The Synergy Podcast

Guesting in this episode we have yoga teacher and business owner Flavia Rivas. Flavia discovered yoga ten years ago at a dark point in her life. Years of Ashtanga, and two teacher trainings, showed her that the physical practice is only a small part of yoga. In this episode of the Synergy Podcast, Arianna Montanari talks with the founder of the Swedish yoga brand Aikita Studios about what came next.

In this conversation:

• Why yoga is a journey and not an identity, and why the roots of the tradition matter;
• What 100-hour teacher trainings, self-practice and learning from teachers connected to India say about being a qualified teacher;
• A daily practice that fits real life: 10 to 20 minutes, a pocket-sized sutra book, and three mats rolled out with her kids;
• How Flavia started Aikita after wondering what her baby's yoga mat was made of. She designed a colorful organic mat, and her first batch sold out in two months;
• Why talking about money is hard in the yoga world, how to set fair prices, and why she stays out of Black Friday discounting;
• What it takes to run a business as a mother: flexibility, working with your cycle, asking for help and being compassionate with yourself.

Flavia and Arianna will both teach a class and sell their products at the Wellness Bazaar in Solna on November 7. 

You can find Flavia on Instagram at @aikita.studio or at aikita.com.

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

The most important question for modern yoga teachers may not be how to cue a pose, but how to share a tradition without flattening it, claiming it, or losing yourself in the process. 

Stefan and Arianna explore cultural appropriation, white privilege, and what it means to teach yoga through a Western lens.

Stef reflects on the blind spots that can come with being a white, Western yoga teacher, and why humility matters when sharing practices rooted in another culture. Arianna pushes into the line between appreciation, adaptation, and appropriation, asking what changes when culture moves across bodies, countries, and classrooms. 

Together, they consider the tension between reverence and representation, and why being honest about where you come from is part of ethical teaching.

In this episode, they discuss how a teacher’s environment, language, and lineage shape the way yoga is shared; how Western frameworks can both distort and clarify spiritual traditions; and what it means to treat yoga as a living practice rather than a museum piece. 

The conversation also touches on privilege, cultural power, and ideas such as ahankara, morphic resonance, and “mobile gardens.”

If you teach yoga, study spirituality, or care about cultural integrity in a globalized world, this conversation invites you to stay curious, question your assumptions, and keep listening. The episode closes with a guided meditation on listening, courage, and the body.

To connect with Stef:

 yogastef.com/events & yogastef.com/video 

On instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/yogastef/

The books:

• White Utopias - The Religious exoticism of Transformational Festivals by Amanda J Lucia
• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F Saad
• First Peoples by Jeffrey Sissons
• Yoga Body by Mark Singleton
• West African Traditional Religion by Kofi Asare Opoku
• The Emancipation of Women by Florence Abena Dolphyne
• Kindling the Native Spirit by Denise Linn
• Columbus and Other Cannibals by Jack D. Forbes
• Why I'm no Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
• The Isis Papers by Dr. Frances Cress Welsing
• Worth Fighting For by Keasden & Szarek

On genocide (required resilience reading):

• The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe
• Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown
• We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch 
• King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild
• The Roma by Charles River editors

Leader in social Justice in Sweden https://www.facebook.com/emily.johnsson / https://www.facebook.com/wishtreelife

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

Sustainability is not just an environmental problem: it is a question of what kind of human being you are becoming. 

Arianna Montanari makes the case that the real shift starts inside: with awareness, with the pause between impulse and action, and with the courage to stop living on autopilot.

If climate change feels overwhelming, morally loaded, or too big to touch, this episode offers a different entry point. Arianna connects yoga, beekeeping, regenerative thinking, and everyday choices to show why “doing enough” is the wrong question, and why noticing what is already in front of you may be the most powerful first step.

You’ll discover:

• Why sustainability becomes paralysing when we turn it into a perfection contest
• How cognitive dissonance and the “whatever approach” keep us stuck
• The five inner capacities behind real change: being, thinking, relating, collaborating, and acting
• A practical framework for moving from reduction to regeneration
• How yoga trains the exact skills sustainability demands: awareness, self-study, compassion, and the ability to stay with discomfort

Arianna also brings the conversation down to earth with vivid examples from Italy, Sweden, the beach, the kitchen, and her own life as a yoga teacher, beekeeper, and founder of Mielistega Natural Body Products. She shows how climate anxiety, privilege, capacity, and social justice are all part of the same system - and why individual action matters even when it cannot solve everything alone.

