We Ebb & Flow...

After a long unintended break, I'm back with a personal update (spoiler alert: I'm pregnant!) and since it hasn't been the easiest journey to get here, I wanted to 'share from the scar' alongside the lovely Ruth Wright (certified coach, journalist and fellow HSP - highly sensitive person) as we discuss, in a very vulnerable and open hearted conversation, our long and difficult journeys on the path to motherhood. 

We cover topics such as: 

• Miscarriage & the subsequent grief
• The monthly grieving that takes place when TTC (trying to conceive) 
• The Western Medical approach to fertility struggles 
• Finding the right support, and how even well-meaning friends can sometimes say completely the wrong thing! 
• The tough mental and financial decision to begin IVF, and the subsequent anxiety when you do eventually see those two beautiful blue lines
• We also share our personal coping mechanisms and resources that anyone on this path might find useful.

Some of the key resources we mention that helped Ruth and I include: 

• The pregnancy and baby charity Tommys.org
• IVF This podcast 
• Gathering Gold podcast
• Yoga Nidra for pregnancy

I mention at the start of the episode that we are both HSPs (highly sensitive people). If you'd like to learn more about what that means, visit this page. 

And last, but certainly not least, you can get in touch with Ruth who offers valuable support through her coaching practice at Floripa Coaching. 

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

After the popularity of our first pod episode together, where we talked about the cycles of the moon and how they represent our own cycles of ebbing and flowing, I've been wanting to get Sam (@mumma_andthemoon) back onto the show for a while now so that we can dive even deeper into all things cyclical and seasonal. 

In this episode, we talk about how we can honour the shifting of the seasons, literally and figuratively;

• From the energetic peak of Summer where we reap the harvest of the seeds we've sown, to the death and decay that is to come as we shift into the cooler and more yin seasons. Then, after the darkness comes the light and abundance of the Spring to start the cycle anew
• Sam introduces us to the Sabbats - Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas and Samhain -the ancient cross quarter festivals that celebrate the shifts on the wheel of the year
• We also learn about the triple goddesses; maiden, mother and crone, as well as the more recent addition 'Maga' and how these archetypes relate to our shifts from girl to woman to wise woman. 
• The thread that weaves this episode together is our shared passion for honouring all that is seasonal and cyclical, internally and externally, and the drive to REmind other women that it's ok to ebb and flow, just like the seasons! 

At the end of the episode, Sam shares her upcoming 6-part program 'Orient to the Feminine' which will be run in-person in Barcelona across September and October. For more info, feel free to reach out and I'll happily share her details, or contact her via instagram. 

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

Today's guest is someone I've been admiring from afar for quite some time, whose words speak to my soul and make me feel like I belong. 

Vanessa Marie Dewsbury (or @soulalivebarrie, as you might know her on instagram) is a contemplative writer who thrives in the world of ink and solitude. Her introverted nature, evident from the earliest years, led her on a journey of self-discovery through the written word. Vanessa's literary endeavours began with private musings in her cherished journals, where she found solace in expressing the intricacies of her introverted soul. Known for her introspective prose and keen observations of the human experience, her writing reflects a delicate dance between vulnerability and resilience, inviting other introverts to embrace the beauty of their own authentic self.

On the podcast we talked about: 

• The introvert label and its sometimes incorrect connotations
• The ebb and flow of introversion to extroversion throughout our cycles
• The synchronicity between being sensitive and being introverted, and how the world isn't always set up to honour our energy
• Handling highschool and the corporate environment as an introvert / HSP
• Ways to protect our energy as HSPs / Introverts

You can find out more about Vanessa's work through the following channels:
Website: www.thecalmfox.com
Instagram: @soulalivebarrie
Grab yourself a copy of her latest book, 'The Quiet Mind: An Introvert's Journal for Self-Discovery' here

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

For this month's episode of AstroVeda, Carina and I have teamed up once again to bring you astrological insights blended with ayurvedic wisdom!

Tune in as we guide you through the cosmic energies for March and offer practical tips to align your well-being with the stars.

In this month's episode, we cover:

In this month’s episode we’ll talk about balancing our yin and yang (or shiva and shakti) energies, hormonal and holistic tips for dealing with and preventing burnout, the benefits of Abhyanga (self-massage) and of course I’ll also be sharing some wisdom from the cosmos including: 

• Mercury's move into Aries; finding the balance between passion and aggression
• The New Moon in Pisces; invoking intuition and inspiration
• The Sun moving into Aries signifying the start of the astrological New Year; time to ignite our playful, passionate and assertive side! 
• The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra; looking at where in our lives we might need to establish greater peace and balance

If you enjoy this episode, please think about leaving a review or sharing with a friend so that we can share this wealth of ancient and modern wisdom with all who need it.

To learn more about Carina and her hormone health program, drop by on INSTAGRAM or visit her website: http://carinagreweling.com/

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

Today’s episode is a solo one because there’s a personal topic I wanted to share with you which kind of picks up on some of the themes Anna and I discussed in episode 8 on the topic of friendships. A few people reached out to me after that episode to say that they’d also found highschool to be difficult, and so I wanted to dive deeper into the topic of friendship, and in particular, its shadow side, the topic of bullying. 

