Episoder

  • Our guest, Nyk Danu, shares her journey with yin yoga and how it has become a refuge for her as an HSP. Nyk is a certified yoga therapist, yin yoga teacher trainer, and yoga business mentor who specializes in teaching therapeutic yoga to students who don't feel at home in mainstream yoga circles. She combines her extensive training in yoga therapy, yin yoga, and traditional Chinese medicine to create a unique approach that prioritizes the nervous system and accessibility.

     


    If you've tried yin yoga before but found it uncomfortable or challenging, either because of the long holds, the quiet space, or the thoughts and sensations that arose, this episode is here to provide valuable insights and tips to help you deepen your practice. Nyk shares how therapeutic yin yoga can help HSPs build reserves, move energy, and find a soothing balm for their overstimulated selves.


    For everything else, get full show notes here: https://erikabelanger.com/255


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • By learning to feel your shame more fully, you'll be able to be yourself more authentically and access more joy in your life. Hiding your emotional self unintentionally disconnects you from who you are and turns down the volume on all your emotions. But everything changes when you give yourself permission to feel, and discover that it's not as scary as you think.


    I share the process I use with coaching clients to help them shift out of shame and into a place of presence. Learn what shame really is, how it affects HSPs differently, and why creating safety and regulation in your nervous system is key to healing from shame.


    Click here for the 1:1 Somatic coaching application or click here to join the waitlist for my Feel It to Heal It mini course.


    For everything else, get full show notes here: https://erikabelanger.com/254


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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  • If you love gratitude practices, this might be a new very powerful way to connect to this emotion, and If you’re highly sensitive and you’ve struggled to connect authentically to gratitude practices in the past, this practice if for you


    This is my client’s favorite way to connect to gratitude and truly experience it in their body. You can also use this format with any positive high-vibration emotion you want to experience more fully in your life.


    If you are trying to experience gratitude without involving the body, your efforts to change how you truly feel often stay at the surface level and the shift either doesn't happen or it doesn't last.


    To truly change a belief, habit, or how we feel, we need a genuine connection between our emotions and body. This is because our thoughts and behaviors are often tied to physical responses stored in the body from past experiences. Real change happens when we engage both mind and body, and this is what we are doing in this practice.


    This practice is part of our premium subscription, to get access to it, become a premium podcast member.


    When you leave a review for the podcast on iTunes you can get a free trial. DM @onandoffyourmatpodcast or email ([email protected]) me a screenshot of your review and we'll get you set up.


    Your podcast premium membership (as low as $5/month) allows me to continue to create and produce this podcast. I choose to keep this add-free for a better listening experience, so there are no revenue and the membership keeps this podcast alive. If you love On and Off Your Mat and want it to continue, support the show here and have access to this somatic practice and so much more.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • In this powerful episode, Kristin Windsor shares her incredible journey of self-healing and the unique approach she developed along the way. As a teacher and mentor, Kristin leads people to return home to their innate wholeness by reunifying mind, body, and soul. After independently healing over 100 health battles, 20 years of complex trauma, and 7 years of amnesia, Kristin integrated her wisdom into a groundbreaking method that combines neuroscience, consciousness, and infinite love.


    We dive into the role of neuroscience and consciousness in the healing process. Kristin explains how to make more sense of our experiences and behaviors, and how to create lasting change by understanding that everything in life comes down to navigating life to get the love we need and crave.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/252


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • In this special episode, I sit down with my client Pascale Etienne, a high school teacher and plant whisperer, to celebrate her incredible transformation through one-on-one somatic coaching. Pascale openly shares her journey from feeling engulfed by her emotions, to developing the tools to harness sensitivity as a superpower. 


    If you want see the process for getting out of overwhelm and exhaustion as a sensitive person, this episode is for you. Discover the power of somatic practices, self-compassion, and giving yourself permission to feel your feelings. Pascale's experience will inspire you to invest in yourself, embrace the discomfort of doing the inner work, and cultivate a loving relationship with your emotions. 


