Bodies by Brent

Battling Trauma and Finding Your Light with Ketamine Infusion Therapy : Alli Waddell | Bodies By Brent Podcast

Alli Waddell is the co-founder of Illumma, a ketamine infusion clinic founded in January 2019.

Ketamine is a legal psychedelic used to heal trauma. Illumma focuses on working with those suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, as well as substance addiction and ruminating thought loops such as OCD and eating disorders.

Alli considers ketamine infusion therapy as a powerful tool for personal development that is good for stress management and dealing with core issues to help one live a better life overall.

Listen in as Alli goes down memory lane and shares a past life that looks nothing like the one she lives today. She talks about her painful attempt to hide her bulimia not just from a public who believed her to be the epitome of health, but even from her own husband.

Facing her insecurities around her body image head-on and learning to stop lying to herself and those around her was the first and most important step she had to take in order to finally grow.

“Shame hides in the dark, and the only way to release it is to pull it into the light,” says Alli. This begins by telling your story without shame. Healing takes place once you know and accept everything about yourself. You cannot heal secretly.

The latest chapter in Alli’s life came when her partner, an anesthesiologist, began researching the history of ketamine as a safer alternative to opioids as pain medication for wounded soldiers. Inspired by the breakthrough studies happening around that time, he decided to open a ketamine clinic alongside Alli.

Alli does a deep dive into the wonders of ketamine infusion therapy and Illumma’s noble vision for the industry, including:

●      the mental and emotional benefits of ketamine

●      how to really decide whether ketamine is for you

●      harnessing the true resilience of the human mind

●      the close link between childhood trauma and PTSD

●      what to expect during your six sessions at Illumma

Alli closes the conversation with her thoughts on the future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. She attributes its recent mass acceptance to the countless veterans who are demanding help, especially within the last two turbulent years.

“Within five years, we’re going to have multiple psychedelic tools for people. I hope we can keep the industry as authentic as possible by having patient healing in mind.”

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Alli Waddell: Instagram

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | YouTube

Connect with Illuma Clinic: Web

Product of the Week: Mushroom Milk

A special thanks to Logan Lepper and his production company The Authentic Exposure for their work on Bodies by 

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Samson Odusanya is a coach, healer, and empowerment guide who discovered the power of breathwork in 2014 and never looked back.

He says that breathwork grounds him and that, during those moments and in the moments that follow, “everything that mattered didn’t matter anymore.” It is a completely different perspective on life that most people never get the opportunity to experience.

 Most people are completely unaware of how they breathe. Whether or not they realize it, the way they breathe affects the way they think, act, and feel. In fact, as Samson says, “Everything is built on breath—not a style, not a trend, but breath. And if we can understand the power of our breath as the core, then we can build anything we want on top of it.”

Breathing can be thought of as your nervous system’s “remote control”. We breathe on autopilot, often not in the most efficient way. Samson invites us not only to take control but to stay consistent in doing so. 

By building and maintaining this awareness, we learn how to be in harmony with our breathing and, by extension, everything that extends from this foundation.

The body knows exactly what to do if we’re willing to get out of the way. “What I love about breath,” says Samson, “is that there is no end to how deep you can go. There is no end to how far you can go.”

After leading us through an eight-minute breathwork session to kick things off, Samson shares the ins-and-outs of the power of breath, including:

●      the biomechanics of breathing

●      why nasal breathing is so important

●      how breathwork can help you free trapped emotions

Samson, who also runs a men’s support group, caps off the conversation by touching on how men can overcome common stigmas and get in touch with their emotions, as well as how women can support their men in being men.

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Samson Odusanya: Instagram

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | Tiktok

Product of the week! Culina Yogurt: Website | Instagram

A special thanks to Logan Lepper and his production company The Authentic Exposure for their work on Bodies by Brent: Website | Instagram

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Miki Ash “is an artist by nature and a yoga teacher by trade.” She began her career at the age of 18 and never looked back. In 2020, Miki launched her own wellness app, The How. This app offers access to a library of her tried-and-tested practices to facilitate your own healing transformation.

“Life, pre-yoga, was so different from when I found it,” recalls Miki. “It was definitely a clumsy and accidental beginning.” She admits to being the last person one would consider an athlete. From late, alcohol-filled nights to bouts of depression to a bad relationship, the Miki of yesterday had a long path of healing and growth ahead of her. 

She was encouraged by her friend's mom to take her first yoga class. The experience was, simply put, “miserable”. And yet, she felt better coming out then going in. Miki kept it up, and before she knew it, she was hooked to the point where she knew she had to become a teacher herself.

“I was just going to get a workout and I left falling in love with myself. I want everyone to experience that. 

Miki shares the most powerful mindfulness practices she recommends to anyone, including: 

●      the fundamental philosophy and principles of yoga

●      what gratitude means to her and how she practices it

●      meditation practices for beginners

●      her intense and incredibly cathartic eye-gazing meditation session

●      why Miki introduced breathwork into her classes

●      her morning ritual

In addition to the mindfulness practices we discussed today, Miki believes that, bottom line, it’d do us all some good to stop being so hard on ourselves.