This is essential listening if you care about sustainability but feel tired, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin. It is a grounded, honest reminder that change does not start with perfection, it starts with noticing, and then choosing what you are ready to do next.

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

Many women over 40 feel the fatigue, pain, and sluggishness as their bodies change, but what if the key to feeling vibrant again isn't pushing harder, but moving smarter? 

Today's guest at The Synergy Podcast is Gollie Okhowat, a plant-based chef, lymphatic treatment expert, and yoga teacher, unveils the profound connection between movement, the lymphatic system, and hormonal health that many overlook. She shares how her own journey through menopause transformed her understanding of self-care, emphasizing gentle, targeted movement over intense workouts, and how this shift can radically impact your energy, pain, and vitality.

You’ll discover why the lymphatic system, often called the body’s detox highway, requires movement and natural breathing to function optimally, especially as we age. It plays such an important role in our body yet we know so little about it, or at least we don't give it enough attention in most cases. 

Gollie breaks down simple, actionable strategies to boost lymph flow through soft stretches, mindful breathing, and fascia pulling techniques that you can do at home. Learn how stress, posture, and even tight clothing can slow this vital system, leading to heaviness, puffiness, and fatigue.. and how small daily habits can reverse these signs.

We break down: the myths of traditional workouts for hormonal women, how to listen to your body’s signals instead of pushing through pain, and the importance of rebalancing activity with rest. 

Whether you're over 40 or simply want to prevent future aches and pains, Gollie’s holistic approach offers a liberating perspective: healing is about kindness, patience, and thoughtful movement, not exhaustion. Tune in and learn how to nourish your body from the inside out, without pushing to the point of burnout.

To connect with Gollie Okhowat on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/gollie.okhowat/

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

In this episode of The Synergy Podcast, show host Arianna Montanari explores the quiet loneliness many people experience in modern life, especially in big cities, where connection can sometimes feel surprisingly difficult despite being surrounded by people. 

Why is it harder to make close friends as adults? 

Why do so many of us crave deeper conversations, real presence, and a sense of belonging?

Arianna reflects on the impact of modern living: social media, remote work, online convenience, hyper-independence, and the subtle ways technology may have replaced genuine human interaction. We also dive into the concept of minority stress, the emotional exhaustion of constantly adapting, performing, or feeling slightly outside of belonging.

From there, the conversation expands into beauty, creativity, and the loss of soul in contemporary culture. Why do older objects, buildings, and art often feel more alive and meaningful? Have efficiency, speed, and mass production disconnected us not only from each other, but also from beauty itself?

Finally, we bring it back to yoga, movement, embodiment, and the healing power of shared human presence. Because perhaps the real wealth today is not productivity, status, or optimization, but genuine connection, beauty, slowness, and the simple experience of truly being with one another.

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

Many yoga approaches focus on feeling good, until injuries, exhaustion, or confusion set in. 

Stefan Camilleri, founder of Lanka Yoga and a movement innovator, reveals how deeply understanding how the body works (and why) can transform your practice, and your life. His journey from chronic pain to mastery in movement sparks a new perspective: yoga that’s safe, effective, and truly nourishing.

In this episode, Stefan shares his story: how early injuries almost derailed his yoga journey, and how a turn to physiotherapy and scientific understanding (Synergy with Simon Borg-Olivier) revolutionised his approach. 

We dive into key insights behind synergy-based movement: How to listen to your body, adapt your practice based on your unique needs, and incorporate physiology into your daily movement, understanding your body’s mechanisms empowers you to manage stress, injury, and self-awareness in real life.

I had the pleasure to also discuss sustainable yoga-entrepreneurship, a topic that is often taboo in the spiritual world, and that we are striving to normalise. 

Stefan advocates for the importance of using our platforms to speak up about the world we live in, to take a stand against violence through social activism, and the repercussions that come along with that, in a highly-polarised world.

This episode is essential listening for yoga teachers, movement enthusiasts, and anyone fed up with injury or feeling disconnected from their practice. 

Stefan’s insights challenge the status quo, encouraging you to question traditional teachings, embrace scientific methods, and craft a movement practice that’s safe, sustainable, and deeply effective.

If you’re ready to break free from injury, confusion, and dogma, this is your episode. Don’t miss it.

To connect with Stefan: 

stefancamilleriyoga.com

lankayoga.lk

https://www.instagram.com/stefancamilleriyoga

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

Most people underestimate how deeply addiction impacts our biology, how it works and how movement, breath, and presence can rewire it from the inside out. In this eye-opening episode, Simon Borg-Olivier and Arianna Montanari share how habitual behaviors, whether social media, work, or substances, shift our brain’s receptors on a molecular level, biasing the nervous system toward craving and stress. 

But there’s hope: by mastering simple, pleasurable movement practices rooted in ancient yoga and modern science, you can transform these patterns, restoring internal balance and creating a state of calm vitality.

You’ll discover how addiction is essentially a self-regulation misfire, a cry for deeper connection and relaxation that’s often masked by chemical or social substitutes. Simon reveals how subtle shifts, using movement, posture, and breath, can generate our own internal rewards, bypassing destructive dependency. 

We break down practical strategies to replace unconscious habits with conscious, nourishing routines that feel good from the inside, not through pain or suffering. These insights are perfect for anyone feeling stuck in stress, burnout, or addictive cycles, whether related to substances, social media, workaholism, or compulsive behaviors.

We explore the fascinating science behind how addiction alters receptor sensitivity and nervous system states, and how a mindful, gentle approach to movement can recalibrate these deeply wired systems. Learn to access relaxed, energized states that support your physical, mental, and emotional health.. all without pushing your body to exhaustion. 

This episode is a guide to cultivating effortless blood flow, neural harmony, and inner contentment: key to lasting well-being.

If you’re ready to rewire your relationship with your body and habits, this conversation offers powerful tools and a new paradigm for self-regulation and authentic satisfaction.

To connect with Simon Borg-Olivier:

healthhappinesslongevity.co

https://www.instagram.com/simonborgolivier/

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

 In this episode of the Synergy Podcast, host Arianna Montanari explores the concept of energy from both a scientific and holistic perspective. 

She discusses the importance of understanding energy as the potential for change and how it influences our lives. The conversation delves into integrative thinking, the role of resistance in personal growth, and the significance of managing energy in relation to seasonal cycles. 

Arianna emphasizes the need for resilience in adapting to life's changes and highlights the art of transforming energy with intention and direction to achieve vitality.

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

In this episode of the Synergy Podcast, host Arianna Montanari speaks with somatic coach Kari Hovik about her journey and the importance of individuality in personal growth. 

They discuss the rise of the individual, navigating spiritual awakenings, and the significance of Human Design in understanding oneself. Kari emphasizes the need for self-awareness, reflection, and the balance between personal healing and collective responsibility. 

The conversation highlights the beauty of spirituality in everyday life and the transformative power of somatic coaching for women in transitional phases.

About Kari:

Kari is a somatic coach for women who are in pivotal, transitional seasons in life - in career, in relationships, and in womanhood overall. Her work blends nervous system regulation as the foundation, parts and patterns work, human design, and identity work, with feminine wisdom woven all the way through. She believes every single woman (and person) is one of one, so uniquely made, and that conditioned society has stifled that. 

"As we move into this new era, the rise of the individual is going to be paramount. When you are so completely connected to yourself, you have no choice but to see that you are connected to everyone else as well. We cannot heal or grow or expand within the same systems or consciousness that made us so docile."

To connect with Kari:

https://www.instagram.com/its.kari.kin/

https://kincoach.substack.com/

kinalignedcoach.squarespace.com

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/

In the second episode of this mini-serie, podcast host Arianna Montanari and Simon Borg-Olivier delve into the intricate relationship between blood flow and breath, emphasizing the interconnectedness of bodily systems. 

They explore various mechanisms of blood movement, the significance of fascia, and the role of consciousness in regulating blood flow. The discussion also covers practical breathing techniques, including Ujjayi pranayama, and the utter importance of natural breathing patterns for overall health. 

Listeners are encouraged to engage in self-evaluation of their breathing and movement practices to enhance their well-being.

To connect with Simon Borg-Olivier:

healthhappinesslongevity.co

https://www.instagram.com/simonborgolivier/

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Blood Flow and Breath Connection
04:03 Understanding the Interconnectedness of Body Systems
10:39 Methods of Moving Blood Through the Body
20:28 The Role of Consciousness in Blood Flow
27:23 Practical Applications and Techniques for Blood Flow
37:41 Understanding Ujjayi Breathing
43:14 The Balance of Breath Control
48:36 The Dangers of Over-Breathing
53:23 Self-Evaluation of Breathing Patterns
56:37 Breath Control Techniques and Online Resources
01:02:26 Connecting Breath with Movement

Support the show

To connect with Arianna Montanari on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/mielestrega/?hl=en

To her website for online yoga synergy programmes and mielestrega body products:

https://www.mielestrega.com/