From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

Sometimes the biggest realizations come to us at the most challenging times. Today’s episode of the Yoga Girl Podcast is no different. Returning to life after a sickness and fever brought her to a different portal, Rachel has a lot to share. From lucid dreams, to big transitions, and all her tests coming back negative - was this past week an ascension? A shedding of layers? A rebirth? A coming home? Sitting down for tea, it all came together. In this episode, you will get a glimpse into an aspect of Rachel’s life she has never shared before: her tea ceremony. This ritual tied together with a newfound vulnerability brought her to her knees and made everything come full circle. Sometimes we have to completely fall apart to put ourselves back together. Sometimes we have to learn to mother ourselves when our inner child is scared and fragile. And sometimes, we have to go to the depths of the portal, to the brink of our edges, to find God. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel has had a rollercoaster of a week! After traveling back to Aruba, leaving Ringo behind in Sweden, learning he ran away and more, she has been to the depths of despair and back more times than she can count. If you’re also feeling scattered, ungrounded, and unable to grasp all the emotions coming at you, this episode begins with a meditation that will bring you from chaos to calm. The journey to get there is through dropping the resistance and finding self-acceptance. After our minds are a little quieter, it’s story time! Rachel recounts everything that happened over the past week in chronological detail. What happened at the airport? Why did Ringo run away? She even discusses her chat with an animal psychic! Tune in to learn Ringo’s true feelings about staying in Sweden for a few months before he is reunited with his family. Today’s episode really has it all! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you in a relationship that often feels frustrating but you aren’t sure how to exercise your power? Is someone you’re close with pressuring you to act in a way that goes against your intuition? Are you experiencing any guilt for not conforming to behavior deemed acceptable by society? These are all signs that you need to set and uphold a boundary in your life. Today’s episode can help! Joining the Yoga Girl Podcast is Nedra Glover Tawwab. A licensed therapist, New York Times Bestseller and highly sought-after relationship expert, Nedra is here to teach us how to set boundaries, to be assertive, and to come back to ourselves again and again. When it comes to setting boundaries, the majority of the work begins with ourselves. Learn how to communicate your needs, what to do if they are not honored, and ultimately how to sit with discomfort in today’s important discussion. Tune in to begin! To connect with Nedra further, you can follow her on Instagram at @nedratawwab or get a copy of her book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace, here (https://www.nedratawwab.com/set-boundaries-find-peace). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode begins with some grounding breaths to arrive fully into this moment. When life throws something our way, no matter if it’s exciting or heart wrenching, our emotions can become scattered and our breath gets strained. This short meditation will hone everything into the here and now. And we are going to need it because… Rachel and her family found a house in Sweden! After months of moving through limbo it is finally happening. In today’s episode, she shares the entire journey that brought her here, from the things that felt wrong to what ultimately felt so divinely right. Tune in to be reminded that the universe is taking you where you need to go, although it usually has a surprisingly way of getting you there! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We all poop! Why don’t we ever talk about it? Trigger warning: this episode gets really up close and personal on all things number two! After having her first colon hydrotherapy session, Rachel became more intimate with her poop than ever before - and she shares all the deets! What was the experience like? How did it feel? And what really came out of her? From someone who grew up feeling so embarrassed by poop, this experience taught Rachel so much about her own body, her relationship with food, and what specifically disagrees with her system. But on a deeper level, Rachel unravels the shame behind pooping - especially as women who are taught we cannot have big bodily functions. We’ve all been there, but poop shouldn’t be a shameful topic! This episode will inspire you to release many things, including the shame surrounding a completely normal and natural human experience. Tune in for a safe space to let go… literally! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode shares the objective story on how Rachel and her family dealt with finding toxic mold in their house, from A to Z. Environmental health is incredibly important, but often overlooked. The truth is you are exposed to toxins on a continuous basis, but your body has pathways to remove them from your system. What happens when you live in an environment that completely overwhelms your natural ability to detox? It’s simple. You get sick. In this episode, Rachel covers the entire mold timeline, from how her family discovered the problem, to the symptoms experienced, the tests they used to assess the damage, the detox protocols they followed, how they remediated their house, and what happened with their belongings. Tune in to learn the common places in your home that mold loves to hide, why your steamy showers may be harming you in the long run, and other tips and tricks to keep your home healthy. You shouldn’t always have to focus on healing - sometimes you should just thrive! Today’s episode will help you get there. Mold Resources: The Colorado based company that helped Rachel’s family: Gary Gilman from SteamMaster https://steammaster.com/ Mold Remediators and Consultants: @moldfinders, @themoldguy, @pjharlowwellness Functional Doctors: @drjillcarnahan, @dr.jess.md The Great Plains Laboratory: https://www.greatplainslaboratory.com/ Envirobiomics: https://www.envirobiomics.com/ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is a place life takes us sometimes. It’s dark, it’s lonely and it feels like we’re trapped at the bottom of a hole. It can be hard to get out, unless we remember one thing: the only way out is through. This week, Rachel has managed to see the light again after two weeks of ever present anxiety. Through what felt like utter failure, she realized something important. No matter how often she loses herself, and no matter how hard it is to get back, she never stops trying. Instead of giving up and drowning herself in ice cream and wine, she hugs her husband, cuddles her daughter, practices yoga, drinks tea, and walks outside in the sunshine. Maybe this is the mark of real self-love. It’s not always butterflies and rainbows. It’s not quick fixes. It’s the fact that we stick with ourselves through the hard times. We don’t give up on ourselves. Today’s episode will give you a new way to measure your self-love, not in your supposed successes or failures, but in how often you pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and try again. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode comes with no epiphanies. It’s just an honest, open sharing on anxiety when there is nothing else you can do. If you’ve ever had a tiny moment trigger a sea of anxiety, then you’ll know exactly what that feels like. This week, Rachel and her family are visiting friends on a beautiful island off the southern coast of Sweden. The sun is shining, summer is in full swing, and Rachel is surrounded by loved ones, good food, and beautiful scenery. But her anxiety has not let her enjoy any of it. After finding three ticks on her daughter, Rachel went into a full downward spiral worrying about her daughters health. Nothing has helped her break the surface as of yet. What can we do when there is nothing to do? Sometimes the answer is to be in the body, so the mind can follow. Sometimes the answer is to share. And sometimes the answer is a really long, understanding hug. Tune in today for a combination of all three. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you look back on your life, make sure you can say that you were there for it. You were present. You didn’t just move through the motions of life, doing what you were told and checking out when things got hard or boring. You felt it all. You experienced it all, from the mundane to the breathtaking. This podcast episode begins with a short exercise to support the feelings in your heart right now, then Rachel dives into today’s topic - our presence. Over the course of our lives, our presence is shaped by so many things. Being told we are ‘bad’ as children and internalizing those emotions. Checking out as we complete our normal mundane tasks for the day. Or, finding ourselves overwhelmed by trying to keep it all together. For Rachel, this came to a cumulation this week after she checked out and was only brought back to earth by a crippling panic attack. The solution? Embrace your humanity! Love yourself - and that begins with understanding yourself. Learn the intricacies of your emotions, what triggers you, and when you check out so you can catch it before you’re too far gone. Today’s episode will give you new tools to manage anxiety and help you get to know yourself a little better. Tune in to get started. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We come from the earth, we’ll return to the earth. In between, we garden. We nourish our bodies, we feed our minds. We tend to our hearts as though they are budding seeds. In today’s episode, Rachel shares the journey of self-care she has been on over the past year. After feeling a huge disconnect in Aruba (cue toxic mold, land built to support tourists, and environments not conducive to her human design), everything has come to a head in a surprising way now that she is in Sweden. Alone in nature, running through the woods collecting flowers, she has found herself. The environments you immerse yourself in play a huge role in your healing practices, but that doesn’t just mean your immediate surroundings. The relationships you are in, the home you live in, even your country and the practices it adopts can affect you on a deep, cellular level. That’s because we are nature. Flowers cannot grow in concrete, and you cannot grow where you are not rooted. Tune in today for an episode that will remind you that no matter what season you are moving through in your life, there is always one constant. Mother Earth is here to hold you. Returning to her is returning to yourself - it’s the real coming home. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you actively participating in the creation of your life, or are you a bystander, feeling out of control and like you have no say in what life brings your way? Today, Rachel has some big decisions to make. It’s reminding her of a time of crisis years ago when she turned to Sweden to clear her head and find the answer that changed the course of her life forever. Now in a similar situation, she is once again being asked to choose - to actively decide the life she wants to create - but choosing for yourself when you’re used to putting the needs of others ahead of your own is a scary thing to do. No sign from the universe is still a sign. It’s a sign that it’s time to get empowered and make decisions for yourself. The answers aren’t always easy, but if you choose love over fear and yourself above everything else, the path forward becomes a little bit more clear - and a whole lot more aligned. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we expect. We can sit in nature, ask for guidance, notice the signs and follow our intuition, but it still doesn’t lead us to the answers. This week’s episode begins with a beautiful guided meditation to anchor you into the spiritual practice of sitting with the unknown, and holding space for everything that you are. If you feel anxious, worried or angry, this meditation will help you hold space for the discomfort. Sometimes, that’s just what life brings. Rachel continues on to share and process her last days in the Swedish cabin, and dwell on the feeling of not knowing what is coming next. After all the places life has taken her in the past year, she is not sure if she can fully trust that life is taking her where she is meant to be anymore. But maybe being lost deep in the woods of unknowing is part of the process, too. No matter where we are, even if it’s not meant to be ours, can lead to learning, growing and healing. Not everything is black and white - there is gratitude in uncertainty, trust in the disbelief, and even dreams found in heartache. Tune in to be reminded that it’s okay to not know where you’re going. It’s the journey that counts, anyways. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week’s episode, Rachel has everyone’s favorite guest on the show, Dennis Schoneveld! After being separated for almost 2 months, the little family is finally reunited and exploring their options in Sweden. They discuss everything that brought them to this exact moment, from moving out of their home, remediating their house from toxic mold, and Dennis finally making it to the tiny cabin in the woods of Sweden where he is settling in nicely (except for the water temperature and low ceilings!). Now the question is, where do they go from here? Today, Rachel and Dennis discuss their feelings, their dreams, and whether or not they will move to Sweden. Things may be up in the air, but they are always okay when your loved ones are by your side. Tune in for a wonderfully funny and endearing episode with the sweetest couple, and even a special guest appearance at the end from Lea Luna herself! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some things just feel like home; a small cabin in the woods, jumping into a cold Swedish lake, or a long hug from your person after being apart for months. Today’s episode begins with a guided meditation to allow you to check in and find home inside of yourself. Rachel then shares the heartfelt reunion with Dennis since his arrival in Sweden (and how Luna handled it!). With the little family back together, Dennis gets a sense of the dream Rachel has been bringing to life over the past weeks, and Rachel is easing into this new family dynamic with a deep sense of peace and a newfound trust in life. Tune in today as Rachel realizes - the universe has your back. Maybe you don’t have to be rushing to get things done all the time. Good things take time, and what is meant for you will not pass you by. Sometimes we just have to sit back, enjoy the journey and hug our people along the way. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever downplayed a dream? Did you tell your friends, your family - and even yourself - that that thing you long for really doesn’t matter all that much? Here’s the thing: your dreams DO matter. How are they ever going to come true if you pretend they are not important? In today’s episode, Rachel shares her own intimate dream. It is one that may not be possible for so many reasons, but by speaking her dream out loud, she just may be bringing herself one step closer to manifesting it. Let today’s vulnerable sharing be a reminder that you can dream, too. You can get your hopes up. You can believe in the possibility of beautiful outcomes. You are a constituent of this universe, so you get a say in what happens! Tune in to dream big and shout from the rooftops exactly what it is you want - the universe will be listening. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our identities are complex. We are made up of dreams, beliefs, likes, dislikes and unique personalities - but everything about us is interwoven with the identities of the people we love the most. So, how can we know where others end and we begin? When do we choose ourselves, and when do we recognize and make sacrifices for a loved one whose needs may be greater than our own? In this week’s episode, Rachel opens up about her difficult past family dynamics and how they are showing up in her life today in this move to Sweden. Finding herself in a very similar situation she faced as a child, she reflects on bravely balancing her own needs as a human being, as a daughter, and now as a parent, too. Remember, it is a radical act of self-love to set and uphold boundaries, but that doesn’t mean that its easy or that the decision is always black or white. Tune in as Rachel tackles the challenging topics of setting boundaries, making difficult decisions, and daring to take up a little bit more space. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s standing in the way between you being 100% in tune with your body? A strong intuition is found within each and every one of us. We know ourselves on a deep and intimate level. When it comes to our health, we can say what makes us feel good and what doesn’t. So, why do we make decisions that so often ignore our gut feelings and lead us away from ourselves? Would you believe that there is a possibility that the answer to that question has nothing to do with your personality? That maybe, it’s not because you have weak willpower or a lack of discipline but actually our choices are deeply influenced by many contributing factors, and a lot of them are found in environments we have no control over. In today’s episode, Rachel shares her journey back to herself after mold illness, and the experience of actually feeling deeply in tune with her body after years of separation, sugar addiction and disconnect. Hopefully, this is an episode that will help you lead yourself back to you, too. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Where you come from is rooted deep within you, for better or for worse. No matter where you go or how far you run, home will always call you back. For those of us that left on purpose, this can be really hard to face. But, returning to basics and reconnecting with your roots can lead to some surprising discoveries. In this week’s episode, Rachel has been looking into her ancestry and made a surprising connection. The forest she walks, the water she swims in, and the land where she has found peace, is the same land her ancestors lived on hundreds of years ago. Our ancestral roots run deep - deeper than our parents and grandparents. What does this mean for Rachel, who has been trying to heal familial hardships her entire life? Our ancestry is found in our triggers, in our awareness, and in our reactions. It’s the plants we recognize from our childhood and the soup our grandmothers used to make. It’s who we are at our core, memories all interwoven on a land that both holds us and brings us to our knees. But, can we say we’ve healed if we never return? Today’s episode will help you honor the land you come from and connect to a long line of ancestors that came before and are still looking to heal through you. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All of us at our core are longing for home. We long for that place where we can let go, be ourselves, and find peace. But, how many of us truly find home, and how many of us spend our entire lives in search of it? In this week’s episode, Rachel is recording from the middle of the forest in her homeland of Sweden. After quite the journey to get there from Aruba (especially traveling with Ringo for the first time since The Flight From Hell!), Rachel has found herself feeling at home in this country for the first time of her life. She has spent hours in the forest, hugging trees, laying on the mossy ground, and listening to the secrets that nature has shared with her. Today, she shares those secrets. It’s what you learn when you listen to the wind, when you find the beauty in the simple mundane things, and how your heart beats when you’re alone in the forest with nothing but trees and peace encompassing you. Maybe home is found within nature, because we are nature, too. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you say goodbye to the most important thing in your life? In today’s episode, we take notes and learn from Lea Luna, Rachel’s 4-year old daughter, and how she dealt with losing her best friend, Bear. Did you have a special toy as a child that meant everything to you? When you’re young, a stuffed animal can mean structure, support and love. It can mean everything. In today’s episode, Rachel tells the story of Bear - Luna’s most beloved stuffed animal. Since dealing with mold, Bear was among the countless things that were too toxic and dangerous to keep. But unlike many things, Bear held important significance in Luna’s life, and would be the hardest for her to let go. Tune in for the full story, from where Bear came from, his close bond with Luna, how he lost one ear, and what Rachel did to lessen the pain of losing him for her daughter. Sometimes saying goodbye is too much to bear, but other times a goodbye can lead to new experiences, new stories, and new adventures. Today’s episode will let you connect to your own inner child and give you hope in the midst change. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The environment we live in, the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe play a massive role in our overall health and wellbeing. The good news? While this may seem overwhelming, a lot of it is within our control. On this week’s episode, Rachel opens up about her family’s environmental toxicology test results. While they were in for some shocking insights, now they have the answers they need to move forward. The truth is, we are all exposed to toxins on a day-to-day basis, but there are changes we can make to minimize both our exposure to them, and their impact on our bodies. For Rachel and her family to move forward, it requires a huge lifestyle shift. Rachel shares the changes she is making in her life and what you can do in yours as well. This episode will remind you to pay attention to the environment you are living in - and listen to your body when it speaks to you. The body has a deep inner knowing and if you listen to it, it could just save your life. After listening comes knowledge, and from there, we can make the decisions we need to change the course of our health for all days to come. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Rachel purges all of the items in her house, she reflects on the process of letting go and the human experience of it. Knowing that our life isn’t in our things is one of the most fundamental spiritual lessons - but that doesn’t make it any easier. No matter who we are, where we’re from, or how we live, we will all have to deal with loss. We could lose relationships with people who mean everything to us, jobs that stabilize us, or our homes that keep us safe. Loss is a reoccurring theme in our lives. So, how do we move forward? Ultimately, in every loss there is something amazing to be gained. Energy is in constant motion and will always come back to you - just in a future where you feel totally free and not held down by past worries. Tune in to let go and get light. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The mold saga at Rachel’s house continues this week, but with some major lessons, miracles, blessings and resiliency sprinkled in. Now with somewhat of a game-plan on how to move forward, Rachel has been able to reflect on the past few weeks with a clearer head and a lighter heart - and that is when she noticed something miraculous. Even in the darkest times, grace can still find you. On the show today, Rachel shares the true miracles that have come her way since finding toxic mold in her house. They come to her in the form of genuine kindness from strangers, a cabin in the woods and chance encounters that have reminded her that there is a purpose to life’s hard times, and when you learn to let go, beautiful things can come your way. Now able to tap into her true power and resiliency, Rachel is ready to get things done. Today’s episode will make you believe in miracles - one of them being the strength you have in yourself to get through any challenge that comes your way. You can do hard things, because you’ve done them before. Tune in to lean into trust - in those around you, in the universe, and especially in your own ability to make it through. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Still deep in a mold crisis, Rachel’s entire future shifted when a mystery mold man fell out of the sky and landed in Aruba. After a few minutes in her house with a flashlight, this man could tell Rachel one very important thing: she is not crazy. Even after being forced to leave her home, losing all her belongings and suffering from mold illnesses, the worst part of this journey for Rachel has been that nobody has believed her. No one has been able to see her in this trauma. This happens to us so much in life, especially as women. Our lived experiences are denied. When this happens, there is one thing that we must do: it is imperative that we trust our intuition. If the universe is pushing you toward something, that is likely the way forward. Tune in for an episode that will remind you that even in the hardest of times, the universe has your back. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you make it through when your world is crumbling around you? In today’s episode, Rachel shares her best advice, resources, and practices when it comes to crisis management. The first thing we need to do is acknowledge when we’re in a crisis. Sometimes big life events feel manageable, while smaller things make us unravel. Instead of trying to soldier on, admitting that you’re having a hard time can take a huge weight off your shoulders. Rachel defines what a crisis is and shares some personal examples from her own life of different crises she has moved through and the causes behind them. Ultimately, no one else can tell you when you’re in a crisis or not. It all depends on how you’re coping. If you’re having a hard time right now, tune in to learn the steps Rachel takes to keep her sanity in an insane world. Lower your expectations, take care of your basic needs, vent, feel, and move. The only way out is through. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As of last week, Rachel received the devastating news that she has dangerously high levels of mold in her house. Her family has had to move out immediately, get tested for mycotoxins, find contractors, doctors and mold experts that can help, and they will possibly lose all of their belongings… including their home. Trigger warning – bring tissues for this episode. After years of taking great care of herself and her family (eating vegan, taking supplements, investing in water and air filtration systems, etc) it has been a complete mystery as to why Rachel is constantly feeling unwell. The answer came with the results to a mold test that told them to get out now. In today’s episode, Rachel shares openly about this entire experience. How did she find the mold in her house? What tests did she use? How can you get rid of mold? What impact does this have on your health and wellbeing? And if there is a solution to this… what is it? Tune in for the whole story, and send Rachel, Lea and Dennis lots of love in the coming weeks. For more resources on mold, follow @drjillcrista, @dr.jess.md, @themoldguy, @pjharlowwellness, @frolicandflow, @survivingmold, and @lifeaftermold on Instagram. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode of From the Heart, Rachel is joined once again by her best friend: the accidental influencer, Olivia Rothschild! While laughing their way through this episode, they tackle all topics best friends usually discuss, from Botox, running, and that time Rachel was arrested while driving Olivia’s scooter, to deeper conversations on true friendship, home births, empowering women, and allowing joy into your life. This fun, light-hearted and positive episode will have you laughing until your stomach hurts. Grab your best friend and some popcorn and tune in now! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does self-love mean to you? We spend so much of our day-to-day lives rejecting our whole selves. When we feel bad, we usually try to make ourselves feel better rather than sitting with what is true for us in that moment. But how could this denial ever be considered self-love? As Rachel continues to battle pneumonia, she reflects on the mental stress of not feeling her best. Diving deeper, she uncovers a cyclical pattern rooted in deep childhood trauma as her daughter approaches the same age Rachel was when she first experienced her asthma attacks. Ultimately, life comes with ebbs and flows. If we reject certain parts of that experience, we reject ourselves. Self-love needs to be rooted in loving all parts of who we are. Tune in to hear Rachel’s journey toward self-love, and find a little more compassion for yourself along the way. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What should you do when you want to let go, but can’t? In today’s episode Rachel is not only battling pneumonia, she is battling her own mind as well. In order to heal, we need to rest. But what if resting just gives rise to anxious thoughts, limiting beliefs and the added pressure of feeling like a failure? The truth is, life will always throw us curveballs that remind us we are not in control. The only thing we can do from there is to pray, to ask for help, and to sit with it. Tune in as Rachel shares a story that shines a light on the path toward healing. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the yoga community, we are conditioned to opt for holistic methods of healing before we turn to Western Medicine, something that has served Rachel and her family well for years. Suddenly sick with pneumonia, Rachel opens up about her current condition in today’s episode. On antibiotics and using a machine to help her breathe, Rachel experienced resistance, shame, and the same fear she felt at 5 years old when battling severe asthma. It all changed the moment she placed her antibiotics on her altar and realized - resisting healing will not help you get better. And resisting pain is a huge source of pain in itself. We are quick to judge different forms of medicine, but maybe the answer isn’t found in one or the other. Maybe instead it is found in dropping the resistance, finding the intricate balance of discernment, and opening yourself up to all forms of healing. After all, we are so fortunate to be able to even make the choice! Tune in today to open your heart and begin your healing journey. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, in celebration of Valentine's Day, Rachel has everybody’s favorite guest on the show, her husband Dennis Schoneveld! Tune in as Rachel and Dennis discuss all things on love, intimacy, balance and communication. In his humble and hilarious way, Dennis shares openly and candidly about his relationship with Rachel, commitment, communication, goals, travel plans, and the untapped parts of his personality. Is he considering a career in politics or photography? Does Dennis want to move to Sweden, or buy property in Costa Rica? Where does he see himself and his family in 5-years, or has he ever planned that far ahead? Most importantly, will he ever take the 14 foot Christmas tree out of the yard, or stop eating chips horizontally on the couch? Of course, the Yoga Girl Community sent in some amazing questions via Instagram! In this episode, Rachel and Dennis cover a wide array of topics; from how to speak with Lea about LGBTQ+ choices, morning routines, the importance of man and lady caves, working out, how they show their love to each other without saying I love you, and so much more. A true celebration of love and family, this heartfelt conversation is not to be missed! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Have you ever wanted to be a person who runs, but when you try it’s the absolute worst? After suffering from asthma, pretending she ran when she didn’t, and always giving up after a few minutes, Rachel now finally calls herself a runner. In today’s episode, she shares the 5 simple steps that brought her from hating every second of a run to running 10K in complete bliss. Running doesn’t have to be hard. It's all about getting out there, moving the body, dropping in and communing with nature. Did you know that you can run at your own pace? Give yourself permission to slow down! This episode will remind you to listen to your body, drop into the present moment through the breath, and remove all expectations when it comes to running. Tune in to get started, and find more motivation by visiting Yoga Girl on Spotify and checking out the RUN playlist. The best time to go for a run might just be today! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you yearning to connect with your higher self and unlock your creative potential? This week’s episode will help you do just that. It all starts by learning the art of listening. On today’s episode, Rachel is joined by the legendary Julia Cameron, author of ‘The Listening Path’ and teacher to amazing creatives like Elizabeth Gilbert, Alicia Keys and many more. Together Rachel and Julia discuss nourishing our creativity, channeling our inner artist and the importance of listening; to our higher self, to silence, to intuition and insight, as well as allowing others to be heard. When you become less noisy, you have a great capacity for change. Usually we are waiting to react and respond! This week's episode will remind you to get quiet, listen, write, and help you to tune into your highest self, your inner child, and your creativity. Tune in and deepen your capacity to enjoy life! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s bonus episode, Debra shares the forecast for each sun sign in 2021. Whether you are a Taurus, Libra, Virgo, Aries or any other sign, you are sure to be in for an interesting year! Tune in to find out what is in store for you. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did the stars predict what happened in 2020? What’s the forecast for 2021? This week Yoga Girl®️’s resident astrologer, Debra Silverman, joins the podcast to talk about these immense questions and how you can use astrology and your own natal chart as a roadmap through life. Learning about your astrological configuration can help you to unlock the secrets of your life path. When you study astrology you see into other worlds, and your discernment becomes very sensitized. The world changes when you fall in love with you! Astrology can teach you how you love, how you act, what motivates you and… it gives you a permission slip to come home to yourself. Tune in as Debra helps to peel back the layers of 2020 and 2021 and gives you the tools to embrace your true, authentic self. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you are struggling with your day to day routine, starting to put yourself last, or slipping on the self-care, then grab a cup of tea, light a candle, and settle into this episode with your journal and a pen. As human beings, we are both divine and ordinary. We have the ability to blossom and bloom, but we can also turn inward when we need to protect ourselves. If you find yourself in a monotonous cycle or being pulled in too many different directions, a simple solution may be found through creating intention and ritual in your day. In today’s episode, Rachel outlines simple acts you can take in your day to day life that will allow you to harness your divinity, connect to something greater and turn your world into a conscious, peaceful and connected place. It comes down to infusing presence and gratitude into the practices that make your day special so you can transform those ordinary routines into ritual. You have the ability to live a sacred life. In fact, it’s your divine right! Tune in for the steps to get started. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the much anticipated episode on all things PERIOD! What was your first period experience like? Have you ever secretly slid a tampon to your best friend? Are you wondering what the pill is doing to your body after years of use? Did your period change during the pandemic? Are you having painful or inconsistent periods and not sure what’s up? This episode is for you and people who have periods everywhere! Rachel is joined by health coach and period expert Nicole Jardim who authored the book Fix Your Period. They talk about all things connecting to your cycle, including Rachel’s hilarious first period story, hormone fluctuation, imbalances in your period, contraceptives and their side effects, and answer your period questions from Instagram. Our bodies are miraculous, but for some reason period problems are so prevalent. It all comes down to knowing our bodies, tracking our cycles and paying attention to important things like gut health, cortisol levels, and blood sugar levels. In order to return to a more natural, balanced state, we have to consciously connect with our cycle and support our entire body, emotional as well as physical. This episode will help you to understand all of your period symptoms, teach you how to support your body in a natural way, verify the pandemic period concept, inspire you to connect consciously with your cycle so you can balance your hormones throughout the entire month, and honor and celebrate the gift of your natural cycle. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Happy New Year! As we say goodbye to 2020 and step into 2021 committed to our goals, dreams and visions for the year, how can we actually put our plans into action? Join Rachel as she leads you through daily rituals for the first week of 2021 - the most important week of the year! This is a critical transition that you can use to your benefit. You will learn how to structure your days with sacred rituals and action items to bring your dreams into reality by revisiting your word, intention, and affirmation and turning them into a plan. It’s a great week to rise early and prioritize sleep, to drink more water, eat healthy foods, work with your intentions, make action plans, and begin the groundwork of turning your visions into reality. Remember, the universe wants life to work out for you! If you are clearly aligning with what you want to call in, you can manifest the life of your dreams. Tune in to get started. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s time for the most important podcast of the year - the New Year’s Intention Setting Ceremony! This is one of the most precious yearly practices that we do in the Yoga Girl community. Join in to let go of all of the ups and downs of 2020 and step into the New Year a focused, clear, determined and hopeful version of yourself! First things first, give yourself alone time for this podcast (it really is more of a practice, and it is important work!). You will dance, journal, meditate, dream and feel all the feelings so you can really get clear on your ideal life and how you can move closer toward it in 2021. We are sitting at the end of one of the most challenging years of our lives. In the last episode of 2020, Rachel expertly guides you through thoughtful journaling prompts designed to get you to the heart of how you really feel and what kind of life you want. You will envision the specifics of 2021 through 4 major areas of life; home, mind, body, and soul and ultimately arrive at your intention, affirmation and word for the new year. To go even deeper, we are offering a LIVE New Year’s Intention Setting Ceremony and Ritual with Rachel on December 30 at www.yogagirl.com. Visit us there to sign up and find more details! Registration will be opening soon. There is no better way to anchor into your intentions and ring in the New Year focused on your goals, dreams and visions. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’re almost done with 2020! But, in order to move into 2021 with clarity, it is so important to process everything that happened this year; the lessons, the hardships, the practices, the blessings, the relationships, and the gratitude. In this week’s episode, Rachel will guide you through a practice to summarize 2020. Give yourself the space to journal, feel, cry, yell, contemplate, and come home to yourself so that you can set your New Years intentions from a clear, peaceful, conscious place. Bring a journal and pen to today’s show - you will move through several journaling prompts, and hear many personal examples shared by Rachel. This is the year that changed all of our lives. But, you made it through! Remember to congratulate yourself for making it through to this point, and give yourself the gift of clarity, of gratitude, and most of all, of processing and letting go. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you struggling to find boundaries with your phone, your apps, or your devices? Are you constantly scrolling with no actual purpose? Your phone should be a tool to connect, find inspiration and communicate with loved ones. If it is controlling your life or stealing your energy, you may need to change things up! On this week’s episode, Rachel shares tips and tricks to help disconnect from our phones and the apps we use most, and reconnect to a more present place in our lives. Our phones have stolen some very important things from us: our presence, and our boredom! We all want to be present and truly here. And it is through the quiet space that opens up in boredom that we discover our interests, our genius, and who we really are. If you can become conscious of your behavior and addiction to your phone (it’s not your fault, they were designed that way!), then you can set limits and draw boundaries. This episode shares concrete steps you can actually take in your life to put your phone down. Tune in to be fully present for your one precious life. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s episode may be uncomfortable, but it is a conversation we need to have again and again. Joining us on the show is Emmanuel Acho, former NFL linebacker, Fox Sports analyst, and New York Times bestselling author. After the death of George Floyd, Emmanuel found himself mourning, unsure what to do with his grief. After sitting down for some hard conversations with his white friends, he was inspired to launch a video series: Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man. Seen by millions of people across the world, the series continues to educate and spark conversations around the uncomfortable and crucial topic of race. Join the conversation as Emmanuel shares the lightbulb moment that began his journey, how he questioned his own Blackness growing up in a predominantly white culture, his take on white privilege and how to use it to help others, spirituality and race, implicit bias and more. Guilt and avoidance will not end racial inequality - only love can do this. The way to truly love others is to listen to them, to put ourselves in their shoes, and to acknowledge the struggles, injustices and harm they face. Tune in to find strength and hope, and to walk the path toward a world that is more equitable, kind and loving for all. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you remember what it felt like to be a child before the world got to you? There was a time in your life when you were totally present, moving with the rhythms of your natural essence, allowing your being to be exactly as it was. When did that stop? Somewhere along the way, we start to become separate from our bodies. Maybe for you, this shift happened slowly, or maybe something unbearable came your way that forced you to grow up too fast. Did you feel unsafe in your body? Were you convinced your body was not good enough? Most importantly, what coping mechanisms did you learn along the way to shield you from this pain - and how do they show up in your life still today? We all live with various coping mechanisms that we have learned in response to trauma, hardship and pain, and they played a crucial role in our development. When we were younger these learned behaviors kept us safe, they protected our nervous system, they tucked away our worries and fears so we could deal with them at a later time. That time is now. If you are experiencing the same patterns over and over again, if you check out, if you dissociate - it is likely happening because you are being triggered by something that reminds you of the real pain from your past. The difference now is that you finally have the tools to heal and process. The universe may be hitting you on the head with the same problems over and over again, and that means it is time to find the underlying causes and to truly let them go. We often think healing takes a grand gesture - a trip to a mountaintop or an intense yoga retreat on the beach. But the first moment of healing happens when you realize you’ve left yourself, and you bring yourself back. That first moment of awareness is all it takes. Over time, you leave yourself less and less. In today’s episode, Rachel shares her own recent and personal experience of physically letting go. It’s hard, it hurts - but when you heal now you heal what was then. At the end of today’s episode, Rachel shares some valuable journaling prompts so you can dive into an actionable practice on your healing journey. Tune in to return home to what you’ve always been at your core. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When life brings you difficulty, what can you do? If you feel held back, sluggish, or stuck in a rut, where can you turn? First, you can be kind to yourself. Second, you can make actionable changes in your daily routine and watch your world transform! In today’s episode, Rachel is joined by Robin Sharma. A world leader in personal mastery, best-selling author, and the genius behind The 5am Club, Robin has inspired millions, including Rachel, to rise at 5am and experience the magic hour. This year has been challenging for so many of us, and we are all impacted by the struggle all around. But, there is hope! Periods of destruction and disruption bring an opportunity to leave with more wisdom, more creativity, and more healing. Will you take advantage of it? Remember that all change is hard at first, messy in the middle - but beautiful at the end. It comes with knowing when to work, when to rest, and when to rise. Don’t miss out on this powerful time of transformation and healing! Tune in as Robin shares the benefits of rising at 5am, how to create long-lasting change in your life, and the way you can feel the magic for yourself. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join us today for a special bonus episode as we continue the conversation on cultural appropriation with Susanna Barkataki. This conversation began 2 years ago when Rachel and Susanna were first introduced - after Rachel was accused of cultural appropriation herself. Rachel has come a long way since then, and she shares the realizations and changes she has made in her business and in life. But - there is always more work to be done! Continue this important conversation with us today. You will learn how to come into your power by embracing the history of yoga on a deeper level, why creativity is the solution for cultural appropriation, and how you can use your power to uplift others instead of causing them harm. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is cultural appropriation, and how does it relate to yoga? Is yoga political? Should you say Namaste at the end of a yoga class? In today’s episode, Rachel is joined by yoga diversity advocate Susanna Barkataki to deepen our knowledge and understanding of how to properly honor yoga’s roots. There is a misconception in the Western world as to what yoga is. Yoga is not only a physical practice that happens on our mats but an ancient system of ethics and philosophy - a system that has become altered and diluted as it spread to the west over time. Colonization and commercialization have had a big impact in shaping what we perceive yoga to be, which unfortunately now has strayed a long ways away from what the practice truly is about. While India may no longer be under British rule, historic oppression and the white washing of yoga has lasting effects and is still causing harm today. It is our responsibility to recognize the harm that takes place, to notice where we are complicit with it, and to do the work to ensure we are honoring the roots of this practice. Susanna helps us weave through this complex topic by defining cultural appropriation and offering real-world examples and stories. This may be a challenging conversation to begin having with ourselves and our teachers, but fortunately the practice of yoga is one that teaches us to sit with discomfort and offers the potential for a deep awakening. How can you be more inclusive to all? Where are you in a position of power? In what areas can you deepen your understanding of yoga? Tune in to dive deep and find the answers you have been waiting for. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Couples who do therapy together, stay together! What do Rachel and Dennis do to deepen their relationship? How does Dennis feel about the practice of sharing? Why does Ironman make Dennis emotional? All of these questions and more answered in this week’s episode of the Yoga Girl Podcast as Rachel is again joined by our favorite guest, her husband Dennis. Rachel and Dennis are in the midst of a 9-week couple’s course and Dennis is currently in the US, so they share everything from intimate communication (and how Rachel and Dennis do it differently), supporting each other’s self-care practices, why communication and intimacy is the most important thing, parenting, traveling to an Ironman in Florida during the election and a pandemic, and more! Rachel and Dennis’ self-care practices differ immensely, but it’s all coming full circle in this episode as Rachel actually gets Dennis to open up about his feelings and doing the inner work. It’s through open communication that they recognize the need for their own individual self-care practices that will bring them closer as a couple. But ultimately, how does Dennis feel about it? Tune in to find out! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How are you doing? It’s a question we get asked all the time, but when was the last time you answered that question from a place of raw, honest truth? Let’s check in. In this moment, how are you doing – REALLY? Instead of answering on autopilot, drop deeply into your body. Close your eyes. Place to hands to your heart. Breathe deeply. Feel. What is it like for me to be here, as I am, in this moment? Checking in - becoming fully present in your own body - is a practice that will completely transform your life. Our days are a roller coaster of ups and downs, thoughts, experiences, and triggers that impact both our state of mind and our emotional heart. If we don’t recognize a trigger when it comes our way, we will not understand why we feel the way we do, and we usually end up turning to coping mechanisms without knowing what lead us there in the first place. This is why we must consistently and dedicatedly check in with ourselves - not just once a day on the yoga mat, but as often as we can. In today’s episode, Rachel shares the important practice of checking in (and exactly how to do it), over and over again. This is the practice of coming home to your heart, taking deep breaths, and listening to what is really there. Over time you will gain the ability to make sense of your feelings, understand your reactions, and feel at home in your body. This practice also allows you to notice where and how you tend to numb and check out (without judging yourself!) so that with time, you can choose differently. Tune in as Rachel shares her own personal triggers, the causes and reactions behind them, and the impact this simple practice has had on her life. By creating the space to check in, you can begin to live a more conscious, present life, and figuring out what you really need becomes a little easier every time. Tune in to come back home to you. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the much-anticipated YOGA episode of the Yoga Girl Podcast! Tune in today as Rachel takes questions from the Yoga Girl Community about the practice of yoga, how to start your practice, finding a teacher that resonates, honoring the roots of yoga, common misalignments and more! Wherever you are at with your practice, if you’ve never stepped onto a yoga mat or if you are an advanced practitioner, this heartfelt episode from Rachel is a step-by-step guide not only into the practice of yoga, but what it means personally for you as well. Hint – it’s not really about the asana, it’s adapting the practice to fit your needs while simultaneously creating a routine that works for you. The Yoga Girl community wrote in some amazing questions for Rachel, and these are some of the golden truths that we need to hear right now. Yoga is so sacred and personal, and this episode will guide you through the ways to choose a practice, teacher, habit, lifestyle and resonance that works for you. Life is cyclical, and we all go through ups and downs - it’s the same with our practices! But if we keep our hearts aligned with the true roots of yoga, then we are able to make a shift in our internal lives and open to the abundance of the true roots of the practice. Tune in to continue on the journey. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The best way to have a great day is to start your day off GREAT! On this week’s episode, Rachel shares her sacred morning routine in 10 steps, why you absolutely should cultivate a morning ritual and how carving out time for self-care first thing in the AM can (and will!) profoundly change your life. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? Many of us reach for our phones or hit the snooze button. A great day begins from the inside out, so before you dive headfirst into what the day has in store for you make sure you are feeling grounded and ready! The Yoga Girl Morning Routine is designed to bring body, mind and heart into alignment. With a dedicated space to feel, move, dance and breathe every single morning you set yourself up for success, no matter what the rest of the day brings. Even if rising at 5am isn’t possible for you, there are definitely small (and big!) changes you can implement that will turn your world around. This episode will inspire you to create change around how you wake up, guide you through the 10 steps to have an epic morning, and inspire you to implement changes that create long-lasting growth. Tune in to create your own epic morning routine! Rachel’s 10 steps are as follows: 1. RISE! 2. READY 3. MOVE 4. DANCE 5. FEEL 6. PRACTICE 7. SIT 8. WRITE 9. READ 10. PREPARE To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices