In this episode, Ksenia is diving deeper into the idea that rest is an act of rebellion. 

We've all been there: the pressure to constantly hustle, especially in fields like academia and other demanding careers, can be overwhelming. But what if slowing down and prioritising rest wasn't a sign of weakness, but a powerful act of resistance against a system that glorifies burnout?

Ksenia shares bits of her personal journey and observations from her time in academia, as well as:

• Why true resilience isn’t found in endless work, but in the courage to step back and restore your energy.
• How modelling healthy work habits can create a ripple effect for friends, colleagues and future generations.
• Practical, small ways to start rebelling with rest today.

Whether you're a student, a researcher, a parent, a mentor, or navigating a demanding job, this episode is a call to action. Let’s redefine what it means to be dedicated and successful by putting our well-being first.

Resources:

• Leave Your Work at Work Mini-Bundle: This resource helps you tackle "rest guilt" with a private audio training and a 10-minute meditation. You can get it here: subscribepage.io/leaveworkatworktraining
• Recharge and Restore: A brief PDF guide to stretches and movements you can do right at your desk to help your body (and mind!) feel more relaxed. Find it here: subscribepage.io/c1w1x6

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

What if slowing down was not a weakness, but a skill?

In this solo reflection, Ksenia talks about how she went from constantly rushing (and feeling like rest was something she had to “earn”) to slowly learning the courage it takes to pause, breathe, and choose a different pace, even when the world (and her mind) is screaming “go faster.”

She shares:

- Why slowing down often feels so uncomfortable 

- The sneaky guilt that comes with resting or moving slowly

- Moments from her own life when the rush nearly took over

- Gentle, doable ways to start listening to your body and mind and slowing down before burnout forces you to stop

If you’ve ever wondered why it feels so hard to rest or worried that slowing down will make you fall behind, this episode is your reminder: rest is not “wasting time” or being lazy. Slowing down is a skill you can learn and practice, one that will enrich your life and, in the long run, make you more focused and productive.

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LEAVE YOUR WORK AT WORK: Free audio training + guided meditation
Get it here >>> https://subscribepage.io/leaveworkatworktraining

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

In this intimate, honest episode, we (two moms and yoga teachers) open up about how yoga supported us through pregnancy, labour, and postpartum - not just in the physical sense, but in how we learned to listen to ourselves, surrender, roar, and recover.

We reflect on:
 🧘‍♀️ How our prenatal yoga routines shifted across trimesters
 🔁 What we’d definitely do again and what we wish we had done differently
🌀 How yoga helped us stay intuitive, present, and calm during pregnancy
🗣️ The tools that actually made a difference in labour: breath, sound, focus, trust (and toe stands)
🦁 Tapping into our inner lioness: letting go of control and being unapologetic
💔 How postpartum cracked us open and how yoga tools helped us cope
💬 Why yoga off the mat (awareness, self-trust, and gentleness) matters more than the perfect pose or a full hour spent on your mat

This isn’t a how-to guide, it’s a conversation full of real stories, small wisdoms, and embodied experience. If you’re pregnant, postpartum, or simply curious about how yoga can meet you through the wild transitions of motherhood, this one’s for you.

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

Stress, overwork, and constant hustle can wreak havoc on your hormones, especially if you're constantly ignoring your natural cycle and your body's cues. In this episode, Ksenia sits down with hormone health expert Emilia Villegas to discuss how modern work culture impacts our hormonal well-being and what we can do to reclaim balance.

We cover everything from how stress throws off your endocrine system to menstrual cycle-informed productivity, to simple and practical tips you can start using today to support your hormone health without needing to overhaul your entire life.

Whether you're dealing with fatigue, anxiety, burnout, or any cycle-related issues, this episode will help you begin to understand your body better and offer science-backed strategies to start healing.

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Emilia's links:

Website: https://flowwithemilia.com/

IG: @flowwithemilia

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

In this honest and open conversation, we reflect on how our relationships with our bodies have evolved over the past decade, from student all-nighters and coffee-fueled burnout to a more attuned, mindful approach shaped by yoga, motherhood, and life experience.

We explore:

• What “body awareness” really means
• How chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout show up physically
• Our very different (but equally chaotic) student years
• How practising yoga changed the way we treat ourselves
• The messy process of learning to rest without guilt, especially as moms
• How motherhood redefines what “energy management” looks like

This episode is for anyone who’s ever ignored their body’s signals until it screamed and wants to do things differently. It’s about noticing the red flags sooner, tuning into your real needs, and making peace with not doing all the things, all the time.

