The Vitalist Cracked Open: How Yoga Reveals Who You Really Are with Jenn Chiarelli
In this episode of The Vitalist, Dr. Keiko sits down with yoga and spiritual teacher Jenn Chiarelli to explore the quiet intelligence that lives in the body.
Jenn shares her early years as a professional ballerina and the moment yoga cracked something open in her, shifting her from perfection to presence. She reflects on the practices that helped her reconnect to her essence: breathwork, subtle movement, mantra, meditation, and the lifelong inquiry that continues to guide her: Who am I?
Together, Dr. Keiko and Jenn explore what it means to soften, to listen, and to trust the messages that arise in your body, especially when life feels buzzy, overwhelming, or demanding. They talk about injuries as wake-up calls, the art of holding space, and why even five minutes of stillness can change the direction of your day.
BIO:
Jenn Chiarelli is a lifelong yogi, E-RYT 500, and founder of Anahata Soul with over 10,000 hours of teaching experience. A former professional ballerina with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet, she performed principal roles in works by Balanchine, Martha Graham, and more. Jenn's spiritual practice is rooted in Kundalini Meditation under the guidance of Swami Khecaranatha. She teaches internationally, leading trainings, retreats, and workshops known for their grounding, heart-opening approach to movement and meditation.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Jenn shares her path from second-grade ballet class to a professional career, and how movement became her first language of self-expression. (2:05)
Realizing ballet wouldn't last forever, Jenn turns to Ashtanga and is humbled by how much strength she still had to build. (3:55)
A spiritual center leads her to a nurturing hatha teacher, helping her balance intensity with softness. (4:30)
Jenn recalls her transformative teacher training at the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica. (5:29)
Her advice for beginners: don't stop after one teacher. Find the style of yoga your body and spirit resonate with. (5:59)
How yoga offered what ballet couldn't: presence without criticism, and space to feel instead of perform. (6:45)
Jenn remembers the first moment she touched her essence during subtle "movement inquiries" in an open-air shala in Costa Rica. (7:49)
She explains how to process what arises in yoga: through breath, posture, chanting, and the cleansing support of the ocean. (10:19)
For those new to spiritual practice, Jenn emphasizes safety: you don't need a teacher in your face, you need one who holds space. (11:41)
How beginners can connect more deeply to breath: start by noticing you're breathing; slow it down with Durga pranayama. (14:11)
Understanding Ujjayi (fog breath), the warming, oceanic breath that reconnects you to your body. (15:25)
Meditation begins simply: follow your breath and let it lead you inward. (17:05)
Jenn reflects on a childhood shaped by Ram Dass, Wayne Dyer, candle gazing, and early metaphysical teachings. (18:28)
The book that changed everything: A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, heard on an eight-hour drive. (20:07)
On the unseen forces that guide us, and the power of asking "Who am I?" again and again. (21:01)
Why meditation is essential if we're practicing yoga as union. (23:05)
Jenn shares the moment injuries made her question her trust in her body and how they act as wake-up calls. (24:29)
Navigating the buzziness of the mind while honoring the stillness beneath it. (27:11)
Tools to connect with your energetic essence: mantra, mala beads, chanting, and years of training that help you drop in quickly. (30:40)
The simplest practice: give yourself five minutes of stillness each day to meet yourself again. (33:32)
The hardest part of teaching spiritually: being the mirror, and not taking others' projection personally. (34:45)
The one-word teaching she received from her teacher: "Surrender." (35:36)
The one thing she wishes all students embodied: the reminder to continually turn inward. (38:35)
Where to connect with Jenn and explore her offerings. (39:47)
RESOURCES:
Visit Jenn's Website: https://www.anahatasoul.com/
Follow Jenn: https://www.instagram.com/jennigirlyoga/
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