In this solo episode of Phases of Embodiment, Laura Potter explores restorative yoga as a practice of conscious rest, deep relaxation, and healing. She shares what sets restorative yoga apart from movement-based yoga, why props and comfort are at the heart of the practice, and how creating space to truly rest can support the nervous system and overall well-being.

Laura also shares her personal journey with restorative yoga and offers simple, practical guidance for creating a supportive practice at home using everyday items. Whether you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed, or simply craving more space to slow down and rest, this episode is an invitation to soften, turn inward, and reconnect with your body.

In this episode, Laura explores:

• What restorative yoga is and how it differs from movement-based yoga
• Why props, comfort, and support are central to the practice
• The difference between sleep and conscious rest
• How restorative yoga supports the nervous system and overall wellbeing
• The physical, mental, and emotional benefits of deep relaxation
• Laura’s personal journey with restorative yoga and the four conditions for calm
• How to create a restorative practice at home using simple household items

MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Judith Hanson Lasater

www.judithhansonlasater.com

www.restorativeyogateachers.com

• My Listing
• Book a Private 1:1 or Group Restorative Yoga Class with Me!

B. K. S. Iyengar

Parvati Magazine Article

Dr. Alicia Newsome Episode

Cello Music:

The Wong Janice

Garth Stevenson

Horizon Reverie

Cellomano

Timer/Meditation App:

Insight Timer

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter,

Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

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Yoga People Oneonta Schedule

In this episode of Phases of Embodiment, Áine Rock shares her journey of motherhood and midlife transformation, including the inspiration behind her book Blow Up Your Life: The Wild Art of Wanting More. She reflects on the process of birthing creative projects, shedding old identities, and embracing the desires and wisdom that emerge through different seasons of life.

Together, Áine and Laura explore how midlife and perimenopause can become powerful invitations to reconnect with ourselves, reclaim desire and pleasure, and step into deeper self-trust. They discuss healing the mother wound, shifting generational patterns, and using embodiment practices to reconnect with the body, creativity, and inner wisdom.

ABOUT Áine Rock is a writer, speaker, and somatic guide who helps women reclaim their pleasure, truth, and personal power after leaving behind lives that looked successful but felt misaligned. Her debut memoir, Blow Up Your Life: The Wild Art of Wanting More (Rise Books / Simon & Schuster), is out now.

www.ainerock.com/blowupyourlife

www.sofanyawellness.com 

MENTIONED ON THE SHOW

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter,

Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

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In this episode of Phases of Embodiment, Dr. Alicia Newsome, #1 Best Selling Author and Functional Medicine Physician, shares how taking a root-cause approach can help women better understand and support their health. Drawing from her own personal health journey, she explains why addressing the underlying causes of symptoms (not simply managing them) is essential for lasting healing.

The conversation explores the powerful connection between stress, hormones, nutrition, toxins, and rest, while offering practical strategies to build resilience and work with the body's natural rhythms. 

Dr. Newsome also discusses why honoring the menstrual cycle, prioritizing restorative practices, and expanding the body's capacity to handle stress can have a profound impact on overall well-being.

ABOUT Dr. Alicia Newsome is an international speaker, executive advisor, functional medicine doctor, hormone expert, and 3x bestselling author who helps high-performing founders and senior leaders build profitable companies without sacrificing their wellbeing, marriage, or values. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, health, and faith.

As the founder of Body Wellness Institute and AM Clinical Research Consulting, she brings over 15 years of clinical and research experience — including clinical operations consulting for pharmaceutical and biotech companies and work on numerous clinical trials, five of which resulted in FDA drug approval — to her work with ambitious leaders.

Through her proprietary Integrative Leadership Framework™, she works across three domains — Business, Body, and Belief — strengthening organizational structure, executive capacity, and strategic alignment so growth does not come at a personal cost.

Her forthcoming book, Worthy of Rest, releasing Fall 2026, reflects her central belief that high-achieving women were never meant to sacrifice their health to fulfill their calling.

