Curious Monki | Yoga, Spirituality + Wellness

       Melissa Jay is a registered psychologist and yoga teacher who has melded her two loves into Yoga Psychology.  The hard work she puts into her psychology practice and yoga retreats are all done in purpose of her mission, which is "to empower compassionate souls to love themselves unconditionally".  When we take good care of ourselves and ensure that our cups are filled then we are better to...

      Happy New Year! We kick off 2018 with an episode about the significance of tapping into your body's intelligence.  Anne Douglas is a teacher and yoga scholar who has had over three decades of experience practicing/studying in the field.  She is the creator of Anahata Yoga Therapy, which is a path for self-inquiry, loving kindness and the integration of what she calls "the issues in the tissu...

    It has been a wonderful year on Curious Monki!  I am SO grateful for everyone who tunes in and for all the amazing souls who have graciously shared their wisdom.  The conversations have been heartfelt and rich with knowledge.  In this episode, I look back on some of the lessons shared. Among them are powerful messages like:  t rust your intuition; life won't always take the path that you want...

      Amanda Kingsmith  is a world traveler, yoga teacher and also the podcast host for two shows:  The World Wanderers and Mastering the Business of Yoga aka. MB.OM .  She's passionate about helping yoga teachers discover careers they love and enjoys working 1-on-1 with yoga teachers to help them build their business.  In this episode, she tells us how she managed to create a life filled with tra...

      It's one thing to develop a well-oiled routine and have the discipline to follow through but what happens if our bodies aren't cooperating the way we want them to?  It's excruciating to get through a trip to the grocery store let alone make it to a yoga class where you have to bend yourself in all sorts of shapes.  Each day is a toss-up – maybe you'll be pain free, maybe you'll be bed ridden...

      Nicholas Pepe is one inspiring individual who has dedicated himself to doing what I've decided to call "heart work".  Work that is soul centred with the intention to help provide a positive impact on other people's lives and the world.  In specific, he's an Energy Healer and Personal Development Coach who specializes in helping women who are ruled by fear, doubt, and "low confidence" learn h...

    It has been a mad busy month – vacation, a pending move (finally happening this week yay!!)  and hours of planning for my beloved father's birthday.  I am so grateful for all of these wonderful happenings in my life but also kind of exhausted.  My mind seems to match the erratic positioning of the half-packed boxes in my little apartment.  There's a slight undercurrent of anxiety and even as I...

      Alice Hong is a growth and transformation facilitator that guides others to listen deeply, love fully, and live wholeheartedly.  This travel junkie has her home base in Calgary, Alberta but she holds Yoga Teacher Trainings, Retreats and Women's gatherings all around the world like in Iceland and Bali.  Her ambition sweeps her away toward inspiring projects such as her recent endeavor to help...

      Amy Thiessen is , among many other things, is a yoga teacher and a musician.  She's melded her two passions into one beautiful craft.  Her talents are extensive, but her best known music in the yoga community are of mantra and prayer.  She mixes her captivating voice with alluring soundscapes to create space that's perfect for internal exploration. Like with so many others, it has been (and...

What It Took To Start a Yoga Retreat Centre: struggles, accomplishments and lessons learned along the way           Una barraca, which means "warrior lady", is what Linsey Rankin is endearingly called by friends in Colombia.  For the past year, she has worked with a small team to run yoga retreats on a pristine piece of land in Choco.  Her vision affords the opportunity for yoga junkies and touris...

  Like many of the great talents out there, Martha McCallum wears several hats.  Titles include master herbalist, yoga instructor, hiking guide and Hakomi Psychotherapist.  She is the artist of her own life and boy has she created a cool one for herself!  As a helicopter hiking guide, she enjoys the best of the Rocky Mountains every single week.  When she's not out in nature, she's helping others...

  Tanis Fishman is a modern day mystic who has spent her life exploring different levels of consciousness to find deeper meaning in the human experience.  Questions about the meaning of life and a search for something more has been on her mind since she was a toddler.  Over her lifetime, she's been gifted with two profound experiences that proved this feeling. One being an out of body experience a...

