A Quest for Well-Being

— "My dharma is to make visible what without me might go unnoticed and needs to be noticed. And, to encourage the same in others. We each have something sweetly specific to us, our dharma, that longs to take the stage. It's that luminous part of us that, when experienced, we fall wildly in love with our Self, put on our best dress, and take a giddy bow with the Divine.

Valeria Teles interviews Barbra Brady — a ParaYoga Teacher, Meditation, Yoga Nidra Teacher, MA, E-RYT-500, YACEP, Director Of Education, Blue Door Yoga & Wellness.

Barbra Brady has a vast curiosity about yoga and life! She has been teaching since 2000, and has an established private yoga practice where yoga is designed specifically for the client. Barbra's classes are all about adding calm into your life while building strength and confidence. Classes are a hatha yoga flow, but the flow is noticeably slower than power vinyasa classes. They are powerful, it is a power that comes about through effortless awareness on the body, breath, and mind.

You'll find yourself discovering yoga in a mindful way that has long lasting effects. You are sure to feel calm and alert. Barbra's classes are very meditative and breath-centered, with pranayama and meditation woven in. She is highly skilled in leading yoga nidra, a deeply restorative guided relaxation done while lying down in savasana. It is delicious!

To deepen the scope of working one-on-one, Barbra is training in Yoga Mindset Coaching (YMC), a client-centered approach which brings the yoga "mindset" into the field of coaching.

A YMC inspired yoga coaching session begins with checking in with the client--How are things going for you today? What seems to be active? Let's say the client shares that they are overwhelmed with everything they have to do. After reflective listening, the coach reflects the client's words back to them, and asks the client to consider the possibility that they are not completely in overwhelm, but a part of them is, and that part is just trying to do its job of taking care of us. This is based on Internal Family Systems (IFS) in the field of psychology, and "Parts Work." IFS believes that everything that causes us to react in our life is a field outside of us, and does not define us.

To learn more about Barbra Brady and her work, please visit: https://www.barbrabrady.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— We know from research done on brain waves that relaxation brings us into an alpha state and produces healthy hormones. The opposite is true for 'high beta', a state of stress and survival. When we need to overcome a situation or state of stress, being able to relax is important, but this is just the beginning of meditation, and certainly not the end. Meditation is much more than relaxation. When teaching people Raja Yoga Meditation, we explain that meditation and yoga are two different things. Meditation is connecting with ourselves to understand and realize that the Self is non-physical light energy, atma. Yoga is tuning in and being in union with the Supreme."

Valeria Teles interviews Maureen Chen — the author of "Mystic At The Edge: A Western Woman Coloured By Asia."

A native of Sydney, Australia, Maureen Chen has travelled, read and learned widely. For almost 45 years she has studied and taught Raja Yoga meditation with the Brahma Kumaris, establishing and sustaining meditation centers in many countries, including Australia, Hong Kong, Cambodia and the Philippines.

Maureen served as the Moderator of the Hong Kong Network on Religion and Peace, Chairperson of Unity for Peace, Secretary of the Living Values Education Program and of the Asian Business Leadership Exchange. She also helped to establish the Foodlink Foundation, an NGO linking hotels and restaurants with social welfare organizations.

She also established social enterprises for victims of landmines, the Khmer Independent Life Team (KILT) and founded the Peace Cafe, a vegetarian community cafe offering values as well as environmental training and working with fair trade initiatives in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Maureen organized over 50 programs in 50 cities in India for the Future of Power project, bringing together leaders from 20 different professional fields to explore the use of 'soft power'. She is currently the Coordinator of the Yarra Valley Living Centre, operated by the Brahma Kumaris. Maureen hosts the weekly Living Well series for the Brahma Kumaris Australian Virtual Centre.

To learn more about Maureen Chen and her work, please visit: https://www.learnmeditateonline.org/ & https://www.brahmakumaris.org/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— The brain has the ability to protect and heal itself much the same way our bodies are designed to heal after a physical wound. The important thing to remember is that your own brain will be doing the healing and you are the one in control.

Valeria Teles interviews Ginny Gray - LCSW, Certified EMDR Therapist, Certified Recovery Coach, And Speaker

Ginny Gray She is a clinical therapist specializing in addiction and trauma. Her experience with individuals and group counseling is extensive. She began her career at Family Centers in Greenwich and Darien, CT, while also interning at Arms Acres in the Bronx, NY providing substance abuse prevention and counseling for children in residential foster care. From 2008 through 2020 she was the addiction and trauma specialist for The Center for Hope and Renewal in Greenwich, CT providing counseling to children, adolescents and families in Fairfield and Westchester counties. Ginny started Hand in Hand Counseling in 2021.

Ginny grew up in New York City, attended Phillips Academy (Andover), Hollins University, and earned my Masters in Social Work at NYU. She is an avid and competitive athlete and mother to two grown children.

