Practice You with Elena Brower

Recent episodes

1. Episode 248: May Lindstrom from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Aug 1, 202645 min

   On learning how to be in your skin, one surprisingly human tale, and ways to care for our tender selves. 0:00 - Introduction and Welcome 2:51 - Educational Emails and Product Usage 6:13 - Formulations and Hero Ingredients 8:54 - Personal Journey and Skincare Philosophy 31:03 - Impact of Skincare on Self-Care 31:26 - Community and Client Experiences 42:25 - Final Thoughts and Gratitude May Lindstrom is the Founder, Skin Chef, and CEO behind the luxury organic skincare brand, May Lindstrom Skin. Since its official launch in 2011, this small-batch, indie-beauty movement leader has been featured in Vogue, W, BAZAAR, The New York Times, GOOP, Town & Country, and coveted by a deeply loyal following. May's mission is to inspire a relationship and connection to sense and self, and in her world, this happens through the loving and intentional care of the skin. The invitation? Skin is intimate: lean in. This episode will surprise and delight you. Instagram: @maylindstromskin maylindstrom.com . As a listener of the Practice You Podcast, when you purchase $150 at this link , you'll receive your choice of a travel - sized gift .

2. Episode 247: Dr. Jessica Shepherd from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Jul 18, 202643 min

   Generation M brings education and clear inspiration for perimenopause into menopause and beyond. 0:00 — Introduction and Guest Introduction 1:55 — Overview of "Generation M" and Its Purpose 4:33 — Koenenki and the Importance of Being Present 8:13 — Hormone Checks and Their Importance 10:52 — Preparing for Menopause: Practical Tips 16:11 — Meditation and Mindfulness 19:22 — Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) 24:37 — Self-Experimentation and Self-Awareness 27:12 — Metabolism and Nutrition 33:40 — Sexual Health and Exercise 36:56 — Protein Sources and Nutritional Needs Dr. Jessica Shepherd is a menopause expert and board-certified OBGYN specializing in menopause and longevity care. She is the Chief Medical Officer for Hers and founder of Sanctum Med + Wellness, her Dallas-based holistic practice focused on optimizing women's health and aging. Her book Generation M has helped shape the modern menopause conversation, and she is a trusted media expert featured on Good Morning America, The Today Show, CNN, and more. Through her clinical work and education, Dr. Shepherd empowers women to take a prevention-forward, science-backed approach to physical, sexual, and emotional wellness. Generation M https://www.jessicashepherdmd.com/generation-m-womens-health-book Modern Meno community https://modmeno.circle.so/join?invitation_token=1bdfdcea015373b875eec4288728a8c1c9bb88a5-4202f1d9-6273-474d-8c99-1ad27caf425d

3. Episode 246: Kristoffer 'K.C.' Carter from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Jul 4, 202625 min

   On the path to power through peace, our surprising energetic fingerprint, and practicing self-compassion. 0:00 — Introduction and Guest Welcome 1:39 — Discussion on "Permission to Glow" 3:50 — Exploring the Four Permissions 6:17 — The Difference Between Shining and Glowing 10:32 — The Pause Button and Personal Practices 13:23 — Meditation and Personal Transformation 19:28 — Self-Compassion and Personal Growth 19:40 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts Kristoffer Carter ('KC') is the author of Permission to Glow: A Spiritual Guide to Epic Leadership , which guides his team's coaching of Fortune 500 executive leaders. He is the CEO and founder of Epic Leadership, which has created a meditation practice for thousands. Kris's teachings have been featured in Men's Health, Fast Company, Thrive Global, and Good Life Project podcast. Kris sits on the Board of Directors of Yoga Alliance, and serves the global work of Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi . He teaches at Kripalu, and on Substack, via his column Permission to Chill. Kristoffer lives in Northeast Ohio with his three children.

