciplined.

More confronting.

And, in many ways, more transformative.

In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by Dr Sreejit, Chief Physician at Athreya Ayurvedic Centre in Kerala, where I’ve been immersed in Panchakarma for two weeks.

Together, we explore what Ayurveda actually is beyond the Western wellness lens, what Panchakarma really involves (and why it’s not a spa experience), and how this ancient system understands healing across body, mind, and what we might call soul.

Dr Sreejit brings over two decades of clinical experience, grounded in a lineage-based Ayurvedic tradition, alongside a refreshingly honest and pragmatic perspective on both the power and the limits of any healing system.

In this conversation, we explore:

✨ What Ayurveda is, beyond doshas and food lists
✨ The difference between curing disease and cultivating health
✨ Why Panchakarma is not designed to be relaxing
✨ What’s actually happening during detoxification and why it can feel intense
✨ The role of digestion in physical and mental health
✨ How Ayurveda understands anxiety, depression, and psychological suffering
✨ The importance of preparation, expectation, and commitment in healing
✨ Who Panchakarma is for and when it may not be appropriate
✨ How trauma can surface during body-based treatments, and how it’s supported
✨ Integrating Ayurveda with Western medicine, especially in complex conditions like cancer
✨ Simple ways to bring Ayurvedic principles into everyday life
✨ Why sleep may be one of the most important foundations of health

If you’re curious about Panchakarma in India, this episode will give you a grounded, honest insight into what it is and what it isn’t.

Connect with Dr Sreejit at https://www.theathreya.com/

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3474ayurveda,burnout,cancer,india,kerala,panchakarma,psychology,yogafalsefullAmy Landry - On the Ocean of Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/amy-landry-on-the-ocean-of-yoga--70535946
But at some point, many practitioners begin to sense that yoga is much deeper than the postures.
In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by yoga teacher and author Amy Landry to explore the philosophical and spiritual teachings that sit beneath modern yoga practice.

Amy’s new book, The Ocean of Yoga, offers a thoughtful guide for anyone who feels curious about the deeper layers of yoga. In our conversation, we explore yoga as more than a set of techniques. Amy describes āsana as a doorway into the temple of yoga. A place many of us begin, but not where the journey ends.

We also explore two powerful yogic frameworks that can help guide our lives: the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa) and the four stages of life (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsa).

If you’ve ever wondered what yoga is really pointing toward, this conversation offers a beautiful place to begin.

In this episode, we explore:

What yoga really means beyond the postures
Why āsana can be understood as the doorway to deeper practice
The role of sādhana, or committed spiritual practice
The four aims of life and how they guide a meaningful life
The four stages of life and the householder path
What it really means to be a yoga teacher

Connect with Amy Landry at https://amyelandry.com/oceanofyoga/

Get Amy’s free pre-order bonus companion guide at https://amyelandry.com/oceanofyoga-preorder/

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70535946Tue, 10 Mar 2026 04:10:17 +0000Dr Lauren ToberMost of us come to yoga through the body. But at some point, many practitioners begin to sense that yoga is much deeper than the postures. In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by yoga teacher and author Amy Landry to explore the...
But at some point, many practitioners begin to sense that yoga is much deeper than the postures.
In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by yoga teacher and author Amy Landry to explore the philosophical and spiritual teachings that sit beneath modern yoga practice.

Amy’s new book, The Ocean of Yoga, offers a thoughtful guide for anyone who feels curious about the deeper layers of yoga. In our conversation, we explore yoga as more than a set of techniques. Amy describes āsana as a doorway into the temple of yoga. A place many of us begin, but not where the journey ends.

We also explore two powerful yogic frameworks that can help guide our lives: the four aims of life (dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa) and the four stages of life (brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, sannyāsa).

If you’ve ever wondered what yoga is really pointing toward, this conversation offers a beautiful place to begin.

In this episode, we explore:

What yoga really means beyond the postures
Why āsana can be understood as the doorway to deeper practice
The role of sādhana, or committed spiritual practice
The four aims of life and how they guide a meaningful life
The four stages of life and the householder path
What it really means to be a yoga teacher

Connect with Amy Landry at https://amyelandry.com/oceanofyoga/

Get Amy’s free pre-order bonus companion guide at https://amyelandry.com/oceanofyoga-preorder/

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3139india,psychology,sadhana,spirituality,yogafalsefullElaine Aron - On the Enlightened Highly Sensitive Personhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elaine-aron-on-the-enlightened-highly-sensitive-person--70217855
I’m joined by Dr Elaine Aron, clinical and research psychologist and internationally bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person, a groundbreaking book that has been in print for nearly thirty years. Her work has shaped the way millions of people understand themselves, and it deeply shaped me too, both personally and professionally.

In the first half of our conversation, we explore what it really means to be a highly sensitive person. We talk about temperament, overstimulation, depth of processing and the gifts and challenges that come with high sensitivity.

Elaine shares how the research unfolded, what has surprised her over the decades and why sensitivity is not a disorder but a trait with evolutionary value.

In the second half, we move into territory I didn’t initially expect. Elaine has recently written a new book, Spirituality Through a Highly Sensitive Lens, and our conversation takes a beautiful turn into spirituality, meditation and enlightenment.

We explore themes that will feel very familiar to many of you who live at the intersection of yoga and psychology:

Cleaning up, growing up and waking up
Yogic philosophy and psychological maturation
The difference between emotional healing and spiritual awakening
And Elaine’s own personal experiences of enlightenment

If you stay right to the end, you’ll hear her speak vulnerably about her own awakening process, which is both profound and refreshingly human.

As someone who has been a psychologist and yoga teacher for over twenty years, I found this conversation incredibly rich. Elaine brings scientific rigour, lived experience and spiritual curiosity together in a way that feels deeply integrated.

In this episode, we explore:

What defines a highly sensitive person
The science behind sensory processing sensitivity
Why sensitivity is often misunderstood
How highly sensitive people experience meditation and spiritual practice
The relationship between psychological development and enlightenment
The process of cleaning up, growing up and waking up
The risks of bypassing emotional work in the name of spirituality
Elaine’s reflections on her own spiritual experiences

Connect with Elaine Aron at https://www.hsperson.com

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/70217855Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:11:17 +0000Dr Lauren ToberToday’s episode is truly a podcasting highlight for me. I’m joined by Dr Elaine Aron, clinical and research psychologist and internationally bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person, a groundbreaking book that has been in print for nearly...
I’m joined by Dr Elaine Aron, clinical and research psychologist and internationally bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person, a groundbreaking book that has been in print for nearly thirty years. Her work has shaped the way millions of people understand themselves, and it deeply shaped me too, both personally and professionally.

In the first half of our conversation, we explore what it really means to be a highly sensitive person. We talk about temperament, overstimulation, depth of processing and the gifts and challenges that come with high sensitivity.

Elaine shares how the research unfolded, what has surprised her over the decades and why sensitivity is not a disorder but a trait with evolutionary value.

In the second half, we move into territory I didn’t initially expect. Elaine has recently written a new book, Spirituality Through a Highly Sensitive Lens, and our conversation takes a beautiful turn into spirituality, meditation and enlightenment.

We explore themes that will feel very familiar to many of you who live at the intersection of yoga and psychology:

Cleaning up, growing up and waking up
Yogic philosophy and psychological maturation
The difference between emotional healing and spiritual awakening
And Elaine’s own personal experiences of enlightenment

What defines a highly sensitive person
The science behind sensory processing sensitivity
Why sensitivity is often misunderstood
How highly sensitive people experience meditation and spiritual practice
The relationship between psychological development and enlightenment
The process of cleaning up, growing up and waking up
The risks of bypassing emotional work in the name of spirituality
Elaine’s reflections on her own spiritual experiences

Connect with Elaine Aron at https://www.hsperson.com

Join the free 10-day Yoga-informed Therapist Interview series at https://www.yogainformedtherapist.com

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>4511awakening,enlightenment,hsp,psychology,sensitive,sensitivity,spirituality,yogafalsefullRichard Miller - On Innate Wholeness and Awakeninghttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/richard-miller-on-innate-wholeness-and-awakening--69871909
What if awakening isn’t something to achieve, but something to remember?

In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by Richard Miller (he/him), PhD, to explore some of the biggest and most misunderstood ideas in yoga and spirituality - innate wholeness, non-dualism and enlightenment.

Richard is the founder of the iRest Institute and co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapy. As a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar and spiritual teacher, he is widely regarded as a leader in the fields of meditation, yoga therapy and mental health.

Listen in as we explore:

What innate wholeness really means (and what it doesn’t)
How to honour pain and trauma without spiritual bypassing
Non-dualism and the healing of separation
Enlightenment as a remembering, not an achievement
Why awakening is not about losing your humanity
The role of practice, mentorship, and community

Connect with Richard Miller at https://www.explorationsinstillness.com

Connect with iRest at https://www.irest.org

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69871909Sun, 08 Feb 2026 21:11:11 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWhat if nothing is fundamentally wrong with you? What if awakening isn’t something to achieve, but something to remember? In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by Richard Miller (he/him), PhD, to explore some of the biggest and most...
What if awakening isn’t something to achieve, but something to remember?

In this episode of A Grateful Life, I’m joined by Richard Miller (he/him), PhD, to explore some of the biggest and most misunderstood ideas in yoga and spirituality - innate wholeness, non-dualism and enlightenment.

Richard is the founder of the iRest Institute and co-founder of the International Association of Yoga Therapy. As a clinical psychologist, author, researcher, yogic scholar and spiritual teacher, he is widely regarded as a leader in the fields of meditation, yoga therapy and mental health.

Listen in as we explore:

What innate wholeness really means (and what it doesn’t)
How to honour pain and trauma without spiritual bypassing
Non-dualism and the healing of separation
Enlightenment as a remembering, not an achievement
Why awakening is not about losing your humanity
The role of practice, mentorship, and community

Connect with Richard Miller at https://www.explorationsinstillness.com

Connect with iRest at https://www.irest.org

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3923awakening,consciousness,enlightenment,irest,nidra,psychology,trauma,wholeness,yogafalsefullJai Uttal - On Seeking a Guruhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jai-uttal-on-seeking-a-guru--69580483
In this episode on the A Grateful Life podcast, I’m joined by Jai Uttal as he takes us on a journey to India in the 1970s to explore the guru-disciple relationship.

When Jai arrived in India in the 70s, he discovered that the guru he had travelled there to meet had been jailed for murder.

So with his plans derailed, Jai’s trip took a new turn, following the breadcrumbs, and leading him to places he never imagined - walking barefoot through temple towns filled with prayer, being immersed in kirtan as a living devotional practice and developing a new understanding of the guru–disciple relationship.

This is a thoughtful and colourful conversation about devotion, music and spiritual maturity.

Listen in as we explore:

Jai’s experiences in India in the 1970s
Life with Maharaji and the devotional culture of kirtan
The role (and risks) of the guru–disciple relationship today
Why seeking a guru can be problematic and what to do instead

Jai’s experiences in India in the 1970s
Life with Maharaji and the devotional culture of kirtan
The role (and risks) of the guru–disciple relationship today
Why seeking a guru can be problematic and what to do instead

Jai Uttal is a Grammy-nominated kirtan artist and pioneer of world music, weaving Indian devotional traditions with American rock and jazz, and has been leading and performing bhakti-based music around the world for nearly 50 years.

Connect with Jai Uttal at https://www.jaiuttal.com

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3838bhakti,guru,india,kirtan,maharaji,music,psychology,temple,yogafalsefullSarah and Ty Powers - On Practice, Partnership and Coming Home to Yourselfhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sarah-and-ty-powers-on-practice-partnership-and-coming-home-to-yourself--69396097
This is a gentle, spacious conversation, and a beautiful one to ease into the new year.

We talk about what it really means to practise, not just on the mat or meditation cushion, but in the middle of everyday life. Sarah and Ty share stories from their decades together, reflecting on partnership, parenting, teaching, retreat life, and the ways practice naturally matures over time.

We explore gratitude as an antidote to the complaining mind, the importance of pausing and softening in moments of difficulty, and what it means to truly belong to yourself. Sarah speaks beautifully about yin yoga as a pathway home, while Ty reflects on meditation, inner dialogue, and cultivating compassion rather than self-criticism.

This is a conversation about living your yoga - imperfectly, relationally, and with care. I’m really glad to share it with you.

Sarah Powers is the co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute as well as the author of Insight Yoga and Lit from Within, which interweaves Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism, and Transpersonal psychology into an integrated practice to enliven the body, heart, and mind.

Ty Powers is also the co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, and teaches yoga and meditation retreats around the world with his wife, Sarah Powers. He has been teaching Vipassana since 2003 as a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader training program and has been practicing Dzogchen Buddhism for over 20 years.

Connect with Sarah and Ty Powers at https://sarahandtypowers.com.

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

Join the free info session for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training on the 24th January 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

Apply for a scholarship for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69396097Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:16:36 +0000Dr Lauren ToberIn today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by Sarah and Ty Powers, long-time partners in life and practice, and two teachers whose work has quietly shaped how yoga, meditation, and psychological inquiry are woven together in the West. This is a gentle,...
This is a gentle, spacious conversation, and a beautiful one to ease into the new year.

We talk about what it really means to practise, not just on the mat or meditation cushion, but in the middle of everyday life. Sarah and Ty share stories from their decades together, reflecting on partnership, parenting, teaching, retreat life, and the ways practice naturally matures over time.

We explore gratitude as an antidote to the complaining mind, the importance of pausing and softening in moments of difficulty, and what it means to truly belong to yourself. Sarah speaks beautifully about yin yoga as a pathway home, while Ty reflects on meditation, inner dialogue, and cultivating compassion rather than self-criticism.

This is a conversation about living your yoga - imperfectly, relationally, and with care. I’m really glad to share it with you.

Sarah Powers is the co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute as well as the author of Insight Yoga and Lit from Within, which interweaves Yoga, Buddhism, Taoism, and Transpersonal psychology into an integrated practice to enliven the body, heart, and mind.

Ty Powers is also the co-founder of the Insight Yoga Institute, and teaches yoga and meditation retreats around the world with his wife, Sarah Powers. He has been teaching Vipassana since 2003 as a graduate of the Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader training program and has been practicing Dzogchen Buddhism for over 20 years.

Connect with Sarah and Ty Powers at https://sarahandtypowers.com.

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

Join the free info session for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training on the 24th January 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

Apply for a scholarship for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>4133enquiry,gratitude,meditation,mindfulness,psychology,relationship,transpersonal,yin,yogafalsefullBex Tyrer - On Women in Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bex-tyrer-on-women-in-yoga--69157884
I first met Bex a few years ago when I dropped into one of her classes at the Yoga Barn and loved it so much that I returned a year ago for her 10-day immersion, Myth, the Magic and the Mastery. We might even be cooking up a project together in Bali in 2026, so stay tuned!

One of the things I loved most about studying with Bex was diving into the history of yoga, how it has evolved, who gets to shape the narrative, and what that means for the way we practice today. Bex brings a grounded, informed, and refreshingly critical perspective that cuts through the noise in modern yoga discourse.

In this episode, we explore:

What the roots of yoga really tell us about its original purpose
How women have been included and excluded in yoga - both historically and now
The tension between yoga’s liberatory potential and the ways the industry often fails women
Where yoga can do harm, and how it can do better
Bex’s experiences teaching yoga in extraordinary settings, including prisons, refugee camps, and women's shelters

Bex’s background spans academia, activism, and embodied wisdom. She has a Master’s degree in Development Studies, worked as a researcher at Oxford University, and has spent the last 15+ years teaching thousands of yoga students and training hundreds of teachers - all while weaving in her deep commitment to social and environmental justice.

And yes, this was a very Bali conversation, complete with tech improvisations and two surprise visits from a cobra mid-interview!

I can’t wait for you to listen.

Connect with Bex at https://freedom-through-movement.teachable.com/

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Download the free Patañjali’s Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69157884Sun, 28 Dec 2025 22:17:31 +0000Dr Lauren ToberIn today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Bex Tyrer (she/her), a powerful voice in contemporary yoga and a longtime teacher based at the Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali. I first met Bex a few years ago when I dropped into one of her classes at the...
I first met Bex a few years ago when I dropped into one of her classes at the Yoga Barn and loved it so much that I returned a year ago for her 10-day immersion, Myth, the Magic and the Mastery. We might even be cooking up a project together in Bali in 2026, so stay tuned!

One of the things I loved most about studying with Bex was diving into the history of yoga, how it has evolved, who gets to shape the narrative, and what that means for the way we practice today. Bex brings a grounded, informed, and refreshingly critical perspective that cuts through the noise in modern yoga discourse.

In this episode, we explore:

What the roots of yoga really tell us about its original purpose
How women have been included and excluded in yoga - both historically and now
The tension between yoga’s liberatory potential and the ways the industry often fails women
Where yoga can do harm, and how it can do better
Bex’s experiences teaching yoga in extraordinary settings, including prisons, refugee camps, and women's shelters

Bex’s background spans academia, activism, and embodied wisdom. She has a Master’s degree in Development Studies, worked as a researcher at Oxford University, and has spent the last 15+ years teaching thousands of yoga students and training hundreds of teachers - all while weaving in her deep commitment to social and environmental justice.

And yes, this was a very Bali conversation, complete with tech improvisations and two surprise visits from a cobra mid-interview!

I can’t wait for you to listen.

Connect with Bex at https://freedom-through-movement.teachable.com/

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Download the free Patañjali’s Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 16th February 2026 today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>4047bali,herstory,history,justice,patanjali,psychology,ubud,yogafalsefullLindsay Gibson - On Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parentshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lindsay-gibson-on-adult-children-of-emotionally-immature-parents--69019038Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents - a life-changing book that has brought clarity and healing to so many.

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling confused, guilty, or caught in a cycle of self-blame when it comes to your parents or family dynamics, Lindsay’s work offers the insight you’ve been looking for.
With the holiday season just around the corner, this conversation couldn’t be more timely.

Join us as we explore:

What emotional immaturity really is
The four subtypes of emotionally immature parents
How to tell if you’re an adult child of emotionally immature parents (some of the signs might surprise you)
What to do if you realise that you are emotionally immature
How to stay grounded and sane when visiting an emotionally immature family over the holidays
Insights from Lindsay’s recent interview with Oprah on estrangement and
How we can raise emotionally mature children in these times

Lindsay brings over 30 years of clinical wisdom to this conversation, and I didn’t want it to end - but don’t worry, it doesn’t go on forever!