Website: www.dralicianewsome.com

Instagram @dr.alicianewsome 

Facebook: dralicianewsome

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-alicia-newsome/

Email: [email protected]

Supplements: www.rootcaresupplements.com

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.alicianewsome

MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by Jame Clear

The Whole and Complete Woman Podcast

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter,

Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

My Website

Instagram

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Welcome to Season 2 of Phases of Embodiment!

In this season opener, Laura explores the cyclical nature of creativity and what our menstrual cycles and the natural world can teach us about sustainable growth. She shares why we don't need to have everything figured out before we begin, how confidence is built through action, and why discomfort is often a natural part of stepping into a new season of life.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How creativity moves in cycles
• What nature and the menstrual cycle teach us about sustainable growth
• The difference between honoring rest and hiding behind perfectionism
• Why confidence is built through action
• How to navigate the discomfort that comes with growth and visibility
• Reflective journal prompts to help you identify your current season

Whether you're building a business, creating art, navigating a life transition, or simply feeling called toward something new, this episode is a reminder that you don't need everything figured out before you begin.

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter, Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

My Website

Instagram

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In this episode, Menstrual Cycle Coach, Laura Potter, shares a more holistic approach to navigating PMS and supporting your body during the luteal phase.

The episode explains how stress, sleep, movement, emotional support, and even what we consume online can impact our hormonal health- and how small shifts in the way we care for ourselves can help us feel more grounded, supported, and connected to our bodies during this phase of the cycle.

This is the final episode of Season 1 of Phases of Embodiment! Thanks for joining along the journey and be sure to follow the show to get the announcement for the release of Season 2! 

REFERENCES:

• Cycle Coach School 
• WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source by Alisa Vitti
• In the FLO: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life by Alisa Vitti
• The Female Body Bible: A Revolution in Women’s Health and Fitness by Emma Ross, Baz Moffat, Dr. Bella Smith
• Wild Power: Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power by Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer and Alexandra Pope

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/p/premenstrual-syndrome-pms.html, 

https://www.iapmd.org/steps-to-diagnosis, 

https://www.pms.org.uk, 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8463989/, 

https://www.health.harvard.edu/a_to_z/premenstrual-syndrome-pms-a-to-z, 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pre-menstrual-syndrome/

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter, Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

My Website

Instagram

Work with Me:

Book a Discovery Call

Keywords:

PMS, luteal phase, hormonal health, mindful consumption, nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, sleep hygiene, emotional support

In this episode, Laura sits down with Diana S. Alberti, RDN, CDN, RYT, for a thoughtful conversation on holistic women’s health, nourishment, and reconnecting to the body.

Diana shares how her passion for preventative health led her to become a dietitian, while the conversation explores cyclical living, yoga as a pathway back to the body, and the healing power of women’s circles and being truly witnessed.

Laura and Diana also reflect on grief, fertility, motherhood, and the wisdom of the menstrual cycle, while exploring what it means to let go of the “shoulds” and reconnect more deeply with ourselves and our intuition.

***CW: This episode mentions miscarriage, if you would like to skip those sections, here are the timestamps: 11:00-15:51 and 33:00-40:00***

ABOUT:

Diana S. Alberti, RDN, CDN, RYT is a Registered Dietitian, Mind-Body Nutrition Coach, Yoga Instructor, Women’s Circle Facilitator, and Postpartum Health Practitioner. After more than a decade of counseling experience, she founded Wholeheartedly Well, a holistic wellness center dedicated to empowering women through a mind-body approach to nutrition, movement, and well-being.

Through her work, Diana helps women cultivate a healthy relationship with food, their bodies, and their minds. Her mission is to support women in stepping confidently into their own skin, feeling empowered to care for their whole selves from a place of sovereignty, and living more fully and authentically.