4. Episode 245: Dr. Lauren Tober from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Jun 20, 202634 min

   On bridging psychological insight into the yoga space, infusing everything with choice and invitation. 0:00 — Introduction and Background of Dr. Lauren Tober 2:36 — Dr. Tober's Journey and Integration of Disciplines 4:29 — Evolution of Trauma-Informed Yoga 7:24 — Rescuer Mentality and Mindful Communication 11:30 — Adapting Yoga Practices for Trauma Sensitivity 16:06 — Training and Supporting Yoga Teachers 19:56 — Personal and Professional Evolution 24:20 — Mentorship and Private Work 27:53 — New Book and Its Impact 31:11 — Podcast and Final Thoughts Dr. Lauren Tober (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, Yoga Teacher, author of Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers, host of the A Grateful Life Podcast, mother-of-two, spiritual seeker, beach-lover, book-reader, world-traveller and an eternal student of life. She has been a practicing psychologist and yoga teacher for over 20 years and is the founder of the Yoga Psychology Institute where she teaches yoga teachers about mental health, mental health professionals about yoga, and offers programs for anyone interested in the intersection of yoga, psychology and living a good life. With a passion for health, healing, happiness and awakening, Dr Lauren integrates the best of western psychology with yogic wisdom, both on and off the mat. Her work is soulful without being new-agey. It's evidence based without being clinical. It's authentic, heartfelt and life changing. Find out more at www.yogapsychologyinstitute.com. Lauren's new book - Mental Health Aware Yoga: A Guide for Yoga Teachers - www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/book Lauren's masterclass - How to Teach Yoga for Nervous System Regulation - www.mentalhealthawareyoga.com/how-to-teach-yoga-for-nervous-system-regulation/

5. Episode 244: Amy Kurtz from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Jun 6, 202632 min

   On navigating chronic illness with grace, the courage it takes to name what's invisible, and the quiet revolution of believing yourself. 0:00 - Introduction and Guest Introduction 2:40 - Chronic Resilience and Medical Trauma Brain (MTB) The Importance of Recovery and Processing 9:05 - Practical Tools for Nervous System Regulation 18:11 - The Role of Convalescence and Healing Space 26:34 - Final Thoughts and Encouragement Amy Kurtz is a trailblazing author, certified health coach, patient advocate and speaker dedicated to empowering patients to reclaim agency over their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. A distinct voice in the health space, Amy's work has been heralded by Dr Mark Hyman, Kris Carr, and many more. Lena Dunham named Kicking Sick one of her "Top 10 desert island books of all time" in New York Magazine. Amy has been featured on Oprah Daily, Good Morning America, The Boston Globe, NYMAG, Fox, and more. In her debut book, " Kicking Sick: Your GO-TO GUIDE for thriving with chronic health conditions, " Amy shares her journey of living with chronic health conditions and provides a roadmap and actionable guidance to help readers manage debilitating conditions and live fully. Amy's second book, But You Look Fine, Trapped in the Hell between Sick and Well and How to Break Free , breaks the silence about the crucial, painful, pervasive, and yet all too common phase of healing from chronic illness that has long gone overlooked… until now. https://amykurtz.com/

6. Episode 243: Merissa Nathan Gerson from Practice You with Elena Brower

   May 23, 202640 min

   On the nuances of grief and loss, personal rituals, and our willingness to be transformed. 0:00 — Introduction and Guest Introduction 3:04 — Marissa's Personal Story and Grief Journey 7:38 — Building a Grief Plan 13:24 — Understanding Trauma and Its Impact 17:27 — Boundaries and Self-Care 22:52 — The Role of Prayer and Rituals 28:22 — Memorializing Losses and Rituals 32:18 — Connecting with Nature and Finding Support 37:46 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts Merissa Nathan Gerson is the author of Forget Prayers, Bring Cake: A Single Woman's Guide to Grieving , and her writing appears in Modern Love for the New York Times, The Atlantic, Playboy, Tablet, CNN.com and beyond. Merissa trained in Shambhala Shamatha meditation, graduated with an MFA in Writing and Poetics from Naropa University, is a certified Sivananda yoga teacher, and holds an MA in Jewish Studies with a focus on inherited trauma as well as sex and gender from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. She was the Inherited Trauma consultant to Amazon's Transparent and is the daughter and granddaughter of war refugees. She is currently training to be a rabbi. Forget Prayers, Bring Cake: A Single Woman's Guide to Grieving came out in 2021 from Mandala Press for Simon & Schuster. This book is a companion for these times. As McArthur Genius Kiese Laymon describes: " Merissa Gerson has created a neon treatise on the art and necessity of grieving ."