Connect with Lindsay Gibson at https://www.lindsaycgibson.com.

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

The online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starts 16th February 2026, sign up today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/69019038Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:30:08 +0000Dr Lauren ToberToday’s guest on the podcast is the brilliant Dr Lindsay C. Gibson (she/her), clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents - a life-changing book that has brought clarity and healing to...Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents - a life-changing book that has brought clarity and healing to so many.

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling confused, guilty, or caught in a cycle of self-blame when it comes to your parents or family dynamics, Lindsay’s work offers the insight you’ve been looking for.
With the holiday season just around the corner, this conversation couldn’t be more timely.

Join us as we explore:

What emotional immaturity really is
The four subtypes of emotionally immature parents
How to tell if you’re an adult child of emotionally immature parents (some of the signs might surprise you)
What to do if you realise that you are emotionally immature
How to stay grounded and sane when visiting an emotionally immature family over the holidays
Insights from Lindsay’s recent interview with Oprah on estrangement and
How we can raise emotionally mature children in these times

Lindsay brings over 30 years of clinical wisdom to this conversation, and I didn’t want it to end - but don’t worry, it doesn’t go on forever!

Connect with Lindsay Gibson at https://www.lindsaycgibson.com.

Access my nervous system regulation playlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

The online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starts 16th February 2026, sign up today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>4422emotional,maturity,parenting,psychology,yogafalsefullOctavia Raheem - On Sacred Rest and Griefhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/octavia-raheem-on-sacred-rest-and-grief--68807710
But rest is not only the medicine we need to heal in these times, rest is also a radical act of resistance, a quiet revolution of reclaiming our own humanity and sovereignty.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by the incredible Octavia Raheem (she/her), where we unpack:

why we’re all so damn tired,
the gentle power of resting,
how to find rest even if you’re working 12-hour days or single parenting,
the challenges of meeting what comes up when you start resting and
how rest can be a place of refuge during deep grief and through life’s challenging times.

Octavia F. Raheem is a wife, mother, three-time author, rest coach, and restorative + Yoga Nidra Teacher. She is the founder of Devoted to Rest® a transformational rest-focused immersion for visionary leaders making a high impact in their fields and teaches passionate and driven individuals how to awaken their fullest potential through the power of rest.

Connect with Octavia Raheem at https://www.octaviaraheem.com.

Registration is now open for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, sign up today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68807710Wed, 03 Dec 2025 02:37:52 +0000Dr Lauren ToberIn a world that constantly pushes us to do more and at greater and greater speeds, prioritising rest can feel impossible. But rest is not only the medicine we need to heal in these times, rest is also a radical act of resistance, a quiet revolution...
But rest is not only the medicine we need to heal in these times, rest is also a radical act of resistance, a quiet revolution of reclaiming our own humanity and sovereignty.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by the incredible Octavia Raheem (she/her), where we unpack:

why we’re all so damn tired,
the gentle power of resting,
how to find rest even if you’re working 12-hour days or single parenting,
the challenges of meeting what comes up when you start resting and
how rest can be a place of refuge during deep grief and through life’s challenging times.

Octavia F. Raheem is a wife, mother, three-time author, rest coach, and restorative + Yoga Nidra Teacher. She is the founder of Devoted to Rest® a transformational rest-focused immersion for visionary leaders making a high impact in their fields and teaches passionate and driven individuals how to awaken their fullest potential through the power of rest.

Connect with Octavia Raheem at https://www.octaviaraheem.com.

Registration is now open for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, sign up today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>4065burnout,nidra,psychology,rest,restorative,sacred,tired,yogafalsefullMyra Lewin - On Swadharmahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/myra-lewin-on-swadharma--68589264
In today’s episode, I sat down with Myra Lewin, an incredible yoga and ayurvedic teacher and founder of Hale Pule, to explore the concepts of dharma and swadharma.

In our conversation, Myra shares her personal journey from the medical industry to discovering Ayurveda and yoga, which transformed her life and health. Together, we delve into the importance of understanding one's purpose and living in alignment with it, including the role of yoga and ayurveda in achieving balance and clarity.

Listen in to hear:

Myra's journey from feeling chronically unwell to finding healing through Ayurveda and yoga
The concept of dharma as a collective and individual purpose
How past experiences contribute to our current path and understanding
The importance of self-inquiry and listening to one's eternal self
Practical Ayurvedic practices to support living your dharma
The role of joy, acceptance, and serenity in recognising alignment with dharma.
Myra's personal daily practices that support her life

Connect with Myra Lewin at https://halepule.com

Get on the waitlist for the Yoga Psychology Mentorship at https://www.yogapsychologymentorship.com

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation

Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/68589264Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:54:56 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWhat does it actually mean to live in accordance with your dharma, and how do you figure out what your dharma actually is? In today’s episode, I sat down with Myra Lewin, an incredible yoga and ayurvedic teacher and founder of Hale Pule, to explore...
In today’s episode, I sat down with Myra Lewin, an incredible yoga and ayurvedic teacher and founder of Hale Pule, to explore the concepts of dharma and swadharma.

In our conversation, Myra shares her personal journey from the medical industry to discovering Ayurveda and yoga, which transformed her life and health. Together, we delve into the importance of understanding one's purpose and living in alignment with it, including the role of yoga and ayurveda in achieving balance and clarity.

Listen in to hear:

Myra's journey from feeling chronically unwell to finding healing through Ayurveda and yoga
The concept of dharma as a collective and individual purpose
How past experiences contribute to our current path and understanding
The importance of self-inquiry and listening to one's eternal self
Practical Ayurvedic practices to support living your dharma
The role of joy, acceptance, and serenity in recognising alignment with dharma.
Myra's personal daily practices that support her life

Connect with Myra Lewin at https://halepule.com

Get on the waitlist for the Yoga Psychology Mentorship at https://www.yogapsychologymentorship.com

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation

Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3189ayurveda,dharma,meaning,psychology,purpose,swadharma,yogafalsefullDr Kaitlin Harkess - On Somatics for Nervous System Regulationhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-kaitlin-harkess-on-somatics-for-nervous-system-regulation--68385376
In this heart-opening conversation, I sat down with Dr Kaitlin Harkess (she/her) to explore the transformative role of somatic practices, compassion, and lifestyle medicine in supporting mental health.

Together, we dive into:

The importance of connection for mental health and wellbeing
How understanding the nervous system can help us manage anxiety
Practical somatic strategies from her new book for regulation and grounding
The role of physical activity, nature, and recreation in reducing stress
Why relationships, community, and service are pillars of wellbeing
How a compassionate perspective reduces stigma around anxiety
The power of flexibility and personalisation in health practices

Dr Kaitlin N. Harkess, PhD, is the author of The Somatic Workbook for Nervous System Regulation and Anxiety Management, host of the Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast, and founder of the holistic therapy practice Wisdom for Wellbeing. A Clinical Psychologist and long-time yoga and meditation teacher, Kaitlin has helped hundreds of individuals experiencing anxiety, overwhelm and burnout reconnect with their bodies and build resilience through integrative, evidence-informed practices.

Kaitlin’s new Somatic Workbook offers step-by-step, body-based strategies that complement psychological tools—an empowering resource for anyone navigating anxiety or stress and wanting to live with more balance, presence, and resilience.

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation.

Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor:

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order

The importance of connection for mental health and wellbeing
How understanding the nervous system can help us manage anxiety
Practical somatic strategies from her new book for regulation and grounding
The role of physical activity, nature, and recreation in reducing stress
Why relationships, community, and service are pillars of wellbeing
How a compassionate perspective reduces stigma around anxiety
The power of flexibility and personalisation in health practices

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order

How music can be a powerful tool for healing and self-expression
The importance of vulnerability in creativity and connection
The role psychedelics can play in mental health and enhancing spiritual experiences - and how to approach them safely and legally
Why inner work is essential for personal growth, activism, and collective awakening
The magic of storytelling and its ability to inspire and connect us

How music can be a powerful tool for healing and self-expression
The importance of vulnerability in creativity and connection
The role psychedelics can play in mental health and enhancing spiritual experiences - and how to approach them safely and legally
Why inner work is essential for personal growth, activism, and collective awakening
The magic of storytelling and its ability to inspire and connect us

We also reflect on how spirituality can be woven into the fabric of everyday life, finding gratitude in the simplest of moments - like the warmth of sunshine or the presence of a loved one. This conversation is a beautiful reminder of the transformative power of connection, compassion, and presence.

We do speak about suicide and drug use, so if these are topics you don’t want to hear about today, you might like to skip this episode.

Connect with East Forest at https://eastforest.org/

For crisis support in Australia, contact Lifeline at http://lifeline.org.au or 13 11 14, or find support from anywhere in the world at https://befrienders.org.

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation

Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3572awakening,mushrooms,music,psychedelics,psychology,spirituality,yogafalsefullLizzie Lasater - On AI in Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lizzie-lasater-on-ai-in-yoga--67928263
Join Lizzie Lasater and me as we explore this new frontier of AI in yoga practice, teaching and education.

I’ve been watching as Lizzie has embraced AI in her yoga teaching lately, and was delighted to dive into this somewhat controversial topic with her. I think you’re going to love it!

In this conversation, you’ll hear about the reservations we’ve both had about AI and how we’re now using it very intentionally in our lives and work.

We also dive into the practicalities of living a restful life, amidst the demands of mothering and working, and how we’re both using AI, not as a way to enhance productivity and achieve more, but to claim back more spaciousness for ourselves, our families and the people we serve.

Lizzie Lasater teaches all about creativity, functional movement, somatic strength, and Restorative Yoga. In this season of her life, she is focused on her yoga practice, family life with her twin boys, and designing online courses.

Connect with Lizzie Lasater at https://www.lizzielasater.com.

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation.

Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our incredible sponsor Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67928263Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:02:47 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWill AI take over from yoga teachers? Join Lizzie Lasater and me as we explore this new frontier of AI in yoga practice, teaching and education. I’ve been watching as Lizzie has embraced AI in her yoga teaching lately, and was delighted to dive into...
Join Lizzie Lasater and me as we explore this new frontier of AI in yoga practice, teaching and education.

I’ve been watching as Lizzie has embraced AI in her yoga teaching lately, and was delighted to dive into this somewhat controversial topic with her. I think you’re going to love it!

In this conversation, you’ll hear about the reservations we’ve both had about AI and how we’re now using it very intentionally in our lives and work.

We also dive into the practicalities of living a restful life, amidst the demands of mothering and working, and how we’re both using AI, not as a way to enhance productivity and achieve more, but to claim back more spaciousness for ourselves, our families and the people we serve.

Lizzie Lasater teaches all about creativity, functional movement, somatic strength, and Restorative Yoga. In this season of her life, she is focused on her yoga practice, family life with her twin boys, and designing online courses.

Connect with Lizzie Lasater at https://www.lizzielasater.com.

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation.

Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our incredible sponsor Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>4199ai,busy,motherhood,psychology,rest,restorative,yogafalsefullElena Brower - On Holding Nothinghttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elena-brower-on-holding-nothing--67750327Hold Nothing. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reflect and embrace the beauty of letting go.

We talk about the transformative power of gratitude, the courage it takes to navigate life’s hardest conversations, and the lessons death can teach us about living fully. Elena also shares her journey through addiction and sobriety, offering wisdom on self-discovery, healing, and the meditative rituals that bring us back to presence.

This episode is deeply personal, soulful, and a reminder to hold space for yourself as you navigate life’s complexities.

What You’ll Take Away:

How gratitude can anchor you in life’s toughest moments
Why letting go is essential for personal growth
The role of yoga, meditation, zen and tea in cultivating presence
How death awareness can inspire meaningful living

I hope this episode resonates with you as much as it did with me. If it does, please share it with someone who could use a little more presence in their life. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review, it helps us bring more meaningful conversations like this to you.

Pre-order Elena Brower’s book at https://elenabrower.com/holdnothing/

Join our incredible, thriving community of seekers, dreamers, yoga teachers, health professionals and curious humans. Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation. Go to https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Download a free chapter of my book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book.

Learn more about the Coming Home to Yourself Mentorship at https://www.laurentober.com/cominghome.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67750327Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:05:35 +0000Dr Lauren ToberJoin Elena Brower (she/her) and I as we explore her incredible new book, Hold Nothing. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reflect and embrace the beauty of letting go. We talk about the transformative power of gratitude, the courage it...Hold Nothing. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, reflect and embrace the beauty of letting go.

We talk about the transformative power of gratitude, the courage it takes to navigate life’s hardest conversations, and the lessons death can teach us about living fully. Elena also shares her journey through addiction and sobriety, offering wisdom on self-discovery, healing, and the meditative rituals that bring us back to presence.

This episode is deeply personal, soulful, and a reminder to hold space for yourself as you navigate life’s complexities.

What You’ll Take Away:

How gratitude can anchor you in life’s toughest moments
Why letting go is essential for personal growth
The role of yoga, meditation, zen and tea in cultivating presence
How death awareness can inspire meaningful living

I hope this episode resonates with you as much as it did with me. If it does, please share it with someone who could use a little more presence in their life. And don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review, it helps us bring more meaningful conversations like this to you.

Pre-order Elena Brower’s book at https://elenabrower.com/holdnothing/

Join our incredible, thriving community of seekers, dreamers, yoga teachers, health professionals and curious humans. Be the first to hear when the dates of our next programs are announced and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation. Go to https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Download a free chapter of my book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book.

Learn more about the Coming Home to Yourself Mentorship at https://www.laurentober.com/cominghome.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3243ceremony,death,dying,gratitude,meditation,psychology,ritual,service,tea,yoga,zenfalsefullDr Lauren Tober - On My Journey with Mental Health Aware Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-lauren-tober-on-my-journey-with-mental-health-aware-yoga--67569346Mental Health Aware Yoga, so I’m doing something a little different today, and reading the first chapter of the book on the podcast!

So, pour yourself a cuppa, snuggle into your favourite comfy chair and let me read you a story! In the first chapter, I share all about my journey with yoga and mental health, how and why I came to create this program, and why I think it’s so important that all yoga teachers understand mental health.

While the book is written for yoga teachers, this chapter in particular is for anyone interested in the intersection of yoga and mental health, or for anyone, like me, who loves to learn about people’s journeys and how they came to be doing the work they’re doing.

If you would prefer the written version instead, you can also download the first chapter for free at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book.

To get your hands on a copy of the book, including all the additional resources that you can access in our online Shala, head over to your favourite online independent bookstore or go down to your local bookshop and ask them to order it in. You can also find links to purchase at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book.

And to join our incredible thriving community of seekers, dreamers, yoga teachers, health professionals and curious humans, and gain instant access to our curated Spotify playlist for nervous system regulation. Go to https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join. This playlist is designed to help you feel calm, focused and grounded in minutes, and might just become your go-to tool to create balance in your day.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3972crisis,menopause,perimenopause,psychology,underworld,yogafalsefullTheo Wildcroft - On Post-Lineage Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/theo-wildcroft-on-post-lineage-yoga--67235126
Join Theo Wildcroft, co-editor of The Yoga Teacher’s Survival Guide, and I as we deep dive into some of the challenges that yoga teachers are facing right now, including cultural appropriation, how to best honor the roots of yoga, the trauma embedded in sanskrit, the lack of pedagogy in contemporary yoga teaching, the tension between yoga and capitalism, what post-lineage yoga actually means and more.

But there’s hope! Theo brings such joy and generosity to this conversation and shares a way through the minefield, including leaning on the three sources of authority - inner wisdom, expert advice and community.

Theo Wildcroft (she/her), PhD, is a teacher, writer and scholar working for a more sustainable relationship between our many selves, the communities that hold us, and the world that nourishes us. Her research considers the democratization of yoga post-lineage, and meaning-making in grassroots communities of practice. She’s a lover of vulnerable people, of wild things and wild places, and of the simple miracle of life itself.

Theo is the author of Post-Lineage Yoga: From Guru to #MeToo, co-editor of The Yoga Teacher’s Survival Guide, co-editor of Yoga Studies in Five Minutes, and editor of the forthcoming Religion and the Sense of Self.

Connect with Theo Wildcroft at https://theowildcroft.com/

Join the Yoga Psychology Mentorship starting 8th August 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologymentorship.com

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation/

Jump on our free email newsletter and be the first to hear when new offerings and episodes are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67235126Mon, 04 Aug 2025 00:01:22 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWhy are so many yoga teachers in crisis and questioning their path? Join Theo Wildcroft, co-editor of The Yoga Teacher’s Survival Guide, and I as we deep dive into some of the challenges that yoga teachers are facing right now, including cultural...
Join Theo Wildcroft, co-editor of The Yoga Teacher’s Survival Guide, and I as we deep dive into some of the challenges that yoga teachers are facing right now, including cultural appropriation, how to best honor the roots of yoga, the trauma embedded in sanskrit, the lack of pedagogy in contemporary yoga teaching, the tension between yoga and capitalism, what post-lineage yoga actually means and more.

But there’s hope! Theo brings such joy and generosity to this conversation and shares a way through the minefield, including leaning on the three sources of authority - inner wisdom, expert advice and community.

Theo Wildcroft (she/her), PhD, is a teacher, writer and scholar working for a more sustainable relationship between our many selves, the communities that hold us, and the world that nourishes us. Her research considers the democratization of yoga post-lineage, and meaning-making in grassroots communities of practice. She’s a lover of vulnerable people, of wild things and wild places, and of the simple miracle of life itself.

Theo is the author of Post-Lineage Yoga: From Guru to #MeToo, co-editor of The Yoga Teacher’s Survival Guide, co-editor of Yoga Studies in Five Minutes, and editor of the forthcoming Religion and the Sense of Self.

Connect with Theo Wildcroft at https://theowildcroft.com/

Join the Yoga Psychology Mentorship starting 8th August 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologymentorship.com

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation/

Jump on our free email newsletter and be the first to hear when new offerings and episodes are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>4638appropriation,capitalism,decolonisation,pedagogy,psychology,research,trauma,yogafalsefullAnna Taylor - On Compassion and Mindfulness in Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anna-taylor-on-compassion-and-mindfulness-in-yoga--67041774
In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, I’m joined by yoga teacher, author, and mindfulness facilitator Anna Taylor (she/her) to explore the deeper layers of yoga, compassion, and the human experience.

Anna shares her personal journey through yoga and mindfulness, the vulnerable process of writing her new book, and how compassion has become a foundational element in both her teaching and life.

