We all know how impactful regular habits can be, whether to benefit our health and wellbeing or detract from them. Social media would have us believe that we are one simple hack or protocol away from the habits we want, but today's guest is here to tell us that habit formation and change are a little more complicated than that.

Host Rachel welcomes back yoga teacher and trainer Caroline Wybar to discuss Caroline's upcoming course, Transforming Habits: An Evidence-Based Approach to Lasting Change. Caroline offers a grounded and compassionate perspective on change, reminding listeners that habits are not just about discipline, but about alignment, identity, and sustainability.

Listen in to learn why change only happens when we look beyond surface behavior to the deeper drivers beneath, and the key role yoga can play in countering shame, fostering self-awareness, and offering practical tools for nervous system regulation.

"Habits are difficult to change. If it were easy to do, we wouldn't have courses on it." — Caroline Wybar.

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What You'll Learn:

• The inspiration for Caroline's upcoming 8hr online course [3:43]
• The unique role yoga can play in healthy habits [05:35]
• Caroline's "failed" ice cream experiment [7:12]
• Preya & Shreya: pleasure versus long-term benefit [12:59]
• Self Perception Theory & our habits [16:52]
• The neurobiology of how shame derails habit change [23:47]
• How yoga helps: compassion, self-regulation, self-awareness [27:07]
• Social support is key [33:48]
• Intrinsic motivation: choosing habits we actually enjoy [36:21]
• Insights on Caroline's course: how acupressure tapping, breath/movement rhythm, dual attention techniques, visualization, and Yoga Nidra support top-down and bottom-up change [40:14]

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Links Mentioned:

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Yoga Medicine Episodes:
  • Transforming Habits: An Evidence-Based Approach to Lasting Change
  • Creating Change with Alison Heilig
  • Approaches for Anxiety: Community Conversations with Caroline Wybar
  • Yoga Nidra: Community Conversations with Caroline Wybar
  • Full-Time Yoga Teacher Panel: Community Conversations with Elena Cheung, Kylie Rook & Caroline Wybar
• Connect with Caroline Wybar: Facebook | Instagram | Caroline Wybar Yoga | YMO Guest Teacher

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Learn More:

Find the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-165.

Learn more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

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