In this episode, I talk with Dr. Phindile Chowa, a board certified Emergency Medicine physician who is transforming healthcare and restoring dignity for patients by bringing compassionate, high quality health care to their homes. Through her concierge medicine practice, EMCare2U, she has curated a unique offering that provides on demand, comprehensive support for postpartum mothers and their babies. We talk about my birth story and how Dr. Chowa saved my life when my OB dismissed my concerns, signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. From there, we discuss gaps in our current model of healthcare and how to address them as well as Dr. Chowa’s personal meditation practice and how it helped her navigate divorce and being a front line provider during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want better healthcare or are contemplating or navigating divorce, or you’re just curious about topics like health equity and a pretty interesting birth story, keep listening for more. If you enjoy this podcast, please share it with a friend and follow me on Instagram @peacefullovingvibrant. Resources: Dr. Chowa’s Concierge Medicine Practice: https://emcare2u.com/postpartum/ Contact Dr. Chowa: [email protected] and follow her on Instagram @emcare2u Doula: Vanya Francis, Cherished Life Wellness - https://mycherishedlife.com/ Myleik and Mommas Community - https://myleikandmommas.com/ Join the #PLVsquad Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant Email me: [email protected] Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast

In this episode, I chat with my friend, Madison King about how motherhood has liberated her to show up authentically as her whole self. She shares how her meditation practice has evolved from a sitting practice to involve painting, cooking and a nourishing bath time ritual. Her practice is a wonderful example of non-performative meditation and embodiment that supports her in her roles as a stay at home parent, wife and multifaceted woman. Highlights include: Meditation as a tool for managing anxiety in pregnancy Navigating the world as a Black stay at home mother How motherhood has made her more conscious of the way she shows up in the world, particularly as she is raising a daughter The balancing act of showing up as best self for child vs. losing self in motherhood Meditation in managing unmet expectations - “I didn’t expect my life to look the way it does right now” Carving out time and space for herself and how her partner supports her in that The journey to confidently calling herself an artist Healing from perfectionism Motherhood as continuing education - growing her thinking in parenting philosophy; and The challenges of parenting differently from how we were parented Creating a community (virtual and in person) from scratch while crawling out of postpartum in the pandemic Ritualizing self care practices The episode ends with a couple of journal prompts or themes for your next meditation session - Who am I when I strip myself of the roles I play in my life? What titles am I afraid to take on and what is holding me back? Where to find Madison: Instagram: @mad_hattr (personal), @nature_guh (holistic outdoor adventures) and @vintag3mami (art and painting) Resources: How To Keep House While Drowning - https://www.strugglecare.com/book Myleik and Mommas Community - https://myleikandmommas.com/ Join the #PLVsquad Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant Email me: [email protected] Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast

In this episode, I chat with Raha Sabet, Ph.D, an Iranian American psychologist whose training is rooted in a social justice framework. She is committed to mental health equity, and she is passionate about decolonizing psychology. We talk about Raha’s personal meditation practice as well as the role of meditation in therapy and its capacity to support mental health. Follow Raha on Twitter @rahaforoozsabet Find a therapist: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com/ Self Compassion resources with Dr. Kristin Neff - https://self-compassion.org/ Join the #PLVsquad Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant Email me: [email protected] Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, I chat with my friend, Anjelica Malone about how to heal from miscarriage with nutrition, botanical medicine, support and holding space for all your feelings. Anjelica is a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM), Clinical Herbalist, and Certified Lactation Educator Counselor. During our conversation, I share my own grief and loss journey and Anjelica shares about her meditation practice, how it interacts with her Christian faith and how her practice has evolved over time. We end with a five minute guided embodiment meditation inviting you to come back into your body and the present moment, where your power is. Resources: Sol Midwifery and Wellness Mending Invisible Wings: Healing from the Loss of Your Baby, by Mary Burgess with Shiloh Sophia McCloud Aviva Romm- https://avivaromm.com/ The American Herbalist’s Guild- https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/herbal_education Join the #PLVsquad Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant Email me: [email protected] Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, I chat with empowerment parenting coach and soon-to-be best selling author, Destini Ann Davis. We discuss parenting in alignment with your core values, what gentle parenting is and what it’s not, and Destini’s top parenting principles and strategies. She also shares her personal journey with meditation and how her practice has evolved over time. We end with a mindfulness practice to help ground ourselves when disregulated.  Pre-order Destini’s book, Very Intentional Parenting: Awakening the Empowered Parent Within on Amazon and wherever books are sold. Join the #PLVsquad Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant Email me: [email protected] Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

