To say that these are trying times is the understatement of all understatements. The level of stress we are experiencing as a global community is off the charts and unprecedented. That can take its toll on society as a whole and on all of us as individuals. 

Add that to life's already included stressors and you have a recipe for some pretty heavy discouragement.  It's understandable.  We are in the midst of a global pandemic that has altered our lives on many levels.  Things feel pretty heavy and it's easy to take on the weight of the world.

 Enter the weight of discouragement...

This episode is all about the ways in which discouragement gets in our minds and takes us away from living a full life.  You'll learn about ways to navigate discouragement when it comes up, the danger of hope and how to find your way....even in these trying times.  Join us for some much needed wisdom and inspiration. 

Are you noticing anything different these days?  Of course the increased light and increased warmth are a welcome change after a very long winter and life- as- we- know- it altering spring.  

But have you also noticed that you may not be aligned with the same pursuits or projects you were in the previous months?

In this episode, Jag and Sonia discuss how to shift our lifestyle and diet habits in a way that is in balance and harmony with the summer season.  Five Element Theory is all about living in accordance with the seasons and is the foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy. 

Learn about what summer has to teach us about ourselves and how we can shift our mindset to embrace the energy and brilliant lessons from this season.  You don't want to miss this insightful look at the gifts of summer and how to incorporate them into our lives.  

This week, we continue our discussion on the other public health emergency that is demanding our conscious attention.  The virus of racism is changing how we see, think and act on a scale and magnitude not seen in many of our lifetimes. There is lots happening beyond the protests in the streets.  People are educating themselves, people are having conversations, people are realizing the devastating effect that racism has extolled on the body of humanity.  

We are seeing a rising up, standing up and speaking up that is unprecedented.  The injustice of oppression will crack if there is enough noise to do so.  Silence is not an option because your feelings need to be felt.  Join us as we talk about the catalyzing effect of the protests, the danger of silence and why we can no longer go quiet.

Let's talk about what to do after you say whoa.

Absolute Human and Finding Harmony have joined forces in our first collaboration episode!

The Finding Harmony Podcast helps people improve their lives through yoga and create strategies for wellness, balance and of course inner harmony.  In this episode, Jag joins Harmony Slater and Russell Case to talk about issues of race, discrimination, unconscious bias, white fragility, and how we can begin working on ourselves to change the world around us. It is a thought provoking conversation that you won't want to miss.

Join us on this extremely relevant and important discussion.

The Finding Harmony Podcast is hosted by the brilliant Harmony Slater.  She is one of only seven Certified Ashtanga Yoga Instructors in North America, a personal wellness and life coach and mama to a young Jedi. She is an internationally renowned yoga instructor who brings decades of experience, talent and thoughtfulness to her teaching.  You can learn more about her, her programs and offerings as well as sign up for her podcast Finding Harmony on her website at www.harmonyslater.com

Russell Altice Case is an award winning artist who has practiced his craft for decades.  He established his studio space in San Francisco before relocating to Calgary, Canada in 2016. The RAC Design Studio is a private workshop that brings images to life through paint on canvas.  You can find out more about him and discover his stunning works of art on his website at www.russellalticecase.me

A reminder that this is a topic that we are extremely passionate about, so at times we may use some adult language. Please use headphones if your kids or other sensitive ears are around.  

This is an important moment in human history.  We are a few weeks out from the death of George Floyd in the US and this has ignited worldwide protests calling for the end of racial and systemic injustice, and standing up for the Black Lives Matter movement in a way that we have not seen in since the US civil rights movement of the 1960's. 

The pandemic seems to have kindled a global solidarity and awakening of moral clarity as many of us have looked inside ourselves and reassessed our priorities, no matter where we live.  

In this episode we look at Racism - it's origins, how it shapes our reality and how it hurts everyone involved.   Yes, everyone is hurt by it. Our liberation depends on all of us doing the work to dismantle the effects of racism.

As people of colour we share stories on our experiences with racism and how we are committing to standing up, speaking out and not letting the cancer of all forms of oppression invade our bodies and minds. 

It's easy to get overwhelmed but if we keep looking three steps ahead and keep going, we will keep our integrity and character intact as we reach our destination.  

Martin Luther King Jr said that 'In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.'  Every time we go quiet around racism (be it in our families, friend groups or workplaces) we lose our power.  It doesn't have to be this way.

Start small.  Just Say Whoa.

Covid 19 quarantine is still happening but society is starting to reopen again.  People are coming out of isolation but unsure as to how it's going to look.  There are many messages about how to act around others that all of us are trying to make sense of.  This will and might already be altering our behaviours as a new normal emerges.  

In this podcast we discuss compassion and why it's an important skill to develop so that our health and immunity stay intact. Compassion not only for others but for ourselves will be needed as we move forward in a thoughtful way.  

If you have compassion you have space to see the bigger picture.  If you can see the bigger picture you can understand where people around you are coming from. When you have compassion, you can go beyond fear and act in an empowered way that is based on reality. A strong sense of compassion leads to a stronger sense of control over your world, which always leads to better health and wellbeing.  

In this week's episode, Jag and Sonia discuss why many of us feel like we don't have enough fuel to do the things we have planned or wanted to do during this quarantine.  They talk about the concept of allopathic load and how that type of stress is effecting the body.  Then they go into three specific strategies you can implement today and why they will work to get your energy and zest back.  They also visit the concept of seva and how reframing what you do can give you a boost.  Have a listen and get back to firing on all cylinders!

Lets talk about boredom. We've been hanging around our houses for five weeks. What to do? Don't run to the fridge, don't open the computer...just stop. Lets not run to our distractions but begin to choose out next moves.