Together, we explore the intersection of neuroscience, emotional wellbeing, and spiritual practice - offering practical tools and gentle reminders for anyone navigating the highs and lows of being human.

You’ll hear about:

The brain’s negativity bias and how it impacts our self-perception
Why compassion, not just self-improvement, is at the heart of yoga
What it really means to hold space for others and ourselves
How to meet difficult days with grace and presence
The difference between fixing ourselves and truly caring for ourselves

Whether you're a yoga teacher, a mental health professional, or someone seeking more ease and authenticity in your life, this conversation is a balm for the soul.

Connect with Anna Taylor at https://www.mindbodybalance.co.uk

Join the free info session for the Yoga Psychology Mentorship on the 25th July 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/yoga-psychology-mentorship/#info

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation/

Sign up for the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Mullumbimby on the 26th of July 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Jump on our free email newsletter and be the first to hear when new offerings and episodes are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67041774Sun, 20 Jul 2025 23:40:17 +0000Dr Lauren ToberMindfulness without compassion can be pretty bleak at times. In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, I’m joined by yoga teacher, author, and mindfulness facilitator Anna Taylor (she/her) to explore the deeper layers of yoga, compassion, and...
In this heartfelt and insightful conversation, I’m joined by yoga teacher, author, and mindfulness facilitator Anna Taylor (she/her) to explore the deeper layers of yoga, compassion, and the human experience.

Anna shares her personal journey through yoga and mindfulness, the vulnerable process of writing her new book, and how compassion has become a foundational element in both her teaching and life.

Together, we explore the intersection of neuroscience, emotional wellbeing, and spiritual practice - offering practical tools and gentle reminders for anyone navigating the highs and lows of being human.

You’ll hear about:

The brain’s negativity bias and how it impacts our self-perception
Why compassion, not just self-improvement, is at the heart of yoga
What it really means to hold space for others and ourselves
How to meet difficult days with grace and presence
The difference between fixing ourselves and truly caring for ourselves

Whether you're a yoga teacher, a mental health professional, or someone seeking more ease and authenticity in your life, this conversation is a balm for the soul.

Connect with Anna Taylor at https://www.mindbodybalance.co.uk

Join the free info session for the Yoga Psychology Mentorship on the 25th July 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/yoga-psychology-mentorship/#info

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation/

Sign up for the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Mullumbimby on the 26th of July 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Jump on our free email newsletter and be the first to hear when new offerings and episodes are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3962community,compassion,health,mental,mindfulness,personal,practice,psychology,self-care,self-improvement,teaching,well-being,yogafalsefullKaren Fabian - On Creating Your Signature Sequencehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/karen-fabian-on-creating-your-signature-sequence--66878699same sequence, repeated with care, can feel brand‑new every time?

In this episode, I sat down with Karen Fabian (she/her) to explore the unexpected magic of practising and teaching one carefully crafted flow again and again.

Karen shares the story of integrating her work as a health professional and a yoga teacher, and discovering how gratitude, creativity and straight‑up perseverance wove those threads into a career in yoga education.

Together we unpack:

why predictability in class can lower anxiety and build learner confidence
how to design a signature sequence that meets your own needs, and if you’re a teacher, shares your unique voice
practical ways yoga supports emotional regulation and overall wellness
the role of relentless curiosity—questioning cues, philosophy and the industry itself—to keep your teaching fresh
the evolving dance between personal practice and professional service

Karen is a yoga teacher, podcast host, author, and founder of Bare Bones Yoga. With a background in rehabilitative medicine and healthcare, she integrates her deep knowledge of anatomy and movement into her teaching and empowers yoga teachers to lead confident, accessible classes while understanding the why behind their cues.

Connect with Karen Fabian at https://barebonesyoga.com/

The Yoga Psychology Mentorship opens for registration tomorrow. Get on the waitlist at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/yoga-psychology-mentorship/

Watch the How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Masterclass at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation/

Sign up for the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Mullumbimby on the 26th of July 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Jump on our free email newsletter and be the first to hear when new offerings and episodes are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Listen to Dr Lauren’s interview on Karen’s podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/meet-dr-lauren-tober-ep-355/id1432716189?i=1000713093686

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

why predictability in class can lower anxiety and build learner confidence
how to design a signature sequence that meets your own needs, and if you’re a teacher, shares your unique voice
practical ways yoga supports emotional regulation and overall wellness
the role of relentless curiosity—questioning cues, philosophy and the industry itself—to keep your teaching fresh
the evolving dance between personal practice and professional service

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3622healing,meditation,mindfulness,practice,psychology,rest,sadhana,self-remembrance,yoga,yoganidrafalsefullClaire Holloway - On the Yoga of Matrescencehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/claire-holloway-on-the-yoga-of-matrescence--66458406
In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Claire Holloway (she/her) to talk about all things pregnancy, birth and beyond. Claire is a yoga teacher, mother of two and the founder of the Centre of Bright Beginnings, where she holds space for women and parents to explore their own transformative journey, feeling supported and empowered towards autonomy in parenthood.

A few episodes ago, I spoke with Jane Hardwick Collings on the topic of sagesence, and in today’s episode Claire and I talk about matrescence and the role that yoga plays in supporting us during this perinatal period of our lives.

While the focus of perinatal yoga is often on asana, the physical practice of yoga, in this episode we explore how other facets of yoga can support the perinatal journey, including pranayama, mantra, yoga nidra, the yamas and niyamas and having an understanding of the koshas.

This is an episode for anyone anywhere on the perinatal journey, and for those who love or work with people in this phase of their life.

Connect with Claire Holloway at https://www.yourbrightbeginning.com.au/

Be the first to hear when our new online Shala opens at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/66458406Sun, 08 Jun 2025 23:57:18 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWe often talk about adolescence but what about matresence? In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Claire Holloway (she/her) to talk about all things pregnancy, birth and beyond. Claire is a yoga teacher, mother of two and the founder of the...
In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Claire Holloway (she/her) to talk about all things pregnancy, birth and beyond. Claire is a yoga teacher, mother of two and the founder of the Centre of Bright Beginnings, where she holds space for women and parents to explore their own transformative journey, feeling supported and empowered towards autonomy in parenthood.

A few episodes ago, I spoke with Jane Hardwick Collings on the topic of sagesence, and in today’s episode Claire and I talk about matrescence and the role that yoga plays in supporting us during this perinatal period of our lives.

While the focus of perinatal yoga is often on asana, the physical practice of yoga, in this episode we explore how other facets of yoga can support the perinatal journey, including pranayama, mantra, yoga nidra, the yamas and niyamas and having an understanding of the koshas.

This is an episode for anyone anywhere on the perinatal journey, and for those who love or work with people in this phase of their life.

Connect with Claire Holloway at https://www.yourbrightbeginning.com.au/

Be the first to hear when our new online Shala opens at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>4309birth,matresence,motherhood,parenting,perinatal,pregnancy,psychology,yogafalsefullLeslie Kaminoff - On the Pranayama for Emotion Regulationhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leslie-kaminoff-on-the-pranayama-for-emotion-regulation--66265901
Leslie is a yoga educator inspired by the tradition of T.K.V. Desikachar, and for five decades has been leading workshops and trainings in the fields of yoga, breath anatomy and bodywork. He also is the co-author of the book Yoga Anatomy which has sold over a million copies, and is a staple on the bookshelf of many yoga teachers worldwide.

In the episode today, Leslie shares about his journey into yoga, learning from his father, becoming a Swami in India, then a householder in New York.

We also unpack:

the role of lineages and teachers in yoga,
the trap of the ego and siddhis,
the value of experiential learning over academic credentials,
the power of the breath in self-enquiry and changing our emotional state,
why he has no problem with things like goat yoga and hot naked yoga, and
why Leslie believes it’s important to practice kriyas like kapalabhati before we practice pranayama.

the role of lineages and teachers in yoga,
the trap of the ego and siddhis,
the value of experiential learning over academic credentials,
the power of the breath in self-enquiry and changing our emotional state,
why he has no problem with things like goat yoga and hot naked yoga, and
why Leslie believes it’s important to practice kriyas like kapalabhati before we practice pranayama.

And stay right to the end to hear about Leslie’s personal practice these days, and how it’s evolved over the years.

Connect with Leslie Kaminoff at https://yogaanatomy.org

Join our email newsletter at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Take Kajabi for a 30-day free spin at https://app.kajabi.com/r/HYb6mxhy/t/z2wqe6j9

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>4591falsefullBelinda Haan - On the Compassion Projecthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/belinda-haan-on-the-compassion-project--66036338
In today’s podcast episode, you’ll hear about how Belinda overcame this barrier to self-compassion, both back then as a new mum, and more recently as she’s navigated a big, scary challenge in her life.

Belinda also shares some simple and powerful ways we can overcome our own barriers to self-compassion, cultivate more of it in our own lives, and she guides us through a beautiful and very accessible self-compassion practice.

Belinda is a compassion ambassador, mindfulness teacher, and multidisciplinary coach and creator working as a bridge between science and spirituality to help people navigate the full joy, catastrophe and sacredness of life.

She has decades of study, research and applied experience across a broad range of modalities and approaches under her belt, including coaching, psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness, sacred space holding, compassion, embodiment practices, and matrescence and motherhood.

An Ambassador of Compassion with Stanford University, Belinda founded The Compassion Project to develop resources, partnerships and creative projects with the mission of bringing more compassion to the world.

Connect with Belinda Haan at www.thecompassionproject.au, use the code Agratefullife10 to get 10% off the Emotional Support for Mothers toolkit.

Join the Meditation, Pure + Simple online course with Dr Lauren Tober to try iRest Yoga Nidra at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Be the first to hear when the doors of our new online Shala opens at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:
Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:
Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

What it means to work for the goddess,
What inspired Jane to devote her life’s work to women’s mysteries,
Why it’s so important for us all to understand the seasons and cycles of a woman’s life,
Sagescence and the wisdom that can come, both for women and men as we age,
Whether this wisdom is a given, or something that we need to cultivate in order to achieve, and
Jane’s everyday practices to support her life

Connect with Jane Hardwicke Collings at https://janehardwickecollings.com/

Join our email newsletter to be the first to hear when our new online Shala is unveiled and our next program dates are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

What it means to work for the goddess,
What inspired Jane to devote her life’s work to women’s mysteries,
Why it’s so important for us all to understand the seasons and cycles of a woman’s life,
Sagescence and the wisdom that can come, both for women and men as we age,
Whether this wisdom is a given, or something that we need to cultivate in order to achieve, and
Jane’s everyday practices to support her life

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

The goddess of yoga nidrā,
Yoga nidrā as a radical rest practice,
If it’s really true that a short yoga nidra practice can replace hours of sleep,
The psychological and spiritual aspects of yoga nidrā,
How to practice yoga nidrā with an ADHD brain,
What a feminine approach to yoga nidrā looks like,
What it means to be post-lineage and
Uma shares her own daily yoga practice with us (I love asking people this question!).

Connect with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli at https://www.yoganidranetwork.org

Join the Australian 2025 Mental Health Aware Yoga hybrid training on the 12-13th April at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Join my yoga nidra workshop in Brisbane on the 26th of April 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Practice yoga nidra with me online at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/65006543Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:36:36 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDid you know that yoga nidrā is not just an evidence-based relaxation practice, but she’s also the goddess of sleep and dreams in Indian mythology? In this podcast episode, I sat down with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (she/her) to talk about all things yoga...
In this podcast episode, I sat down with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (she/her) to talk about all things yoga nidrā.

For those of you who know me, you’ll know this is a practice I’m very passionate about, and it truly was an honour to chat with Uma in this episode, as she’s really a pioneer in the areas of women’s yoga and yoganidrā.

Uma first fell in love with yoga in 1969 at the age of 4 and has been practicing and sharing yoga in various ways since then. She is a yoga therapist, the author of six yoga books, including Nidrā Shakti, which you’ll hear about in the episode today, as well as the Co-founder of the Yoga Nidrā Network.

Recovering intuitive embodied and cyclical wisdom is at the heart of her writing and her approach to yoga therapy, and her practice and teaching respects the cyclical powers of the living earth, and honours human life cycles as spiritual initiations.

In this episode, we speak about:

The goddess of yoga nidrā,
Yoga nidrā as a radical rest practice,
If it’s really true that a short yoga nidra practice can replace hours of sleep,
The psychological and spiritual aspects of yoga nidrā,
How to practice yoga nidrā with an ADHD brain,
What a feminine approach to yoga nidrā looks like,
What it means to be post-lineage and
Uma shares her own daily yoga practice with us (I love asking people this question!).

Connect with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli at https://www.yoganidranetwork.org

Join the Australian 2025 Mental Health Aware Yoga hybrid training on the 12-13th April at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Join my yoga nidra workshop in Brisbane on the 26th of April 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Practice yoga nidra with me online at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.]]>3835goddess,health,nidra,post-lineage,psychology,rest,sleep,spiritual,yogafalsefullAunty Jacqui Jarrett - On Yoga on Countryhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/aunty-jacqui-jarrett-on-yoga-on-country--64618831
As soon as Aunty Jacqui joined the Mental Health Aware Yoga training last year, I knew that I wanted to invite her on the podcast to speak about her life and work.

Aunty Jacqui's yoga practice is intrinsically tied to her cultural obligations and responsibilities as a custodian of the land, and through the practice of yoga, she shows continual cultural connections, practices and knowledge of First Nations people. She is the founder of Nura Yoga and offers Yoga on Country classes which she shares all about in this fascinating podcast episode.

In this episode, Aunty Jacqui shares about how it wasn’t until she found trauma-sensitive and Mental Health Aware Yoga that she finally started to see herself represented in contemporary yoga. She also shares about the ways that she brings yoga onto Country and how she has been applying the principles of Mental Health Aware Yoga in this space.

We also explore the similarities and differences that Aunty Jacqui sees between yogic practices and wisdom and the wisdom and practices of Australia’s First Nations people.

Truly it is an honour to have shared the teachings of Mental Health Aware Yoga with Aunty Jacqui and I’m excited to share this episode with you today.

Connect with Aunty Jacqui Jarrett at https://nurayoga.com.au/

Sign up for the 2025 Australian Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Stay connected by joining our email newsletter at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join/

Find out the latest events at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Interrogating Yoga training with Roshni and Bess https://bessprescottyoga.com/upcoming/interrogating-yoga-50hr-advanced-ytt/
Are you looking for me? poem by Kabir
The work of Johannes Bronkhorst, particularly Buddhism in the Shadow of Brahminism
Thenmozhi Soundararajan, The Trauma of Caste (2022): An urgent call to action to end caste apartheid, grounded in Dalit feminist abolition and engaged Buddhism
The Trauma of Caste (w/Thenmozhi Soundararajan) from the Conspirituality Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/4w1pkTeGV4MsM7A3lX21S9?si=W0ofTNPQTNGCJ3R8g2QRWQ
The Trauma of Caste with Thenmozhi Soundararajan from The Love of Yoga Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/6D34vASw3gRZCzZQXjntdE?si=9MvHnkxJRne8eSyHjut4Nw&nd=1&dlsi=9c2dfc4ef6fd4238
Annihilation of Caste by Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar (1936): A lecture that was never permitted to be given due to its incendiary nature, this book was self-published and immediately became the eye of a storm. Radically against the Brahmanical caste system and Hinduism, it argued for a society based on equal opportunities for all. You can find PDF copies of this floating around the internet.
India Untouched: Stories of a People Apart documentary https://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/5752/india-untouched-stories-of-a-people-apart

Find out more about our wonderful podcast sponsors:

Organic India at https://www.organicindia.com.au - use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order
Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Interrogating Yoga training with Roshni and Bess https://bessprescottyoga.com/upcoming/interrogating-yoga-50hr-advanced-ytt/
Are you looking for me? poem by Kabir
The work of Johannes Bronkhorst, particularly Buddhism in the Shadow of Brahminism
Thenmozhi Soundararajan, The Trauma of Caste (2022): An urgent call to action to end caste apartheid, grounded in Dalit feminist abolition and engaged Buddhism
The Trauma of Caste (w/Thenmozhi Soundararajan) from the Conspirituality Podcast https://open.spotify.com/episode/4w1pkTeGV4MsM7A3lX21S9?si=W0ofTNPQTNGCJ3R8g2QRWQ
The Trauma of Caste with Thenmozhi Soundararajan from The Love of Yoga Podcast 4580caste,psychology,trauma,yogafalsefullLibbie Nelson - On Contemplating Death and 50 Years of Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/libbie-nelson-on-contemplating-death-and-50-years-of-yoga--64136917
In our conversation on the podcast today, Libbie and I talk about the five stages of a person's life, from student to householder, forest-dweller, renunciate and death and how thinking about death can actually help us to wake up and really live our lives with intention.

Libbie has been teaching and sharing yoga for over 50 years and has a long list of qualifications, including physiotherapy, yoga teaching, yoga therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture and ayurveda and is a graduate of our Mental Health Aware Yoga training.

In the episode, we also talk about the changes Libbie has seen over the past 50 years in the yoga world, what it was like studying with BKS Iyengar, who is renowned for his sometimes aggressive and inappropriate teaching style, and Libbie’s key takeaways from the Mental Health Aware Yoga training, despite having 50 years of yoga under her belt before joining the training.

Connect with Libbie Nelson at https://www.healthiemoves.com

Listen in to a previous episode with Zenith Virago on Death Dying and Living a Good Life at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/zenith-virago-on-death-dying-and-living-a-good-life/id1193048930?i=1000497348664

Join the Mullumbimby hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find out about our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Join our email newsletter and be the first to hear when new episodes and trainings are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/64136917Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:24:38 +0000
Dr Lauren ToberMy friend Libbie Nelson (she/her) is over 80 years old and has been contemplating death. In our conversation on the podcast today, Libbie and I talk about the five stages of a person's life, from student to householder, forest-dweller, renunciate and...
In our conversation on the podcast today, Libbie and I talk about the five stages of a person's life, from student to householder, forest-dweller, renunciate and death and how thinking about death can actually help us to wake up and really live our lives with intention.

Libbie has been teaching and sharing yoga for over 50 years and has a long list of qualifications, including physiotherapy, yoga teaching, yoga therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture and ayurveda and is a graduate of our Mental Health Aware Yoga training.

In the episode, we also talk about the changes Libbie has seen over the past 50 years in the yoga world, what it was like studying with BKS Iyengar, who is renowned for his sometimes aggressive and inappropriate teaching style, and Libbie’s key takeaways from the Mental Health Aware Yoga training, despite having 50 years of yoga under her belt before joining the training.

