Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

In this third follow-up episode on play, Lauren and Blaine revisit the tension between purposeful activities and genuine play, and whether the two can coexist.

Blaine also shares what happened after the last episode stirred up some defensiveness for her. What started as an experiment with watercolor painting ended in a surprising shift in the nervous system. Her Oura ring data shifted measurably from “stressed” to “relaxed” during and after the session, providing her with real-time evidence that play affects far more than mood. 

From there, Lauren and Blaine explore how play can be woven into work itself. They introduce the yogic concept of “Lila,” meaning cosmic play, and how the witness perspective allows you to participate fully in the present moment.

But they don't stop at the bright side. The episode takes an honest turn into play's shadow through discussing boundary-testing teasing, gaslighting disguised as humor, and the pull of addictive play.

The conversation lands on attunement, balance, and the difference between play that restores and play that consumes. This one goes deep and leaves you with a richer, more honest relationship with what it means to truly play. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:19 Why Another Play Episode00:57 Book Play By Stuart Brown01:18 Redefining Purposeful Play02:07 Ego Protection And Pushback04:51 Watercolor Test And Afterglow05:35 Oura Ring Stress Data08:19 Proof Play Boosts Performance09:56 Bringing Play Into Retreat Work12:37 Lila Cosmic Play Concept13:30 Witness Self Versus Flow15:19 Runner Mindset Lightness15:58 Play Boosts Performance16:45 Stress Metrics and Recovery18:41 When Play Turns Harmful21:11 Addiction and Compulsive Play23:21 Finding Healthy Boundaries24:44 Running as a Drug27:58 Attunement and Flow State29:40 Conclusion

Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #Play #Playful #PurposelessPlay #TheEnergyofPlay

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 
Slowing down sounds easy until you realize how hard it is to get your mind and body in the same place at the same time.
In this episode, Blaine shares how “The Art of Slowing Down” grew from a local Energy Medicine Yoga workshop at a Colorado rec center into a session for Boulder County employees during a particularly stressful season at work. What happened next surprised her. The response was immediate. People felt calmer, more present, and relieved to have tools they could use right away, rather than one more thing to “work on.”
Blaine talks about what slowing down really means in the body, why so many people stay stuck in a low-grade stress response all day long, and the small moment during the Boulder County session that made her realize this conversation needs to happen in far more places than yoga studios.
She also shares a few of the practices from the workshop and explains why simple, repeatable actions can have such a strong effect on the nervous system over time.
If stress has started feeling more normal than calm, this episode is for you. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:36 Rec Center Backstory03:14 Workshops and Scheduling03:58 Workshop Idea Sparks05:49 County Invite and Buzz08:59 Three Tools to Slow Down10:37 Nose Breathing Basics13:38 Forehead Hold Reset15:11 Side Stretch and Energy Hug18:24 Recap and Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #TheArtofSlowingDown #Presence #NervousSystemReset #SlowDown #EnergyHealing

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

In this follow-up episode on play, Lauren and Blaine dive into why "play" is so surprisingly hard to define. Drawing on research, they explore a definition of play as voluntary, time-freeing, improvisational, and apparently purposeless. They then contrast it with activities we often mislabel as play, like cooking, exercise, and goal-driven creativity.

Blaine shares a story from her triathlon days that reveals how deeply she struggled to shift from structured training into genuine playfulness, and what finally inspired her to pick up watercolor painting purely for joy. Lauren describes turning landscaping chores and snow clearing into spontaneous games, and why that shift matters more than it sounds.

Together, they connect authentic play to energy coherence, stress recovery, better sleep, creativity, and even animal survival behavior. Lauren and Blaine make the case that small, purposeless "play breaks" aren't a luxury, but a biological and energetic need.

Now available wherever you get your podcasts!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction01:14 Billionaires And Backlash 03:01 Integrity And Nuance 05:08 Blaine Reacts To Play 05:53 Consternation Defined 07:16 Triathlon Joy Story 11:55 Defining Play Together 15:08 Blaine Finds Her Play 20:13 Purpose Versus Play 23:34 Is Cooking Really Play 24:38 Purposeless Play Debate 25:04 Cooking as Social Play 25:51 Gendered Views on Purpose 26:45 Landscaping Turned Game 29:14 Snowballing the Deck 30:43 Play as Energy Coherence 33:52 Intel Fires Itself 36:33 Stress Data Meets Play 41:49 Animals Play for Survival 45:07 Fire Element and Healing 46:49 Tiny Play Break Ideas 47:52 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #Play #Playful #PurposelessPlay #TheEnergyofPlay

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

Blaine and Lauren mark a major milestone, the 100th episode of the Energy Works podcast! They take a moment to reflect on what this journey has meant to them, and to thank listeners around the world for their comments, emails, and steadfast support of this niche-but-global Energy Medicine Yoga community.

Blaine shares the podcast's origin story: after years of hoping to find the right co-host, she realized the perfect partner had been right in front of her. Lauren said yes, and the rest is history. 

To celebrate, they count down their top five most-loved episodes and close by looking ahead.

Now available wherever you get your podcasts!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction01:13 Gratitude To Listeners 02:11 Niche Audience, Global Reach 03:46 Origin Story Manifesting 06:20 Lauren Joins The Show 07:48 Consistency And Podfade09:43 Top Five Episodes Countdown 16:16 Top Episode Is With Donna Eden 18:03 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
Top Five Episodes:1) Death and Dying with Donna Eden — https://youtu.be/n_qQn72jmDo
2) Beyond Gut Feelings: Intuition — https://youtu.be/cbI0bGo81CA
3) The Invisible Healer: Subtle Energies — https://youtu.be/tLaYF3fV2fw
4) Chanting with Jill Purce — https://youtu.be/PFaBiYdFePA
5) The Soul's Role in Healing, Death & Transformation with Sarah Allen — https://youtu.be/-PEyUWUidkQ 

#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #Podcast100 #MindBodySpirit #Milestone

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 
What does it take to reach 90 feeling good and still not know exactly why?
In this Big Ideas episode, Lauren sits down with Pat Gordon, who is approaching 90 and living vibrantly in independent senior housing. Pat isn't a biohacker or wellness guru, he's a former Nikon sales rep who quietly stumbled into a life of longevity through meditation, community, creativity, and presence.
Pat shares the story of how a career move from New York to Massachusetts in 1972 led him to daily meditation, a practice he's kept for over 50 years. He talks about quitting smoking at 62 using a surprisingly simple mindset shift, the grief of outliving so many friends, and what it means to still feel connected and purposeful at nearly 90.
Lauren and Pat also explore his extraordinary "art diary," a handmade calendar project he's maintained since 1972, filled with drawings, collage, and dry humor that documents the texture of daily life. 
Pat reflects honestly on death, the afterlife, regret, and the wisdom he'd offer anyone trying to live well.
This is a heartfelt conversation about aging, meaning, and the small things that quietly add up to a long, full life. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:27 Nearing Ninety 01:03 Staying Active, Moving Slower 02:35 What a Hernia Scan Taught Him 04:29 Family Roots of Longevity 06:15 His Take on Longevity Habits08:35 How He Quit Smoking at 62 12:48 How Meditation Began 17:55 50+ Years of Daily Mantra Practice 19:47 The Art Diary Calendar Project 21:33 Why He Started It in 1972 23:15 What Goes Into Each Day 24:31 Documenting the Texture of Life 25:31 Collage, Drawing & Humor 28:29 Love, Marriage & Mara 31:27 Community as Longevity Medicine 33:26 Procrastination, Photos & Presence 38:05 His Thoughts on Death 41:53 Afterlife, Regrets & What He'd Change 45:50 Why He Prefers Analog Over Digital 47:20 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #Longevity #AgingGracefully #MindfulLiving #ConsciousAging #HealthyAging #MeditationPractice #WisdomWithAge

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

What happens when you hold everything in?

In this solo episode, Blaine reflects on a personal story that reveals the hidden cost of “holding things in.” After her partner learns a close friend underwent major heart surgery without telling him, Blaine explores how suppressed emotions impact both relationships and health.

Drawing from Chinese Medicine, she looks at what starts to build when experiences go unexpressed, and how that can show up in the body over time. She also touches on how holding things in affects your energy and sense of connection, often long before you notice.

Through personal insight and practical wisdom, Blaine explains that opening up can restore energy flow, deepen connection, and support healing. If you’ve been carrying something silently, this episode offers a powerful reminder that healing begins when you bring it into the light. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:29 Burke’s Lifelong Friendships02:25 The Colorado Hike04:19 Heart Surgery Reveal05:54 Why We Keep Secrets08:06 Liver Qi and Plum Stone09:45 Lung Qi and Letting Go10:28 Heart Qi and Shen Protection13:37 Breaking the Dam to Heal14:28 Connection Through Asking Help16:36 Shame Can’t Survive Light18:08 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #EnergyHealing #SpeakYourTruth #EmotionalWellness #QiStagnation

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

Feeling burned out or stuck in routine? 

In this solo episode, Lauren explores how retreats act as powerful nervous system resets, helping you step out of daily patterns, restore energy, and reconnect to joy, play, and perspective.

Through stories from Breitenbush Hot Springs and Hollyhock Retreat Center, and even inspiration from Ram Dass, Lauren shares how retreats support deep rest, creativity, and meaningful change.

