I Hated Part of My Own Program.. And I Did It Anyway

I Hated Part of My Own Program.. And I Did It Anyway

I Hated Part of My Own Program — And I Did It Anyway On consistency, the meditation cushion, a 40-day sadhana, and why showing up matters more than feeling like it. Trainers aren't supposed to say this — but Andrea hated the last three weeks of her own Seasonal Strength spring program. In this episode she gets honest about what it really means to do hard things, why she decided to run her own programming, and what jump squats taught her about the nature of commitment. She also draws a parallel that might surprise you: the same resistance we feel toward a tough workout is the same resistance we feel toward sitting down to meditate. And what happens when we push through both — even imperfectly, even reluctantly — is where the real practice lives. In this episode ✦ Why Andrea chose to do her own Seasonal Strength program — and what she learned ✦ The honest truth about motivation vs. consistency ✦ The meditation parallel: when the to-do list screams louder than the cushion ✦ What solo parenting has taught her about showing up for herself ✦ Her 40-day sadhana — and why a daily commitment is its own teacher ✦ How doing hard things builds deep trust with yourself Quotable from this episode "Motivation is a visitor. Consistency is the thing you build slowly, imperfectly, one showing-up at a time." Mentioned in this episode ✦ Seasonal Strength Summer Edition — 12 weeks, $149, workouts roll into September ✦ Andrea's yoga nidra teacher training and 40-day sadhana ✦ Aparigraha and the yamas of yoga philosophy ✦ Bonus Ayurveda and yoga sequence videos included in Seasonal Strength Connect with Andrea 🌿 Website: andreaclaassen.com [https://andreaclaassen.com] 📩 Weekly newsletter [https://andreaclaassen.com/3-day-mini-cooldown-challenge] 💪 Join Seasonal Strength Summer Edition ($149) [https://andreaclaassen.com/seasonal-strength] 🧘 Work with Andrea 1:1 [https://www.andreaclaassen.com/services]

The Monkey, the Coconut, and What You Won't Let Go Of

The Monkey, the Coconut, and What You Won't Let Go Of On aparigraha, a three-year-old in the hallway, and the art of loosening your grip. There's an old story about a monkey and a coconut — and it might be one of the most honest teachings yoga has ever offered us. In this episode, Andrea shares the full Hanuman story and explores the yogic principle of aparigraha (non-attachment): what it really means, why it's so hard, and what it looks like to actually live it. She also shares a real moment from a recent yin yoga class at her new studio — where her three-year-old running down the hallway mid-class became the most alive teaching of the day. Spoiler: she caught herself mid-grip. And it felt really good. In this episode ✦ The full Hanuman and coconut trap story — and what it teaches us about freedom ✦ What aparigraha (non-attachment) actually means in everyday life ✦ How Andrea embodied her own teaching in an unexpected moment of solo parenting ✦ Why yoga nidra and the 40-day sadhana are teaching her about letting go ✦ A reflection question for your summer: what is your sweet treat inside the coconut? Reflection prompt What are you clinging to right now? What is it that you're gripping so tightly that it's keeping you stuck? Let aparigraha be your invitation this summer — not to drop everything, but to notice where your fist is still closed. Mentioned in this episode ✦ Yin yoga class at [Studio Name] — new studio! ✦ Andrea's yoga nidra teacher training (5-month program with Tracee Stanley) ✦ 40-day sadhana — currently in progress ✦ Aparigraha — one of the yamas in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras Connect with Andrea 🌿 Website: andreaclaassen.com [https://andreaclaassen.com] 📩 Weekly newsletter [https://andreaclaassen.com/3-day-mini-cooldown-challenge] 🧘 Work with Andrea 1:1 [https://andreaclaassen.com/services] 💪 Seasonal Strength Summer Edition [https://andreaclaassen.com/seasonal-strength]

