The Planted Yogi

27: Transforming Pain into Purpose: Healing, Ayahuasca & Oasis Retreats with Francesca Chimulera

In this powerful episode of The Planted Yogi, Dr. Ciara Martin sits down with Francesca Chimulera, founder of The Oasis Retreats, to explore what it means to turn personal pain into collective healing. Francesca opens up about the tragic loss that shaped her path, the bold decision to leave college, and her journey through ayahuasca ceremonies, nature immersion, and stroke recovery. What begins as a story of loss unfolds into a narrative of deep resilience, soulful transformation, and the power of healing in community. Francesca’s journey will inspire anyone navigating change, grief, or the call to create something meaningful from their own lived experience. In this episode, we explore: * Turning heartbreak into healing * The healing power of nature, solitude, and ceremony * Francesca’s journey with ayahuasca and plant medicine * Recovering from a stroke and finding purpose again * The birth and evolution of Oasis Retreats * Why community care is essential for transformation * Asking for help, owning your story & reclaiming your voice Follow Francesca on Instagram @francesca.chiamulera Timestamps [00:00] Welcome to The Planted Yogi [01:05] Meet Francesca Chimulera: From pain to purpose [04:08] Leaving college and choosing a different path [12:07] Losing her partner: the heartbreak that shifted everything [15:30] Big Island healing: nature, solitude, and the soul [19:00] The seed of Oasis Retreats [19:42] Ayahuasca: ceremonies and inner transformation [27:02] Facing the unexpected: stroke and surrender [35:12] Recovery, resilience, and relearning life [42:57] Current healing practices and what’s next [48:51] The evolution of Oasis Retreats

28: The Breath Beneath the Song: Healing, Voice & Creative Balance with Rosalind Hayes

In this heart-centered episode of The Planted Yogi, Dr. Ciara Martin is joined by voice and breath coach Rosalind Hayes for a rich conversation on the power of sound, self-expression, and honoring the full spectrum of womanhood. Rosalind shares her journey from performer to music therapist and entrepreneur, weaving through the joys and challenges of motherhood, especially while raising a neurodiverse child. Together, they explore how breathwork and voice serve as profound healing tools, unlocking emotion, easing anxiety, and reconnecting us to our truest selves. Whether you're navigating creative burnout, parenting challenges, or looking to reclaim your voice, this episode offers a deeply human invitation to pause, breathe, and begin again. In this episode, we explore: * The emotional and therapeutic power of singing * Breathwork as a tool for nervous system regulation and expression * Neurodiversity, parenting, and building systems that support balance * Starting and growing a business while mothering * How voice and creativity foster self-awareness and personal growth * The importance of self-care, delegation, and asking for support Timestamps [00:00] Welcome to The Planted Yogi [01:04] Exploring breath work, sound, and the voice-body connection [05:21] Rosalind’s path from performance to music therapy [12:50] Building a business while balancing motherhood [17:36] Navigating neurodiversity in parenting [22:09] The community & mission of Downingtown Music Academy [24:20] Voice, emotion & the release of held energy [32:48] Authenticity, breath, and reclaiming your voice [39:40] Teaching moments, healing through music [41:31] Final thoughts on balance, creativity & self-care

29: Healing in the Wild: Cancer, Somatic Processing & Mindful Reconnection with Korinne Akridge

