This podcast conversation was first published on June 15th, 2021.

We've all had moments, those seemingly insignificant decisions we make, without realizing that they could entirely alter the trajectory of our lives. Some moments are powerful reminders that life is unpredictable, ephemeral, and profoundly spiritual.

A harmless morning run: Amanda’s unexpected journey

One such moment in time was experienced by Dr. Amanda Eller, who opted for what seemed to be a harmless choice — a morning run. Little did she know that this decision would lead her down a path she hadn’t anticipated and one she'd remember for the rest of her life.

In May 2019, Amanda found herself lost amidst the thick foliage of the Maui jungle. It was not just a test of her physical stamina and resilience but an intense spiritual awakening, one that held her in its embrace for more than two weeks.

The uncharted spiritual expedition behind the sensation

On this gripping episode of the Embodied...

Listen to an audio version of this blog post, narrated by Anne Bérubé. Simply select the play button on the media player above.

The river loses its name as it flows into the sea.

-Kahlil Gibran

The last 2 years have been a period of transition for me. I knew I was done with how I had been doing things for the past decade, but I didn't know how things would change or where I was going. I remember thinking: I'm ready to give it all up, if this is the invitation. I don't have to keep any of it, if it doesn't fit with where I am going.

I began to make space by letting go of some things, but I quickly realized that it wasn't enough. This wasn't just about a change in what I did and how I did it. It was a change in identity. A transition in identity is always a little more tricky, especially if you enjoy who you have become.

I had become a teacher, an author, a guide. I created programs people enjoyed, and they were getting results. I wrote books people read and...

This 7-minute breathing practice invites you to enhance awareness and energy by deeply breathing through the skin and the surrounding space.

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Breathe in through your nose, and out through your mouth. When you breathe in, reach for the in-breath from deep inside your belly. Your belly is soft. And when you breathe out, drop your jaw soften your lips, soften your neck, and soften your throat.

Deepen your breath, and slow your breath down. When you breathe out, make a little constriction in your throat to make the sound "haa." And when you do this, it elongates your exhalation, building power, building strength, building energy. And it's also massaging your vagus nerve, this nerve that goes from the base of your brain, wraps around your organs as it goes down through your body and it tells your parasympathetic system that it is safe, that it can heal, that your body can tap into creativity and access something new.

Bring your...

This podcast conversation was first published on January 28th, 2021.

I had the honor of sitting down with the inspiring Naomi Irons and the illuminating Deborah Gleason for a heart-opening conversation on a topic that is, paradoxically, both deeply universal and profoundly personal: intimacy. This wasn’t just about the intimacy we share with others, but the profound connection we cultivate within ourselves, the one that ultimately shapes and deepens every other relationship in our lives.

In our hour-and-a-half-long discussion, I found myself reflecting on a thought I've been cradling for a while now: that death is perhaps the ultimate moment of intimacy. It’s a point in our lives where the veil between the tangible and the ethereal becomes so thin that it almost disappears. It's when we truly come face-to-face with the very essence of our being.

Highlights from our podcast discussion include:

• Connecting deeply with the Earth (Gaia) as a model of living and source...

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of connecting with the remarkable Bronnie Ware on the Embodied Podcast. Bronnie is acclaimed for her internationally bestselling memoir, "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying”; her life philosophy is centered around embracing regret-free living, a concept deeply resonant with my own teachings.

During our podcast conversation, we found ourselves reminiscing about the ever-inspiring Dr. Wayne Dyer. Recounting stories of our unique connections with him, our conversation wove through the realms of parenting, illness, and the importance of self-kindness. We reflected upon the essence of "leaving space"—a pause for breath, for presence, for allowing life to unfold organically.

We also discuss the writing process. We talk about our journeys through the winding paths of writing and publishing, and the complexities of public life. We explore the conundrums of creating a sustainable business model as a writer, a journey entwined with its own...

An audio version of this blog post is available. Navigate to the audio player above and select the play button to hear this blog post narrated by Anne Bérubé.

A trait spiritual masters share is their ability to feel emotions deeply. They know that their body is a highly sensitive instrument that permits them to know truths through feeling all of life, moment to moment.

They no longer need to actively establish defensive barriers; these arise naturally from the deep-seated knowledge within them. They no longer perceive threats they need to defend against. All of life is safe when you trust your instrument to lead the way.

The unseen impact of trauma: interrupted feeling and self fragmentation

Fully feeling the depth of each moment without barriers is a gift we all possess.

This capacity changes as we grow to adapt to our environment.

When trauma happens, a part of us shuts down and our subconscious mind doesn't allow us to feel certain aspects of an experience.

The...

This ten-minute guided meditation invites participants to focus on their breath and heart to connect with their innermost selves. 

Close your eyes and bring your attention to your breath. Make your breath deeper and more expanded. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth. As you breathe deeply like this, just let your body know that for the next 10 minutes, there's nothing for you to do, nowhere to go, nothing to be worried about or concerned about but just letting yourself be guided.

As you go deeper into yourself see if you can reach for your in-breath deep inside your belly, so your belly is soft, like a Buddha belly, just hanging, and allowing the belly to expand, and the ribcage, and shoulder blades go back. And then when you breathe out and invite your jaw to drop, constricting the throat a little bit, softening your lips, your teeth, your gums, your jaw, the back of your neck, front of your throat with every exhalation, that's it.

Constricting the throat a...

An audio version of this blog post is available. Navigate to the audio player above and select the play button to hear this blog post narrated by Anne Bérubé. 

The importance of trust in transformation

I've been thinking a lot about trust lately and how it is such an essential element for any true transformation.

For many of us, trust is fragile, so when we are asked to trust ourselves, our body, that life has our back, or in the process of surrendering, it feels like putting our life into something or someone else's hands and it feels impossible. Yet, we need it to move forward, to allow newness to come into our life, and it is a required ingredient to experience authentic fulfillment.

Trust allows us to be vulnerable while feeling connected and safe. It will enable us to go to new places and explore new territories without worrying that we will be interrupted, arrested, or punished for having put our walls down.

The absence of trust shuts down...

For approximately 5 to 10 minutes, I would like to do a visualization practice with you. You can keep your eyes open if you'd like, or you can keep them closed, but I'm just going to bring the energy into a holographic future, like inside of our mind's eye, so just make yourself comfortable.

Bring your attention to your breath.

Let's take a few deep breaths at your own rhythm so you can sink into yourself. Whatever you need to do to activate that connection with the wisdom in your body.

With each breath, see if you can sink your attention deeper into your body. In your own time, bring your attention down, down, down maybe all the way until it gets to the base of your spine.

Get away from thoughts, move away from logic, go into the tissues of your body, staying really connected to your body.

Wherever it feels more meaningful, maybe it's your heart right now, maybe it's your belly, maybe it's your toes.

So, know that's your anchor. That's the source of where everything else should...

Hello, wonderful community! Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting a profound conversation with the insightful and wise Naomi Irons on the Embodied podcast.

I am excited to share this enriching podcast conversation with you, and I wholeheartedly recommend listening to the full episode for a wealth of wisdom and enlightenment.

Highlights from my discussion with Naomi include:

• The importance of allowing children to be seen, heard, and acknowledged for who they truly are
• A paradigm shift in how we perceive all relationships, including the one we have with ourselves
• How parents can help kids stay in the present moment to understand how their uniqueness is part of the future they are creating for themselves 

In our conversation, Naomi talks about how she sees her parenting role with her two teenage children: 

"One of my only roles right now is to really stay in the present moment with them and to keep allowing them to see that they are already living life, they're...