Connect with Libbie Nelson at https://www.healthiemoves.com

Listen in to a previous episode with Zenith Virago on Death Dying and Living a Good Life at https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/zenith-virago-on-death-dying-and-living-a-good-life/id1193048930?i=1000497348664

Join the Mullumbimby hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find out about our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Join our email newsletter and be the first to hear when new episodes and trainings are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3781aging,death,householder,iyengar,physiotherapy,psychology,renunciate,yogafalse
full
Monique Mitchelson - On the Neurodivergent Womanhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/monique-mitchelson-on-the-neurodivergent-woman--63902048
Monique Mitchelson (she/her) is an Autistic and ADHD’er Clinical Psychologist and the host of the very popular Neurodivergent Woman Podcast. We take a deep dive into her lived and professional experience of living a neurodivergent life and cover so much in today’s episode, including:
What the terms neurodiverse and neurodiversity actually mean
Why many Autistic people prefer identity first language
How Monique came out publicly as Autistic when she started the Neurodivergent Woman’s Podcast and what that was like for her and her career
Interoception and some of the challenges that Autistic folk have with noticing, interpreting and acting on internal cues, and what therapists and yoga teachers can do to support their students and clients to cultivate more interoception,
Potential sensory challenges of yoga classes and therapy spaces, and how we can make these more friendly for neurodivergent folk.
As well as having a lived experience of Autism and ADHD, Monique is the Co-Director of Divergent Futures training. She consulted on the Australian National Autism Strategy and co-authored the book ‘The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD’ so she knows a thing or two about the topic!

Connect with Monique Mitchelson at https://www.moniquemitchelson.com/

Sign up for the free legal workshop for health professionals on the 31st of January 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/legal/

Get the early bird price for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Join our email newsletter to be the first to hear when new episodes and trainings are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find the latest events at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:
Organic India https://www.organicindia.com.au/ (use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order)
Yoga Australia https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>
https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63902048Mon, 27 Jan 2025 22:28:39 +0000
Dr Lauren ToberHave you been diagnosed with Autism or ADHD recently? Or love or work with someone who has? You’re going to love today’s podcast episode! Monique Mitchelson (she/her) is an Autistic and ADHD’er Clinical Psychologist and the host of the very popular...
Monique Mitchelson (she/her) is an Autistic and ADHD’er Clinical Psychologist and the host of the very popular Neurodivergent Woman Podcast. We take a deep dive into her lived and professional experience of living a neurodivergent life and cover so much in today’s episode, including:
What the terms neurodiverse and neurodiversity actually mean
Why many Autistic people prefer identity first language
How Monique came out publicly as Autistic when she started the Neurodivergent Woman’s Podcast and what that was like for her and her career
Interoception and some of the challenges that Autistic folk have with noticing, interpreting and acting on internal cues, and what therapists and yoga teachers can do to support their students and clients to cultivate more interoception,
Potential sensory challenges of yoga classes and therapy spaces, and how we can make these more friendly for neurodivergent folk.
As well as having a lived experience of Autism and ADHD, Monique is the Co-Director of Divergent Futures training. She consulted on the Australian National Autism Strategy and co-authored the book ‘The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD’ so she knows a thing or two about the topic!

Connect with Monique Mitchelson at https://www.moniquemitchelson.com/

Sign up for the free legal workshop for health professionals on the 31st of January 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/legal/

Get the early bird price for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Join our email newsletter to be the first to hear when new episodes and trainings are announced at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find the latest events at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsors:
Organic India https://www.organicindia.com.au/ (use the promo code GRATEFUL15 to get 15% off your next order)
Yoga Australia https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training. While we are grateful for our guests and sponsors, any statements, claims or endorsements made are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Yoga Psychology Institute.
]]>3853adhd,autism,disability,interoception,neurodivergent,neurodiverse,neurodiversity,psychology,yogafalsefull
Leila Stuart - On Embodied Anatomy for Mental Healthhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leila-stuart-on-embodied-anatomy-for-mental-health--63661565
Leila spoke about burnout on the podcast last year, and it was such a popular episode and resonated for so many people. Leila is a pioneer in the field of embodied movement education, she’s a retired clinical massage therapist, a yoga teacher and therapist and the author of the new book Experiential Anatomy: Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness.

In this episode, Leila shares how in writing her book on experiential anatomy and refining all the practices, she wrote herself back to health after years of burnout. What a testament to this work!

In our discussion we explore the importance of interoception and embodiment on our mental health and sense of self in the world, and how having both a top-down and bottom-up approach to anatomy can help us to not only be safe and stable in our bodies, but also to understand ourselves better.

Leila also shares a simple but really effective way to get back into your body and cultivate interoceptive awareness.

It’s a wonderful episode, and I cannot wait to share it with you!

Connect with Leila Stuart at https://www.leilastuart.com and get a 20% discount on her book here using the code LEILA20.

Join the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Brisbane in February 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Get the early bird price for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Get on our awesome email newsletter to stay up to date with all our offerings at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63661565Mon, 13 Jan 2025 02:54:32 +0000Dr Lauren ToberI hated anatomy when I studied it at uni (can anyone else relate?). So when Leila Stuart reached out about coming on the podcast again to chat about her work with embodied anatomy, I was a little unsure about whether it would be interesting! But this...
Leila spoke about burnout on the podcast last year, and it was such a popular episode and resonated for so many people. Leila is a pioneer in the field of embodied movement education, she’s a retired clinical massage therapist, a yoga teacher and therapist and the author of the new book Experiential Anatomy: Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness.

In this episode, Leila shares how in writing her book on experiential anatomy and refining all the practices, she wrote herself back to health after years of burnout. What a testament to this work!

In our discussion we explore the importance of interoception and embodiment on our mental health and sense of self in the world, and how having both a top-down and bottom-up approach to anatomy can help us to not only be safe and stable in our bodies, but also to understand ourselves better.

Leila also shares a simple but really effective way to get back into your body and cultivate interoceptive awareness.

It’s a wonderful episode, and I cannot wait to share it with you!

Connect with Leila Stuart at https://www.leilastuart.com and get a 20% discount on her book here using the code LEILA20.

Join the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Brisbane in February 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Get the early bird price for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Get on our awesome email newsletter to stay up to date with all our offerings at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>3465anatomy,burnout,embodiment,health,interoception,psychology,yogafalsefullUmā - On Fourteen Years in Seclusionhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/uma-on-fourteen-years-in-seclusion--63301936
I first heard about Umā sitting in a women’s circle in Byron Bay, Australia, and the way my friends described her made me want to meet her immediately. You'll understand why when you listen in!

Umā is the founding director of SATYA - the Synergistic Alignment of Tantra, Yoga & Ayurveda, and lives in Bali, Indonesia. Born in Kenya of Indian descent to a Hindu family of Freedom Fighters, at 20 Umā moved to Bali and entered into a 14 year apprenticeship in seclusion with her Shaivite guru in his hermitage.

In our conversation today Umā shares about her extraordinary life experiences, as well as generously answering my questions about whether she believes that we all need to go into seclusion with a guru like she did to live a deeply spiritual life and how she balances living in the world and running a business with her spirituality.

Connect with Umā at https://umainder.com/.

Get your free ticket to the Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Mental Health Aware yoga book launch at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar.

Find out more about the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Brisbane in February 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar.

Sign up for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid.

Get on our email newsletter to stay up to date with all our offerings at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63301936Mon, 16 Dec 2024 07:37:52 +0000Dr Lauren ToberOm swastiastu, greetings from Bali! I first heard about Umā sitting in a women’s circle in Byron Bay, Australia, and the way my friends described her made me want to meet her immediately. You'll understand why when you listen in! Umā is the founding...
I first heard about Umā sitting in a women’s circle in Byron Bay, Australia, and the way my friends described her made me want to meet her immediately. You'll understand why when you listen in!

Umā is the founding director of SATYA - the Synergistic Alignment of Tantra, Yoga & Ayurveda, and lives in Bali, Indonesia. Born in Kenya of Indian descent to a Hindu family of Freedom Fighters, at 20 Umā moved to Bali and entered into a 14 year apprenticeship in seclusion with her Shaivite guru in his hermitage.

In our conversation today Umā shares about her extraordinary life experiences, as well as generously answering my questions about whether she believes that we all need to go into seclusion with a guru like she did to live a deeply spiritual life and how she balances living in the world and running a business with her spirituality.

Connect with Umā at https://umainder.com/.

Get your free ticket to the Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) Mental Health Aware yoga book launch at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar.

Find out more about the Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation Workshop in Brisbane in February 2025 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar.

Sign up for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid.

Get on our email newsletter to stay up to date with all our offerings at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>4238bali,guru,india,psychology,spirituality,yogafalsefullAna Davis - On Life After Menopausehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ana-davis-on-life-after-menopause--62961096
Today’s episode with Ana Davis (she/her) is the final installment in this three-part series on the cycles of a woman's life. In the first episode, we spoke about menstruation, in the second episode we explored perimenopause and in this episode we’re pulling back the curtain on post-menopause.

Listen in as Ana talks about menopause as an important rite of passage, how you know when you’re through menopause, how we can still live in a cyclical way of life even when we’re no longer menstruating, and how we can live and practice yoga in a way that is deeply supportive of this time of our lives.

Connect with Ana Davis at https://www.anadavis.com

Connect with Bliss Baby Yoga at https://www.blissbabyyoga.com

Join one of our in-person events, including a book launch at Radiantly Alive Yoga in Ubud (Bali) and Yoga Pod Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar.

Sign up for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Get on our email newsletter to stay up to date with all our offerings at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62961096Sun, 24 Nov 2024 22:33:30 +0000Dr Lauren ToberThere’s been a lot of attention about the menstrual cycle and perimenopause in the media in the last few years, but what happens after we cross the threshold of menopause? Today’s episode with Ana Davis (she/her) is the final installment in this...
Today’s episode with Ana Davis (she/her) is the final installment in this three-part series on the cycles of a woman's life. In the first episode, we spoke about menstruation, in the second episode we explored perimenopause and in this episode we’re pulling back the curtain on post-menopause.

Listen in as Ana talks about menopause as an important rite of passage, how you know when you’re through menopause, how we can still live in a cyclical way of life even when we’re no longer menstruating, and how we can live and practice yoga in a way that is deeply supportive of this time of our lives.

Connect with Ana Davis at https://www.anadavis.com

Connect with Bliss Baby Yoga at https://www.blissbabyyoga.com

Join one of our in-person events, including a book launch at Radiantly Alive Yoga in Ubud (Bali) and Yoga Pod Saigon in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar.

Sign up for the hybrid Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Get on our email newsletter to stay up to date with all our offerings at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/join.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>2296menopause,menstruation,perimenopause,psychology,yogafalsefullAna Davis - On Perimenopause and Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ana-davis-on-perimenopause-and-yoga--62660031
Today’s episode is part two in a three-part series on living and practising yoga in tune with the different seasons of a woman's life, and in this episode, we’re looking at perimenopause.

My guest, Ana Davis is a feminine yoga teacher and trainer from Bliss Baby Yoga, and the author of the seminal book, Moving with the Moon.

Join us for this conversation where we explore what perimenopause actually is, when you might first expect the early signs of perimenopause to arrive (much earlier than expected!), what these signs might be, and what we can do, from both a lifestyle and yoga perspective to really support this phase of our life.

Connect with Ana Davis at https://www.anadavis.com

Connect with Bliss Baby Yoga at https://www.blissbabyyoga.com

Join the Mullumbimby hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training on the 12-13th April 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid/

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out about the next book launch event at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Join our free Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62660031Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:20:53 +0000Dr Lauren ToberAna Davis (she/her) wrote a ground-breaking book on yoga and menstruation, and she was one of the first women I ever heard talking and writing openly about perimenopause. Today’s episode is part two in a three-part series on living and practising...
Today’s episode is part two in a three-part series on living and practising yoga in tune with the different seasons of a woman's life, and in this episode, we’re looking at perimenopause.

My guest, Ana Davis is a feminine yoga teacher and trainer from Bliss Baby Yoga, and the author of the seminal book, Moving with the Moon.

Join us for this conversation where we explore what perimenopause actually is, when you might first expect the early signs of perimenopause to arrive (much earlier than expected!), what these signs might be, and what we can do, from both a lifestyle and yoga perspective to really support this phase of our life.

Connect with Ana Davis at https://www.anadavis.com

Connect with Bliss Baby Yoga at https://www.blissbabyyoga.com

Join the Mullumbimby hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training on the 12-13th April 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid/

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out about the next book launch event at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Join our free Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>2720cycle,menstruation,perimenopause,psychology,yogafalsefullAna Davis - On Moving with the Moonhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ana-davis-on-moving-with-the-moon--62393849
Today’s podcast episode is part one of a three-part series on living and practising yoga in tune with the different seasons of a woman's life, and in this episode, we’re looking at menstruation.

My guest, Ana Davis (she/her) is a feminine yoga teacher and trainer from Bliss Baby Yoga, and the author of the seminal book, Moving with the Moon.

In our intimate conversation, Ana shares about menarche as a rite of passage, and the importance of honouring this stage of a young woman's life.

And then she talks us through the four phases of the menstrual cycle, including the dark moon (menstrual phase), waxing moon (pre-ovulation/follicular phase), full moon (ovulation) and the waning moon (premenstrual/luteal phase), with some really valuable ways to live our lives, and adapt our yoga practice, to be in sync with our cycles.

This episode is for everyone. It’s for menstruating women, and it’s for all humans who live or work with someone who has a menstrual cycle, including partners, friends, therapists and yoga teachers. This is information we all need, whether we are currently menstruating or not.

Find Ana Davis’ book Moving with the Moon at https://www.ana-louisa-davis.com/books

Sign up for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the 2025 Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62393849Mon, 21 Oct 2024 01:28:20 +0000Dr Lauren ToberMoving with the moon is a way of living and practising yoga in tune with our menstrual cycle. Today’s podcast episode is part one of a three-part series on living and practising yoga in tune with the different seasons of a woman's life, and in this...
Today’s podcast episode is part one of a three-part series on living and practising yoga in tune with the different seasons of a woman's life, and in this episode, we’re looking at menstruation.

My guest, Ana Davis (she/her) is a feminine yoga teacher and trainer from Bliss Baby Yoga, and the author of the seminal book, Moving with the Moon.

In our intimate conversation, Ana shares about menarche as a rite of passage, and the importance of honouring this stage of a young woman's life.

And then she talks us through the four phases of the menstrual cycle, including the dark moon (menstrual phase), waxing moon (pre-ovulation/follicular phase), full moon (ovulation) and the waning moon (premenstrual/luteal phase), with some really valuable ways to live our lives, and adapt our yoga practice, to be in sync with our cycles.

This episode is for everyone. It’s for menstruating women, and it’s for all humans who live or work with someone who has a menstrual cycle, including partners, friends, therapists and yoga teachers. This is information we all need, whether we are currently menstruating or not.

Find Ana Davis’ book Moving with the Moon at https://www.ana-louisa-davis.com/books

Sign up for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the 2025 Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>3146cycle,health,menarche,menstruation,psychology,women,yogafalsefullShannon Crow - On the Sustainable Yoga Teacherhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/shannon-crow-on-the-sustainable-yoga-teacher--62338158
This episode is a full circle moment for me.

After I was interviewed on Shannon’s podcast, the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast a few years ago, my publisher, Singing Dragon, reached out to ask me if I would be interested in writing a book on yoga and mental health. I had actually already written the first draft of the book at the time, so it was such perfect timing. And so now, to be interviewing Shannon on my podcast, just as the book has been released into the world, feels like perfect timing too. I love how these things happen!

Shannon Crow is a yoga teacher and trainer, the host of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast, the founder of Pelvic Health Professionals and a Mom to her three best teachers.

In our conversation today, Shannon shares with us all about how to choose a yoga teacher training course, including some important red flags to look out for, whether this is your first yoga training, or you’re looking for ongoing professional development.

We also explore how to sustainably keep teaching to prevent burnout, love what you do, and be nice to the planet.

Connect with Shannon Crow at https://www.theconnectedyogateacher.com/

Download a free chapter of my book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the free workshop Five Ways to Make Your Yoga Classes Mental Health Aware at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the 2025 Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62338158Mon, 14 Oct 2024 06:18:09 +0000Dr Lauren ToberIf you’re a yoga teacher, or have ever thought about becoming one, this podcast episode with Shannon Crow (she/her) is for you! This episode is a full circle moment for me. After I was interviewed on Shannon’s podcast, the Connected Yoga Teacher...
This episode is a full circle moment for me.

After I was interviewed on Shannon’s podcast, the Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast a few years ago, my publisher, Singing Dragon, reached out to ask me if I would be interested in writing a book on yoga and mental health. I had actually already written the first draft of the book at the time, so it was such perfect timing. And so now, to be interviewing Shannon on my podcast, just as the book has been released into the world, feels like perfect timing too. I love how these things happen!

Shannon Crow is a yoga teacher and trainer, the host of The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast, the founder of Pelvic Health Professionals and a Mom to her three best teachers.

In our conversation today, Shannon shares with us all about how to choose a yoga teacher training course, including some important red flags to look out for, whether this is your first yoga training, or you’re looking for ongoing professional development.

We also explore how to sustainably keep teaching to prevent burnout, love what you do, and be nice to the planet.

Connect with Shannon Crow at https://www.theconnectedyogateacher.com/

Download a free chapter of my book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the free workshop Five Ways to Make Your Yoga Classes Mental Health Aware at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the 2025 Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3998author,book,psychology,sustainable,training,yogafalsefullDelamay Devi - On Yoga for the Seasonshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/delamay-devi-on-yoga-for-the-seasons--62206636
Born and raised in Australia’s yoga mecca, Byron Bay on Bundjalung Country in Australia, Delamay started her teaching journey in the late 90s as a dance teacher, which progressed over the years to teaching yoga and sharing embodied practices around the world, with Shiva Rea as her long time mentor.

Delamay is passionate about sharing movement as medicine and yoga philosophy in sync with the natural cycles of existence, and it’s for this reason that I invited her to today’s podcast episode.

In the episode, we hear about what it was actually like to live without winter for years on end, and why she eventually decided to settle down. We also explore the four seasons of the year and how we can shape and adapt our lives and our yoga practice to live in accordance with these seasons.

Delamay is also a graduate of the very first Mental Health Aware Yoga training in Mullumbimby, Australia, and she shares a little about her experience of the training and how it continues to inform her yoga teaching.

