North Node: The Yoga & Astrology Podcast

In this episode, we explore the basics of the nervous system, how it influences the way we think, feel and behave, and why understanding it is so important for our wellbeing.We look at what happens in the body when we experience stress, the difference between fight or flight and rest and digest, and how we can begin to recognise and regulate our own nervous system responses.I also explore why I believe nervous system education should be a fundamental part of how we raise and educate our children. What if, alongside reading, writing and maths, we taught children how to understand their emotions, recognise what their bodies are telling them and develop the tools to navigate life's challenges?And why isn't Physical Education actually about educating children about their physical bodies? About connecting to sensation, developing body awareness and learning how to self-regulate, rather than simply learning how to kick a ball into a net, compete or win?What if PE was less about performance and competition, and more about helping children understand, connect with and feel safe in their own bodies?A conversation about nervous system regulation, childhood development, education and why teaching our children how to connect with themselves might be one of the most important lessons we can offer them.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

Why do we care about what other people think of us?We live in a world where we're encouraged to constantly improve ourselves. Look younger, get fitter, earn more, achieve more, buy more. From cosmetic surgery to social media, status and success, we've become obsessed with how we're perceived.But what if our endless pursuit of being 'enough' is actually a reflection of how disconnected we've become from ourselves?In this episode, I explore the psychology and nervous system patterns behind our need for external validation, and why changing how we look or what we achieve doesn't necessarily change how we feel.We explore:Why we care so deeply about other people's opinionsThe beauty industry, cosmetic procedures and the pressure to stay youngHow insecurity can drive perfectionism, comparison and achievementThe difference between intellectual understanding and physiological processingHow unresolved stress responses can influence our sense of safety and self-worthWhy real confidence may have less to do with changing ourselves and more to do with reconnecting with ourselvesPerhaps the question isn't "How do I stop caring what people think?"Perhaps it's "Why have I learnt to value their opinion more than my own?"A conversation about self-worth, social conditioning, the nervous system and what it really means to feel enough.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

In this episode, we are having a very honest mid-year check-in, reflecting on where we are, what has shifted for us, and where our individual paths are taking us next.For Becky, there’s been a growing pull towards the feminine, philosophy, mythology, storytelling and the deeper stories that shape how we understand ourselves and the world. Astrology is still very much at the heart of things, but she is bringing all of these threads together in a way that feels more distinctly my own.Laura is experiencing her own version of this. With her North Node also in the 1st house, she’s being increasingly drawn towards her own work around the nervous system, embodiment and supporting people to understand and work with their own physiology.And when we look at our own astrology, it makes perfect sense.We both have the North Node in the 1st house, of becoming self-defined.That doesn’t mean collaboration isn’t important, it absolutely is. In fact, North Node has been a beautiful expression of that for both of us. But also recognising that our work is evolving beyond what we originally set out to talk about with yoga and astrology.So rather than North Node disappearing, we’re allowing it to evolve.Going forwards, Laura will be taking the podcast on and recording monthly episodes. Becky will still be popping up from time to time as a guest.So this episode feels less like a moment to acknowledge what has been, honour what we’ve created together, and allow each of us to follow the path that is unfolding in front of us and thank our listeners.If you’ve been listening to North Node from the beginning, thank you. Thank you for every listen, every share, every message and every conversation you’ve had with us along the way.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

As we head into our summer break, Laura and Becky reflect on everything we've explored throughout this season and share the simple reminders they'll be taking into their own summer.Having a summer you don't need to recover from isn't about creating the perfect six weeks. It's about creating enough space, joy and capacity to actually enjoy the moments that matter.From protecting your own wellbeing before burnout, making time to recharge, and planning things that genuinely light you up, to becoming your child's safe place, repairing when things go wrong, finding the courage to ask for support, and noticing the magic in everyday life—this is a gentle conversation about slowing down, choosing connection over perfection, and remembering what really matters.Whether you're navigating the school holidays, feeling overwhelmed by life's demands, or simply looking for a calmer, more intentional summer, we hope this episode leaves you feeling lighter, more hopeful and inspired to care for yourself as much as you care for everyone else.Thank you for being part of our North Node community this season. We hope these conversations have helped you understand yourself a little more deeply, become a little kinder to yourself, and reminded you that healing is always possible.Have a wonderful summer—we'll see you next season. Please leave us a review on your preferred podcast platform if you haven't already! With love,Becky & Laura xxSummer Holiday Calendar Template: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1uJfRzugCz7KkQL2rVaBKC3l1igY9dnG8cT0Hua-ZgDM/edit?usp=sharingDid you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

What if one of the greatest gifts you could give yourself—and the people you love—was simply feeling understood?In this solo episode, Laura explores why validation isn't weakness, it's a biological need. Through the lens of nervous system science, she explains how validation helps us feel safe, why invalidation often leads to shame and self-doubt, and how learning to validate our own experience can transform the way we heal.Laura also explores the powerful idea that two things can both be true. Your parents may have done the best they could with the tools they had, and their parenting may still have had a lasting impact on your nervous system. Acknowledging that impact isn't about blame—it's about validating your experience, grieving what was missing, and allowing your nervous system to move forward.In this episode, you'll learn: Why validation is a biological need  How self-validation supports nervous system healing  The difference between intent and impact  Why there can be harm without intent  How grief, validation and compassion help us move from survival into healing If you've ever struggled to trust your own feelings, or found yourself stuck between compassion for others and compassion for yourself, this episode is for you. Healing begins when we stop questioning our experience... and start validating it.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

