Well Aware Podcast

Coco (aka Nicole) and Olivia of Waiting for Saturday

Hi guys, Happy Fourth of July weekend!

 

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Which reminds me — I want you all to meet each other and to that end, I’m still planning this workshop! I will keep you posted but in the meantime if you want to hear about that, and other things, email me at [email protected] with the subject line “newsletter” and I’ll getchya signed up.

So… I’ve been thinking a lot about “me” time — what does it mean? Are you totally alone for some quiet time? Are you alone but surrounded by people in a park or city? And when you get that precious time, how do you spend it? That’s what today’s guests are all about — Nicole (aka Coco) and Olivia are the co-creators of Waiting for Saturday, which is a study of off duty style. And while they both come from a fashion background, they cover more than just style: rituals, habits, recipes … essentially the things that make people tick, the things they look forward to.

We have that in common — and while we talk about a TON, what was most interesting was their mentality about balance, and doing it all. All three of us balance full time jobs, friends and family, hobbies and our sites, so it was really refreshing to hear from another voice about they go about their lives, staying sane in the middle of chaos.

Among other things we discuss:

* our off-the-beaten-path thoughts on the ever elusive “balance” // getting real

* their individual backgrounds, and what they bring to Waiting for Saturday

* flexing your creative muscle at work and in pleasure

* the key to constructive criticism and encouraging growth

* why they made a whole website about saturday

* their fascination with the mundane

* their current favorite rituals, and some of mine

* how cultivating a generous spirit can encourage creativity and productivity

* why they love working when they’re not at work

This episode is amazing for anyone with a side hustle or practice. It’s also for anyone who’d start one but doesn’t feel like they have enough time. It’s for people who are feeling stuck at work — even if it’s creative work. And it’s for anyone looking for a refresher — in their personal style or otherwise.

SHOW NOTES:

Waiting for Saturday: Instagram | Facebook | Tumblr (!) | Pinterest

 

Garance Dore

Linda McCartney book (Coco’s inspiration)

Monocycle

7 Minute Boiled Egg

 

It’s the end of day two of a three day cleanse. I’m doing it a little differently this time, and I’m excited because it seems to be working in all of the right ways and I will write a blog post about exactly what I did. Hint: it’s not just juice. After having done just juice for four days two other times, I figured out that it doesn’t really fit my lifestyle and that’s okay. Also, sugar is an enormously overlooked factor in juice cleanses, IMO. More on that to come.

Today it’s about Uncoupling. Not in the Gwenyth sense of romantic uncoupling, but using the same concept to describe the habitual “if, then” phenomena in an emotional thought process, and how to disassociate thought patterns from one another. Because chances are that it’s this triggered negative emotion that’s holding you back, and that emotion can be let go as soon as we identify the pattern. It’s the process that needs a remedy. If you’ve been holding yourself back in any way, or find yourself in the same situation over and over you’d rather not be in, this is one way to get insight into why, and then a few techniques that may alleviate the white knuckle grip.

This episode will be helpful for anyone who finds themselves in the same insufferable situations, time after time. It’s for the individual who is ready to peel back the next few layers, as this one isn’t so easy. It’s for anyone who wants a a new way of seeing and getting unstuck.

In this episode I dive into a pattern I’ve begun to recognize in order to illustrate this pattern using an example that’s very close to my heart — my dad’s passing.

A few things I discuss in this episode include:

* “if, then” thought processes

* the lasting effects of traumatic events

* ending suffering

* how to get out of your own way

I wanted to share this experience because it was a true aha moment for me, and I thought it may be for some of you, too.

Here are the steps —

IDENTIFY: Identify the instances that you’re holding yourself back, that you’re repeating a pattern you’d rather not.

NOTICE: The coupled emotion that precedes it. How are you feeling before the unwanted behavior happens?

EXAMINE: The first time these two coupled emotions appeared in your life together. My guess is that this event, whether it was positively or negatively charged, was a big deal.

This exercise will help you become clearer. Don’t fret if you don’t nail it in the first few minutes you’re thinking about it, it can take a while to mull over but something will click. Next week, the ladies behind Waiting for Saturday will be on the show — stay tuned and until next time, be well.