Connect with Delamay Devi at https://www.delamaydevi.com

Download a free chapter of my book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the free workshop Five Ways to Make Your Yoga Classes Mental Health Aware at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the 2025 Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62206636Mon, 07 Oct 2024 05:16:17 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDelamay Devi (she/her) followed the sun and skipped out on winter for many years by travelling around the world teaching yoga. Born and raised in Australia’s yoga mecca, Byron Bay on Bundjalung Country in Australia, Delamay started her teaching...
Born and raised in Australia’s yoga mecca, Byron Bay on Bundjalung Country in Australia, Delamay started her teaching journey in the late 90s as a dance teacher, which progressed over the years to teaching yoga and sharing embodied practices around the world, with Shiva Rea as her long time mentor.

Delamay is passionate about sharing movement as medicine and yoga philosophy in sync with the natural cycles of existence, and it’s for this reason that I invited her to today’s podcast episode.

In the episode, we hear about what it was actually like to live without winter for years on end, and why she eventually decided to settle down. We also explore the four seasons of the year and how we can shape and adapt our lives and our yoga practice to live in accordance with these seasons.

Delamay is also a graduate of the very first Mental Health Aware Yoga training in Mullumbimby, Australia, and she shares a little about her experience of the training and how it continues to inform her yoga teaching.

Connect with Delamay Devi at https://www.delamaydevi.com

Download a free chapter of my book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the free workshop Five Ways to Make Your Yoga Classes Mental Health Aware at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the 2025 Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3606prana,psychology,seasons,summer,sun,yogafalsefullJody Vassallo - On Food as Medicine for Mental Healthhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jody-vassallo-on-food-as-medicine-for-mental-health--62052803
In today’s podcast episode, I’m delighted to introduce you to Jody Vassallo.

Jody has been a recipe writer and food stylist for over 20 years, working with some big names like Marie Claire, Donna Hay, Jamie Oliver and Vogue. She’s also a yoga teacher and ayurvedic practitioner. I love Jody’s cookbooks, and her book Beautiful Food is a staple in my kitchen.

In this episode, Jody and I talk about food as medicine through the lens of ayurveda, including the different doshas, how we can figure out what our predominant dosha is, how this relates to mental health and how we can use food as medicine to support our mental health.

There were so many things dropping in for me while Jody was talking about the different doshas, and I probably overshared a little bit about what was resonating for me!

Connect with Jody Vassallo at https://jodyvassallo.com.

Get your free ticket for the Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga book launch on the 28th of September 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/booklaunch.

Join the free online workshop for yoga teachers on the 12th of October to learn five simple (but profound) ways to make your yoga classes more mental health aware at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop.

Sign up to the 60-hour online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on the 31st of October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

Be the first to hear when registration opens for the March 2025 Mullumbimby hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid.

Visit our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga graduates at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/62052803Tue, 24 Sep 2024 02:40:35 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHow can understanding our doshas support our mental health? In today’s podcast episode, I’m delighted to introduce you to Jody Vassallo. Jody has been a recipe writer and food stylist for over 20 years, working with some big names like Marie...
In today’s podcast episode, I’m delighted to introduce you to Jody Vassallo.

Jody has been a recipe writer and food stylist for over 20 years, working with some big names like Marie Claire, Donna Hay, Jamie Oliver and Vogue. She’s also a yoga teacher and ayurvedic practitioner. I love Jody’s cookbooks, and her book Beautiful Food is a staple in my kitchen.

In this episode, Jody and I talk about food as medicine through the lens of ayurveda, including the different doshas, how we can figure out what our predominant dosha is, how this relates to mental health and how we can use food as medicine to support our mental health.

There were so many things dropping in for me while Jody was talking about the different doshas, and I probably overshared a little bit about what was resonating for me!

Connect with Jody Vassallo at https://jodyvassallo.com.

Get your free ticket for the Mullumbimby Mental Health Aware Yoga book launch on the 28th of September 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/booklaunch.

Join the free online workshop for yoga teachers on the 12th of October to learn five simple (but profound) ways to make your yoga classes more mental health aware at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop.

Sign up to the 60-hour online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on the 31st of October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online.

Be the first to hear when registration opens for the March 2025 Mullumbimby hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid.

Visit our global directory of Mental Health Aware Yoga graduates at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com.

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>3823ayurveda,doshas,food,medicine,psychology,yogafalsefullDr Arielle Schwartz - On Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-arielle-schwartz-on-applied-polyvagal-theory-in-yoga--61194342
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Arielle Schwartz (she/her), a fellow clinical psychologist and yoga teacher, and a leading voice in the healing of trauma, to dive into this fascinating topic.

Arielle is an internationally sought-after teacher and author of seven books including The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, and Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga. As the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, she offers a mind-body approach to therapy for trauma and mental health.

Arielle had just finished reading my new book, Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers before our conversation, and she shared that there were so many parallels in our journeys, particularly in how we came to integrate yoga and psychology into our work. In the interview, we hear Arielle’s story about how she started yoga and how she eventually integrated it into her work as a clinical psychologist, and we also dive into some really juicy topics around polyvagal theory, trauma, how yoga can support our mental health through both a top-down and bottom-up approach, and how trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Connect with Dr Arielle Schwartz at https://drarielleschwartz.com

Reserve your free place for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga book launch event on the 13th of September 2024 or the in-person event in Mullumbimby Australia on the 28th of September 2024 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on the 31st of October at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the March 2025 hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training in Mullumbimby Australia at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find a yoga teacher who really understands mental health in our global graduate directory at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61194342Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:14:34 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHow do we bring polyvagal theory into our yoga practice and teaching to support healing and growth? In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Arielle Schwartz (she/her), a fellow clinical psychologist and yoga teacher, and a leading voice in the healing...
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr Arielle Schwartz (she/her), a fellow clinical psychologist and yoga teacher, and a leading voice in the healing of trauma, to dive into this fascinating topic.

Arielle is an internationally sought-after teacher and author of seven books including The Complex PTSD Workbook, The Post-Traumatic Growth Guidebook, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Psychology, and Applied Polyvagal Theory in Yoga. As the founder of the Center for Resilience Informed Therapy, she offers a mind-body approach to therapy for trauma and mental health.

Arielle had just finished reading my new book, Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers before our conversation, and she shared that there were so many parallels in our journeys, particularly in how we came to integrate yoga and psychology into our work. In the interview, we hear Arielle’s story about how she started yoga and how she eventually integrated it into her work as a clinical psychologist, and we also dive into some really juicy topics around polyvagal theory, trauma, how yoga can support our mental health through both a top-down and bottom-up approach, and how trauma recovery is an awakening of the spiritual heart.

Connect with Dr Arielle Schwartz at https://drarielleschwartz.com

Reserve your free place for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga book launch event on the 13th of September 2024 or the in-person event in Mullumbimby Australia on the 28th of September 2024 at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar/

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on the 31st of October at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Get on the waitlist for the March 2025 hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training in Mullumbimby Australia at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find a yoga teacher who really understands mental health in our global graduate directory at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>3371polyvagal,psychology,trauma,yogafalsefullDr Raj Balkaran - On the Stories Behind the Poseshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-raj-balkaran-on-the-stories-behind-the-poses--61049072
Raj is a scholar of Sanskrit narrative literature, wisdom teacher and online educator. He's the founder of The Indian Wisdom School, author of the book The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures and runs a thriving one-on-one spiritual guidance practice.

In our discussion today, Raj shares about the importance of stories to impart and receive wisdom, and why understanding the stories behind the yoga asanas we know and love gives our practice a new depth.

While Raj has written a book about the stories behind the poses, the yoga tradition is actually an oral one, handed down verbally from teacher to student. And so in the second half of the episode, Raj takes us on a storytelling journey, and shares a few of the stories from his book, including Pranāmāsana (Reverence Pose), Sūrya Namaskārā (Sun Salutations) and Vīrabhadrāsana (Warrior Poses).

While I had read these stories in Raj’s book already, there was something profound about hearing them spoken, and I already know that my yoga practice is going to feel different as a result.
Listen in right to the end where Raj does a little giveaway!

Connect with Dr Raj Balkaran at https://rajbalkaran.com

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, opening for registration today, at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Find our global Mental Health Aware Yoga directory at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/directory

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/61049072Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:18:35 +0000Dr Lauren ToberPull up a cushion, pour yourself a chai and join Dr Raj Balkaran and I around the virtual fire for storytime. Raj is a scholar of Sanskrit narrative literature, wisdom teacher and online educator. He's the founder of The Indian Wisdom School, author...
Raj is a scholar of Sanskrit narrative literature, wisdom teacher and online educator. He's the founder of The Indian Wisdom School, author of the book The Stories Behind the Poses: The Indian Mythology that Inspired 50 Yoga Postures and runs a thriving one-on-one spiritual guidance practice.

In our discussion today, Raj shares about the importance of stories to impart and receive wisdom, and why understanding the stories behind the yoga asanas we know and love gives our practice a new depth.

While Raj has written a book about the stories behind the poses, the yoga tradition is actually an oral one, handed down verbally from teacher to student. And so in the second half of the episode, Raj takes us on a storytelling journey, and shares a few of the stories from his book, including Pranāmāsana (Reverence Pose), Sūrya Namaskārā (Sun Salutations) and Vīrabhadrāsana (Warrior Poses).

While I had read these stories in Raj’s book already, there was something profound about hearing them spoken, and I already know that my yoga practice is going to feel different as a result.
Listen in right to the end where Raj does a little giveaway!

Connect with Dr Raj Balkaran at https://rajbalkaran.com

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, opening for registration today, at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Find our global Mental Health Aware Yoga directory at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/directory

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3912asana,mythology,myths,narrative,postures,psychology,raj,stories,yogafalsefullAmy Landry - On Finding Authentic Yoga in Indiahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/amy-landry-on-finding-authentic-yoga-in-india--60871781
Let me introduce you to Amy Landry!

Amy is a senior yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, mentor and podcast host, and takes people on pilgrimages to India to create meaningful memories of a lifetime. What a job!

In this podcast episode, we’ll be hearing about Amy’s introduction to yoga, after finding an ayurvedic quiz online in the early dial-up days of the internet and coming across a yoga DVD in the newspaper, as well as exploring what it means to practice and teach yoga when you live outside of yoga’s source culture.

You’ll also hear Amy’s insider tips on the best places to go in India to experience authentic yoga and Ayurveda, whether you want to go on a yoga study trip, receive Ayurvedic treatments or a holiday to soak up the goodness of mother India.

Connect with Amy Landry at https://www.amyelandry.com

Sign up for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training starting on the 5th of August 2024 at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Order a copy and/or download a free chapter of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting in Mullumbimby, Australia on 15th-16th March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60871781Mon, 05 Aug 2024 02:00:38 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHave you ever wanted to go to India to experience authentic yoga and Ayurveda, but not sure where to start? Let me introduce you to Amy Landry! Amy is a senior yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, mentor and podcast host, and takes people on...
Let me introduce you to Amy Landry!

Amy is a senior yoga teacher, Ayurvedic practitioner, mentor and podcast host, and takes people on pilgrimages to India to create meaningful memories of a lifetime. What a job!

In this podcast episode, we’ll be hearing about Amy’s introduction to yoga, after finding an ayurvedic quiz online in the early dial-up days of the internet and coming across a yoga DVD in the newspaper, as well as exploring what it means to practice and teach yoga when you live outside of yoga’s source culture.

You’ll also hear Amy’s insider tips on the best places to go in India to experience authentic yoga and Ayurveda, whether you want to go on a yoga study trip, receive Ayurvedic treatments or a holiday to soak up the goodness of mother India.

Connect with Amy Landry at https://www.amyelandry.com

Sign up for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training starting on the 5th of August 2024 at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Order a copy and/or download a free chapter of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting in Mullumbimby, Australia on 15th-16th March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>2689ayurveda,india,psychology,spiritual,travel,yogafalsefullJulie Smerdon - On Yoga Through Adversityhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/julie-smerdon-on-yoga-through-adversity--60575560
I know this is something that I say all the time. But what does it actually mean?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by beloved Brisbane yoga teacher, Julie Smerdon (she/her), where she shares some of the big health and financial challenges of life, and how movement and yoga helped her to navigate them, as well as the one piece of advice she was given fairly early in her career as a yoga teacher that changed everything for her.

Connect with Julie Smerdon at https://juliesmerdon.com/

Order a copy and/or download a free chapter of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Sign up for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training starting on the 5th of August 2024 at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60575560Mon, 22 Jul 2024 02:20:02 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHave you ever heard people say that yoga helps them to navigate the ups and downs of life? I know this is something that I say all the time. But what does it actually mean? In today’s episode, I’m joined by beloved Brisbane yoga teacher, Julie...
I know this is something that I say all the time. But what does it actually mean?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by beloved Brisbane yoga teacher, Julie Smerdon (she/her), where she shares some of the big health and financial challenges of life, and how movement and yoga helped her to navigate them, as well as the one piece of advice she was given fairly early in her career as a yoga teacher that changed everything for her.

Connect with Julie Smerdon at https://juliesmerdon.com/

Order a copy and/or download a free chapter of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Sign up for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training starting on the 5th of August 2024 at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3459challenges,health,philosophy,psychology,teaching,yogafalsefullDanni Carr - On a Trauma-informed Quest to Kick the Bingehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/danni-carr-on-a-trauma-informed-quest-to-kick-the-binge--60431193
After years of touring and partying with her husband Ash Grunwald, a much-loved Australian Blues Musician, the excessive binges started to take their toll and the two decided enough was enough, and they both decided to quit drinking for a year.

Fast forward six years, and Danni is now the founder of the How I Quit Alcohol podcast, and is on a trauma-informed quest to kick the binge.

In this episode, we get pretty personal, as Danni talks about the toll that alcohol took on her life and her kids’ lives, what was helpful in quitting alcohol, and how yoga, meditation and gratitude played a big part in quitting alcohol and staying sober. She also shares some great advice for anyone thinking about quitting alcohol or supporting someone who is.

There’s a bit of swearing in it, so if you have kids around, you might like to put the headphones in!

As you’ll hear in the episode, Danni and I met when she attended an Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop with me a few months back, and she was also one of the very first people to jump online and sign up for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals Training that’s starting in August.

Connect with Danni Carr at https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Ash Grunwald and Lissie Turner on the Gratitude Bench in 2016 https://www.facebook.com/drlaurentober/videos/759071430893547

Join the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Find out more about my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60431193Tue, 09 Jul 2024 00:18:42 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDanni Carr used to wake up some mornings with a feeling of dread, wondering if she’d remembered to put her kids to bed and what alcohol fuelled things she’d said or done the night before. After years of touring and partying with her husband Ash...
After years of touring and partying with her husband Ash Grunwald, a much-loved Australian Blues Musician, the excessive binges started to take their toll and the two decided enough was enough, and they both decided to quit drinking for a year.

Fast forward six years, and Danni is now the founder of the How I Quit Alcohol podcast, and is on a trauma-informed quest to kick the binge.

In this episode, we get pretty personal, as Danni talks about the toll that alcohol took on her life and her kids’ lives, what was helpful in quitting alcohol, and how yoga, meditation and gratitude played a big part in quitting alcohol and staying sober. She also shares some great advice for anyone thinking about quitting alcohol or supporting someone who is.

There’s a bit of swearing in it, so if you have kids around, you might like to put the headphones in!

As you’ll hear in the episode, Danni and I met when she attended an Embodied Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop with me a few months back, and she was also one of the very first people to jump online and sign up for the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals Training that’s starting in August.

Connect with Danni Carr at https://www.iquitalcohol.com.au

Ash Grunwald and Lissie Turner on the Gratitude Bench in 2016 https://www.facebook.com/drlaurentober/videos/759071430893547

Join the Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Find out more about my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3208addiction,alcohol,gratitude,meditation,psychology,trauma-informed,yogafalsefullMerridy Woodroffe - On Celebrating Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/merridy-woodroffe-on-celebrating-yoga--60382196
Today’s episode is to celebrate our sponsor, Yoga Australia’s 25th year anniversary. And joining us is their Vice President, Merridy Woodroffe. Merridy is a wife, a dog mum, a lawyer, an ashtanga yoga practitioner and a yoga therapist, as well as being the vice president of Yoga Australia.

Right at the beginning of the episode, Merridy calls me Dr Lauren, and when I tell her she can just call me Lauren, she very gently calls me out on it and points out how important it is to honour our titles and the hard work that comes behind them, especially for women who often underplay their achievements! So it made me rethink how I might be undermining myself by asking people to drop the doctor title!

I would describe Merridy as a multi-passionate individual, and in the interview, we explore how she brings the many facets of herself and her varied interests into her life and work, including yoga teaching, lawyering and being a tailor.

We also explore what yogic wisdom and practices she draws on to help her to manage the stress of being a lawyer, the ‘meditation flight’ she was part of organising for Virgin Australia, how the landscape of yoga in Australia has changed over the past 25 years and what to look out for if you’re thinking of taking a yoga teacher training course.

We had such a fun time in this episode!

Find out more about Yoga Australia, and all the wonderful work Merridy and the team are doing at https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au

Pre-order a copy of my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the 2024 Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Check out the Yoga Psychology Institute calendar at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60382196Mon, 24 Jun 2024 01:18:11 +0000Dr Lauren ToberI like to think I'm a feminist, but my guest on today's podcast episode really called me out on something important! Today’s episode is to celebrate our sponsor, Yoga Australia’s 25th year anniversary. And joining us is their Vice President, Merridy...
Today’s episode is to celebrate our sponsor, Yoga Australia’s 25th year anniversary. And joining us is their Vice President, Merridy Woodroffe. Merridy is a wife, a dog mum, a lawyer, an ashtanga yoga practitioner and a yoga therapist, as well as being the vice president of Yoga Australia.

Right at the beginning of the episode, Merridy calls me Dr Lauren, and when I tell her she can just call me Lauren, she very gently calls me out on it and points out how important it is to honour our titles and the hard work that comes behind them, especially for women who often underplay their achievements! So it made me rethink how I might be undermining myself by asking people to drop the doctor title!

I would describe Merridy as a multi-passionate individual, and in the interview, we explore how she brings the many facets of herself and her varied interests into her life and work, including yoga teaching, lawyering and being a tailor.

We also explore what yogic wisdom and practices she draws on to help her to manage the stress of being a lawyer, the ‘meditation flight’ she was part of organising for Virgin Australia, how the landscape of yoga in Australia has changed over the past 25 years and what to look out for if you’re thinking of taking a yoga teacher training course.