To learn more about Ginny Gray and her work, please visit: https://www.handinhandcounselingct.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Gayle Kimball invites us to generate emotional strength, balance our bodies, and learn empowering visualizations. We live in challenging times but can apply mental and physical tools to stay centered and calm. Gayle's work teaches us about energy tools to develop our thought power, including how to stay centered, how to ground and generate more energy to achieve our goals. The beauty of the tools is their simplicity and ability to be used anywhere to rewire our brains with our thought patterns.

Valeria Teles interviews Gayle Kimball — the author of "Calm: How to Thrive in Challenging Times."

Gayle Kimball, Ph.D. is an intuitive coach who teaches clairvoyance and healing webinars, and is the author of over 20 books. They include Calm Parents and Children, Essential Energy Tools: How to Develop Your Clairvoyant and Healing Abilities illustrated with videos and CDs, Mysteries of Reality: Dialogues with Visionary Scientists, Mysteries of Healing, Mysteries of Knowledge Beyond the Sense, Everything You Need to Know to Succeed After College and Quick Healthy Recipes. A college professor most of her life, she's also a ballroom dancer. She invites you to check out her YouTube channel.

To learn more about Gayle Kimball and her work, please visit: https://www.gaylekimball.info/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Judith Anne Desjardins's primary objective in life is to learn as much wisdom as she can about the body-mind-emotion-spirit connection and share it with the world for healing and transformation. Her personal objective is to grow in those four areas of her own life and in her relationships, and serve God and my clients.

Valeria Teles interviews Judith Anne Desjardins— the author of "Our Journey with Prostate Cancer: Empowering Strategies for Patients and Families."

With listings in Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, and Who's Who in American Women, Judith has maintained a forty-three year Holistic psychotherapy practice. As an educator, she has taught nationally and in Canada.

In 2009, Judith established her own publishing company, Spirit House Publishing – which specializes in books about the body-mind-emotion-spirit connection, healing and transformation, and personal empowerment.

Her first book, Creating A Healthy Life and Marriage; A Holistic Approach: Body, Mind, Emotions, and Spirit, is the winner of 16 book awards in the United States and Canada. A Polish translation, Zranione Serca, was released in 2013.

Her second book, Our Journey with Prostate Cancer: Empowering Strategies for Patients and Families, was released in September 2014 and is the winner of 12 national book awards.

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work, and a Master Social Work Addictions Counselor.

She received her Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the University of Wyoming and her Master of Social Work degree from Arizona State University.

She has specialty training in Jin Shin Do Acupressure, Jungian and Gestalt therapy, and has worked in various clinical settings: oncology social work, in-patient psychiatry, homeless shelter clinical supervision, out-patient substance abuse clinical supervision. She has maintained a 25 year Hatha yoga practice.

To learn more about Judith Anne Desjardins and her work, please visit: https://judithannedesjardins.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Our collective behaviors could shift very subtly yet result in far-reaching changes. The more we understand our own filters, the more we will respond with compassion rather than vindictiveness, the more we will be authentic rather than guarded, and the more we will persist in our inner struggle for the world we want to experience. When we decide to acknowledge and heal our inner reactivity, we put ourselves on a trajectory where useful opportunities may be more likely to happen to us. These are called synchronicities, and they serve to help us grow into the people we become. They are not positive but self-reinforcing reflections of who we are.

Valeria Teles interviews Sky Nelson-Isaacs on the book: "Leap to Wholeness: How the World Is Programmed to Help Us Grow, Heal, and Adapt."

Sky Nelson-Isaacs is a theoretical physicist, speaker, author, and musician. He has a master's degree in physics from San Francisco State University, with a thesis in String Theory, and a BS in physics from UC Berkeley. Nelson-Isaacs has dedicated his life to finding his own sense of purpose, beginning as a student of the Yogic master Sri Swami Satchidananda when he was less than five years old. His writing on topics like flow comes from integrating this experience into his life. He brings together the connection between synchronicity, physics, and real-life using research and original ideas. An educator with nine years of classroom experience, Nelson-Isaacs is also a multi-instrumentalist and professional performer of award-winning original musical compositions.

To learn more about Sky Nelson-Isaacs and his work, please visit: https://synchronicityinstitute.com/ & https://skynelson.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— "The only things truly yours are those that are entirely up to you. Everything else is on loan from the universe."

Valeria Teles interviews Professor Massimo Pigliucci — the author of "A Field Guide To A Happy Life: 53 Brief Lessons For Living."

Prof. Pigliucci has a PhD in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Connecticut and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Tennessee. He currently is the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at the City College of New York. His research interests include the philosophy of science, the relationship between science and philosophy, the nature of pseudoscience, and the practical philosophy of Stoicism.

Prof. Pigliucci has been elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science "for fundamental studies of genotype by environmental interactions and for public defense of evolutionary biology from pseudo-scientific attack."

In the area of public outreach, Prof. Pigliucci has published in national and international outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, among others. He is a Fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and a Contributing Editor to Skeptical Inquirer. He blogs on practical philosophy at Patreon and Medium.

At last count, Prof. Pigliucci has published 180 technical papers in science and philosophy. He is also the author or editor of 14 books, including the best-selling How to Be A Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life (Basic Books). Other titles include Nonsense on Stilts: How to Tell Science from Bunk (University of Chicago Press), and A Field Guide to a Happy Life (Basic Books).

