Sensitive Matters • Podcast

Having existed in this world in the last few years meant having subscribed to wobbly, bumpy and often times weird tides of life, whether we wanted it or not. Collective changes, personal challenges, triggers and displaced nervous systems were felt and experienced on many levels. But there was also a lot of positive outcome. It is what life does. The good and the bad go hand in hand. And this gives us the power of choice. Even in those moments where it didn’t feel like it. Earth day is this month – on April 22nd. It is a day that reminds us of our collective responsibility towards resources - the Earth’s and ours as humans. Earth Day is not just about planting trees, cleaning up beaches, or reducing carbon emissions. It's also about fostering a deeper connection with nature and recognizing our place within the intricate web of life. Similarly, being grounded in oneself involves finding stability and balance amidst the chaos of modern life. Just as we strive to nurture the Earth, we must also cultivate our inner landscapes to promote harmony and resilience.   Find out more in www.anandasoul.com

In October we launched a new podcast mini series HER STORIES – Life in a female body. Our first episode was with Emily Kuser in which we explored the experience of living and growing a new life in a pregnant body. Our second episode featured 68 year old Soma Temple and her story of how she moved through the ages. Bodies come in many shapes, sizes, ages and stages of health. As humans and almost on a daily basis, we are exposed to standardized perceptions of what a beautiful, strong and healthy body and their features should look and feel like. We meet peer judgement, silent judgement and our own self-talk, oftentimes without even asking where these ways of thinking and believing are truly coming from. In this series ‘HER STORIES – Life in a female body’ we interviewed an incredible mix of inspiring women that all represent in their own ways different facets and aspects of beauty with having on thing in common: they are without any doubt beautiful.  Our third interview is with Sophie Siegel, also known as Sophie Sofree, Musician, Ecstatic Dance Djane, Spaceholder and Mama of little Mila. In this interview Sophie shares her experience in her female body, what it is like to grow up as the daughter of a model, how she experienced her body prior to becoming pregnant and what initiations she and her little family went through. We hope it touches something within you!

I put this meditation together as a gift for those of you who wish to find ways to feel into their hearts, to live, speak and act from this place and to curiously explore the pathways within and around it. The world can be a busy and hectic place. Especially shortly before the Holiday season, especially on Black Friday. Many seek to claim your attention right this moment in time and we are glad you landed here, with us, in a space of reprieve. As the wise Rumi once said “If the light is in your heart, you will find your way home.” I think this quote beautifully shares every reason why we should be in our hearts more, today more than ever: to find our own ways as we dare to get out of our way and to see and feel with clarity, but only when we are truly tapped into our hearts. With this offering you are invited to come to meet yourself in all facets of who you are. To leap out of the current role you find yourself in right this moment in time and to take a grounded seat within your own chest. May this bring out the beauty of your own heart and may you take action to lift it like a prayer to the sky. A few instructions Grab a cushion or blanket, find yourself in your most comfortable seat or lie down and allow yourself to be carried into a safe space. After the meditation, if you feel like it, grab pen and paper and write from your heart whatever floods your being. Let it be a reminder for you of what it feels like to be in your own heart.   “As you live Deeper in the Heart, the Mirror gets clearer and cleaner.” – Rumi

Last week we launched our new podcast mini series HER STORIES – Life in a female body. Our first episode was with Emily Kuser in which we explored the experience of living and growing a new life in a pregnant body.  Bodies come in many shapes, sizes, ages and stages of health. As humans and almost on a daily basis, we are exposed to standardized perceptions of what a beautiful, strong and healthy body and their features should look and feel like. We meet peer judgement, silent judgement and our own self-talk, oftentimes without even asking where these ways of thinking and believing are truly coming from. In this series ‘HER STORIES – Life in a female body’ we interviewed an incredible mix of inspiring women that all represent in their own ways different facets and aspects of beauty with having on thing in common: they are without any doubt beautiful.  Our second interview is with Soma Temple, who is 68 year old, owner of Om Rudraksha, her own mala company and a close member of our community in Bali, Indonesia.   In this episode we explore with Soma her story of moving through the ages and what it feels like to be in a 68 years old body today. We hope you will love it! 