Photo by Maya Moverman

And we’re back! Back up and running from this unprecedented podcasting interruption. What can I say? Sometimes life has a way of preventing you from doing the passion-thing, and you’ve gotta take care of yourself. I alluded to this in the last episode about uncertainty, Episode 30. It’s short, provides context and is a snapshot of what I believe will be one of my biggest growth moments this year. What kind of WELL / AWARE podcast host would I be if I didn’t practice what I preach? I love creating content for you here. I really do. It’s really fun, rewarding and, if I’ve done my job, it’s helpful or amusing or comforting or meaningful to at least one person who listens. Which is why there are lulls sometimes: I won’t publish just for the sake of publishing. I don’t rush to get episodes out. I take time with each and every one, sometimes having more than one conversation to ensure all the questions were answered.

Thank you to every one of you who has reached out about my wellbeing, and the show. Aside from being a wee bit tired, I am one hundred and ten percent great, and WELL / AWARE isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, we’ve just passed our one year anniversary — can you believe it? To honor WELL / AWARE and its very first guest who took a big chance on me, I invited Alex Sharry back on the show for special episode on growth and reflection. Alex Sharry is a yoga teacher in New York City and Brooklyn, you can find her at Y7, Lucent Yoga, Sky Ting and Katonah Yoga. If you haven’t listened to Episode 1, I encourage you to so you understand the nuanced references.

 

A few things we touch on in this episode include:

* growth and reflection on the last year for both Alex and myself, using those examples to frame larger growing pains of our generation and ilk

* how to tell if your mentor is false or the real deal

* the difference between a therapeutic practice and a restorative one

* the subtle but key differences between first and second nature

* how to identify your first and second nature

* emotional archetypes

* why “grinning and baring it” is doing you no favors

* the question that shifted her negative body image for good

* alex’s new rituals for grounding and time management

* poses and techniques to remedy sadness and “blahs”

* how to view your yoga practice through a therapeutic lens

* how to identify the moment where saying no offers more growth than saying yes

This episode will be helpful for anyone who is looking for new rituals. Or maybe, you need a reality check (like both Alex and I) about how important it is to take care of yourself and your needs before overdoing it. If you’re broken, you can’t help any body! It’s excellent for yogis, aspiring yoga teachers and / or anyone thinking of trying yoga. It’s for anyone with a mindfulness practice, or who is curious about it. It’s for anyone who feels stuck, and wants to tap into his or her second nature to overcome obstacles.

SHOW NOTES

Alex Sharry: Instagram |

Hi! Hi. It’s me. Maybe you didn’t notice, but I’ve missed a couple weeks of uploading new episodes. It’s because I’ve been deep in the throes of uncertainty, and instead of feeling anxious about it getting in the way of WELL / AWARE, I thought… why not include a check in every so often about what’s up? It’s a huge part of the practice, after all. So this is a new format. Be honest. Let me know if you hate it, okay? This episode is just me, waxing not-so-poetic on what it’s like to be soaked in uncertainty, the good and bad.

In this super-short episode, I discuss:

* things to remember when you’re in a really crazy parallel uncertain universe

* one of two things that happen: progression vs. regression

* negativity bias – what it is and why it’s interesting

* how some comfortability is needed for uncertainty

* the relationship between uncertainty and growth

* role of support and supporters

* resilience

* using self-sabotage as a crutch

* how to WIN at uncertainty

Tell me what you like, what you don’t like. Should I do more of these? Tell me what you want, what you really really want. Okay?

I’d love to hear about your “uncertain” experiences. Please share!

You know, New York is a funny place. A lot of people come for the anonymity, for the chance to start over and reinvent oneself. And what’s cool is that the longer you live here, the more you know that you don’t know. There’s always something to discover or something new being built. But when it comes to degrees of separation and relationships — you cannot expect to stay anonymous for very long. Having lived here for more than a decade, the big city has gotten pretty small. So it was a matter of time before I met Biet Simkin, we run in a lot of the same circles. Biet is an artist, meditation guide and spiritual teacher who has been through a thing or two. Deaths, addiction and depression lead her to hit rock bottom before she had an awakening that lead her to pursue her highest self. I’m pretty picky when it comes to “spirituality” in quotes because it means so many things to so many people, but I dig her approach — there’s a method to the madness. She’s clearly questioned, sat with and practiced it herself before giving unto others, which you’ll see, I ask her a lot of questions of the mechanics of her practice, and I was quite satisfied with the answers.