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/251


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Do you feel more anxious, scattered, or physically cold and dry as fall sets in? If so, you're not alone. As a highly sensitive person, I feel the shift from summer to fall intensely, and I've noticed it in my clients too. Everyone seems more tired and anxious right now.


    Explore why fall feels like a challenging transition from the perspective of Ayurveda. I discuss the elements that create the essence of autumn in your mind, body, and energy. Learn to recognize characteristics of a Vata constitution and discover practical tools to bring more balance, groundedness, and warmth into your life.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/250


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • If you suddenly feel drained, weighed down, sad, or anxious without knowing why after a family gathering, if you experience unexpected aches, tightness, or tiredness during holiday get-togethers, or you find yourself overthinking other people’s problems or wondering how to help everyone around you, or even if you sense the needs and moods of everyone and try to accommodate without them asking... today’s practice is for you.


    Whether it’s family dinners, office parties, or cozy moments with friends, the holidays can make it even harder to tell where others’ energy stops and yours begins.


    I’ve used this practice with clients who find it hard to spend the day people-ing, especially with family to


    ✨ bring them to the present moment

    ✨ get grounded

    ✨ let go of pent-up energy

    ✨ process emotions out of your body

    ✨ self-soothe

    ✨ bring back a sense of control over their body and emotions

    ✨ and create an energetic boundary around them


    This practice is part of our premium subscription, to get access to it, become a premium podcast member.


    When you leave a review for the podcast on iTunes you can get a free trial. DM @onandoffyourmatpodcast or email ([email protected]) me a screenshot of your review and we'll get you set up.


    Your podcast premium membership (as low as $5/month) allows me to continue to create and produce this podcast. I choose to keep this add-free for a better listening experience, so there are no revenue and the membership keeps this podcast alive. If you love On and Off Your Mat and want it to continue, support the show here and have access to this somatic practice and so much more.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Last week, in part one of our episode on psychedelic healing, we talked about the before the journey, during the journey, what you need to know, how to properly prepare, and how to navigate your experience. Today we dive into what it means to integrate, how to integrate effectively, the importance of support and community, and how to avoid a “bad trip” (or how to deal with one if you find yourself in one).


    If you're a Highly Sensitive Person considering plant medicine or psychedelics, this episode is a must-listen. Chuchu and I discuss the extra considerations HSPs should take into account, the power of trusting your intuition throughout the process, and how to step into your greatness through proper integration practices.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/248



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • As psychedelics become more mainstream and popular, it's crucial to approach these powerful medicines with caution, integrity, and responsibility - especially if you're a highly sensitive person. To help me explore this topic, I have psychedelic healing expert Chuchu Wang on the podcast. Through her own personal experiences and the work she does at Ceremonia, the retreat center she co-founded, Chuchu has witnessed both the beautiful, magical healing that can happen with psychedelics and the tragic, re-traumatizing experiences that can occur in the wrong setting with the wrong facilitator.


    In part one of this two-part episode, we discuss the fundamentals of psychedelic healing, what you need to know before deciding if this modality is right for you, how to properly prepare for a journey, and the foundation for navigating the experience itself. Be sure to return for part two next week, where we talk about integration, support, community, and how to avoid or deal with a "bad trip."


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/247


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • The first step in overcoming overwhelm is to understand what it is and how it feels in your body. By learning to recognize overwhelm, you can start to regulate your nervous system and manage stress more effectively. Join me to dive deep into the physical sensations of overwhelm and explore how to process this intense emotion in a healthy way.


    In this episode, I share the exact process I use with coaching clients to help them overcome overwhelm. As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), you may be more prone to overwhelm than the average person. You’ll learn why overwhelm is a common experience for HSPs, and why it doesn't have to control your life.


    Click here for the 1:1 Somatic coaching application or click here to join the waitlist for my Feel It to Heal It mini course.


    For everything else, get full show notes here: https://erikabelanger.com/246


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • If you experience a lot of worry or anxiety, or you’re always replaying in your head what happened, or always thinking about what needs to be done or what might happen in the future today’s practice is for you.


