How Yoga Can Support Your Gut Health

Who Decided Yoga Takes an Hour?

In this episode, I am joined by Firdose Moonda, journalist, yoga teacher & teacher trainer, for a conversation about something most of us never question: why a Yoga class is usually 60 minutes, where those time frames come from, and whether they are actually helping or limiting our practice. We talk about how studio schedules, teacher trainings, pricing structures & our own expectations have shaped the way we think about Yoga, and why the idea that a practice has to be 60 or 75 minutes long can sometimes stop us from practicing altogether. We also explore how flexibility, imperfection & consistency can make Yoga a much more useful tool in real life. Highlights include: ● Where the familiar 60 and 90-minute class formats come from, and how they became the norm. ● How the business model of studios & unlimited memberships influences the way we practice. ● Why waiting for the perfect uninterrupted hour can become a barrier to having a home practice. ● How both of us started with 20 to 30-minute practices, and why neither of us practices for 60 minutes every day. ● Why Yoga does not need a perfect room, perfect conditions or even an uninterrupted practice to be valuable. ● Why consistency is not about doing the same thing every day, but about doing something regularly. Firdose brings us a beautiful reminder that if we measure our practice at all, maybe we should measure it by how it changes the way we react to life rather than by the number of minutes spent on the mat. SHOW LINKS: ● Join the Yoga Life Lab with 7 days for free in June: Life Lab Membership [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/7dayslifelab] ● Connect with Gwen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zestforlife.yogabonaire/] ● Connect with Firdose on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firdosemoonda/] If you are ready for our journey together & never want to miss an episode, subscribe & leave a review. Thanks for tuning in!

Rebuilding Trust in Your Body

In this episode, I am joined by Kylie Rook, Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist, Hakomi Somatic Practitioner, E-RYT500 & Teacher Trainer, for a conversation about chronic pain, nervous system regulation, restorative practices, somatics, & most importantly: why & how we can rebuild safety and trust in the body. We explore the difference between acute pain & chronic pain, how pain is influenced by the nervous system, & why feeling safe in the body can play such an important role in reducing pain, improving movement and reconnecting with ourselves. Kylie shares a live practice & practical tools that can help shift us out of a constant state of protection & into a place of curiosity, awareness and healing, while reminding us that recovery is not always about doing more, but often about creating the conditions that allow the body to feel safe again. In this episode you'll learn: ● The difference between acute pain & chronic pain, & why chronic pain is about more than tissue damage. ● How the nervous system influences the way we experience pain. ● Why safety, trust & nervous system regulation are essential parts of recovery. ● A simple check-in practice you can use to reconnect with your body & regulate your nervous system. ● How restorative Yoga, self-havening touch, support, containment & weight can help create a sense of safety in the body. ● The role of somatics in reducing unnecessary tension, improving movement patterns & building awareness. ● Why curiosity can be more helpful than forcing when working with pain & discomfort. ● How slowing down, resting & recovering can become powerful tools for healing. This is Yoga that Works! To celebrate the 1-year anniversary of the Yoga Life Lab, you can enjoy 7 days free access [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/7dayslifelab] to explore the full library of practices, including Yoga, breathwork, meditation, restorative practices, myofascial release & more. It's the perfect opportunity to discover the practices that can help you build more awareness, resilience & trust in your body. Join the Yoga Life Lab: Life Lab Membership [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/lifelabmembership] Connect with Gwen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zestforlife.yogabonaire/] Connect with Kylie on her website [https://www.intobeing.co.nz/] Check out Kylie's online course for a healthy pelvic floor [https://www.intobeing.co.nz/empower-your-core] If you are ready for our journey together & never want to miss an episode, subscribe & leave a review. Thanks for tuning in!

Let Your Practice Be Messy!

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="25567195-1ff9-4921-bd97-ac0bfd679c92" data-turn-id-container="25567195-1ff9-4921-bd97-ac0bfd679c92" data-testid="conversation-turn-30" data-scroll-anchor="false" data-turn="assistant"> In this episode, we dive into the pressure we often place around yoga practice, & why waiting for the "perfect conditions" can slowly become one of the biggest barriers to consistency. Gwen shares personal stories from her own practice, from doing Yin Yoga while watching Netflix to stopping a practice after 10 minutes because it was simply enough that day, & reflects on how real life practices often look very different from the polished version we see online. Highlights include: * Why the idea of the "perfect practice" can quietly stop us from showing up. * How shorter, imperfect, or distracted practices can still support your body & nervous system. * The pressure around the 60-minute yoga session & where that expectation may come from. * Why many yoga teachers still use guided classes & platforms for their own practice. * Exploring how flexibility inside your yoga practice can create more adaptability in daily life. * Learning to remove barriers around practice instead of adding more conditions to it. Join the Yoga Life Lab: Life Lab Membership [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/lifelabmembership] Connect with Gwen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zestforlife.yogabonaire/] If you are ready for our journey together & never want to miss an episode, subscribe & leave a review. Thanks for tuning in!

How Yoga Can Support Your Gut Health

In this episode, I am joined by Tiffany Pridgen, nurse, neuroscientist, GI physiology researcher, equestrian athlete & Yoga teacher, for a conversation about the gut-brain axis, digestive health, chronic discomfort, nervous system regulation & how Yoga can become a tool to support the way we feel in our body. We talk about how digestion is not only something happening in the stomach or intestines, but part of a much bigger communication system between the gut, the brain, the immune system & the nervous system, and how practices like breath, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, gentle compression, twists & self-myofascial release (MFR) can help us create more awareness, safety & agency in the body. In this episode you'll learn: ● What the gut-brain axis actually is & why it matters for your daily life. ● How digestive discomfort can affect your nervous system, mood, energy & mental health. ● Why Yoga can be such a powerful support for gut health without trying to replace medical care. ● How simple practices like diaphragmatic breathing, gentle pressure, twists, yin & restorative Yoga can support digestion & nervous system regulation. ● Why it does not have to be a full class or a complicated routine to make a difference, and how one small tool can already change the way you relate to discomfort in your body. ● Introducing the digestion support series inside the Yoga Life Lab, inspired by Tiffany's work & this conversation. This is Yoga that Works! ● Join the Yoga Life Lab to practice with the new series: Life Lab Membership [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/lifelabmembership] ● Connect with Gwen on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zestforlife.yogabonaire/] ● Connect with Tiffany on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/theequestrianyogi/] If you are ready for our journey together & never want to miss an episode, subscribe & leave a review. Thanks for tuning in!

Going Back to Basics

In this episode, we dive into going back to the basics and how something as familiar as Sun Salutations can become a practice you actually use when you are on your own, whether you are on your mat, in your kitchen, or simply in between two moments of your day where you have a few minutes for yourself. Highlights include: * Why it can feel difficult to practice on your own, even when you already "know" the poses, and how that impacts your ability to stay consistent. * Strategies for using Sun Salutations as a foundation, not something to perform, but something you can adapt depending on your energy, your time, and what your body needs that day. * Exploring how to simplify your practice so it becomes something you can return to anywhere, without overthinking, and how that creates a practice that supports your real life. * Introducing the Yoga Snacks series inside the Life Lab, including a five-minute Sun Salutation designed to help you build that foundation and feel comfortable moving on your own. Join the Yoga Life Lab: Life Lab Membership [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/lifelabmembership] Connect with Gwen : Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/zestforlife.yogabonaire/] Subscribe for updates: here! [https://www.zestforlifeyoga.com/] If you are ready for our journey together & never want to miss an episode, subscribe & leave a review. Thanks for tuning in!