Dr. Karina Smith Podcast

Chronic migraines can be insufferable to live with. Western Medicine has their own views and interventions for Migraines, and Chinese Medicine has an entirely different way of understanding and treating them. In today's episode I'm speaking with Dr Mg Mccullough on her own history of Migraines, her recovery, and her treatment approach for her own patients that experience Migraines. We talk...

This term is used very liberally in the yoga verse, but what does it actually mean to claim this title? In today's bonus podcast episode, I get into this, and so much more, with the amazing Grace Tempany. A powerful Irish presence in our yin yoga global community, Grace Tempany is a Senior Teacher with Yoga Alliance Professionals, a Trainer Pro and Mentor, specialised in yin, functional yoga,...

🎙️In episode 12 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the wonderful Kendall Satie. Kendall is a Melbourne based Osteopath with a passion for working closely with patients to get them back to doing the things they love to do. With many years of experience as a Remedial Massage Therapist, heavily influencing her assessment and treatment style, she loves balancing the two modalities to pro...

🎙️In episode 11 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the one and only Dominique Salerno. Dominique founded the infamous Australian Yoga Academy here in Melbourne, and has been teaching public classes and training you teachers for over 20 years. Amongst many of her yoga passions, is the practice of Pranayama. This ancient medicine of utilising the breath, is probably needed now in the w...

In episode 10 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the fantastic Johannah Ashley. Long-time Acupuncturist and student of Classical Acupuncture, Johannah runs a Chinese Medicine clinic in regional Victoria Australia, where for the past 6 years she has committed to practicing the compliment channels of Classical Chinese Medicine. These are the channels of Acupuncture written out of Histo...

In episode 9 of the Dr Karina Podcast I am speaking with the notorious Michael Max. Anyone practicing Chinese Medicine would be aware of Michael's long running podcast "Qiological"; a beacon of support and inspiration to all us practitioners doing our thing in our own little corner of the globe. Michael has a wealth of knowledge to share, and has conducted over 300 interviews with so...

Are you actually hydrated? How do you know? What signs and symptoms does your body display when you are dehydrated? What kinds of foods/spices/lifestyle choices might you be making that are contributing to dehydration? In Chinese Medicine, proper hydration is one of the most important factors for health, disease prevention, and recovery. The fluids of your body are so important, and most of us are...

In epiosde 7 I am speaking with the powerhouse that is Mandy Gratzer. Mandy is a Perth based Acupuncturist who is passionate about helping new graduates enter the profession with knowledge, guidance and power. At the age of 18, she moved from Kununurra to Perth to study an Advanced Diploma of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies. After graduation Mandy promptly tr...

In Episode 6 I am speaking with the wonderful Jarryd Harvey. Jarryd is an extraordinary Chinese Medicine practitioner, with an interest in classical acupuncture and a powerful personal story of his own healing journey. Jarryd and I discuss our shared interest into the world of classical acupuncture, and our observations of the connection between emotions and health.

In episode 5 I am speaking with the divine Heidi Trigar.  Heidi is well known in Melbourne and the east coast of Australia for her celestial kirtan events.  Not only does Heidi have the voice to hold the space, she is also a remarkable yin yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer.  In this episode Heidi shares her movement history from dance to yoga, and how yin yoga opened up the real...

In episode 4 I am speaking with the amazing Gabrielle Harris; yin teacher, teacher trainer and author of some of the most exquisite yoga books available at this current time.    Gabrielle has so many wise nuggets to share with the listeners about developing their yoga teaching skills; especially in the realm of language and words, giving the room lots of space and silence, honing your se...

In Episode 3 I am interviewing the wonderful Angela Lane.   Beloved Melbourne based Shiatsu and Acupuncture teacher and practitioner, Angela holds a wealth of philosophical and practical knowledge. Having started her journey as a nurse, she transitioned into the healing arts, which took her all the way to Japan studying martial arts and archery. Her story is rich and insightful. The foun...