Biet has taught mindful SoulCycle classes, she officiates wedding ceremonies and has a new album out, but she’s most known for her meditation events. She describes these experiences as consciousness from the outside in: and I’m a fan of this approach because meditation practice only goes so far. Biet actually brings you into an environment, whether that’s an art gallery, photo shoot, fashion show, what have you — and raises individual and therefore collective consciousness and presence, set to a soundtrack of her creation.

Check out the episode for a sneak peak of The Lunar, a song off her new album. It’s available on iTunes to buy for less than $8, which I recommend an artists supporting each other — otherwise it is available to listen or preview on Spotfiy as well!

She has a meditation event coming up on April 7th in collaboration with the founder of The Numinous — and it looks rad.  for anyone in New York who wants to check it out— that’s actually not on her website but it’s on her Facebook page.

Among other things we talk about:

her background, which is of note because it is really woven into the episode instead of being solely at the start

what it means to have an awakening

my own awakening

what it feels like to be a jack of all trades

death, drug and alcohol addiction, and guilt

using pain as a portal

her proactive approach to fear and self doubt

the stages of becoming “present”

This episode is incredible for anyone who’s experienced loss or deep pain, or anyone looking for some kind of solace. It’s also for the spiritual-curious, who want to understand what it means to be “awakened” and identify your own awakenings. It’s for someone who’s ever been addicted — to anything. You’ll find comfort in knowing you’re not alone and that you have support.

SHOW NOTES

Biet Simkin:

Jessa Blades is one of my heroes. Based on how easy it is to talk with and trust her, I have a feeling a lot of women feel the same way after meeting her. We first crossed paths while I reaching out to makeup artists for my wedding, and finally met at Uplift Project 001. Because of her holistic approach to beauty and her mastery in herbalism and safe makeup, I thought she’d be a shoe-in for making the big day 100% natural. Wrong!

But that’s also precisely why I love Jessa. She’s well versed in herbs, plants, makeup artistry and holistic living and healing, but she’s also not removed from the real world. Case in point: she maintains that wearing conventional makeup that will actually stay put for hours on is fine your wedding day, because it’s just one day out of the year and therefore insignificant in the larger picture. Rather, her specialty is knowing the good from the bad in everyday products: shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, makeup, deodorant, toothpaste, and others … and sharing it with the world. It’s the habits and rituals everyday that make a real impact on our health.

No doubt Jessa’s holistic living expertise is a goldmine worth exploring (and we go there), but the way she speaks about it is very positive, diplomatic and respectful. In an industry powered by “shoulds” and “should nots,” Jessa has found a delightful medium, using herbalism and safe cosmetics as a platform to invite health instead of blame brands. Only the highest of vibes with Jessa, always.

We cover SO much in this episode! You’ll want to check out the show notes, because there was an entire side bar conversation I cut out about all of the salons and spas she loves in both New York and LA which is definitely worth a look.

While we cover holistic living, it’s definitely more specifically oriented to skin and body healing through plants and herbs. Among other things, we discuss:

* Her background, and how it aligned into a beautiful career she created for herself

* Natural birth control, and the three steps involved (this was eye-opening for me)

* The pill and body literacy

* What Jessa’s diet is like, and her approach to food

* The skin as the body’s largest communicator

* My scalp issues — as an example of how she works with clients

* The place of Western medicine in a holistic lifestyle

* A secret, un-released project by Jessa that I guessed and uncovered (!)

* Her two top beauty tips for better skin ASAP

* Her current favorite products (listed in the show notes, too)

This episode is for anyone who’s into herbs, obsessed with clean beauty or wants to learn more. It’s for anyone who’s interested in healing themselves and their skin, especially women who are interested in natural birth control.

SHOW NOTES

Jessa Blades: Portfolio / Blades Natural Beauty online boutique / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest

11 Makeup Tips video (we didn’t mention it in the show – but I find it to be super helpful!)

Books

Not Just a Pretty Face by Stacy Malkan

I had a chat with Sarah Ryhanen, founder of Saipua, and it was a good one. It was like we were hanging out with an excellent glass of rose on one of these unseasonably warm March in New York days — casual, unassuming, heart warming, reassuring and inspiring all at once. Saipua does many things, including flower arrangements for weddings, making olive-oil based soaps and running a farm upstate.

I wanted to bring Sarah on the WELL / AWARE show for a few reasons. The first and most obvious: her incredible flower arrangements. I’ve been beyond knee deep in wedding planning for the past few months, and hers stand out as the most magical, wild and ethereal I’ve come across, ever — and not at all speaking in hyperbole.

