Sensitive Matters • Podcast

Tara Judelle on living life in flow

Our latest guest to the Sensitive Matters Podcast is joy, embodied wisdom and curiosity in one. Tara Judelle, a full time yoga teacher for over 20 years is actually a lifelong student of spiritual practice, meditation and our connection to our bodies through Hatha yoga, contemporary somatic theory and the philosophy of Non-dual Kashmir Shaivism.  
She merges her knowledge and experience in her very own School of Embodied Flow, a school of yoga and movement reconnecting body, mind and spirit. Movement, asana, meditation, visualization, philosophy, psychology, verbal expression, and science are technologies she merges to acquire a deep sense of strength, ease and connectivity.
Listen to this episode as we walk our way through the following points:
 How Tara Judelle became a full-time yoga teacher and a lifelong student of spiritual practice, meditation, and embodied practices
What embodiment is and why it's important
How our minds and our bodies work together to help further our journey of self-inquiry
How yoga is a balance of steadiness and ease and how we can cultivate that for ourselves
How Tara uses the philosophies of non-dualism and Buddhism to bring about oneness within our practices and our bodies
The mechanics and how to hone in on specific parts of the body
Working with the axis of our bodies, working with the backbody, and finding our anatomical centerline of our bodies
The body's connection to our emotions, society, our ancestors and how we’re all intrinsically connected
Working with inquiry and how we experience different emotions within the body and bringing our awareness into those experiences
We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do! Listen and leave us a review and your feedback below!
Learn more about Tara Judelle and The School of Embodied Flow here:
http://tarajudelle.com
https://www.embodiedflow.com
Tara’s next offering begins on February 23rd and is an online-only immersion into the art of Embodied Flow. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to study with her.
 
ABOUT OUR HOST:
Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

Dr. Anita Johnston & how to eat under the light of the moon

"Belonging is when you stay connected to your authentic self as you connect with others. Fitting in is when you have to abandon your authentic self to try to look like, act like, think like, feel like how you imagine others want you to look and act as, think and feel." -Dr. Anita Johnston
Our 20th episode is dedicated to Dr. Anita Johnston, a licensed clinical psychologist, pioneer in the field of disordered eating psychology, and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon and a true storyteller. She has dedicated her career to helping people recover from disordered eating and the relationships we have with food, with our bodies.
Having suffered – like many other young women – from disordered eating in her teenage years herself, Christina explores in her usual sensitive manner together with Dr. Anita Johnston the complexity of disordered eating and human sensitivity and what ways are available to us to address eating disorders.
This episode guides us through the following points:
Exploring the prevalence of disordered eating and its relationship to diet culture.
Examining the sensitivity and intuition of individuals with disordered eating.
Investigating the use of storytelling and metaphor as a way to address disordered eating.
The commonalities of those with disordered eating in regard to sensitivity
How we can limit external influences that may affect our body image 
How  underlying societal stereotypes of gender roles and the expectations we have around those roles can contribute as cofactors
What it actually means when people say they are in recovery for disordered eating
We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave us a review and your feedback below!
Learn more about Dr. Anita Johnston here: 
https://dranitajohnston.com
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ABOUT OUR HOST:
Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

Special Episode: Free Yoga Nidra with Kamini Desai

Following the podcast episode with Kamini Desai, in which she introduces us to the art of Yoga Nidra, we are now superexcited to share with you a free Yoga Nidra gift from Kamini Desai as a special treat for you this holiday season. If you are in need to slow down, take a break from the ongoing festivities or upgrade your resilience – here is your perfect how to.
What is Yoga Nidra?
Yoga Nidra, known as the 'Yogic sleep' is an ancient practice that invokes deep relaxation and calmness of the heart, mind and soul. In our latest podcast episode with Kamini Desai we have been introduced to the beautiful art of Yoga Nidra and what makes it a spiritual practice.
As the year is drawing to a close we are offered with opportunities to stand still and allow ourselves the space for contemplation of what was, what is and what will become.
The benefits of Yoga Nidra
Yoga Nidra is a wonderful tool to support us through these times of digestion and processing.
Originally a nyasa meditation practice (the practice of moving of consciousness through the different body parts retaining prana) from traditional Tantra Yoga, it has profound healing effects on the body, mind, and soul.
Yoga Nidra guides practitioners into a deep state of relaxation putting the practitioner into a space between the alpha and theta state. This allows us to rest in deep relaxation, a state between waking and sleeping, a state that calms the autonomic nervous system that we need to regulate our body's processes and that take place without a conscious effort. In addition, it puts the parasympathetic nervous system into a deeper resting state.
A calm nervous system is the state we want to act and live from at all times.
Yoga Nidra offers a great variety of benefits that we have listed for you below:
Improved thought patterns and reduced stress
Enhanced cognitive performance and memory
Improved self-esteem and confidence
Better sleep
Improved waking mindfulness
Diminishes symptoms of anxiety and depression
Treats chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder
Lowers blood pressure
Reduces addiction
Enhances creativity
Reduces PTSD
Strengthens immune system
Recharges vital energy
Strengthens the endocrine system
Reduces the need for pain medication
...and many many more
Weaving Yoga Nidra into our every day over a certain period of time helps us greatly to meet the external and internal challenges of life from a space of calm, hope and ease, allowing us to look at the bright side of life rather than through a sense of stress and contraction.
Kamini Desai is offering us a beautiful Yoga Nidra practice to enjoy in the safe environment of your home. Enjoy!