7. Episode 242: Ann Tashi Slater from Practice You with Elena Brower

   May 9, 202643 min

   On tending to our interdependence, living life fully, and dying with attention and equanimity. 0:00 — Introduction 1:34 — Overview of Ann's Book "Traveling in Bardo" 3:55 — Personal Reflections on Grandmother's Funeral 7:20 — The Role of Practice in Embracing Impermanence 16:15 — Living with Attention and Interdependence 34:57 — Authenticity and True Nature 42:09 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts Ann Tashi Slater writes for The New Yorker , The New York Times , The Washington Post , The Paris Review , and Granta , among others, and is a contributing editor at Tricycle . She presents and teaches workshops at Princeton, Columbia, Oxford, Asia Society, and The American University of Paris, and was a regular speaker at NYC's Rubin Museum of Art during the museum's 20-year run. Ann's new book, Traveling in Bardo: The Art of Living in an Impermanent World was released by Balance/Hachette in September, 2025. TRAVELING IN BARDO explores how we can find meaning and happiness in a world where change is the only certainty. Interweaving explorations of "bardo" between-states in relation to marriage and friendship, parents and children, and work and creativity with stories of her Tibetan ancestors and Buddhist teachings on the fleeting nature of existence, Slater illuminates what the teachings have to tell us in our contemporary lives. She relays vital wisdom from Tibetan culture, giving us a bold, new framework to navigate moments of change and live life fully. With a foreword by Dani Shapiro, the book has been praised by Elizabeth Gilbert, Melissa Febos, Sharon Salzberg, and Julia Alvarez, among others, and has been selected as a "Must-Read" by the Next Big Idea Club, co-curated by Malcolm Gladwell. In the midst of this shifting landscape, Slater invites us to embrace impermanence in a powerful way, rooted in ancient wisdom. During over forty years of writing and speaking about her Tibetan-American heritage and the relevance of Buddhism in Western society, Slater has come to see how Tibetan bardo views on impermanence can transform the way we live. A luminous guide to navigating transition and impermanence, it offers us the opportunity to find happiness in an impermanent world.

8. Episode 241: Allison Deraney from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Apr 25, 202628 min

   On the identities we no longer need, the alchemy of recovery, and mourning the person we used to be. (0:00) – Introduction and Background of Allison Derani (2:13) – Allison's Journey and Grief in Recovery (5:21) – Parenting and Self-Abandonment (7:04) – The Ambiguous Grief of Self-Abandonment (7:50) – The Liminal Space of Sobriety (18:39) – The Importance of Listening to Questions (22:57) – The Practice of Slowing Down (25:21) – Closing Thoughts and Future Plans Allison Deraney is a woman in recovery from alcohol who credits sobriety for waking her back up to her first passion—writing. Currently a licensed real estate attorney, running her own business, she's writing more creativity into her days via her Substack, Dare To Be, and working on her first book, a memoir about the healing and revealing as we recover from the ambiguous loss of self-abandonment. Dedicated to speaking up and speaking out about living a conscious sober life, Allison lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and two rescue dogs, spending her free time wandering and wondering in nature, and cheering her kids on from the sidelines of the basketball court. Allison's book-to-be is about grief; not the traditional kind, though there is some of that in there. The biggest lesson she's learned in recovery is this: Rejecting grief, in all its iterations, is a form of self-abandonment. Grief requires that we surrender to it. So does addiction, compulsion of perfection and aging. It's a book that explores how my midlife journey is intersecting with the deeper parts of recovery in the most terrifying and beautiful way. It's a unique book in that it is written during the transformation. Because I am still in it. Sobriety has been my portal to Divinity and I'm here, feet planted on the threshold, weaving words to capture the experience as best I can. https://allisonderaney.substack.com Here are Allison's three favorite posts from her Substack, DARE TO BE, out of an immense pull to write through her sobriety. https://open.substack.com/pub/allisonderaney/p/setting-off-our-own-fireworks-a95?r=rkt4u&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false https://open.substack.com/pub/allisonderaney/p/its-been-a-whole-hand?r=rkt4u&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false https://open.substack.com/pub/allisonderaney/p/my-permission-sticks-they-still-keep?r=rkt4u&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