Second, Sarah and her partner Eric bought a farm a few years back with the intention of growing flowers that are hard to come by in the market, but they’ve also committed to effecting positive environmental change particularly in an industry that’s traditionally rather wasteful.

And last but not least, Sarah had no formal training in flowers and gardening. She figured it out herself. I find this realized potential to be inspiring and hopeful for those who aren’t enamored with their day to day, but also fascinating, and you’ll hear why in the episode.

Among other things, we talk about:

* her background, the job she did (and got disenchanted with) before starting Saipua in 2006

* the role of “right place, right time” in her success

* the Saipua farm, it’s function and purpose

* work / life balance

* her thoughts on living in city versus the countryside in upstate New York

* what self-care means to her — this is a different kind of self-care, LOVED her answer

* what it’s like to run a business with your life partner

* how astrology has been a consistent support in her life

* what’s better for starting and running a successful business: male or female energy

* finding your voice on social media

* the push and pull of “selling” or doing your passion for a living

* unexpected way to have a creative advantage in any field

This episode has a little something for everyone. The horticulturist, the flower lovers, anyone who’s ever fantasized about packing their bags and simply living on a farm (by the way, they take apprentices). It’s also great for creatives who are looking for some counsel and discourse on how to brand themselves online through social media.

SHOW NOTES

Saiupa: Instagram

Saipua’s blog

Little Flower School – Sarah is a co-founder

Images courtesy of Sarah via her flickr feed

Thank you so much, Sarah, for sharing openly, bearing with my tardiness and being a part of the project.

I first encountered Rebecca in 2013, when I had a minor obsession with Barry’s Bootcamp. I was just starting to experience boutique fitness and regularly went to both Barry’s and SLT (Strengthen, Lengthen and Tone – a megaformer pilates session). I loved taking her “arms and abs” class as a way to include strength training and cardiovascular work in my routine, since yoga has always been my foundation. I tried lots of different trainers there, but Rebecca stood out to me for a few reasons. First, she’s a lady and her energy, while certainly intense, is a great complement to the fierce and often masculine bootcamp ethos. She’s simultaneously encouraging and badass, and will always push you to the limits. I also loved her attention to form, and how she coached running. I’ve learned a handful of minor tweaks that have improved my running for ten-fold from Rebecca.

But I wanted to bring her on the show because I think she’s onto something huge in the wellness world: active recovery. With the boom of boutique fitness and more intense workout regimens, she noticed several of her clients getting repeated overuse injuries — something that’s easily prevented with proper stretching, core strengthening and attention to joints. With her experience as a professional dancer, gymnast and personal trainer, Rebecca designed a class called A.C.C.E.S.S., and I’m in love with it. It’s different from any class you’ve taken: so it’s not static stretching, definitely not yoga, but it’s not dance, movement or pilates either. It is a combination of drills that focuses on the main joints: shoulders, hips, ankles and wrists, both my moving them strategically and by strengthening the core. It gets things moving in a physical way: you’ll feel tension loosen, lighter and more flexible for a few days after class, and in the long term. And you will definitely break a sweat, by the way.

Among many other things, we discuss:

* Her stint as a cheerleader for the New England Patriots

* The recent fitness boom and her thoughts on it

* Body image: strong vs. skinny

* Her take on Barry’s Bootcamp’s huge expansion

* A.C.C.E.S.S. and active recovery

* A day in her diet, and her favorite cheat foods (!)

This episode is good for anyone with a regular movement practice. Dancers, runners, yogis, gymnasts, “the class”-ers and boot-campers would be right at home in this episode. This is great for anyone struggling with her body image, especially how it relates to the feminine portrayal of strength. Or, it’s for anyone obsessed with boutique fitness classes: you need this! But seriously, for your body.

SHOW NOTES

Rebecca Kennedy: Instagram / Facebook / A.C.C.E.S.S.

Barry’s Bootcamp

Source Organic protein: whey (Rebecca’s fave) / peanut (Lindsay’s fave)

Unlike most of my other podcast guests,  I didn’t meet J. Brown through Instagram. He’s someone I met in real life, about eight (!) years ago when I was a whippersnapper journalism student at NYU with a keen interest in community and wellness. I had just started my first blog as a class assignment, and stepped inside his then-brand-new studio, Abhyasa Yoga. I remember it well, he was the first person I interviewed on assignment that felt more like a conversation than a rigid question and answer format. After an extensive career in teaching yoga and suffering a knee injury, J. started the studio to practice what he calls “slow yoga,” the anti-power vinyasa and a true yin sensibility.

