How a 10-Day Vipassana Meditation Changed My Life

I just completed a 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat in Tasmania. With no prior meditation experience I didn't realise there was a technique to it that helps you develop more self-awareness and emotional resilience like this, so keen to share my experience

If this is something you want to try, dive into the deep end and go for it

Topics of the poddy

• My unexpected journey into Vipassana and my background with meditation and ADHD

• The structure of the 10-day silent retreat and daily schedule

• The core principles of Vipassana: sensation awareness, equanimity, and seeing things as they truly are

• How the technique cultivates radical responsibility and response rather than reactive behaviour

• The emotional and mental challenges I faced during the retreat, especially days 2-7

• The profound physical sensations and sense of peace I experienced during meditation

• The impact of complete silence and no technology on mental clarity and connection

• The significance of community, bonding, and gratitude on the final day

• Practical lessons on incorporating early mornings and meditation into daily life

• The history of Vipassana's origins and its spread to the Western world

• My personal reflections on how the retreat has shifted my outlook on happiness, self-care, and personal growth

• Vipassana Meditation

• History of Vipassana

• LinkedIn

• Twitter

Timestamps:

00:00 - My introduction to the 10-day silent meditation retreat

00:30 - Overview of Vipassana and its core philosophy

01:58 - How Vipassana heightens sensitivity to body sensations

02:36 - The technique of observing sensations without reaction

03:06 - Connecting Vipassana to self-care and emotional resilience

04:02 - My experience as a go-go person and new mindset without medication

05:00 - The daily schedule in the retreat and focus on breath awareness

06:27 - The practice of observing sensations and craving aversion

07:28 - The end of retreat, loving-kindness (meta), and reconnecting externally

08:05 - The silence, external inputs, and the experience of no external influence

09:35 - The setting: remote mountain location and group dynamics

11:00 - Daily routine, meditation timetable, and discourses

12:26 - Dietary aspects and the importance of fasting and silence

13:22 - The teacher, S.N. Goenka, and Vipassana's historical roots

14:48 - How Vipassana has changed my perception of life and habits

15:47 - The challenging days of emotional processing and breakthrough moments

17:17 - My surprise at how transformative the experience was

18:17 - Addressing misconceptions, cult-like perceptions, and the universal nature of Vipassana

20:11 - Personal revelations about peace, cessation of energy drinks, and mental clarity

22:32 - Connecting with nature and experiencing the environment quietly

24:56 - Reflection on the early mornings, technology detox, and lifestyle shifts

27:15 - The idea of serving and deepening the practice through service

28:43 - The beauty of Tasmania and future meditation intentions

29:11 - Connection and bonding with fellow practitioners post-retreat

31:36 - The philosophy of happiness from within and non-attachment

32:34 - The importance of ownership over reactions and habits

33:08 - Cultivating equanimity and viewing sensations objectively

34:35 - Reinforcing self-care, self-love, and the teachings' alignment with my personal growth

37:28 - The notion of enlightenment and ongoing practice

38:26 - The humor and wisdom of teacher Goenka in discourses

39:21 - My strong recommendation for everyone to try Vipassana

40:17 - Closing thoughts and encouragement to explore meditation for self-discovery

Resources & Links:N. Goenka](https://www.dhamma.org/en/about/gohk) - Teacher of Vipassana

Hey all! Been a hot minute

Coming back so chill it cracked me up - blanket, tea, housemate hops in to feature and qna, it's all here

Joy and I met backstage at a powerlifting comp last year and have discussed how strength training helps resolve and uplift lives post breakup

In this episode we speak on communication and self reflection in a relationship, the anxious avoidant loop, outsourcing power in a relationship, and regaining power through strength. We also touched on childhood influences of our body perception and how males preferences for female bodies are often different to the body that we think we need to fit.

It's another one of the many reasons strength training changes lives. I have had clients who start with me after a relationship to find a sense of self capability, redirection and personal discovery that so frequently comes from a journey like this.

Hope you enjoy our convo and insights!

Looking forward to more! If you have any questions (or would like to guest) send me a DM on IG

xo Kim

At what point do we need to sacrifice wellness for performance in pursuit of our goals

and what's the difference between training for aesthetics and performance?

Laura has some great insights, and with such similar approaches to our coaching our chat had me in goosebumps!

Chapters;

00:00 Introduction to Holistic Coaching

02:01 Nurturing Self-Relationship and Body Image

07:22 The Impact of Fitness Industry Messaging

10:46 Aligning Goals with Personal Values

15:07 Understanding Triggers and Emotional Responses

20:12 The Cycle of Negative Body Image

28:13 The Importance of Self-Compassion and Emotional Awareness

32:30 Understanding Dopamine and Nutrition

35:38 The Role of Body Appreciation in Health

40:34 Balancing Performance and Aesthetics in Training

47:00 The Impact of Stress on Body Image and Health

56:20 Rethinking Before and After Photos in Fitness

Hey guys!