    A lot of my coaching client find TOUCH to be a really resourcing sense to turn to when orienting, creating inner safety, or widening their capacity for processing uncomfortable emotions and deal with challenges, so I thought I would share one of my favorite, super simple touch meditation practice.


    I’ve used this with clients to

    ✨ bring them to the present moment

    ✨ reconnect to their body and sensations

    ✨ get out of anxiety, overwhelm and hyper-vigilance

    ✨ regulate their nervous system

    ✨ bring back a sense of control over their body and emotions

    ✨ and even rewire old beliefs like “I’m not enough”


    This practice is part of our premium subscription, to get access to it, become a premium podcast member.


    When you leave a review for the podcast on iTunes you can get a free trial. DM @onandoffyourmatpodcast or email ([email protected]) me a screenshot of your review and we'll get you set up.


    Your podcast premium membership (as low as $5/month) allows me to continue to create and produce this podcast. I choose to keep this add-free for a better listening experience, so there are no revenue and the membership keeps this podcast alive. If you love On and Off Your Mat and want it to continue, support the show here and have access to this somatic practice and so much more.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Today, I sit down with Shanna Farnsworth to explore practical strategies for confident class planning. Shanna’s journey as a yoga teacher began 15 years ago in a New York City church basement. Since then, she has honed her skills in intelligent sequencing and mentored hundreds of yoga teachers. Her goal is to help teachers feel prepared and confident when leading classes, fostering meaningful connections with their students.


    Discover Shanna’s tried-and-true methods for crafting sequences that are both creative and purposeful. She offers insights on breaking down poses, using props effectively, and creating a cohesive class experience that fosters meaningful connections with your students.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/244


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • If you feel sluggish, drained of energy, and experience a lingering sense of emptiness or a hollow ache in your heart, today’s episode is for you. As Highly Sensitive People (HSP), we often wish we didn’t feel so deeply, so we tend to repress our emotions, leading to outbursts of tears. This makes it difficult to identify whether we’re actually feeling sad, angry, disappointed, ashamed, and so on.


    Tune in this week to discover how to feel your sadness so you can heal it. I discuss how truly feeling your sadness allows you to show up more fiercely and fully as yourself, enabling you to access more joy in your life. Learn practical strategies you can use right now when sadness hits, allowing you to express your sadness in ways that truly serve you.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/243


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Dr. Andy Sabatier, a physiotherapist passionate about the mechanics of breathing, joins us. After training at Stanford Hospital's Cardiac ICU and serving as the primary ICU physical therapist for a hospital system in Oregon, Andy has dedicated himself to eliminating confusion and harmful practices around breathing. We continue the conversation on breathing that we started a few weeks ago with Alison Starr.


    In this episode, Andy explains the difference between functional and dysfunctional breathing, the anatomy of the breathing muscles, and simple practices to optimize your breathing. You'll walk away with a fascinating new perspective on this essential bodily function we often take for granted.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/242


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • If you want to raise your frequency to uplift your mood and energy, improve your emotional and mental well-being, connect more deeply with your higher self, intuition, or a sense of universal consciousness, or even align yourself with the energies of abundance, love, and success for example so you can manifest more of what you desire, today’s practice is for you.


    Visualization is a powerful tool for raising your vibration because it engages the mind, emotions, and energy in a focused way that aligns you with higher frequencies and allows you to be very gentle.


    This practice is part of our premium subscription, to get access to it, become a premium podcast member.


    When you leave a review for the podcast on iTunes you can have access to the membership for free, including today’s class as a thank you for helping others to find the podcast and on their healing journey. DM @onandoffyourmatpodcast or email ([email protected]) me a screenshot of your review and we'll get you set up.


    On the membership platform, you'll find:

     

    1. Your premium podcast episodes ($5/month).

    2. You can now also have access to almost 600 recorded full-length yoga classes in a Netflix-Style Membership ($25/month). 