In this heartfelt episode of The Planted Yogi, Dr. Ciara Martin is joined byKorinne Akridge, founder of Take Your Mind Outdoors, to explore what it truly means to heal after surviving cancer. Korinne shares her deeply personal journey through diagnosis, depression, and the disorientation that followed remission. Through somatic processing, nature immersion, and the teachings of Byron Katie, she found her way back into the body, and into a deeper relationship with life. Together, they explore the messy, non-linear path of healing, the importance of feeling your emotions, and why it’s okay to simply survive before you can thrive. This episode is an invitation to soften, reflect, and reconnect with nature, your body, and your truth. In this episode, we explore: * The impact of cancer on identity, emotion & embodiment * Somatic healing as a way to process stored trauma * How the Work of Byron Katie helps unravel limiting beliefs * Why nature can be a co-regulator for the nervous system * The real meaning of survival and redefining “thriving” * Launching Take Your Mind Outdoors and healing in community To learn more, visit www.takeyourmindoutdoors.com/ [http://www.takeyourmindoutdoors.com/] Timestamps [00:00] Welcome to The Planted Yogi [01:05] Meet Korinne Akridge: A journey of healing through nature [05:23] How cancer disrupted identity and daily life [09:47] Learning to question thoughts with Byron Katie [13:47] The emotional toll of cancer treatment [21:59] Redefining what it means to survive vs. thrive [26:15] Somatic practices to move energy through the body [31:30] Creating Take Your Mind Outdoors as a healing venture [45:29] Integrating mind, body & nature into everyday healing

26: From Surviving to Thriving: Trauma, Recovery & Empowerment with Tasha Darwent

In this deeply moving episode of The Planted Yogi, Dr. Ciara Martin sits down with therapeutic mentor and healing advocate Tasha Darwent to explore the winding, courageous path from trauma to empowerment. Through her own lived experience with eating disorders, chronic illness, and family dysfunction, Tasha shares how healing is not linear, but always possible. Together, they discuss the powerful role of therapeutic mentorship, the connection between mental and physical health, and how self-compassion and community support serve as cornerstones on the recovery journey. Tasha's story is one of resilience, truth, and reclaiming your voice, reminding us that healing begins when we return to our true selves. In this episode, we explore: * The non-linear nature of recovery and personal transformation * How systemic patterns can shape eating disorders * The role of community and support in long-term healing * The intersection of chronic illness and emotional trauma * What therapeutic mentoring really looks like * Reclaiming your voice as a woman and standing in your power This conversation is a testament to the strength it takes to turn pain into purpose and why you never have to walk the healing path alone. Timestamps [00:00] Opening the circle: Welcome to The Planted Yogi [01:04] Meet Tasha Darwent: A story of resilience and reclamation [03:19] Unpacking childhood trauma and generational patterns [10:58] The winding road of recovery and healing from eating disorders [19:42] A new chapter at AIM House: mentorship, structure, and growth [24:26] The link between chronic illness and emotional trauma [33:39] Building Resilient Grace: Tasha’s integrative approach to healing [39:40] Reclaiming your voice, your truth, and your personal power

25: Art in the Wild: Nature, Creativity & Community with Bryanna Guy

In this soul-filled episode of The Planted Yogi, Dr. Ciara Martin is joined by Bryanna Guy - a creative connector, community builder, and founder of Art in the Wild. Together, they explore how nature, art, and intentional space can unlock joy, healing, and imagination. From building a traveling art bus to guiding outdoor workshops and retreats, Bryanna shares how creativity and sabbatical time became a catalyst for rediscovering what it means to feel truly alive. This conversation is a colorful invitation to reconnect with your inner artist, lean into play, and remember that your creativity is your medicine. In this episode, we explore: * The journey from burnout to bold creative expression * How Bree built an art bus and brought art to the outdoors *  The healing power of nature-based art workshops *  Sabbaticals and seasonal living as tools for transformation *  Why community and creativity are vital for well-being *  Retreats, reflection & the balance of giving and receiving Whether you're feeling disconnected from your creativity or craving community, this episode will reawaken your sense of play and purpose. Timestamps  [01:04] Meet Bryanna Guy: creative connector & artist  [03:11] How the Art Bus came to life  [10:49] Sabbaticals: space for self-discovery  [20:53] Art in the Wild: merging nature and creative practice  [28:54] Why outdoor art experiences shift everything  [32:07] Balancing personal creativity with holding space for others  [39:43] Retreats as containers for healing and connection  [43:51] What’s next for Bryanna and the Art in the Wild journey