The Uplifted Yoga Podcast

What if pleasure wasn’t just allowed on your spiritual path—but essential to it? In this episode, I’m talking with Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation and former Broadway star, about how pleasure, embodiment, and emotional alchemy can actually accelerate your healing and manifestation. We explore: 🔹 The brain science behind why pleasure and stress can’t coexist 🔹 How to turn pain into power with Emily’s 3-step Ziva Magic formula 🔹 Sacred sexuality, tantra, and the union of masculine and feminine energies 🔹 Why creating somatic safety is the first step to spiritual awakening Listen to reclaim pleasure as your birthright and your most potent medicine. 💖 Register for Emily’s Free Magic Maker Event July 22 and take her “What’s Blocking Your Magic” quiz here => https://cd371.isrefer.com/go/magic-m/Upliftedyoga   GUEST EXPERT: Emily Fletcher | @zivameditation Founder of Ziva & host of Why Isn't Everyone Doing This?, Emily has taught over 50k people how to transform their lives through powerful meditation and manifestation practices.   FREE Yoga Practice: Somatic Yoga Weight Loss Workout with Music | Exercises for Feminine Energy & Confidence Relevant Blog: Ziva Magic Review: Emily Fletcher’s Manifesting Meditation Course Changed How I Call In What I Want   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Kundalini 200-hour YTT 🔮 Kundalini Demystified 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #318 – What Is Somatic Yoga? #330 – Somatic Yoga vs. Traditional Yoga: Breaking Down How 5 Poses Differ in your Yoga Practice #341 – How To Balance Your 3rd Eye with Guru Singh   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What does it mean to act without attachment—and why is that the key to spiritual freedom? Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita is so rich, I had to split it into two parts—and this second half is where the real philosophical firepower kicks in 🔥 We’re diving into: 🔹 The essence of Karma Yoga—selfless action without clinging to outcomes 🔹 How the Yogi transcends dualities like success/failure, praise/blame 🔹 The clash between societal values and spiritual truth 🔹 How this all ties into Advaita Vedanta and non-dual awareness If you’ve ever struggled with “doing your Dharma” without burning out, this part of the Gita gives profound insight into how to act with devotion, not desperation. 📝 Download the Yoga For Self Mastery Syllabus => https://www.brettlarkin.com/yoga-for-self-mastery/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ysm   📖 Different translations mentioned: Barbara Stoler Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Krishnas-Counsel-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553213652  Godsong by Amit Majmudar: https://www.amazon.com/Godsong-Verse-Translation-Bhagavad-Gita-Commentary/dp/1524733474  Eknath Easwaran: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-2nd-Eknath-Easwaran/dp/1586380192  Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by Swami Prabhupada: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-As-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131233    FREE Practice: YOGA FOR STRESS RELIEF | Twisty Morning Yoga Flow for Women Relevant Blog: The Ultimate Guide to Karma Yoga   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 History of Yoga 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #287 – Redefining “Sadhana” - 3 Key Tips #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

Is it awakening… or a breakdown? When spiritual awakening hits hard, it can feel disorienting—even terrifying. In this raw and insightful conversation, I sit down with Steven Taylor, PhD, psychologist and expert on spiritual awakening, to explore what happens when consciousness expands faster than your system can handle it. We unpack the psychology behind Kundalini awakenings, and how to navigate the fine line between transformation and overwhelm. In this episode, you’ll learn: 🔹 How to tell the difference between psychosis and spiritual awakening 🔹 What a Kundalini awakening really looks and feels like 🔹 How to support your nervous system during spiritual emergence 🔹 Why awakening is part of the natural evolution of human consciousness Whether you’re in it, afraid of it, or just curious—this is your invitation to bring grounding and understanding to your spiritual journey. 💃 Join me for a FREE Kundalini Dance Party => https://www.brettlarkin.com/dance?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=dance    GUEST EXPERT: Steve Taylor PhD | @stevetaylorauthor Steve Taylor PhD has many best-selling books on psychology and spirituality, including The Adventure, Extraordinary Awakenings, The Leap and Spiritual Science. His books have been published in more than 20 languages, and he writes the popular ‘Out of the Darkness’ blog for Psychology Today magazine. Eckhart Tolle has described his work as ‘an important contribution to the shift in consciousness which is happening on our planet at present.’ Steve lives in Manchester, England, with his wife and three children. Find Steve’s books and offerings: stevenmtaylor.com   FREE Practice: 10 Min Kundalini Kriya For Awakening For Beginners | GUIDED KUNDALINI MEDITATION Relevant Blog: How to Resolve Kundalini Awakening   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🔮 Kundalini 200-hour YTT 🐍 Kundalini Demystified ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #316 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 1 #322 – Origins of Kundalini & the Yogi Bhajan Scandal – Part 2 © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What happens when ancient yogic wisdom meets modern embodiment? 🤔One of my students recently asked how Sutra 1.15’s focus on non-attachment aligns with Somatic Yoga’s emphasis on pleasure and healing. This episode unpacks that question with heart, humor, and a whole lot of nuance. We’ll explore: 🔹 Whether pleasure is a distraction—or a doorway to healing 🔹 What Patanjali really meant by non-attachment 🔹 How to reconcile classical teachings with modern self-care If you’ve ever wondered whether embracing joy is spiritual enough, this one’s for you. 🎁 Get my FREE $67 Somatic Self Healing Workshop => https://www.brettlarkin.com/ffy?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ffy    📖 Different translations mentioned: Edwin F Bryant: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Pata%C3%B1jali-Translation-Commentary/dp/0865477361  Sri Swami Satchidananda: https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Swami-Satchidananda/dp/1938477073  Alan Finger: https://www.amazon.com/Tantra-Yoga-Sutras-Essential-Awareness/dp/1611806151  BKS Iyengar: https://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-Sutras-Patanjali-Iyengar/dp/1855382253    FREE Practice: Divine Feminine Yoga for Beginners | TANTRA AND SACRED SEXUALITY Relevant Blog: Understanding Divine Feminine Energy In Your Life   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 History of Yoga 📖 Yoga Life Book  ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #271 – What is Kriya Yoga? How Does it Work? #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #352 – Redefining Feminine Energy in Yoga & Ayurveda with Katie Silcox   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