To learn more about Professor Massimo Pigliucci and his work, please visit: https://www.figsinwinter.blog/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Valerie Shakti Bottazzi sees you. She hears you. Mostly, she wants to guide you into your self-healing journey so you can stop doubting yourself, feel connected to your purpose, own your confidence and take action on your dreams. Valerie's guidance will bust through the barriers that are keeping you from serving the world and rising up in your own way.

Valeria Teles interviews Valerie Shakti Bottazzi — a Spiritual Teacher, Coach, Healer, Amazon Best-Selling Author, 3-Time Entrepreneur, Motivational Speaker, And Fulbright Scholar

Valerie Shakti Bottazzi is a happy survivor of over 30 years in the corporate world, Valerie has experienced firsthand the emptiness that living out of alignment with purpose can bring.

As a certified coach, she teaches her clients how to make the same journey she has: that of quieting the analytical mind so that the inner wisdom can blossom. The women who work with her become deeply connected to their own soul's work and lead a life of inspired action, purpose, passion, and prosperity.

Valerie uses all she has learned in transforming from a General Manager to Medicine Woman to teach life-changing, transformational workshops live and online. Her step-by-step processes empower women to enhance their lives with meaning by saying "yes!" to their spiritual gifts.

A remarkable blend of Argentinean, Italian and American cultures, Valerie is an honest, deeply transparent, heart-centered, courageous, and colorful woman. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to exotic places with her husband and sons."

To learn more about Valerie Shakti Bottazzi and her work, please visit: https://www.theawakenpath.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Facing your fears is important for your mental health. Fear inoculation is an essential process used by therapists to help people overcome anxiety by willfully exposing them to their fears over time until they eventually conquer them. 'Willfully' is the key word. Using your will to effectively overcome the unthinkable. Conquering your fears is about finding comfort in chaos and the unknown as well as developing the ability to perform in high intensity environments. Fear will always be there but it's what we choose to do that makes all the difference. Managing fear will lead you to live tenaciously, become more competent and most importantly, it will set you free. What are you afraid of? What is holding you back from living the life you want?

Valeria Teles interviews Matthew Gagne — the Founder Of Flock Goods, Guinness World Record Holder, Former Professional Skydiver, And Speaker

Matthew Gagne, in his former career as a professional skydiver, he trained Navy Seals and served as flight instructor for Al Gore, Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Trey Smith, Kirby Chambliss, and Tyrese. When a near-fatal car accident broke his neck in 10 places, he threw himself into rehabilitation. Flock Goods was born during this journey through pain. Ever since, he has dedicated himself to helping others overcome adversity and lead active lifestyles. He currently lives with his beloved Dutch Shepherd dog on a Maine riverbank in a tiny house RV that he built himself.

To learn more about Matthew Gagne and his work, please visit: https://www.flockgoods.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.

— Vibration is everything. Literally. And your vibration (the energy and frequency you project into the world) determines your experiences, your results, and the opportunities you create and attract in your life. When you are connected to your authentic voice, you naturally feel good and attract more wonderful things into your life. When you are disconnected you feel bad, and it can quickly become a downward spiral. The great news is …There are so many ways you can connect yourself to a higher vibration. Through prayer, dance, movement, yoga, meditation, eating healthy food, exercise, gratitude exercises – there's lots you can do. However, one of the quickest and most overlooked ways is through sound – and more specifically – through chanting.

Valeria Teles interviews Nikki Slade — the author of "The Healing Power of Chanting: An Inspirational Journey Of Freeing The Inner Voice."

Nikki Slade is a leading pioneer in the field of chanting, core voice and sound work in the UK. Nikki has inspired thousands of individuals to chant and has led chanting workshops in a wide variety of settings including corporations such as M&C Saatchi, Deutcshe Bank and Cisco. She has been resident Kirtan leader at triyoga London for 20 years and has also taken her cutting edge approach to working with the voice into Wandsworth men's prison. She was the resident voice and sound facilitator at the Priory hospital in North London for 20 years where she impacted the recovery of hundreds of addicts and for the past 5 years she has been facilitating chanting workshops at the half-way recovery house Start 2 Stop.

Nikki has released 4 successful mantra and chanting recordings including: Nectarine, Monsoon, Soundscape and her latest double album Epiphany. She is also author of the popular book 'The Healing Power of Chanting'. In recent years she has pioneered Kirtan in the mainstream areas of Glastonbury Festival and Latitude. She has travelled the world with her work to places including California, Singapore, NYC, Europe and Melbourne, Australia. She led a chant for over 2000 people at the 11.11.11 Mind, Body, Spirit show and at the 12.12.12 Oneness ceremony in London. Nikki is the founder of the first in the UK 200hr Learn To Lead Kirtan Foundation Training, accredited by The Yoga Alliance Professionals in 2016.

To learn more about Nikki Slade and her work, please visit: https://www.nikkislade.com/

— This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.