I’ll share a little of my own experience, which may invoke some emotion for those who’ve ever suffered at the hands of a bully. And whilst you may hear my voice shaking at some point in this narrative, I hope that ultimately my words still bring the healing power of hope. 

This episode covers:

• High school bullying & it's long term impact
• Recovery from depression
• Shaky self-worth
• Yoga as a tool for self awareness
• Bullying in the workplace 
• How to be an advocate for your friends, instead of perpetuating the bad behaviour of the bullies
• Dealing with triggers & being your own best friend

I hope this episode turns some of my personal pain into a healing balm for others. I love to work with sensitive, passionate people who are struggling with a shaky sense of self-worth. Whether you have a story similar to mine, or not, if you’re currently struggling with shaky inner foundations, or are caught in a spin of repeating patterns, at work or in life, reach out for a free chat to see if working together might be the support that you need to begin building your inner foundations. 

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

For the second episode of AstroVeda, I've teamed up with Hormone Coach Carina Greweling to bring you Astrological insights blended with Ayurvedic wisdom! Tune in as we guide you through the cosmic energies and offer practical tips to align your well-being with the stars.

In this month's episode, we cover:

- The huge shift that happened on 20th January with Pluto moving from Capricorn into Aquarius
- How to maintain an Ayurvedic routine called Dinacharya to stay balanced in times of change
- The positive impact of time in nature on our nervous systems
- The New Moon in Aquarius 
- Why we need to love our liver if we want to establish healthy boundaries
- The shift from Aquarius to Pisces season & the Full Moon in Virgo

If you enjoy the episode, please think about leaving a review or sharing with a friend so that we can share this wealth of ancient and modern wisdom with all who need it.

To learn more about Carina and her hormone health program, drop by on INSTAGRAM or visit her website: http://carinagreweling.com/

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

We often give so much airplay to our romantic relationships, but not so much to the other important relationships in our lives, the ones we have with our friends.

For me personally, my friendships have changed so much over the decades, from having a best friend who I spent every moment with in primary school, moving onto highschool, making new friends & then experiencing the backlash that comes from being cast out of the tribe, to the then more mindful connections I made over the years during my time in London and now having started from scratch in a new city and country, it’s been quite the ride! 

Along the way, I’ve understood friendships to be a huge part of what makes me happy, from the in-jokes to the weekends away, dancing until the early hours to my current reality that much of my friendship dalliances happen within daylight hours and my nighttime frolics are saved for my new and forever best friend, my husband. 

So, for today’s show, I’ve invited Anna (@byannaalfaro), a fellow coach and highly sensitive person onto the pod to talk about the topic of friendships, to share our own personal tales, and the tips we’ve learnt along the way to uncover what makes a good friend, how to make new friends, and how to gracefully navigate the challenges that friendships can bring. 

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

Alongside the regular pod episodes, I'm pleased to launch a sub-genre, a brand-new podcast series called AstroVeda. 

I've teamed up with Hormone Coach Carina Greweling to bring you a monthly episode where we blend the wisdom of Astrology with healing insights from Ayurveda, Yoga, and coaching. Tune in every first Sunday of the month as we guide you through the cosmic energies and offer practical tips to align your well-being with the stars.

In this month's episode, we cover:

- The emphasis on grounding our energy as we start the New Year in Capricorn season. 
- The significance of the New Moon in Capricorn on January 11th
- How to align our wellness practices to this season including ayurvedic nutrition tips, sleep habits and self-care. 
- We also dive into the energy of the full moon in Leo on January 25th, where we learn to embrace our creativity, self-confidence and authentic expression. 
- Rituals around self-love and letting go of egoic pridefulness to harness the full moon energy.

If you enjoy the episode, please think about leaving a review or sharing with a friend so that we can share this wealth of ancient and modern wisdom with all who need it.

To learn more about Carina and her hormone health program, drop by on INSTAGRAM or visit her website: http://carinagreweling.com/

She was also kind enough to share some of her favourite winter warming recipes here: 

Sweet Kitchari Recipe and Amaranth Porridge. 

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

I’ve always been a very sensitive person and took the inevitable ups and downs of life as part and parcel of that package. But this year, after a particularly difficult time in the workplace, I worked with a resilience coach who helped me to see that sometimes it wasn’t the external factors that were having such an impact on my emotional rollercoaster, it was often my own inner narrative that was leaving the biggest dent in my self confidence. 

Listen as Alex and I discuss; 

• The inner critic
• How we can still be resilient even in the most difficult of times
• Cultivating self-compassion
• Establishing healthy boundaries 
• And ultimately being strong enough to not give a f*ck 

You can learn more about Alex and the work she does via her instagram @alexresiliencecoach or website: shore-coaching.com

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com

I’ve noticed in the last year or so that hormone health has become a big topic of conversation in the wellness world & I am personally really fascinated with learning more about how our hormones impact so much of our daily life; from our energy levels, to our sex drive, our moods throughout the month and how we handle stress. So, I’ve invited hormone health coach Carina Greweling onto the pod today to talk about all things hormonal health.

https://carinagreweling.com/
@hormonecoachcarina

To learn more about living in tune with the moon, building strong inner foundations through coaching, and yoga, follow me, your host, Lauren Brady on Instagram @laurenbradyyoga or visit my website www.laurenbradyyoga.com