Kamini Desai & the art of Yoga Nidra

We are back with an exciting and at the same time somehow relaxing episode of the Sensitive Matter Podcast. This months guest is Kamini Desai, author, yoga teacher and master of Yoga Nidra.
In this episode Kamini introduces us to the art of Yoga Nidra, what she means by saying it is ‘meditation made easy’ and how she encountered Yoga Nidra in her own life and practice.
This brand new episode will guide us through the following points:
What Yoga Nidra is as a spiritual and meditation practice
How Yoga Nidra is different from other meditation and yoga asana
Kamini’s journey and the foundation that shaped her spiritual journey, career and practice
The benefits that Yoga Nidra brings as a practice.
How can we integrate our spiritual connection for those that are busy and have a hard time finding space for a practice
Some resources and practices to help us all stay centered in our ever-changing world
We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave us a review and your feedback below!
Learn more about Kamini Desai here:
https://www.kaminidesai.com/
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About our host:
Christina Zipperlen is the designer and founder of Ananda Soul, but her journey doesn’t end there. She is also a writer and counselor, helping others to heal trauma, find their authentic self, and feel safe and whole as they walk through this life. She uses a somatic approach combined with Compassionate Inquiry to form a deep understanding of how the body, mind, and soul are undeniably interwoven. Interested? You can learn more by visiting www.SensitiveMatters.com

Processing pain & addiction with Sat Dharam Kaur

This newest episode is with Sat Dharam Kaur, Kundalini Yoga teacher, naturopath, co-creator of the Compassionate Inquiry therapeutic approach with Dr. Gabor Maté's and a great inspiration in my own life.
Throughout this episode Sat Dharam allows us a peek into the world of Kundalini Yoga and her life with it; she shares about her Beyond Addictions program as well as the work with Dr. Gabor Maté's Compassionate inquiry program.
This brand new episode guides us through the following points:
The benefits Sat Dharam experiences with Kundalini Yoga, what the practice entails, how mantra revels itself to us and how it enables her intuition becomes clear to her allowing her to hear her soul’s purpose
*The underlying reason people struggle with addiction and how some parts of ourselves that are unexpressed result in many people creating patterns to self-sooth.
Sat Dharam’s Beyond Addictions program and how it teaches learning to have compassion and acceptance for ourselves in a safe space to build connection to our true selves, change those patterns and process our pain.
Sat Dharam’s role in how Compassionate Inquiry with Dr. Gabor Mate was created and their collaboration teaching and formulating the method, the components, skills and line of inquiry that comprise the program.
Christina and Sat Dharam model Compassionate Inquiry to showcase the approach and how it’s practiced.
Christina vulnerably shares a situation that’s brought stress within her life
They work together identifying feelings within the body and what comes up when discussing the inquiry
Sat Dharam and Christina get to bottom of when she first felt this way, and the core memory that this feeling stems from
They find a parallel within Christina’s life to understand the experience of anyone in this situation, how they would cope, grow and how this feeling or experience would shape them
Christina and Sat Dharam discuss how anyone in this situation could be supported and what that support would look like
They conclude by identifying how Christina would have felt if she were supported within the situation at the time, what she would like to say to that part of herself she still carries with her and what in return that self needs to feel safe moving forward
What Sat Dharam has coming up in both her offerings with Beyond Addictions, Compassionate Inquiry and joyfully within her personal life
We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave your feedback below!
Learn more about Sat Dharam here.
Learn more about Ananda Soul Jewelry: https://anandasoul.com/
Learn more about our host Christina Zipperlen: https://www.sensitivematters.com/about

Special Episode: How to regulate our nervous systems with the practice of pranayama

