You might feel like we are in a time of winter, maybe the winter of your life. It might feel dark and full of despair, but the pain you might be feeling now can ignite an incredible transformation if you choose to use it as fuel for your transformation.

For this episode, I sat down with Julie Martin. Julie has been teaching yoga for 25 years, including 10 in Goa, India. She teaches how to break free from linear yoga and outdated dogma and invites students into a practice that embraces their individuality and curiosity. She just published a book called the transformation journey and today we sat down to talk about yoga and mindfulness practices that help us through stages of personal empowerment and transformation.

Listen to the episode here:

MY 5 BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM THIS EPISODE

1- Transformation is an ongoing process. You can’t move into growth until you take stock of where/who you are now. Then, you need to practice acceptance and get in touch with what you want instead of not want. Define it and refine it. When you don’t know what you want, you are at the mercy of random chaos. Transformation is about focusing our energy. And we can’t direct our energy towards what we want if we focus on what we don’t want.

2- Deep down, we don’t usually want to change who we are, so much as change how we feel about who we are. If we don’t come from a place of need to change but focus on our sensations, we can be open to the possibility for growth and realize we’re already ok.

3- Our brain is wired for repetition. The limbic system is organized by our ancestral beliefs and the way we were brought up. They create a loop in our thoughts and it takes focused energy to break out of its momentum.

4- To create real change, we have to take knowledge and turn it into experience, into energy and this is where the yoga practice comes in. This is why yoga is not about shapes, but feeling and sensing.

5- How would you act if you already had/felt what you want to have/feel? Find the things that make you feel like the person you want to be and start to act how that person would act.

QUESTIONS SHE ANSWERED DURING THIS EPISODE

• What do you think about the times we are going through collectively right now?
• What are the pillars of transformation? What is it? How does it work?
• What are the role of the mind and our beliefs in transformation?
• How can we can directly affect our energy for it to be supportive to transformation?
• Why do we get stuck in our old habits even when we know they don’t serve us?
• How do we transform without coming from judgment or resentment or stories of not-enoughness?

GIVEAWAY!

I have an extra special something for you today! Back in episode 57, we had Trina Altman on to talk about yoga deconstructed. Recently, Trina published a new book called Yoga Deconstructed: Movement Science Principles for Teaching. She has generously sent me a copy to give to you guys! Thank you if you joined our giveaway and left a review for the podcast on iTunes. The winner of this giveaway is iTunes user StitchGnomercy. They said: “Fantastic & Insightful! I’m really impressed by the diversity & depth of experiences and interviews in this podcast. I’ve never felt so seen in a yoga podcast!” StitchGnomercy, send me an email (erika.belanger@gmail.com) or DM me on Instagram.

If you didn’t win, you can still get 15% off just by being a listener today. Get the book here: http://bit.ly/yoga-deconstructed and use the coupon code altmaneb15.

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ABOUT OUR GUEST

Raised as a Vendatist, she grew up immersed in the philosophy of yoga. In her 20’s she began to practice asana and research different ways of moving while studying the history of yoga. The resulting discovery is that yoga is EVOLVING and always has, so we have permission to explore these practices, challenge the myths, and move forward with knowledge and awareness. Her mission is to EMPOWER your practice. To help find your own pace, fluidity, and strength in a structure that is an invitation, not a rule. Tap into your curiosity and trust your experience to take charge of your practice on and off the mat.

Website
www.brahmaniyoga.com

Julie on Ekhart Yoga:
https://www.ekhartyoga.com/teachers/julie-martin