The Uplifted Yoga Podcast

Join my 90-Day Profitability Roadmap for Yoga Teachers webinar–so you create income without confusion and burnout: https://www.brettlarkin.com/live-90day/ How do you run a thriving yoga business and stay energetically aligned? In this episode, I talk with Uplifted 300-Hour graduate Meli De Los Santos—a spiritual business mentor and AI-savvy yogi—about how tools like AI and funnels can actually amplify your authenticity instead of replacing it. We explore how to bring chakra wisdom into your marketing, overcome tech resistance, and streamline your systems to stay focused on what really matters: connection, clarity, and growth. You’ll learn: 🔹 How to build a soulful funnel that reflects your unique energy 🔹 What AI can (and can’t) do for your yoga business 🔹 How to apply the chakra system to marketing strategy 🔹 Tips to overcome tech overwhelm and start building systems that serve you If you’ve ever felt torn between staying spiritual and getting strategic—this episode shows you how to do both. 📈 Ready to build a career in yoga that feels aligned, purposeful, and profitable? Sign up for my upcoming webinar: https://www.brettlarkin.com/live-90day/   GUEST EXPERT: Meli De Los Santos | @the_dreaming_yogi Meli De Los Santos, also known as The Dreaming Yogi, is the founder of Funnel Chakras, where she helps conscious creators and wellness coaches simplify their tech and build businesses that honor their energy instead of deplete it. With a background in engineering and a self-proclaimed tech nerd, Meli teaches her unique Funnel Chakras Framework, which aligns each stage of business with the energy centers. Her work grew out of her own healing journey, overcoming anxiety and panic attacks through yoga and dream work, which first led her to support others in understanding their dreams, and eventually to guide yoga teachers in bringing their businesses online. Today, she bridges the mystical and the practical, making funnels feel less overwhelming and more like a natural extension of wellness work. Download Meli’s FREE Chakra Business Map: https://thedreamingyogi.org/chakras/  Meli’s website: thedreamingyogi.org    FREE Practice: ACTIVATE YOUR THIRD EYE CHAKRA | Kundalini Yoga for Intuition | Breathwork for Creativity & Vision Relevant Blog: How to Get Traffic to Your Yoga Website With SEO   Relevant to Today’s Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery ✨ AI Training Course 🎧 Also Listen to: #363 – How to Become a Magnet for Loyal Students & Own the Room with Confidence with Taylor Lorenz #365 – Launch Ugly! My Top 5 Business Tips for Yoga Entrepreneurs #383 – Parenting Through the Chakras: Insights from a Mama of Four with Jennica Joyce © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What’s the ultimate goal of yoga? According to Patanjali—it’s liberation. In this episode, I dive deep into Kaivalya Pada, the final and most mystical book of the Yoga Sutras, to explore how we disentangle from the mind’s illusions and return to our true nature as pure consciousness (Purusha). We unpack the mechanics of karma, the role of Dhyana in neutralizing mental patterns, and how to finally recognize yourself as the witness, not the mind. You’ll learn: 🔹 The difference between Purusha and Prakriti 🔹 How karma shapes our thoughts, habits, and reactions 🔹 Why meditation (Dhyana) is key to neutralizing karmic patterns 🔹 The role of the gunas in shaping perception and suffering 🔹 How to live from the clarity of the witness, not the chaos of the mind If you’ve ever sensed there’s more to you than your thoughts, this episode offers a map back to your freedom. 💖 Ready to deepen your practice and live from your true nature? Explore the Uplifted Membership here => https://www.brettlarkin.com/uplifted/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=uplifted 📱 Join my 90-Day Profitability Roadmap for Yoga Teachers webinar–so you create income without confusion and burnout: https://www.brettlarkin.com/live-90day/    Translations Mentioned: Reverend Jaganath Carrera: Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study & Practice of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras Barbara Stoler Miller: Yoga: Discipline of Freedom: The Yoga Sutra Attributed to Patanjali BKS Iyengar: Light on the Yoga Sutras Alan Finger: Tantra of the Yoga Sutras: Essential Wisdom for Living with Awareness and Grace Edwin F Bryant: The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary Sri Swami Satchidananda: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali   FREE Practice: KUNDALINI YOGA TO RELEASE ENERGY & EMOTIONS WITH MUSIC | Kundalini Yoga for Depression and Anxiety Relevant Blog: What Are The Gunas In Yoga? A Complete