Send us a text In this episode, I welcome Donna Brooks, a respected somatic movement therapist, yoga therapist, and educator with 40 years of experience. Donna shares her background in yoga and somatic movement, her personal journey with pelvic floor issues, and her unique insights into how somatic movement can aid in pelvic floor health. We discuss the physical and emotional aspects of pelvic floor problems, the importance of integrating breath and movement, and Donna’s innovativ...
Send us a text In this episode of the Nourish Nervous System podcast, I discuss the importance of rhythm and rituals in maintaining balance, especially as we transition from summer to autumn. I explore definitions of rhythm from different sources and how it applies to daily life and nature. I emphasize the significance of rest and how creating small personal rituals can help ground and regulate the nervous system. I also touch on the impact of forced rhythms, like a nine-to-...
Send us a text This episode is the exploration of the importance of rhythm and ritual in daily life for mental health. I'm joined by Jocelyn Pepe, a mental health researcher, coach, and founder of TrU, who shares her journey from burnout to balance, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. We discuss the impact of societal pressures, the myth of powering through, and the significance of breath work, mindfulness, and establishing healthy inner dialogues. ...
Send us a text In this episode I explore the parallels between the transition from summer to fall and the perimenopausal phase of life. Drawing on Ayurvedic wisdom, the discussion centers on how seasonal changes mirror the shifts in our bodies and minds, and offers practical strategies for finding balance during times of transition. In this episode: The connection between seasonal cycles and life stages (childhood, adulthood, perimenopause, postmenopause)Understanding the qualities of Vata Do...
Send us a text In this episode of The Nourished Nervous System, I am so grateful to have writer and teacher Catherine Simone Gray join us to discuss her journey through motherhood, intimate violence, and reclaiming pleasure. Catherine talks about her memoir 'Proud Flesh,' and how her experiences have shaped her understanding of body wisdom, healing, and sexuality. We explore her process of writing in a trauma-informed manner, the challenges she faced in her postpartum healing jour...
Send us a text Vibrancy is a glow, a sparkle and an aura of excitement. To feel truly vibrant is a robust, grounded and vital feeling. Do you feel vibrant? If not, when was the last time you truly felt vibrant? In Ayurvedic thought the feeling of vibrancy and vitality is connected to ojas, a biological protoplasmic substance that governs immunity and vitality in the body. In this episode: What ojas is and how it is formedWhy what we eat and digest affects our ojasTh...
Send us a text How often do you sit with a cup of herbal tea and really feel the effects that it has in your body? And if you have experienced this, what did you notice? Traditionally, through many ancient cultures plants have been allies to humans. Meditating with plants and fostering relationship with plants can be a profound way to potentiate both the plants and the meditation practice. In this special episode of The Nourished Nervous System, I am thrilled to welcome Dav...
Send us a text We've all heard the adage, "patience is a virtue", but I think of patience as an integral aspect of resilience. In this episode, I share personal reflections on recent challenges involving summer illnesses, rescheduling, and navigating the transitions between Pitta and Vata seasons. Drawing parallels between my gardening experiences and broader life processes, I discuss the importance of patience and the pitfalls of hyper-criticism. I delve into how I ma...
Send us a text The health of the pelvic floor is more nuanced than just doing Kegels. In this episode of the Nourished Nervous System podcast, I'm joined by my dear friend Kay'aleya from The Herbal Womb Wisdom Podcast. We delve into the pelvic floor, exploring its physiology, connection to breath, the belly, and the nervous system. Kay'a shares her journey as an herbalist and bodyworker, shedding light on how herbs can support both the nervous system and the pelvic floor. Sh...
Send us a text Are there certain seasons, foods or activities that aggravate your health or help you feel better? Are they different than the people who are close to you? This is because your body, mind and spirit is unique and has unique needs. In this episode, I talk about the Ayurvedic concept of Prakriti, which is your unique constitutional blueprint determined at conception. I explain the importance of understanding Prakriti to maintain balance and well-being, drawing f...
