Today hosts Tiffany and Katja dive into the common misconceptions around breath work and Pranayama. Is breathwork really the new Pranayama? Is deep breathing indeed always better? Does breathwork really need to be intense to work? In this episode, we unpack these and other common misconceptions about Pranayama and breathwork.

Listen in to find ways to feel better in your life through a better understanding of Pranayama.

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• Myth 1: Breathwork is the new pranayama [3:07]
• Myth 2: The ultimate goal of pranayama is to fully control the breath [9:02]
• Myth 3: Pranayama must be practiced over long periods of time to see benefits [16:31]
• Myth 4: Ujjayi and/or deep breathing is a superior technique [22:29]
• Myth 5: Breathwork involving hyperventilation is life-changing, always [30:36]
• Myth 6: Only advanced practitioners should do Pranayama [37:31]
• Myth 7: Pranayama has one magic rhythm/ pattern [41:17]

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• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Pranayama Yoga Teacher Training
• Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes:
  • 85: Research Roundup: A Stroll Through the Breathwork Landscape
  • 87: The Science of Breathing Less: Research Roundup
• Connect with Katja Bartsch:

Facebook | Instagram | Kalamana Yoga | Yoga Medicine® Online Guest Teacher

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-118.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Ahimsa or non-harming is a central value of yoga philosophy, but looking at the world around us it’s all too easy to find examples of systemic suffering that seem impossible to solve. Today’s episode tackles one such issue; gender-based violence and sex trafficking.

Host Rachel speaks with Sarah Symons, founder of international non-profit Her Future Coalition which has been working since 2005 to ensure that survivors of trafficking have what they need to remain free, safe and independent.

As well as sharing her own story, Sarah gives tips for those wanting to get involved in this or any other service work, including the importance of starting with a single step, listening to those who are closest to the issue, making mistakes and learning from them, and focusing your energy on the positives.

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• The mission of Her Future Coalition [2:17]
• Why it’s so difficult to face gender-based violence [3:25]
• Sarah takes her inspiration from survivors [7:04]
• Early mistakes: trying to rush the healing process [10:26]
• Survivors often can’t return to their family [13:38]
• Benefits of the shelter environment for survivors [17:05]
• The power of non-verbal healing modalities – art, movement, games [18:59]
• Looking to the long-term: vocational education [22:39]
• Ripple effect: Survivors become part of the solution [24:50]
• Handling despair [28:51]
• Keys to success in service work [31:26]
• Savoring joy [34:48]
• Final takeaways [40:04]

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• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes:
  • 37: Yoga as Service with Amanda Cunningham
• Yoga Medicine® Seva Foundation
• Connect with Sarah Symons:

Facebook | Instagram | Her Future Coalition | TEDx

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-117.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.

Perhaps you’ve heard that menopause is having a moment. But while menopause is more present in the media, there’s still a lack of balanced, nuanced, and honest information around this stage of life.

In this episode, host Rachel talks with yoga and Pilates teacher and teacher-trainer Niamh Daly about her passion project: yoga for the late reproductive stage, perimenopause, menopause, and beyond.

We discuss the lesser-known physical and mental implications of this menopause, and how we can fine-tune our yoga practice to support our changing needs.

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• The challenges of measuring the effects of yoga with research [3:00]
• What inspired Niamh’s fascination with this life stage [5:14]
• The new stigma around menopause [10:28]
• Perimenopause can trigger existential angst [14:57]
• Less discussed impacts of menopause: changes in perceived capacity [19:48]
• Rage and menopause [24:54]
• Changes in self esteem [28:47]
• The medicalization of menopause & health worries [31:01]
• Shifts in purpose, career, relationships & libido [33:35]
• Yoga asana through late reproductive stage, perimenopause & menopause [38:32]
• Differences in approach: perimenopause vs menopause [47:58]
• The vital importance of Satya in media coverage & in our teaching [51:58]
• Research on menopause and pranayama [58:00]
• Meditation, self-judgement, CBT & Pratipaksha Bhavana [1:02:46]
• Wrap up & more resources [1:05:07]

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• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Female Health Yoga Teacher Training
• Previous Yoga Medicine® Podcast Episodes:
  • 63: Yoga & Osteoporosis with Michaela Smith
  • 91: Balance Myths Busted with Sava Papos
• Connect with Niamh Daly:

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Yinstinct Yoga

You can learn more about this episode, and see the full show notes at YogaMedicine.com/podcast-116.

And you can find out more about insider tips, online classes or information on our teacher trainings at YogaMedicine.com.

To support our work, please leave us a 5 star review with your feedback on iTunes/Apple Podcasts.