Overview   Relevant to Today’s Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #279 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK ONE Explained #282 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK TWO Explained © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What if your business could energize you instead of draining you? What if the secret to success isn’t selling more—but showing up as more of yourself? In this episode, I’m joined by Juliette Stapleton, an internationally recognized visibility strategist, to explore how Human Design can transform the way you approach marketing, visibility, and entrepreneurship. We dive into how aligning your business with your energy type creates more flow, fulfillment, and sustainable success. Inside this conversation: 🔹 Why your energy—not your offer—is your most powerful marketing tool 🔹 How to build a “visibility castle” rooted in authenticity 🔹 Why selling access to YOU is more valuable than any product 🔹 The power of resilience, self-trust, and strategic alignment If you’ve ever felt out of sync with traditional business advice, this episode will help you design a path that feels good—and works. ✨ Ready to align your energy and build a business that feels as good as it looks? Download my FREE Yoga Business Plan and start creating a business that works for YOU: https://www.brettlarkin.com/businessplan?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=businessplan    GUEST EXPERT: Juliette Stapleton | @juliettestapleton | https://juliettestapleton.com  Juliette Stapleton is an internationally recognized visibility strategist and best-selling author specializing in Human Design for marketing. Known for her “Visibility That Sells” framework, Juliette helps coaches, consultants, and solopreneurs create authentic, competition-free online presences. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and Addicted2Success, and she’s a sought-after speaker and podcast host. Learn more at juliettestapleton.com. Get Juliette’s books: https://juliettestapleton.com/books/  You Can Also Find Juliette on:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettestapleton.humandesign/  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JulietteStapletonMarketingbyHumanDesign  Twitter: https://twitter.com/VisibilitybyHD  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/juliettestapleton    FREE Practice: Connect With Intuition: A Gentle Vinyasa Yoga For Intuition Relevant Blog: Exploring the Five Human Design Types: A Guide to Self-Discovery   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 📝 Uplifted Business Launchpad 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #359 – Understanding Human Design as a Yogi with Emma Dunwoody #363 – How to Become a Magnet for Loyal Students & Own the Room with Confidence with Taylor Lorenz #365 – Launch Ugly! My Top 5 Business Tips for Yoga Entrepreneurs Transcript © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

Prana isn’t just breath—it’s your life force, and it moves in five distinct directions within your body, shaping your emotions, digestion, vitality, and mood. In this episode (Part 1 of a 2-part series), we dive into the 5 Vayus—the energetic currents of prana—and how they influence your inner and outer experience. You’ll discover how these ancient teachings connect to the chakras and how yoga practices like pranayama can restore balance and flow. You’ll learn: 🔹 What the Vayus are and how they impact your body and mind 🔹 Why energy stagnation leads to emotional or physical “dis-ease” 🔹 The roles of Prana Vayu (inspiration), Apana Vayu (elimination), and Samana Vayu (assimilation) 🔹 How to identify and rebalance energetic imbalances If you’ve ever felt stuck, depleted, or “off” without knowing why, this episode offers a powerful map to understanding the energetic roots of your experience. 🌈  Download My Free Chakra Clarity Meditation! Stop Googling Your Problems & Ask Your Chakras Instead  => https://www.brettlarkin.com/askyourchakras?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=chakraworksheet    FREE Practice: Quick 10 Minute Morning Meditation To Kick Start Your Day - Use it DAILY! (10-min) Relevant Blog: Prana Vayu: The Breath of Vitality   Relevant to Today’s Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #366 – Is Trauma Actually In Your Hips? The Impact of Stress on Hip & Pelvic Health with Dr. Brianne Grogan #368 – The 8 Limbs of Yoga for Personal Growth © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What if the secret to healing isn’t doing more—but doing less? In this episode, we explore the 7 Invitations of Organic Intelligence, a revolutionary somatic framework that helps you unlock your body’s natural ability to heal, adapt, and thrive. These invitations aren’t about fixing yourself—they’re about creating the conditions for healing to unfold effortlessly. You’ll learn: 🔹 Why doing less is the key to nervous system regulation and trauma recovery 🔹 How orienting to your environment fosters calm and connection 🔹 The surprising role of enjoyment, improvisation, and positive perception in healing 🔹 How to stop overriding your body’s wisdom and start listening If you’ve ever felt stuck in your healing journey or exhausted from trying to “fix” yourself, this episode will inspire you to embrace a more intuitive, compassionate, and sustainable path forward. 