What if the divine was never far away, just waiting for you to notice? In this episode, we talk about how to read signs and synchronicities in daily life, and what it actually means to build a real relationship with your guides and higher self.We break down prayer, meditation and yoga as sacred technologies. And not seeing prayer or connection as a begging request sent into the void, but as a way of tuning yourself into alignment. From there we dig into one of the most confusing questions in spirituality: when a thought arrives, is it truly yours, or is it received from somewhere else? That leads us into the akashic field, including the , surprisingly common experience of choosing your baby's name seemingly out of nowhere.We also talk through some animal signs and what they really mean — butterflies, robins, owls snakes, and feathers.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

This is the biggest astrological window of 2026, and it's all landing in one month. In this episode, Becky breaks down every major transit shaping July 2026: Mercury retrograde in Cancer, Jupiter's fresh arrival in Leo, a rare Mars-Uranus conjunction not seen in Gemini since 1947, and the formation of a genuinely rare pattern called a Barbault's Basket. This is a rare configuration named after French astrologer André Barbault, who used patterns like this to track major turning points across the 20th century.Becky walks through what this basket actually is, what history tells us about times like this.In this episode:Mercury retrograde in Cancer (June 29 – July 23) and its emotional, family-rooted themesJupiter's entry into Leo — the first time since 2014/15 — and what it means for visibility, creativity, and boldnessThe Mars-Uranus conjunction on July 4th, and why this exact combination hasn't happened since 1947What a Barbault's Basket actually is, and why astrologers have been anticipating this month for yearsAndré Barbault's Cyclic Index — the historical track record behind his 2020 pandemic predictionThe exact peak dates of the basket (July 18–21) and what's activatingA planet-by-planet breakdown: Jupiter in Leo, Pluto in Aquarius, Uranus in Gemini, Neptune in AriesWhat this means for you A preview of the lunar nodes shifting into Aquarius/Leo on July 26–27Mentioned in this episode:André Barbault, French astrologer and originator of the Cyclic IndexHistorical index troughs: 1914, 1939, early 1980s, 1988–91, 2020Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

What if every healing path is leading us to the same place?In this heartfelt conversation, Laura and Becky reflect on the surprising common ground they've discovered through two very different journeys.Following Becky's recent pilgrimage through the South of France, walking in the footsteps of Mary Magdalene and exploring the wisdom of astrology, and Laura's deep immersion into trauma therapy, neuroscience and the nervous system, they realised they had both arrived at the same understanding:Healing isn't about fixing ourselves. It's about remembering ourselves.Together they explore how yoga, astrology, trauma therapy, spirituality all offer different languages for the same journey—from separation back to connection, from survival back to wholeness, and from the conditioned self back to our true nature.Whether your path into healing is through yoga, astrology, psychology, spirituality or life's own challenges, this episode is an invitation to stop searching for something outside yourself and begin the journey home.Because perhaps healing isn't about becoming more.Perhaps it's about remembering that beneath every wound, every role and every survival strategy, you have always been whole.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

In this solo episode, Laura shares the biggest insight from her most recent qualification in trauma therapy, and why it feels like the missing piece of a puzzle she has been exploring for over a decade through yoga, psychology and personal development. While practices such as yoga, meditation, breathwork and mindset work can be incredibly effective at helping us regulate and soothe ourselves, Laura asks a deeper question: are we actually healing, or have we simply become very good at coping?Exploring the nervous system, trauma, neuroplasticity and emotional capacity, Laura explains how unresolved stress can become trapped in the body, keeping us stuck in cycles of anxiety, burnout, reactivity and overwhelm. Through the concept of "open loops," she shares why true healing requires more than understanding our patterns intellectually—it requires safely feeling and completing the emotions we were once taught to suppress. This is a hopeful conversation about moving beyond survival mode, expanding our capacity for life, and finding greater joy, resilience and freedom through nervous system healing.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events 

In this episode we reflect on what it actually feels like to use your voice online. The fear that comes before you post something real. What happens when you're met with hostility instead of dialogue. And what that hostility usually says about the person delivering it,rather than the person receiving it.But this isn't really about trolls.It's about the bigger question underneath: are we creating, or are we consuming? This episode is about speaking anyway, even when it's uncomfortable. On choosing creation over consumption not perfectly, but intentionally.Did you know you can subscribe to this podcast so that it automatically downloads the next episode for you?For more information about Laura's Yoga Teacher Trainings head over to Soul Sanctuary  www.soulsanctuarystudios.comFor more information on Psychology and Nervous System Therapy add yourself to Laura's Capacity Club waitlist to be the first to get news updates and events