9. Episode 240: Amber Romaniuk from Practice You with Elena Brower

   Apr 11, 202636 min

   On the root causes of emotional eating, tools with which to begin your healing process, and gifting yourself grace as you go. And you're not broken. (0:00) – Introduction (3:10) – Self-Sabotaging Behaviors and Societal Conditioning (9:09) – Emotional Eating and Coping Mechanisms (13:24) – Building Awareness and Coping Strategies (20:01) – Healing the Relationship with Food (28:16) – Practical Recommendations for Blood Sugar Management (33:05) – Conclusion and Encouragement Amber Romaniuk is an Emotional Eating, Digestive and Hormone Expert, with 12 years experience helping high achieving women create a level of body confidence, intuition and optimal health through powerful mindset healing, self-care and overcoming self-sabotage with food. She does this through addressing the key negative thoughts, patterns and limiting beliefs that keep women stuck in the same behaviors for years and decades, that they haven't been able to break. Resources: Emotional Eating Quiz Free 30 minute Body Freedom Consultation Amber's podcast Amber's YouTube Amber's Instagram

10. Episode 239: Annette Knopp from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Mar 28, 202638 min

    On the undeniable gift of becoming our own ally, when personal healing becomes shared, universal healing. (0:00) – Annetta Knopf's Journey and Book Introduction (5:12) – Challenges and Insights in Writing the Book (9:50) – Personal Trauma and Healing (19:57) – The Concept of Femininity and Masculinity (29:27) – Practical Practices for Healing and Transformation (31:26) – Final Reflections and Gratitude Annette Knopp is a meditation teacher, somatic counselor, and nature mystic who favors an integrative approach to living in wakeful and embodied connection. For twenty years she has mentored clients on their unique journeys of healing and awakening. She spent nine years living in India, Japan, Australia, and the Netherlands before moving to the US on a religious worker visa. In 2009 Annette and her husband Stephan opened the Blue Spirit Retreat Center in Nosara, Costa Rica. Today she divides her time between Costa Rica and Woodstock, New York. In the US, she is often teaching at the Upaya Zen Center and Omega Institute in Rhinebeck.. Mystic Nomad: A Woman's Wild Journey to True Connection https://www.annetteknopp.com/book.

11. Episode 238: Kino MacGregor from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Mar 14, 202634 min

    On practice as a continuous evolution of form, care and depth, and sustaining the light of our teachers as an act of love. Kino MacGregor is a Miami native, happiest on the beach with a fresh coconut. She's a poet at heart, always stopping to smell the flowers. She also the founder of Omstars, the world's first yoga TV network, and her message of spiritual strength reaches practitioners the world over. With 1m+ followers on Instagram and over 500k subscribers on YouTube and Facebook, she's sought after as an expert in yoga and international yoga teacher, inspirational speaker, author of four books, producer of six Ashtanga Yoga DVDs, a writer, vlogger, world traveler, and co-founder of Miami Life Center. (0:00) – Introduction (3:03) – The Spiritual Journey of Yoga (8:46) – The Role of Yoga in End-of-Life Preparation (14:20) – The Importance of Patience and Forbearance in Yoga (24:18) – Balancing Personal Challenges and Joyful Moments (26:12) – The Evolution of Kino's Teaching and Practice (31:30) – Conclusion and Gratitude https://kinoyoga.com