🌹 Download my somatic sequences & playlists for teachers https://www.brettlarkin.com/somatic-sequences/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=somatic-sequence  📝 Download the Yoga For Self Mastery Syllabus => https://www.brettlarkin.com/yoga-for-self-mastery/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ysm   Learn more about Organic Intelligence and Steve Hoskinson: https://organicintelligence.org/steven-hoskinson/    FREE Practice: Everyday Morning Yoga to Feel Incredibly Good | YOGA FOR WOMEN Relevant Blog: Somatic Yoga for Trauma: Techniques to Reclaim Your Body   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #357 – Your Emotions Want to Move: 3 Ways to Let Them #369 – Nervous System Masterclass with Kristin Leal #372 – Can the Sutras Make Space for Pleasure? (Sutra 1.15 Explained)   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

In this episode, I’m thrilled to spotlight Uplifted 300-hour graduate Jennica Joyce—a successful prenatal yoga teacher, mother of four, and expert in integrating the chakra system into parenting. Jennica shares her journey through yoga training, the importance of setting boundaries and rhythms in family life, and creative ways to teach children about chakras through play, music, and movement. Stay tuned for the mind-blowing discussion at the end, where Jennica reveals how writing and word choice reflect our energetic state through the chakras. We’ll explore: 🔹 How the chakra system can transform parenting strategies. 🔹 Creative ways to engage children in yoga and energy awareness. 🔹 Chakras as a roadmap for personal growth and self-expression. 🌈  Download My Free Chakra Clarity Meditation! Stop Googling Your Problems & Ask Your Chakras Instead  => https://www.brettlarkin.com/askyourchakras?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=chakraworksheet    GUEST EXPERT: Jennica Joyce | @jennicajoyceyoga Jennica Joyce is a mama of four embracing her intuition, conquering her fears, and creating the career and family life she loves through yoga. Jennica holds a Masters in Public Health in addition to her E-RYT® 200, RPYT®, RCYT® certifications. Through her pregnancy and “mommy and me” retreats she helps mamas prepare for childbirth, blissfully bond with their babies and renew themselves. Connect with Jennica: https://www.jennicajoyceyoga.com/  Get Jennica’s book: https://www.wildmamarising.com/    FREE Practice: 20 Minute Morning Yoga For Busy Moms Relevant Blog: Chakra Dance: An Intuitive Way To Move Energy   Relevant to Today’s Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #288 – Burnout, Loss & the Yoga of Parenting with Sarah Ezrin #293 – Model Yoga in Your Family with Sophie Jaffe #303 – The 7 Chakras as a Tool for Personal Growth   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

Wellness work isn’t about collecting more certifications—it’s about integrating what you already know. In this episode, I’m speaking directly to coaches, yoga teachers, and wellness practitioners who feel overwhelmed, scattered, or stuck. I dive into why so many of us feel like we’re drowning in tools but starving for strategy—and how embodiment, nervous system awareness, and community can change everything. You’ll learn: 🔹 Why integration > accumulation when it comes to your healing tools 🔹 How movement + coaching unlock deeper emotional release 🔹 The three pillars of transformation: safety, strategy, and sisterhood 🔹 How to structure your gifts into a clear, confident offering 🔹 Why “doing less but better” is the most powerful shift you can make If you’re ready to step into your role as a regulated, embodied coach or teacher—this is the episode for you. 