Bodies come in many shapes, sizes, ages and stages of health. As humans and almost on a daily basis, we are exposed to standardized perceptions of what a beautiful, strong and healthy body and their features should look and feel like. We meet peer judgement, silent judgement and our own self-talk, oftentimes without even asking where these ways of thinking and believing are truly coming from. In the following series ‘HER STORIES – Life in a female body’ we interviewed an incredible mix of inspiring women that all represent in their own ways different facets and aspects of beauty with having on thing in common: they are without any doubt beautiful. Our first interview is with Emily Kuser, yoga and embodiment teacher who currently lives in Bali. Emily is at the time of the interview 8 months pregnant and on her very own journey around beauty and how it feels to be in this human body. In the upcoming episodes we will speak with the 68 year old Soma who shares her heart and eye-opening story around moving through the ages and what it feels like to be in a 68 years old body today. Sophie shares her story on having a baby and what it feels like to turn to a new found sense of embodiment and wisdom. Please stay put... ;)

Welcome to the newest episode of Sensitive Matters. This time we are taking a dive deep into the mysterious and fascinating world of mythology together with the wonderful Chris Skidmore, a therapist registered with the psychotherapy and counselling foundation of Australia. Chris is also a biodynamic craniosacral therapist and has been a practicing astrologer for the past seven years. In his podcast ‘On the soul’s terms’ Chris shares insights on well-known myths and figures and analyses them with the concepts of astrology, mythology, archetypes and legends from the past. Today’s episode is a dedication to the Greek Goddess Artemis whose presence is a big part of our newest collection ‘Tales from Within’. This episode covers the following points: Embark on a journey into the profound world of mythology, where intricate life complexities are unraveled, inviting introspection and deeper existential inquiries. Explore the intricacies of the human experience through mythological tales, which serve as mirrors reflecting the delicate shades of gray and moral dilemmas we encounter. Dive deep into the archetype of Artemis, embodying the harmonious blend of untamed intuition and the delicate balance between domesticity and the wild. Uncover the unforeseen consequences of the "never again" mindset, delving into its potential to lead to tragic outcomes and a gradual hardening of one's identity. Find out how ancient archetypes offer insights to navigate personal narratives, heal from pain, and glean wisdom amidst betrayal. Witness the transformative fusion of astrology, fairy tales, and personal anecdotes from Christina and guest, Chris Skidmore as they share illuminating new perspectives and providing profound life guidance. Embark on an enlightening exploration of the captivating Artemis, as we unravel her multifaceted essence—a guardian, sensual enigma, and embodiment of life force. Navigate Artemis within the rich tapestry of ancient Greek deities, discovering her distinct role and dynamic interplay among the divine beings. Immerse yourself in practical applications of "Artemis Energy," drawing upon her fierce vitality to infuse your narrative with courage, intuition, and authenticity. Discover how Christina was inspired by “Artemis Energy” to create Ananda Soul’s new Artemis collection. Reflect on the captivating exploration of Artemis, inviting you to embrace your untamed nature within, fostering intuitive revelations and nurturing the transformative power of myth.  We truly hope you are as fascinated about this episode as we are! Listen and leave us a review and your feedback below! Find more about Chris Skidmore here: https://onthesoulsterms.com Check out Chris 'On the Soul's' podcast    ABOUT OUR HOST: Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

Within us resides a collection of tales and stories – a wisdom passed on through generations a long, long time ago. You are invited to join me in a 10 minute meditation to come to meet tales, wonders and magic that have always already been residing within you, but might have not been accessible to you. You will be guided to listen to the wonders and whispers of your own inner wisdom that stir your heart and ignite a fire deep within your soul. You will be guided back to getting in touch with your intuition, your heart and gut, so you may move into the world as a full expression of your truth. Grab a cushion or blanket, find yourself in your most comfortable seat or lie down and allow yourself to be carried into a safe space from which you get to see all parts and tales of you. We hope you will enjoy this unique exploration into your own world of tales and wonders.  Here is your free meditation with Christina. Find a quiet space, maybe a cushion, and press play 🤍

