The Nourished Nervous System

Send us Fan Mail What if stress in itself is not the problem?  What if through a shift in mindset you can begin to change your relationship to stress. In this week's episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System,' I revisit the importance of carving out unstructured alone time, drawing from personal experiences of reconnecting with nature and its rejuvenating effects.  And then transitio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Nourished Nervous System, I discuss personal experiences with anger and stress, particularly related to the challenges of balancing parenting and self-care.  Emphasizing the necessity of alone time for resourcing oneself, the episode explores the impact of cultural and familial beliefs on feelings of guilt and responsibility.  The host shares insights on pra...

Send us Fan Mail In Ayurveda, summer is Pitta Season.    Pitta is all about heat, energy and transformation. I don't know about you, but for me summer can be really intense. In this episode of The Nourished Nervous System, the focus is on the transformational quality of Pitta dosha, particularly during the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere.  I explore the metabolic processes related to...

Send us Fan Mail In this insightful episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System', Alexandra Beller takes us on a fascinating journey from her career as a professional dancer with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company to her pivotal work in somatics and movement analysis.  Alexandra delves into the transformative power of Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals, shedding lig...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System,' I delve deeply into the world of herbs that support the nervous system.  I share personal experiences and professional insights on five key herbs: Chamomile, Milky Oat Tops, Passionflower, Tulsi (Holy Basil), and Ashwagandha.  I explore each herb’s unique properties, benefits, and applications.  Chamomile is celebrated f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I welcome Grace Secker, as she shares her journey from battling chronic conditions to becoming a licensed psychotherapist, chronic pain and nervous system coach, certified yoga therapist, and Reiki energy healer.  Grace discusses the hidden root causes of chronic pain and fatigue, emphasizing the importance of addressing the nervous system and brain interactions. ...

Send us Fan Mail In this special anniversary episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System,'  I celebrate a year of growth and change, both personally and through the podcast.  I delve into the concept of the window of resilience—how much stress we can handle before becoming overwhelmed—and connect it with Ayurvedic principles.  Ayurveda is a lens to look at life through, so this episode talk...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid and tender  conversation, Donna Brooks shares her life story and her transformative journey through somatic embodiment work.  She recounts her unconventional path, starting from her childhood in suburban New York, to becoming a dedicated yoga and Feldenkrais instructor.  Brooks explores the profound impact of somatic practices on handling grief, including her person...

Send us Fan Mail I don't know about you, but I can sometimes feel overwhelmed in busy buzz of summer season.  My mind can feel really full trying to process in this busy time of year. That is why, in this episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System,' I  delve into Ayurvedic principles to guide you on balancing your mental health through seasonal changes.  Discussing the transition into...

Send us Fan Mail In this intimate and enlightening conversation, Irene Morning, a somatic pleasure coach and author of 'The Polyamory Paradox: Finding Your Confidence in Consensual Non-Monogamy,' shares her personal and professional journey.  She discusses moving from yoga therapy to coaching individuals exploring non-monogamous relationships, the deep need for somatic support and embodi...

Send us Fan Mail In this short and sweet episode of 'The Nourished Nervous System,' I reflect on the complex emotions of being human, especially in times of personal and global grief. Balancing moments of joy amidst sorrow, the discussion delves into the concept of yin and yang and the importance of finding resources to support resilience. The episode is a candid sharing of my experience...

Send us Fan Mail In this  episode, I welcome Pavini, a queer, trans human who utilizes their diverse background as a park ranger, Montessori teacher, sex therapist, and startup CEO to thrive in their current roles as a somatic coach, author, and advocate for embodying leadership to smash the patriarchal norms in the workplace.  Pavini shares their journey through various professions, highlighting...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever feel like you are doing all the right things but still don't feel good? This was the question at the center of this week's episode.  Spoiler alert:  I don't have the answer to this, but I do have thoughts on it.   In this episode I share about my adventure of moving into a new home in Maine and the excitement and challenges that come with starting a gard...

Send us Fan Mail This conversation is about so much more than just thyroid health,  but that is at it's core. In this episode,  Carrie Levine, nurse midwife turned functional medicine practitioner, shares her transformative journey towards founding Whole Woman Health in Midcoast, Maine.  Carrie is also the author of whole woman health: a guide to creating wellness for any age and stage. She o...

Send us Fan Mail This episode uncovers the transformative power of gratitude far beyond clichés. Diving into personal reflections and scientific research, I reveal how gratitude positively affects mental and physical health, counteracts societal pressures of 'not enoughness,' and serves as an unexpected resistance to consumerism.  I explore practical gratitude practices, from traditional...

Send us Fan Mail If you've been listening for a bit, you will know how much I value connecting with nature as a way to nourish the nervous system.   It's foundational in my own self care practices and today's guest has brought it to the next level.  In this episode,  Micah Mortali, author of 'Rewilding' and founding director of the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leaders...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share my personal experiences and reflections on sobriety, framing it as a form of self-care.  There are  multifaceted reasons people choose sobriety, from tackling addictions to spiritual practices or simply feeling better physically and mentally.  In this episode I  candidly discusses my journey with substances, from experimentation in youth  to periods of sob...

Send us Fan Mail The nervous system is connected to everything.  So no surprise that if you strength train you can use knowledge of the nervous system to leverage your training.   In this conversation with Kali Perry she talks about this and so much more.  Kali is a strength coach specialized in sports performance, injury mitigation and chronic pain reduction.   She works with a wide variety of in...

Send us Fan Mail Did you know that studies show that in the past few decades there has been a 30% increase in people exhibiting perfectionist traits?   I never considered myself a perfectionist but I am starting to see areas of my life where I have a perfectionist mindset and how paralyzing it has been for me. And I believe that perfectionism is a form of chronic stress that is rooted in a belief...

Send us Fan Mail Do you ever notice that tension that arises in your body when the outside world is not aligning with your expectations?   What thoughts do you notice when your current reality is not the way you want it? It's really normal to have these thoughts and feelings, they are a part of our messy human experience, but the practice of "being with what is" can help you navigat...

Send us Fan Mail Does the idea of doing a spring reset sound interesting but maybe a little intimidating?  Are you interested in bringing some more energy, simplicity or clarity into your life in this season?  Do you have an idea for a spring reset but are having a hard time getting started or following through with it? This week's episode is a little different, I will be back to my normal ep...

Send us Fan Mail Spring is a time of fresh starts and new beginnings a time of unfurling and planting seeds.  It is also a time for spring cleaning your house and your body. Cleansing diets have grown in popularity over the past few years and they can be healthy for certain constitutions or to work with certain health conditions.   Spring is Kapha season in Ayurvedic thought.  Kapha is made up of...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt really excited about starting a new practice or new habit only to come up against some resistance a day or two in and drop it? Or maybe it is something that you used to do a lot and are trying to get back into it and it just feels so hard. Resistance is a normal and healthy part of change and is often a sign that the thing you are trying to do is stretching you...

Send us Fan Mail There is this time between the archetype of the mother and the archetype of the crone sometimes referred to the wild woman years.  It is also sometimes referred to as the virgin - not an as in uninitiated but more like a virgin forest - whole and unto herself. Our society teaches us to fear aging and to resist against it, but what if we embrace the power of this time? In this epis...

Send us Fan Mail What is your relationship with resource?  How do you know when you are feeling resourced in yourself and how do you recharge when you are not?   Building a net of a resource is the idea that the tiny acts of self care that you do each day create a net that can help to catch you when the inevitable challenges of life arise. It doesn't mean that you are shielded from life'...