Yoga Big Sisters Podcast

Imagine planning your whole life around your period… Bianca Koyabe, a wellness coach and content creator specialising in cycle synching, does exactly that. She speaks to Sheena and Zaakiyah about the phases of our cycles, what cycle synching and how to do it.  This conversation also goes into what we wish we’d known about periods when we were younger and how society is built so that women find the...

  October is Mental Health Awareness Month, in this episode we introduce our guest Thomas Sheehy, as we join in a rich discussion around men’s mental health and yoga. This episode goes far beyond as we touch on Thomas research & practice and other tools to navigate around health and healing. Themes and Timestamps: Hi and introducing our Guest! (00:03)  Personal Journey with yoga (10:50) Trigge...

Sheena got super into how Yoga could treat her burnout. Then Zaakiyah’s friend was told to try yoga by her doctor, because of burnout. And Sheena taught her until she recovered.  Now that Sheena has researched and written a thesis on Yoga as a Burnout treatment, Zaaki gets to pick her brain on the topic. We hope that you can find some useful insights, information and mindset shifts when it comes t...

This week Zaakiyah and Sheena are joined by Cait Chick, founder of Udaya Yoga and discuss… Themes and Timestamps: Hi and introducing Cait (00:30) Cait’s yoga story (06:40) Meditation and Your Mind (12:51)  How Long & Often Should We Meditate (16:45)  Benefits of Pranayama for the Nervous System (18:43) Where Modern Science and Yoga Philosophy Meet (24:24)  Cait’s Biggest Tip for Mental Health...

  Introducing a familiar voice as our resident expert and sharing feedback from listeners like you!  Themes and Timestamps: Hi and introducing our Resident Expert! (00:35)  Correction! Pisces planet is actually Neptune, not Pluto. Mandy Wu on Body Image from therapeutic perspective and Theoretical Model of Inclusion (03:18) Nolwazi Ntshona on her body image changes during lockdown (09:30) Dominiqu...

This week, Sheena and Zaakiyah discuss how yoga can nurture your relationship to your body and body image in 2023. From sharing the role yoga has played in their personal journey’s relating to their bodies, to how different cultures, family norms, romantic relationships, the media and celebrities affect how we perceive ourselves.  Listen to the end to hear the yogic principle that shifts mindsets,...

Zaakiyah shares a special Let go and call in meditation for anyone that needs to recentre. Connect with us:  @yogabigsisterspodcast @ zaakiyahbhikha @ sheena.teaches.yoga yogabigsisters@gmail.com Chat with us: Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us on Instagram to have your issue resolved. Su...

Sheena guides you through a meditation that uses the power of visualization to help you create your own safe space you can come to whenever you need- a dreamscape.  The inspiration for this comes from Debbie Ford’s The Dark Side of Light Chasers where she detailed a safe and accessible process for shadow work as far back as 1998. Long before we were finding out about it on TikTok…  The audio book...

New moon calls for setting new intentions and being delusional. Here’s a reminder that it’s not about the HOW you just have to BELIEVE. Connect with us:  @yogabigsisterspodcast @ zaakiyahbhikha @ sheena.teaches.yoga yogabigsisters@gmail.com Chat with us: Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to become yoga agony aunts and give advice. DM us...

Zaakiyah shares the flip it method, a manifestation tool to help transform negative challenging behaviors to positive new outcomes. Grab a pen and paper and allow yourself to break through and be courageous.  Template to flip it method: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFoUXyy4KM/XD2onnWKQdJP_jRwlVLuvg/edit?utm_content=DAFoUXyy4KM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=share...

Let Sheena guide you on your hot girl walk, so that it becomes an exercise in staying present. Don’t forget your SPF and hat. Pick somewhere safe to walk (insert peace sign emoji) Connect with us:  @yogabigsisterspodcast @ zaakiyahbhikha @ sheena.teaches.yoga yogabigsisters@gmail.com Chat with us: Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philosophy to be...

Sheena shares a simple body scan meditation for when the outside world feels a little too loud. These inward focussed practices are useful if you want to slowly learn how to listen to the body. Connect with us: @yogabigsisterspodcast @zaakiyahbhikha @sheena.teaches.yoga yogabigsisters@gmail.com Chat with us: Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic philo...