Solomon Petrovski is a qualified Gestalt psychotherapist, Neuro Linguistic Programming success coach, university lecturer, and a 7th Dan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu practitioner (the guiding martial principles of nature and human law) with over 15 years of experience in aligning individuals, couples, families and businesses worldwide with their personal and professional goals.  Solomon has work...

As the infamous Paul Grilley states "every bone in every body is different. What is easy for one skeleton, is impossible for another". When it comes to yoga, any kind of yoga, any kind of movement really, it is crucial to understand that at the core of every human being, is a unique set and structure of bones. When we can truly appreciate this fact, I think we will be moving ever closer to re...

In the current climate of extreme polarity I talk about whether or not it is possible to find truth, absolute truth within a world of dualism. If there can be different perspectives, in-fighting and war, is anybody right? Does anyone have access to truth in the world of seperation?  Absolute truth is different to "your" truth or "my truth." I also share my own personal journey of spiritual se...

Ava is a Melbourne based acupuncturist working out of her clinic elk and Me in Thornbury. Ava has a background in massage and has studied extensively in the areas of TCM, five elements and esoteric acupuncture. In this episode we take a beautiful stroll through the five elements; Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.  Ava talks about the kinds of characteristics, responses and emotions you migh...

Language, pace, and how to set up an environment that is conducive for a deep and quiet practice.  Sometimes at the beginning of a yin yoga teaching journey we can bring all of our yang yoga language in with us, but the action based language of yang yoga does not really support the passivity and vibration of yin yoga.  Part of the teaching journey is therefore to slowly review our words...

What happens when we combine the acupuncture interventions of Chinese medicine, with the physicality of yin yoga practice? This is exactly what Bridget Hunter and her business partner Jane Ferguson have done with their amazing workshops "Yin and Pin".  Bridget is about to complete her studies in Chinese medicine, as she shares the journey of Yin and Pin and has been teaching yoga in Australia...

What comes up for us as yoga teachers when there are long periods of silence in the class we are teaching... does it make us feel really uncomfortable? Do we love it? And do you feel really different when you are the student in a yin class and there are long periods of silence? Just how much talking, is too much? 

Alma is a counsellor and yoga teacher specialising in trauma sensitivity, yin yoga, somatic healing, and helping her clients to better understand their nerous systems and trauma responses. She has done extensive training in counselling, drug and alcohol support, trauma sesitivity yoga, polyvagal theory and much more.  In this episode Alma helps to explain the different levels of the nerv...

Let's talk about the utmost importance of rebounds in a yin yoga class.  There are a multitude of reasons that cross the physical, physiological, mental, emotional and even spiritual why rebounds are so important in yin yoga.  Who would have thought that laying down and resting in stillness would be so crucial!

When it comes to our students and patients we often go above and beyond to hold space, create treatment plans, and think outside the box when it comes to their well-being, but do we offer ourselves the same kind of care?  When things arise in our bodies and health do we give ourselves the same level of care and treatment that we would do for our students and patients? Let's discuss. 

What is it about using props in yoga that still holds a stigma of being a beginner? There are so many fantastic ways to intensify, support or soften the sensation experience by using props.  When we as teachers have a few more ways to explain to students how they can experiment with their props, we are encouraging them to be more autonomous with their practice. 

It is with great delight that I introduce you to the man behind the scenes who makes all the magic happen (and makes me look so good!). This is the infamous Robbie! My brother and business partner, but also, best buddy, business and life coach, videographer and editor, content creator, marketing manager and very funny guy!  In this episode we are sharing our genesis story with you.  How...

As yin yoga teachers, I think we need to be clear on that point.  In episode 2 I talk about the places where yin yoga and Chinese medicine have some great intersections, and also where things can get a bit slippery for our students if we overload them with too much Chinese medicine theory.  Sometimes less is more when it comes to how much we say in class. And if we are trying to make too...