Marilyn Haifa – Extreme Yin Yoga: Exploring the Power of Energy and Mindfulness

Listen to podcast with Marilyn for FREE Here

In this episode of the Native Yoga Toddcast, Todd interviews Marilyn Haifa, a professional yoga teacher and practitioner. Marilyn shares her journey into yoga, starting with her first Bikram yoga class in San Diego, where she immediately felt a deep connection to the practice. 

She discusses the importance of grounding and finding purpose in the body and how yoga has helped her achieve that. Marilyn also talks about her introduction to meridian yoga therapy and the impact it has had on her teaching and personal practice. She explains the concept of energy in yoga and how it can be harnessed and controlled through breath and movement. 

The episode concludes with a discussion on the benefits of chanting and the incorporation of acupressure points in yoga practice.

Visit Marilyn on her website: https://yogarx4life.com/
Follow her on IG @marilyn_haifa https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_haifa/?hl=en

Key Takeaways:

  • Marilyn Haifa discovered her love for yoga during her first Bikram yoga class and immediately felt at home on her mat.
  • Yoga has helped Marilyn find grounding and purpose in her body, allowing her to connect with her spirituality on a deeper level.
  • Meridian yoga therapy has been a transformative practice for Marilyn, helping her understand the energy flow within the body and how to facilitate release and relief through yoga poses and acupressure points.
  • Chanting is a powerful practice that can create a vibrational shift within the body and mind, leading to a deeper connection to oneself and the universe.
  • Extreme yin yoga, as taught by Marilyn, involves holding poses for longer periods, allowing practitioners to go beyond physical sensations and observe their minds, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself.

Native Yoga Toddcast: Exploring the Depths of Yoga with Marilyn Haifa

Exploring the Depths of Yoga

In the Native Yoga Toddcast episode featuring Marilyn Haifa, we delve into her yoga journey and the transformative power of energy in yoga. Marilyn is a professional yoga teacher who has dedicated her life to sharing the practice with others. With over 15 classes a week, she has honed her skills and developed a deep understanding of the mind-body connection.

Marilyn’s yoga journey began with a Bikram yoga class 14 years ago in San Diego. From the moment she stepped onto her mat, she felt an immediate connection and knew she had found her calling. This initial experience sparked a love for yoga that has only grown stronger over the years.

The Power of Energy in Yoga

As Marilyn continued to practice and teach yoga, she became increasingly aware of the energy flowing through her body. She delved into the study of meridians and acupressure points, incorporating this knowledge into her teachings. Marilyn’s understanding of energy has evolved over time, becoming more refined and controlled.

Through her own personal healing and clearing, Marilyn has developed a deep trust in the power of energy in yoga. She has learned to control and direct this energy, creating clarity and transformation within herself. This understanding has also allowed her to guide her students in tapping into their own energy and experiencing the benefits of yoga on a deeper level.

Extreme Yin Yoga Workshop

Marilyn’s upcoming workshop, Extreme Yin Yoga, aims to take practitioners to new depths in their practice. The term “extreme” refers to the longer holds in yin poses, challenging practitioners to watch their minds and go beyond their comfort zones. Marilyn believes that by holding poses for longer periods, practitioners can tap into the deeper layers of their being and experience true release and transformation.

In addition to the longer holds, Marilyn incorporates meridian slapping activation techniques in her workshop. These techniques awaken the yang energy in the body, preparing it for the deep release and opening that comes with the yin poses. By combining these techniques with the extreme yin practice, Marilyn creates a powerful and transformative experience for her students.

Conclusion

Marilyn Haifa’s journey in yoga has led her to a deep understanding of the power of energy in the practice. Through her own exploration and self-study, she has developed a refined and controlled connection to this energy, allowing her to guide her students in experiencing the transformative effects of yoga.

Her upcoming workshop, Extreme Yin Yoga, offers practitioners the opportunity to dive deeper into their practice and explore the depths of their being. By incorporating longer holds and meridian slapping activation techniques, Marilyn creates a space for true release and transformation.

If you’re ready to take your yoga practice to the next level and explore the power of energy within, don’t miss Marilyn Haifa’s Extreme Yin Yoga workshop. It’s an opportunity to connect with your body, mind, and spirit on a deeper level and experience the true essence of yoga.

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Subscribe to Native Yoga Center and view this podcast on Youtube.

Thank you Bryce Allyn for the show tunes. Check out Bryce’s website: bryceallynband.comand sign up on his newsletter to stay in touch. Listen here to his original music from his bands Boxelder, B-Liminal and Bryce Allyn Band on Spotify.

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogaenter.com

Support the show

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Magnus Appelberg – Discover the Power of Cold Water Plunging

Magnus Appelberg is a yoga practitioner and cold exposure enthusiast based in Finland. He has been practicing Ashtanga Yoga for 23 years and has a deep understanding of breath control and its effects on the body. Magnus is known for his ability to withstand extreme cold temperatures and has even set a personal record of staying in ice-cold water for one hour. He shares his knowledge and experiences through his website and courses, helping others eliminate stress and pain and reach a new level of focus and well-being.


Visit Magnus on his website: https://www.coldexposurecourse.com/
Follow him on IG at: @icelabmethod https://www.instagram.com/icelabmethod/

Key Takeaways:

  • Cold exposure can have physiological and mental benefits, including increased dopamine levels and reduced anxiety.
  • Breath control plays a crucial role in adapting to cold temperatures and maintaining a relaxed state.
  • The practice of cold exposure can help cultivate a sense of curiosity and openness to uncomfortable situations.