What if your inner chaos is sacred? When I first pictured a yogi, I imagined someone always calm, serene… maybe even a little untouchable. But the more I’ve learned—through somatics, spirituality, and lived experience—the more I believe that true healing means feeling everything. Even rage. In this episode, we dive deep into: 🔹 Why stress isn’t an emotion (and how that changes everything) 🔹 How Kali represents sacred rage, transformation, and nervous system completion 🔹 The trap of spiritual bypassing and the myth of “staying calm” 🔹 How to embrace the full spectrum of your emotions—and finally close the stress cycle If you’ve ever felt like you were “failing” at healing because you weren’t calm enough… this one’s for you. 💮Sign Up Free: KALI YOGA CHALLENGE Get my Kali Guidebook as an instant download.   FREE Practice: Easy Beginner Yoga to Connect with Feminine Energy | Yoga for Soft Feminine Energy with Music Relevant Blog: Female Archetype Quiz: What Female Archetype Are You?   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching  💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #324 – The Importance of Emotional Processing and Regulation: DENT Model Trauma #325 – Archetypes, Dreams & Why Nightmares are Good with Kari Hohne #345 – Somatic Shaking: What Is It? Why Does it Work?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

Many students seek the unbroken lineage of yoga, and as someone who has extensively explored the origins and evolution of yoga I want to tell you… it’s time to let that notion go. Yoga has a rich and diverse history that has been shaped through social and historical contexts. It has evolved from a spiritual endeavor to its modern physical interpretations with large impact from the industrial revolution. It’s so important to understand the historical and cultural influences on yoga today, and how this practice has changed over time. So that’s what I’ll dive into in today’s episode. Listen to learn: 🔹Misconceptions around unbroken lineages in yoga. 🔹How yoga has evolved significantly since the industrial revolution. 🔹The way historical and social context has always influenced yoga. Loved this episode and want to know more about yoga’s origins? Grab my History of Yoga course on sale now => https://www.brettlarkin.com/history-of-yoga-course/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=hoy FREE Practice: 15 Minute Power Morning Vinyasa Flow For Strength Relevant Blog: Where Did Yoga Originate: A Brief History of Yoga   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 💖 History of Yoga 📖 Yoga Life Book  ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 Yoga for Self Mastery 🎧 Also Listen to: #279 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK ONE Explained #283 – Dismantling the Kleshas: The Actual Aim of Yoga #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas?   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