12. Episode 237: Light Watkins from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Feb 28, 202634 min

    On the tortoise approach, the seven-day ask, the gift and truth of less being more, and the practice of no-complaints-whatsoever. 0:00 — Introduction and Overview of Light Watkins' Book 1:56 — The Tortoise Approach and Consistency 6:43 — Personal Experiences and Application of the Tortoise Approach 10:48 — Challenges and Practical Applications 17:53 — Addiction and Meditation Challenges 28:53 — Forgiveness and Purge Challenges 32:44 — Conclusion and Recommendations For over two decades, Light Watkins has helped leaders and teams embed presence into how they live, lead, and connect. His approach elevates performance not by pushing harder, but by helping audiences show up more fully. Light is the author of five bestselling books on happiness, mindfulness, minimalism, and transformation. His TEDx Talk on rethinking mindfulness is approaching a million views. Known as "The Presence Whisperer," Light delivers keynotes that are humorous, heartfelt, practical, unforgettable. https://www.lightwatkins.com/

13. Episode 236: Jiryu Rustchman-Byler from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Feb 14, 202638 min

    On the practice of sitting, walking, becoming, and living as yourself, precisely where you are. (0:00) – Introduction and Guest Welcome (2:21) – Gru's Journey to Zen Practice (5:53) – Elena's Personal Reflections (12:18) – The Concept of "Becoming Yourself" (19:34) – The Role of Precepts and Ethical Practice (32:29) – The Importance of Confidence and Effort (37:46) – Conclusion and Gratitude This long-awaited new book from Shunryu Suzuki: Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life , edited by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler and Sojun Mel Weitsman, is one of my favorite books of 2025. Jiryu Rutschman-Byler is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, with dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman. Jiryu has trained residentially in Zen temples since 1996, and currently serves as a co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center through his role as Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. Shunryu Suzuki was one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the Twentieth Century and a founding father of Zen in America. Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, first published in the U.S. in 1970, is considered one of the most important Buddhist books in modern history, and has been translated into more than thirty-five languages. A Japanese priest of the Sōtō lineage, Suzuki taught Buddhism in the United States from 1959 until his death in 1971. He was the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. While contemporary Buddhist figures such as His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Thích Nhất Hạnh, and Pema Chödrön are more familiar to American audiences, Shunryu Suzuki was among the first Buddhist teachers with cultural influence in the West and was the first to establish a lasting practice community in the U.S. Importantly, the warmth, humor, and simplicity of Suzuki's teachings made Buddhism accessible. For decades, the San Francisco Zen Center has preserved an archive of Suzuki's original audio teachings, most of which have never been edited or published. Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life offers newly available teachings by Suzuki, exploring a practice he describes as fundamentally about "becoming yourself." Rather than offering a philosophy or even a set of techniques, Suzuki points to a way of being, and calls readers to the simple practice of zazen, or "just to sit," as the expression of a fulfilling life and grounded ethical orientation. Becoming Yourself is a result of the painstaking efforts of the Zen community over many years. Archiving, transcribing and interpreting Suzuki's intention clearly and accurately proved to be very challenging work. The final editor and compiler of the book is Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, a senior teacher and co-Abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center. As we learn in these pages, "becoming yourself" is not meant to be understood as an idea but rather tried out as a way of being. It is a practice of deeply connecting with how it feels to be alive in your surroundings, whether on a meditation cushion or not, and stepping forward from that connection. It is opening to your life, wherever you are, and finding right there a deep well of innate wisdom, compassion, and care.

14. Episode 235: Miguel Rios from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Jan 31, 202635 min

    On the Tao Te Ching as guide through recovery, allowing our process, and the generative medicine of stillness. (0:00) – Introduction (3:32) – Miguel's Journey and Inspiration (6:50) – Day 11: The Use of Emptiness (11:44) – Day 19: Empty Your Mind (15:16) – Day 25: That Which Cannot Be Named (21:00) – Day 60: Handle Life Gently (24:46) – Group Facilitation and Personal Reflections (26:55) – Final Thoughts and Contact Information Miguel Rios is an educator, writer, and recovery advocate. By day, he teaches 8th-grade English, helping young people find their voice through literature. By night—and often early morning—he writes poetry, reflections, and spiritual texts grounded in Taoist philosophy, sobriety, and presence. The Way Within Without was born from Miguel's personal journey through recovery. It's the book he wished he had in the beginning: something honest, non-dogmatic, and deeply gentle. Miguel believes healing happens quietly. In stillness, not striving. In simplicity, not performance. His work blends ancient wisdom with modern clarity, inviting readers to return to the calm already within them. He lives in New York and spends his free time walking, reading, and sipping coffee. https://www.thewaywithinwithout.com