Exploring the Power of Cold Water Plunging: A Conversation with Magnus Appelberg

Welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Magnus Appelberg, a resident of Finland who has delved deep into the world of cold water plunging, Ashtanga yoga, and Vipassana meditation. Magnus shares his experiences and insights on how these practices have transformed his life and offers valuable lessons on adaptation, breath control, and mental resilience. Join us as we dive into the world of cold therapy and discover the incredible benefits it can bring.

Introduction to the Main Themes

In this thought-provoking conversation with Magnus Appelberg, we explore the fascinating world of cold water plunging and its impact on physical and mental well-being. Magnus, who lives on an island in the archipelago of Finland, shares his journey of practicing Ashtanga yoga, Vipassana meditation, and cold exposure. He discusses the process of adaptation to cold water, the importance of breath control, and the mental resilience required to face the challenges of extreme temperatures. Magnus also highlights the connection between cold exposure and mental health, shedding light on the potential benefits of this practice for anxiety and depression.

The Power of Adaptation and Breath Control

Magnus emphasizes the importance of adaptation when it comes to cold water plunging. He explains that while it may seem impossible to stay in freezing water for an extended period, the body can adapt to the cold over time. By gradually increasing exposure and practicing breath control, individuals can build up their tolerance and stay in the cold water for longer durations. Magnus shares his personal experience of increasing his cold water immersion from 30 minutes to an impressive one hour. He attributes his success to slow, long exhalations and the cultivation of a relaxed state in the face of extreme temperatures.

The Bohr Effect and the Role of Carbon Dioxide

One of the key concepts Magnus explores is the Bohr effect, which he describes as the relationship between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood. He explains that breathing less and exhaling for longer periods can increase carbon dioxide levels, leading to a greater release of oxygen to the cells. This understanding challenges the common belief that breathing deeper and more vigorously increases oxygenation. Magnus suggests that by breathing less and cultivating a higher tolerance for carbon dioxide, individuals can achieve a more relaxed state and improve their overall well-being.

Mental Resilience and the Power of Cold Exposure

Magnus highlights the mental resilience required to face the challenges of cold water plunging. He explains that the extreme conditions force individuals to stay present and confront their fears and anxieties. By practicing breath control and staying calm, individuals can adapt to the discomfort and find a sense of stillness in the midst of the cold. Magnus shares his own experience of overcoming fear-based emotions and becoming more comfortable in uncomfortable situations. He suggests that the practice of cold exposure can help individuals develop a greater sense of curiosity and openness, allowing them to approach challenging situations with a more positive mindset.

The Intersection of Yoga and Cold Exposure

As an avid practitioner of Ashtanga yoga, Magnus discusses the intersection of yoga and cold exposure. He explains that his yoga practice has evolved over the years, with a focus on breath control and core movement. By incorporating breath control techniques into his cold exposure practice, Magnus has found a deeper connection between the two disciplines. He suggests that breath control can serve as a portal to meditation, allowing individuals to cultivate a sense of stillness and presence in both yoga and cold exposure. Magnus encourages individuals to find their own unique approach to practice, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

In conclusion, our conversation with Magnus Appelberg has shed light on the transformative power of cold water plunging, breath control, and mental resilience. Magnus’s personal experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for individuals seeking to explore the benefits of cold exposure. By embracing discomfort, cultivating curiosity, and staying present, individuals can tap into their inner strength and adapt to challenging situations. As the field of cold therapy continues to gain popularity, it is important to approach it with an open mind and a willingness to explore the limits of our physical and mental capabilities. With further research and understanding, cold exposure may hold the key to unlocking new levels of well-being and personal growth.

Note: This thought leadership article is based on a transcript from the Native Yoga Toddcast episode featuring Magnus Appelberg. All quotes used in this article are verbatim and direct quotes from the transcript.

Thanks for listening to this episode. Check out: 👇
Free Grow Your Yoga Live Webinar – Every Thursday at 12pm EST
➡️ Click here to receive link

New Student FREE Livestream Yoga Special ~ Try 2 Weeks of Free Unlimited Livestream Yoga Classes  at Native Yoga Center. info.nativeyogacenter.com/livestream Sign into the classes you would like to take and you will receive an email 30 minutes prior to join on Zoom. The class is recorded and uploaded to nativeyogaonline.com  ➡️  Click Here to Join. 

Practice to a New Yoga Class every day with our nativeyogaonline.com course called Today’s Community Class with code FIRSTMONTHFREE.

Native Yoga Teacher Training 2024– In Studio and Livestream – for info delivered to your email click this link here: ➡️ https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

Subscribe to Native Yoga Center and view this podcast on Youtube.

Thank you Bryce Allyn for the show tunes. Check out Bryce’s website: bryceallynband.comand sign up on his newsletter to stay in touch. Listen here to his original music from his bands Boxelder, B-Liminal and Bryce Allyn Band on Spotify.

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogacenter.com

Support the show

Native Yoga website: here
YouTube: here
Instagram: @nativeyoga 
Twitter: @nativeyoga 
Facebook: @nativeyogacenter 
LinkedIn: Todd McLaughlin

Jeremy Strickland – Jin Shin Jyutsu in Rishikesh

Check out this discussion with Jeremy Strickland titled Jin Shin Jyutsu in Rishikesh. Jeremy practices and teaches Yin Yoga and Jin Shin Jyutsu bodywork in Rishikesh, India. Enjoy stories from the heartland of yoga as Jeremy speaks about the power and efficacy of Jin Shin Jyutsu therapy.