💗 Experience Embodied Yoga Life Coaching => https://upliftedyoga.docsend.com/view/sqzq9wbksh4ytzxk    FREE Practice: Somatic Morning Weight Loss Workout for Beginners | Yoga to Find Your Voice & Feel Confident Relevant Blog: Top Somatic Coaching Programs And How To Choose One   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 💖 Uplifted Membership 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #318 – What Is Somatic Yoga? #330 – Somatic Yoga vs. Traditional Yoga: Breaking Down How 5 Poses Differ in your Yoga Practice #380 – The Internet Is Collapsing — And Why That’s Great News for Yogis & Healers © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What if the final stages of yoga aren’t about flexibility—but inner mastery? In this episode, I dive deep into Book 3 of the Yoga Sutras, where Patanjali explores the advanced limbs of yoga—Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi—and how their fusion, called Samyama, unlocks not just insight, but mystical abilities (siddhis). We explore: 🔹 What Samyama really means and why it matters 🔹 The role of concentration, meditation, and absorption in spiritual growth 🔹 Patanjali’s teachings on psychic powers, past lives, and invisibility 🔹 Why the heart (not just the mind) is key to liberation 🔹 The deeper purpose of the siddhis—and how they can distract us from truth If you’ve been craving a more mystical, nuanced understanding of meditation, consciousness, and freedom, this episode brings Book 3 of the Sutras to life. 💖 Curious about the Uplifted membership and want to know more? Check it out here => https://www.brettlarkin.com/uplifted/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=uplifted 📱Book a Free Yoga Teacher Training Clarity Call here!    Translations Mentioned: Reverend Jaganath Carrera: Inside the Yoga Sutras: A Comprehensive Sourcebook for the Study & Practice of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras BKS Iyengar: Light on the Yoga Sutras Alan Finger: Tantra of the Yoga Sutras: Essential Wisdom for Living with Awareness and Grace Edwin F Bryant: The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary Sri Swami Satchidananda: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali   FREE Practice: 20 Minute Guided Meditation For Higher Self (For Beginners) Relevant Blog: What are Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras?   Relevant to Today’s Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🎧 Also Listen to: #276 – What are Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras - What Every Yogi Should Know #279 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK ONE Explained #282 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK TWO Explained #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What if the digital chaos around us is actually clearing the path for something better? In this episode, I break down five major trends shaping the future of the internet—through a yogic, heart-centered lens. From the collapse of social media as we know it to the rise of trust-based business models, this is your roadmap to staying aligned, ethical, and empowered in an online world that’s shifting fast. You’ll learn: 🔹 Why Google, search, and content marketing are being split by AI 🔹 How social media is declining—and why that’s a blessing in disguise 🔹 The rise of digital minimalism and paid, intentional platforms 🔹 How conscious creators are building trust-based businesses (without the algorithm grind) 🔹 What yogis and healers need to know about the future of AI and tech If you’ve felt overwhelmed by tech or disconnected from your digital presence, this episode will help you reimagine your online life—from a place of clarity, values, and genuine connection. ✨ Check out the NEW AI Marketing Course here => https://www.brettlarkin.com/ai-marketing-course/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ai-training    FREE Practice: Somatic Pilates Workout for Beginners | Somatic Exercises for Weight Loss & Toning with Music Relevant Blog: How To Use Social Media To Grow Your Yoga Business   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification ✨ AI Training Course 🎧 Also Listen to: #360 – Insider YouTube Secrets for Yoga Teachers #363 – How to Become a Magnet for Loyal Students & Own the Room with Confidence with Taylor Lorenz   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What does it mean to take action without attachment—especially when your Dharma feels messy, uncomfortable, or misunderstood? In this episode, I dive deep into Chapter 3 of the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna teaches Karma Yoga—the path of selfless action—to a conflicted Arjuna. We explore how to navigate the tension between duty and desire, and why authentic action is essential for both spiritual growth and collective harmony. I break down: 🔹 Why desire and anger are the real inner enemies 🔹 How to pursue your Dharma without copying someone else’s 🔹 The Gita’s message for modern leaders, seekers, and spiritual doers 🔹 How to align your actions with truth—not ego If you’ve ever struggled with taking action when the path isn’t clear or popular, this episode will bring you back to your inner compass.   