Diana's Website

Diana's Instagram

MENTIONED ON THE SHOW:

Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women by Kate Northrup

WomanCode: Unlocking Women's Health - A Holistic Approach to Hormone Balance, Fertility, and Wellness Through Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes by Alisa Vitti, HHC

The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your Body, Balancing Your Emotions, and Restoring Your Vitality by Kimberly Ann Johnson

Maternity, coming face to face with our own shadow by Laura Gutman

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter, Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

My Website

Instagram

Work with Me:

Book a Discovery Call

In this solo episode of Phases of Embodiment, Laura shares the seasonal framework of Menstrual Cycle Awareness- connecting menstruation, pre-ovulation, ovulation, and the pre-menstrual phase to the outer seasons of winter, spring, summer, and autumn.

Through both physiological education and embodied reflection, this episode offers a gentle introduction to cyclical living and the emotional, energetic, and hormonal shifts that can arise throughout the menstrual cycle. Laura shares the “joys and shadows” of each phase, along with supportive self-care practices to help listeners cultivate greater body literacy, self-awareness, and compassion.

This conversation touches on:

• The seasonal archetypes of the menstrual cycle
• Hormonal shifts throughout each phase
• Why cyclical awareness can deepen self-understanding
• Common emotional and physical experiences across the cycle
• PMS, rest, productivity culture, and nervous system support
• Journaling, Restorative Yoga, and embodied self-care practices
• The concept of “bleeding on it” and cyclical decision making

Whether you are new to menstrual cycle awareness or deepening an existing practice, this episode is an invitation to reconnect with your body’s natural rhythms and honor the changing seasons within.

If this episode resonated with you, please consider sharing it with a friend or leaving a rating and review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts- it truly helps support the growth of the show and this work.

Laura Potter is a Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga teacher who supports women in reconnecting with their bodies through Menstrual Cycle Awareness, embodiment practices, nervous system support, and restorative rest.

Through 1:1 coaching, workshops, speaking, and this podcast, she helps women cultivate body literacy, reduce burnout, and move through life with more alignment, compassion, and ease.

Learn more about coaching and offerings:
https://www.phasesofembodiment.com/cyclecoaching

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In this conversation, Laura sits down with her friend and former soccer teammate, Megan Williams, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), to explore the unique mental health challenges female athletes face—navigating high-performance environments, identity shifts, and overriding the body.

Megan shares her journey from collegiate athletics into the mental health field, offering insight into self-compassion, the importance of support systems, and what it really means to redefine success beyond achievement.

The conversation also touches on Megan’s deeply personal experience as a NICU mom, and how navigating uncertainty, medical trauma, and the emotional complexity of early motherhood reshaped her relationship to rest, support, and deep listening.

**CW: NICU and Traumatic Birth 57:55-1:09:30**

Together, Laura and Megan explore the gaps in research and resources for female athletes, the power of mental health advocacy, and what it means to care for ourselves through life’s most demanding seasons.

ABOUT: Megan Williams is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping individuals navigate life’s complexities through a compassionate, eclectic therapeutic approach.

Originally from just outside of Philadelphia, Megan now calls Warren County, New Jersey home—where she balances her professional life with the joyful chaos of raising two spirited boys and occasionally chasing a soccer ball on the weekends.

Over the years, Megan has developed a wide-ranging clinical background, working with populations including older adults, individuals with severe and persistent mental illness, survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She believes deeply in the mind-body connection and works with her clients to understand how both past and present experiences shape their well-being.

Her therapeutic style is rooted in meeting clients exactly where they are, drawing from a mix of modalities to create individualized care. Whether it’s processing trauma, building coping skills, or simply helping someone feel heard for the first time, Megan brings warmth, professionalism, and a touch of humor to each session.

New Discoveries Behavioral Health

Mentioned on the Show:

The Brave Athlete: Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion by Simon Marshall, Ph.D. and Lesley Paterson

The Hidden Opponent

Dr. Stacy Sims

Michele Kang

Midlife health crisis of former competitive athletes

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter, Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

My Website

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In this grounding and inspiring episode, Laura sits down with yoga teacher and studio owner, Kelsie Rockefeller for a conversation (and a few laughs) on cyclical living, community care, and the deeper layers of yoga beyond the mat.

Kelsie and Laura explore seasonal living, reflecting on the wisdom of winter and menstruation as invitations to slow down and turn inward. Kelsie also shares her journey of leaving her hometown to find herself, and the full-circle return that inspired her to create spaces of connection, care, and belonging.

The conversation also highlights the therapeutic applications of yoga, including Kelsie’s work with osteoporosis through her Bones & Balance class. She speaks to how consistent, mindful movement can support bone health and enhance quality of life, especially as we age.

***CONTENT WARNING: Pregnancy Complications & Miscarriage TIMESTAMP: 47:23-49:56***

ABOUT:

Kelsie Rockefeller’s work is rooted in cultivating spaces where people from seemingly separate worlds linger on common ground. Based in Oneonta, NY, she owns and operates, Yoga People Oneonta, a yoga studio known for embracing consistency over intensity, authenticity over perfection, and a playful joy in rediscovering the self.

With a background spanning yoga therapy, functional fitness, Pilates, and massage therapy, she offers a layered, real-world approach to finding alignment on your own terms. Curious by nature and always learning, she continues to evolve her offerings to meet a growing appetite for wellness literacy, meaningful connection, and spaces that feel as good as they function

Outside of the studio, Kelsie is president and CEO of a household of two wild kids, a semi-non-competitive athlete, and often the only one laughing, fully committed, at her own jokes. 

Yoga People Oneonta

@yogapeopleoneonta

City of Oneonta Woman Trailblazer Award

Mentioned on the show:

Dr. Loren Fishman, MD (Osteoporosis) 

Anodea Judith

The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice by T. K. V. Desikachar

YOUR HOST:

Laura Potter, Certified Menstrual Cycle Coach and Restorative Yoga Teacher

My Website

Instagram

Work with Me:

Book a Discovery Call

In this solo episode, Laura introduces one of the core practices that has transformed her life: menstrual cycle awareness.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by fluctuating energy, mood, or focus (or wondered why your body doesn’t feel the same every day) this episode offers a new lens. Rather than something to manage or push through, your cycle becomes a rhythm to listen to, learn from, and work with.

Laura shares her personal journey from disconnection to deep relationship with her cycle, and breaks down how you can begin building that relationship for yourself.

What You’ll Learn

• Why your menstrual cycle is about so much more than your period
• How hormones like estrogen and progesterone impact your mood, energy, and long-term health
• Why the menstrual cycle is considered the fifth vital sign
• The four phases of the menstrual cycle and what’s happening in each
• The difference between the circadian rhythm (24-hour clock) and the infradian rhythm (your cycle)
• How modern life often ignores cyclical living and what that costs us
• What menstrual cycle awareness actually is (and why it’s a powerful mindfulness practice)
• The “Big Red Rule” and how to reclaim authority over your body
• How to start charting your cycle in a simple, approachable way

Mentioned on the Show:

• Red School
• Wild Power: Discover the Magic of Your Menstrual Cycle and Awaken the Feminine Path to Power by Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer and Alexandra Pope
• In the FLO: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life by Alisa Vitti
• National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. (n.d.). Menstrual cycles. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved April 15, 2026, from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/about/org/od/directors_corner/prev_updates/menstrual-cycles

ABOUT LAURA POTTER Through cyclical living and embodiment practices, Laura helps women move from burnout to a more intuitive, sustainable, and self-trusting way of living. She empowers clients to honor their menstrual cycles, release perfectionism, and embrace each season of life.

If you’re ready to deepen this work, Laura offers:

• Intro Sessions to learn the foundations of menstrual cycle awareness
• 3- and 6-Month Coaching Containers
  • 2 sessions per month
  • Ongoing support tracking your cycle, patterns, and transformations

Learn More Here: https://www.phasesofembodiment.com/cyclecoaching
📞 Book a free discovery call here to see if Menstrual Cycle Coaching is right for you: https://calendly.com/laurapotteryoga/cycle-coaching-discovery-call

🌐 Website: phasesofembodiment.com
📲 Instagram: @phasesofembodiment