During this conversation Jeremy speaks about:

  • How he decided to live in Rishikesh?
  • Cranial sacral therapy and massage.
  • The convergence of traditional Chinese medicine and astrology.
  • Feeling the pulse of the heart.
  • Living in the yoga capital of the world.
  • The wildest thing he’s seen in India.

Jeremy’s bio:
Jeremy Strickland is a yoga instructor with a 500 hr RYT certificate from World Peace Yoga School, Rishikesh, India. He brings a light-hearted approach to asana practice, lifting spirits and making the complicated simple. His background is over 20 years as a Certified Massage Therapist in the USA, with a focus on Craniosacral Therapy and the esoteric art of Jin Shin Jyutsu physio-philosophy.

Visit Jeremy on his website: https://www.yinyoga1.com

Todd Mclaughlin

Well, welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. I’m so happy that you are here. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Jeremy Strickland. Jeremy is a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, which is a form of manual therapy utilizing contact points or points of awareness of the pulse in the body. And he is also a yin yoga instructor. He resides in Rishikesh, India, originally from USA, he has a website, check them out at yinyoga1.com. And you can also find him on the IG the Instagram with the handle @yinyoga_jinshinjyutsu. And of course, those links are in the description. Wherever you’re listening, just give a little click and I’ll take you right over. So happy to have this chance to introduce you to people that are experts in the field of yoga, and bodywork from all over the world. Remember that if you would like to practice with us here at native yoga center, in the description and links below, there’s a link for you to join to try two weeks of unlimited live stream yoga with us for free, you can join us for the classes that we offer to the public on a daily basis. And also every Thursday on YouTube Live, I do a free webinar where you can ask questions and so I have a different topic each week. And you can join in and ask questions via the chat box. So there’s a link there as well. You can click on that, check it out. And remember to go look for Jeremy on his website. yinyoga1.com. I hope you enjoy this discussion. Enjoy some cool stories from the other side of the world. Alright, let’s begin. I’m super excited to have the chance to speak with Jeremy Strickland. He’s a Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner, also a yin yoga instructor. And he’s joining me today from Rishikesh, India. Jeremy, how are you doing today?

Jeremy Strickland

I am fabulous. It’s really exciting to be here.

Todd Mclaughlin

Oh, thanks, man. I’m really excited to have a chance to talk with you. First of all, I’m really curious, how did you land in Rishikesh India and managed to not leave?

Jeremy Strickland

Well, all by happenstance, just before India, I was actually living in Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, and I had been there for eight months, I was my first time living outside of the US had had a big life change just before then. And was kind of not doing much of anything, just experiencing life in a new culture, studying language and what have you. And I thought I would get a yoga teacher certificate. I practiced vinyasa and bodywork for 20 years and I have dabbled in and out of yoga classes and had a pretty decent Ashtanga experience at one point. And as I was just out traveling, I thought I should get a yoga teacher certificate so I can see if I can make something happen, you know, and I was going out with a yoga instructor at the time in Vietnam. And she told me to go to Rishikesh. Yeah. And so I just did some research and it was cheaper to fly here and do a 500 hour program than it was to do anything in Vietnam or anything around there. So two weeks later, I’m in Rishikesh, first time in India. I had signed up to do a 500 hour program and ended up staying because I’m familiar with the meridian system that they’re using in yoga. And so the manager of the school that I was out when she found out that I knew the theory fairly well. She said you should stay and teach Meridian theory and the yoga teacher training which is very cool. And so I took off after my program for a couple of months and worked in Nepal and Thailand and traveled around a bit, and was about to start looking for something and she messaged me again. She was like, hey, what are you doing? She said, “You should come back here and do the 100 hour and yoga teacher training and start teaching meridian theory.” And I thought, it sounds like a good opportunity and came back and did exactly that at the beginning of 2019. I was teaching three, four or five classes a day couple of drop in classes, some Meridian theory in the 10 day teacher training program, up until COVID. And then when COVID happened, locked down was pretty intense here. But I didn’t want to go back to the US. And so I just ended up staying nice.

Todd Mclaughlin

How does it work in relation to your work visa? And then with COVID? I know a lot of folks that move to Indo and usually have to do a visa run after either a six month or one year period. Did that enable you to not have to do visa runs?

Jeremy Strickland

Yeah, well before I was just on one year tourist visas. And on the US you have to leave every six months. Yeah. And then we’re just do like a border run to Nepal. But when COVID happened, you they stopped making you leave the country and you did everything online for a while. Yeah. And then eventually, when they started kicking everything back in again. They gave everybody exit visa and told people to leave and so I left and got them. I was the first time and then I went back to the US for five months. That was the first time I’ve been back to the US and like four years. 

Todd Mclaughlin

Are you around visiting family and came back like eight months ago? Are you originally a San Franciscan?

Jeremy Strickland

No. Well, originally I was born in Ohio, just for a couple of years. And then I was pretty much raised in small town in Texas. Henrietta, Texas. 

Todd Mclaughlin

Yeah, very cool.

And you have a 20 year bodywork history?

