The Lotus PondCast

Val Spies & Melissa Carroll interview Bhante Sujatha, a Buddhist monk who radiates compassion and joy. He offers loving wisdom in this conversation, and how our spiritual practice is not "on the meditation cushion" but in how we live.

Thank you for listening to the Lotus PondCast! Please follow, rate, & review this podcast if you feel uplifted by these conversations. 

Enjoy this inspiring conversation with Janel & Ray Norton of Trinity Yoga in Trinity, FL. 

We explore: 

• Yoga from a trauma-informed approach
• Bessel van der Kolk's research on trauma, the body, and the brain
• Janel and Ray's experiences as a combat veteran and first responder, and how they share the gifts of yoga, breathwork, and iRest with veterans and everyone who can benefit from these powerful practices (and, as we discuss, we all can benefit because we all carry trauma)

Thanks so much for listening! 

Val Spies & Melissa Carroll interview Master Teacher Karin Stephan, who's been teaching for 49 years. Karin studied closely with BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois in India and throughout Europe in the 1960s and 70s. Karin and Patricia Walden brought Iyengar to the United States when they opened the first Iyengar yoga school in Massachusetts. 

Karin shares her love of art, her time in Paris in the 60s, what it means to be a yoga teacher in the age of coronavirus, and so much more. 

Don't miss this incredible conversation with NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott, who shares her enlightening perspective on seeing earth from space -- and what it can teach us in today's environment.

Melissa Carroll and Val Spies have an illuminating interview with Nicole, an American engineer who served as a Flight Engineer and Mission Specialist at NASA for 27 years.

Nicole considers herself blessed to have had the opportunity to live and work in space and to have experienced the beauty of our planet from that incredible vantage point. She believes that sharing this perspective has the power to increase everyone's appreciation of and obligation to care for our home planet and each other.

Nicole premiered on Will Smith's One Strange Rock series, originally on Netflix and now on Disney and can be found on Ted Talks as well.

We're thrilled to share this interview with Larissa Hall Carlson, whom shares her deep knowledge all over the world -- and whom teaches Ayurveda & Pranayama at The Lotus Pond in Tampa, FL. Larissa explains how Ayurveda helps you live in harmony with nature to boost your immunity, soothe the nervous system, and maintain vitality. She offers insight, LOTS of tips, and techniques to help you during this global pandemic and throughout your life.

Larissa will be teaching Ayurveda & The Subtle Body online for The Lotus Pond April 24-26, 2020:

Thanks for listening to the Lotus Pondcast, with your hosts Val Spies & Melissa Carroll.

If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe, share with a friend, or give us a 5 star review.

Thank you so much for listening to Episode 1 of The Lotus Pondcast, with your hosts Val Spies & Melissa Carroll.

If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe, share with a friend, or give us a 5 star review.

Thank you so much for listening to Episode 1 of The Lotus Pondcast, with your hosts Val Spies & Melissa Carroll.

If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe, share with a friend, or give us a 5 star review.