The Embodied Jewish Woman with Rena Reiser

As Elul begins, many women feel a mix of urgency and pressure to change, especially if perfectionism is part of the picture. In this episode, I share why pushing yourself past your limits isn't the path to lasting growth, and how the concept of "widening the window of tolerance" can bring you back to menuchas hanefesh.

Ever wish for the magic formula to fix your life in three easy steps? I joke about it with my clients, but the truth is, real change isn't linear. In this episode, I share why our minds crave step-by-step solutions, how our bodies hold the real key to growth, and what my actual three-step plan looks like.

Tune in for a mix of humor, Torah wisdom, and practical insight.

In this gentle practice, I guide you to settle into your body and notice what it's holding -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Through breath, touch, and awareness, I help you tune into the sensations that express your current emotional landscape, and find the words that resonate with what you feel inside. You're invited to meet these parts of yourself with compassion, to imagine giving yourself exactly what you need, and to receive the possibility of Hashem offering it to you as well. This is a practice of presence, honesty, and quiet self-nurturing.

After 12 days of war and survival-mode living, many of us are being asked, or even expected, to return to "normal." But what happens when your nervous system isn't ready? When your body is still holding the weight of everything it's just lived through?

In this episode, I speak to the tender and often unspoken truth of what it means to transition out of crisis: the pace, the pressure, the vigilance that doesn't just go away. I share why the slower, quieter rhythm of wartime, even in its intensity, can feel strangely grounding, and how to gently honor your own process, even if it looks different from those around you.

Listen with curiosity, compassion, and the knowing that there's nothing wrong with you if "normal" feels anything but.

How often do we say "I feel like…" - but what we're actually expressing is a thought, an opinion, or a judgment?

In this live conversation, my husband Rabbi Yonasan Reiser and I sat down to explore the deeper meaning behind that common phrase. We unpacked the subtle but powerful difference between thoughts and feelings, and why this distinction matters so much in our relationships, our self-awareness, and even our avodas Hashem.

Topics we touched on include: – Why it feels safer to say "I feel like…" instead of naming what we actually feel – The role of vulnerability in honest communication – A Shabbos story that surprised me with just how many feelings were tangled inside – How unmet needs show up in relationships, especially between men and women – What it means to receive and give from a place of wholeness, through the lens of the Kabbalistic concepts of mekabel and mashpia – Why having the right words for our emotions can create real relief and connection – And how using Nonviolent Communication in our marriage gave us a shared language to express what's really going on beneath the surface

Whether you're new to this kind of emotional work or deep in it, we hope this conversation brings more clarity, self-compassion, and maybe even new language to help you feel heard, by yourself and the people you love.

As Pesach approaches, the stress of navigating family dynamics, expectations, and personal triggers can feel overwhelming—especially for those of us with complex backgrounds.

In this heartfelt conversation, Chaya Hinda and I explore what it means to prioritize our own needs, set boundaries with difficult personalities, and embrace the reality of our emotions rather than pushing them aside. We dive into the power of saying "no" with confidence, making the Seder meaningful even in unconventional settings, and shifting focus from external pressures to inner connection and joy.

With raw honesty and deep compassion, we also touch on the challenges of parenting when carrying personal trauma, the importance of speaking to ourselves with kindness, and how to balance self-care with communal and familial responsibilities.

If you've ever felt the weight of holiday expectations or struggled to find peace in the chaos, have a listen to this conversation. Our hope and tefillah is that you'll walk away feeling validated, supported, and equipped with new perspectives to bring more ease and meaning into your Yom Tov experience.

In this guided practice, I help you tune into the many layers of support already holding you—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I lead you to notice the simple, tangible supports in your life and gently open to the deeper, infinite support of Hashem. If fully trusting that support feels challenging, I guide you in meeting that resistance with kindness, allowing your body to soften into what feels safe. This is an invitation to feel held, grounded, and supported in a way that your whole self can receive.

You've done the work. You've learned the tools. And then—suddenly—you find yourself right back in an old pattern. The frustration creeps in: Why am I still here?

In this episode, I share a recent experience of falling into that familiar cycle and what it taught me about healing, patience, and self-trust. Because healing isn't about never struggling again—it's about how we meet ourselves in those moments.

Embodying Your Strengths

In this guided practice, I invite you to connect with your strengths—from within. As we settle into the body, we'll gently reflect on a recent moment where you showed up in a way that makes you proud. Through breath, awareness, and presence, we'll explore what it feels like to fully receive the recognition of your own strength, letting it settle into your body and being.

Listening to Your Body's Needs Through Touch

In this episode, I guide you through a gentle practice of self-connection, inviting you to offer your body the love and care it deserves. Through intentional touch, we'll explore what it feels like to truly listen to your body—tuning in to its needs, its boundaries, and its quiet invitations for more closeness or space. With each breath, you'll have the opportunity to soften into self-compassion, recognizing all that your body has carried for you. This practice is a simple yet powerful way to cultivate presence, warmth, and appreciation for yourself in the moment.