Send us a text This week is a flashback episode! This is an episode I put out almost two years ago about the basics of Pitta Dosha. I'll be back next week with a new episode! Original shownotes: Ever feel hangry? That’s Pitta. Acne and spreading rashes? That’s Pitta. Feel irritable and angry in hot weather? Also Pitta. Pitta Dosha is a combination of the Fire and Water elements. Fire is transformational, it literally changes things...
Send us a text In this special episode of Nourish Nervous System, I'm offering you a rejuvenating Yoga Nidra practice to help if you're feeling spread thin, burnt out, or depleted. Based on my own recent experiences with overbooking during the busy summer season, I'll share insights on recognizing and managing the spreading quality of Pitta Dosha. This episode includes a guided meditation focusing on softening, nourishing, and resting your body and mind. I'll encourage you to paus...
Send us a text What is vitality and how do we begin to cultivate it? In this episode , I explore these questions with Deborah Zucker, a naturopathic physician, mental health counselor, health coach, and award-winning author of the Vitality Map. Deborah discusses her journey through healing from chronic fatigue and depression and introduces her approach to deep vitality. The conversation explores the nine keys to deep vitality from Deborah's book, emphasizing the importance ...
Send us a text Do you experience gas, bloating or indigestion? You may need to work on your kindling your digestive fire. In Ayurveda, we call this agni. A digestive fire that burns just right will make digestion more efficient and can have a positive impact on other body systems. In this episode, I delve into the importance of digestion and its impact on various aspects of health, including the nervous system, hormones, and immune function. I share five practi...
Send us a text In this episode I welcome Julian Bermudez, a therapist and guide specializing in trauma, identity, and the integration of psychedelic experiences. Julian shares his personal journey from growing up in a racially divided, challenging environment to becoming a healer who helps others reconnect with their true selves. He discusses his unique approach to therapy, focusing on presence, deep listening, and somatic work to help clients navigate their pain and survival pat...
Send us a text Caffeine is something that is integrated into most people's lives, but do you ever take a step back to really look at your relationship with caffeine? In this episode I discuss the effects of caffeine on the body and mind from both personal and Ayurvedic perspectives, comparing caffeine consumption to using an energy credit card. I explain how different Ayurvedic constitutions (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) react to caffeine, and I share my personal journey with and eventual ...
Send us a text The breath is an incredible tool for nervous system regulation that we always have with us. Like meditation or movement practices, the more you practice with it the more it becomes second nature. In this episode I have a profound conversation with Leo Mars about the transformative potential of breathwork. Leo shares his life story from growing up in Alaska to becoming an entrepreneur, and how an altered state experience put him on the path towards integrating...
Send us a text Do you have the tendency to spread yourself thin in the summer? I know I do. There is inevitably a point (or many points) in the summer that I feel burnt out. I've been thinking about this in relation to the spreading quality of Pitta Dosha, and the tendency to "spread yourself thin" in the summer time. In this episode, I explore the qualities of Pitta energy and its impact as we transition from spring to summer. I discuss the tendency of Pitta t...
Send us a text Have you ever had a stressful or tramatic experience and your body begins to involuntarily shake? Have you also tried to stop the shaking? It is very common in our culture to do so, but this shaking is a key to processing stress and trauma. In this episode, I welcome Siv Shields, a chiropractor from Norway with a deep background in meditation and various stress relief practices. We dive into the fascinating topic of neurogenic tremoring, a natural mechanism ou...
Send us a text I've been talking a lot about "connecting to your life force" but what exactly IS your life force? It could be many things, and one of the ways I think of it is Prana. In this episode, I explore the concept of prana, the vital life force in yogic and Ayurvedic traditions. I discuss prana's nature as the universal energy that animates all natural life, its movement in the body through energy channels called nadis, and physical channels called srotas. I also sh...