🌀 Check out my Somatic Life Coaching Certification before doors close => https://www.brettlarkin.com/somatic-yoga-training-certification/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=eylc  Loved this episode and want to know more about yoga’s origins? Grab my History of Yoga course => https://www.brettlarkin.com/history-of-yoga-course/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=hoy   📖 Different translations mentioned: Barbara Stoler Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Krishnas-Counsel-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553213652  Godsong by Amit Majmudar: https://www.amazon.com/Godsong-Verse-Translation-Bhagavad-Gita-Commentary/dp/1524733474  Eknath Easwaran: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-2nd-Eknath-Easwaran/dp/1586380192  Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by Swami Prabhupada: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-As-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131233  FREE Practice: Full Body Somatic Workout for Women | Yoga to Find Your Power & Release Guilt Relevant Blog: How to Read the Bhagavad Gita: A Modern Yogi’s Guide   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🔮 History of Yoga ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💖 Uplifted Membership 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  🎧 Also Listen to: #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas? #359 – Understanding Human Design as a Yogi with Emma Dunwoody   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

I did not see this coming... but yes, I made an AI course—and in this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes. If you're skeptical about AI (like I was), or curious about how technology can actually support your intuition, creativity, and nervous system regulation, this conversation is for you. I’m sharing the full backstory of how this course was born, what makes it radically different from other AI trainings, and why I believe heart-led entrepreneurs need a feminine, ethical, and relational approach to tech right now. You’ll hear about: 🔹 How I went from “AI is gross” to “AI is my co-creator” 🔹 Why a feminine, relational approach to tech matters more than ever 🔹 Real examples of how AI can save you time and amplify your creativity 🔹 What’s inside the course and how it supports nervous system-friendly business building This episode is part confession, part invitation—and if you’re even a little bit curious about AI, I think you’re going to love it. ✨ Get Early Bird Discounts on the NEW AI Marketing Course here => https://www.brettlarkin.com/ai-preview//?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ai-training    FREE Practice: 10 Min Soothing Yoga | YOGA TO AWAKEN YOUR FEMININITY Relevant Blog: Best Yoga Business Podcast For Entrepreneurs: Listen To Our Top 15 Podcast Episodes   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification ✨ AI Training Course 🎧 Also Listen to: #360 – Insider YouTube Secrets for Yoga Teachers #365 – Launch Ugly! My Top 5 Business Tips for Yoga Entrepreneurs © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What if your ego wasn’t the enemy—but the gateway? In this episode, I sit down with Guru Singh to explore the three types of ego—exclusive, inclusive, and universal—and how they shape our spiritual path. We unpack the misconceptions around ego in spiritual circles, and how Kundalini yoga can support our evolution from self-centered survival to universal consciousness. You’ll learn: 🔹 Why ego is necessary (and not something to “kill”) 🔹 How spiritual bypassing shows up when ego is misunderstood 🔹 The role of Kundalini yoga, meditation, and breathwork in ego transformation 🔹 What it really means to move from exclusive to universal awareness If you’ve ever struggled with your ego—or judged yourself for having one—this conversation offers a new way forward: grounded, powerful, and deeply compassionate. 