Jeremy Strickland

Yeah, I stumbled into massage school when I was about 19 or 20 years old or something.

Todd Mclaughlin

That’s cool. And what is that story?

Jeremy Strickland

So I actually I had when I was a teenager, I was detailing automobiles. My dad was in the car business. My whole life was a child. And so I wound up at 19 years old, I was like detailing cars, grungy, dirty work, didn’t know what I was going to do with my life or anything. And my dad had started managing a bunch of PT schools at this time, and I came home one day and he had a female friend. And I was complaining about being dirty and sweaty and grungy and not liking my work. She said, almost verbatim. She said in six months from now, you could have a manicures license and be working in an air conditioned salon wearing nice clothes and holding hands with girls all day long. And sure enough, six months later, I’m in a salon polishing fingernails and giving manicures and pedicures. And at one point I see a reflexology chart by the pedicure stage. And that was the first time I’d ever seen that or that concept. Yeah. And so I thought, well, I should maybe learn how to do some reflexology, if I’m giving people foot massages for pedicures or whatever. So I called the local school and asked if there was a class. And I say, Well, we talked about it in our massage training program. But we don’t offer it as an individual class. And so soon thereafter, I’m signed up for the massage therapy program. And I went to that was in 1995.

You can listen to the full episode for free here: https://nativeyogacenter.buzzsprout.com

Thanks for reading this blog post from this YouTube video. Check out: 

Free Grow Your Yoga Live Webinar – Every Thursday at 12pm EST
➡️ Click here to receive link


Native Yoga Teacher Training – In Studio and Livestream – for info delivered to your email click this link here: https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

New Student Livestream Special ~ Try 2 Weeks of Free Unlimited Livestream Yoga Classes  at Native Yoga Center. Sign into the classes you would like to take and you will receive an email 30 minutes prior to join on Zoom. The class is recorded and uploaded to nativeyogaonline.com ~ Click Here to join.

New Student FREE 30 Minute Yoga Meet & Greet ~ Are you new to Native Yoga Center and have questions that you would like us to address? Whether you are coming to In Studio, Livestream or Online Recorded Classes we offer a one time complimentary 30 minute zoom meeting to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a time that is convenient for you. Click Here

Native Yoga website: nativeyogacenter.com
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Thai Massage info: palmbeachthaimassage.com
Native Yoga Blog: toddasanayoga.com
Instagram: @nativeyoga
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Listen to the podcast here on our Podcast website: Native Yoga Toddcast

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogacenter.com

Sifu Rubia ~ Prana & Qi – Two Paths to One Destination

I am happy to share this discussion I had with Tai Chi & Qi Gong teacher, Sufi Rubia. Rubia teaches a unique form of Tai Chi and we have the chance to share idea about the connections between the ancient practice of Qi Gong and Yoga. During this conversation she shares how she infuses Tai Chi movement into her daily living.

Visit Sifu Rubia on her website www.taichiwellness.online
Use the promo code FREEQI for a 100% discount on her Short Qi Gong Course.
You can follow her on Instagram at @weiwutaichi

You can listen to the full episode for free here.

Todd McLaughlin

Hello, welcome to Native Yoga Toddcast. Today I have a special guest named Sifu Rubia. And she is a Tai Chi & Qi Gong instructor. She also practices yoga. She’s based out of California. I recommend that you check out her website, taichiwellnwess.online. Check out her courses. She has Tai Chi courses, which are amazing, she gave me an opportunity to take her Tai Chi Fundamentals course of which I was able to participate and I enjoy immensely. Tai Chi is an incredible art form. I really think it goes well with yoga. She is also offering for those of you that would like to try a free course with her. There’s a promo code FREEQI. That’s for her course called Short QiGong Course. On that note, let’s go ahead and get started. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I’m so delighted to have Sifu Rubia here with me today. Rubia, how are you doing?

Sifu Rubia

Hi, good. Good morning, or it’s afternoon for you. I’m well Todd, how are you?

Todd McLaughlin

I’m doing really well. I’m so excited to have a chance to speak with you. And I feel like I you said you just finished teaching a class. Is that true? Yeah, private class, private class. And you are a Tai Chi and Qi Gong practitioner and teacher?

Sifu Rubia

Correct. 

Todd McLaughlin

Wonderful. Can you help me understand the difference between Tai Chi and Chi Gong?

Sifu Rubia

Oh, well, Tai Chi is the martial expression of your Qigong practice, essentially. So Chi Gong is, for your Yogi listeners, is the equivalent to prana and Gong simply means to work, to cultivate, to toil. So a chi gong practice is just that. So you’re working on your lifeforce, your vital energy, through specific movements. There are many different system. Qigong systems out there that target different things. And so that’s the cultivation of your of your prana. And then the Tai Chi is the martial expression of that cultivation. And that’s a simple way to understand the difference between the two.

Todd McLaughlin

When you say martial expression, meaning the actual physical movements.

Sifu Rubia

Yeah, correct. So Tai Chi is also known as the Grand Ultimate for martial artists. And usually a typical path to your Tai Chi is a kung fu practice. So people evolve into their Tai Chi, but every Tai Chi movement has a martial expression to it. I don’t typically teach martial expressions just because the venue actually requires, often times, requires me to, to teach it more as a meditation, which it also is, so I teach it primarily as a moving meditation.

Todd McLaughlin

Nice. Can you give me some insight into how you got started? And what your first introduction to Tai Chi was?