15. Episode 234: Cecily Mak from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Jan 17, 202645 min

    On the power of letting go of numbing habit energies, aligning with our intrinsic wisdom, and living a clear life. 0:00 – Introduction and Guest Overview 1:55 – Discussion on the First Awareness: My Life is Better Clear 4:24 – Experimenting with Alcohol and Personal Growth 8:37 – The Concept of "Clear" and Personal Agency 10:33 – Connection Between Alcohol and Health Issues 19:03 – The Fourth Awareness: My Trauma is Not My Identity 21:02 – The Fifth Awareness: Forgiveness and Letting Go 29:58 – The Sixth Awareness: I Do Not Judge or Impose My Orientations Upon Others 34:01 – The Seventh Awareness: Our Most Precious Currency is Time 39:07 – The Eighth Awareness: I Seek Ways to Support Others Cecily is a mother, author, investor, and founder, the voice behind the ClearLife Movement, the ClearLife Reset, and host of the Undimmed podcast. A former attorney and Silicon Valley executive turned author and investor, she's also the co-founder of Wisdom Ventures. Cecily helps people create undimmed lives of presence and intention, free from the stigma of addiction and the patterns of avoidance that keep us from living fully. Her new book, released January 2026. Undimmed, The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom from Unwanted Habits - https://www.cecilymak.com/book-coming-soon Podcast, Undimmed; conversations with people on an undimming path: https://www.cecilymak.com/podcast ClearLife Reset Supplement (feel amazing as you take a break from drinking): https://www.clearlifereset.com/

16. Episode 233: 2026 Planning Session from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Jan 3, 20261 hr 22 min

    Our annual session includes readings from Hold Nothing, emphasizing practice, respect, and structures of encouragement. Join me to sit briefly, address potent prompts intended to create intentionality and spaces of grace for you and yours as you proceed into this year. (0:00) – Annual Planning Session Introduction (1:54) – Practice and Respect in Conscious Evolution (4:45) – Zen Meditation and the Practice of Zazen (7:20) – Aging and Letting Go of Caring About Others' Opinions (10:16) – Note of Gratitude from the Body (35:42) – Sitting Practice and Reflection on Encouragement (39:29) – Engaging in Relationships with Encouragement (47:58) – Final Reflections and Q&A Resources Planning Guidebook Feelings and Needs List Substacks Elena Brower – Hold Nothing Sierra Campbell – Choose Nurture | choosenurture.com Laurel Hayne-Miller – The Flowering Path Books Bookshop Everyday Zen — Charlotte Joko Beck Returning to Silence — Kōshō Uchiyama Silent Illumination — Guo Gu The Truth of This Life — Katherine Thanas Mountains and Rivers Sutra — Norman Fischer Better Apart — Gabrielle Hartley and Elena Brower What We Say Matters — Judith Lasater

17. Episode 232: Jessie Harrold from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Dec 20, 202537 min

    For mothers, mothers-to-be and those supporting mothers: On matrescence as transformation; offering the Four Elements model as a map for the rite of passage that is motherhood. (0:00) – Introduction and Guest Welcome (1:16) – Importance of Rites of Passage (3:09) – The Four Elements of Radical Transformation (6:19) – The Earth Element: Grounding and Taking Stock (8:11) – The Water Element: Grief and Letting Go (15:19) – The Air Element: Liminality and Uncertainty (20:07) – The Fire Element: Exploration and New Beginnings (25:27) – Rituals and Practices for Self-Care (29:49) – The Mother Powers: Skills and Capacities (33:56) – Conclusion and Resources Jessie Harrold is a coach and doula who has been supporting women through radical life transformations and other rites of passage for over fifteen years. She works one-on-one with women and mothers, facilitates mentorship programs, women's circles and rituals, and hosts retreats and nature-based experiences. Jessie is the author of the Nautilus Gold Medal Award-winning book, Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage (Shambhala 2024). She is also the host of The Becoming Podcast . Jessie lives on the east coast of Canada where she mothers her two children, writes, and stewards the land. Mothershift: Reclaiming Motherhood as a Rite of Passage Jessie is also the founder of the internationally acclaimed matrescence support program MotherSHIFT, and its sister program for perinatal professionals, The Village .