Can you believe that J. is the first dude on the show? Only took me twenty five episodes. After having a great experience interviewing J., I practiced at his studio some, but couldn’t afford to keep coming on a student budget. But I subscribed to his newsletter, which is released monthly, and is one that I’ve kept for all 8 years, I never unsubscribed once. And for someone who has a habit of unsubscribing from at least 3 newsletters a week, that means something. J. has his finger on the pulse of the yoga world. His writing is often controversial, as he’s not afraid to speak his mind on topics many would rather leave alone or brush under the rug. More recently, he’s started a podcast called Yoga Talks, which is very insider baseball and pulls back the curtain on the sometimes clandestine New York yoga scene.

J. and I cover a lot of ground. Among other things, we talk about:

* the role of loss in depression

* the merits (or… demerits) of yoga teacher training

* the lessons he learned in India that immediately informed his personal practice and later on, the foundation of his studio

* the new yoga teacher’s dilemma

* the new model for making a sustainable living on yoga

* the simple way to teach from your soul

* finding “your yoga”

This episode is excellent for anyone who is contemplating a yoga teacher training. Beyond that, it’s for anyone who’s ever dealt with loss of a parent or parental figure. It’s for anyone who wants to know more about the slow yoga movement, and the history and inspiration behind it. It’s for teachers who are seeking new inspiration, and the causal yoga goer or yoga-curious.

SHOW NOTES

J. Brown and Abhyasa / J.Brown Yoga Video (March 22 official launch, but available pre-sale now) Yoga Talks Podcast / Blog / Twitter

Amy Matthews on Yoga Anatomy – from J.’s Yoga Talks podcast

Jivamukti

Lilia Mead – from J.’s Yoga Talks podcast

Ashtanga Vinyasa

Iyengar

David and Sharon / Jivamukti

Alison West / Y...

“the class.” motto is finding peace through strength.

If I had to describe it in one word, it would be cathartic. First things first, I’ve got to come clean: I was skeptical about the class before I tried it. I love a good physical release, but attention to form, mind body connection, individual attention and a killer playlist are so super important to me. I was equal parts intrigued and stuck in a fitness rut it was time to give it a try. Side note, if you’ve ever seen the class. regulars, hello, I’ll have whatever founder Taryn Toomey is having, and dishing out, please and thank you. The regulars are toned, bright eyed, bushy tailed and have an aura that’s magnetic. All of them! I wasn’t sure what to expect (and at the time, there weren’t any videos online that showcase it); what took me by surprise were the feelings of immediate transformation after class and the meta-physical challenge it presented.

Using body weight only, the class. uses the body as an access point to move and confront stuck, stagnant and toxic energies. Old emotions. Unfinished conversations. Regret, negative self talk, the bad stuff that, when left untended, can take over your mind like a wall of ivy taking over a building: slowly, but surely, it’ll be covered before you know it.

Taryn Toomey is the founder of the class., and Natalie Kuhn and Jaycee Gossett are the first two teachers to come under her wing in New York. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Natalie in class and at the Uplift Project urban retreat, and have to say, she’s pure magic. There are a few reasons I wanted Natalie to be our guest. First, you can read and watch interviews with Taryn literally everywhere (The Coveteur, Man Repeller, The Chalkboard Magazine…. list goes on). She’s really blowing up, in the best way! Natalie is her first in command, and is heading out to LA to open up the class., west coast edition. March 5, 2016. West coasters, run — don’t walk. What I love about her teaching style is that she’s fierce but heartfelt, and understands the fine line between self compassion and growth. I was excited to get her perspective on how the class transformed her life. 

the class. bridges the mind body gap in a way many classes won’t. SoulCycle is probably the closest you’ll get to not only the mind body connection, but the present moment awareness of that connection when the going gets tough. The teachers gives cues strategically, when you’re about to give in, to remind you that 1. the mind is stronger than the body 2. get out of your own way and 3. change the story of what you’re telling yourself. The teacher’s cue comes at the same exact time your brain starts switching the story to provide excuses for

Among other things, Natalie and I discuss:

* What to expect when taking the class.:  process, benefits and how it’s different from other fitness classes you’ll take

* Natalie’s personal transformation taking and...