Inspired by the celebration of Earth Day last week, we wanted to speak to the idea of acknowledging and honoring Mother Earth as the nurturer and bearer of all life. Earth Day is a day that celebrates and honors our planet. It brings light to the efforts and the achievements of the global environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Mother Earth’s resources for future generations to come. The intention is to educate, diversify and activate. Earth Day creates visibility for projects and initiatives that support our resources and our future. Our offering for Earth Day is to bring you and us back to our own inner earth and with this to our interconnectedness. This Earth Day we are offering a grounding meditation to connect deeper to where we are coming from. Start by settling into a comfortable seat, sensing into the weight of your lower body and notice your particles settle as you arrive. Make sure you are supported and able to be at ease. Notice the way in which your weight is distributed in your seat. Take note if it is even, or if you are more inclined towards the left, the right, the front or the back and if you are able to find your center. Imagine your pelvis is an anchor - grounding you into the Earth you are sitting on. Feel down into the base of your spine, the point that connects you to the Earth. Envision roots growing from the base of your spine, like a tree, burrowing down, anchoring so deeply into the earth, you become a part of her. Nothing can rock you, pull you out of your foundation. Feel yourself rooted in the place that you are in now. From these roots imagine the spine and torso as the trunk of a solid tree. Visualize its bark, the structure, texture, smell, stability - give it adjectives as you continue to give it your awareness and observations Take the space to lean back into that which is you, that holds you. Let your inner eye wander through the belly, through your diaphragm, the base of your heart, your heart towards your shoulders. From the shoulders upward we imagine/feel as if we had branches extending skyward, towards the astral. Branches that make up a crown that you would wear. Where the leaves of our tree would be, we see the benevolent faces of our loved ones, community, familial and spiritual ancestry from which we receive blessings, love and support in form of liquid light flowing down to us. The stars are woven into our branches like diamonds from the sky. Let the light, the love from our loved ones trickle down through our branches, our trunk and roots back into the Earth. Let the light and love be a creative intelligence that exists through you, that permeates you and passed on into the Earth itself, you are a connection point between the Earth and the heavens. Allow yourself to bask in the sensation and support of the Earth as well as your guides. All is connected, in deep reciprocity. Our roots are like super highways that share nourishment, energy and wisdom with one another. You are not alone on this Earthly realm. Slowly start to bring awareness back to your surroundings, notice any other sensation your senses grasp before opening your eyes slowly. Move with mindfulness and intention as you take the sensation of groundedness into your day.  

We are incredibly honored to speak with Nancy Aronie on the 23rd episode of our Sensitive Matters podcast. Nancy is a writing coach and workshop leader who has helped countless writers access their own unique voice and create a safe space for self-expression. She has worked with various big institutions such as Harvard University, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and Omega Institute, among others. Her book Memoir as Medicine in which she shares her own moving stories invites writers to tap into the healing power of writing. This episode covers the following points: How to create a positive atmosphere where writers can feel comfortable sharing their work and being vulnerable by setting clear guidelines for respectful communication. How writers can overcome their self-doubt and fear of judgment to continue on their writing journey, using her own experiences as an example. The importance of finding the right group of writers who will support and encourage each other to grow and thrive. The therapeutic benefits of writing, and how it can be used as a tool for self-discovery and personal growth. Nancy shares practical advice on how writers can use writing to tap into their unique voice and perspective, and how prompts and exercises can be used to spark creativity and inspiration. The importance of writers tapping into their unique voice and perspective to create authentic and powerful writing. Tips on using prompts and exercises to overcome writer's block and spark creativity. The importance of positive feedback and encouragement in the creative process, and how it can help writers stay motivated and confident. How writing can be used as a tool to process trauma and difficult emotions, and how it can lead to healing and growth. The benefits of creating a regular writing practice, and how it can serve as a form of self-care and self-expression. We truly hope you love this episode as much as we do! Listen and leave us a review and your feedback below! Learn more about Nancy Aronie here: https://chilmarkwritingworkshop.com/nancy-aronie Check out her new book 'Memoir as Medicine' ABOUT OUR HOST: Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

She was our number one guest on the Sensitive Matters podcast. And we are so happy to have her back again, for episode 22. If you haven’t met her yet, Kat Dawes is a performance philosopher, author, spiritual coach, and creator of the practice of Nowism. As a Now-Ninja she challenges us to be in the present moment and to fall deeper in love with our "mindfulness muscle" in our ever distracting distracted world. Kat made it her calling to teach people to use their superpower and what it means to audaciously invest in the higher vibrations for the purpose of activating our inherent potential.  This brand new episode covers the following topics: Kat Dawes' background as a performance philosopher, author, spiritual coach, and creator of the practice of Nowism The importance of being present in the moment and flexing our "mindfulness muscle" in a world full of distractions Kat's discovery of the power of taking a vow to now and reframing negative thought patterns into positive manifestations The idea that the quality of the present moment flavors our future manifestations The creation of Nowism as a game to make mindfulness practice engaging and compelling The role of thoughts and vibes in shaping our character traits and patterns, and how to catch ourselves before reacting and choose a higher response The need for commitment and discipline to create a higher response to life and break free from negative patterns Answers to the questions: How can we stay present in the face of distractions? What is the power of manifestation? How can we break free from patterns of negative thinking and feeling? We truly hope you love this episode as much as we do! Listen and leave us a review and your feedback below! Learn more about Kat Dawes and Nowism here: https://www.katdawes.com/ Kat's favorite Ananda Soul Jewelry: Shine Necklace: https://anandasoul.com/products/shine-necklace Into the Light Necklace: https://anandasoul.com/products/into-the-light-necklace ABOUT OUR HOST: Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

Our latest guest to the Sensitive Matters Podcast is joy, embodied wisdom and curiosity in one. Tara Judelle, a full time yoga teacher for over 20 years is actually a lifelong student of spiritual practice, meditation and our connection to our bodies through Hatha yoga, contemporary somatic theory and the philosophy of Non-dual Kashmir Shaivism.   She merges her knowledge and experience in her very own School of Embodied Flow, a school of yoga and movement reconnecting body, mind and spirit. Movement, asana, meditation, visualization, philosophy, psychology, verbal expression, and science are technologies she merges to acquire a deep sense of strength, ease and connectivity. Listen to this episode as we walk our way through the following points:  How Tara Judelle became a full-time yoga teacher and a lifelong student of spiritual practice, meditation, and embodied practices What embodiment is and why it's important How our minds and our bodies work together to help further our journey of self-inquiry How yoga is a balance of steadiness and ease and how we can cultivate that for ourselves How Tara uses the philosophies of non-dualism and Buddhism to bring about oneness within our practices and our bodies The mechanics and how to hone in on specific parts of the body Working with the axis of our bodies, working with the backbody, and finding our anatomical centerline of our bodies The body's connection to our emotions, society, our ancestors and how we’re all intrinsically connected Working with inquiry and how we experience different emotions within the body and bringing our awareness into those experiences We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do! Listen and leave us a review and your feedback below! Learn more about Tara Judelle and The School of Embodied Flow here: http://tarajudelle.com https://www.embodiedflow.com Tara’s next offering begins on February 23rd and is an online-only immersion into the art of Embodied Flow. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to study with her.   ABOUT OUR HOST: Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

"Belonging is when you stay connected to your authentic self as you connect with others. Fitting in is when you have to abandon your authentic self to try to look like, act like, think like, feel like how you imagine others want you to look and act as, think and feel." -Dr. Anita Johnston Our 20th episode is dedicated to Dr. Anita Johnston, a licensed clinical psychologist, pioneer in the field of disordered eating psychology, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon and a true storyteller. She has dedicated her career to helping people recover from disordered eating and the relationships we have with food, with our bodies. Having suffered – like many other young women – from disordered eating in her teenage years herself, Christina explores in her usual sensitive manner together with Dr. Anita Johnston the complexity of disordered eating and human sensitivity and what ways are available to us to address eating disorders. This episode guides us through the following points: Exploring the prevalence of disordered eating and its relationship to diet culture. Examining the sensitivity and intuition of individuals with disordered eating. Investigating the use of storytelling and metaphor as a way to address disordered eating. The commonalities of those with disordered eating in regard to sensitivity How we can limit external influences that may affect our body image  How  underlying societal stereotypes of gender roles and the expectations we have around those roles can contribute as cofactors What it actually means when people say they are in recovery for disordered eating We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave us a review and your feedback below! Learn more about Dr. Anita Johnston here:  https://dranitajohnston.com ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━  ABOUT OUR HOST: Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

Following the podcast episode with Kamini Desai, in which she introduces us to the art of Yoga Nidra, we are now superexcited to share with you a free Yoga Nidra gift from Kamini Desai as a special treat for you this holiday season. If you are in need to slow down, take a break from the ongoing festivities or upgrade your resilience – here is your perfect how to. What is Yoga Nidra? Yoga Nidra, known as the 'Yogic sleep' is an ancient practice that invokes deep relaxation and calmness of the heart, mind and soul. In our latest podcast episode with Kamini Desai we have been introduced to the beautiful art of Yoga Nidra and what makes it a spiritual practice. As the year is drawing to a close we are offered with opportunities to stand still and allow ourselves the space for contemplation of what was, what is and what will become. The benefits of Yoga Nidra Yoga Nidra is a wonderful tool to support us through these times of digestion and processing. Originally a nyasa meditation practice (the practice of moving of consciousness through the different body parts retaining prana) from traditional Tantra Yoga, it has profound healing effects on the body, mind, and soul. Yoga Nidra guides practitioners into a deep state of relaxation putting the practitioner into a space between the alpha and theta state. This allows us to rest in deep relaxation, a state between waking and sleeping, a state that calms the autonomic nervous system that we need to regulate our body's processes and that take place without a conscious effort. In addition, it puts the parasympathetic nervous system into a deeper resting state. A calm nervous system is the state we want to act and live from at all times. Yoga Nidra offers a great variety of benefits that we have listed for you below: Improved thought patterns and reduced stress Enhanced cognitive performance and memory Improved self-esteem and confidence Better sleep Improved waking mindfulness Diminishes symptoms of anxiety and depression Treats chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder Lowers blood pressure Reduces addiction Enhances creativity Reduces PTSD Strengthens immune system Recharges vital energy Strengthens the endocrine system Reduces the need for pain medication ...and many many more Weaving Yoga Nidra into our every day over a certain period of time helps us greatly to meet the external and internal challenges of life from a space of calm, hope and ease, allowing us to look at the bright side of life rather than through a sense of stress and contraction. Kamini Desai is offering us a beautiful Yoga Nidra practice to enjoy in the safe environment of your home. Enjoy!

We are back with an exciting and at the same time somehow relaxing episode of the Sensitive Matter Podcast. This months guest is Kamini Desai, author, yoga teacher and master of Yoga Nidra. In this episode Kamini introduces us to the art of Yoga Nidra, what she means by saying it is ‘meditation made easy’ and how she encountered Yoga Nidra in her own life and practice. This brand new episode will guide us through the following points: What Yoga Nidra is as a spiritual and meditation practice How Yoga Nidra is different from other meditation and yoga asana Kamini’s journey and the foundation that shaped her spiritual journey, career and practice The benefits that Yoga Nidra brings as a practice. How can we integrate our spiritual connection for those that are busy and have a hard time finding space for a practice Some resources and practices to help us all stay centered in our ever-changing world We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave us a review and your feedback below! Learn more about Kamini Desai here: https://www.kaminidesai.com/ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ About our host: Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

This newest episode is with Sat Dharam Kaur, Kundalini Yoga teacher, naturopath, co-creator of the Compassionate Inquiry therapeutic approach with Dr. Gabor Maté's and a great inspiration in my own life. Throughout this episode Sat Dharam allows us a peek into the world of Kundalini Yoga and her life with it; she shares about her Beyond Addictions program as well as the work with Dr. Gabor Maté's Compassionate inquiry program. This brand new episode guides us through the following points: The benefits Sat Dharam experiences with Kundalini Yoga, what the practice entails, how mantra revels itself to us and how it enables her intuition becomes clear to her allowing her to hear her soul’s purpose *The underlying reason people struggle with addiction and how some parts of ourselves that are unexpressed result in many people creating patterns to self-sooth. Sat Dharam’s Beyond Addictions program and how it teaches learning to have compassion and acceptance for ourselves in a safe space to build connection to our true selves, change those patterns and process our pain. Sat Dharam’s role in how Compassionate Inquiry with Dr. Gabor Mate was created and their collaboration teaching and formulating the method, the components, skills and line of inquiry that comprise the program. Christina and Sat Dharam model Compassionate Inquiry to showcase the approach and how it’s practiced. Christina vulnerably shares a situation that’s brought stress within her life They work together identifying feelings within the body and what comes up when discussing the inquiry Sat Dharam and Christina get to bottom of when she first felt this way, and the core memory that this feeling stems from They find a parallel within Christina’s life to understand the experience of anyone in this situation, how they would cope, grow and how this feeling or experience would shape them Christina and Sat Dharam discuss how anyone in this situation could be supported and what that support would look like They conclude by identifying how Christina would have felt if she were supported within the situation at the time, what she would like to say to that part of herself she still carries with her and what in return that self needs to feel safe moving forward What Sat Dharam has coming up in both her offerings with Beyond Addictions, Compassionate Inquiry and joyfully within her personal life We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave your feedback below! Learn more about Sat Dharam here. Learn more about Ananda Soul Jewelry: https://anandasoul.com/ Learn more about our host Christina Zipperlen: https://www.sensitivematters.com/about