Making a change starts and ends with a commitment to being kinder to ourselves, a great deal of discipline, and always trusting our inner guidance.

Resources Mentioned 

Connect with Miki Ash: Website | Instagram | Download Her App

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | YouTube

A special thanks to Logan Lepper and his production company The Authentic Exposure for their work on Bodies by Brent: Website | Instagram

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT with Maryam Azarang || Why Age Should Never Be a Factor When Deciding to Workout, Falling Love with Weight Training, & Developing Spiritual Practices | Bodies By Brent Podcast #17

Maryam was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico. She met her husband in San Francisco and the pair moved to Los Angeles where her two kids were born, before finally settling down in Austin.

“My fitness journey started when I was born,” says Maryam, recalling that her father had always been an avid runner who continues to run marathons to this day at the age of 65. She was never a stranger to exercise, but had never put the same effort into nutrition and rest as she did into working out.

Her first pregnancy was really the period in her life wherein Maryam was able to take a step back and take a closer look at not only her physical wellbeing, but her mental and emotional wellbeing as well. Having her first child motivated her to become more deliberate when it came to her lifestyle. Her second child moreso.

At some point, her desire to grow and thrive inside and out eventually led to the two of us meeting.

Maryam shares her personal journey of transformation within and without, including:

●      how she got out of her own mind and made a point to live in the present

●      how she learned to love weight training and the results she got

●      the habits she developed aside from working out regularly to see changes

●      why age should never be a factor when you decide to start working out

●      the spiritual practices Maryam adopted on her journey of transformation

Maryam doesn’t believe that you have to be a certain age to start working out, eating right, and sleeping better.

With only one life and one body afforded to you, one of the best steps you can take right now to undergo your own physical, mental, and emotional transformation is to find a routine that works for you and stick to it—today, if possible.

Resources Mentioned

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | 

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Tessa is an online fitness coach who helps millennial women reach their goals while becoming bold and confident in the gym. She sits down with me today to debunk some of the most common myths in the health and fitness world.

A former college athlete, Tessa had always been passionate about fitness but found her true calling as a trainer upon moving to Los Angeles in 2011 where she spent much of her time creating workout programs at her local Equinox at the break of dawn. She became a certified trainer in 2019 and, shortly after that, transitioned online and never looked back.

Listen in as Tessa unpacks some of the most common myths and misconceptions in the fitness world today through the messages she receives from her various clients, including:

●      why 1200 calories a day is far too low for women

●      how eating more food may be the key to getting you past your plateau

●      why lifting weights won’t automatically make women bulky

●      the truth about getting “toned”

●      why carbs, for the general population, are not “bad”

●      why sleeping less for the sake of getting your workout in is a terrible idea

●      why calories burned during a workout has nothing to do with your progress

Her bottom-line advice for all those looking to finally get started in their health and fitness journey is: “Just start where you can. If you can’t do much, start walking for ten minutes a day or an hour a day. Just get moving.”

Resources Mentioned

Follow Trainer Tessa on social media: Instagram

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | YouTube

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CLIENT SPOTLIGHT with Annie Bosco || My Experience Training with Brent, How Ayahuasca Helps Give You a New Lease on Life, How to Grow Confidence Inside and Outside the Gym | Bodies By Brent Podcast #15

At certain times in our life, the best plan to have is no plan at all.

Annie Bosco is on the verge of flying out of the States to live a nomadic life for the foreseeable future. She sits down to share how Ayahuasca changed her life, as well as her experience training with me.

She grew up in Northern California and hopped from state to state over the years before settling down in Austin in 2017. Asked why she decided to dedicate the next phase of her life traveling around Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala, and beyond, Annie simply states that, “Her plans are to not have any plans.”

She chose Costa Rica specifically to attend the weeklong retreat Rythmia. It’s her second time taking part in a round of Ayahuasca ceremonies in two years. Her first run had her overcoming many of her pent-up fears, traumas, and blockages following a failed marriage. This time, she intends to engage in a journey of clarity that will shine a light on her next steps in life.

Annie reflects on her first Ayahuasca experience, including:

●      what drew her to Ayahuasca in the first place and what she had to overcome

●      how she forgave the best friend who betrayed her

●      why this horrible time in her life turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to her

●      how Annie reset her life following those ceremonies

●      her advice to anyone considering an Ayahuasca retreat

Annie then speaks on how she and I met. After having done a surgery a year over the past five years, she was in the market for a trainer in hopes of building back the muscle she lost after a long period of living a sedentary life.

Long story short, we shared a vibe, and Annie was able to build a strong base and a new set of skills and habits to stay physically and mentally sharp, all while growing in confidence both inside the gym and outside.

Resources Mentioned

Follow Annie Bosco on social media: TikTok | Instagram

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | YouTube

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Mercy Henderson is the Clinical Director at Drip Hydration, an IV therapy concierge medical practice. She sits down with me to discuss the many benefits of hydration therapy.

