Peaceful Loving Vibrant Podcast

In this episode, my sister and I wind down over a couple glasses of our favorite vinho verde and chat about how meditation has impacted our relationships. Jhodi is a Ph.D. student at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and she started meditating in college. We talk about how meditation has helped her deepen her relationship with herself and how that has helped her add value to her relationships with others.

We chat about self compassion, toxic positivity, non-attachment (aparigraha), boundaries and that single life! We end with a 5 minute guided meditation on self compassion and self worth. 

In this episode, I chat with my sister-in-law, Tonya, about balancing work and self care while working from home. Tonya talks about how her meditation practice helps her gain creative freedom, clarity and peace that makes her more effective at work. Meditation gave her a wellness outlet that doesn’t require her to leave her home - a major key in the COVID craziness we are all dealing with.

We chat about analysis paralysis, dealing with uncertainty, manifestations of stress in our physical bodies, chakras, pranayama, dealing with frustrations at work and meditation as a healing tool that leads to less need for substances and medications. We end with a 5 minute guided body scan that you can use at work to reset and refocus. 

In this episode, I share with you some gems I picked up at a great talk on malas by Sasha Korellis. I share my own experience with these prayer bead necklaces as well as some highlights from Sasha’s talk. I discuss beads, garlands and prayers, 108 Malas, the anatomy of a Satcha Mala and tantric malas. Listen to learn how you can use these ancient technologies in your own meditation practice. 

At the end of the episode, I guide you through a 5 minute meditation meant to help you ground and trust that you are where you need to be with everything you need to thrive. 

Resources and references from this episode: 

On this episode, I interview Julio Rivera, the Afro-Latino founder of the Liberate meditation app for Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC). Julio shares so much about his personal journey in overcoming the fears associated with being an entrepreneur and confronting his own internalized oppression. 

We discuss:

• Vulnerability as an essential part of Julio’s personal journey and his role in holding space for people of color;
• The role of his meditation practice in helping him acknowledge difficult emotions like fear and shame, and managing his inner critic;
• The connection between physical sensations (like muscle tension) and emotions, and how body scan meditations have helped him make that connection;
• Building a community of men who support each other in their meditation practices and provide a safe space for each other to share vulnerable emotions; 
• Creating virtual safe spaces for people of color to heal through meditation and community;
• How meditation helps us develop a healthy relationship with our thoughts;
• Including our ancestors in our meditation practice; and more!

At the end of the episode, Julio leads us through a 10 minute body scan. This type of meditation is a powerful way to practice being present to the physical sensations happening in your body, and may help you identify areas where you are holding emotions in your physical body. 

What is yoga and how is it related to meditation? In Episode 2, wellness influencer and yoga instructor, Abiola Akanni shares her meditation journey and how anyone, even YOU, can access enlightenment. 

We discuss:

• How Abiola started meditating without even knowing she was meditating;
• Meditation as a tool for managing anxiety, alchemizing trauma, dealing with uncertainty, and retaining emotional stability despite challenging circumstances;
• How sit meditation differs from overthinking; 
• Yoga and its connection to meditation; 
• Making yoga accessible to and inclusive of everyone, including tips for yoga studio owners; 
• Can Christians do yoga?
• Barriers and benefits of starting a yoga practice; and more!

At the end of the episode, Abiola guides us through a five minute breath meditation that is perfect for beginners. This meditation is designed to provide rest and relaxation to your physical body. 

What if you could choose how you respond in high stress situations? Learn how meditation can help you reclaim your power through building awareness. In this episode, I interview Dr. Michelle Bailey, a board certified pediatrician and integrative medicine specialist who helps women in medicine revive their energy and ease day-to-day stress. 

We discuss:

• How meditation can help you prioritize self care;
• What mindfulness is and how mindfulness meditation differs from other practices;
• How to start meditating with mindfulness;
• The benefits and challenges (for yourself and others) of building a mindfulness practice;
• Myths about meditation and religion;
• How to build community to support your meditation practice, particularly as Black women; 
• How to define the leading force in your life; and more!

At the end of the episode, Dr. Bailey guides us through a five minute meditation about finding calm amidst chaos. 

Resources from this episode: