Yoga is far more than a physical practice. It is a path for how we live, how we relate, how we work with the body and breath, and ultimately, how we understand the mind.

In this first episode of An Embodiment Journey Through the Eight Limbs of Yoga, we begin with Yama — the first limb and the ethical foundation of the yogic path.

Together, we’ll explore the five Yamas: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (moderation), and Aparigraha (non-attachment) — not simply as ancient teachings, but as living practices that can shape the way we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.

Through philosophy, reflection, embodied meditation and journaling, you’ll be invited to move beyond understanding these teachings intellectually and begin exploring how they can be experienced and lived in everyday life.

This is Day 1 of an eight-part journey through the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

Days 2–8 are available to Blooming Spirit Podcast subscribers on Spotify, or you can explore the complete eight-day course with me on Insight Timer.

Have your journal nearby, find somewhere comfortable to settle in, and let’s begin. 🌿

Nola Bloom

🎵 Music by Chris Collins

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

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🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

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[00:00] Introduction

[01:38] Ashtanga - The Eight Limbs of Yoga: An Overview

[03:09] Sanskrit: The Language of Yoga

[03:57] Yoga Chitta Vritti Nirodha: The Still Lake

[04:55] Yama: Yoga’s Ethical Foundation

[06:41] Ahimsa: Kindness to Self & Others

[09:22] Satya: Truthfulness

[11:41] Asteya: Trusting in What You Already Have

[14:14] Brahmacharya: Finding Balance

[16:42] Aparigraha: Loosening Your Grip

[19:31] Embodied Meditation: The Five Yamas

[30:37] Journaling, Integration & Continuing the Journey

There are moments in life when we carry more than we realize. We hold responsibilities, expectations, uncertainty, and the quiet feeling that everything depends upon us. Over time, the body tightens, the mind becomes busy, and we forget that support is already surrounding us.

In this Dharma Talk & Meditation, we gently explore the yogic teaching of Ishvara Pranidhana, the practice of surrender. Not as giving up, but as softening our grip and allowing ourselves to trust life a little more deeply.

Through reflection, breath, and guided meditation, you are invited to release tension, reconnect with the feeling of being supported, and rest in the reminder that you do not need to carry everything alone.

Take a comfortable position, soften into this moment, and allow yourself to receive.

🎵 Music by Chris Collins

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#Meditation #DharmaTalk #GuidedMeditation #Trust #Surrender #Support #IshvaraPranidhana #YogaPhilosophy #Mindfulness #SpiritualGrowth #SelfHealing #InnerPeace #Relaxation #BloomingSpiritPodcast

Returning to the Wisdom of the Womb | Yoga Nidra for Women

A deeply restorative Yoga Nidra created for women, guiding you through a poetic and mystical journey into the wisdom of the womb.

Follow the luminous waters of a hidden spring through the layers of body, breath, heart, and inner awareness. As the journey deepens, you are invited into stillness, remembrance, and a quiet reconnection with the wisdom already living within you.

This practice weaves guided relaxation, breath awareness, visualization, and the traditional layers of Yoga Nidra into one continuous symbolic journey, offering space to soften deeply and listen inward.

Find a comfortable place to lie down, allow yourself to be fully supported, and enter the hidden spring. ✨

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#YogaNidra #YogaNidraMeditation #GuidedMeditation #MeditationForWomen #WombMeditation #DeepRelaxation #WomensWellness #RestAndRestore #SomaticMeditation #NolaBloom #TheBloomingSpirit

Start your day with presence, intention, and a sense of calm.

Before the busyness of the day begins, give yourself a few quiet moments to reconnect with your breath, your body, and the peaceful awareness that is always within you.

In this gentle morning meditation, you'll be guided through mindful breathing, a calming body awareness practice, and a simple intention-setting reflection to help you begin your day with clarity and purpose. Rather than rushing into what's next, you'll create space to arrive fully in the present moment.

Whether you're enjoying this meditation with your morning tea, before work, or as part of your daily self-care ritual, may it help you greet the day with an open heart, a clear mind, and a grounded sense of presence.

Have you ever heard the word sankalpa in a Yoga Nidra and wondered what it actually means?

In this video, I'm breaking down what a sankalpa is, where the word comes from, how it's traditionally used, and how you can bring it into your own practice — whether that's Yoga Nidra, meditation, or simply a quiet moment before your day begins.

If you'd like to experience a guided Yoga Nidra where we work with sankalpa together, you'll find the links below.

🌙 Blooming Spirit — yoga philosophy, meditation, and embodied practice.

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.

If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Chapters:

(0:00) – Introduction

(0:08) – What a sankalpa is (the seed metaphor)

(0:34) – Speaking it in the present tense

(0:53) – Where the word comes from (origins)

(1:18) – Sankalpa vs. an affirmation

(1:43) – Why Yoga Nidra is where it settles deepest

(2:09) – Planting it at the beginning and end

(2:35) – Repeating it three times

(3:03) – When your mind goes blank

(3:39) – How long to keep the same sankalpa

(3:53) – Using it beyond Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra: The Healing Power of Surrender

Surrender is not about giving up. It is about softening unnecessary effort and allowing ourselves to be held by the present moment.

In this deeply restorative Yoga Nidra, you'll be guided into a state of conscious relaxation where the body can rest, the nervous system can unwind, and the mind can gently settle. Through breath awareness and soothing imagery, you'll be invited to release tension, cultivate trust, and reconnect with a deeper sense of inner peace.

✨ This Yoga Nidra is part of my 3-day Insight Timer course, The Wisdom of Rest, exploring awareness, surrender, and restoration through meditation and Yoga Nidra practices.

🔗 Learn more here

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#YogaNidra #GuidedMeditation #DeepRest #HealingPowerOfSurrender #YogaPhilosophy #IshvaraPranidhana #NervousSystemHealing #StressRelief #Relaxation #InnerPeace

Take a gentle pause and unwind with this calming 25 minute Yin Yoga practice designed to release tension in the hips and lower back.

Through long-held, supported postures and slow, mindful breathing, you'll create space in the body while inviting the nervous system to soften and settle.

You'll need a bolster, 2–3 yoga blocks, and a quiet space where you can fully relax. This class is suitable for all levels and is a beautiful way to ease stiffness, restore mobility, and reconnect with yourself through stillness and breath.

🎵 Music by Chris Collins

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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A guided dharma talk and meditation exploring Drishti, the yogic practice of focused attention.In this practice, we explore how Drishti supports balance, concentration, non-reactivity, and clarity of mind, both on and off the mat.

Rooted in the Yoga Sutras and the teachings of dharana, this session includes both open-eye and closed-eye Drishti practices to help steady attention and calm the fluctuations of the mind. A grounding and insightful practice for yogis wishing to deepen their understanding of yoga as a practice of the mind.

If you enjoy this meditation, you may also wish to explore my course, An ⁠Embodiment Journey into the Eight Limbs of Yoga⁠ on Insight Timer, where we dive deeper into the philosophy and practices that support a meaningful yoga journey both on and off the mat.

Music by Chris Collins

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.

If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#DrishtiMeditation #Trataka #FocusedAwareness #MeditationPractice #MindfulnessMeditation #YogaPhilosophy #ConcentrationMeditation #InnerStillness #GuidedMeditation #TheBloomingSpiritPodcast

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Ocean Breath is a guided meditation and dharma talk exploring Ujjayi Pranayama, one of the foundational breathing practices of yoga.

Known as Ocean Breath or Victorious Breath, Ujjayi creates a soft, rhythmic sound that helps anchor the mind in the present moment. In the yogic tradition, breath is considered a bridge between body, mind, and spirit, and Pranayama, the fourth limb of yoga, teaches us how to work consciously with this powerful tool.

In this 30-minute practice, you'll learn the foundations of Ujjayi breathing, explore its role within yoga philosophy, and experience how the breath can support focus, mindfulness, and inner steadiness both on and off the mat.

If you enjoy this meditation, you may also wish to explore my meditation on Drishti (Yogic Gaze), which explores the practice of focused attention, as well as my course, An Embodiment Journey into the Eight Limbs of Yoga, where we dive deeper into the philosophy and practices that support a meaningful yoga journey both on and off the mat.

🎵 Music by Chris Collins

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#Meditation #GuidedMeditation #Pranayama #UjjayiBreath #OceanBreath #YogaPhilosophy #YogaMeditation #Mindfulness #Breathwork #DharmaTalk #EightLimbsOfYoga #BloomingSpirit

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🌑 Yoga Nidra: New Moon Manifestation 🌙
This 35-minute Yoga Nidra invites you into the quiet, fertile energy of the New Moon — a time of beginnings, intention, and inner listening.

Through a guided body scan, heart-centered awareness, and gentle breathwork, you are led into a space of deep stillness where your sankalpa can take root and begin to unfold naturally. This practice supports intention setting, trust, and alignment with your inner rhythm.

The final 25 minutes include soft ambient music, allowing you to rest deeply or drift into sleep within the calm of the new moon night.

A beautiful meditation for new moon rituals, planting seeds of intention, nervous system reset, and deep, restorative rest.

🌿 Thank you for joining me on The Blooming Spirit Podcast.If this meditation nourished you, please consider leaving a 5-star review—your support helps this work reach more hearts and bring more calm into the world. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

✨ Explore more offerings at ⁠⁠bloomingspiritjourneys.com⁠⁠—including yoga & meditation sessions, women’s ceremonies, and sacred products to support your journey.

🎧 Follow me on ⁠⁠Insight Timer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for premium meditation courses and free LIVE online meditations.

🌸 For personal support, I offer ⁠⁠1:1 private sessions ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to help you deepen your practice and connect with your inner rhythm.

💖 Feeling grateful? You can always ⁠⁠Buy me a coconut⁠⁠ 🥥—your generosity helps me continue sharing these offerings freely.

🌺 Follow along on Instagram: ⁠⁠@theblooming.spirit⁠⁠

🎵 Music by Chris Collins

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#newmoonmeditation #yoganidra #sleepmeditation #moonritual #relaxation #meditation #thebloomingspiritpodcast #nolabloom