Without a doubt, health has moved to the forefront of many a mind over the past year-and-a-half. Mercy notes that more and more people are looking for solutions outside of a hospital setting, in which problems are treated and patients are discharged with little regard for maintenance, much less optimal health.

“In the hospital,” says Mercy, “it’s sickcare, not healthcare. And when we’re paying our premiums every month, it’s not for health—it’s for when we’re sick.”

Listen in as Mercy shares how Drip Hydration is changing the game with their mobile services, and does a deep dive into the ins-and-outs and numerous benefits of IV therapy, including:

●      NAD: your body’s universal fuel source

●      how Drip Hydration has aided many COVID-positive patients

●      how athletes can benefit from IV therapy

●      how Drip Hydration aims to be the answer to the limitations of bedside therapy

“It’s healthcare,” concludes Mercy. “I want people to feel healthy without having to be completely on empty; without having to wait until they need help.”

Resources Mentioned

Learn more about Drip Hydration: Website

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | YouTube

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On this episode, I sit down with Kelly Thompson, a client and dear friend, to share our respective experiences with Ayahuasca.

Kelly had first heard about plant medicine on a podcast and was instantly drawn to the thought of participating in a ceremony. But Ayahuasca, as both of us learned, chooses us—not the other way around. For Kelly, it took almost half a decade after first learning about it before she knew that her “Ayahuasca year” had finally arrived.

I felt the call myself for a long time before I knew I was ready. I followed the breadcrumbs until I ran into Kelly, who was being led along the path herself at the same time. Right then and there, taking the plunge was a no-brainer for both of us.

Kelly and I reflect on our first shared experience with Ayahuasca, which took place over three nights in a row, doing a deep dive into:

●      what it really means to “purge” our body of trapped trauma

●      how Kelly watched her body “decompose” and was then reborn

●      the taste and physical sensation of ingesting Ayahuasca

●      the reassuring voice of Mother Ayahuasca

●      how psychedelics can rewire your brain

Without a doubt, the greatest gift we received from our Ayahuasca experience was freeing ourselves from blockages that, for the longest time, were obstacles to our growth at a subconscious level.

Kelly herself said that she was “doing all the right things” prior to her three-day retreat, from working out to meditating to seeing a therapist. But until her “rebirth” via Mother Ayahuasca, she “still felt all this stuck energy” keeping her from moving forward.

Asked for her advice to those feeling stuck today, Kelly says it helps to simply start asking the Universe for signs. Ayahuasca may or may not be the key to your own rebirth and healing, but you’ll never know until you ask, and then listen.

Resources Mentioned

Follow Kelly Thompson on social media: Instagram

Follow Brent Hruska on social media: Instagram | YouTube

A special thanks to Ryan Gallego and his production company Media Pouch for their work on Bodies by Brent: Website | Instagram

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Bodies by Brent podcast, Brent talks with Peter J. Craig. Peter is a warm and empathic therapist with a deep presence. He has trained in modern psychology models that reflect the latest thinking in the field including PACT and Dynamic Experiential Psychotherapy. He has a Masters in Counseling from St. Edward’s University and a B.A. in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. Peter is a Licensed Professional Counselor who incorporates mindfulness in his work. He specializes in connection, authenticity, depression, anxiety, stress, and relationships. Peter’s style is positive and non-judgmental. He works with each client’s strengths to help them navigate life challenges, setting clear goals for the work.

Starting with their own experiences, they end up giving some powerful tips on achieving the sexuality you desire!

Conversation Highlights:

 [02:44] How did Peter Craig explore his sexuality?

●      Intentional sexuality is not about judgment and guilt.

 [04:33] What's inside the book called Sexual Secrets?

 [05:25] There is no subject and object in the state of connection!

 [06:46] What is the Tantra? Why is it a crucial part of Yogi's life!

 [09:26] Large significance of the small word 'EROS'.

●      It's not about the pleasure, it's about connecting with your partner.

 [11:11] What are the benefits of Orgasm?

 [13:41] An amazing thing in life is to love your body no matter what!

 [16:05] What is beauty and attraction?

 [17:34] "Every single person who is a leader has a highly developed sexual nature".

 [17:43] What is the art of sex transmutation?

 [21:58] What are the practices you can do to attain sexual pleasure?

 [27:24] How are hands the greatest gifts of pleasure?

 [29:52] What are the two miraculous steps for partners?

 [36:24] Sexual energy is communication without touch.

[48:01] How is devotion a deeper practice?

Struggling with relationship issues? Schedule a Session with Peter

Here are some books that Peter recommends for growth and healing….

●      Sexual Secrets: The Alchemy of Ecstasy 

●      The Art of Sexual Ecstasy

●      The Erotic Mind

Resources:

●      Check out the Counseling Practises by Peter and his team

 Feel free to ask your queries to Peter, regarding the intimate relation of sexuality.

Reach out to Peter:

●      On Instagram

●      https://www.petercraigcounseling.com  

Connect with Brent:

YouTube: Bodies by Brent

IG: @Bodiesbybrentatx

Website: https://bodiesbybrent.com 

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