We had such a fun time in this episode!

Find out more about Yoga Australia, and all the wonderful work Merridy and the team are doing at https://www.yogaaustralia.org.au

Pre-order a copy of my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the 2024 Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Check out the Yoga Psychology Institute calendar at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3104australia,lawyer,meditation,multipassionate,psychology,tailor,yogafalsefullStephanie Lopez - On Time and Spaciousness for Burnout Recoveryhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stephanie-lopez-on-time-and-spaciousness-for-burnout-recovery--60269985
In today’s episode, you’ll hear a very personal conversation with a dear teacher, mentor and friend Stephanie Lopez. I met Stephanie around 10 years ago when she first came to Australia to teach an iRest meditation training, and it is not an exaggeration to say that this training with Stephanie and Richard Miller changed my life, both personally and in the way I work. Ten years later, it still infuses my understanding of yoga, psychology and how to be a human in the world.

Stephanie (she/her) is the Senior Advisor of Philosophy and Learning, and a Senior Trainer at the iRest Institute. She’s also a Gestalt psychotherapist, certified yoga therapist, and world-leading meditation teacher who has presented meditation at Google, Spotify, UC Berkeley and more, and is a contributing author of Yoga Nidra Meditations.

In our conversation today, Stephanie shares with us her own journey with burnout and recovery, and how surprising this was as a therapist and meditation teacher, and what really helped her to navigate these difficult times.

Connect with Stephanie at https://www.irest.org

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find out more about my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the 2024 Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Get started on the Meditation, Pure + Simple online course with Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60269985Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:48:20 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWith so many of you reaching out to me to share your stories of deep fatigue and burnout, I’m delighted to share another episode on this very important topic. In today’s episode, you’ll hear a very personal conversation with a dear teacher, mentor...
In today’s episode, you’ll hear a very personal conversation with a dear teacher, mentor and friend Stephanie Lopez. I met Stephanie around 10 years ago when she first came to Australia to teach an iRest meditation training, and it is not an exaggeration to say that this training with Stephanie and Richard Miller changed my life, both personally and in the way I work. Ten years later, it still infuses my understanding of yoga, psychology and how to be a human in the world.

Stephanie (she/her) is the Senior Advisor of Philosophy and Learning, and a Senior Trainer at the iRest Institute. She’s also a Gestalt psychotherapist, certified yoga therapist, and world-leading meditation teacher who has presented meditation at Google, Spotify, UC Berkeley and more, and is a contributing author of Yoga Nidra Meditations.

In our conversation today, Stephanie shares with us her own journey with burnout and recovery, and how surprising this was as a therapist and meditation teacher, and what really helped her to navigate these difficult times.

Connect with Stephanie at https://www.irest.org

Find the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find out more about my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the 2024 Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Get started on the Meditation, Pure + Simple online course with Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.
]]>3499burnout,fatigue,irest,meditation,menopause,midlife,perimenopause,psychology,yogafalsefullLeila Stuart - On Midlife Burnout and Recoveryhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/leila-stuart-on-midlife-burnout-and-recovery--60194413
When I shared my own experience about coming a little too close to burnout for comfort last year, Leila Stuart reached out to me and shared about her own experience with burnout, chronic fatigue and recovery. So of course I invited her to come and share her wisdom with us all on the podcast!

Leila is a clinical massage therapist, yoga teacher and yoga therapist, and as the co-author of the book Pathways to a Centered Body with Donna Farhi, and the author of a new book Experiential Anatomy: Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness, she is really a pioneer in the field of embodied movement education.

Listen in to this enlightening episode to hear Leila share about her personal experience of burnout in her 40s, an experience that took her around 15 years to recover from, and also about the big mindset shift that made all the difference in her healing journey. She also shares some hard-won recommendations for identifying and recovering from burnout, that you really don’t want to miss!

Connect with Leila Stuart at https://leilastuart.com

Check out the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find out more about my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the 2024 Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60194413Tue, 04 Jun 2024 03:53:40 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWith so much information at our fingertips these days, you would think that we would know a thing or two about self-care. But so many women I know are experiencing burnout in midlife. When I shared my own experience about coming a little too close to...
When I shared my own experience about coming a little too close to burnout for comfort last year, Leila Stuart reached out to me and shared about her own experience with burnout, chronic fatigue and recovery. So of course I invited her to come and share her wisdom with us all on the podcast!

Leila is a clinical massage therapist, yoga teacher and yoga therapist, and as the co-author of the book Pathways to a Centered Body with Donna Farhi, and the author of a new book Experiential Anatomy: Therapeutic Applications of Embodied Movement and Awareness, she is really a pioneer in the field of embodied movement education.

Listen in to this enlightening episode to hear Leila share about her personal experience of burnout in her 40s, an experience that took her around 15 years to recover from, and also about the big mindset shift that made all the difference in her healing journey. She also shares some hard-won recommendations for identifying and recovering from burnout, that you really don’t want to miss!

Connect with Leila Stuart at https://leilastuart.com

Check out the dates for all our latest offerings at the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find out more about my new book Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book

Join the waitlist for the 2024 Yoga Skills for Health Professionals training at https://www.yogaskillsforhealthprofessionals.com

Join the waitlist for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, starting in October 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join the waitlist for the next hybrid Mental Health Aware Yoga Training in Byron Bay in March 2025 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/hybrid

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3525burnout,fatigue,menopause,midlife,perimenopause,psychology,yogafalsefullSusanna Barkataki - On Cultural Appropriation and Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/susanna-barkataki-on-cultural-appropriation-and-yoga--59256354
These are questions that I’ve been wrestling with over the past two decades of practicing and teaching yoga, and so I’m delighted to be speaking to Susanna Barkataki about them in this podcast episode.

Susanna (she/her) is a teacher, coach, inclusivity promoter, yoga culture advocate, the founder of the Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute and the author of Embrace Yoga’s Roots.

In our conversation Susanna and I talk about where yoga actually comes from, the colonisation of yoga, cultural appropriation and its antidote, how we can honour the roots or lineage of yoga in our practice and teaching, even when there has been abuse in our lineage, and if it is ever appropriate to use the word namaste when teaching and practicing yoga (hint: it’s not a simple answer!).

It’s such a great episode, and one that I would love all yoga practitioners and teachers to listen to, so I’m glad that you’re here!

Connect with Susanna Barkataki at https://www.susannabarkataki.com

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59256354Mon, 08 Apr 2024 00:30:39 +0000Dr Lauren ToberAm I contributing to the cultural appropriation of yoga? As a white yoga student and teacher, how can I do better? These are questions that I’ve been wrestling with over the past two decades of practicing and teaching yoga, and so I’m delighted to be...
These are questions that I’ve been wrestling with over the past two decades of practicing and teaching yoga, and so I’m delighted to be speaking to Susanna Barkataki about them in this podcast episode.

Susanna (she/her) is a teacher, coach, inclusivity promoter, yoga culture advocate, the founder of the Ignite Yoga and Wellness Institute and the author of Embrace Yoga’s Roots.

In our conversation Susanna and I talk about where yoga actually comes from, the colonisation of yoga, cultural appropriation and its antidote, how we can honour the roots or lineage of yoga in our practice and teaching, even when there has been abuse in our lineage, and if it is ever appropriate to use the word namaste when teaching and practicing yoga (hint: it’s not a simple answer!).

It’s such a great episode, and one that I would love all yoga practitioners and teachers to listen to, so I’m glad that you’re here!

Connect with Susanna Barkataki at https://www.susannabarkataki.com

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3477appropriation,decolonisation,india,namaste,psychology,yogafalsefullJivana Heyman - On Making Yoga Accessiblehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jivana-heyman-on-making-yoga-accessible--59026542
Accessible yoga is more than simply using yoga props in your classes or reminding your students that Child’s Pose is always an option.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by yoga teacher Jivana Heyman (he/him) from Accessible Yoga and we talk about how we can truly make our yoga classes accessible.

Listen in as we explore accessible yoga as seeing ourselves and our students as whole and not in need of fixing, as diversity and representation in yoga teachers and imagery online, as teaching in a trauma-sensitive and mental health aware way, and about continuing to engage in thoughtful discussions with peers on the ethics of being a human and a teacher, in the world.

Jivana also shares about the challenges that he faced as a young gay man in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, and the ways in which yoga was such a refuge for him during this time.

We also unpack the ways in which yoga is taught, both traditionally with the guru system and more recently in the west in drop-in yoga studios, and the pros and cons of both.

This is an episode not to be missed!

Connect with Jivana Heyman at www.jivanaheyman.com

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Yoga Psychology Institute workshop and training calendar https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59026542Sun, 17 Mar 2024 06:35:09 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWhat does it mean to truly make yoga accessible? Accessible yoga is more than simply using yoga props in your classes or reminding your students that Child’s Pose is always an option. In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by yoga teacher Jivana...
Accessible yoga is more than simply using yoga props in your classes or reminding your students that Child’s Pose is always an option.

In today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by yoga teacher Jivana Heyman (he/him) from Accessible Yoga and we talk about how we can truly make our yoga classes accessible.

Listen in as we explore accessible yoga as seeing ourselves and our students as whole and not in need of fixing, as diversity and representation in yoga teachers and imagery online, as teaching in a trauma-sensitive and mental health aware way, and about continuing to engage in thoughtful discussions with peers on the ethics of being a human and a teacher, in the world.

Jivana also shares about the challenges that he faced as a young gay man in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, and the ways in which yoga was such a refuge for him during this time.

We also unpack the ways in which yoga is taught, both traditionally with the guru system and more recently in the west in drop-in yoga studios, and the pros and cons of both.

This is an episode not to be missed!

Connect with Jivana Heyman at www.jivanaheyman.com

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Yoga Psychology Institute workshop and training calendar https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs and Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3368accessible,aids,diversity,psychology,trauma,yogafalsefullAnn Swanson - On Meditation for the Real Worldhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ann-swanson-on-meditation-for-the-real-world--58926821
In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Ann Swanson (she/her) to talk about all things meditation. Ann is a yoga therapist and the author of the internationally bestselling book the Science of Yoga and the brand new book Meditation for the Real World.

Listen in to hear us talk about the science of meditation, how Ann’s own mental health struggles led her to the physical aspect of yoga, and then eventually to meditation, why long formal meditation practices aren’t necessarily better than frequent shorter meditations and how to practice meditation in accordance with the seasons of your life and your menstrual cycle.

As someone who has tried loads of different meditation styles, I love the way that Ann makes meditation so accessible, and really understands the science behind the why and the how of meditation.

Connect with Ann Swanson at https://www.meditationfortherealworld.com

Sign up to the free How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop on the 15th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Yoga Psychology Institute workshop and training calendar https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58926821Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:39:22 +0000Dr Lauren ToberWant to meditate, but don’t have the time? This episode is for you! In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Ann Swanson (she/her) to talk about all things meditation. Ann is a yoga therapist and the author of the internationally bestselling book...
In today’s podcast episode, I sat down with Ann Swanson (she/her) to talk about all things meditation. Ann is a yoga therapist and the author of the internationally bestselling book the Science of Yoga and the brand new book Meditation for the Real World.

Listen in to hear us talk about the science of meditation, how Ann’s own mental health struggles led her to the physical aspect of yoga, and then eventually to meditation, why long formal meditation practices aren’t necessarily better than frequent shorter meditations and how to practice meditation in accordance with the seasons of your life and your menstrual cycle.

As someone who has tried loads of different meditation styles, I love the way that Ann makes meditation so accessible, and really understands the science behind the why and the how of meditation.

Connect with Ann Swanson at https://www.meditationfortherealworld.com

Sign up to the free How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop on the 15th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Yoga Psychology Institute workshop and training calendar https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>2977cycles,meditation,menstruation,psychology,yogafalsefullJ. Brown - On God and Navigating Abuse in Spiritual Communitieshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/j-brown-on-god-and-navigating-abuse-in-spiritual-communities--58913429
But in this interview we ended up talking about how as a 16 year old he grappled with his mother’s cancer diagnosis, the promise he made to her before she died, what it means to receive a message or a download that guides your life, and where that message actually comes from.

We talk about God, Christianity, the abuse in both Christianity and in yoga communities, if it’s possible to separate the teachings from the teacher when there’s been abuse in our lineage, and how important it is to engage in a non-hierarchical way as a teacher and with your teacher.

We ask a lot of questions, and don’t necessarily have all the answers, but it’s this asking and exploring that I find so important, and so interesting.

Connect with J. Brown at https://www.jbrownyoga.com

Listen to Dr Lauren Tober speak on J. Brown’s Yoga Talks podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-lauren-tober-the-frontline-of-mental-health-care/id1029751323?i=1000646835424

Sign up to the free How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop on the 15th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Yoga Psychology Institute workshop and training at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58913429Mon, 04 Mar 2024 04:22:09 +0000Dr Lauren ToberIn today’s podcast episode, I had intended to ask J. Brown about topics that I know him for, like ‘gentle is the new advanced’ and ‘slower is stronger’. But in this interview we ended up talking about how as a 16 year old he grappled with his...
But in this interview we ended up talking about how as a 16 year old he grappled with his mother’s cancer diagnosis, the promise he made to her before she died, what it means to receive a message or a download that guides your life, and where that message actually comes from.

We talk about God, Christianity, the abuse in both Christianity and in yoga communities, if it’s possible to separate the teachings from the teacher when there’s been abuse in our lineage, and how important it is to engage in a non-hierarchical way as a teacher and with your teacher.

We ask a lot of questions, and don’t necessarily have all the answers, but it’s this asking and exploring that I find so important, and so interesting.

Connect with J. Brown at https://www.jbrownyoga.com

Listen to Dr Lauren Tober speak on J. Brown’s Yoga Talks podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dr-lauren-tober-the-frontline-of-mental-health-care/id1029751323?i=1000646835424

Sign up to the free How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation workshop on the 15th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/workshop

Join the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting 25th March 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Yoga Psychology Institute workshop and training at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/calendar

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3259abuse,cancer,christianity,gentle,god,lineage,psychology,yogafalsefullSandra Palmer - On Living with Stage Four Cancerhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sandra-palmer-on-living-with-stage-four-cancer--58412512
In today’s episode, Sandra talks about what it was like when she was first given this diagnosis totally out of the blue, how she has navigated the landscape of grieving, treatment, the medical system, communicating to others about her diagnosis, learning to listen to her own needs, and how yoga has helped.

Sandra told me that when she was first diagnosed she was seeking other people’s stories about living and thriving with cancer, and part of her reason for coming on the podcast was to share her own story to help others who are traversing similar terrain.

As a psychologist and yoga teacher, Sandra also shares ways in which teachers and therapists can support their clients and students who are living with cancer through yoga.

We are delighted that Sandra is feeling vibrant and well and has returned to mentoring with us for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, and currently supports our students in New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Connect with Sandra Palmer at https://www.integrativetherapy.co.nz

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on March 25th 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58412512Mon, 19 Feb 2024 03:53:56 +0000Dr Lauren ToberSixteen months ago, one of our beloved Mental Health Aware Yoga mentors, Sandra Palmer (she/her) was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and was told that it was likely that she had less than two years to live. In today’s episode, Sandra talks about...
In today’s episode, Sandra talks about what it was like when she was first given this diagnosis totally out of the blue, how she has navigated the landscape of grieving, treatment, the medical system, communicating to others about her diagnosis, learning to listen to her own needs, and how yoga has helped.

Sandra told me that when she was first diagnosed she was seeking other people’s stories about living and thriving with cancer, and part of her reason for coming on the podcast was to share her own story to help others who are traversing similar terrain.

As a psychologist and yoga teacher, Sandra also shares ways in which teachers and therapists can support their clients and students who are living with cancer through yoga.

We are delighted that Sandra is feeling vibrant and well and has returned to mentoring with us for the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, and currently supports our students in New Zealand, USA and Canada.

Connect with Sandra Palmer at https://www.integrativetherapy.co.nz

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on March 25th 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>3617falsefullDr Kaitlin Harkess - On Psychoneuroimmunology and Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-kaitlin-harkess-on-psychoneuroimmunology-and-yoga--58400312
I certainly do! If you joined me for the Mental Health and Yoga Summits that we held in 2022, you might have noticed towards the end of each of the week-long Summits that my voice was getting pretty scratchy. After each Summit I came down with a cold, and spent a few days in bed afterwards recovering.

My guest today, Dr Kaitlin Harkess (she/her) researched yoga, stress and the immune system for her PhD thesis and is on the podcast today sharing about psychoneuroimmunology and yoga.
Kaitlin is a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher and the host of the wonderful Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast. She loves to help people develop the psychological skills they need to overcome burnout and change their life for the better.

If you are interested in stress, spirituality, science, movement, health and living a good life, you are going to love this episode!

Connect with Dr Kaitlin Harkess at www.drkaitlin.com

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on March 25th 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58400312Tue, 06 Feb 2024 03:59:03 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHave you ever wondered why you tend to get sick after a busy or stressful period, and wished you could do something about it? I certainly do! If you joined me for the https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com/summit-2022-recordings/ that we held in...
I certainly do! If you joined me for the Mental Health and Yoga Summits that we held in 2022, you might have noticed towards the end of each of the week-long Summits that my voice was getting pretty scratchy. After each Summit I came down with a cold, and spent a few days in bed afterwards recovering.

My guest today, Dr Kaitlin Harkess (she/her) researched yoga, stress and the immune system for her PhD thesis and is on the podcast today sharing about psychoneuroimmunology and yoga.
Kaitlin is a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher and the host of the wonderful Wisdom for Wellbeing podcast. She loves to help people develop the psychological skills they need to overcome burnout and change their life for the better.

If you are interested in stress, spirituality, science, movement, health and living a good life, you are going to love this episode!

Connect with Dr Kaitlin Harkess at www.drkaitlin.com

Sign up to the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training starting on March 25th 2024 at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Join our Mental Health Aware Yoga Facebook community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mentalhealthawareyoga

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>3229immune,psychology,psychoneuroimmunology,science,stress,yogafalsefullLissie Turner - On Addiction and Yogahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lissie-turner-on-addiction-and-yoga--58400182
Today I’m joined by Lissie Turner (she/her), CEO of the The Prana Project, to talk about addiction recovery and yoga.

In this moving interview, Lissie shares her own journey with transforming what she describes as a 22-year drinking career during her time as a presenter on Triple J Radio, into a thirst for a profoundly calmer and more humble life.

We also explore a yoga therapy perspective on overcoming addiction and what we can all do to move through our addictive patterns.