18. Episode 231: Nevine Michaan from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Dec 6, 202542 min

    On participating in your life by orienting to practice; befriending time to stabilize your mind, meditating polarities to map your world. (0:00) – Introduction to Nevine Michaan and Her Journey (2:26) – The Katonah Yoga Calendar (6:36) – The Concept of Mapping in Yoga (16:48) – The Magic House and Personal Responsibility (20:55) – Balancing Self-Actualization and Interbeing (36:15) – The Role of Numbers and Measurement in Yoga (39:03) – Practical Techniques for Maintaining Energy and Vitality (39:16) – The Importance of Personal Responsibility and Discipline (39:33) – The Role of Myths and Fairy Tales in Understanding Yoga (39:51) – Final Thoughts and Practical Advice Born in Egypt in 1954, Nevine moved to New York at the age of three. In her early 20's, while studying history and comparative religion at Vassar College, she discovered meditation. She understood that there is a function, a formality and a fit to the universe and that yoga is a tool, a technique – a practice with repetition which gives us the opportunity to participate in life with intelligence and joy. Nevine started a daily practice in NYC with renowned yoga instructor Allan Bateman in the 1970s and became fully immersed in what would become her life's work. She began teaching yoga in 1978, and founded the Katonah Yoga Center in Katonah, New York in 1986. Nevine seamlessly relates her approach to yoga through comparing it to the likes of a musician. Her artful use of metaphor is one of her most well honed techniques when articulating her teachings, which are empowered by her practical approach to integrating the mind, the body and the breath. Nevine continues to teach both online and in person through her studio, the Katonah Yoga Collective in Bedford Hills NY and others throughout the community. Number Magic, new 2026 Katonah Yoga Calendar Katonah Yoga practices and theory Katonah Yoga certifications and learn more about our Mentorship Program happening twice a year online: Practice online; Video Library:

19. Episode 230: Sara Bercholz from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Nov 22, 202537 min

    On supportive friendship, persistence, practice, and what it means to hold nothing. (0:00) — Launch of Elena Brower's New Book "Hold Nothing" (1:44) — Evolution of the Book Project (6:47) — Personal Stories and Vulnerability (9:56) — Feedback and Reflections on the Book (15:12) — Storytelling and Relationships (20:37) — Prompts and Practical Insights (32:07) — Final Reflections and Gratitude Sara Bercholz is a second-generation book publisher. She is co-owner and Publisher of her family business, Shambhala Publications. She is a Buddhist practitioner, yogi, cook, and outdoorswoman. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her two children, Milo and Dashiell.

20. Episode 229: Deva Premal from Practice You with Elena Brower

    Nov 8, 202529 min

    On respecting the evolution of this life and consistently responding to the call of the brightest light of all. (0:00) – Introduction and Welcome (3:01) – Experience of Performing Live (7:24) – Deva's Connection to Miten (11:01) – Life on the Road and Practices (14:01) – Evolution of Deva's Work (18:18) – Collaboration with India.Arie (23:55) – New Album and Favorite Tracks (27:05) – Upcoming Tours and Retreats Deva Premal is a world-renowned, Grammy-nominated mantra singer whose ethereal voice and sacred chant-based music have touched millions around the globe. Blending ancient Sanskrit mantras with contemporary melodies, her work creates a powerful space for inner peace, healing, and spiritual awakening. In collaboration with her partner, musician/composer Miten, she has played a key role in bringing mantra music to a worldwide audience through concerts, retreats, and acclaimed recordings. Deva and Miten's music is celebrated for its depth, purity, and universal resonance, making them beloved figures in the global yoga, wellness, and mindfulness communities. Deva's new album: The Inevitable Blossoming of the Heart