💃 Join me for a FREE Kundalini Dance Party =>https://www.brettlarkin.com/dance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=dance  🐍 Sign up for our 200-hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training => https://www.brettlarkin.com/online-kundalini-yoga-teacher-training/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ku    Guru Singh’s 13 Moons Studio: https://the13moons.studio/  FREE Practice: 20-Min Guided Kundalini Kriya Meditation For Inner Truth And Alignment Relevant Blog: Essential Kundalini Yoga for Beginners: Poses and Practices Explained   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Kundalini 200-hour YTT 🔮 Kundalini Demystified 🎧 Also Listen to: #316 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 1 #322 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 2 #328 – Defining Sikhism & Its Influence on Kundalini Yoga with Guru Singh #341 – How To Balance Your 3rd Eye with Guru Singh   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What if claiming your victimhood was the first step toward real empowerment? In this episode, I’m sharing a personal coaching moment that completely changed the way I relate to anxiety, trauma, and the fawn response. I’ll explore how naming your pain isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And how what looks like self-sabotage is often your body’s most intelligent form of self-protection. I dive into: 🔹 Why victimhood doesn’t mean powerlessness 🔹 How self-compassion rewires your coping patterns 🔹 The difference between self-protection and self-sabotage 🔹 How reframing your story can unlock deep healing If you’ve ever felt stuck in anxiety or shame, this one’s a reframe you need to hear. 🌀 Check out my Somatic Life Coaching Certification before doors close => https://www.brettlarkin.com/somatic-yoga-training-certification/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=eylc  💫 Come to the FREE Somatic Coaching Info Session on July 29th: https://www.brettlarkin.com/live-eylc/    FREE Practice: Extra Gentle Trauma-Informed Somatic Exercises | How to do Somatic Yoga | Somatic Yoga Flow Relevant Blog: Somatic Yoga for Trauma: Techniques to Reclaim Your Body   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #324 – The Importance of Emotional Processing and Regulation: DENT Model Trauma #366 – Is Trauma Actually In Your Hips? The Impact of Stress on Hip & Pelvic Health with Dr. Brianne Grogan #369 – Nervous System Masterclass with Kristin Leal   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What if pleasure wasn’t just allowed on your spiritual path—but essential to it? In this episode, I’m talking with Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and former Broadway star, about how pleasure, embodiment, and emotional alchemy can actually accelerate your healing and manifestation. We explore: 🔹 The brain science behind why pleasure and stress can’t coexist 🔹 How to turn pain into power with Emily’s 3-step Ziva Magic formula 🔹 Sacred sexuality, tantra, and the union of masculine and feminine energies 🔹 Why creating somatic safety is the first step to spiritual awakening Listen to reclaim pleasure as your birthright and your most potent medicine. 💖 Register for Emily’s Ziva Magic Course here => https://cd371.isrefer.com/go/z-magic/Upliftedyoga    GUEST EXPERT: Emily Fletcher | @zivameditation Founder of Ziva & host of Why Isn't Everyone Doing This?, Emily has taught over 50k people how to transform their lives through powerful meditation and manifestation practices.   FREE Yoga Practice: Somatic Yoga Weight Loss Workout with Music | Exercises for Feminine Energy & Confidence Relevant Blog: Ziva Magic Review: Emily Fletcher’s Manifesting Meditation Course Changed How I Call In What I Want   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Kundalini 200-hour YTT 🔮 Kundalini Demystified 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #318 – What Is Somatic Yoga? #330 – Somatic Yoga vs. Traditional Yoga: Breaking Down How 5 Poses Differ in your Yoga Practice #341 – How To Balance Your 3rd Eye with Guru Singh   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What does it mean to act without attachment—and why is that the key to spiritual freedom? Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita is so rich, I had to split it into two parts—and this second half is where the real philosophical firepower kicks in 🔥 We’re diving into: 🔹 The essence of Karma Yoga—selfless action without clinging to outcomes 🔹 How the Yogi transcends dualities like success/failure, praise/blame 🔹 The clash between societal values and spiritual truth 🔹 How this all ties into Advaita Vedanta and non-dual awareness If you’ve ever struggled with “doing your Dharma” without burning out, this part of the Gita gives profound insight into how to act with devotion, not desperation. 📝 Download the Yoga For Self Mastery Syllabus => https://www.brettlarkin.com/yoga-for-self-mastery/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ysm   📖 Different translations mentioned: Barbara Stoler Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Krishnas-Counsel-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553213652  Godsong by Amit Majmudar: https://www.amazon.com/Godsong-Verse-Translation-Bhagavad-Gita-Commentary/dp/1524733474  Eknath Easwaran: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-2nd-Eknath-Easwaran/dp/1586380192  Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by Swami Prabhupada: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-As-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131233    FREE Practice: YOGA FOR STRESS RELIEF | Twisty Morning Yoga Flow for Women Relevant Blog: The Ultimate Guide to Karma Yoga   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 History of Yoga 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #287 – Redefining “Sadhana” - 3 Key Tips #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

Is it awakening… or a breakdown? When spiritual awakening hits hard, it can feel disorienting—even terrifying. In this raw and insightful conversation, I sit down with Steven Taylor, PhD, psychologist and expert on spiritual awakening, to explore what happens when consciousness expands faster than your system can handle it. We unpack the psychology behind Kundalini awakenings, and how to navigate the fine line between transformation and overwhelm. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🔹 How to tell the difference between psychosis and spiritual awakening 🔹 What a Kundalini awakening really looks and feels like 🔹 How to support your nervous system during spiritual emergence 🔹 Why awakening is part of the natural evolution of human consciousness Whether you’re in it, afraid of it, or just curious—this is your invitation to bring grounding and understanding to your spiritual journey. 💃 Join me for a FREE Kundalini Dance Party => https://www.brettlarkin.com/dance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=dance    GUEST EXPERT: Steve Taylor PhD | @stevetaylorauthor Steve Taylor PhD has many best-selling books on psychology and spirituality, including The Adventure, Extraordinary Awakenings, The Leap and Spiritual Science. His books have been published in more than 20 languages, and he writes the popular ‘Out of the Darkness’ blog for Psychology Today magazine. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness which is happening on our planet at present.’ Steve lives in Manchester, England, with his wife and three children. Find Steve’s books and offerings: stevenmtaylor.com   FREE Practice: 10 Min Kundalini Kriya For Awakening For Beginners | GUIDED KUNDALINI MEDITATION Relevant Blog: How to Resolve Kundalini Awakening   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🔮 Kundalini 200-hour YTT 🐍 Kundalini Demystified ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #316 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 1 #322 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 2 © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What happens when ancient yogic wisdom meets modern embodiment? 🤔One of my students recently asked how Sutra 1.15’s focus on non-attachment aligns with Somatic Yoga’s emphasis on pleasure and healing. This episode unpacks that question with heart, humor, and a whole lot of nuance. We’ll explore: 🔹 Whether pleasure is a distraction—or a doorway to healing 🔹 What Patanjali really meant by non-attachment 🔹 How to reconcile classical teachings with modern self-care If you’ve ever wondered whether embracing joy is spiritual enough, this one’s for you. 🎁 Get my FREE $67 Somatic Self Healing Workshop => https://www.brettlarkin.com/ffy?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ffy    📖 Different translations mentioned: Edwin F Bryant: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Pata%C3%B1jali-Translation-Commentary/dp/0865477361  Sri Swami Satchidananda: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Swami-Satchidananda/dp/1938477073  Alan Finger: https://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Yoga-Sutras-Essential-Awareness/dp/1611806151  BKS Iyengar: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Iyengar/dp/1855382253    FREE Practice: Divine Feminine Yoga for Beginners | TANTRA AND SACRED SEXUALITY Relevant Blog: Understanding Divine Feminine Energy In Your Life   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 History of Yoga 📖 Yoga Life Book  ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #271 – What is Kriya Yoga? How Does it Work? #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #352 – Redefining Feminine Energy in Yoga & Ayurveda with Katie Silcox   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What if your inner chaos is sacred? When I first pictured a yogi, I imagined someone always calm, serene… maybe even a little untouchable. But the more I’ve learned—through somatics, spirituality, and lived experience—the more I believe that true healing means feeling everything. Even rage. In this episode, we dive deep into: 🔹 Why stress isn’t an emotion (and how that changes everything) 🔹 How Kali represents sacred rage, transformation, and nervous system completion 🔹 The trap of spiritual bypassing and the myth of “staying calm” 🔹 How to embrace the full spectrum of your emotions—and finally close the stress cycle If you’ve ever felt like you were “failing” at healing because you weren’t calm enough… this one’s for you. 