Connect with Lissie Turner at https://www.lissieturner.com

Connect with the Prana Project at https://www.thepranaproject.com

Find out more and join the 2024 online Mental Health Aware Yoga training today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58400182Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:19:08 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHow can yoga help us to dissolve our addictive patterns? Today I’m joined by Lissie Turner (she/her), CEO of the The Prana Project, to talk about addiction recovery and yoga. In this moving interview, Lissie shares her own journey with transforming...
Today I’m joined by Lissie Turner (she/her), CEO of the The Prana Project, to talk about addiction recovery and yoga.

In this moving interview, Lissie shares her own journey with transforming what she describes as a 22-year drinking career during her time as a presenter on Triple J Radio, into a thirst for a profoundly calmer and more humble life.

We also explore a yoga therapy perspective on overcoming addiction and what we can all do to move through our addictive patterns.

Connect with Lissie Turner at https://www.lissieturner.com

Connect with the Prana Project at https://www.thepranaproject.com

Find out more and join the 2024 online Mental Health Aware Yoga training today at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>3692addiction,prana,psychology,therapy,yogafalsefullAnneke Sips - On the Dark Night of the Soulhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anneke-sips-on-the-dark-night-of-the-soul--58325083
I know I have.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Anneke Sips, a psychiatric nurse and yoga therapist in the Netherlands, to talk about the dark night of the soul.

In this episode Anneke guides us on how to prepare for a dark night of the soul, how to tell when you’re experiencing one, and some powerful ways to move through a dark night of the soul experience, when you’re right in the thick of it.

Connect with Anneke Sips at https://annekesips.com

Read my article on the Hero’s Journey at https://www.laurentober.com/blog/the-heros-journey/

Find out more about the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training and sign up today at www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers Directory at https://shala.laurentober.com/mhay-directory/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58325083Wed, 17 Jan 2024 00:23:19 +0000Dr Lauren ToberHave you ever gone through a time that feels impossibly difficult? When you just can’t find a way out? I know I have. In today’s episode, I sit down with Anneke Sips, a psychiatric nurse and yoga therapist in the Netherlands, to talk about the...
I know I have.

In today’s episode, I sit down with Anneke Sips, a psychiatric nurse and yoga therapist in the Netherlands, to talk about the dark night of the soul.

In this episode Anneke guides us on how to prepare for a dark night of the soul, how to tell when you’re experiencing one, and some powerful ways to move through a dark night of the soul experience, when you’re right in the thick of it.

Connect with Anneke Sips at https://annekesips.com

Read my article on the Hero’s Journey at https://www.laurentober.com/blog/the-heros-journey/

Find out more about the online Mental Health Aware Yoga training and sign up today at www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Visit our Mental Health Aware Yoga Teachers Directory at https://shala.laurentober.com/mhay-directory/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice or training. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance or come and join one of our programs at the Yoga Psychology Institute for professional training.]]>4548health,hero,psychiatry,psychology,yogafalsefullAnand Mehrotra - On Living a Life of Meaning and Purposehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anand-mehrotra-on-living-a-life-of-meaning-and-purpose--57798424
Hear Anand speak about his journey in becoming a yoga teacher and spiritual leader, the role that he sees yoga playing in mental health and how we can live a life of meaning and purpose.

If you listen right to the end of the interview, you will also hear Anand’s answer to Lauren’s question about cultural appropriation and his thoughts on non-Indian yoga teachers sharing the wisdom and practices of yoga.

Just a few small topics!

Anand Mehrotra is one of the youngest known spiritual masters in the world to develop and present the Himalayan yogic tradition in its pure and raw form. He has dedicated his entire life to bringing the original teachings of the Himalayan yogic tradition to the world and does so in a unique and powerful way. His Sattva Yoga teachings come from the Vedic tradition and merge with the pure Tantric roots as taught by the ancient Masters in the far reaches of the Himalayas.

Anand was born and raised in Rishikesh, which is recognized as the yoga capital of the world. Rishikesh is one of the most sacred places in India. It calls thousands of pilgrims and spiritual seekers from around India and many countries of the world.

Connect with Anand Mehrotra at https://anandmehrotra.in

Find out more about the Sattva Academy at https://sattvayogaacademy.com

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57798424Tue, 28 Nov 2023 02:45:30 +0000Dr Lauren ToberJoin Dr Lauren Tober (she/her) and Anand Mehrotra (he/him) for this intimate conversation, recorded live in a yurt at the Sattva Sanctuary on Bundjalung country in Australia. Hear Anand speak about his journey in becoming a yoga teacher and spiritual...
Hear Anand speak about his journey in becoming a yoga teacher and spiritual leader, the role that he sees yoga playing in mental health and how we can live a life of meaning and purpose.

If you listen right to the end of the interview, you will also hear Anand’s answer to Lauren’s question about cultural appropriation and his thoughts on non-Indian yoga teachers sharing the wisdom and practices of yoga.

Just a few small topics!

Anand Mehrotra is one of the youngest known spiritual masters in the world to develop and present the Himalayan yogic tradition in its pure and raw form. He has dedicated his entire life to bringing the original teachings of the Himalayan yogic tradition to the world and does so in a unique and powerful way. His Sattva Yoga teachings come from the Vedic tradition and merge with the pure Tantric roots as taught by the ancient Masters in the far reaches of the Himalayas.

Anand was born and raised in Rishikesh, which is recognized as the yoga capital of the world. Rishikesh is one of the most sacred places in India. It calls thousands of pilgrims and spiritual seekers from around India and many countries of the world.

Connect with Anand Mehrotra at https://anandmehrotra.in

Find out more about the Sattva Academy at https://sattvayogaacademy.com

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find the Yoga Psychology Institute on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yogapsychologyinstitute

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>3317appropriation,aware,cultural,dharma,health,india,mental,purpose,rishikesh,yogafalsefullFuyuko Sawamura-Toyota - On the Essence of iResthttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fuyuko-sawamura-toyota-on-the-essence-of-irest--56343326In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota (she/her), a renowned expert in iRest Meditation, to explore the profound impact of yoga on mental health and delve into the transformative philosophy behind iRest. Fuyuko's vast knowledge and experience offer a unique perspective on how iRest can support healing and empower individuals from all walks of life.

We begin by delving into Fuyuko's personal journey of how yoga has played a pivotal role in transforming her own mental health. With candid insights, she shares the ways yoga has nurtured her inner life to create peace and resilience, inspiring us to discover the potential yoga holds for our own lives.

As the conversation flows, Fuyuko introduces us to iRest, an evidence-based meditation technique that has gained prominence over the years, and a practice that I personally love!

Fuyuko guides us through its principles and practices, including the teachings that iRest is based upon, Sankhya, Patanjali, Advaita Vedanta and Kashmiri Shaivism, and she sheds light on how iRest has become a promising approach for overcoming trauma.

As a recent graduate of the Mental Health Aware Yoga training, Fuyuko also shares valuable insights from the program, and how she has skillfully integrated the principles of Mental Health Aware Yoga into her own yoga teaching since taking the training.

Join us on this insightful episode as we dive deep into the transformative pathways of iRest Meditation with Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota. Discover the immense potential of yoga in enriching mental health, finding inner peace, and embracing a life of well-being and wisdom.

Find out more about Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota at https://premayoga.com.au

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about the Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Get started on the Meditation, Pure + Simple online course with Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56343326Fri, 04 Aug 2023 04:30:51 +0000Dr Lauren ToberIn this enlightening episode, I sit down with Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota (she/her), a renowned expert in iRest Meditation, to explore the profound impact of yoga on mental health and delve into the transformative philosophy behind iRest. Fuyuko's vast...In this enlightening episode, I sit down with Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota (she/her), a renowned expert in iRest Meditation, to explore the profound impact of yoga on mental health and delve into the transformative philosophy behind iRest. Fuyuko's vast knowledge and experience offer a unique perspective on how iRest can support healing and empower individuals from all walks of life.

We begin by delving into Fuyuko's personal journey of how yoga has played a pivotal role in transforming her own mental health. With candid insights, she shares the ways yoga has nurtured her inner life to create peace and resilience, inspiring us to discover the potential yoga holds for our own lives.

As the conversation flows, Fuyuko introduces us to iRest, an evidence-based meditation technique that has gained prominence over the years, and a practice that I personally love!

Fuyuko guides us through its principles and practices, including the teachings that iRest is based upon, Sankhya, Patanjali, Advaita Vedanta and Kashmiri Shaivism, and she sheds light on how iRest has become a promising approach for overcoming trauma.

As a recent graduate of the Mental Health Aware Yoga training, Fuyuko also shares valuable insights from the program, and how she has skillfully integrated the principles of Mental Health Aware Yoga into her own yoga teaching since taking the training.

Join us on this insightful episode as we dive deep into the transformative pathways of iRest Meditation with Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota. Discover the immense potential of yoga in enriching mental health, finding inner peace, and embracing a life of well-being and wisdom.

Find out more about Fuyuko Sawamura-Toyota at https://premayoga.com.au

Download the free Patañjali's Eight Limbs of Mental Health Aware Yoga ebook by Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/8limbs

Find out more about the Mental Health Aware Yoga training at https://www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com

Get started on the Meditation, Pure + Simple online course with Dr Lauren Tober at https://www.meditationpuresimple.com

Visit the Yoga Psychology Institute at https://www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor, Yoga Australia, at https://yogaaustralia.org.au

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>3644advaita,health,irest,kashmiri,meditation,mental,nidra,patanjali,ptsd,sankhya,shaivism,trauma,vedanta,yogafalsefullKate Pippos - On Yoga, Mental Health and Boundarieshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kate-pippos-on-yoga-mental-health-and-boundaries--54502930Dr Lauren Tober sits down with Kate Pippos, the Head of Yoga at Virgin Active, to talk about all things yoga, mental health, parenting, boundaries and consent.

Kate is also a Mental Health Aware Yoga graduate, and you will hear her talk a little about what stood out for her most from the training, and how she’s bringing this into her teaching and leadership at Virgin Active.

The online Mental Health Aware Yoga training is opening for registration on Monday 26th of June 2023, so if you are a Yoga Teacher or Yoga Therapist, then you are wholeheartedly invited to join us for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, before registration closes on Friday the 7th of July.

Or if you are listening to this before or after registration is open, jump on the waitlist instead and download our free ebook.

Find out more and sign up to the Mental Health Aware Yoga online training at www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Connect with Kate Pippos on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kate-pippos-0280b6248/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au/

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54502930Wed, 21 Jun 2023 09:00:16 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Kate Pippos, the Head of Yoga at Virgin Active, to talk about all things yoga, mental health, parenting, boundaries and consent. Kate is also a Mental Health Aware Yoga graduate, and you will hear her talk a little...Dr Lauren Tober sits down with Kate Pippos, the Head of Yoga at Virgin Active, to talk about all things yoga, mental health, parenting, boundaries and consent.

Kate is also a Mental Health Aware Yoga graduate, and you will hear her talk a little about what stood out for her most from the training, and how she’s bringing this into her teaching and leadership at Virgin Active.

The online Mental Health Aware Yoga training is opening for registration on Monday 26th of June 2023, so if you are a Yoga Teacher or Yoga Therapist, then you are wholeheartedly invited to join us for the next online Mental Health Aware Yoga training, before registration closes on Friday the 7th of July.

Or if you are listening to this before or after registration is open, jump on the waitlist instead and download our free ebook.

Find out more and sign up to the Mental Health Aware Yoga online training at www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/online

Connect with Kate Pippos on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/kate-pippos-0280b6248/

Find out more about our wonderful sponsor Yoga Australia at https://yogaaustralia.org.au/

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>2603boundaries,consent,parenting,virginactive,yogafalsefullDr Elise Bialylew - On meditation and mental health in 10 minutes a dayhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-elise-bialylew-on-meditation-and-mental-health-in-10-minutes-a-day--53617678Dr Lauren Tober sits down with Dr Elise Bialylew from Mindful in May to hear about her journey from working in a psychiatric hospital setting to running a global mindfulness campaign, as well as how much meditation we actually have to do to start feeling the benefits.

Dr Elise Bialylew is the author of the #1 bestselling meditation book, The Happiness Plan and founder of Mindful in May, the world’s largest online global mindfulness fundraising campaign that teaches thousands of people each year to meditate while raising funds to build clean water projects in the developing world.

A doctor trained in psychiatry, turned social entrepreneur and mindfulness expert, she’s passionate about supporting individuals and organisations to develop inner tools for greater well-being and flourishing.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53617678Mon, 24 Apr 2023 02:28:38 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Dr Elise Bialylew from Mindful in May to hear about her journey from working in a psychiatric hospital setting to running a global mindfulness campaign, as well as how much meditation we actually have to do to start...Dr Lauren Tober sits down with Dr Elise Bialylew from Mindful in May to hear about her journey from working in a psychiatric hospital setting to running a global mindfulness campaign, as well as how much meditation we actually have to do to start feeling the benefits.

Dr Elise Bialylew is the author of the #1 bestselling meditation book, The Happiness Plan and founder of Mindful in May, the world’s largest online global mindfulness fundraising campaign that teaches thousands of people each year to meditate while raising funds to build clean water projects in the developing world.

A doctor trained in psychiatry, turned social entrepreneur and mindfulness expert, she’s passionate about supporting individuals and organisations to develop inner tools for greater well-being and flourishing.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>2688drelisebialylew,meditate,meditation,meditationmentalhealth,mindfulinmay,psychiatryfalsefullLissa Rankin - On Sacred Medicinehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lissa-rankin-on-sacred-medicine--50478345
Lissa Rankin, MD, is a mind-body medicine physician, author of 7 books, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic who researches radical remission, trauma-informed medicine, and spiritual healing. Her TEDx talks have been viewed over 5 million times, and she starred in two National Public Television specials- Heal Yourself: Mind Over Medicine and The Fear Cure. Lissa’s interest in the link between loneliness and disease led her to spearhead her latest project, Heal At Last, a non-profit organization which aims to bring effective trauma healing and spiritual healing methods to anyone ready for the deep dive of healing.

Find out more about Lissa at www.lissarankin.com .

Find out more about Awake Psychology at www.awakepsychology.com.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/50478345Wed, 13 Jul 2022 09:04:31 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Lissa Rankin to talk about sacred medicine and healing. Lissa Rankin, MD, is a mind-body medicine physician, author of 7 books, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic who researches radical...
Lissa Rankin, MD, is a mind-body medicine physician, author of 7 books, founder of the Whole Health Medicine Institute, and mystic who researches radical remission, trauma-informed medicine, and spiritual healing. Her TEDx talks have been viewed over 5 million times, and she starred in two National Public Television specials- Heal Yourself: Mind Over Medicine and The Fear Cure. Lissa’s interest in the link between loneliness and disease led her to spearhead her latest project, Heal At Last, a non-profit organization which aims to bring effective trauma healing and spiritual healing methods to anyone ready for the deep dive of healing.

Find out more about Lissa at www.lissarankin.com .

Find out more about Awake Psychology at www.awakepsychology.com.au.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>3487healing,sacredmedicine,traumafalsefullDr Lauren Tober - On Listening Wellhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-lauren-tober-on-listening-well--49602857
We’ve all been through SO much over the past few years. And sometimes it just feels like it just keeps coming!

We all have a real human desire to be seen and heard, and to share our stories, our experiences, our grief, our heartache and our joy.

But how do we listen to others when they’re sharing with us?

How do we get out of our own heads and into the world of another, so they feel like we really care?

Join Dr Lauren Tober for this episode where she explores what gets in the way of listening well, and three very do-able techniques for effective listening, so we can show up for our communities and the people we love in time of need.

Download the free Blissful Sleep Meditations and the Deep Mindful Relaxations at www.laurentober.com/giving-back

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/49602857Tue, 03 May 2022 08:00:40 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober is going solo on the podcast for this episode, talking about how to listen well. We’ve all been through SO much over the past few years. And sometimes it just feels like it just keeps coming! We all have a real human desire to be...
We’ve all been through SO much over the past few years. And sometimes it just feels like it just keeps coming!

We all have a real human desire to be seen and heard, and to share our stories, our experiences, our grief, our heartache and our joy.

But how do we listen to others when they’re sharing with us?

How do we get out of our own heads and into the world of another, so they feel like we really care?

Join Dr Lauren Tober for this episode where she explores what gets in the way of listening well, and three very do-able techniques for effective listening, so we can show up for our communities and the people we love in time of need.

Download the free Blissful Sleep Meditations and the Deep Mindful Relaxations at www.laurentober.com/giving-back

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.]]>1163counselling,effectivelistening,empathiclistening,listen,listening,listeningwell,supportfalsefullStephen Cope - On Living Your Dharmahttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/stephen-cope-on-living-your-dharma--48735682
Stephen is a best-selling author & scholar specialising in the relationship between Eastern contemplative traditions & Western depth psychology. A Scholar-in-Residence at the Kripalu Center for 30 years, Stephen is the Founder & former director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, and named as one of the most influential thinkers, writers & teachers on the current American yoga scene by Yoga Journal.

This interview was recorded as part of the 2022 Mental Health and Yoga Summit, but we loved it so much that we wanted to share it with you here on the podcast.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/48735682Tue, 15 Feb 2022 08:17:21 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Stephen Cope to talk about dharma and living a life of meaning and purpose. Stephen is a best-selling author & scholar specialising in the relationship between Eastern contemplative traditions & Western depth...
Stephen is a best-selling author & scholar specialising in the relationship between Eastern contemplative traditions & Western depth psychology. A Scholar-in-Residence at the Kripalu Center for 30 years, Stephen is the Founder & former director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living, and named as one of the most influential thinkers, writers & teachers on the current American yoga scene by Yoga Journal.

This interview was recorded as part of the 2022 Mental Health and Yoga Summit, but we loved it so much that we wanted to share it with you here on the podcast.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3305dharma,livingyouryoga,meaning,purpose,yogafalsefullAnneke Sips - On Digital and Mental Healthhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/anneke-sips-on-digital-and-mental-health--47364741
Anneke is a psychiatric nurse, a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and the founder of Network Yoga Therapy in Amsterdam.

In this episode they speak about Anneke’s less than straight-forward journey marrying yoga with psychiatry, how we seek health and get lost in cures, the challenges with the mental health system, the role of the so-called ‘expert’ and the importance of digital health and wellness.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/47364741Tue, 09 Nov 2021 09:37:32 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Anneke Sips. Anneke is a psychiatric nurse, a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and the founder of Network Yoga Therapy in Amsterdam. In this episode they speak about Anneke’s less than straight-forward journey marrying...
Anneke is a psychiatric nurse, a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and the founder of Network Yoga Therapy in Amsterdam.

