The Chrysalis Pod

Hosts Dana and Eden sit down with Sara Gallagher Bloom to explore what it means to remain a student — even decades into teaching — and how deep listening has shaped her past year of study and practice. After opening with a guided meditation, Sara reflects on mentorship, the role of trust in transformation, and the growing need for more immersive, intentional practices in a world of constant stimulation. The conversation moves through her evolving work with Kundalini, the power of practicing in community, and her approach to teaching through experience rather than theory. Sara also shares the thinking behind her upcoming "Nervous System Overhaul" immersion — a three-day training designed to build resilience, regulation, and capacity through breath, rhythm, and repetition — offering a practical toolkit for navigating modern life with more clarity, energy, and connection.

Hosts Dana and Eden sit down with yoga teacher, trainer, former studio owner, and mental health advocate Melanie Richards to trace her path into yoga. After opening with a guided RAIN meditation, Melanie shares how her first attraction to yoga was shaped by body image pressure and the acting world, and how the practice gradually became a deeper path of healing. She reflects on family instability, discovering a sense of self through yoga, training in Ottawa, and eventually opening Happy Tree in Montreal.

The conversation also explores the evolution of her teacher training over the years — including a growing emphasis on accessibility, trauma-informed teaching, inclusion, and mentorship — as well as her belief that yoga is far bigger than physical postures alone. Melanie also speaks about the personal roots of her "Fuck Skinny Movement," a powerful rejection of diet culture and the belief that shrinking ourselves is the path to being enough.

00:00 Intro – RAIN meditation, spring energy & studio catch-up

05:50 Meet Melanie – Happy Tree, teaching, advocacy & what she's building now

07:45 How Yoga Found Her – Acting, body image pressure & the start of a healing path

16:30 Becoming a Teacher – Training, opening Happy Tree & learning on the fly

26:45 Teaching Teachers – How her training evolved through inclusion, accessibility & care

41:20 "Fuck Skinny" – Breaking up with diet culture and body-based worthiness

50:15 What She'd Tell New Teachers – Practice, purpose and where yoga meets real life

53:15 What's Next – Retreats, online offerings & closing reflections

• Yoga for healing and self-discovery
• Body image, diet culture, and self-worth
• The path to becoming a yoga teacher
• Building and running a yoga studio
• Trauma-informed and accessible yoga
• Mentorship and teaching philosophy
• Yoga beyond physical practice
• Mental health and nervous system regulation

Spirituality Has No Dress Code Marianne Larochelle on Discernment, Dharma, and the Roots of Yoga

The episode opens with a short guided meditation led by Marianne Larochelle — an immediate immersion into her embodied, experiential approach to yoga.

From there, Dana and Eden trace Marianne's unconventional path into practice: discovering yoga through an old book while living off-grid in British Columbia, navigating Bikram in San Francisco, encountering spiritual dogma (and a memorable toilet paper turban moment), and ultimately returning to Montreal for teacher training.

Marianne shares how yoga led her to leave a restaurant-centered life and step more fully into her dharma — teaching, mentoring, and weaving together art and subtle body philosophy. The conversation explores discernment in an age of gurus, imagination as a spiritual muscle, karma versus dharma, and why yoga is less about belief and more about experimentation.

They close with a preview of her upcoming offerings at Morpho Bleu — *Experiments in Consciousness* (March 29) and *The Roots of Yoga* training (April 17–19) — both designed for teachers and non-teachers alike, including caregivers, educators, artists, and anyone curious about going deeper than the mat.

00:00 Intro – Spring energy & upcoming trainings 02:20 Guided Meditation with Marianne 08:30 Marianne's Yoga Origin Story – From BC cabin to Montreal training 16:00 Spiritual Seeking & Discernment – Bikram, Kundalini & finding her way 23:30 Leaving Restaurant Life – Choosing Yoga & teaching "Yoga for the People" 29:00 Art, Subtle Bodies & Embodied Philosophy 37:00 What is Yoga, Really? – Beyond asana, into consciousness 46:00 Real-World Impact – Caregivers, imagination & everyday dharma 57:00 Dharma vs. Karma – Alignment, purpose & living energized 1:02:30 Closing Reflections & Upcoming Workshops

SEASON TWO, EPISODE THREE: "Forever a student" Melisande Turpin on the architecture of teaching: movement, mentorship, and sustainable yoga practice

In this episode, Dana and Eden sit down with Melisande Turpin to explore the evolution of yoga practice and teaching through adaptability, curiosity, and lived experience. Melisande shares her path from early childhood yoga and dance, through Ashtanga training in India, to years of studio ownership, mentorship, and study in functional movement and biomechanics. Together, they discuss progressive sequencing, yoga as a cyclical life-stage practice, and the importance of feedback, authenticity, and staying inspired as both a teacher and a student.

Topics covered:

• Growing up with yoga and movement

• Ashtanga training in India and early teaching years

• Adapting traditional practices for real bodies

• Injury, sustainability, and long-term practice

• Functional movement and biomechanics in yoga

• Progressive sequencing and class design

• Mentorship, authenticity, and teaching voice

• Building a sustainable, diversified yoga career

In this episode, Dana and Eden sit down with Sarah L'Hrar (Astro Auntie) to explore the themes of seasonality and cycles through an astrological lens. Sarah explains how lunar rhythms, planetary timelines, and the four seasons mirror one another, and how observing these patterns can help us understand where we are — emotionally, energetically, and developmentally — at any given moment. The conversation moves through the repetition of cycles, the micro–macro nature of time, and the value of noticing what each season brings. Sarah also offers context for the current astrological moment, including a rare concentration of planets in water signs, and why this particular period invites emotional reflection before the faster, more fiery energies of the coming years. They touch on new moon rituals, living with light and darkness, and the grounding practice of using seasonal markers — equinoxes, solstices, and lunar phases — as moments to pause, reflect, and recalibrate.

In this first episode of Season 2, Dana and Eden welcome back a Morpho Bleu fave, Abbie Galvin from The Studio New York, who returns to Montreal this fall to lead "Katona Through the Seasons" at Morpho Bleu on October 25 and 26. Together they explore Katonah Yoga's cyclical, nature-based framework and how it draws from Chinese medicine, metaphor, and geometry to help us find homeostasis rather than balance. Abbie reflects on the seasons within each of us, the way practice evolves over time, and the importance of technique and repetition as a path toward insight. With warmth and wit, the conversation offers a rich look at how Katonah Yoga connects body, mind, and nature through spherical thinking and imaginative maps of the self. Sign up now to join Abbie's training at Morpho Bleu.

You are the Teacher: The heart-fire of practice with Sara and Kimiko

In this episode, hosts Dana and Eden welcome back Sara Gallagher Bloom and Kimiko Fujimoto to the podcast, todiscuss their journeys with and insights on Kundalini practice. Reflecting on their experiences and teachings, the conversation delves deep into the essence of Kundalini, its transformative power, its varied lineages, and how it navigates through modern-day scrutiny. They also address issues of power and ethics within the spiritual practices, emphasizing the importance of transparency, personal agency, and the role of the teacher. They also highlight upcoming events, including the Kundalini immersion weekend and the Heart Fire retreat at Lac Brome, as the culmination of nine months of The Course. They conclude with reflections on the podcast, the community formed, and hopes for future educational offerings.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 04:45 Defining Kundalini 05:30 Kundalini and Spiritual Traditions 08:15 Addressing Controversies in Kundalini 16:45 Teacher-Student Dynamics 22:48 Heart Fire Retreat 26:48 Culmination of the Course 38:23 Upcoming Events 39:53 Final Thoughts and Gratitude 48:15 Concluding the Season with Reflections

Permission slip to listen: The Art of Resonance with Opale Ashley

In this episode of the Chrysalis Pod, hosts Dana and Eden chat with Opale Ashley, a sound artist and hypnotherapist. Ashley explores the intersection of frequency, voice, and authenticity, offering insights into her unique sound journeys and how they can unlock deep personal and collective resonance. She shares her journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a nomadic artist, traveling the world to share her transformative sound experiences. The discussion covers the power of the human voice, the importance of living transmissions, and the potential for sound to restore both inner and outer ecosystems. Her course on The Art of Resonance takes place May 2 to 4 at Morpho Bleu.

In this episode of the Chrysalis Pod, we interview yoga instructor Antoine Pommet about yoga, teaching philosophies, and the importance of hands-on assistance. Antoine shares his experiences of teaching in diverse cultural contexts, particularly in Canada and France, and discusses the nuances of assisting versus adjusting students. The conversation delves into the importance of inclusivity, consent, and understanding various body types in yoga practice. Antoine discusses his upcoming training in Montreal and his insights on creating supportive teaching environments.

Do something today that will carry you into the future: Abbie Galvin on technique, ritual and aging

In this episode, Dana and Eden interview New York City-based teacher and mentor Abby Galvin from The Studio.

Abbie discusses her journey and philosophy of yoga, elaborating on her extensive experience in Katona Yoga, and emphasizing the importance of integrating multiple aspects of life into one's practice. She shares her thoughts on the significance of home practice as a means of cultivating one's true self and overcoming resistance. This episode further delves into the value of ritual over routine, the development of refined techniques, and the necessity of a communal approach to practice, learning and growth. Abby also touches on continuous learning and creativity in yoga and life, making this conversation a must for seasoned practitioners and newcomers alike.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:21 Abby Galvin's Journey into Yoga 01:19 The Multifaceted Role of a Yoga Teacher 04:36 The Esoteric and Implicit Aspects of Yoga 10:26 Meeting Naveen Mishan and Discovering Katona Yoga 25:06 The Importance of Home Practice 32:39 Creating a Sacred Space for Practice 34:41 Teaching Techniques and Communal Learning 37:13 The Value of Continuous Education 40:52 Katonah Certification 43:16 Optimism and Aging Gracefully 47:10 Upcoming Montreal Training and Community Engagement 52:51 Reflections and Takeaways