The right pairings on and off the mat

The Right Pairing | Hallmark Mysteries & More Have you ever had a song hit you at exactly the right moment and completely undo you? That's where this episode starts — with a beautiful, tear-worthy moment in Season 4 of The Way Home — and it takes us somewhere much deeper. In this episode Andrea explores the Ayurvedic concept of the gunas — the three fundamental qualities of tamas, rajas, and sattva — and how they show up in everything around us. The music paired with a scene. The chemistry between actors. The food on your plate. The yoga class you choose on a Tuesday morning. Once you start seeing the gunas, you can't unsee them. The big idea? The right pairing changes everything. And when you understand your own Ayurvedic framework, you stop following everyone else's wellness rules and start finding what actually works for you. Whether you're a The Way Home fan, an Ayurveda curious beginner, or somewhere in between — this episode will leave you seeing the qualities around you in a whole new way. Work With Andrea Ready to find your own perfect pairings? The 1:1 eight-week Yoga and Ayurveda program was made for exactly this. You'll learn your constitution, understand the gunas in your daily life, and build a framework that's uniquely yours. Virtual and in-person options available. 👉 Click here to learn more [https://andreaclaassen.com/nourishedandrooted] Connect With Andrea 🌐 Website: www.andreaclaassen.com [https://www.andreaclaassen.com] If you watched The Way Home this season drop a comment and let Andrea know how it landed for you — and which season is your favorite!

How I Used AI to Deepen My Yoga Philosophy Practice (And Why I'm Still Skeptical)

I'll be honest — I don't use AI a lot. But this summer I did something unexpected with it, and I genuinely loved the result. In this episode I'm sharing how I used AI to build a personal Yoga Sutras morning devotional practice — something I searched for everywhere and couldn't find. I walk you through what I asked for, what it's given me, and why I've been showing up for it every single morning since mid-May. I'm also sharing where I'm still skeptical. Because I will stop reading mid-sentence if something feels hollow and AI-generated — and I think a lot of you feel the same way. This one is honest, a little unexpected, and very much from the heart. In this episode: * Why I wanted a Yoga Sutras devotional practice this summer * How I used AI as a creative collaborator — not a replacement * The AI cadence that makes me stop reading (and why it matters) * Where I've landed on the question of AI in wellness spaces * The distinction that changed how I think about it: who's driving? Links & Resources mentioned: * 🌿 Join the Free Cool Down in 3 Days Challenge → Join Here [https://andreaclaassen.com/3-day-mini-cooldown-challenge] * 📖 Read the full blog post → www.andreaclaassen.com/blog [https://www.andreaclaassen.com/blog] The Peaceful Power Podcast with Andrea Claassen helps women slow down, tune in, and live with more intention through Ayurveda, yoga, and mindful movement.

Books, Balance & A Little Break: What I've Been Reading Lately

Episode Summary: Andrea shares her love of reading — from a lifelong passion to her current goal of 50 pages a day — along with her favorite books from the last few months. She also opens up about her intentional Instagram break starting May 19th, her heartwarming daily reading ritual with her boys, and gives a sneak peek at an upcoming Ayurvedic Book Club launching at Green Lotus this fall. Books Mentioned: * Finlay Donovan Series — Elle Cosimano (6 books) * Frozen River — Ariel Lawhon * My Name is Emilia Del Valle — Isabel Allende * When We Had Wings — Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris & Susan Meissner * The Power of the Pause — Jillian Pransky Highlights: * Andrea's lifelong love of reading & the connection to Sphinx pose in yoga * Her 50-pages-a-day goal and how reducing social media created the space for it * The 4:30 family reading ritual with her boys (and her 3-year-old's picture books 🥹) * Her oldest reading 100 books at school this year * Instagram break starting May 20th- staying connected via newsletter & podcast * Sneak peek: Ayurvedic Book Club at Green Lotus — in October Stay Connected: * 📬 Subscribe to the newsletter [https://andrea-claassen.kit.com/4f350608c1] * 🎙️ Follow the Peaceful Power Podcast [https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZlgN40sMshUh5f3QFon7j?si=b2dce8ffdc8a43eb] * 🌿 Watch for Ayurvedic Book Club details coming soon!