In the past years, this world has been an awkward place. Beautiful. Eye-opening. Heart-widening. At the same time, the landscapes society walked through offered edges, cliffs, cracks, crevices – in short, many occasions to trip and to fall.
Our realities are informed differently now than they have been in recent years. I found myself dealing with a lot of fear and anxiety grounded in the unknowing of all that life was throwing at us, besides personal battles, wins and losses that all happened in the shortest period of time.
The main questions I sat with was
How do I stay the most present, grounded, calm and authentic in an ever-changing, swirling world? How can I keep my breath fluid and gentle, my feet down and my heart beating strongly in its center at all times?
In order to not get too overwhelmed as an HSP in an ever-busy, ever-changing world routines and regularly practiced tools can be of sustainable support.
On another note: This post isn’t exclusive to HSPs only.
Whether you are an HSP or not – we all have experienced some form of fear and anxiety in recent years and can benefit of the tools shared below.
As an HSP myself, over the years I’ve been experimenting and practicing with techniques that have been supportive in times of anxiety and overwhelm.
Coming back to breath
Breath is one of the few tools that we have to easily alter our nervous system and the states it may find itself in when overwhelmed or agitated.
The art and practice of pranayama is a yogic practice that regulates the flow of our life force (= prana) throughout the body. Yama translates from Sanskrit as ‘gaining control’.
In this special episode, we will do 3 breathing practices:
1. Sama Vritti or Box breath
Sama Vritti is known as equal breath or box breath and is a powerful tool that can help clear your mind, slow down your heart rate, relax your body, and allow you to increase your focus.
2. Nadi Shodana or Alternate Nostril breathing
This intermediate practice involves breathing through one nostril at a time. It is a powerful way to bring harmony and balance to the energy pathways.
3. Bhramari or Bee breath
A breathing technique that helps to block out distractions and soothe the nervous system with the support of a humming sound. When we hum, we are happy. Calling in a buzzing hum creates a sense of safety for our nervous systems.
May this serve you, may this support you.
Learn more about Pranayama: https://anandasoul.com/blogs/blog/hig...
About Christina Zipperlen: https://sensitivematters.com/

Shining her light on Mental Health with Maxene Magalona

This month's guest is a very special and bright light in this world: Maxene Magalona, Filipino actress and Mental health advocate in the Philippines shares with me close and upfront her inspiring and very personal story as her, 'Maxene'.
She grants insights into her struggles with her own mental health, losses and wins in life, her path towards spirituality and what her soul deeply yearns for – for the world, her surroundings and herself.
This brand new episode guides us through the following points:
Her personal journey of growing up in the spotlight and how fame shaped her life in the Philippines
How Maxene used to manage stress and how in hindsight we can all recognize how our past behavior was our ability to handle trauma with the tools and resources available to us at that time
The importance of mental health and how it effects our physical health
The stigma around mental health in the Philippines and how the pandemic started to shift that
The importance of seeking professional support in Maxene’s own words
What spirituality and her connection to God and spirit means to Maxene, and how she follows her soul’s desire
The mantras that Maxene loves to sing and chant that bring her strength
How The Soul Space was created and the reason why Maxene shares her very own practices and wisdom she’s learned along the way
The intuitive way that Maxene selects her jewelry and what Ananda Soul pieces bring her into alignment giving her grace in her day-to-day life
Christina shares some spiritual practices of cleansing your jewelry and energetically recharging your Ananda Soul pieces
What offerings Maxene will share when she returns to the Philippines
You can also watch the video of our conversation here:
https://youtu.be/3i6bl74BjTs
We hope you enjoy this episode! Listen up and leave your feedback below!
Learn more about Maxene Magalona via Instagram at @maxenemagalona and her projects @bekind.ph and @thesoulspaceph
Learn more about Ananda Soul Jewelry: https://anandasoul.com/
Learn more about our host Christina Zipperlen: https://www.sensitivematters.com/about