A quick update including my sincere apology for an oversight on terminology, a new yoga offering on Saturdays via Zoom and a request for you to rate, review and share if you like what you hear. Register for my Kickasana Yoga class at Sangha Seattle (virtual on Zoom) by going to www.sanghaseattle.com or on the MINDBODY app. Class is Saturdays at 8am Pacific/11am Eastern. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

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. 

Resources from this Episode:

• Electronic Meditation Resources:
  
  • Yoga with Adriene: https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene
    
  • Insight Timer meditation app: https://insighttimer.com/ This is the largest collection of FREE guided meditations and it includes a timer for you to meditate on your own.
    
  • Liberate: Meditation app for Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
    
    • Liberate Meditation App in the Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/liberate-meditation/id1451620569
      
    • Liberate Meditation App on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zencompass.liberate&hl=en_US
      
• Sangha Yoga in Seattle, WA. My home studio, which is now offering virtual classes on Zoom. Go to https://sanghaseattle.com to sign up.
  
• My yoga teacher at Sangha: Heather Falkin IG: @yogifalkin
  
• Open Path Collective - https://openpathcollective.org
  
  • Therapy for Black Girls directory - https://providers.therapyforblackgirls.com
    
• Relational Intelligence by Dr. Dharius Daniels - https://www.amazon.com/Relational-Intelligence-People-Skills-Purpose/dp/0310357829
  

Join the #PLVsquad

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• Email me: [email protected]
  
• Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast
   

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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. 

Resources from this Episode:

• Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breath) with Yoga by Biola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln0wP9_0VZA
  
• Sangha Yoga in Seattle, WA. My home studio, which is now offering virtual classes on Zoom. Go to the MINDBODY app or  https://sanghaseattle.com to sign up.
  
• My yoga teachers at Sangha: Heather Falkin IG: @yogifalkin and Sarah Hyde IG: @yogisarie
  
• Read about the chakras: https://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Body-Western-Mind-Psychology/dp/1587612259
  
• Yoga Nidra on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/chrisspatola/playlist/5717SM3tpAkXtxXwt19ibS?si=hrpdT4YASCK7aRtkmt4XuA
  

https://open.spotify.com/user/22zw6azzj3ngxo57foxjgiphq/playlist/4syP2Dqv4kFsElXNv6Ldeh?si=0NiixBP5TxauCOkMyJbIxA

Join the #PLVsquad

• Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant
  
• Email me: [email protected]
  
• Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast
  

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Let’s get personal! In this episode, I share how my meditation and yoga practices show up in how I mother our children. I share my birth story, and how mindfulness, meditation and yoga have impacted each phase of my motherhood journey so far, including pregnancy, breastfeeding and the postpartum period to date. We end with a five minute guided meditation designed to help you make space for what motherhood is to you, and I share my favorite quote about motherhood.

Resources from this Episode:

• Sangha Yoga in Seattle, WA. My home studio, which is now offering virtual classes on Zoom. Go to https://sanghaseattle.com to sign up.
• My yoga teachers at Sangha:
  • Heather Falkin IG: @yogifalkin
  • Annabell Dumez-Matheson IG: @journeyyogi
• My favorite quote about motherhood is by Dr. Shefali Tsabary. Her website is: https://drshefali.com
  

Join the #PLVsquad

• Best Way: Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrant
• Email me: [email protected]
• Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast

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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: 

• Modern Mystic Shop’s Sunday School series: https://modernmysticshop.com/blogs/news 
• Satcha Malas by Sasha Korellis: http://satchamalas.com 
• Satcha Malas on Instagram: @satchamalas
• Where I got my first mala: https://www.dharmashop.com 
• Tantric Malas: http://satchamalas.com/shop/tantric-f8tzf 

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• Email me: [email protected]
• Facebook: fb.me/PLVpodcast
• Instagram: @peacefullovingvibrantpodcast 

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