💮Sign Up Free: KALI YOGA CHALLENGE Get my Kali Guidebook as an instant download.   FREE Practice: Easy Beginner Yoga to Connect with Feminine Energy | Yoga for Soft Feminine Energy with Music Relevant Blog: Female Archetype Quiz: What Female Archetype Are You?   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #324 – The Importance of Emotional Processing and Regulation: DENT Model Trauma #325 – Archetypes, Dreams & Why Nightmares are Good with Kari Hohne #345 – Somatic Shaking: What Is It? Why Does it Work?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

Many students seek the unbroken lineage of yoga, and as someone who has extensively explored the origins and evolution of yoga I want to tell you… it’s time to let that notion go. Yoga has a rich and diverse history that has been shaped through social and historical contexts. It has evolved from a spiritual endeavor to its modern physical interpretations with large impact from the industrial revolution. It’s so important to understand the historical and cultural influences on yoga today, and how this practice has changed over time. So that’s what I’ll dive into in today’s episode. Listen to learn: 🔹Misconceptions around unbroken lineages in yoga. 🔹How yoga has evolved significantly since the industrial revolution. 🔹The way historical and social context has always influenced yoga. Loved this episode and want to know more about yoga’s origins? Grab my History of Yoga course on sale now => https://www.brettlarkin.com/history-of-yoga-course/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=hoy FREE Practice: 15 Minute Power Morning Vinyasa Flow For Strength Relevant Blog: Where Did Yoga Originate: A Brief History of Yoga   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 💖 History of Yoga 📖 Yoga Life Book  ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 Yoga for Self Mastery 🎧 Also Listen to: #279 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK ONE Explained #283 – Dismantling the Kleshas: The Actual Aim of Yoga #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

If you’re an Uplifted alumni you’ll recognize today’s guest from inside the training…Kristin Leal!! 🎉I could talk to Kristin about anatomy and the nervous system for hours, and I’m so excited that she came on the podcast to enlighten us all with her vast knowledge. Kristin is going to delve into the complexities of the nervous system, particularly focusing on the autonomic nervous system and its two branches: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. She’ll discuss the complexities of the human stress response and the importance of understanding these systems in the context of yoga to help regulate your nervous system.  Get your notebook ready and learn: 🔹How the nervous system is interconnected with all bodily systems. 🔹What Vagal tone is and how it’s an important indicator of overall health and well-being. 🔹The way burnout manifests as inactivity or excessive rest without true recovery. ✨ Make your yoga practice 2x more potent in 1/2 the time with my Free Yoga Transformational Portal   GUEST EXPERT: Kristin Leal | @metaanatomy Kristin is in love with how esoteric anatomy links so effortlessly to Western anatomy, and her MetaAnatomy™ trainings blend serious scientific knowledge with a sense of humor and a deep connection to the divine within us all. As the creator of the Kaya Yoga 200- and 300-hour teacher training, she’s certified over 5,000 yoga teachers since 2005. Kristin also holds certifications in Reiki, Thai massage, neuromuscular and myofascial release, and is a co-author of the book The Yoga Fan (2003) and the author of MetaAnatomy™ (2014). Explore Kristin’s Offerings: https://www.kristinleal.com/  Get Kristin’s Books:  MetaAnatomy Yoga Fan: Practice Guide For Everyday   FREE Practice: Somatic Release Meditation for Trauma | Vagus Nerve Reset to Gently Free Trapped Emotions Relevant Blog: 3 Easy Somatic Exercises To Soothe Your Nervous System   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Kundalini 200-hour YTT ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #311 – Embodiment, Expression & Femininity with Alexandra Roxo #345 – Somatic Shaking: What Is It? Why Does it Work? #350 – Do a “Yoga Life Makeover” with Corinne Maples © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com