Back into the new year with evolving goals, you will want to hear this chat...

00:00 Our experience from home Workouts to different Gym Environments

14:11 Strength Training Evolution: Discovering Powerlifting

17:30 Programming: Bodybuilding vs. Powerlifting

20:25 Skill Development in Lifting: The Importance of Technique

23:16 Individualization in Coaching: Tailoring Programs for Success

26:35 Understanding Cues: The Role of Feedback in Lifting

29:24 The Mind-Body Connection: Intuition vs. External Cues

38:30 Understanding the Importance of Cues in Coaching

41:57 The Role of Depth in Squats and Glute Development

44:51 Navigating Plateaus and the Role of Coaching

47:38 The Impact of Environment on Strength Training Potential

51:32 Open-Mindedness and Continuous Learning in Fitness

56:10 The Value of Practical Experience Over Theoretical Knowledge

58:39 Addressing Recovery and Nutrition for Optimal Performance

01:02:28 Accountability in Coaching and Goal Achievement

Enjoy! Message me if anything comes up for you!

Steph specializes in guiding individuals from hands-on myotherapy treatment, to moving pain-free. In this discussion, we delve into the complexities of pain management and movement therapy, exploring the multifaceted nature of pain. We touch on the role of the nervous system, the flaws of isolated advice, and how bio-psycho-social care in rehabilitation is so important. Whether you're dealing with chronic or short-term pain, or simply want to better understand how your body functions to serve you, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

*my audio needs more tuning but bear with me - a new podcast setup is happening soon, and now I know how to work this software XD*

EPISODE CHAPTERS;

0:00 - Introduction to Pain and Movement Therapy

2:42 - Transitioning from Elite Athletes to General Population

5:32 - Understanding Pain: Acute vs Chronic

8:12 - The Role of the Nervous System in Pain Management

11:05 - External Factors Influencing Pain

13:24 - Breathing Techniques and Pain Relief

16:09 - Active vs Passive Range of Motion

18:52 - Individualised Care in Therapy

21:32 - The Impact of Scans and Diagnoses on Treatment

24:27 - The Psychological Aspect of Pain

27:01 - Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Pain Management

As summer is pretty much here I've dove into head first chats around our psychology; specifically the reasons and beliefs behind the way we invest in our bodies; The 8-12 week challenges Vs PT sessions Vs having a coach

From detoxes and tracking macros to chasing the leanest body, I’ve been there. But I also continue to have to bring myself up on this shit in other areas of my life

And because it filters into every avenue of life I created the "Triangle Model," a diagram description of how our beliefs influence our thoughts, influence our actions and therefore results, and the circle goes round harder and harder every time.

So, let’s bring some validation to why you are looping in circles , regaining the weight, sinking back into old habits?...

Maybe you're caught up in the bulks and cuts, the need to be leaner, the challenges that leave you lost where to go next, there's a reason you keep coming back, and it's so deeply rooted

So, how you view your relationship with eating and training, if it's going to change it means starting with this conversation

Let's flip the script on your belief that more effort, more restriction, and more control are always the answer.

xoxo Kim

What rules do you hold around eating and exercise that weren't always there?

What would happen if you let go of fear and stepped into decisions based around love for the process and understanding of your body?

After listening I'd love for you to message me how your list around the "5 do's and don'ts" work for you!

I reckon this is one for the favourites folder

xoxo Kim

Deep diving into the pressures ann expectations surrounding any endeavour, hobby, competitive sport, whatever it may be.

We are looking at where these pressures come from, what exacerbates them, how we can pivot and chose the lowest barrier point to entry rather than letting perfectionism and pressure stop us from trying in the first place.

I pivot off my own experience entering the PL world with zero understanding of what I was getting myself into; ignorance is bliss hey

Let's dive into this and help you come out the other side with an open mind around the idea of "Powerlifting" and any endeavour you can set your mind to without external pressures of what it "should" look like...

Welcoming Aaron (in his studio), a mental health panelist, Twitch streamer, and variety content creator - even having presented on stage at the exhibition centre around Mental health and gaming.

In this episode we explore how our personal beliefs and ways of being show up both positive and negative in every avenue of life we pursue - work, relationships, gym, gaming etc. For me, it's the strength and fitness world, while for Aaron, it's the gaming world. And while there have been challenges navigating these spaces, we've both managed to transform our respective ecosystems into something positive and fulfilling.

We dive deep into how mental health challenges manifest in ways that are surprisingly similar across different realms. The core beliefs and struggles that arise are often shaped by the same underlying issues, no matter the community.

In this conversation, we discuss comparison, the intentions driving our actions, navigating the common setbacks, our experiences evolving from them, and so much more....

Aarons IG; mdvaaron