This episode is an invitation to step away from the noise, reset your energy, and create your own retreat, whether it’s a weekend away or just a few hours offline. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:22 Why Retreats Are So Transformative01:27 “Summer Camp for Adults” Explained02:51 Affordable Retreat Experiences03:20 Stories: Breitenbush + Hollyhock05:12 Purpose, Play & Modern Life07:03 Gaining Perspective Through Retreat08:47 Nervous System Reset (Rest & Digest)10:12 How to Create Your Own Retreat12:14 2026 Hollyhock Retreat Invite13:17 Mini Retreats at Home15:06 Ayurveda + Recovery16:28 Returning to Childlike Wonder17:31 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #nervoussystemreset #retreatyourself #energymedicineyogaretreat #emyogaretreat #restandrestore 

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

What if play is the missing key to healing, better sleep, and longevity?

In this solo episode, Lauren explores how play supports neuroplasticity, enhances creativity, and improves both physical and emotional well-being. Drawing on research, she shares how top innovators often have a strong background in hands-on imaginative play, and why that matters for performance and problem-solving.

Lauren explains how humans are uniquely wired to continue playing into adulthood, and how doing so can boost learning, reduce stress, and even improve sleep quality. She offers simple, practical ways to bring more play into your daily life.

If you’ve been feeling burned out, stuck, or low on energy, this episode is an invitation to reconnect with joy, curiosity, and the healing power of play. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:36 The Science Behind Play and the Brain02:51 How Play Boosts Productivity & Creativity04:20 Why Humans Are Wired to Keep Playing05:13 Skiing, Movement, and Joyful Expression08:08 Tools for Neuroplasticity & Focus11:30 Longevity, Healthspan, and “Free Medicine”14:03 The Link Between Play and Better Sleep15:53 What Happens When We Stop Playing19:28 How to Make Play a Daily Practice20:07 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #playmore #neuroplasticity #longevityhabits  #wellnesstips #sleepbetter #healthoptimization

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

Blaine and Lauren have fun with a Vanity Fair wellness spoof article that hits a little too close to home. The article is packed with longevity hacks, including supplements, red light therapy, and biohacking routines.

What starts as humor turns into a deeper conversation about the stress, pressure, and performative culture behind modern wellness and anti-aging.

They discuss current longevity research and explore energy as the often-missing piece of the puzzle. Drawing from Energy Medicine Yoga, they share how tuning your body’s energy may support real health, happiness, and resilience.

This episode is a light, funny, honest reminder that true wellness isn’t about doing more, it’s actually about feeling better. Now available wherever you get your podcasts!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:30 Vanity Fair Article Arrives02:21 Lauren’s Spoof Takeaway04:10 Reading the Wild Schedule07:56 Wellness Performative Culture09:48 Open Loops and Stress12:41 Where’s the Joy?15:13 Longevity Industry Reality Check20:43 What Actually Matters Most22:57 Energy as the Missing Link24:22 Tuning the Human Instrument26:09 Energy Patterns and Influence29:14 Hollywood Youth Pressure30:37 Embracing Aging from Within31:26 Joy, Play & Crafting33:14 Stop Chasing Approval33:43 Time-Blocking Happiness34:13 Bring Back the Joy34:43 The Science of Smiling35:17 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #wellnessculture #longevitytips #healthhumor #wellnesstrends #joyfulliving #wellnessjourney

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. 

In this solo episode, Lauren looks at spring as a natural point to check in with what you’ve begun and see what’s ready for your attention now.

She introduces the Chinese Medicine concept of “disruptive forces,” focusing on wind as a key factor affecting both physical and emotional balance. Lauren explains how wind affects the body’s energy systems, particularly the Triple Warmer, and offers simple acupressure techniques to support your nervous system.

This episode includes guided points plus gentle practices to help you reset, ground, and restore your energy.

Now available wherever you get your podcasts!

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction00:50 Seasonal Reset + Revisiting Intentions02:44 The Garden Cull Metaphor04:16 Understanding Wind as a Disruptive Force07:13 Triple Warmer + Energetic Protection08:43 Spring Shifts + Winds of Change10:52 Triple Warmer 17: Shielding Wind13:42 Gallbladder 20 + Governing 16 Points15:23 Acupressure + Nervous System Regulation16:30 Conclusion
Episode Resources:EMYoga Online Courses: emyoga.thinkific.com/collections/emyoga-coursesShop our EMYoga Store: emyogastore.com/Sign up for our FREE weekly Newsletter: www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga
#EnergyMedicineYoga #EMYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #TraditionalChineseMedicine #Acupressure #NervousSystemRegulation #WindPoints