Sifu Rubia

Sure, sure. The first Tai Chi class I went to I literally went and walked out? 

Todd McLaughlin

Have you felt weirded out by that first? Like, what was it like that? Sorry? What was it that that made you want to walk out like you were frustrated, or you thought it was weird or….

Sifu Rubia

All of that. It was a combination of a few things. And I remember the feeling very vividly. And by then I’d already had maybe a five year yoga practice. So I was familiar with mind body movement. But the Tai Chi just brought it to another level of being really, really present and uncomfortable. And I just, it was uncomfortable. And your ego gets in the way. And you know, like, there are layers to spiritual practice and your spiritual evolution. And that’s where I was at that moment in time. Struggling with with that part of myself, so yeah, I walked out of class. 15 years later, here we are, yes. 

Todd McLaughlin

Can I ask you where that was?

Sifu Rubia

Where was it? I think it was here in California. So I’m not from here. I’m from Canada. And from the East Coast, and the I was visiting or traveling here in California. And the person I was with was actually a teacher. And he brought me to class. And that’s how that started. And then it took me a couple of years after that before taking another class. Just because the experience was…. I was just so weirded out that I never even considered going back. And then the second time, I can’t even say that it’s stuck, but it wasn’t as uncomfortable. And then the third time is when it stuck.

Todd McLaughlin

Nice. What do you think about the third time that made it stick? What was it that caused you to feel that way?

Sifu Rubia

So I don’t know. I think I was in a much different place. I was, you know, a little more seasoned. I transcended my ego a little bit more and I was a little more open and receptive to the practice. So I guess that’s what made the difference. And I see that in people who show up to class. You always have to meet as a teacher, you know, you have to meet people where they are. It has to come from within. The first time I was not forced into a situation. But it wasn’t something I was willingly going into, I think that’s part of the breakdown that happened. So by the third time it was a willingness from me. So I have to answer that question. That’s really the difference.

Todd McLaughlin

What do you think intrigued you about it when you had that switch to where you were going from being pulled into class versus let me seek it out? You already had a yoga practice? So it sounds like you had cultivated a passion for movement and mind body awareness? What was it about tai chi that caused you to want to try it again? Was it that initial kind of pushback that you felt from being uncomfortable in that really focused space? Or do you think there was something about watching the movement and watching people practice that you that got you intrigued you? Can you put your finger on that?

Sifu Rubia

I love how you put that…. it’s actually the latter. So to really observe people doing tai chi, just watching them it’s meditative. So I think yes, that was definitely the pull back. Yeah. In that space. Yeah, I love that you brought that up.

Todd McLaughlin

Oh, that’s cool. Well, it’s funny, because the first time I saw Tai Chi was on a video. And I remember I was with a group of people. And I had a massage teacher that was really into tai chi, and he put the video on and I think, because the reaction of the other people in the room, they started to giggle and laugh a little bit, kind of like, what is this? What is this person doing? Because the person was moving so slow. And so I feel like my first impression got formed by the reaction of the others around me. I was intrigued. I thought, well, that looks really interesting? But I remember that everyone else is wanting to make fun so it didn’t let me form my own first initial experience. Then my second chance getting to come across Tai Chi, was in Thailand. I was studying Thai massage and my Thai massage teacher would go and teach Tai Chi. Really early in the morning in Chiang Mai, Thailand.  I remember going to a big soccer field. And more than 100 people would show up to practice. And I was blown away by the energy.   I thought it looked so easy, but then to try to actually follow was another story. I remember people saying, Wow, that guy, he’s a real Tai Chi master. Like he really knows what he’s doing. And so I’d sit back and just kind of watch him and but I still didn’t have that eye yet for being able to detect who the master at the art was. 

Can you? When you watch people practice? Is there something that you pick up on? When you watch their practice that gives you that indication? Obviously, you study it, and you teach it. So you have some understanding of these nuances. But can you clue me in a little bit as to what you look for?

You can listen to the full episode for free here: https://nativeyogacenter.buzzsprout.com

Thanks for reading this blog post from this YouTube video. Check out: 👇
Native Yoga Teacher Training – In Studio and Livestream – for info delivered to your email click this link here: https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

New Student Livestream Special ~ Try 2 Weeks of Free Unlimited Livestream Yoga Classes  at Native Yoga Center. Sign into the classes you would like to take and you will receive an email 30 minutes prior to join on Zoom. The class is recorded and uploaded to nativeyogaonline.com ~ Click Here to join.

New Student FREE 30 Minute Yoga Meet & Greet ~ Are you new to Native Yoga Center and have questions that you would like us to address? Whether you are coming to In Studio, Livestream or Online Recorded Classes we offer a one time complimentary 30 minute zoom meeting to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a time that is convenient for you. Click Here

Native Yoga website: nativeyogacenter.com
Online Yoga Class Library: nativeyogaonline.com
Thai Massage info: palmbeachthaimassage.com
Native Yoga Blog: toddasanayoga.com
Instagram: @nativeyoga
YouTube channel: Native Yoga Center

Listen to the podcast here on our Podcast website: Native Yoga Toddcast

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogacenter.com

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn – Connecting the Dots – Yoga, Acupuncture and the Meridian Pathways

You can listen to the full episode for free here.