    3. You can sign up for any live-stream class I offer!


    With our podcast premium membership, your contribution ripples to thousands of people every week, allowing me to offer accessible quality free content to a wide community of yogis. This podcast is a way I contribute to the community, and this membership is a way you can too. It allows you to share everything yoga offers with the world by supporting me in the creation and production of this podcast while I choose to keep it ad-free.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Alison Starr, founder of Kanda Yoga School and creator of the 20 Minute Miracles app, joins us to explore how developing a relationship with your breath can transform your yoga practice and your life.


    Alison shares her journey of discovering functional breathing and how it helped her overcome chronic pain and instability. She explains the difference between functional and dysfunctional breathing patterns and how many common cues in yoga and fitness can actually restrict the natural movement of the diaphragm. Learn simple techniques to calm your nervous system, increase your inner awareness, and find more ease and presence both on and off the mat. 


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/240


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • Kori Hahn is an author, yoga and meditation teacher, surfer, and devoted mother. Her adventures took her from the frozen landscape of Alaska to the warm waves of Sri Lanka, where she founded the Santosha Society, a community dedicated to travel, surfing, and soulful living. She's helped hundreds of women explore Ayurveda, yoga, meditation, and soul growth, and she's here to discuss today's topic through the lens of her new book: A Temple of Her Own.


    Discover how to embody the Sacred Feminine and learn how embodying these feminine archetypes can help you through the different seasons of your life. Kori goes through the goddesses in her book and gives us the profound lessons we can learn through each one about romance, pain, creativity, abundance, wealth, and more.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/239


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • MaKenzie Fly is a podcast host, retreat leader, and yoga teacher trainer living in Las Vegas. She helps yoga teachers get to their next level by developing more magnetism, attracting and retaining students through better sequencing, theme-weaving, and storytelling, and eventually becoming yogi-preneurs and building sustainable businesses as yoga teachers.


    Discover how to stand out as a yoga teacher by mastering the skills of theme-weaving and storytelling in your classes and in your business. MaKenzie shares why all of us are capable of telling a beautiful story through our yoga classes, and you'll get practical tips for implementing theme-weaving for the benefit of your students.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/238


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • If you have regular headaches, pain in your face, neck or shoulders, ear problems, teeth sensitivity, clicking or popping in your jaw, you might have chronic jaw pain or even TMJ and this practice is for you.


    Learning how to improve your posture and your breath and how to process emotions like anger and anxiety can help prevent pain, and learning how to release and massage your jaw can help you deal with the symptoms.


    This somatic practice is part of our premium subscription, to get access to it, become a premium podcast member.


    When you leave a review for the podcast on iTunes you can have access to the membership for free, including today’s class as a thank you for helping others to find the podcast and on their healing journey. DM @onandoffyourmatpodcast or email ([email protected]) me a screenshot of your review and we'll get you set up.


    On the membership platform, you'll find:

     

    1. Your premium podcast episodes ($5/month).

    2. You can now also have access to almost 600 recorded full-length yoga classes in a Netflix-Style Membership ($25/month). 

    3. You can sign up for any live-stream class I offer!


    With our podcast premium membership, your contribution ripples to thousands of people every week, allowing me to offer accessible quality free content to a wide community of yogis. This podcast is a way I contribute to the community, and this membership is a way you can too. It allows you to share everything yoga offers with the world by supporting me in the creation and production of this podcast while I choose to keep it ad-free.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  • For today's episode, I sat down with Celeste Unali, a yoga and meditation teacher and women's mindset coach based in Australia. After a decade of working her way up the corporate ladder and experiencing plenty of success in the workplace, Celeste found herself feeling more uninspired and disconnected than ever. A deep journey of self-development led her to yoga, where she unexpectedly fell in love with the magic of mindfulness and watched as it unfolded in her life, driving deeper connection, purpose, and peace within herself and her relationships.


    Celeste and I discuss why you might need yoga as a high achiever, what to do if slowing down feels uncomfortable to you, and how the practice might be the key to giving you clarity on how to find more purpose, meaning, and joy in your life.


    Get full show notes and more information here: https://erikabelanger.com/236


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.