From the Heart with Rachel Brathen

Latest Episodes:

Processing 2020: Letting Go, Finding Gratitude and Making Space Dec 18, 2020

Show notes

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.

Put Your Phone Down - How To Minimize Your Screen Time and Make Your Devices Sacred Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

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.

Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho Dec 04, 2020

Show notes

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.

Trauma Healing Meditation + Understanding The Signs Your Body Is Trying To Show You Nov 27, 2020

Show notes

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.

Robin Sharma on Why You Should Rest More Than You Hustle Nov 20, 2020

Show notes

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.

Bonus Episode! Continuing with Susanna Barkataki on Cultural Appropriation, Discrimination and Equity in Yoga Nov 16, 2020

Show notes

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.

Why I Stopped Saying Namaste with Susanna Barkataki Nov 13, 2020

Show notes

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.

Couples Therapy with Dennis Schoneveld Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

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!

Check In (Don’t Check Out) Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

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.

The Yoga Episode: Answering All Your Yoga Questions! Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

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.

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