Todd McLaughlin

I’m really delighted to bring to the podcast today, Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn. She is an experienced acupuncturist. She’s a yoga teacher, she specializes in myofascial trigger point therapy and the practice of science of meridians. She has over 20 years of practice in the field. And she’s got an incredible Instagram page, I really highly recommend you go check it out. It’s at @erin_bodyaware. And then please go look her up on her website, which is scienceofself.com

I recently bought her book The Science of Self, Yoga, Pathways, Organs and Emotions off of Amazon. I’ll put a link in the description below for all these different sites. It’s really interesting. I have to admit, I’ve been reading it and applying some of the ideas during my own yoga practice. I love the way that she’s been able to bring attention to the use of visualization of the meridians while practicing the yoga poses. I really appreciate how she encourages feeling the energy pathways in the body based on our experience. Then having a little bit of guidance from her to know what the tradition of it all is, has been really fascinating. So for me, this is a huge honor to bring Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn on. Let’s go ahead and start. 

I’m so excited to have Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn here today. Dr. Rose Erin, how are you doing today?

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

I’m doing great. I’m sitting by my wood stove up in upstate New York.

Todd McLaughlin

Oh wow. It’s obviously a little bit colder up there than here in Florida. I am in my flip flops and in the air conditioning. 

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

Oh, wow. Right?

No, it’s very cold here. Yeah.

Todd McLaughlin

Oh, man. I’m really excited to have this chance to speak with you because I have your book, The Science of Self – Yoga Pathways, Organs and Emotions, and I’m enamored with it. I think what you’ve done with blending your acupuncture career with the yoga together and the visuals of the way that you use the meridian lines from the acupuncture and Chinese medicine system in relation to the yoga poses has been so interesting. I really love your book. I think it’s incredible.

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

Well, thank you. 

Todd McLaughlin

You’re welcome. And so so that all of our listeners are aware, you’re an experienced acupuncturist, you’re a yoga teacher, you specialize in myofascial trigger point therapy, and practice science of meridians. And you’ve had an opportunity to learn from your 20 years of practice in the field. And I’m curious, was there a lightbulb moment for you that your study and career path would unfold to where you are now?

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

There was a few but I think as far as combining the energy pathways, which we call meridians, in Chinese medicine, with yoga, those are two different systems. That happened for me, I think that was something that was sort of a seed for a long time, you know, seed and sprout. Where roads and I think when I was studying originally just trigger point manual therapy and yoga before I went to acupuncture school and learned the meridian system. I sensed there is some deeper connection that I needed to find with combining the myofascial pathways that I was learning with the asana. With yoga asana, with an understanding, sort of the emotional connection to it. Like why are these patterns in the body? And why does yoga asana work, to not only heal the body, but to release emotions? Anyone that practices yoga knows that it there is this relationship? Yes. Because you start crying in class sometimes, and then you feel better. Yeah. So I really just had asked my teacher who is Dharma Mitra, my yoga teacher. He’s a master. I mean he’s 83 years old now, and I was pretty close to him. I said I want to learn the energy pathways. And he’s a funny guy. I mean, he will say things like, really short, you know, and then later, you’ll figure out what it meant. But he just said, what you need to do, you need to get a book. He was like, I don’t know that stuff. But you should get a book. He told me to get the Sivananda book that has description of the nadis. And I was like, Oh well, I guess that was a stupid question. But I think he mysteriously put me on the path to go to acupuncture school and learn those pathways. Now every time I see him, he’s always like, are you still doing the needles? You know, acupuncture. And he asked me while I was in school, and yeah, he asked me just last week, are you still doing? And anyway, I think, as I studied the meridian system, which is really overwhelming, in the beginning, yes, it’s a massive amount of very detailed information about the energy pathways in the body. And so it was overwhelming. So I made up these meditations, which I could do during yoga and afterward that worked like body scans. Where you just follow them around the body.

Todd McLaughlin

I don’t want to say it. I guess I was gonna say the word imagination, but you use your power of visualization to body scan and follow the meridian around while you’re in the yoga pose?

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn 

Exactly. That’s crazy imagination. Yeah. Because whether, I mean, my acupuncture teacher is also a master. And he’s like, it doesn’t matter if these pathways are real or not. You know what I mean? Like, people argue over these things. Like, are they useful? And so they are useful. And anyway, yes, it’s totally imagination, visualization. And as I was doing the asana that I’d been doing for years anyway, I was like, wow, I can feel these pathways. Wow. They’re on some level. They’re really real. Doorways unfolded and it opened a whole new world when I did that. 

Todd McLaughlin

Did that light bulb go off more when you started to apply what you’re learning from the Chinese meridian system more so than what you had learned and applied from the myofascial release pressure point work?

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

Well, the thing about the myofascial release, which is brilliant, and that’s what I had studied, the Travell and Simons’ text. That is what I studied when I went to massage school first.

Todd McLaughlin

Yeah, that’s a very dense text isn’t it? I have those books and they are amazing. For those listening that are unfamiliar with those texts I would like to mention that it is a big undertaking to study these. So that’s pretty amazing that you combed through those volumes and went deep into study of them.

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

You really do have to comb through them and I still have the original books that I had bought and they’re you know, heavily underlined. I was just like, wow, what is this? Crazy like that? Any I tell everyone to buy those and just spend the rest of their life reading them. 

Todd McLaughlin

They’re absolutely incredible in relation to trigger point and referral points, don’t you think?