If you’re an Uplifted alumni you’ll recognize today’s guest from inside the training…Kristin Leal!! 🎉I could talk to Kristin about anatomy and the nervous system for hours, and I’m so excited that she came on the podcast to enlighten us all with her vast knowledge. Kristin is going to delve into the complexities of the nervous system, particularly focusing on the autonomic nervous system and its two branches: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. She’ll discuss the complexities of the human stress response and the importance of understanding these systems in the context of yoga to help regulate your nervous system.  Get your notebook ready and learn: 🔹How the nervous system is interconnected with all bodily systems. 🔹What Vagal tone is and how it’s an important indicator of overall health and well-being. 🔹The way burnout manifests as inactivity or excessive rest without true recovery. ✨ Make your yoga practice 2x more potent in 1/2 the time with my Free Yoga Transformational Portal   GUEST EXPERT: Kristin Leal | @metaanatomy Kristin is in love with how esoteric anatomy links so effortlessly to Western anatomy, and her MetaAnatomy™ trainings blend serious scientific knowledge with a sense of humor and a deep connection to the divine within us all. As the creator of the Kaya Yoga 200- and 300-hour teacher training, she’s certified over 5,000 yoga teachers since 2005. Kristin also holds certifications in Reiki, Thai massage, neuromuscular and myofascial release, and is a co-author of the book The Yoga Fan (2003) and the author of MetaAnatomy™ (2014). Explore Kristin’s Offerings: https://www.kristinleal.com/  Get Kristin’s Books:  MetaAnatomy Yoga Fan: Practice Guide For Everyday   FREE Practice: Somatic Release Meditation for Trauma | Vagus Nerve Reset to Gently Free Trapped Emotions Relevant Blog: 3 Easy Somatic Exercises To Soothe Your Nervous System   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🐍 Kundalini 200-hour YTT ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #311 – Embodiment, Expression & Femininity with Alexandra Roxo #345 – Somatic Shaking: What Is It? Why Does it Work? #350 – Do a “Yoga Life Makeover” with Corinne Maples © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

We’ve talked about what the eight limbs of yoga are and where they came from (if you missed that episode just scroll a few back) but what is each limb's practical, energetic, and spiritual significance in modern life? From the ethical and personal observances of Yama and Niyama, respectively, to the physical aspects of Asana, the breath control of Pranayama, and the mental focus of Dharana. And of course how it all culminates in the exploration of Dhyana and Samadhi. The Eight Limbs are here to help you cut through the noise and come back to what really matters, this episode will explain how. Listen and learn: 🔹How each limb of yoga serves a unique purpose in personal growth 🔹What it means to “live your yoga” through these teachings 🔹The practical ways the 8 limbs help you reclaim your scattered energy 💖 Curious about the Uplifted membership and want to know more? Check it out here => https://www.brettlarkin.com/uplifted/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=uplifted FREE Practice: Relaxing Meditation: Chandra Bhedana Pranayama to Calm Down Relevant Blog: The 5 Niyamas of Yoga: The Second Path of Yoga’s Eight Limbs   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 📖 Yoga Life Book  ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #276 – What are Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras - What Every Yogi Should Know #279 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK ONE Explained #282 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK TWO Explained #364 – Dissecting The 8 Limbs and Their Origins   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

I’m back with Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita! This is so dense I had to split it into two parts. Today we’ll discuss verses 1-38. This chapter serves as a foundation for understanding the eternal nature of the soul (Atman) and the importance of non-attachment in the face of life's challenges. Let’s look at Arjuna's emotional turmoil and Krishna's tough love approach, emphasizing the need for inner stability and the acceptance of life's transient nature. The emphasis on the immortality of the soul, the significance of understanding one's Dharma, and the win-win perspective in life. This chapter literally has all of Krishna’s essential teachings. Making it a gold mine. Get ready to learn from the original life coach (Krishna): 🔹The journey often begins at our lowest points. We must learn to enjoy fleeting things. 🔹Life presents a win-win situation regardless of outcomes. 🔹Empathy must be balanced with duty in our actions. Loved this episode and want to know more about yoga’s origins? Grab my History of Yoga course => https://www.brettlarkin.com/history-of-yoga-course/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=hoy   📖 Different translations mentioned: Barbara Stoler Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Krishnas-Counsel-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553213652  Godsong by Amit Majmudar: https://www.amazon.com/Godsong-Verse-Translation-Bhagavad-Gita-Commentary/dp/1524733474  Eknath Easwaran: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-2nd-Eknath-Easwaran/dp/1586380192  Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by Swami Prabhupada: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-As-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131233  FREE Practice: Energetic Mastery | KUNDALINI YOGA FOR THE AQUARIAN AGE Relevant Blog: 5 Righteous Principles of Sikh Dharma You’ve Never Heard Of   Relevant to Today’s Episode: 🔮 History of Yoga ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas? #361 – Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1: Dharma, Emotions & Intellect   © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com  

Dr. Brianne Grogan, a compassionate Physical Therapist and Pelvic Care Expert, discusses the powerful connection between trauma, stress, and pelvic health. She highlights how pelvic floor muscles react to stress and emphasizes that emotions can be stored in various body parts, including the hips. The conversation covers techniques for pelvic floor release, the importance of breathwork, and the risks of overdoing practices like kegels. Dr. Grogan offers practical advice for yoga instructors to enhance pelvic awareness, merging emotional well-being with physical health.