In the past years, this world has been an awkward place. Beautiful. Eye-opening. Heart-widening. At the same time, the landscapes society walked through offered edges, cliffs, cracks, crevices – in short, many occasions to trip and to fall. Our realities are informed differently now than they have been in recent years. I found myself dealing with a lot of fear and anxiety grounded in the unknowing of all that life was throwing at us, besides personal battles, wins and losses that all happened in the shortest period of time. The main questions I sat with was How do I stay the most present, grounded, calm and authentic in an ever-changing, swirling world? How can I keep my breath fluid and gentle, my feet down and my heart beating strongly in its center at all times? In order to not get too overwhelmed as an HSP in an ever-busy, ever-changing world routines and regularly practiced tools can be of sustainable support. On another note: This post isn’t exclusive to HSPs only. Whether you are an HSP or not – we all have experienced some form of fear and anxiety in recent years and can benefit of the tools shared below. As an HSP myself, over the years I’ve been experimenting and practicing with techniques that have been supportive in times of anxiety and overwhelm. Coming back to breath Breath is one of the few tools that we have to easily alter our nervous system and the states it may find itself in when overwhelmed or agitated. The art and practice of pranayama is a yogic practice that regulates the flow of our life force (= prana) throughout the body. Yama translates from Sanskrit as ‘gaining control’. In this special episode, we will do 3 breathing practices: 1. Sama Vritti or Box breath Sama Vritti is known as equal breath or box breath and is a powerful tool that can help clear your mind, slow down your heart rate, relax your body, and allow you to increase your focus. 2. Nadi Shodana or Alternate Nostril breathing This intermediate practice involves breathing through one nostril at a time. It is a powerful way to bring harmony and balance to the energy pathways. 3. Bhramari or Bee breath A breathing technique that helps to block out distractions and soothe the nervous system with the support of a humming sound. When we hum, we are happy. Calling in a buzzing hum creates a sense of safety for our nervous systems. May this serve you, may this support you. Learn more about Pranayama: https://anandasoul.com/blogs/blog/hig... About Christina Zipperlen: https://sensitivematters.com/

This month's guest is a very special and bright light in this world: Maxene Magalona, Filipino actress and Mental health advocate in the Philippines shares with me close and upfront her inspiring and very personal story as her, 'Maxene'. She grants insights into her struggles with her own mental health, losses and wins in life, her path towards spirituality and what her soul deeply yearns for – for the world, her surroundings and herself. This brand new episode guides us through the following points: Her personal journey of growing up in the spotlight and how fame shaped her life in the Philippines How Maxene used to manage stress and how in hindsight we can all recognize how our past behavior was our ability to handle trauma with the tools and resources available to us at that time The importance of mental health and how it effects our physical health The stigma around mental health in the Philippines and how the pandemic started to shift that The importance of seeking professional support in Maxene’s own words What spirituality and her connection to God and spirit means to Maxene, and how she follows her soul’s desire The mantras that Maxene loves to sing and chant that bring her strength How The Soul Space was created and the reason why Maxene shares her very own practices and wisdom she’s learned along the way The intuitive way that Maxene selects her jewelry and what Ananda Soul pieces bring her into alignment giving her grace in her day-to-day life Christina shares some spiritual practices of cleansing your jewelry and energetically recharging your Ananda Soul pieces What offerings Maxene will share when she returns to the Philippines You can also watch the video of our conversation here: https://youtu.be/3i6bl74BjTs We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave your feedback below! Learn more about Maxene Magalona via Instagram at @maxenemagalona and her projects @bekind.ph and @thesoulspaceph Learn more about Ananda Soul Jewelry: https://anandasoul.com/ Learn more about our host Christina Zipperlen: https://www.sensitivematters.com/about

