Kia ora friends,

Alex here, and welcome back to TYP. Thank you as always for choosing to spend some of your precious time with us and for supporting this little pod - we are so honoured and SO grateful that it is serving and inspiring so many yogi’s out there.

Both Sarah and I feel incredibly lucky to have these weekly opportunities to connect with, learn from, and be inspired by incredible people from around the world who are experts in their craft related to the health and wellness industry.

This week, we had the honour of chatting with Julie Afsahi and Jessica Cross based in Texas, USA. These two incredible wahine have co-authored a book called “Seasons of Sound” - a rich resource for both new and seasoned and sound practitioners. The book serves as an essential guide to attuning ourselves to the earth's rhythms, quieting our racing minds, and nurturing our souls with the power of sound.

After listening to this chat I am certain you will want to grab a copy of this delightful book, as it is bursting with beauty and wisdom about the power and potency of sound healing and aligning with the seasons.

In this korero, we cover off the origins of sound healing and how it has evolved over time and geographical space. We learn about the science behind its healing power, looking in particular at entrainment; syncing heartbeat and breath, exercising the nervous system’s resiliency and eliciting a parasympathetic nervous system response. We talk about the power of weaving intention and themes into sound baths and yoga classes, and how to curate your own sacred spaces. Jess and Julie also share some great tips for newbies who might be keen to dip their toe into the world of sound healing.

This episode will likely leave you in awe of our innate connection with sound and the power we all have to use it as a healing modality.

Enjoy this beautiful chat friends, and please let us know what you think!

Links + Resources:

Seasons of Sound Book

Jess' Website

Julie's Website

Jess Instagram

Julie Instagram

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This week we introduce to you: Jane Hardcastle.

Jane is an absolute gift to the Christchurch wellness community, and further afield through her contribution to quality yoga teacher trainings. Jane is one of those people who have healing running through their blood - for over thirty years, in one way or another - Jane has supported people towards feeling more well, more worthy, and more present in their body-mind.

As a Yoga therapist, educator, and health care provider Dr Jane Hardcastle has been helping people with their health since she was 14. Originally qualifying as a registered nurse in the UK, Jane has held senior nursing, education and leadership roles in England, Scotland, and New Zealand before bringing this skillset, knowledge, and experience together as a yoga teacher and registered yoga therapist over the last ten years.

Within this conversation we explore how Jane brings a beautifully balanced weaving of eastern and western approaches to wellness, looking at the whole being, and focusing on empowering individuals to achieve optimal health, rather than just an absence of disease.

We discuss the kosas and how these inform Jane’s expression of Yoga Therapy. We unpack some of the modalities that might feature in a yoga therapy session with Jane; including tailored movement practices, Ayurveda, Breathwork, Meditation, iRest and lifestyle medicine.

Both Sarah and Alex finished this conversation in awe of the depth and breadth of Jane’s knowledge and experience, and how skillfully she applies it to best support each individual client. The conversation really highlighted to us the importance of “strengthening through softening” as Jane puts it, and in looking at ourselves as a holistic and whole being worthy of optimal health and vibrancy, and we hope you feel the same, as well as gaining some insight into what yoga therapy is and how it can be used to achieve a greater sense of wellbeing.

Perhaps while you’re here you could also take a moment to leave us a review and subscribe if you haven’t already? It hugely supports the growth of this neat little pod and enables us to bring you more incredible guests like Jane!

Enjoy this week’s episode of That Yoga Podcast …

Jane's website

Jane's Instagram

Ayurvedic Dosha Quiz

Living Ayurveda Book

Find Jane in person in Christchurch:

Wel clinic - the Tannery, Wednesdays and Fridays from 30 October

Home clinic in Purau Tuesdays & Thursdays

… she has her all important day off/garden day on Mondays!

Join Kate Cooksley for this delicious full body relaxation and light wash meditation - sure to leave you feeling relaxed, cleansed, and renewed

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Your Guide: Kate Cooksley

Ooof - this week’s episode left us tingling with enthusiasm and curiosity about life and all its wonder, and I am confident it will inspire you too.

We got to korero with the beautiful Mari Halina Colbert - yoga teacher and Embodied Flow™ teacher trainer, with trainings and specialisations in Somatics, Biomechanics, Humanistic psychology, Hakomi Psychotherapy, Body Mind Centering, and Trauma-sensitive yoga.

We explore the world of non dual tantra in a very relatable and understandable way, exploring the concept that we are all unique expressions of the oneness/the wholeness/the divine.

We discuss how the body can be used as a vehicle for awakening, as a tool for exploration, and how we can use our experience within our body to serve the greater good. Mari shared the concept of choosing to embody the mystery of this human experience, over trying to demystify it.

There is so much in this - and it all feels so rich and beautiful and applicable.

We really hope you enjoy this episode, and if you do please share it with a friend or two, and help us to spread the love!

Resources and links:

Mari's Instagram

Satsang with Shambhavi - Podcast

Tova Olsen

Tantra Illuminated by Christopher Hareesh Wallis

Your Hosts:

Alex Ballagh

Sarah O'Connell

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Enjoy this snippet from a longer conversation with Rebekah Ballagh - Best Selling Author, Counsellor, and Founder of Journey to Wellness, an online membership dedicated to supporting your mental health and wellbeing

In this bitesize clip Rebekah talks about how emotions might get stuck in the body, how these manifest, and some helpful body-based tools we can use to help move them through, to heal, and to grow in to better brighter versions of ourselves

Click here for the full length eposide

Check out Beck's membership here

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Connect with your Hosts on Instagram:

Alex Ballagh_YogaWellness

Sarah O'connell

Your weekly guided meditation to help you find your bliss

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Your guide - Alex Ballagh