Zaakiyah shares self concept affirmations to manifest the life you already have. These affirmations train your subconscious and help create your dream life, self and align you with your goals.  Connect with us:  @yogabigsisterspodcast @ zaakiyahbhikha @ sheena.teaches.yoga yogabigsisters@gmail.com Chat with us: Got a problem, secret, question or life challenge you can’t figure out? We use yogic ph...

In this week’s Community Segment, we hear directly from the source as our fellow LGBTQIA+ yoga community members share their experiences and perspectives. First up is Wayne Flemming, a Sex Coach, Relationship Alchemist and Yoga Teacher, and to share some learnings around inclusive language. Next, we hear from Kyle Linde Vermeulen, a drag queen and yoga teacher based in Cape Town. Then Kutlwano Kha...

In this week’s Episode Zaakiyah and Sheena play devil's advocate around yoga fads. We at the YBSP court examine whether yoga can coexist with marketing tactics. Why is Beer Yoga guilty as charged, and does yoga with animals get an innocent verdict? PSA: These are strictly Zaakiyah and Sheena’s views around yoga fads. We respect this sacred practice and everyone's constitutional right to fr...

In this week's episode, Zaaki and Sheena speak about the LGBTQ+ community and how they may (or might not!) feel comfortable in the Yoga space. We also talk about global cultural norms and South African ones that could affect these marginalized communities. We learn the difference between co-conspirators and allies, share tips to better support your queer friends and students.  If you’re part o...

In this week’s Community Segment, we hear from Harpinder Mann about why the TikTok trend of yoga/ soft-corn p0rn emerged, how we can fight against it and the importance of authentic Yoga. Harpinder is a trauma-informed Yoga Asana and Meditation Teacher, an author, and the founder of  Womxn of Color Summit. If you loved hearing from Harpinder, check our Resources for more information on her book Li...

Sheena and Zaakiyah have both been propositioned on Social Media for more than yoga classes. So have many of their fellow teachers. This week your Yoga Big Sisters share their experiences and discuss why this is happening. This extends to social media and Western society’s misunderstanding of Yoga, Tantra as a concept, and the Karma Sutra as a yogic text. There’s no holding back this week, so you...

Zaakiyah and Sheena look at yoga and capitalism and whether they can coexist. They also chat about small ways to start rethinking our everyday impact as part of consumer culture. If you’ve ever wondered about how much your favourite gets paid and if yoga teachers can unionize, they talk about that too. Find out about the social responsibility of the yoga businesses and the link to yoga ethics. The...

Zaakiyah and Sheena introduce The Yoga Big Sisters community segment where you’ll hear from industry insiders in South Africa and abroad. Our goal is to bring our yoga community together to yolk. Go back to the roots of the meaning of yoga which is to unite (yolk), showing that this practice of yoga is not inclusive but for everyone regardless of age, race, body type, disability …    In...

Zaakiyah and Sheena begin a discussion about whiteness and yoga. This includes what its like to be a POC in yoga spaces, what studios can do to get it right without tokenising, and what you can do if you’re a white yoga practitioner who doesn’t want to continue the problem.  Zaaki has much to share because she works with yoga teachers and practitioners in the DEI space. Like an indigenous meditati...

This week, Sheena and Zaakiyah discuss how yoga can nurture a relationship with yourself. Starting with how yoga affected their self-love journeys and mindset shifts that their help relationships with those around them. Zaaki shares practical tips on using affirmations, her favourites, and how to build personalised ones for you. Yogic philosophy encapsulates all this with concepts like Ahimsa and...

Meet Zaakiyah and Sheena as they dive deep into the beginner's guide to yoga and share personal stories of how to navigate starting your yoga journey.. You’ll learn how  …… You will also meet Sheena’s cat (LOL) Want to start yoga but don’t know how? Maybe you’ve tried yoga out and haven’t managed to stick with. Even if you’ve been practicing for a while, this episode has something for you. We’...

About Podcast First-of-its-kind yoga podcast in South Africa to help you learn and unlearn what you know about yoga. Get ready to dive deeper, beyond the physical practice, and question the yoga industry. We believe that yoga is the ultimate system to solve any of life's challenges. Here we discuss yogic philosophy, and taboo topics and bring you into a community of like-minded people. Listeni...