This month’s episode comes with a special guest I have been very excited about inviting to our Sensitive Matters podcast: Elena Brower. I’ve admired her work for many years. As a mother, world-renowned yoga and meditation teacher (since 1999!), artist, author and host of her very own podcast ‘Practice You’ I find her entire being, her work, her story and personality intriguing and inspiring in so many ways. Listen to this brand new episode as we cover a variety of topics about her yoga journey, compassion, in particular self-compassion as the core of her work, yoga and meditation, spirituality and her podcast. This brand new episode guides us through the following points: • Elena’s spiritual journey and how her personal practice and beliefs have evolved through her decades of studying and teaching yoga and meditation • What she’s working on with her new book of poetry, journal and parenting course • How Elena has been kind to herself during times of uncertainty and the mindset that she shares for us all to turn that kindness inwards to our own hearts • Elena’s podcast, Practice You, and what she’s learned from over 100 conversations with spiritual leaders and change makers Dr. Gabor mate, Yung Pueblo, Latham Thomas and our mutual friend Nadine McNeil • How yoga as an industry has developed over the past 20 years and what it looks like to make a living as a yoga teacher, developing community and diversifying your income •The breathing practice Elena does to stay grounded within her daily life •What Ananda Soul pieces Elena wears, what Ananda evokes her and how she feels when she wears our jewelry •A sneak peek reading from her latest journal that inspires the soul You can see the meditation Elena mentions here The Ananda Soul Lakshmi Necklace Elena's mentioned within the episode is Blessing All Around Mala Curious to learn more about Elena Brower? This is the way to her website!, About the host Christina Zipperlen here, and about Ananda Soul here.

As we continue to speak about the Moon, I am excited to share this month's podcast episode with my dear friend and menstrual cycle activist Bex Tyrer. This brand new episode speaks about the following topics:As we have just launched our Lunar collection that focuses on the power of the Moon and all its phases, it is an honor to continue the ‘Moon’versations - so to speak - from another angle: menstrual cycle awareness and alignment with the Moon and its phases.Bex has dedicated her life’s work to yoga and women’s health and focuses on inclusivity, trauma work and social and environmental justice. Bex has been a full time yoga teacher at the Yoga Barn, the largest yoga studio in Asia, since 2009. How yoga is a traditional practice for men that carries much wisdom and also doesn’t include women’s natural cycles and bodies. Addiction and eating disorders in yoga and how the separation from our cycles and bodies can contribute to a break and separation within ourselves How women’s periods are our 5th vital sign and the many different ways periods serve as an indicator of a women’s health The function of women’s periods, or moon cycles, and what we “give birth to” every month What a normal period actually is and what miraculous things our bodies do every month The follicular and luteal phases and how we can make the most of them What hormones our natural cycles activate and how they work with our brains, hearts and overall health How stress effects our cycles and overall health and the timing of our cycles What men can do to work with the moon phases and natural rhythms of the earth The options women have for menstrual products and how much we actually bleed every month Menopause, Perimenopause and what those phases of women’s lives actually entail, with hormonal and period cycle changes How we should be celebrate Menopause and honor this sacred time in a women’s life The exciting collaboration between Bex and Ananda Soul and the free offering coming your way What Ananda Soul pieces Bex wears daily The books Box mentioned within the episodes are Yoni Shakti by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (available here on her website: https://yonishakti.co/resources/yoni-shakti-book) and Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Shane Hugo Wurlitzer (available here on their website: https://www.redschool.net/wildpower)

If you have been following the Sensitive Matters podcast, this episode's guest might not be a stranger to you. For this time I have invited my dear friend Paula Shaw back into the reins, as we are celebrating the launch of our new collection that I am so particularly proud and excited about, as the focus of this collection is the moon and all its phases.Paula is an intuitive psychic and astrologer who has offered over 15.000 sessions in 10 years, changing people’s lives through accompanying them on their journeys through healing, clarity and their highest potential. Paula has been a wonderful guide for me through our universe, ever since I met her in Bali 8 years ago. Here are some of the things Paula and I cover in this episode: Paula’s journey of seeking meaning in accordance with her spirituality and nature. Christina’s experience of growing up in Bavaria in accordance with the earth’s natural rhythms and farming seasons How the phase we’re born under can tell us about who we are and how to work with that energy How to work with the moon, what that means and bringing our awareness into the moon phases Simplifying the moon phases with simple intention setting on the new moon and releasing on the full moon How the quarter moons can bring about action and reflection within our lives The lessons that the new moon has for us about starting over at any time in our lives. How the moon’s monthly cycle is the exact length of women’s menstrual cycles and the cyclical nature of our bodies. Learning to work with our own charts and what’s happening in the sky right now Click here to learn more about Paula Shaw: https://www.soulfulguiding.com/ Click here to learn more about Ananda Soul Jewelry: https://anandasoul.com/ Click here to learn more about Christina Zipperlen: https://www.sensitivematters.com/