Body Positive Yogacast

On today’s podcast I’m talking to Dr. Sara Smith, Certified Wellness Coach, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Yoga Instructor, about pelvic floor health for plus size folks (and beyond). Sara and I attended yoga teacher training together and it was lovely to chat with her about this topic.

She had a lot of plus-size patients coming to her physical therapy practice saying that their doctors were blaming their pelvic floor issues on their body size. This was super frustrating to her since folks of all shapes and sizes get these extremely common issues. So we wanted to bring this fat bias in the medical community to light and discuss this important health topic.

Here’s what we’ll talk about:

• Common pelvic floor dysfunctions and why they are important
• What lifestyle or diet factors contribute to pelvic floor health (hint: stress is a big one)
• How certain foods or drinks can play a factor in pelvic floor issues (and how to mindfully observe this)
• Solutions and strategies to take control of your pelvic floor health (and how yoga can help)
• A downloadable, free recording for you - guided diaphragmatic breathing with Sara 

For complete show notes and downloads, visit https://bodypositiveyoga.com/sara-smith

On today’s podcast I’m talking to Justine Mastin, MA, LMFT, LADC, E-RYT 200, YACEP, and creator of YogaQuest. Here’s what we’ll talk about:

• Justine’s yoga story – what brought her to the practice and why she kept coming back
• YogaQuest – what is it, how did she come up with the idea for it, and what to expect in a YQ class
• Why geeks need their own specialized wellness practices and spaces
• Why stories are so powerful in our lives and our learning, and exploring how the stories we tell ourselves might be helping or harming us
• Our Tolkien-themed yoga retreat this fall in Minnesota

Justine Mastin (aka JustiniYogini) is the creator and fearless leader of YogaQuest, a yoga business that blends narratives with yoga for a truly unique and engaging experience. Narratives are profoundly meaningful to Justine and she uses a predominantly narrative therapy approach in her work as the owner/founder of Blue Box Counseling, a private practice in Minneapolis. Justine is passionate about working with underserved populations, and specializes in working with clients who self-identify as being outside the mainstream – such as those in the geek, secular, and LGBTQIA communities.

In addition to her work in the office/studio, Justine appears at pop culture conventions around the country where she teaches yoga and speaks on geek wellness topics. Justine has most notably appeared at New York Comic Con, Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo and Emerald City Comic Con.

In her copious free time, Justine also enjoys writing. She has contributed chapters to Supernatural Psychology: Roads Less Traveled and the upcoming book Daredevil Psychology: The Devil You Know in the Popular Culture Psychology Series. She also contributed to the upcoming book The Psychology of Zelda. Justine takes a holistic approach to healing: mind, body, and fandom.

Find Justine online: Blue Box Counseling has links to her therapy practice, YogaQuest, social media, and more!

On today's podcast I'm talking to Kara Lowentheil, Master Certified Coach and creator of Unf*ck Your Brain. Here's what we'll talk about:

• Why affirmations and positive thinking just don't work for us most of the time (and how we can change that)
• How we can get control of our emotions and avoid "getting run over by the feelings bus"
• Changing our mindset around self-care and asking for what we need
• The 4 mindf*cks of patriarchy
• Feeling worthy without seeking external validation
• Kara's Unf*ck Your Brain program: a feminist blueprint for creating confidence

Kara Loewentheil has a B.A. from Yale and a J.D. from Harvard Law School and graduated both schools with honors. In her legal career she clerked for a federal appeals court judge, litigated in state and federal court, held several academic appointments, and ran a think tank. Today she is a Master Certified Coach who works with high-achieving feminist women who believe in empowerment, but don’t always feel empowered. Her cognitive-based tools and strategies help women learn how to literally rewire their brains to overcome social conditioning and insecurity. Or in other words, she teaches them how to unf*ck their brains so that they can create the confidence they need and the lives they want.

Find Kara online: Unf*ck Your Brain | Free Guide | Facebook

Y'all I'm so excited to bring you this podcast episode with Kelley Carboni-Woods (Peace Filled Mama).

Kelley is a creator, curator, yogi, wellness advocate, writer, natural hair stylist and business owner living in Charlotte, North Carolina. Kelley says,

"I approach my role as a mother from a very intentional place, grounded in the belief that my children are human beings who deserve the same respect, love and compassion as any adult. My yoga practice is essential in keeping my own ego at bay as I navigate the fluctuations of temperaments and occurrences that come from having two small babies, running a business and working in my community.

I created the space because I believe that we all have a peaceful part of ourselves and we deserve to be able to connect to that place when we need to. As mothers, it can be hard to find that balance and to remember who we are. This is a place about remembering and connecting and being fortified for the big job that we have. We are in charge of the future, essentially. Imagine how positively it would be influenced if we are entering into that role from our best place, our most peaceful place, with all the love that we have."

In this episode, I'll talk to Kelley about her mindful approach to motherhood and how her yoga practice keeps her in a peaceful place while raising two independent little humans. We'll talk about the importance of self-care and why it's crucial, especially for women of color. And finally, you'll hear all about Kelley's book Manifest, and get a sneak peek into our online course and our 2018 retreat in northern Georgia!

Buy Kelley's book Manifest and the companion workbook at the Body Positive Yoga store.

Join me and Kelley on December 27 for a FREE one-hour workshop centered around harnessing our individual power to create the life we desire.

To learn more about the Manifest online course, where we're learning to stand in our power in 2018, click here. It starts January 1, so don't miss out!

To get details on our Breathing Room retreat, click here!

Find Kelley at peacefilledmama.com or on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or Pinterest.

This episode is a little different! Heidi Bennett (a coach for "multi-creatives") and I have been longtime internet buddies, and we're excited about co-hosting a retreat together next year! In this episode, we'll interview each other about our creative landscapes and adventures in DIY, then talk a bit about self-compassion and how it plays into things like creativity, body peace, and self-care. Finally, get a sneak peek of our 2018 retreat, Camp Wildflower! 

Get all the details on Camp Wildflower at https://bodypositiveyoga.com/campwildflower

Today I'm chatting with bestselling author, actress, and mama Kimberly Rae Miller. We'll talk about her latest book Beautiful Bodies, and cover topics like body neutrality, the strange history of dieting, and how a personal tragedy brought her to a place of body acceptance.

Today I'm chatting with biomechanist, yoga teacher, and researcher Jules Mitchell. We discuss the basics of biomechanics, proprioception, how the yoga conversation is changing, and some exciting research in movement science.