  Meet Lisa Hillyer , yoga teacher, life coach and world traveller.  She works with dedicated motive to guide people back to themselves and reconnect to the person that's always been within.  She lives her life joyously and with deep purpose.  As you would've guessed, it took some stumbling to get here.  Also a lot of hard work.  A lot.  There was that time when she moved to Australia and all her...

  People who takes leaps and say yes to what they truly want have good stories to share.  These stories are inspiring, leaving us feeling uplifted and motivated to take on the world.  In this episode, we talk with Kristy Dhaliwal , an amazing gal who has taken leaps to find her path.  She's a massage therapist, entrepreneur and yoga junkie.  Her path wasn't always clear though and there was some s...

  Transitions are never easy even if it's a change for the better.  And it's even scarier when we are taking a leap of faith.  But what if we let the FEAR guide us rather than hinder us?  It's been an interesting journey.  FEAR has become a frequent friend (I didn't see this coming!) and I've been doing a lot of getting to know it better.  And I do…I think.  It sticks its scary face all up in mine...

  "To be mindful is to be fully present with whatever we are doing. If you are drinking tea, just drink your tea. Do not drink your worries, your projects, your regrets. When you hold your cup, you may like to breathe in, to bring your mind back to your body, stop your thinking, and become fully present. In that moment, you become real and the cup of tea becomes real. In this state of true presenc...

  This episode is just as multifaceted as the guest itself.  Naomi Parker is based in YYC and is a mom, biologist, yoga teacher, and energy healer.  She takes us through not just one, but two stories and brings us into territories that are unknown to most of us.  Story One. A yoga journey.  Naomi shares how she found yoga and how she eventually ended up becoming a yoga teacher.  The conversation e...

  Kate Mak is one of YYC's favorite yoga teachers. A mover and shaker who pursues tirelessly to create community.  Her classes usually include an eloquent flow, something new and a cheesy joke or two.  She'll tell you a story about the ancient deities or maybe sing to you while playing the harmonium.  As a student, you just know that you are in good hands.  You can be sure that the space is held,...

  Life is a great unfolding and when we surrender we open ourselves to deep meaning.  Our perspective shifts and we become attuned to the sacredness of being.  Our experiences in this life become keen and insightful.  Perhaps as we place our feet on the Earth we suddenly become aware of how connected we are to nature, more than we've ever felt before; or perhaps we look up at the stars and it's li...

  Alishia Alibhai is a Social Psychologist, Reiki Master, and Soul Coach.  She started off entrenched in the academic side of things but also had a deep seated knowledge that there was something more that she could be doing to help people.  Partway through her graduate studies, she found a course for Reiki and eagerly hopped on board.  She opened up her business, Divine Bliss, in 2009 and has been...

  Malcom Saunders is the founder and owner of Calgary's health food joint, the Light Cellar.  With products like reishi mushroom, chaga powder and your choice of cacao nibs, paste or powder, he's opening up a whole new world of health foods to this city.  The store also has an elixir bar so that you can get your superfood fix as you shop.  In today's episode we hear about how this world traveller...

  I traveled to Southeast Asia for the very first time in March 2016 and it easily became one of the best travel experiences I've ever had.  I spent half of my time in Bali and I'll never forget the people, culture, luscious flora, and fragrant cuisine. In this episode, I have the pleasure of recounting the discoveries of this beautiful island with my travel mates.  Below you'll find a photo galle...

  From corporate maven to business owner, Christopher Lawrence is a life coach who found his calling after spending fifteen years in a job that he felt empty in.  The transition didn't come easy – in fact it took many difficult lessons including death and medication to give him the wisdom that he has now.  Knowing the utter importance of doing what you love, Chris now pours his heart into coaching...

  Canna what?  Cannabis!  Smoke it, eat it, bake it, vape it.  This mighty little plant is well known for its recreational uses but what can it do for us in terms of health benefits?  Join our conversation as Julie Nguyen, GM of Aura Health Studios & Dispensary , explains why cannabis is the rising star of the natural healing industry… Read More

Singing Bowl of Compassion (Meditation begins 6min 30min)   Break down to build up Slow down, find your feet Settle in, go inside Beauty in breath Tenderness is strength Softness, better than a sharp tongue You are not broken You are amazing Embrace the rubble It's beautiful to be human You. Are. Amazing. An outlet for beaming love and compassion   ~ Namaste Read More