Practice who you are with Elena Brower

This month’s episode comes with a special guest I have been very excited about inviting to our Sensitive Matters podcast: Elena Brower.
I’ve admired her work for many years. As a mother, world-renowned yoga and meditation teacher (since 1999!), artist, author and host of her very own podcast ‘Practice You’ I find her entire being, her work, her story and personality intriguing and inspiring in so many ways.
Listen to this brand new episode as we cover a variety of topics about her yoga journey, compassion, in particular self-compassion as the core of her work, yoga and meditation, spirituality and her podcast.
This brand new episode guides us through the following points:
• Elena’s spiritual journey and how her personal practice and beliefs have evolved through her decades of studying and teaching yoga and meditation
• What she’s working on with her new book of poetry, journal and parenting course
• How Elena has been kind to herself during times of uncertainty and the mindset that she shares for us all to turn that kindness inwards to our own hearts
• Elena’s podcast, Practice You, and what she’s learned from over 100 conversations with spiritual leaders and change makers Dr. Gabor mate, Yung Pueblo, Latham Thomas and our mutual friend Nadine McNeil
• How yoga as an industry has developed over the past 20 years and what it looks like to make a living as a yoga teacher, developing community and diversifying your income
•The breathing practice Elena does to stay grounded within her daily life
•What Ananda Soul pieces Elena wears, what Ananda evokes her and how she feels when she wears our jewelry
•A sneak peek reading from her latest journal that inspires the soul
You can see the meditation Elena mentions here
The Ananda Soul Lakshmi Necklace Elena's mentioned within the episode is Blessing All Around Mala
Curious to learn more about Elena Brower? This is the way to her website!,
About the host Christina Zipperlen here,
and about Ananda Soul here.

Women’s health & the magic of our menstruation cycle with Bex Tyrer

As we continue to speak about the Moon, I am excited to share this month's podcast episode with my dear friend and menstrual cycle activist Bex Tyrer.
This brand new episode speaks about the following topics:As we have just launched our Lunar collection that focuses on the power of the Moon and all its phases, it is an honor to continue the ‘Moon’versations - so to speak - from another angle: menstrual cycle awareness and alignment with the Moon and its phases.Bex has dedicated her life’s work to yoga and women’s health and focuses on inclusivity, trauma work and social and environmental justice. Bex has been a full time yoga teacher at the Yoga Barn, the largest yoga studio in Asia, since 2009.
How yoga is a traditional practice for men that carries much wisdom and also doesn’t include women’s natural cycles and bodies.
Addiction and eating disorders in yoga and how the separation from our cycles and bodies can contribute to a break and separation within ourselves
How women’s periods are our 5th vital sign and the many different ways periods serve as an indicator of a women’s health
The function of women’s periods, or moon cycles, and what we “give birth to” every month
What a normal period actually is and what miraculous things our bodies do every month
The follicular and luteal phases and how we can make the most of them
What hormones our natural cycles activate and how they work with our brains, hearts and overall health
How stress effects our cycles and overall health and the timing of our cycles
What men can do to work with the moon phases and natural rhythms of the earth
The options women have for menstrual products and how much we actually bleed every month
Menopause, Perimenopause and what those phases of women’s lives actually entail, with hormonal and period cycle changes
How we should be celebrate Menopause and honor this sacred time in a women’s life
The exciting collaboration between Bex and Ananda Soul and the free offering coming your way
What Ananda Soul pieces Bex wears daily
The books Box mentioned within the episodes are Yoni Shakti by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (available here on her website: https://yonishakti.co/resources/yoni-shakti-book) and
Wild Power by Alexandra Pope and Shane Hugo Wurlitzer (available here on their website: https://www.redschool.net/wildpower)

Over the Moon with Paula Shaw

If you have been following the Sensitive Matters podcast, this episode's guest might not be a stranger to you. For this time I have invited my dear friend Paula Shaw back into the reins, as we are celebrating the launch of our new collection that I am so particularly proud and excited about, as the focus of this collection is the moon and all its phases.Paula is an intuitive psychic and astrologer who has offered over 15.000 sessions in 10 years, changing people’s lives through accompanying them on their journeys through healing, clarity and their highest potential.
Paula has been a wonderful guide for me through our universe, ever since I met her in Bali 8 years ago.
Here are some of the things Paula and I cover in this episode:
Paula’s journey of seeking meaning in accordance with her spirituality and nature.
Christina’s experience of growing up in Bavaria in accordance with the earth’s natural rhythms and farming seasons
How the phase we’re born under can tell us about who we are and how to work with that energy
How to work with the moon, what that means and bringing our awareness into the moon phases
Simplifying the moon phases with simple intention setting on the new moon and releasing on the full moon
How the quarter moons can bring about action and reflection within our lives
The lessons that the new moon has for us about starting over at any time in our lives.
How the moon’s monthly cycle is the exact length of women’s menstrual cycles and the cyclical nature of our bodies.
Learning to work with our own charts and what’s happening in the sky right now
Click here to learn more about Paula Shaw:
https://www.soulfulguiding.com/
Click here to learn more about Ananda Soul Jewelry:
https://anandasoul.com/
Click here to learn more about Christina Zipperlen:
https://www.sensitivematters.com/