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

Yes. Learning about things that it could do to mimic, or that could mimic those pain patterns. Like, you know, you may think you’re having a heart attack, but you actually have a trigger point in your rhomboids or something like that, or your pec major. Yes. And so that was just fascinating to me, but it has left out one component, mostly which, which was emotions. Like stress and anxiety or anger. Like, how did those things relate and what patterns do they specifically create? And that is what the Chinese system is masterful for. Because they understand the connection of those myofascial pathways to the specific internal organs. When you first hear that the liver is has anger, you know, or is associated with anger, people don’t buy it right away. But I explain it to people like, you know, the heart is related to love. Right? 

Todd McLaughlin 

Yeah. Everyone just sort of intuitively knows that. Because they feel it. Yeah. And that’s one that we accept that. Yet the thought of the connection between anger and my liver, that’s a tough one at first.

Dr. Rose Erin Vaughn

It is, you know, but then if you start to study it and think about it. Then you notice, like, when you get really angry, or there’s something that’s really irritating you that’s not usually there, you notice certain patterns in your body. Like tension around the right side of the ribcage radiating down the right side, or down the IT band or something or up into your jaw. And that’s the liver and gallbladder. The gallbladder pathway, but it’s related to the liver. And then it changes your life, you can’t go back once you see the connection.

Todd McLaughlin

Good point.

You can listen to the full episode for free here: https://nativeyogacenter.buzzsprout.com

Thanks for reading this blog post from this YouTube video. Check out: 👇
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Lynsi Eastburn – Using Hypnotherapy to Inspire Fertility

I am pleased to feature Lynsi Eastburn on the Native Yoga Toddcast! 

As the creator of 3Keys® HypnoFertility, Lynsi is the world’s established expert in the field of hypnosis to promote fertility. She began professionally using hypnosis to facilitate pregnancy before anyone else had actively considered or pursued its benefits, when there was no information about it in books, when nothing could be found on the internet.

During this conversation Lynsi and I discuss how hypnotherapy, yoga and relaxation techniques can play a vital role in reducing stress and how this can positively effect fertility.

Visit Lynsi on her website https://hypnofertility.com to learn more.

You can listen to the full episode for free here.

Watch the podcast episode on YouTube Here.

Todd McLaughlin

I’m so happy to have Lindsey Eastburn here today. Lindsay, you have a website called Hypnofertility.com. I’m really excited to talk about your new book and but just to get started and so all of our listeners have a chance to get to know you. Can you explain to me what your method called 3Keys Hypnofertility is all about? 

Lynsi Eastburn

Yeah. Hi, Todd. Thanks for having me on today. Nice to see you. Thank you. So basically 3Keys Hypnofertility is actually how I use it these days to distinguish it from what’s become kind of a generic word for Hypnofertility. When I started working with this, I am a hypnotherapist, and I’ve been in the healing arts for a long, long time. And in general private practice, I started encountering women who are trying to get pregnant and hypnosis wasn’t known for helping with fertility at that time. And this was back in was probably 20 some odd years ago at any rate. And so hypnosis was really helpful. And people knew that it was, it was well known for childbirth and other things like weight loss and smoking, but not for fertility. And so what happened was people started coming in, for one reason or another that ended up being fertility connected, and I was able to help them. And even those who were given a diagnosis have 0% chance of ever getting pregnant or ending up getting pregnant naturally began working with me. 

TM

Wow. 

LE

So kind of long story short, I ended up developing a method because there wasn’t anything out there. And I called it Hypnofertility. And then just over the last few years, I have given it its own kind of designation of 3Keys Hypnofertility. It’s based on three keys to conception that I received in meditation about 27 years ago. 

TM

So while you’re in a state of meditation, this came to you? Can you give me a little insight into what that was like or how that came about? 

LE

Yeah, for sure. Now it gets kind of spiritual spirit baby type of stuff. I started out kind of working with the art and science of hypnosis, so to speak. And then also, I’ve always been connected with spirit or mind body spirit balance. I am an intuitive empath. And so years ago, I was only supposed to have one child. My son is now 27. Now going on 28. He came to me as a spirit baby and said, “Hi, I’m coming to you, you need to have me make arrangements.” Yeah, yeah. And I thought, Okay, I’ve always been open to this type of thing. But at that time, I was like, wow, this is something, he sent me his name. And so I did have to make some significant changes, and I was able to welcome him into the world. So what happened was, I ended up in a in a class that was basically healing arts, sort of a crystal enhancement class and I was learning about crystals. It was meditation and it various spiritual things like that. We did an exercise to meet our guide, to meet a spirit guide. And so I did that exercise. And then at the time, we would do it in class, and we practice at home, with cassettes, if you can believe it. And we used automatic writing to tune into the spirit guide. So lots of people were getting a lot of different things with our automatic writing. Well, my guide showed up, who is an infinity symbol, basically. So I got a symbol. And then I got one word, and I kept getting this one word, and the word was meditate. And so day after day, week after week, I’m practicing with my meditation. I’m working on connecting with my guide, and I’m getting this word, meditate, meditate, meditate. So I’m like, can I have something else? What else can I have, some more words please? And so eventually, I did get another word, which was listen. And so then I would, I would get that every day. And so I would do my meditations. And I’d get meditate and listen, and then listen was the focus for a while. And then after, you know, another few weeks, I got the word Trust. And that’s all I got. Meditate, listen, trust. Well, this was prior to me trying to conceive this child who showed up and told me that he was coming into the world. And so I began to basically apply that because as I was meditating, or as I was tuning in, I was becoming clearer. I was obviously becoming calmer. And my, you know, just nervous system was much more balanced. I was creating that balance of Mind, Body, and Spirit and I was able to listen. I was able to hear directions or instructions, or just that knowingness. I mean, it really enhanced that. You know, my intuition. All of that type of thing. And then the trust was to trust it. You know that you’re getting this baby that I’m not supposed to have just kept showing up. Trust it. Right. Yeah, you’ve got him.

TM

Wow. That’s amazing. Congratulations. Your son is how old now? 

LE

He’s 27. He’s the musician that got me all set up with my microphone and livestream to do this interview. 

TM

It sounds really good. By the way. I’m so happy he did that for you.

LE

Yeah, he’s a good guy, that’s for sure. So

yeah, it’s just so interesting. And then when I talk about meditate, listen, trust, that even as I did my hypnotherapy training, as I worked with Reiki and other modalities, it really is the crux of that. And I realized that this was where I got in meditation, sort of this knowing that this is the three keys to conception, meditate, listen, trust. No matter what else is going on. If you can utilize these, it just helped on so many levels. And then I was kind of thinking about and I go, you know, that’s really the three keys to life. It’s not just the three keys to conception, however, it is totally the crux of the program, or the work that I do and meditate doesn’t necessarily literally mean meditate. So it can be obviously hypnosis since that’s what I do. It can also be like just being quiet going into the quiet, it can be walking in nature, it can be doing yoga, it can be doing, you know, bodywork or any type of self care really. It’s a time when you just shut off, you know, shut off the phone, shut off the screens, the TV, the whole thing, and even if it’s just for a minute or two minutes a day, but just have some quiet and people tend to not do that. And it’s gotten worse. You know, since before my son was conceived because now we have all this technology and phones. A lot of people, they want noise all the time. So it’ll be the TVs in the background or the radios in the background or, which is fine if you’re paying attention to it. Yet often it is used to block out listening to our own minds and senses. When I get up in the morning, I don’t want to hear anything. And I want to get my tea and I want to just, you know, talk to my dogs. And that’s kind of it, but I don’t want any noise going on. But a lot of people are kind of averse to that. They really do need to have background noise all the time. 

TM

That’s a great point. What I really liked about the serendipity of having the chance to speak with you is I had someone come in for a Thai massage, and she said that the only way she was able to get pregnant was because she started getting Thai massage. And that it relaxed her nervous system enough that she was able to have a baby. And that was the first time I heard someone say that to me personally. And so then not long after when I was able to get in contact with you, I thought that this would be a really interesting topic. I’m excited to hear different stories that you’ve probably have seen with your clients where they’ve tried everything. I know there’s a lot of different fertility treatments out there. Can you explain to me what some of them are? Or what people who come to you for assistance have tried? 

LE

Yeah, you’re absolutely right. And a lot of times with hypnosis, in general, we can often be the last resort for people. And the great thing is, it’s still effective. And it doesn’t, you don’t have to believe in it. A lot of times, people just, they’ve tried everything. At that point they think, I’m going to come to hypnosis, which is really how this kind of got kicked off, was people thinking well, what if hypnosis would help? And so people may be going through medical treatment, which can be quite costly. And it’s very invasive. And a lot of invitro fertilization, for example, they have to take a lot of injections and hormones, it’s really hard emotionally.

It requires like a full time job, people have to be at the clinic so often. And a lot of times, I don’t know, if I will, I probably would lean toward most times, many times, it does not work on the first round. And so they have to end up going through it again. And sometimes people have done eight or nine cycles of IVF, before they come to see me. And that was how it was early on. People were at a dead end. They didn’t have the technology they do now. People were getting these ultimatums. They’re either being told they are not a candidate for IVF, or any of these types of treatments and to go home and come to terms with being childless or adopt. Instead I was having these folks, they would come in and say, I believe that there’s a baby there. I feel it. I just know it. I know there’s a baby there. And I always could sense into that. And so I say, Yeah, I believe you. And let’s work with that.

You can listen to the full episode for free here: https://nativeyogacenter.buzzsprout.com

Thanks for reading this blog post from this podcast episode. Check out: 👇
Native Yoga Teacher Training – In Studio and Livestream – for info delivered to your email click this link here: https://info.nativeyogacenter.com/native-yoga-teacher-training-2023/

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New Student Livestream Special ~ Try 2 Weeks of Free Unlimited Livestream Yoga Classes  at Native Yoga Center. Sign into the classes you would like to take and you will receive an email 30 minutes prior to join on Zoom. The class is recorded and uploaded to nativeyogaonline.com ~ Click Here to join.

New Student FREE 30 Minute Yoga Meet & Greet ~ Are you new to Native Yoga Center and have questions that you would like us to address? Whether you are coming to In Studio, Livestream or Online Recorded Classes we offer a one time complimentary 30 minute zoom meeting to answer any questions you may have. Schedule a time that is convenient for you. Click Here

Native Yoga website: nativeyogacenter.com
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Thai Massage info: palmbeachthaimassage.com
Native Yoga Blog: toddasanayoga.com
Instagram: @nativeyoga
YouTube channel: Native Yoga Center

Listen to the podcast here on our Podcast website: Native Yoga Toddcast

Please email special requests and feedback to info@nativeyogacenter.com
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