In this episode they speak about Anneke’s less than straight-forward journey marrying yoga with psychiatry, how we seek health and get lost in cures, the challenges with the mental health system, the role of the so-called ‘expert’ and the importance of digital health and wellness.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3379amsterdam,digitaldetox,digitalhealth,mentalhealth,psychiatry,psychology,yoga,yogaandmentalhealth,yogapsychologyfalsefullKate Reed - On Sister Circleshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/kate-reed-on-sister-circles--46924101

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46924101Tue, 12 Oct 2021 08:13:10 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Kate Reed to talk about sister circles, her journey from a mainstream education to working the spiritual realm, why it’s so important for women together with intention and the important ingredients of a women circle, in...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2573sacredwomansbusiness,sistercircle,womanswork,womenscircle,womensworkfalsefullErin Lovell Verinder - On healing with plant medicinehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/erin-lovell-verinder-on-healing-with-plant-medicine--46716294
Erin is the author of some truly wonderful books on plant medicine, including Plants for the People and The Plant Clinic.

In this episode you’ll hear about Erin’s own journey and recovery from burnout, her Six Pillars to Thrive, Erin’s go-to suggestions for plants to support with healing from exhaustion, as well as anxiety, and some practical tips on dried vs fresh plants, and just how many times you can pour water over the same herbs in your tea pot.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46716294Tue, 28 Sep 2021 02:36:21 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with herbalist and nutritionist Erin Lovell Verinder. Erin is the author of some truly wonderful books on plant medicine, including Plants for the People and The Plant Clinic. In this episode you’ll hear about Erin’s own...
Erin is the author of some truly wonderful books on plant medicine, including Plants for the People and The Plant Clinic.

In this episode you’ll hear about Erin’s own journey and recovery from burnout, her Six Pillars to Thrive, Erin’s go-to suggestions for plants to support with healing from exhaustion, as well as anxiety, and some practical tips on dried vs fresh plants, and just how many times you can pour water over the same herbs in your tea pot.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2768anxiety,burnout,exhaustion,fatigue,healing,plantclinic,plantmedicine,plantsforthepeople,rest,selftalkfalsefullDr Renee Cachia - On nurturing parentshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-renee-cachia-on-nurturing-parents--46144617

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/46144617Sun, 22 Aug 2021 08:21:33 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Psychologist Dr Renee Cachia to talk about her new book, Parenting Freedom. They explore why it’s more important to nurture parents than it is to provide them with parenting advice, and dive into a discussion around...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2463coregulation,intuition,meditation,parenting,selfcompassionfalsefullRobin Grille - On Parenting for a Peaceful Worldhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/robin-grille-on-parenting-for-a-peaceful-world--42480334

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42480334Sun, 06 Jun 2021 23:13:04 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Psychologist and author Robin Grille, to talk about the relationship between gut health and mental health, the evolution of parenting, how the way we parent our children changes the world, what needs to happen on a...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3548ecoparenting,mentalhealth,motherhood,parenting,parentingforapeacefulworldfalsefullKC Baker - On the power of women’s voices (and growing a tail)https://www.spreaker.com/episode/kc-baker-on-the-power-of-women-s-voices-and-growing-a-tail--42822933

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42822933Mon, 03 May 2021 04:45:13 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with KC Baker to talk about how public speaking helped her to rediscover her self confidence after she lost it as a young women, why it’s so important that women’s voices are heard in the world, and KC shares some very...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2957changetheworld,publickspeaking,woman,womanspeak,womenfalsefullEdo Kahn on music, depression, spirituality, living and dying.https://www.spreaker.com/episode/edo-kahn-on-music-depression-spirituality-living-and-dying--42480082
Edo is an acclaimed musician, social entrepreneur and yogi, and is passionate about transforming lives, empowering individuals and uniting communities.

He’s the co-founder of A Sound Life, an Australian charity to transform the lives of people in need through free music, yoga and meditation programs, and in this latest episode episode we talk about his journey through music, depression, opening to spirituality and his guru in India, how this supported him when his wife Jo died of cancer a few years ago, and much much more.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42480082Tue, 30 Mar 2021 22:01:10 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Edo Kahn to talk about music, depression, life, death and spirituality. Edo is an acclaimed musician, social entrepreneur and yogi, and is passionate about transforming lives, empowering individuals and uniting...
Edo is an acclaimed musician, social entrepreneur and yogi, and is passionate about transforming lives, empowering individuals and uniting communities.

He’s the co-founder of A Sound Life, an Australian charity to transform the lives of people in need through free music, yoga and meditation programs, and in this latest episode episode we talk about his journey through music, depression, opening to spirituality and his guru in India, how this supported him when his wife Jo died of cancer a few years ago, and much much more.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3381amma,asoundlife,healing,meditation,musicismedicine,spirituality,yogafalsefullDr Arne Rubenstein - On Rites of Passagehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-arne-rubenstein-on-rites-of-passage--42479750
In this episode, we talk not only about the importance of rites of passage for young people in our communities, but also about rites of passage at all ages, the three key elements in rites of passage, the stages we move through from youth, adult to elder, and what to do if your adult partner is stuck in what Arne calls ‘boy psychology.’

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42479750Sun, 21 Feb 2021 06:46:28 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Dr Arne Rubenstein to talk about rites of passage. Arne is a father, medical doctor, the CEO of the Rites of Passage Institute and the author of ‘The Making of Men’. In this episode, we talk not only about the...
In this episode, we talk not only about the importance of rites of passage for young people in our communities, but also about rites of passage at all ages, the three key elements in rites of passage, the stages we move through from youth, adult to elder, and what to do if your adult partner is stuck in what Arne calls ‘boy psychology.’

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3014adult,boys,child,elder,girls,men,parenting,ritesofpassage,womenfalsefullDeb Roberts - On normalising mental healthhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/deb-roberts-on-normalising-mental-health--42428613
In the interview, Deb speaks about about her journey with depression and anxiety during her teenage years and into adulthood, how yoga has been supportive for her in overcoming mental health challenges, the role that medication and ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) has played in her life, and what we can do, as a society to reduce the stigma of mental illness and improve mental health.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42428613Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:51:02 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Dr Deb Roberts, a writer, speaker and yoga teacher who is committed to normalising mental health challenges. Deb is an Adjunct Faculty member at Monash University in Australia and an ambassador, writer and speaker for...
In the interview, Deb speaks about about her journey with depression and anxiety during her teenage years and into adulthood, how yoga has been supportive for her in overcoming mental health challenges, the role that medication and ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) has played in her life, and what we can do, as a society to reduce the stigma of mental illness and improve mental health.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3233anxiety,depression,mentalhealth,mentalillness,stigmafalsefullAnnalee Atia - On fierce advocacy for birthinghttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/annalee-atia-on-fierce-advocacy-for-birthing--42429012

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/42429012Mon, 14 Dec 2020 21:48:09 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Annalee Atia to talk about pregnancy, birth and beyond. Annalee is a producer, co-founder of the non-profit PBB Media, the current National President of Maternity Choices Australia and is a fierce advocate for women, and...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3700advocacy,birth,birthing,continuityofcare,homebirth,intuition,motherhood,mothering,parent,parenting,parents,pregnancy,pregnant,trustfalsefullZenith Virago - On Death, Dying and Living a Good Lifehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/zenith-virago-on-death-dying-and-living-a-good-life--40298298
Zenith is a deathwalker, the co author of the book The Intimacy of Death and Dying, and the subject of the documentary, Zen & the Art of Dying. Zenith has been at the forefront and a leading pioneer of dying well, family led body care, meaningful and appropriate ceremony, and informing and educating communities to reclaim and be empowered before, during and after death.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40298298Sun, 30 Aug 2020 23:01:12 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Zenith Virago, to talk about death, dying well, what happens after we die, and living a life well lived. Zenith is a deathwalker, the co author of the book The Intimacy of Death and Dying, and the subject of the...
Zenith is a deathwalker, the co author of the book The Intimacy of Death and Dying, and the subject of the documentary, Zen & the Art of Dying. Zenith has been at the forefront and a leading pioneer of dying well, family led body care, meaningful and appropriate ceremony, and informing and educating communities to reclaim and be empowered before, during and after death.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3004death,deathwalker,dying,dyingwell,livingthemystery,livingwell,naturaldeathfalsefullElla Noah Bancroft - On Decolonising the Mind, Returning to Country and Overcoming Racismhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ella-noah-bancroft-on-decolonising-the-mind-returning-to-country-and-overcoming-racism--40120315
Ella is a Bundjalung woman based in the Byron Shire in Australia. She is an artist, storyteller, director, mentor and founder of The Returning.

Ella is a poetic feminist, passionate about re-wilding the world and the feminine force from the multifaceted lens of culture, heritage, gender, politics, identity and sexuality. Her work discusses themes of identity, intersectionality, culture, the feminine force and living a life of integrity, connection and creativity.

And at the end of the interview, Ella reads to us her favourite poem from her new book It Takes Courage to Tell the Truth, called A Letter to My Daughter.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/40120315Mon, 10 Aug 2020 09:37:10 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Ella Noah Bancroft, talking about decolonising the mind, returning to country and overcoming racism. Ella is a Bundjalung woman based in the Byron Shire in Australia. She is an artist, storyteller, director, mentor and...
Ella is a Bundjalung woman based in the Byron Shire in Australia. She is an artist, storyteller, director, mentor and founder of The Returning.

Ella is a poetic feminist, passionate about re-wilding the world and the feminine force from the multifaceted lens of culture, heritage, gender, politics, identity and sexuality. Her work discusses themes of identity, intersectionality, culture, the feminine force and living a life of integrity, connection and creativity.

And at the end of the interview, Ella reads to us her favourite poem from her new book It Takes Courage to Tell the Truth, called A Letter to My Daughter.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2420decolonisation,poetry,racismfalsefullChara Caruthers - On Yoga, Ayurveda and Living Like You Love Yourselfhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/chara-caruthers-on-yoga-ayurveda-and-living-like-you-love-yourself--39931309
We also speak about the science of Ayurveda and how to figure out your own ayurvedic constitution, her number one tip for bringing the teachings and wisdom of ayurveda into your daily life, and why it’s so important to eat like you love yourself.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/39931309Fri, 24 Jul 2020 09:41:25 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober sits down with Yoga Teacher and Ayurvedic Practitioner Chara Caruthers to talk about her journey from working as an Engineer to teaching yoga, and why it’s not such a big jump! We also speak about the science of Ayurveda and how to...
We also speak about the science of Ayurveda and how to figure out your own ayurvedic constitution, her number one tip for bringing the teachings and wisdom of ayurveda into your daily life, and why it’s so important to eat like you love yourself.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2240ayurveda,dosha,eatlikeyouloveyourself,selfcompassion,selflove,yoga,yogatherapyfalsefullCorrene Wilkie - On Postnatal Depletion, #metoo in the Australian Music Industry and Super Bloom Festivalhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/correne-wilkie-on-postnatal-depletion-metoo-in-the-australian-music-industry-and-super-bloom-festival--35586985
Correne talks about the family gathering that set her on a new career path, how the #metoo movement affected her in the male dominated music industry, postnatal depletion, real equality in relationships and how she manages to do it all.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/35586985Fri, 03 Jul 2020 04:40:55 +0000Dr Lauren ToberTune in as Dr Lauren Tober sits down to chat with Correne Wilkie, long time manager of the iconic band The Cat Empire, and co-creator of Super Bloom Festival in Melbourne, Australia. Correne talks about the family gathering that set her on a new...
Correne talks about the family gathering that set her on a new career path, how the #metoo movement affected her in the male dominated music industry, postnatal depletion, real equality in relationships and how she manages to do it all.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3409depletion,equality,gratitude,melbourne,metoo,mother,motherhood,musicfalsefullAmy Weintraub - On Depression, Yoga and Gratitudehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/amy-weintraub-on-depression-yoga-and-gratitude--18644917

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/18644917Fri, 26 Jul 2019 07:06:50 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Amy Weintraub, author of Yoga for Depression and founder of Lifeforce Yoga on depression, yoga and gratitude. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2322anxiety,depression,gratitude,wellness,yogafalsefullDr Oscar Serrallach - On Postnatal Depletion, iRest Yoga Nidra, Sleep and Gratitudehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dr-oscar-serrallach-on-postnatal-depletion-irest-yoga-nidra-sleep-and-gratitude--17400787

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/17400787Fri, 22 Mar 2019 05:24:58 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Dr Oscar Serrallach, Integrative Doctor and author of the Postnatal Depletion Cure. Listen in as they speak about identifying, preventing and overcoming Postnatal Depletion, as well as iRest Yoga Nidra, Sleep and Gratitude....

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3568depletion,doctor,gratitude,irest,medicine,meditation,motherhood,rest,sleep,yogafalsefullGemma Perry - On Mantra, Mental Health and Gratitudehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/gemma-perry-on-mantra-mental-health-and-gratitude--16309810
Gemma is a yogi and a PhD candidate at Macquarie University in Australia, where she’s researching the effects of mantra on mental health and wellbeing.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/16309810Mon, 26 Nov 2018 05:28:43 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Gemma Perry on the science and spirituality of mantra. Gemma is a yogi and a PhD candidate at Macquarie University in Australia, where she’s researching the effects of mantra on mental health and wellbeing. This podcast...
Gemma is a yogi and a PhD candidate at Macquarie University in Australia, where she’s researching the effects of mantra on mental health and wellbeing.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>1793gratitude,health,mantra,mental,research,spirituality,wellbeing,yogafalsefullRick Hanson - On Neuroscience, Self Compassion, Meditation and Gratitudehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rick-hanson-on-neuroscience-self-compassion-meditation-and-gratitude--15548577
In this interview, Rick and Lauren go on a wild adventure, speaking about deeply personal experiences, about psychology research and neuroscience, about self compassion and gratitude, and how gratitude for a tomato can take you into to a vast connection with the cosmos. You will not look at the humble tomato the same ever again after listening to this episode.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/15548577Wed, 22 Aug 2018 23:14:04 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Rick Hanson, Psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, New York Times best-selling author and a guest teacher on Lauren's online course A Daily Dose of Bliss. In this interview, Rick and...
In this interview, Rick and Lauren go on a wild adventure, speaking about deeply personal experiences, about psychology research and neuroscience, about self compassion and gratitude, and how gratitude for a tomato can take you into to a vast connection with the cosmos. You will not look at the humble tomato the same ever again after listening to this episode.

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3860compassion,gratitude,interview,meditate,meditation,neuroscience,psychology,self-compassionfalsefullRachel Zinman - On Yoga, Diabetes, Gratitude and Practicing Yoga in Your PJshttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/rachel-zinman-on-yoga-diabetes-gratitude-and-practicing-yoga-in-your-pjs--14843483

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14843483Mon, 21 May 2018 04:35:00 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews international yoga teacher Rachel Zinman on yoga, diabetes, gratitude and practicing yoga in your pajamas. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2063chakras,diabetes,gratitude,spirituality,yogafalsefullElena Brower - On Addiction, Recovery, Yoga, Gratitude and Parentinghttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/elena-brower-on-addiction-recovery-yoga-gratitude-and-parenting--14178489

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/14178489Tue, 27 Feb 2018 23:21:00 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Elena Brower, Author of Practice You and founder of Teach.Yoga about addiction and recovery (and parenting through it all), cultivating a regular morning yoga practice and (of course) gratitude. This podcast is for general...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>1581addiction,gratitude,meditation,motherhood,new,parenting,recovery,spirituality,yoga,yorkfalsefullJudith Hanson Lasater - On Gratitude, Yogic Parenting and dealing with the fact that we're all going to diehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/judith-hanson-lasater-on-gratitude-yogic-parenting-and-dealing-with-the-fact-that-we-re-all-going-to-die--12821584

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12821584Sun, 17 Sep 2017 10:30:23 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Restorative Yoga Queen Judith Hanson Lasater to talk about gratitude, yogic parenting and dealing with the fact that we're all going to die. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>3245gratitude,parenting,restorative,yoga,yoginifalsefullLizzie Lasater - On Gratitude, Contentment and the Joy of Slowing Downhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/lizzie-lasater-on-gratitude-contentment-and-the-joy-of-slowing-down--12695056

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12695056Thu, 31 Aug 2017 23:49:24 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Restorative Yoga advocate Lizzie Lasater on gratitude, contentment and the joy of slowing down. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2425contentment,gratitude,slow,spirituality,yogafalsefullRichard Miller - On Gratitude, Meditation and San Francisco in the 70shttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/richard-miller-on-gratitude-meditation-and-san-francisco-in-the-70s--12291733

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/12291733Thu, 06 Jul 2017 01:55:32 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Clinical Psychologist, Yogic Scholar and the founder of the Integrative Restoration Institute, Richard Miller to talk about gratitude, meditation, San Francisco in the 70s and how enlightenment could happen to any of us at...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>1751enlightenment,gratitude,meditation,sanfrancisco,yogafalsefullDon Miguel Ruiz Jnr - On Gratitude, Domestication and Unconditional Lovehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/don-miguel-ruiz-jnr-on-gratitude-domestication-and-unconditional-love--11727648

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11727648Thu, 27 Apr 2017 00:26:25 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews internationally acclaimed author Don Miguel Ruiz Jnr to talk about gratitude, domestication, unconditional love and raising our children to be authentic and loving human beings. This podcast is for general informational...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2669authenticity,gratitude,love,parenting,spiritualityfalsefullBen Lee - On Gratitude, Death and Living in the Mysteryhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ben-lee-on-gratitude-death-and-living-in-the-mystery--11290778

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/11290778Thu, 02 Mar 2017 02:54:45 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews internationally acclaimed musician Ben Lee to talk about gratitude, death and living in the mystery. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>1117death,gratitude,music,mystery,spiritualityfalsefullJono Fisher - On Kindness, Gratitude and Presencehttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/jono-fisher-on-kindness-gratitude-and-presence--10256978

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/10256978Sat, 07 Jan 2017 07:01:45 +0000Dr Lauren ToberDr Lauren Tober interviews Wake Up Project founder Jono Fisher to talk about kindness, gratitude and presence. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified...

This podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised guidance.
]]>2598gratitude,kindness,mindfulness,presence,spiritualityfalsefull