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

This solo story gets personal: Ivna interviews Ksenia about the behind-the-scenes chaos (and beauty) of trying to build a meaningful, sustainable yoga business while raising a toddler full-time.

We cover what it's like to feel like you're falling behind - and also exactly where you're supposed to be. Plus, we end with a tangent on Zumba, mindful movement, why yoga is the perfect antidote to academic stress, and how it supports scientists beyond just stretching.

Listen if you're:
 → A scientist or academic feeling burnt out
 → A parent trying to stay true to yourself
 → Curious about yoga’s real-world impact on stress and productivity

🎧 Tune in for messy truths, honest laughs, and some serious real-talk on juggling roles and reclaiming purpose.

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📆 Ksenia's next free online Co-working + Yoga session: Friday, June 27, at 2 pm CEST
📩 Sign up here: https://shantiscienceyoga.lpages.co/co-working-yoga/

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

What does home really mean when you've lived across half a dozen countries? In this heartwarming and honest episode, we share our personal journeys through Europe and Asia - from summer internships and PhDs to falling in love, becoming mothers, and redefining identity with every move.

💬 We talk about:

- The unexpected butterfly effects that changed our lives 🌍
- What it's like to move for love, work, or curiosity
- How motherhood reshaped our sense of home and roots
- Building rituals and finding grounding amidst constant change
- The grief of losing friendships through distance
- Creating meaningful connections as adults and moms
- Feeling like a global citizen… and feeling lost at times

Whether you're an expat, scientist, mom, or someone navigating transitions, this episode will resonate deeply. It's about finding stability in people, not places, and knowing that home lives inside you.

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

In this powerful episode of Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, we sit down with neuroscientist and yoga teacher Sylvie Lahaie (aka Synaptic Sylvie) to unpack her journey through burnout, mental health struggles, and finding healing through yoga and mindfulness. Sylvie opens up about the toxic work culture in academia, overworking herself into collapse during her Master’s degree, and how a simple YouTube yoga video became a turning point in her life.

We explore the intersection of neuroscience and self-care, the impact of stress on the brain, the systemic pressures that push young scientists beyond their limits, and balancing many passions and creative productivity solutions that help with it. Whether you're in academia, struggling with burnout, or simply curious about how yoga can help rewire your brain - this is a must-listen.

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Sylvie's links:
Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/synaptic.sylvie/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@synaptic.sylvie

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@synaptic.sylvie5584

Spotify -https://open.spotify.com/show/7g60ql7RkYIMdi0OFMnN7W?si=16daff1750d44e44

Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/building-your-best-brain/id1729617809

Website - https://yoga-with-synapticsylvie.square.site

InsightTimer - https://insighttimer.com/synaptic.sylvie

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

In this special first interview episode of Moms, Mats, and Manuscripts, Ksenia sits down with Anahita Amirpour - PhD student, performance consultant, and former nurse anaesthetist - to explore how researchers can thrive without burning out. We talk about the culture of overwork in academia, impostor syndrome, setting healthy boundaries, and how Anahita balances her PhD, her business, and writing a book. Whether you're a stressed-out scientist, a recovering perfectionist, or someone juggling too many roles, this conversation will inspire and support you.

Topics covered:

• Burnout in academia and healthcare
• Why impostor syndrome is so common in scientists
• Personal and cultural risk factors for overwork
• Sustainable productivity tips
• Balancing research, business, and creative projects

We hope you enjoy this candid conversation as much as we did!

______________________

Anahita's Instagram: @phdanahita

Anahita's website: https://www.amirpourconsulting.com/

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]

We're back with Season 3 - and this time, our guiding word is connection. In this heartfelt episode, we explore how connection ties into the themes of our previous seasons: showing up and being bold and authentic. We share our recent (and not-so-recent) experiences with mental health struggles, particularly around postpartum, loneliness, and identity.

From stopping breastfeeding and hitting a low point, to finding unexpected support through Facebook mom groups, we talk about what it really means to feel seen, and how even small moments of shared understanding can make all the difference.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and a perfect time to remember: you're not meant to do this alone. Let's reconnect.

Don't forget to like, follow, and share our podcast! We'd love to hear your thoughts and questions, and if you have ideas for future episodes, drop us a line.

Follow us:
@moms.mats.manuscripts
Ivna's Instagram: ivnayoga
Ksenia's Instagram: shantiscience_yoga

Reach out: [email protected]